FAVOURITE'S NEAR CALL

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 127, 25 November 1935, Page 8

FAVOURITE'S NEAR CALL

Alter the scratchings had been deelarecL there were only two jhorses hot maidens remaining in therMako-Mako Hack Handicap, and bettors had very narrow scope for their activity.'.State Bank'- was- -a -rather better., favourite, than Whyte Melville, and he duly scored, but not till he had fp draw on his last ounce of effort to reach Whyte Melville. He was actually first to- begin, -but Whyte Melville- ran up oh his- inneigto the lead within half a furlong,, aticr he was running second after that till he caught the pacemaker just 'a stride or two from the post. ' ■*'.. ■■■■■'■'■

State Bank was having only his second start this season, but Whyte Melville had not faced for over twelve months. State Bank. is a. Five-year-ola brown gelding by Paper Money from the Kilbroney mare Killena, hence he is an older full-brother to Rerepai. He is owned by Mr. A. C. Feast, of Martinborough, who bought him cheaply for 20 guineas at the Trentham yearling sales.

Whyte Melville was one of the late Mr. V. Riddiford's horses, and he was acquired at the dispersal by Mr. T. A. Duncan, who won a race with him as a two-year-old but had to let him up for a twelve months' spell shortly afterwards. He looked well forward on Saturday and may pay watching in future races.

The rest of the field were outclassed. Garter Red was three lengths away third, with . Myriam, going in better style, a handy fourth, princess La Jean received a bad check, when Elus Mauritius tore up along the outer of the field after going a little over a furlong.