KINDERGARTEN'S CUP

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 14, 17 January 1941, Page 12

KINDERGARTEN'S CUP

STRONG FIELD OUTCLASSED

Kindergarten simply towered above one of the strongest fields that has ever gone to the post in the Wellington Cup. He came. to. Trentham with the reputation of being a three-year-old colt well above the ordinary, and those privileged to witness his performance in yesterday's contest left satisfied that they had seen, not only a colt above the ordinary, but one who might yet be ranked in the order of the extraordinary.

Rarely has the Cup been won so decisively. Kindergarten, starting from No. 7 .marble, was in. a favourable position from the moment of dispatch, and it was soon obvious that H. N. Wiggins was concerned only with remaining within comfortable . range of the front, as he did not attempt to imf>roye his place till the last three furongs, rather eased back in the middle stages and finally off the fence to keep the colt off the heels of the horses ahead. It was not till reaching the straight that Kindergarten was really asked to strike. Like a tornado he flashed past the leaders, and in moments he was clear and sailing along as though winning races was just the most commonplace thing in the whole world. Prior to the race Wiggins said that the colt had only to receive one chance and it would not be a race. And so it turned out. Kindergarten is the horse of the moment, and he is possibly the horse of the decade. His rise to fame has been phenomenal. He did not do much racing last season, but he won three of his six starts, the Hastings Stakes and two small events at Gisborne. This season he was in the .minor money at his first three starts and since has succeeded five times on end, so that his record to date is eight wins and three minor placings in 14 starts for £5105 in stakes, including the trophy valued at £100 attached to yesterday's Cup. He is the best horse ever owned by that enthusiastic Gisborne sportsman Mr. E. N. Fitzgerald. Belle Cane, another three-year-old, ran true to her Manawatu Cup form, and completely confounded her northern detractors, by rising superior to tbe rest of the field. Never further back than third, following Orelio and Schoolgirl most of the way, she finished on gamely to cut down Orelio and then stall off a challenge from the New Zealand Cup winner Serenata. Serenata, having her first race since November., was undoubtedly unlucky to run up against two such outstanding three-year-olds. Well back early, she moved forward on the turn to be next after Orelio, Belle Cane, Kindergarten, Schoolgirl, Wardress, and Enrich, entering the straight, and she then put in her characteristic final claim. She all but f->t to Belle Cane, and though that filly was holding her a-£ the post, she managed just to cut down Orelio and so take the £300 that went. to third horse. These three horses were separated by half-heads only. Orelio, apparently with the object of keeping the pace down, went to the front past Schoolgirl at the end of three furlongs, but, though succeeding in this aim, he finally narrowly missed the money. He was unlucky in drawing the outside with his stablemate Proud Fox, but he managed to slip in a few places before the actual start. The only one among the others who might, be accounted unlucky to miss the money was Little Robin, who was twelve or thirteen places back when the field settled down, but came home solidly through an inner route in the straight to be a close fifth. Schoolgirl and Enrich, who were next, ran meritorious races, always among the leading group. Wardress, going round in the middle stages, also made a creditable showing. Two who were finishing on were The Ring and Gladynev. Old Bill and Royal Chief were right up in the middle of the field early, but that was the only time they ever raised any hope, Old Bill particularly running decidedly below form. The biggest failures of all were The Buzzer and Proud Fox, who were expected at least to make some sort of a bid. The Buzzer beat only Catalogue home. Catalogue put in a bright move near the five furlongs, going nearly up to the leaders, but he dropped back shortly afterwards. He had broken down and returned very lame. The pace at which the race was run hardly suited the real stayers, though it made no difference to Kindergarten. The time, 2min 33|sec, was the slowest since Stanchion succeeded a decade ago, and it was even slower than Ropa took when winning the first Cup run on the Trentham course in 1906. The last mile and a quarter took 2min 1% sec, and the last mile lmin 42sec, but they stepped the speed on better over the last half mile in 48£ sec. SIR BEAU'S FINE EFFORT. The day's double was completed for the three-year-olds and the favourites when Sir Beau eclipsed his opposition in the Telegraph Handicap. This is the first time in the last twenty years that the favourites have won the Cup Day double, but it is not the first time that the three-year-olds have performed the feat, as Defaulter and Rakahanga so succeeded two years ago. Sir Beau was started in this event in preference to the Stakes on the recommendation of his trainer, W. H. Dwyer, who advised that he had a second-to-none chance of winning the thousand-pounder. So the judgment j was confirmed. Sir Beau drew the remote outside marble, but, beginning well, he was always handy to the front and he readily assumed control at the distance, going on to score very decisively. It was his fourth win in as many starts on the Trentham course, an outstanding record. The only three-year-old who has won this sprint with more weight than he carried is The Hawk, who succeeded under 8.13 in 1922. Black Thread acted as- runner-up for the second successive year.- He also started out wide, but began smartly and was prominent throughout, finishing on better than Duvach, who dashed through half-way down the straight and momentarily looked a possible winner. . . .

Hearth, the best of the others, was also finishing well, and so was Kathbella. Doria followed Zest on to the course proper, but tired into sixth. Zest also weakened but performed with credit in showing- such early pace from No. 14 marble. Night Eruption and Arvakur, without ever offering danger, went fair races. Rakahanga, in blinkers, was up with Zest and Doria at the false rail, but she then gave up the struggle. Density, one of the first to begin, 4ost her position before they had gone far, though she was still fourth on to the course proper. Sir Crusoe failed to jump away and was at the rear practically throughout the trip. Marshall

Hall also did not produce the brilliance that usually characterises his efforts.

MAIDEN WINS HIGHWEIGHT. Happy Ending had no recent exposed I form whatever for the Trentham Highweight Handicap, but his connections and those following his rider, A. Jenkins, backed him down to third favourite, despite the fact that he had drawn No. 16 marble, and he proved too good for his opposition over the last two furlongs after having been among the first half-dozen all the way. Last season he was a couple of times in the minor money among the novices, but since joining B. Burgess's stable in the winter he had raced only once prior-to yesterday. Happy Ending is certainly bred to do better, as he is a four-year-old halfbrother by Beau Pere to the Wellington Cup winner Stanchion. His owner, Mr. J. D. McDougall, of Featherston, secured the dam, Termination, at the dispersal sale of the late Mr. J. J. Cprry's horses. Kotua, also making her debut in highweight class, was a well-support-ed second favourite, and she was a comfortable second after having assumed "charge from Namesake and Great Night at the false rail, where the winner also issued his claim. Black Musk, on the rail third or fourth through,out, kept going for the other diVidend. „»• .L The unlucky runner was Martene, who ranged up round the outer on the turn, was then checked when Twenty Grand dropped back on him, and finally came on again for fourth. Arabic, The Monarch, Rose Acre, and Doctor Defoe were also finishing on from rearward positions. Namesake, Great Night, and Twenty Grand all tired. Iceland Spar was last after a furlong and remained there. De Friend. Thrasos, and Gold Bridge were slow away. BURRA SAHIB ROMPS HOME. With the scratching of Sir Beau the way was made easy for another two-year-old win in the Wellington Stakes, but the result was a surprise for investors, as Burra Sahib ran away from his rivals over the last couple of furlongs for a four lengths' victory at a price approaching a score. Burra Sahib drew No. 8 marble, and he'began well to settle down behind Prince Plato and Corn Prince, also starting out wide. That is how they reached the course proper, with Golden Moon and Salutation next, but passing the false rail Burra Sahib dashed past the two leaders and the race was all over. Burra Sahib is a Buland- j s har—Provence colt owned byv his breeder, Mr. F. Ormond, who had not previously won this event, and he is a neat youngster who opened his ac- j count at the recent Auckland Meet-! ing and has now stepped successfully into classic grade. _ W. L. Aitken, who rode Burra Sahib, is an apprentice attached to the Stable of the colt's trainer, S. J. Reid, and he handled his mount well. , Salutation might have made it a better race if she had not run about a lot and then changed her course completely just past the false rail, where she. switched over from the outside to the fence in a few strides, between the leaders and the rear bunch. With all the horses drawn close in she did not begin too well, owing to the barrier rising defectively. Prince Plato showed a lot of early speed from the outside marble, and he deserved his third. Pay Roll was running on fourth, but her customary early brilliance was completely lacking and she might be training off. Corn Prince tired into fifth, just beaten by Pay Roll, and another stableniate. Par Avion, was right up with them, finishing as well as anything. Golden Moon faded, Kentucky was never dangerous, and Varuna brought up the rear after a very disappointing effort. DOUBLE FOE APPRENTICE. The Hastings apprentice W. L. Aitken put up an unusual performance for a lad when he brought home two successive winners on the Trentham course by steering Rakanui to victory in the Apprentices' Plate. It was also another double-figure return. Rakanui scored impressively, and thus redeemed the reputation he partly lost when he failed at Trentham last ] July. Not too well placed early, he was still seven or eight places back on reaching the straight, but he finished very resolutely along- the outer to wear down Blandisher and score by a length. _ A four-year-old Hunting Song— Golden Opportunity gelding, Rakanui comes from the Desert Gold family, and he is owned by Mr. R. J. Jeffares, of Napier, who secured him privately as a yearling from Mr. R. K. Murphy, who owns the dam. Unlike most of the Hunting Songs, he prefers firm to heavy going. Blandisher had the run of the race, with Parchment, making the pace for him, but once again he had to be content with a minor share of the stake. He just retained second from Dainty Dell, who finished solidly along the fence from several places back on the turn and is clearly an improved mare. Parchment, an English horse, went his best race yet, though tiring into fourth. Talenta became prominent on the turn, but after challenging at the false rail she weakened again and was fifth at the post. The best of the others | were War Credit, Cheerful Lady, and j Blue Border, who were all slow away. Miss Leighon, Laughing Song, and Native Chief were handy till the straight. Cheerful Lady was probably very unlucky. Twice she anticipated the start, once breaking the tapes, but when the field was finally let away she was hopelessly left. She put up a magnificent effort to finish as close as she did. SILVER RING'S RELATIVE. Monetary was due for the win that at last came his way in the Fitzherbert Handicap, f. race that, sometimes has been the stepping-off stone for the j champions. Drawn wide and some dis- i tance back early, though not losing as much ground as sometimes, he went after the leaders near the false rail and had them beaten at the commencement of the final furlong.' In six previous outings, Monetary had been second at his last start and fourth on four other occasions, always running on. He is a brown colt by Paper Money out of the Paladin — Orange Blossom mare Kakara, a halfsister to Silver Ring, who also opened his account in the same event, and he is owned by Mr. W. A. White, of Christchurch, who bought the dam with foal at foot from Mr. G. J. Barton, of Dunedin. Imperium, also starting out wide, came from still further back to be a good second and he was finishing better than anything. A fortnight ago he beat Monetary at Tauherenikau, luck then being with him. i

Fleche dOr, from No. 22 marble, kept well up but wide out all the way, and she finished too well for Willow Wood, Palfrey, Caroline Bay, and Ring Chief, who had made most of the running among them, Eing Chief and,

Palfrey actually being first over on to the course. -Gay Genet was all out to hold her place on the rail early, and tired. Gunyah was always fairly handy, and Amorangi was running on. Nothing else ever came into the call. ANOTHER PAPER MONEY VICTOR.

The Paper Moneys have usually excelled in their early brilliance, but in two races yesterday they succeeded by finishing strongly from the middle of the field. Circular Note followed up Monetary's performance in this style among the juveniles by capturing the Ruapehu Handicap similarly from a representative field of sprinting hacks. Circular Note, who drew No. 10 marble, was not prominent in the early running, but on reaching the course proper he was already beginning to show up, and below the false rail he dashed through the leaders brilliantly and then stalled off a challenge from Augment in the final furlong. Circular Note, though six years old, had done no racing before this season, and he won his first event at Dunedin during the holidays,- following up with another win at Waikouaiti, as the result of a protest, which makes his winning record three in line. After the holidays he was sent north to join T. R. George's stable, as his owner, Mrs. R. C. Thornton, lives in Wellington. Augment, having his first race since November, was always within range of the front and he finished in his usual stout fashion out on the track for ah easy second from Leighnor, who was never further back than fourth. Last Acre was running on only a head away, and the best of the others were Squeers, Lord Midas, Omapo, Valiant Lady, and Trig Station.. Black Majesty tired after assisting Lord Midas in the early pacemaking from No. 17 marble, and Grey Night also faded after being well placed near the rail till the course. Scandal was. never dangerous. GAY MIMIC'S SURPRISE. The rule of the favourite division for the Anniversary Handicap was broken when Gay Mimic sprang the surprise of the day in this year's contest and j returned a win dividend of over a quarter of a century. The hot favourite, Gayest Son, might have been unlucky, however, as he suffered interference along the back that put him in an almost hopeless position on the turn. Gay Mimic, drawn close in, held his place in the early battle for position, while. Gayest Son, on the rail, was chopped back. Rounding: to the straight he lay third behind.Red Cat and White Rajah, but he came through on the inner of the leaders passing the false rail-and was then capable of stalling off a claim from Siglow by a neck. Gay Mimic was a winner early during the holidays, but he lost caste by failures at Wairarapa, which accounted for his tall dividend. , Siglow, seven or eight places back on the turn, shot through when Red Cat switched out suddenly half-way down the straight,. but though he briefly threatened the winner he could not sustain his effort. Red Cat took charge after a furlong, I and, after having to be steadied when she swung off her course in the straight, which stopped any possible challenge along the outer, she kept going for the other dividend. Pleading, never far back, came upon the inner of Red Cat but he tired near the post and missed the money. Gayest Son, vainly manoeuvring for a challenge over the last furlong, was fifth, with Ruatiti, Olympus, and Colonel Bogey next. White Rajah dropped out, but his chance was gone when Red Cat came across his track in the straight. Charles Edward was prominent on the turn but wide out. Winning Rival beat only Cherry Bay home.