FAVOURITE COURSE

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 19, 24 January 1938, Page 13

FAVOURITE COURSE

SPRINT TO BEN BRAGGIE

In another excellent betting race, every horse carried1 over £ 1000 on both machines in the City Handicap. Ben Braggie, who was a decided favourite at his previous outing at the meeting and finished second, was relegated to fourth favourite on this occasion, but he lived up to his reputation on the course by adding another Trentham victory to his kit. ■ Ben Braggie, as usual, was at or near the front from the word go. Laughing Lass just led him on to the course proper, but then she once.again quit Her post, and Ben Braggie carried on to score decisively by half a length. . Ben Braggie is not often required t.o run two races at a meeting, and this probably accounted for his decline in esteem. 'However, he has apparently come more solid with age. Now five years old, he is a brown gelding by Gascony from the Solferino—Ailsa mare Valley Rose, dam also of Kinross, and he is owned by Mr. G. Gunn, ;of Hastings, who acquired him privately from his breeder, Mr. T. White, and for whom he is trained by J. H. Jefford. Ailsa was a half-sister to Bliss, a useful mare who won the C.J.C. Criterion and Jockey Club Handicaps; and was placed in the C.J.C. Stewards'. Most of Ben Braggie's racing, has been done at the bigger meetings. Though he has been so successful at i"re»TSbtim he has twice failed when «onfidently backed in the C.J.C. Stewards'; buthe recently beat everything except Stretto in the A.R.C. Railway. His record now comprises nine wins and seven minor placings in 23 starts for £1915 in stakes. There was a keen tussle for second dividend in Saturday's contest. Brunhild,' who was on the outer quarters of Ben Braggie on reaching the straight, just held off Lady Ina and Top Row by two half-heads. Lady Ina was possibly unlucky, as she-had to battle her way through an opening between Brunhild and Top Row. With horses on his outside Top Row was kept straight on this occasion, but it was he that made Lady Ina's task so difficult. Laughing Lass, out in front early, again quit as soon as the opportunity offered. As she was making the straight, one thought she was . going to hang on more gamely, but it was not to be. This marc is racing very moodily. Triune nevT looked likely, a disappointing showing for a fayourite. Pakanui, who at limes has his own ideas, apparently declined to start, as he was half a furlong at the rear when he was first noticed.