NOTABLE PERFORMANCE

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 34, 9 August 1933, Page 4

NOTABLE PERFORMANCE

CROUPIER'S OPEN SPRINT

' "Croupier' heralded his return to the I fighting arena, after an absence of nearly j two years by brilliantly, winning the Paparua Handicap, and racegoers gave him a grand ovation when he came back to the birdcage. He has grown into a massive chestnut of the Phar Lap stamp, and although he is still big in condition the sprint distance of yesterday's race proved to be well within his present range. It was something like the effort that Phar Lap must have produced that time he won at Williamstown after his spell, but it was not the same surprise. Some days ago it was doubtful if Croupier could be near ready yet, but there was ai' revision, of opinion after his defeat of Cylinder in a gallop on Monday, and'he was sent out a good win favourite. In-the,race.he followed Spoon, with Chrysology and' Master Anomaly in line, till well into the straight, bnt below the false rail he lengthened out and soon was racing up.pastthe leader. He had gone to the [front at the distance, and he came on to score > with apparent ease by a length from Spoon. The only question racegoers could 'ask themselves afterwards was just how -good will he be with another race or two in >him. '...'. . :^..,, : :,i+ .^ '* Spoon, who drew-, the fence, .;seemea r;toi: gain all the best of the dispatclvbut after waking the- early running she proved no match for the winner. Cricket Bat, at the head of the bunch about three lengths away from the leaders at the straight en-' trance, finished on to cut Chrysology out of ; third nibney two lengths behind' Spoon. Chrysology was a close fourth, and is likely to improve. The best of the others were Water Power, Takakua, and Charmeuse. Watep -Power ■ -was chopped out at tlie start, _ and did well to finish so close. Master Anomaly stopped over the closing part _ to'finish last. '.'•■' : . .Prior to the race Grecian Prince bolted and threw his rider, J. W. Jennings, who was rendered unconscious and removed to hospital. A. Messervy replaced Jennings in the saddle and got the horse away well, but he did not last long. Both : Grecian Prince and Master Anomaly had to be hurdled off at the barrier.