TRICKY COUNTRY

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 112, 13 May 1937, Page 13

TRICKY COUNTRY

SPORTING SONG OBLIGES

Sporting Song rather unexpectedly paraded for the Tararua Hack and Hunters'. Steeplechase, as it had been widely reported that he would, be remaining in Taranaki for the Egmont Meeting, but his presence made the task of-the public in locating the favourite easy. Sporting Song was always there in the running, and after passing Given between . the last two fences he had-only to be kept up to the bit to go on and score by over a length. - Sporting Song, who was ridden by his trainer, H. Dulieu, has now won the only two steeplechases that he has yet congested. He was well handled by Dulieu, who saved every • inch ■ of ground, and this helped him at the finish. Only five years old, he may go a long distance in his'new role, as the Hunting Songs are at their prime under winter conditions. He jumped well throughout, though he had-to do his best on the flat to wear down Given. Dulieu flew down from New - Plymouth, in thp morning, -and returned by plane after; the - race to ' Hawera, where other members of his team were racing., '7 . ... -. A, :'.. . . .;; , , . ' Given) who was third.to Sporting Song -at ■ -the? Dannevirke .Meeting, ran a most promisingrace for second, and with continued improvement he -will shortly win a minor steeplechase. Being by Marchinell, he is bred for the game. The country, though easy, was tricky, and it eliminated • most of the field except the dividend pair, Padnos, who ran off at the double on the second round after jumping the first obstacle cf the pair badly, was in the lead at the time, &nd he was taken back 10 complete the course, and beat Ythan for third, a furlong away. Ythan tired and fenced poorly on the last round. Paddy's - Maid, after refusing to go, lost her rider early. Ringtail fell at the hencoop, and Battleground at the third last fence when running third and handy to the leading pair, though up till then his fencing had been faulty and he had drifted well out of it early. Padnos and Battleground formed a biacket on the machine.