PLAY ON COSTLY

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

PLAY ON COSTLY

LE TOQUET'S TRIAL PLATE

Play On, who was purchased by Mr. M. Millar, of Palmerston; North, two days ago for a big three-figure price, was backed as next to unbeatable in the Trial' Plate, carrying three- times as much on the win machine as any other horse, but he failed to make a level beginning with the rest, and after trying to race up .from the rear on the home turn he went off the track entering the straight and with that departed any chance he had. The winner, was .Le Toquet, a horse long overdue for :his maiden success. After a good' start- he ■ failed to hold his position and -was back seven or eight places at the straight entrance, but in the final furlong and a half he came with a powerful run that secured him a ready, victory by a length over Thala and Mulatto. .

Le Toquet has given promise ,of winning a race for many months, but until yesterday he could.never turn his opportunities to account. Back in the winter he was.third in a similar event at Trentham, and during all the intervening period he has looked very fit and well when paraded for races. A four-year-old chestnut gelding, he is a son of Gainscourt and the Arausio— Hoy mare Provence,-a sister to Maine and a half-sister:'- to/-> Shirley and Anomaly, so'he- is; bred--to do better than he has yet achieved;. As a juvenile he was raced, a few times by his breeder, Mr. F.. Ormond, but he was then disposed of to a partnership comprising Messrs. W. J. McGill, J. J. Benge, arid W. Bradriock. He now runs in the sole; interest of Mr. McGill, -for whom he is trained by W. H. Corbett at Hastings. ■■. „■■■;■,- Thala, who filled second berth, was carrying the colours of the winner's breeder, Mr. Ormond. She was the first horse out, but then several of the others raced past her and she was relegated to 'fifth position,.though still nicely-, placed- on the rail. In the straight she came home well, but she Was unable to go. the rate set by the Winner. . ','.■ / •.- .■ ' . . ' Mulatto, as on the. first day, put in a strong final run from well back in the field, but the best she could achieve was a close third.' This filly may yet come solid, particularly over middle distances, and she looks really well at present. - The rest failed at the deciding end of the trip. Haile Selassie, who ran easily to the front, within a furlong, was already failing, at the false rail. Flame Queen and, Earl's Court, who followed Haile Selassie-to the straight, also tired, but both are likely early maiden winners".; Twilight Song, Amatory,-. Informer, and Jewish. Lad were best of the others. Knightsbridge. going over extra ground, was beaten before the straight. >