EXCELLENT EFFORT

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 17, 21 January 1937, Page 13

EXCELLENT EFFORT

MITTIE IN APPRENTICE^'

An excellent performance was put up by Mittie in winning the Apprentices' Plate narrowly from the southerner Day Dress. Though she has had several setbacks in her training since she won a double at Levin in November, and as j a consequence could not be raced during the holidays, she was still capable of fighting out every inch of Satur-| day's seven furlongs, and then of hold-1 ing on once she had secured the lead. Mittie is a fine-looking three-year-old chestnut daughter of Lackham and that very useful mare in her day, Horomea, the dam also of Terry, and she is likely to develop high-class form later on, if appearance and performance to date count for anything. She created an excellent impression when she ran third and second to good horses in two starts at the October Meeting at Trentham, and if she had not had the recent checks in her preparation she would have been favourite for yesterday's race instead of at nearly double figures. She is owned and trained by her breeder, W. H. Hume, of Levin. ... * Day Dress was made a lot of use ox at all stages, but for which she would have won. After being fourth behind War Lap, Mittie, and Old Surrey early she was dashed to a two lengths lead at the half-mile, then let War Lap up to terms again at the straight, and finally came at Mittie near the end after having been deprived of the front position half-way down the home stretch. It was only Mittie's class that kept the Chokebore filly at bay by the shortest of heads. ... . Old Surrey, two lengths away aiua, went a smooth race all the way, and he should develop into a useful performer later on. Rotoma was nearer in fourth place at the post than at any stage, but she was off the track most of the way and did not appear ever to be going kindly for her youthful pilot. War Lap and Export both ran fair races, but the hot favourite, Petersham, after a slow beginning, was distinctly disappointing. The Bigot had a bad passage, possibly due to his disability of having only one eye, which might be a considerable disadvantage in an apprentices' race. Good Sun lost position early, and Master Limond was last all the way. o Under ordinary handicap conditions, the form shown in this event might be considerably varied, particularly with such horses as Petersham, Rotoma, Airing, Export, and The Bigot.