Divine Poem unhindered by easy track

Press, 2 June 1981, Page 27

Divine Poem unhindered by easy track

From J. J. BOYLE Auckland Divine Poem, the runner-up in the corresponding race on Saturday, won cleverly in the hands of David Peake in the King George Handicap, second leg of the Auckland Racing Club's T.A.B. double yesterday. Those who were taking shelter from a heavy rain shower might have been tempted to have more regard for Divine Poem for he is by Water Diviner, and he was in no way affected by the easing track. The Shifty Kid tried to turn

the race into a procession by dashing into a long lead before half-way but Divine Poem was clearly his master in the last 100 m and could have beaten him by a wider margin than a neck. One of the best runs in the race came from Silver March, which was behind the middle of the field and many lengths from the lead at half-way. He was a determined finisher for his third, and would have been hard to keep out in a 1400 m race. Macloud, an . unpopular (with many) winner of the York Handicap, first leg of

the T.A.B. double, in the! colours of Mr Maurice Caddy,! a successful jockey on South! Island courses some 40 years i ago, might have appealed to! students of southern families ion the strength of his pediigree. I He is a four-year-old geld;ing by Sucaryl from Storm iCloud, which was got by Avoicat General from Kinsimm, al !useful winner on Southland, I courses. I Macloud. a newcomer at' 'the meeting, won the York; 'Handicap by a length from! jlnuvik, which shaded Divine i Poem’s stablemate, Our Shah. 1