PAYS FOR THE TRIP

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

PAYS FOR THE TRIP

MINERVAL WINS HACK MILE

- The public -were again off the mark in the" Kelburn Handicap,1 the Riccartontrained Minerval beating another favourite in Tobaccolaiid for the major honour, and' returning a dividend approaching double figures. Minerval was seven horses back at the turn for home, but he finished . full of running, and headed off Tobaceolandyjust as the latter looked to have the race in his keeping. The winner is a three-year-old bay gelding by Arrowsmith, from the Martian, mare Lady Minerva, and has.been showing promising, iotm.. lately): On the recent West Coast, jeircuit; as & previously unplaced maiden, ;He, started thred times tar-, a; first and two seconds, the win being-in an open welter race, and one of-the seconds being to 'Black Duke in the j Greymouth Cup. He carries Mr. E; Gates's colours, and is; trained, by F. Christmas, whose one representative he was at the meeting.

The only one to suffer at the dispatch was-Tobaccoland, who failed to catch the jutiip put. Fitzquex, Craigavon,; Jenny Diver,* Killigrew, Minerval, and -Appeal saw-,to:the> ; eaTly running, and entering tfie: straight jFitzquex. was at the'head; of a .bunch • 'comprising Craigavohy ' Killigreivysßlaygrbuud (wide out), Jentiy.Diver, Appeal; .and; . Minerva]. Fitzquex drew clear-at-the'false' rail, but Tobaccoland and .Minerval lodged determined •'challenges, at.the, distance, and each caught the/leader before the post was reached; Mineryal. doing best over the final bit to beat" Tobaccoland by lialf a neck, with Fitzquex pnly. a. head further way. Killigrew was a poor fourth, followed by Appeal, Craigavon, Playground, Jenny Diver, and-Palmary. ~ \

•In":a- good betting race, Tobaecblaiid wa§, preferred; to Appeal, Fitzquex, Killigrew, and Playground. Tobaccoland was the unlucky runner; and had he gone off with the others he would have* won. He executed a fine run down the outside in the1 straight, and he weakened slightly only in the last few strides to lose the race .when be looked to have it won. Appeal did not go so well as on Thursday. .Fitzquex, who' lately has been finishing strongly in his races, was probably beaten by making his final effort too soon. Gray was not satisfied •■with the lead, but attempted to slip the field in the straight, and, as a consequence, Fitzquex was left without reserve to counter challenges at the. close. Playground improved vapidly crossing the top, but he went wide out

in doing so, and could not come on at the end. Killigrew was always prominent, but lacked the sting in his finish. I