PLUCK AND SOLIDITY

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 65, 17 March 1934, Page 21

PLUCK AND SOLIDITY

GOLDEN CHANT'S HACK SIX

Golden Chant still further enhanced her claim to.be ranked as one of the best open sprint prospects in the Dominion at present by her really splendid victory in veVy fast time in the Tiuakori Hack Handicap. Despite her big impost of 9.6 and her unfavourable draw she was always one of the leaders, and, after coming over on to the course proper alongside - Royal Amphora and just;behind Gay; Seton and Pheon, she finished just too well for Royal Amphora and won a meritorious halt-neck victory. Her time, of lmin 10% sec was really exceptional for a hack; The winner is a four-year-old chestnut mare by Arausio from the Boniform mare Gonchita, and she is owned and trained by Mr. F. J. Atfield, of Palmerston North, who bought her cheaply for 30 'guineas' at the 1931 yearling sales and did not race her till she was a' three-year-old., She .belongs to the same branch of the No *> family as the New Zealand Cup winner The Banker, as well as of other good racehorses in Kilwinning .(Great Northern Derby), Chakwana, Red Kriss, Honesty (Invercargill Cup), etc. She was at first a very fractious mare, as wns her older brother, the listed Journet. but her race manners are now quite satisfactory. At the January Meeting. she also won and was third, and in one interesting start she won again under 0.9 at Woodville. Thp success .was W. J. Broughton's second during the day.

Royal Amphora, much better- fancied than the winner, and the place favourite, had every chance.' She was in front just past, the distance, but'she failed to withstand the winner's continuous ' pressure. She was never more than half a length in front of Golden Chant, who crept up steadily on the inner of her.

Cherry Queen, always fairly prominent, ran on for third money about two and a half lengths away. Pheon and Gay Seton, after making most of the running, weakened just out of the plapes. Normandy •went his best race for n long time to finish sixth. The nearest of the. others at the end were Prostration, High Grader, Pladie. Blue Boy, and Lone Raider, who were nearer at this stage than at any other part of the race. The diminutive Tizzyl appeared to be in the load right at the start, but she was falling out of line before reaching the straight. April Fool was never sighted.