AN IMPEOVED EFFORT

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 13, 15 July 1935, Page 6

AN IMPEOVED EFFORT

VALARTH DOWNS DEBHAM

In a spirited betting race Debham, Isaacs, Colombo, and Tail Light were all keenly in demand for the Novice Handicap, but though two of them were capable of filling places the winrier turned up in one of the less-fancied division in Valarth, who revealed definite improvement on his showing in the Trial Plate on the second day, his only prior start at the meeting, and courageously withstood a very dolor-' mined challenge from Debham over the last furlong. Valarth was always well .placed in the running, and after following Bazaine, Colombo, and Tail Light on to the course proper he drove up past the leaders near the distance and was still capable of beating off Debham, a final kick1 from his rider averting defeat. He is a three-year-old bay gelding by Valkyrian from the Tractor— Take Down mare Dismantle, a sister to Overhaul and Assemble and a half-sister-to Master Anomaly, thus belonging to a successful Otago family, and he is owned by Mr. E. N. Didham, for whom A. E. Didham trains and rides him. His only previous win was at the Otautau Meeting in April. He has been mentioned as a likely visitor to Australia for the spring meetings, but his trip is at present uncertain, although a pedigree certificate has been taken out-for him and he has been branded.

Debham was not disgraced in defeat, but after' drawing the outside marble again he was just not up to pulling his backers through. He finished with great determination from five or six places back, and had he not passed the peak .of his effort just before the post he would probably have won. Though only a two-year-old he was in receipt of only 41b from the winner, which points to the- merit in his performance.

Colombo, out in the lead most of the way, had every chance on this uo

casion, but he weakened into third place a length and a half back. There was then an interval of about five lengths to Sporting Song, Isaacs, Hunting Cat, Romp Along, and Tail Light, who were best of the others. Isaacs put in a promising move along the fence just after they had landed in the straight, but he did not see it through so well as he did on the middle day. Bazaine who had worked in several places in the line before the field' was let away, showed his usual early brilliance but failed to stay.