MOTUKARARA EVENTS

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28217, 4 March 1957, Page 5

MOTUKARARA EVENTS

WINS FOR AUDITOR AND SEBASTIAN

Auditor, which was back in the middle of the field to the half-mile in the Wairewa Trot Handicap at the Banks Peninsula Racing Club’s summer meeting at Motukarara on Saturday, gradually improved his position to follow Mainland, Wimpy, Kokomo, Clyde and Pagliacci into line. Under a hard drive he got up to beat Wimpy by half a length. Wimpy had been handy throughout and appeared likely to win when he mastered the pacemaker, Mainland. at the furlong. However, his driver elected to ease him at the half-furlong, and this decision undoubtedly cost him the race.

The little fancied Kokomo, which had always been handy in the running, finished on, two lengths and a half' back, to cut the tiring Mainland out of third place by a length. There was a gap of about six lengths to Blossom's Pet, which had been about filth in the running and held her position in the run in, and the disappointing favourite, Pagliacci. which trailed Clyde to the seven furlongs, then led to the half-mile, but was in trouble before the straight. Maxwelton did well to get up tor seventh, two lengths behind Pagliacci. He was very slow away from the 36-yard mark, and although he never appeared as a winning prospect, his performance was commendable. Others to lose their chances at the start were Lady Attack, Fortune's Lady, Spring Gully and Ebonite. Waihora Handicap Sebastian ran on strongly over the final stages of the Waihora Park Trot Handicap, to hold off the favourite, Fourth Edition, and win by half a length. Captain Free was beaten off in third place, four lengths back, a length in front of Gold Cloud, which made a renewed effort near the line. Lafene, Cartoni and Mighty Loyal finished practically in line six lengths further back, and were followed in by Gay Helen and Rey Derby at the head of the rest. Lady Vai was slow, and Free Agent, Mount Lebanon and Spring Vale broke, the latter two taking no part in the race. Staraider began best and at the end of half a mile was closely attended by Gay Helen, Sebastian. Gold Cloud and Ladyship, with Fourth Edition next on the inside of Cartoni and just ahead of Captain Free and Mighty Loyal. Sebastian moved up to and past the pacemaker. Staraider, approaching the three furlongs, and was a clear leader from Fourth Edition. Mighty Loyal, Captain Free. Gold Cloud and Cartoni into the straight. Fourth Edition made every effort to reach Sebastian inside the final furlong, but his challenge was not strong enough.