IMPROVED FORM

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 82, 8 April 1931, Page 6

IMPROVED FORM

$$R*fcGHTCOURSE SCORES

jftfcTTUMN AT WAIRARAPA

Sfcraightcourse made a much improved showing in the Autumn Handicap, the main handicap at the Wairarapa Eacing Olub's Autumn Meeting yesterday, for he bad the race won all the way. Whereas bft Monday he was second favourite, carrying £500 10s in a pool of just over £2000, yesterday he was supported only to the extent of £149 in a pool of nearly £1500. Thus relatively he was much less than half as well backed yesterday, and his return to those who stuck to him was a lucrative one. His rider on each toccasion was R. M'Cann. Straightcourse had previously been very consistent in his raoea, but if he performs often as he did at Tauherenikau the public will be inclined to class him in the same category as his very inconsistent stablemate, Full Feather. One possible explanation of the re-\-ersal of form is that he participated in a game of cut-throat with Dainty Ways out in front on Monday, whereas he was allowed to make the running to suit himself yesterday. In the race, Straightcourse was the nrst to show out from Lineage, The Swell, Atholspear, ■ White Fang, Stanchion, and Count Palatine, but along the back Stanchion moved tip fast to third berth. As the field turned for home, Straightcourse was nearly three lengths, out in front.of Lineage, with Stanchion another two lengths back, closely followed by Atholspear and White Fang. M'Cann rode Straightcourse all the way down the straight, and he beat the fast-finishing .White Fang by three lengths, with Stanchion.'a length further back, and Atholgpear -another length away. Lineage, '/Count Palatine, and The Swell followed. Stanchion was exactly twice as_ well backed as Lineage, who was next in demand, but the weight beat him. He had no chance with the winner from the top of the straight, but he should have been aide to hold off White Fang. Possibly he would have done better had Gray not teen in such a hurry to go after the leaders, but Gray was in a dilemma at the time, for the front pair were putting a "break" on the field. It is satisfactory to record that Stanchion, drawing outside but one, and taking the outside, again behaved perfectly. Lineage went well to the straight, but then did not come on. When she returned to the birdcage it was :soen that she had had a recurrence of Weeding. White Fang, rank outsider of the field in spite of Monday's win, again finished very faat down the outside. Neither Count Palatine nor The Swell appeared able to raise a.gallop.