THE FOXTON MEETING

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 136, 12 June 1933, Page 4

THE FOXTON MEETING

ALL HUMBUG WINS CUP

INQUIRY OVER TAKAKUA

The six acceptor's went to the post in the Foxton Cup, the principal item at the Foxtbn Racing Club's Annual Meeting on Saturday, and they provided the public with one of the most exhilarating open contests witnessed for some time at a country meeting at this end of the island. Every horse looked a possibility a furlong from the post, but eventually All Humbug asserted superiority and won by a good length from Lucky Alice, Takakua,, and Chief Marionette, whom only heads separated, • . , , It was All Humbug's first appearance over any distance longer than seven and a quarter furlongs (at ,-which he won at Wanganui in the spring), but he was freely expected by his connections to run a good race, and he did his job in real workmanlike style. The race was solidly run, considering the easy state of the going, and it ably demonstrated that the winner is quite capable of seeing'• a middle-distance through with the pace on most of the way. One would not have expected staying qualities iff this four-year-old chestnut, viewing only his paternal pedigree, for he is by the Absurd horse Humbug, who failed as a stayer, but he has obviously gained the ability through his dam, the AH Black mare All Cerise, a daughter of Martian Princess, by Martian from Two Step, by Stepniak, very excellent lines for a stayer. He was ridden with splendid judgment by L. G. Morris, ivho allowed him to run along on the rail behind Senegal and Lucky Alice till about a furlong from home, then drove him sharply up past Lucky Alice just at the critical moment. Lucky Alice went another of her recently consistent races, without being quite good enough to do better than a minor placing. She looked like. breaking it once again when she headed off Senegal in the straight, but \\\e. winner finished too solidly for her, aijd she was all out to retain the' other place divided from Takakua and Chief Marionette. Takak.ua, naturally the public's selection; pever raised much hope in Ms. backers, at least over the telling stages of the'race. With J. Barry substituted for A. Jenkins, who lias won_three times and been second on him1 once in four rides, he lost a lot in the way he was handled. Barry just did not seem to know what was.the right thing .to do with him, on the turning track, and, after letting opportunities slip, had 'to take him out on the track rounding for home. The horse responded over the final stages, finishing solidly along the outer, but he then had,too much leeway to make up on horses of the calibre that beat him. After the race an inquiry was instigated into Barry's handling of "the horse, and it was continued the day. After tHe last race it was announced that decision would be reserved pending the taking of outside evidence. Chief Marionette, a very close fourth, was having only her, second race to date beyond a mile, and as she was again finishing on in good style it looks as if this relative to Antique may turn out a better proposition as a middlerdistance performer than she has as a sprinter. Until the closing stages she was at the rear of the field with Takakua, but .better placed on the fence. Cape Fair, after being on the outside of the winner nearly all the way, put in a likely piece of work just after landing in the straight, drawing nearly up to Lucky Alice /at the distance, but she . then weakened. Senegal was responsible for carrying the field along, but after piloting the way into the straight he dropped out of the battle. Neither he nbi' Cape Fair, however, was very far awayfat the end.