WELLINGTON HANDICAP

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 96, 20 October 1933, Page 6

WELLINGTON HANDICAP

CRICKET BAT'S TRIUMPH

A more courageous effort could scarcely oe imagined than that put up by Cricket Bat in winning the Wellington Handicap, the main race on the opening day yesterday at Trentham. He elected to set a fast pace out in front for himself, and then, with only a moment for a breather just after they had landed in the straight, he tackled his tacklers in grim earnest over the last furlong and, he pulled out between them near the finish .to win by; a short head; It wa9a thrilling finale, and the winner earned B^s*' acclamation when lie' returned to the birdcage.

Cricket. >Bat jumped away'well in a quick dispatch, and he had more or less compulsorily to accept the role of pacemaker. ', Following him early -were View Halloo,' Takakua, and Chrysology, but the last-named received a check passing ttie stands, and going to the back Cricket Bat was attended by Takakua and Rocket, Brambletorn, View Halloo, Shatter and Chrysology, Tout, le Monde, and Midian. Half-way down that stretch Brambletorn put in a run that took him to second place, and "Chrysology moved up but lost his position again within a furlong. . ' So the field came to the straight, with Cricket Bat just clear of Brambletorn and Takakua, and with Shatter, Eoeket, and View Halloo the nearest of the others and the only ones among the remainder still with fighting chances. Just beyond the false rail Brambletorn went up on the outside of the .leader and"Takakua came on his inner. " Cricket Bat appeared failing Hearing the distance and Brambletorn momentarily headed him, but it was then that Cricket Bat revealed his sterling qualities,- and, fighting with great 'determination, he regained the ascendancy find his short head was driven out between the other pair clearly in front as they rnced past the post. Takakua was obscured and the judge deservedly awarded a dead heat between him and Brambletorn. Two lengths away was Eoeket, with Shatter and View Halloo next, followed by Midian, Tout le Monde, and Chrysology. • ; ■ ■ : Whatever opinion some may have previously held about Cricket Bat as a lighter,'it can' no longer be said now that he is deficient in that most desirable quality. Indeed there are few horses racing at present who could have shown such courage as he displayed yesterday. The merit of the performance may be even better gauged when it is pointed out that the weight (8.11) carried to success by Cricket Bat yesterday is the record since the distance of the race was extended tb eleven furlongs in 1020, the previous best being Sunart's 8.10 in 1921. And not only wag the weight a record, but so was the exceptionally fast time of 2min ]9%sec, done as it was by a well-weighted horse out in front all the way. Of course, conditions were exceptional for the spring, but the winner's effort was nevertheless deserving of every round of the sustained applause that he received.

A minor point about the success is that this was the second time that Cricket Bat had attempted to win the race, the other occasion being as a three-year-old two years ago,. when he was one of the favourites and might actually have succeeded instead of finishing right up fourth it Gay Crest had not badly carried him out in the straight. Last year Sir Charles Clifford's colours were carried, by Fast Passage, who was rather flukily beaten by the recently defunct Cluny. Sir Charles lias been luckier at his third try for the stake. . i ', ■ '

Incidentally yesterday was the first occasion on which Cricket Bat had won be-, yond a mile and a, Quarter, but he has not had many chances yet to prove hi 3 staying worth. To date he has contested 59 races for twelve wins, and his stakecarni.ngs amount to £3845, of which £565 has been collected this season.

Great credit must also be given, to the excellent races run by Brambletorn and Takakua, two horses seasoned with recent racing. It was Brambletorn'sbest performance since his resumption, and had he been ridden with just a little more patience he might have been victorious. At one point in the straight he headed the winner, but he lacked the reserve to hold on. to the momentary advantage. Takakua had the run of the race and just failed to turn it into winning account, so that no excuse can- be required for him. .Both Brambletorn (who incidentally was, like Cricket Bat, bred at the Stonyhurst Stud) and Takakua look like staying out the longest trips. Rocket was best of the others, and with the improvement he has made between Ins two first races this season he may well be a lightweight prospect in the New Zealand Cup, in which he is the only representative that the Cutts brothers now have, as Cricket Bat was never entered and Rebel Song has broken down.

Shatter and View Halloo had every chance. Shatter looked a decided possibility as they swung into the straight, but he failed to go on with it. View Halloo was always within easy range without ever improving. The other three were well out of it, though, Chrysology's failure may be accounted for by the checks he had on the way.

Fiji was_ a, notable withdrawal from tho race. His trainer, L. G. Morris, stated that he had gone sore, and would not run at the meeting. It is also unlikely that lie will now be on hand for his* Xcw Zealand Cup engagement.