CONFIDENT BACKING

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 19, 23 January 1937, Page 22

CONFIDENT BACKING

CHIEF RANGER'S EASY WIN In the first £10,000 pool at the meeting, Chief Ranger was a pronounced favourite for the January Handicap, and he completely justified the confidence placed in him. The win was well foreshadowed by his second to Haut Monde on the opening day, for in that race he had a difficult passage all the way, squeezed between two horses, and it was not till the closing section that he was free from the worry. For such a hot favourite he was at very useful prices. . ' \ . . , . . , A brilliant beginning, in which he jumped out a couple of lengths clear, was a helpful, advantage for Chief Ranger. When Custos ran up to him at the end of two furlongs he would not be drawn into a fight for leadership, and he yielded the right of way to Custos, Manetho, and Great Star. Those three horses piloted him to the straight, but when he was set seriously on his job he dashed past them and was one of the easiest winners at the meeting by three lengths from Alby qnd Rebel La'd, who came home best of the others. . ~ Chief Ranger, back m his form of

last autumn, is likely to prove one j of the hardest horses to be beaten ■ from now on in any class of race up i lo a mile and probably further. He was taken to Australia in the spring, but failed on the one start he had , there. On his return he re-entered 1 the minor places at Ellerslie at the ] Christmas Meeting. A six-year-old chestnut entire horse, he is a very . well-bred son of Chief Ruler and The , Thespian—Sea Elf mare Miss Thespian. a half-sister to the great Mermin, crack two-year-old of his year, and to Watenvings, dam of Agrion, ; Waikarc. etc. He was not raced till , a late four-year-old, and after winning at Trenthajn last January he was bought from his breeder (Mr. J. T. Evans) by his present owner, Mr. A. Young, of Chrislchurch. His record comprises C wins and 8 minor places in 21 starts (including itis one appearance in Australia), and in stakes he has now earned £1035. Alby, having his first start in the colours of Mr. J. T. Spears, was a surprise second at a double-figure place price. Not conspicuous early, he came through over the last two furlongs easily to beat Rebel Lad for second. Rebel Lad, the second favourite, was nicely ridden by L. J. Ellis on the rail behind the leaders all the way, but he simply was not good enough to go on and menace the winner when an opening came, ancl in the end Alby also finished clear of him. The first day's winner Haut Monde failed to begin with his previous brilliancy and was never in the picture till near the close, when he made up leeway for a moderate fourth. In the course broadcast his name was being called out in front all the time instead of Custos's. Boomerang, Manetho, and Great Star went fair races, but they had every chance. Land Raid and Metal Bird were best of the rest. Custos stopped very badly. Pladie never showed up. Lady Kyra and Lochlaggan were squeezed out at the start.