CANTERBURY MEETING

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 110, 6 November 1933, Page 4

CANTERBURY MEETING

PALANTUA'S FINE CUP WIN

TWO-MILE REC6RD TIME

(Special from "Rangatira.")

(JHRISTCHURCH, This Day

Whatever criticism * might have been levelled against the quality of the field iv this year's Kew Zealand Cup, it must be recalled in toto after Satin day's' big lace at Riccarton, for not only did the both-way favourite Palantua win like a ttoyer of the first water, but she Wabliahed new Australian and New Zealand figures for" two miles, her 3min 22 l-ssec beating Star Stranger's previous best of Smin 22'Aiec by a Email fraction. The victorious' mare was the first Keiv Zealand Cup winner owned by a woman, and she wap accorded a wonderful reception on. her return to the enclosure.

Prilantua ran -a great lace, capped splendidly by a'tremendous finishing effort down, the dutside. Iv the early part of the contest she was lafet, and it was not till they were at the seven furlongs that she began to move up along the outer. Five" furlingg out she was still last except f or-Eaihd,' but the field was then bunching and she was nearer the leadoro than at Any previous point. As the field bore down to the straight she improved her position, but, with The .Smuggler and Southdown, also Minerval, Brarabletorn, Eminent, and Inflation iv a bunch together, all still some distance in front of her, her chances did not look th,e brightest. Once straightened out Rocket immediately passed her with his challenge against the leaders, and at the distance it looked as it the Chokcbore icpresentative would win; but the Otago mare, Raiting a few moments longer, finally unfurled a burst of great brilliance, and, racing to the lead 50 yards from the post,-she went on to win by a full length trotn Rocket.

The winner, a four-year-old daughter of Taladin (sire also of tho Cup winner Chide) and of that hardy Solferino marc Mantua,, comes from an excellent family, who«e^j}articulars have recently' been reviewed -m these columns. She was passed in for 80 guineas at the dispersal sale last year of her breeder,'the late Mr. A. ITill/ but she was afterwards purchased privately by her present owner, Mrs. ' "VV., McEenzie, whose late husband, Mr. "Jock". McKenzie, was -a .well-Known owner in Otago over twenty years ago, racing, among other horses, that good one Pallas.

W.H. Jones,.who rode Palantua' toi victory, has been associated with her in many of her successes, and it was his first win in the New Zealand Cirp;: He was formerly stationed in the N6r,th Island at Auckland and Trentham, and since going "south he has had an excellent run of successes. After Saturday's race he was before the stewards for coming in on Jiamo.about a furlong from the finish, but was let off with a reprimand.

• Rocket,'like the winner owned by a woman and second favourite both ways, ■went a characteristic race, and ho proved easily second best. In the rear section most of the way, he was improving on the turn and camo into the straight practically oil terms with the winner and Ramo. lie ■was the first to go for the leaders, but niter wcariug The Smuggler down ho finally failed to cope with Palantua'd wonderful final run.

The Smuggler, another fiom the fur south and fairly confidently fancied, vent. a fine race too for third money one and a half lengths behind Rocket. In fifth place till on the home turn he then went tip to Southdown, who had just taken over from Cbry&ology, and, leading .into the straight, he drew clear at the false iail, only to.be deprived of thq fruits of his effort by horses with later runs on him. Hie placing was amply merited. Ramo, also running on at the end after having been well back to' the straight, was a good fourth. Brambletorn, handily plaeed'on the'irail throughout, was fifth. Minerval, whoi;, undoubtedly made ; his effort too: soon-in' coming along fast h£lf a mile out, wm a fair sixth. ; After theie* horses came the three-year-olds, Southdown (the third favourite) and Epigram, with Tout le Monde separating them. The three-year-olds were' completely ' disappointing. Southdown assisted Ohrysology with' making most of the. running, but he .quit ignominiciiisTy- as soon as seriously tackled. Epigram'had a crowded passage, but he was quite unable_ Y to extricate himself from difficulties arid was never even a remote prospect;/-v;Jt must be conceded now that these two'!" colts are not "really good" stayers-of"their'age. Tout le Monde was with Brambletorn most of the way, but he did, not finish with any particular <lash: "-.'■ ■ •■ • ■ The well-beaten division comprised-. Inflation, Jaloirx, Clirysolqgy, and Eminent,, who came home in that order. Inflation went a,'fair race and.looked dangerous at the straight entrance, but that was!'the end ,of. him.v Eminent also lacked ability to finish'on.: .Chrysology, six ' lengths cleat ileaving the straight but coining back to a/bare length.lead going into the back etretch, lasted for 1% miles and he was, aridoußtedly responsible for the record. Jatoux was never in the serious fight and 5s obviously not near the horse he once was. :" ' .'••,■'