PLATO BACK IN FORM

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 21, 25 January 1936, Page 22

PLATO BACK IN FORM

AFTER MONEYS LUCK OUT

Plato recorded a pleasing return to winning form in the January Handicap, an improvement that had been indicated in his good second on the opening day after some recent moderate efforts. He ran through from third to the front at the end of a furlong, and though After Money came up on "his inner in resolute challenge in the straight he managed just to keep the mare at bay by half a neck after appearing a beaten horse fifty yards from the post. Early in the spring Plato gave promise of being .a high-class performer when he won open sevens at Avondale and Auckland, but, following a third in the Harcourt Stakes in October, his form lapsed, one of his defeats being in the Derby after he had led to the straight. He failed again at Ellerslie recently, but his two showings to date at Trentham have been much better.

Plato us a fine-looking three-year-old chestnut colt by Iliad from the Kilbroney marc Kilted, who never raced but is a full-sister to the A.J.C. Derby winner Kilboy, and he is a halfbrother to Metro and Paper Boy, both useful horses but not of his apparent class. He was one of the high-priced

yearlings in his year, Mr. T. H. Lowry paying 550 guineas through an agent for him, and with earnings now amounting to £850 for five wins in sixteen starts he has recouped the initial outlay.

After Money, a very consistent mare, continued her unlucky sequence of minor placings since her return from Sydney in the late spring. In the seven starts she has had she has been five times second and twice third. She was fifth to the straight yesterday, then ran through strongly along the inner.

Passion Fruit finished very solidly to take third money off Tunneller on the post. He began well, but was apparently feeling his chronic soreness, for he quickly dropped back right through the field to the rear. He was improving on the turn and was sixth into the straight, from where he came on well.

Tunneller again went rather patchily, after causing delay at the barrier, but he was always fairly well up. He may not be quite the class oC his present opposition. Cheap Money and Miss Hushabyc failed to run the distance out after following the leader to the straignt. Superex went just moderately, and the favourite, Fracas, except that she moved up from the rear round the field on the turn, was never a hopeful prospect. Dollar Prince was a bad last.