CORBAN SURPRISES

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 131, 6 June 1938, Page 13

CORBAN SURPRISES

LAST REFRAIN IN FORM (Special to the "Evening Post.") DUNEDIN, June 4. The course was heavy .for the open ing day of the Dunedin Jockey Club's Winter Meeting, and form proved tc be somewhat tricky, only two favour ites being returned winners., Corban,- y/ho ranked as the sixtt outsider of the field, won the Otagc Hurdles,, and Black Banner capturec the crokS-cduritry event. In the Birth' day Handicap,. Last Refrain, who was a a good price on the win machine, tool* the honours, but backers were more on the mark when they selected Araboa as the favourite for the Wmtei Handicap. VICTORY FOR FAVOURITE. There was not a great deal betweer Burwood and Bally Brit for favouritism on the . win machine in the Tahuna Steeplechase, and they were thf first two home. Burwood wps always at or near the front. Over the Ana four-furlongs lie' VwMolfced'-by Balls Brit, and the pair drew right awaj from Gold Wren> Of the others, Converse was the only, -one*- to make e showing. Jollyanna fractured a hinc leg and ( was destroyed; : HIS FIRST SUCCESS. Sheeney, a hot favourite for the Tria! Handicap, drew the rails, but aftei being prominent in the early part she failed to make any impression at the business end. Once well in line foi home Hunting Chorus easily headed ofl the leaders and won * with somethinj in hand. Auctor came- along at the finish to take second Off . Gay Vixen the rest, headed by Ramana,. being well back. Hunting Chorus, who formerly raced in the North Island, was having his' first start in the colours of Mrs. C Bain, widow of the late G. C. Bain who raced Bay Duke andotners. otago hurdles; The bracket of Fireguard and Black Duke was solidly backed in-the Otagc Hurdle Handicap, but another South; land-trained horse in Corban turnec lip a winner at double figures. Corbar. was always prominent, and drew wen jlear of the field going; to the second-to-last fence. Fireguard, attempted tc bridge the gap as they raced for the home turn, but the leader had too much way on, and, even though he blundered at the final fence, he won fairly comfortably. : Sunny ,Comet was always one of the leaders and hung on fairly well for third. Superex was a bad las in the early stages, and made_up a 10l if' - ground 'to finish fourth. This wa. the winner's second start over, hurdles and though his jumping lapsed at the last couple -of fences, he should win more races. FAVOURITE DISAPPOINTS. Gillie, the favourite for the Brighton Handicap, ran up on the outside to be third to Silver Slipper and Baltruni as they turned for home, but then disappeared. Balmenter,. also warmly supported, came from a long way back to finish second. The winner, Silver 31ipper, who had finished -in a place »ach day at South Canterbury, wor tairly'easily, handling -the going well Baliruin. ran-to the froni at the three furlongs, but could not see it, out. Club man was a fair fourth ( and_was followed by Romp Along Drink Up Cintilla was prominent, for- half the trip, and' Soliad broke down; badly. ONLY THREE FINISH. Only the placed horses-finished the course in the . Otago Steeplechase., Trisox wss a good favourite. After junip* ■ml indifferently he balked altogether at the first of the double, brush along the back for the last time. Black Banner was in front from the start Over the last five furlongs he was chased by Punchestown with Signaller, the only other standing, a long way behind. Punchestown was. beaten after crossing the water jump. Signaller losl ground at practically every fence, ana he does not look like surviving the fixture. • . PECULIAR BETTING. There was peculiar betting, but nevertheless a good pool, on Handicap. Studley Royal was favourite on the win machine and third on the place, while the winner, Last Refrain was fourth favourite to win and favourite for a place. Last-Refrain, whe had followed Mungatoon home each day at South Canterbury, was third most of the way, and once they straightened up he was the only one tc finish on. Monipere, who helped tc set the pace with Royal Gallant, looked beaten when the winner ran pasl him at the distance but he came again and kept Last Refrain busy in the last couple of strides. . Wild Career was a moderate third, and Mungatoon, aftei being last at the six furlongs, drew up to finish fourth. Mungatoon rar below expectations, and so did Studley Royal. High Glee was last from the jump-out, showing up only for a briei space. SECOND WIN IN RACE. • Araboa -was a good favourite for the Winter Handicap and he won the racc for the second year in succession. He lay fourth in most of the running, and after following Moneyless, Peony Rose and Mount Val into the straight, came through on the rails to score rather easily from the fast-finishing Night Wings. The last-named was very slow away, and but for this would have given the winner a much harder task Peony Rose held on gamely for third when challenged by Mount Val, The placed horses were well clear of the rest, who were headed by Golden Chest. This was Araboa's third star) since joining up with A. E. Didham. BACKERS ON THE MARK. The public were fairly well on the spot again in selecting Waitoru anc Second Innings in the St. Clair Handicap. They looked like finishing ir that order when the former was go ing well in front entering the straight but Second Innings finished too well and won easily. Flame Queen was nol well placed early and finished a gooc third. Palmyra was making up grounc in fourth place at the finish. Second Innings had twice won previously a 1 the Marlborough Racing Club's Meet ing, and was well suited by the going Waitoru was perhaps asked too early for his effort. Lord Nuffield was there

to the straight, but Astaire, who is suffering with his teeth, .was well back. Spanish Lad lost his rider at the home turn.

RESULTS

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) DUNEDIN, June 4.

Backers did not experience a good time at Dunedin today when the Dunedin Jockey Club's Winter Meeting commenced in showery weather. There was a large attendance, and the totalisator handled the sum of £24,330 as against £27,042 10s, a decrease of. £2712 10s. Results:— Tahuna Hack and Hunters' Steeplechase, £150; about 2J miles. —1-1 Burwood, 10.5 (Boyle), 1; 2-2 Bally Brit, 9.11 (V. Langford), 2; 4-5. Gold Wren, 9.0 (E. J. Jennings), 3. Also started: 3-3 Converse 9.11, 8-8 Quinopal 9.9, 7-7 Jollyanna 9.5, 5-4 Gay Boa 9.2, 6-6 Octane 9.0, 9-9 Red Terror 9.0. Four lengths; twenty lengths. Time, smin 4sec. Trial Handicap, £120; 6 furlongs.— 8-11 Hunting Chorus, 8.2 (Hibberd), 1; 2-4 Auctor, 8.9 (R. J. Mackie), 2; 4-3 Gay Vixen, 8.2 (J. W. Jenkins), 3. Also started: 7-8 Cone Peak 9.0, 1-1 Sheeney 8.1?, 5-5 Royal Ransom 8.8, 9-9 Invaders 8.3, 15-14 Gold Don 8.2, 6-7 Remembo 8.2, 12-13 Ramana 8.2, 14-15. Palastyle 8.2, 11-10 Lord Hawke 8.2, 13-12 Camerino 8.2, 10-6 Amoena 8.2, 2-2 Triple Cone 8.2. Two lengths; short neck.- Time, lmin 19sec.

Otago Hurdles, £250; 1J miles.—6-6 Corban, 9.0 (Langford), 1; 1-1 Fireguard, 10.11 (Mackie), 2; 4-4 Sunny Comet, 9.12 (Register), 3. Also started: 5-5 The Surgeon 11.2, 1-1 Black Duke 9.5 (coupled- with Fireguard), 3-3 Superex 10.0, 2-2 Surge 9.6, 8-8 All Humbug 9.2, 7-7 Last Post 9.0, 9-9 Sir Admiral 9.0. Length and a half; six. Time, 3min 24sec.

Brighton Handicap, £150; 1 mile.— '8-8 Silver Slipper, 8.5 (Humphries), 1; 2-1 Balmenter, 8.10 (A. E. Ellis), 2; 14-13 Baltruin, 8.1 (Spratt), 3. Also started: 13-15 Barley Almond 9.7, 4-7 •Soliad 9.5, 11-10 Silkwood 9.2, 5-4

Johnny 9.1, 12-12 Clubman 9.0, 9-10 Ardmayle 8.13, 19-18 Romp Along 8.13, 1-1 Gillie 8.8, 6-5 Settlement 8.7, 3-3 Cintilla 8.5, 18-17 Drinkup 85, 7-6 Foxlove 8.3, 15-17 Vantoon 8.0, 16-15 Wonderful 8.0, 17-16 Tupal 8.0, 10-9 Scrap 8.0. Length and a half, same. Time, lmin 47sec.

' OTAGO STEEPLECHASE, £350; about 21 miles. 3—3—Black -Banner, .-IQA' (Peart) .. 1 s—6—Punchestown, 10,13, (Register) 2 9.9 (Boyle) •••••• 3 Also-started:-1-1 Trisox 11.2, 4-4 Sunward 9.3, 6-5 Amy , Johnson 9.0. Twelve lengths; twenty-five lengths. Time, smin 46 4-ssec. . BIRTHDAY HANDICAP, £300; 1 mile,2i furlongs. 4—1 —Last Refrain, 8.5 (Wilson) .. 1 5—5—Monipere,. 7.10 (Jennings) .. 2 7_7 —Wild Career, 8.3. (Hibberd) .. 3 Also started; 3-4 Mungatoon 8.13, 1-3 Studley Royal 8.4, 2-2 High Glee 8.1, 6—6 Amelita 7.11, Royal Gallant 7/?. Half a length; two. Time, 2mm 21 Winter Handicap, £200: T' furlongs.-1-1 Araboa, 8.5 (Pidham), 1; 6-6 Night Wings, 8.0 (W. Jenkins), 2; 3-3 Peony ROse, 8.3 (Phillips) 3. Also parted: 10-12 .Travenna 9.8, 14-14 Osculate 9.6, 5-4 Rodeur 9.3, 8-7 Moneyless 8.12, 2-2 Linguist 8.8, 13-13 Trivet 8.8, 9-9 Albv 8:8, 4-5 Golden Chest 8.7, 11-10 Greek Gold 8.5, 7-8 Sea Fox 8.2, 12-11 Mount Val 8.1. Three lengths; nepk. Time, lmin 34sec. . St. Clair Handicap, £ 150; 6 furlongs. -2-3 Second Innings, 8.1 (Jennings) ,\l, 1-1 Waitoru, 8.6 (Barclay 1 ), 2; 5-5 Flame Queen, 8.3 (Parsons), 3. Also started. 8-10 Lord Nuffield 9.9 6-6 Palmyra 97, 7—7 Astaire 9.4, 11-12 Silkwood 9.3, 4-2 Thermidor 8.10, 17-17 Gipsy Fair 8.3 3-4 Spanish Lad 8.2, 9-8 Half and Half 81 12-11' Bonadea 8.0, 15-14 Bad News 8.0, 10-9 Lumiere 80, Vanrty c Q if e ß n o ß Virih and a half; three. Time, lmin 19sec.