LUCKY HEAD-BAND

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 17, 21 January 1938, Page 13

LUCKY HEAD-BAND

LADY INA TAKES SPRINT

_A shade-unlucky on. the opening day, when she was earned out on the track by half. a,head, Lady Ina made some amends in the Metropolitan Handicap. Over the final two furlongs she buried her opponents for brilliance Lady Ina' drew the rails and raced there-following Ben Braggie and Grey Honour to the straight. Then she shifted out ,on the track for her challenge^ and" she had the race in safe keeping a furlong from the post, going on to score by a couple of lengths. -This mare has always had a liking for the Tirentham track, for she never goes a bad race at Wellington Meetings, and was twice successful at the last summer , fixture. Her record is very consistent, for she has been in the money in more than half her races. Not, so long back her trainer, E. W. Watson* • mentioned that she Was a better horse than 'she was given credit of being. And so her tally this season suggests," for in ten starts she has been four times a winner and four times in the minor places. Now seven years old, Lady Ina is a bay daughter of Cape Horn and the Bezonian —Platypus mare Kakawai, who descends from the successful colonial taproot designated Sharkie, and who previously left Sir Wai and Ladyfingers, two useful horses, as well as Maritime, recently sold to go to Melbourne. She was bred and is raced by Mr. A. Sou they., of Eketahuna, who has been having' his- first experience as an owner with her. Without being much? raced' early in her career, arid

mot being started at all as a five-year-old, her record to date reads thirteen I wins and twelve minor placings in 45 'appearances for £2081 in stakes,.', of which '£1025 has already been earned this season. . , • ' .".<.,. \Lady Ina was wearing -her-. lucky bridle, fashioned round the head-band specially woven for her by a Maori woman admirer of Marton. - Ben Braggie, as usual, tried to win all the way,, but he was quite unable to ctanter a serious, challenge arid he looked lucky to secure the decision for second place and the other dividend. He was sent out a very ,-hot favourite. . Triune was at the rear most or the way but he .came up along the ; inner below the false rail and just failed to beat Ben Braggie to the post. - He is not an attractive galloper, but can muster up pace once he is in his stride. Top Row, on Grey Honour's quarters to the straight, then bored out, as on the first day, and, though he^kept going; the oblique line he took losthim chance of participating ,in the stake. Laughing Lass ran patchily, but_was going again at the close right up fifth. Icing was outclassed, and Grey Honour stopped badly in the last two furlongs after going with Ben Braggie for the first half-mile. ■ ' ...