CHAMPION SPRINTER

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

CHAMPION SPRINTER

GOLDEN WINGS PREVAILS

x Having his first start for the season, Golden Wings set his handicap at scorn in the Shorts Handicap, the day's open sprint, and. the race' was all that : wa» needed to stamp him premier Bprinter in the Dominion at present. Croupier and Cadland were\ more than twice as wel) favoured as he was by the public, but he beat the one; of them . comfortably: and the other decisively. As fourth bothr way selection, he was at prices he may uot pay again for a long time to come; Golden/Wings drew the remote outside* but he was very much on his toes and he was one of the horses who delayed .the1 start for two or three minutes. Finally he appeared to begin as. well as any of them, and he, Navaho, ■ Great Stav^ Croupier, and Guarantee comprised; the early leading section.. Coming to the, course ■ proper Golden Wings and Navaho were sufficiently. well clear to cross toj the rail, and Great Star and Croupier were the only pair among the remainder! who were .then near enough to look at all dangerous., ~,/.' .■■... . ' .■■''] At the rail Golden Wings looked like winning comfortably, but his weight and lack of a race were telling pn < him,' and this:enabled Navaho and Croupier toj come-at him, again... Navaho W not really dangerous, but Croupier, moving out from the fence, issued a more serious; challenge, and Golden Wings was extended; to hold -him at bay by a short half-length. Another, half-length back was Navaho, with Great Star a like distance away : fourth, well clear of the rest.' The winner, only five years old now, is] a -really-greatsgalloper, but much credit must be given to his trainer, H. E. Rus-! sell, for so preparing him as to be able to get Bueh a race out of him first time up after a spell. His last appearance previous to yesterday was when he was left and finished fourth in a sprint on the final day of the Auckland Easter Meeting, but immediately prior to that he had won three important races on end (North Island Challenge Stakes, Manawatu Stakes, and Auckland Easter Handicap). Yesterday's race has certainly now found beyond any question the present difference in level between him on the one hand and Cadland and Croupier on the other. As a winner among the sprinters Golden Wings has few peers in recent years. In his four seasons' racing he has now contested 44 races for fourteen wins and £4117 10s in stakes. His best season was last year, when he won seven races and ; £1765 in stakes. ; 'Croupier,,who was only a slightly better' favourite than Cadland, had every obvious chance. /He appeared to be one of the leaders early, ■ but lie could not have' shown quite the brilliance of one or two: of the others, as he had dropped back some lengths on Golden Wings at the crossing over to the straight. He finished, very solidly, better than anything else, so that it is very probable that he will take out before the meeting is through. Navaho's effort was the surprise of the race, showing what an improved gelding he must be. He drew the rail, but before the race started, his rider had him over near the outside fence alongside Golden Wings. Versatile Great Star also went a fine race, and he is obviously by no stretch a past number yet, as his inglorious 'Geraldine showing might have suggested-. ■ The others were all well beaten. Pomp, Cadland, and Guarantee finished together, with Pomp at the rear most of the way, doing it best of them at the end. Cadland was a disappointment, showing no dash whatever. Lordly Knight, last to complete, is liable to improve with the run, tin it was his first race for some time and he goes best when lighter than he was when ho arrived here. The Masquerader was a trouble both in the birdcage and at the start, and finally he took no part in the race. He refused to leave the enclosure, but was -led out after declining for five minutes to so through the gate. Then at the post he was most restive, and when the tapes went up he switched round in ii oaracol and threw his rider. It wns certainly a roost unpromising display oE manners.