TWO FAVOURITES WIN

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 92, 20 April 1939, Page 13

TWO FAVOURITES WIN

(By "Ariki Toa.")

MANAWATU MEETING

TREASURE BOND'S RECORD

Keen racing and exciting finishes ■were features of the second day of the Manawatu Trotting Club's Annual Meeting at Awapuni yesterday, and in most instances the issue was in doubt until the judge's placings were hoisted. Treasure Bond and Gentleman Joe had a rare set-to in the Luoni Memorial, and the pair shared the honours, Treasure Bond's time, 4min 25 l-ssec, establishing a new course record for two miles. Loyal Direct, gained a well-deserved victory in annexing the open mile and a quarter, while Roma Girl completed a double by taking the Broadway Handicap. THE MAIDENS. , Guy Whispers, who had shown pro- | mise at the Taranaki Meeting earlier on the circuit, registered his first success when he came from behind to win the Kairanga Handicap. In the early stages he was tucked in attending the two leaders, and. it was hot until well into the straight that he got clear. Once free he put in some telling work to overhaul the front lot and win going away. The class in this event was not above the average, and it is doubtful if many of them will even graduate out of the maiden lot. Three Tens was patiently driven in the middle of the field, and he came home well, his effort for a two-year-bid being very pleasing. He is settling down with racing, and with a bit of age may develop into a more than useful proposition. He is a halfbrother to Effie Parrish, who had won the fast mile and a quarter on the opening day. For an inexperienced horse Labour Day's showing was quite satisfactory. He was not too quick at striking his straps at barrier release, but half a mile from home he commenced to show up on the outside. He was forced to come round the turn four sulkies out, and his display was good under the circumstances. Repose was the actual leader to the distance, when she weakened, while Tsana did not experience the best of runs throughout. Cavatina failed to pace correctly in the first couple of furlongs and was soon in a hopeless position. ISSUE NEVER IN DOUBT. Backed down to a short price, Blomfield duly obliged in the Palmerston Handicap,' and'he was not doing his best over the final furlong. He was a shade uneven in his gait over the first furlong, and it was not until a mile had been negotiated that he really settled down to his task. He sprinted to the front approaching the straight, and when he turned for home with a length advantage it was apparent that he would win. He is by no means a champion, but while he is racing from his present mark he should continue t6 pay his way. Gold Kip trotted his race in patches, and he made . two lapses in the straight. However, his speed enabled him to overhaul Native -Worry just short of the post and gain second money. Native Worry was tucked in behind M.axie Lorraine for six furlongs when he was taken to the front, and no excuses could be offered for him. ~ , Air Pilot would have probably been closer than fourth had he not made a couple of breaks. Audrey's Last trotted a useful race, but Maxie Lorraine, Black " Native, and Barney Bingen, all made mistakes. COMPLETED A DOUBLE. Roma Girl was driven very confidently to win the Broadway Handicap, after standing the leaders up about 24yds as the field raced to the half-mile. It was.not until right on the bend that she was asked a question, and as it was she was forced to make her run on the outside of three sulkies. This added merit to her performance, for she displayed rare courage under pressure and was going away on the post. This mare is one of the gamest in commission, and she looks certain to make the grade to a tighter mark. Loch Leven held third or fourth place until reaching the turn, wb.es* he was taken to the front, and remained there till well past the distance. This horse has improved a good deal, and it looks as if he will develop into "a more than useful stayer. . Lynn Rey had a clear run all the way, and he was not disgraced in filling third place. He should not be difficult to place to advantage when he returns north. Silk King attempted to lead all the way, and it was well into the last quarter-mile before he surrendered the lead. Purina was pacing along quite evenly in sixth place when she made a lapse, and that was the finish of her. Otaua left the mark correctly, but did not run on under pressure. A DEAD HEAT. The chief event, the George Luoni Memorial, was productive of a wonderful finish, and two horses flashed past the post on terms, the judge being unable to separate them. Evexi though Treasure Bond conceded 36yds in the handicap the honours of the race were perhaps with Gentleman Joe. He was forced to make the pace from the outset, and he never had a let-up at any stage, his rare gameness under pressure being a feature of the race. He is one of the most versatile horses raced in the Dominion for some time, but it is evident that he is a much better proposition as a pacer. Treasure Bond lost 24yds when the barrier was released, and there was a good deal of merit in his performance. It was not until well into line that he was making an impression on: the leaders, and he battled on really well when the pressure was applied. Loyal Direct was tucked in handy on the fence all the way, but although she stuck on .well she never looked like doing better, than third. Mazaire had every chance. He was bowling along in second place to the quarter post when he commenced to stop, and his supporters never received any further thrill. The showing was well below his best. Ace High lost ground at the start and never recovered. BACK-MARKERS IN MONEY. Cavatina was responsible for one of her best efforts to date when she came from behind to win the Milson Handicap. In the early part she narrowly missed trouble when Double Peter tangled going out of the straight, but' from that stage on she was pacing so well that she looked certain to be in the picture. It was not until the last j few strides that she gained the upper hand of Petite, but even so it was a decisive victory. Petite registered a splendid effort from 60yds, and there was a deal of merit in the showing. She covered a lot of extra ground to reach the front at the distance, and the exhibition was a happy augury for the future. Te Roto was made a lot of use of out in front, and it looked as if he would have been closer had he been a little more patiently driven in the first mile. He should be worth keeping in mind. Double Peter made one lapse, but he showed a great turn of speed to get up fourth. Tsana was not pacing at all well at any part, after striking interference when Double ptfeter left his feet. ONLY THREE IN IT. The finish of the Publicans' Handicap y/as confined to the three limit

horses, and in the last few strides Rere Oro came through to win comfortably. She was holding second place throughout the race until reaching the distance, when her driver took her to the outside, from which position she made her run. This was her second success on the circuit, and it was a pretty smart effort. Hillcrest had the run of the race.in behind the leaders, and he came home very gamely to act as runner-up. He should return to the winning list before very long. Hottentot attempted to make every post a winning one, and it was only in the last hundred yards that he felt the pinch. Sans Pareil came in for solid support, and he was just commencing to make his run when he appeared to strike trouble, and he made a break. He showed enough speed to suggest that he would have been in the picture only for the incident. Envious came home well in fourth place, but never looked like doing any better. Loyalette was done with approaching the turn. LED ALL THE WAY. Sphinx led all the way in the Louisson Handicap, and it was apparent a long way from home that he would win. He ran the race at a shade faster clip than on the opening day, and this made the task of the backmarkers most difficult. He is a good, game trotter, who can be relied upon to do his work correctly from barrier release, thus assuring him of every chance. All Bingen was a shade unlucky in that he made a slight break racing for the turn the last time, and this cost him three lengths, which he had, reduced to a length at the post. Stin, the winner won well. Tan John ran his best race for some time, and his performance from 144 yds was most meritorious. It was not until the last half-mile that he made any impression, but he did his work solidly all the way. Chudic was also a shade unlucky in that he increased his handicap by a break at the start, while a further lapse with five furlongs to go did not enhance his prospects. He should not be long in making amends when he strikes a shade tighter class. Welcome Guy made about four mistakes in the race and never really threatened danger. CONSISTENCY REWARDED. The victory scored by Loyal Direct in the Members' Handicap was a just reward for the consistency she had displayed throughout the carnival. In all she was seen out on four occasions, and secured a first, two seconds, and a third. Racing to the straight she was not too we'll situated on the rails, and it was well down into the run home before her driver got her clear. Over the last bit she always had the measure of Gentleman Joe, and it was evident a furlong from home what would win. Considering the extra ground he covered to race on the outside of two horses for nearly six furlongs it was not surprising to see Gentleman Joe stop over the last bit, but he was far from disgraced. He is a game customer, and sure to earn a lot more money in the future. Shrewdie showed plenty of speed throughout, but he never looked like winning. Baron Alfonso left the mark on terms with the rest, but he failed to maintain the speed in the deciding stages. Effie Parrish was handy at the turn, but she had fcjeen doing her best to catch the field, while a break halfway down settled her. Olive King ran a useful race after losing a little bit of ground at the start.