BRILLIANT FINISH

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 18, 23 January 1939, Page 13

BRILLIANT FINISH

MEAMEA AS OPEN MILER

The better-fancied division succumbed in the January Handicap, in which the three places were occupied by horses in the less'favoured group. A brilliant late run down the middle of the track saw Meamea come up from behind and take the verdict off Mishna, Dungarvan, and Rustem, who had been waging a battle royal for supremacy from the distance.

Meamea did not start on the first day, and his success was confirmation of recent Wairarapa form, where Haughty Winner, the first day's mile victor, beat Meamea into second place in a seven furlongs open race. Meamea's only previous win this season was over seven furlongs at Feilding, but his Saturday's performance, his best to date, appears from the betting to have been anticipated by his connections. Meamea is a five-year-old chestnut gelding by Lackham, whose stock have been racing with considerable recent success, and his dam is the Arausio— Te Aupaki mare Hine Wehi, a fullsister to Pakitere and a half-sister to Toxeuma, so he is bred along solid lines for a miler. Hine Wehi herself was not seriously tried, as she met with a mishap while in early training. Meamea carries the colours of his breeder, Mr. N. Clout, of Wellington, who also owns his promising two-year-old halfbrother, Sir Crusoe.

Mishna, improved with his first day's race, when he was having his first start for the term,, also came home well after moving up to fourth on the turn, but he had issued his claim earlier than the winner, who came from well behind him.

Duhgarvan sorted himself out with The Bigot in the van at the end of a couple of furlongs, and after assuming control as soon as they straightened for home he hung on valiantly to be there to the end, though beaten into a close third. This was more like the old Dungarvan than any. of his previous form since his resumption, even though he.did win at Wairarapa.

Rustem was the unlucky horse to miss a place dividend. He dashed through along the inner in dazzling style, and actually was momentarily in front below the distance, but he failed to maintain his effort, and was narrowly thrust back into fourth. The others all failed over the last couple, of furlongs.' Top Row, The Bigot, and Trench Fight were in the first five to the straight, and so had every apparent chance. Trench Fight looked likely at the false rail, but then was stopped by his weight. Rabble, well supported, improved on the turn, but ..he had to go over extra ground in doing'so, and could not come on at the close. Clessamor and Good Sun ran fairly, the" former appearing to. have a mixed passage. Silver River was early in-thelead, but fell back and was last to .complete.