LAUGHING LASS'S FAILURE

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 56, 8 March 1937, Page 13

LAUGHING LASS'S FAILURE

The Trentham-engaged stable pair, Laughing Lass and Chief Ranger, were beaten out of the money in the Bailey Memorial Handicap. Laughing Lass was a pronounced favourite, but Land Tax, who had drawn the rail, beat her for early leadership, and from that stage she was always boxed in on the rail and was never able to strike. Chief Ranger, only fairly backed, was last till the straight but finished fast to be alongside his stablemate in fourth place at the close. The result was a big surprise, Hunting Lodge coming from the clouds with a brilliant run along the outer to cut down Land Tax in the last fifty yards and score going away by half a length. It was not till the last furlong that Hunting Lodge was in the race at all, for mrfst of the way she had been last except for Chief Ranger. It was this aged Hunting Song mare's first success since she spoiled Laughing Lass's dividend with a shared stake at Marton in the spring, and it was not surprising on her recent form that she should have been allowed to go out at a dividend of over a score. Land Tax essayed an end-to-end success, and it was only the brilliant late rush of the winner that frustrated her. Jubilee Song finished from some way back just to beat Laughing Lass and Chief Ranger for third. Laughing Lass was in a bad position from the top of the straight, so her failure does not spoil her Trentham prospects. Lady Ina, holding to the rail, also never had a chance to get in a blow. The Tiger, Bodyline, and Pin Money, prominent early, all faded. Entail ran a fair race.

OLD SURREY'S CLOSE CALL

Old Surrey, backed as unbeatable, had his supporters in suspense in the Farewell Hack Handicap till the numbers were up arid remained up. He would have been unlucky not to have been the winner, but as it was the majority were doubtless prepared to see Sanhedrim receive the verdict, or at worst shared honours. He was the fourth horse during the day to follow up an immediately previous success, as he also won at Woodville, and he was the third favourite to score, i Old Surrey was actually first to show out, but Blue Mauritius ran past him, and then Eara came up on his outer and gave him little room for action. As they came to the straight Sanhedrim also joined in, but Old Surrey forced! his way through, and in a battling finish he managed to keep Sanhedrim off as viewed from the judge's line. This three-year-old son of Hunting Song lost ground when the others were round him on the home turn, so his win, narrow though it was, showed him as a most likely sort for his engagements this week at Trentham. Sanhedrim ran a solid race and he promises to make an early return to the winners' list. Perhaps a longer journey than he has been tackling will suit him better. Eara was a good third, but she had every chance. Corowa was finishing on fourth, and Blue Mauritius and Waitohu (last most of the way) were next." Manawatu looks well to start off the jumping season and he ran quite a fair race.