THE OTAKI MEETING

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 85, 7 October 1933, Page 25

THE OTAKI MEETING

MAIN EVENT TO PL.ATEAU

CLUNY FATALLY INJURED

The fight for supremacy in the Ling Memorial Handicap, the main race on the opening day of the Otaki Maori Racing Club's Spring. Meeting at Otaki yesterday, was between horses owned by two brothers who lave always Idone well at Otaki Meetings. Fiji, owned by Mr. T. A. Duncan, attempted to win all the way, as he did at Wanganui, but he finally proved just unable to concede 231b to Mr. W.'MeA. Duncan's Plateau, who was having his first race in open class.

Fiji jumped out best, and he settled down under a hard hold to make the running for Bed Sun and Plateau, with Cluny and Great Emblem clear of tho others. Going to the sis furlongs Plateau ran up to Fiji, and the pair then raced at a much improved pace to the straight, followed by Red Sun and Great Emblem, with Bramblerorn moving up fast from some way back. Plateau was in front at the. distance, and although Fiji made repeated efforts to regain the lead Plateau w4s always going too well for him and came home a head in front. Two lengths back Brambletorn got up to deprive Red Sun of third money by inches.

The winner, who recently won among the hacks at Wanganui, is a five-year-old full-brother to Crown Area, a first-class galloper a few seasons back, who was unlucky, not to win. at least one Stewards' Handicap. : He was bought as a yearling for 400gs by his present owner, who gave him plenty of time and did not race him' till last season. This patient policy looks likely now to have good reward, for Plateau is undoubtedly one of the most promising handicappers in the makings in these parts. He is a big, powerful gelding, and he should, like Crown Area, 'handle solid weights without undue concern. His win yesterday was the.second in succession in the race for Mr. Duncan, who scored last year with Ruanui. •

Fiji, although beaten, put tip an excellent showing, and he stuck on with determination against solid odds. His rider (L. G. Morris) seemed to realise that he could not get the measure of the lightly-weighted winner, and ho did not knock him about severely, though he made two or three attempts to 6ee if there -was likely to be.any yielding on Plateau's part.

Plateau and Fiji are now Loth five years old, but whereas the former has had only one year's racing, the latter has been out since his late two-year-old days. Plateau won his first race at Otaki twelve months ago, the first meeting he attended. Fiji also hag a good record at the course,, for in, six starts to date he has won four times and Veen second, once. Brambletorn deserved third money on account of his solid finishing effort. He was a long way back in the middle stages, but moved up to the leading division on the'home turn. At one point in the straight'his name was being called as likely "winner, but he had to come from too far back to threaten the leading pair. It was only by the very narrowest of margins that he got third placing. Red Sun, having his first race: since his return froiji Victoria, ■ went excellently, in third place all the way. tilj he was deprived of the berth right on the post. It was a good Avondale trial, and. with the improvement the ' race should effect in him he may be one of the hardest horses to beat in next week's Cup. None oE the others in the field were ov'en'seriously in it. Chopin, at the rear nearly, all the way for a change, was fifth ■home,: but- he was -several lengths nstcrn of -Red Sun. Retract went very moderately, 'never: improving. .Great Emblem, wh,o ran with Red Sun as far as the straight; pulled up very lame. Cluny broke down along the "back atretch, having fractured his off hind fetlock, and' he had to be destroyed.. ,He *as a good ;horse just returning to form.