FORM A GOOD GUIDE

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 62, 10 September 1937, Page 13

FORM A GOOD GUIDE

SOME OUTSIDERS

OPENING DAY AT WANGANUI

(From "Eangatira.")

Favourites and outsiders both had their turns on the opening day of the Wanganui Jockey Club's Spring Meeting at Wanganui yesterday, thus illustrating the well-known vicissitudes of spring racing. A dull morning gave way to bright sunshine without trace of wind for the afternoon, and it was as pleasant a day as one could have wished. There was a good attendance, with investors always keen despite reverses.

The track was in splendid order, a little easy and with hoofs going in about a couple of inches. It was an ideal surface for early-season racing.

The form revealed in most instances should be a reliable line for the future, as most of the winners did their job well. Particularly attractive were the successes of Taitoru, Debham, and Florence Mills, but among the placed divisions were also a number of horses who should be earning winning brackets before long. The racing was clean and well contested, but there were a few horses who did not appear to handle the turning course as well as they might different tracks during' the next couple of months.

TWO OUTSIZE DIVIDENDS,

Many casualties and two outsize dividends featured the Hunters' Steeplechase. The favourites all departed from the contest, and the only candidate among those remaining in to the end who was at all fancied was Book Law,. who was last or thereabouts throughout and finished there.

Ruenzori, who was in front all the way, except for about a furlong after jumping the stand double, was having his first race over fences of any description, and he was also enjoying his first success. Quite often he had been in the money in maiden flat races, but the big end of the prize always escaped him. His jumping yesterday was safe and he withstood a claim from Acron over the final stages by three parts of a length, both horses being very tired at the post.

The breeding of Ruenzori will not be familiar. An eight-year-old chestnut gelding, he is a son of Redbridge, who is believed to have been by the useful Tonbridge jumper Tunbridge, before he was gelded, and his dam is the San Fran mare Ayun Kara. He is owned and trained by Mr. T. R. Taylor, of Feilding, who at last was rewarded with a dividend approaching a quarter of a century. <

Acron, an aged gelding by Rangitero who was also a failure on the flat, made a promising debut as a 'chaser, and he may do well next winter. Starmond, another maiden in all departments, after being prominent all the way, and for a short space heading off the winner, was a fair third, with Bimbo fourth. Tommy Atkins and Book Law also completed.

The casualties started at the first fence, where the favourite, Croyden, jumping closely behind Ruenzori, came down. Cotsfield fell at the next fence, and Tambo at the third. Then Platter went out at the first fence commencing the second round, the same as had brought Croyden to grief earlier, and a little further on Red Mint was pulled up. Tambo broke a leg and was destroyed.

SUCCESS AT FIKST START.

Having her first start and with the services of L. J. Ellis, Florence Mills surprised form watchers in the Maiden Race, but her connections were evidently fully aware of her promise, as she was backed down to fourth favouritism. It was not long before she was running fourth, and in the straight she dashed through brilliantly along the fence to beat Final and Sigurd home by a good length. Florence Mills is a three-year-old brown filly by Nigger Minstrel from the Lord Quex —Lovematch mare Liaison, a full-sister to the Auckland Cup winner Motere, and she is herself a full-sister to Quadroon, who ran third in the last G.N. Derby. It is the same family as that to which Wotan and his relatives belong, and it is also a family that has had a lot of success at Wanganui, Lovematch being a winner of the Wanganui Cup in the good days of that race. A typical daughter of her sire, Florence Mills is owned by her breeders, Messrs. H. H. Pharazyn and M. Greenwood, of Hastings, racing in the former's colours, and she is a member of L. Wilson's team at Awapuni. Final showed plenty of early pace in running up on the inner of Amoroso to share most of the pacemaking, but though he was capable of just frustrating Sigurd's claim in the straight the winner was too dashing for him.. His turn, however, should come before long. Sigurd, always handy, had every chance, but the race will improve him. From the stands it was.thought he had got up for second. Of the others the best was the southerner Great Memory, who was finishing on well fourth. Amoroso faded into fifth, but is likely to do better next time up. Gay Hunting, running on after an interrupted passage, looked a little unlucky. The failure of the race was the hot favourite Relative, who was never near the leaders after a slow beginning. Seaham and Aureus were well up till the straight and may not be long in improving on their effort.

DONEGAL LOOKED UNLUCKY.

Donegal was another favourite beaten in the Okehu Hack Hurdles, just failing to get up for the first prize, but he was unlucky to be defeated. He appeared to be in trouble along the back, when True Shaft and Aiguille passed him and he was checked, and then he had to go wide round the leaders approaching the straight. Kven then lie was nearly on terms with Top Hat and Trackman for the last fence, but the big effort he had made left him witnout the necessary reserve quite to pull Trackman back. , Trackman was the form horse in the field, after his second to Sporting Song last week, and he was always going well never far behind the leaders, who were Top Hat and King Pluto commencing the last mile. He had Top Hat's measure at the last fence and had enough still in keeping to hold off the favourite by a good head. A six-year-old son of Tractor, sire of many successful jumpers, Trackman was enjoying only his second win at the game, but he should have many more in the next year or two. He seems better favoured by good going than ne is by soft tracks, on which he failed at Trentham in July.

Even Money, having her first start over fences, made a promising showing, finishing strongly to cut Aiguille out of third placing. She was allowed time in which to settle down, and with the experience behind her she will be harder to beat next time up. Aiguille was always well placed, and the race will benefit him. Top Hat is another who should improve, as he gave a bold exhibition out in front to the last fence, though occasionally getting in a bit close for his jumps. True Shaft moved up fast in the middle stages, then tired. King Pluto weakened over the last two furlongs. Mahala ran moderately.

WAKEHI'S PERIODICAL,

Spring is the time of surprises, and Warehi sprang one of his occasional periodicals in the Putiki Hack Handicap. Thus with half the programme over there had been two dividends of over a score. Warehi's win was no fluke. He took the lead off Quadroon at the five furlongs and then went for dear life. At the' distance Middle had about caught him, but the outsider still had something in store and he came again to win well by a neck. ' Warehi could not do better than a number of minor places last season, but the previous season, while tracks were easy, he had a patch of winning form. Like all the Gainscourts, he seems to like the sting out of the

ground. He carries the jacket of his trainer, R. C. Penman, of Otaki.

Middle ran up to his recent consistent form, coming strongly from the half-way mark, and if it had not been for the winner he would have been an easy victor. He looks to have more races in him yet while he remains in his present good order. Ngatirahiri, who did not come, into prominence till the straight, finished solidly into third place, a length and a half back, and he promises to be an improved performer this season. Quadroon, always there, was fourth and is on the up grade. Tail Light ran' usefully; but the favourite Tidewaiter did not hit out well early, losing his position through his own awkwardness and then trying to go round the world. All Spirit and Olivette both performed fairly, the former being a little unlucky. Black Fox was never dangerous, nor was Hunting Queen.

TAITORU'S "PYRAMID."

Taitoru piled another stone on his mounting pyramid of successes during the last twelve months when he comfortably outpointed his opposition in the Higgie Handicap. The first to show out, he allowed Gold Mission and Grand Jury to take over the running, but when Grand Jury went for the doctor along the back he gave pursuit and he had the race won at the distance post. It was L. J. Ellis's second win for the day on a course which he has usually found profitable. Taitoru was registering his eleventh success since he resumed racing ten and a half months ago, a performance that few horses in recent, years have equalled. It was also his fourth win in five starts on the Wanganui track during the last six months. Though he is now eight years old, he will go on winning, unless the handicappers some day take a tumble to his ability. Gold Mission, there all the way, challenged in the straight, but was easily held off by half a length. Huntins Cat, last except for Maine to the straight, finished along the rail for third a couple of lengths back. Cerne Abbas, going over extra ground on the turn, was just beaten out of the money, and Fersen, fifth all the -way, was right up in that place at the post. Grand Jury dropped out in the home run.

FIRST FROM NEW STABLE

Having his first start from Mrs. A. W. McDonald's stable, Jubilee Song led all the way to upset the favourite division in the Seafield Handicap. Lowenberg was on his quarters entering the straight, but he kept his challenger at bay to score by a good "Jubilee Song was reappearing after having been off the scene since Easter. His only success last season was at Otaki in December, but the previous season he won a number of races. Like most of the Hunting Songs, he likes the easy going. • He still runs m the colours of his breeder, Mr. A. £. Easton, of Foxton. • Lowenberg went an excellent lace all the way over a distance that ordinarily would be rather short for him and the turning course did not trouble him. It should not be long before he is doing better. Gay Rebel, a hot favourite, was in a forward position but running into repeated trouble throughout, and when he did receive a clear opening on the fence in the straight he could not quite get up for a dividend. Might, improving his position from the rear round the field for the last half-mile, was a creditable fourth and should come to hand readily this season. Myriam was mixing it on the home turn, where she was racing second, and she dropped out to finish .fifth. .

GOOD THING AT WEIGHT.

Joviality helped the favourite-fol-lowers to another winning collect m the Durie Hack Handicap, for which he appeared very favourably handicapped at 8.8. Jumping out smartly, he made.all his own running, with Race Call accompanying him, and after assuming clear control in the straight he did not have a great deal of concern in stalling off Dancing Lady by a good neck. Joviality is very well at present and he will win open races later on m the season, though for the meantime he may drop out of active racing commission for he is now a fully-fledged stud horse. Last season he had thirty mares in the Gisborne district, and he is well enough bred to make good as a sire, for he is by Hunting Song out of that fine Polydamon mare Merry Hoe, and he should let down into a splendid stamp of stallion later on when he confines his duties to the stud. He is owned by Mr. F. T. Hall, son of his breeder, the late Mr. F. Hall,' and he has been trained for his recent campaign by W. M. McKinnon at Greenmeadows. Dancing Lady, winner at her only outing at the Combined Hunts Meeting, ran true to form, but she was asked a lot to meet the winner on level terms. Race Call, another form horse, was third but well beaten. Shirred Ribbon and Scarf Dance were nearest of the rest. Rhodesian looked a little pretty, and so did Free Gold. Free Gold was much on his toes, bolting down a blind arm of the course before the start, and then standing fiat-footed not knowing what was required when the field was dispatched. Once under way he ran up fast into fifth place, but he was tiring on reaching the straight, and he returned to the enclosure led by his rider in a profuse sweat.

DEBHAM'S LUCKY WIN

Debham. fresh up after his spell, won the Flying Handicap with a last stab that seemed to catch Ben Braggie unawares. He was third into the straight behind Ben Braggie and Laughing Lass, and a hundred yards from home Ben Braggie was holding his challengers safe, but a moment's let-up on the topweight gave Debham his chance, which P. Burgess accepted with a characteristic all-in effort. Debham shot out in the last few strides to score by a short head. Debham has been in work for some time and he was well forward, but it was thought he might be better with a race in him and over a longer distance. He was third in the event last year. His owner, Mr. W. Higgins, is still abroad, but is expected back next month. ;

Ben Braggie, not beginning quite as well as sometimes, got up along the fence to join Laughing Lass in front after a furlong, and he undoubtedly should have won. He will not be long in making amends. Royal Chief gave a pleasing Guineas -trial by coming from near the rear for a close third out on the track, missing a dividend only by half a head. Ha looks very fit. On the other hand, Haughty Winner,1 who was alongside Debbam to the straight and then faded to finish last except for Icing, paraded somewhat big, and it is doubtful if he will be quite at his best yet for the Guineas. Laughing Lass, only a few tickets better fancied than Pakanui and Ben Braggie, had every chance, but weakened into fourth. Pakanui lost ground

at the start and had to come from too far back. Greenwich and Icing both, began slowly. It was the best betting race of the day.