COUNTERBLAST'S WEIGHT

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 99, 24 October 1938, Page 13

COUNTERBLAST'S WEIGHT

Anyone making a study of weights must have been attracted to Counterblast in the Awatea Handicap on Saturday. She was in the race with only 7.2, whereas her original weight in the C.J.C. Stewards* Handicap was 7.8, ahead of horses from whom she was receiving: weight on Saturday and meeting almost everything on better terms than she was required to do at Riccarton. Rollicker also appeared well handicapped on Saturday, but he was short of a race.

owner, Mr. G. F. Moore, has always held a very high opinion of him, and there seems little doubt but that this gelding will at least develop into a very serviceable performer. Beaupartir, who was having only his second race, was most unlucky to miss. He ranged up handy early, but then lost his place, and this undoubtedly cost him the race, for he came home brilliantly to run the leader to half a length. He is a brown colt by Beau Pere out of the Chief Ruler—Miss Cute mare April Fool, dam also of Scandal (who ran second in the Taita Handicap first up last week), and he is being raced by his breeder, Mr. T. H. Lowry. It is interesting to note that he has been left in the Derby field. Good Passage, the daughter of Winning Hit and the New Zealand Cup winner Fast Passage, also made a creditable showing first up for the season. She was one of the best-behaved horses at the barrier, even when the field was held up through Great Quex's bolt, ing, and she moved through to third place in the running within the first furlong. She tired a little in the home run, but hung on for third. She is engaged in the New Zealand Oaks. Old Bill finished.strongly for fourth from one of the very outside marbles, which was the best form yet of this half-brother to Quadroon and Florence Mills Coronation, Chere Amie, and Te Morehu were others who came home well. Punarua, first out and settling down second behind the winner, tired badly in the straight,, which was not his right form on his best trials. Namara, the favourite, lost a forward early position, and he did not come into the picture again till near the end, when he was noticed running on better than most. Kindly and Synthetic were others to go fair races. The three place-fillers drew marbles 14, 17, and 15 respectively. Except for Punarua, the inside horses did not bepr?o7fo Lthe start Great Quex bolted a round and when returned he bolted again the reverse way to the winning post. With the permission of the stewards he was withdrawn from the race, but his backers lost their investments.