MUCH-IMPROVED EFFORT

Evening Post, Issue 79, 2 April 1936, Page 13

MUCH-IMPROVED EFFORT

The public who Were relying oni form experienced a sharp setback m the Rodney Hack Handicap. Snowball who made no showing whatever on the first day, jumped out clear at the start of yesterday's race, and, quickly and brilliantly opening up a break.of lour or five lengths on her opponents, she came-on without flinch in the straight to hold off Geitel and Helen^Ford by .two margins of a. length and a half. I Even allowing that Snowball had not begun well on the first day, her yesterday's- showing was a very pronounced improvement. With the brilliance she revealed she at least should have been up near the field at some stage on Tuesday, but instead she always near the back arid finished a (long- way rearwards ahead only of Lorrelle. Her improvement in performance was accepted by public and officials, at its face value, cheering actually greeting her success. . ' Snowball wins ,in her turn. Her last successes were at Waipukurau on Boxing Day, when she won, a double. She is a five-year-old black mare,by Lord Quex from the Valkyrian—Pebble II mare Iceball, thus being a full-sister to Sastrugi and. Sir Quex,' who went to Victoria, and' she was one of the lots Mr. W. R.,Kemball disposed of a couple of years back, when she: was obtained for only 33 guineas. She is racing in new colours again, her present owner being Mr. W, Ferguson, for whom F. Mullins is training- and riding her. ■ . . .

Geitel was sent out the hottest favourite at the meeting, but after'being at the rear with Cloudy Bay early she was unabk to make up the long space of ground the leader had gained on her. She came home well along the fence in the straight; but'the winner

was'always going too1 solidly for her, even if an opening had offered itself on the inner of the leader.

: Helen Ford, was kept up to her job on this occasion, whereas she came from the rear on the first day, and after being a poor second into the straight she weakened into third place. Fleeting Arrow, who fell back to last on the turn, was running on again fourth, with Cloudy Bay (who. had dashed up to third at the three furlongs) and Royal Solo (who lost a forward position at the end of a furlong) next, and Lorrelle last.