DOUBLE COMPLETED

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 98, 23 October 1934, Page 4

DOUBLE COMPLETED

SIR NIGEL'S OPEN SEVEN

Sir Nigel completed the day's double for the Hastings trainer J. M. Cameron when he beat some good horses pointlessly in the Nai Nai Handicap, run this year over seven furlongs instead of six as previously. Cameron owns Sir Nigel himself, and he trains Gold Trail for his patron Mr. D. M. Douglas. Sir Nigel came to Trentham reputed the best horse at present in training in Hawke's Bay, and the high judgment looks not far from correct.

Sir Nigel was not long in getting to the front. Copyist began best, but Good Hunting passed him before a furlong had been traversed, and almost immediately Sir Nigel made another change in leadership. Sir Nigel used his speed to open a break on the field, and, entering the straight well clear of Good Hunting and Palermo, he easily held his challengers at bay and went on to score by two and a half lengths from Palermo, who beat Good Hunting by four, lengths. The backing that sent Sir Nigel out such a hot favourite as he was seemed surprising, but the earlier success of Gold Trail may have had something to do with it. At least the confidence-was well justified by the result. Sir Nigel is a five-year-old bay gelding by Grand Knight from the imported English-bred Grosvenor mare Very Hot, whose purchase by the Westmere breeder Mr. J. Donald for his stud was probably Hue to her being a member of the same family as Eulogy and her highly-successful descendants in the Dominion. Sir Nigel took some time to come right, but his recent form has been high class. Prior to yesterday's win he scored runaway successes at Wanganui and Masterton, and this third victory on end was his first in open company. Palermo ran another excellent race to fill second place again, easily defeating everything except the winner. Good Hunting improved to hang ou to third money from Copyist, who did not show to such advantage round the turning course as he did on the first day down the elbow six furlongs track. Water Power, last early, was up with Copyist at the finish, but Cadland and Cyclonic were thoroughly well beaten, Cyclonic especially running another poor race.