INAUSPICIOUS START

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 21, 26 January 1931, Page 6

INAUSPICIOUS START

OUTSIDER WINS HIGHWEIGHT

There was a surprise for bettors in the Wallaceville Highw eight Handicap, the Hastings-trained Rich Harvest, after | being handily placed throughout, coming through the leaders in the straight and holding' off a determined challenge trom the- hot favourite, Rosshire, to win comfortably. Rich Harvest, who had a run1 in the highweight on the first day, was a 1 fair performer in hack laces in the Hawkesi Bay and .Poverty' Bay districts last season, | but he is'new to Wellington raccgoeis. He is a fire-year-old chestnut gelding by f Autumn from the Polydamon mare Accumulation, and carries the colours of Mr.' D. H. M'Leod. On his Saturday's effort he should beY worth noting for autumn racing. - he-starter dispatched, the field evenly, But Dumblane, who drew the rail, was, squeezed out and Mister Gamp was slow, to find his feet. When they Eettled down, Money Mint, Guere&s, King Acre, and Air I Laddie, in that' order out from the rail, j weie fighting for leadership, -with Rosshire, Rich Harvest, and Owlsfiight, in line a] eoiiple of lengths behind them. King| Acre was actually first to turn for home, followed by Gueress, Air Laddie, Money Mint, Rosshire, Rich Harvest, Owlsflight, and Tunbridge, but Rich Harvest came through nearing the "distance, and, although strongly challenged by Rossire, held him off to win comfortably by threequarters of a length. Tunbridge, finishing over a'tiring lot, was nearly two lengths further away thifdi and next were Air Laddie, Dumblane, Mister Gamp, and Owlsflight, with. King Acre last. "Rosshire^ ridden by ,A. X Ellis, was backed'as a:,certainty, with' Dumblane most-wanted of.the 'others. Rich Harvest wsis ■ Seventh, favourite ' at. nearly double figures.' Rosshire had as., .better run throughout than the winner, and he was beaten on the merits. He was much super-ior,-however, to anything else in" the-race. Dumblane, after being squeezed back at the start, was never a possibility, the fast pace' set by the leaders preventing him from making-up leeway. Tunbridge was handily placed turning for home, but, although he came on stoutly down the straight he did not succeed in raising much hope in his supporters. Owlsflight showed up momentarily with a run to the front just' beyond the false rail, and he is im ; proving.