IMPRESSIVE FORM

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 99, 23 October 1936, Page 13

IMPRESSIVE FORM

BEN BRAGGIE'S HACK SIX

Ben Braggie, with all his weight, literally outclassed his opposition in the Rimutaka Handicap. He is not very often produced, not having raced since he won, in a single start at the Winter Meetiag at Trentham, and now he has succeeded at his last three outings and fouf times in the six races he has had since the beginning of last season. It is an excellent percentage record, and it is worth noting that he is in the C.J.C. Stewards' on the minimum, a race in which he may be very difficult to beat if he is taken south, for he is something well above ordinary hack order. . The only questionable point about Ben Braggie's performance was that his rider did not even attempt to start him from the marble he had drawn— at least the marble supplied to the Press. He was number thirteen,; m the field of fourteen, but at first Imeup B. H. Morris took him in at number eight, between Le Toquet and Sea Wrack, and after a brief delay,, m which he remained in that position,he began from there. It gave him the advantage he apparently . desired, for his colours were always first or second. He appeared the early leader, but Mittie then went past him ana led on to the course proper. At tne false rail, however, he came up facilely and took control-off Mittie, and though Taitoru threw out a challenge it did not menace the topweignt, who went on to. score readily by a good WBen Braggie, now four years old, is a brown gelding byGascony from the Solferino—Ailsa mare Valley Rose, dam also of Kinross, and he as owned by Mr. G. Gunn, of Hastings, who ac-, quired him from his breeder, _ Mr. White, and for whom he is trained oy J. H. Jefferd. Ailsa,, by the way, was a half-sister to Bliss, a useful mare who won the C.J.C. Criterion and Jockey Club Handicaps and was placed in the C.J.C. Stewards'. . Taitoru was a surprise placing, as he had been off the scene for nearly two years. His colours were always prominent and he ran away from everything except the winner. He^was recently acquired from his former ownerTMr. P. Tito, by Mr. E. G. Bayhs, of Opunake, a newcomer to the ranKs ° Mittie, one of the most striking maidens seen for some time showed the same speed as she did at the Winter Meeting and then hung on ■when beaten to be an 'easy third.. It should not be long before she wins a race. The others were some lengths away, headed by Sea Wrack and Caen, who were running on, with the tiring Fmnesko, Le Toquet, Dorado, and Hme Ra next. Sardius, the second favourite but less than half as well backed as the winner, was a big disappointment, as he was well up in third place to the straight and then stopped badly. Roaming and Hine Ra were slow to begin, and Calshot was never in the picture. ,