SPORTING

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIII, Issue 46, 24 February 1942, Page 8

SPORTING

MADE THE GRADE

GOLD BRIDGE'S CUP WIN

(By "Binocular.")

A splendid exhibition of riding was given by W. J. Stevens on Gold Bridge in the Woodville Cup, the apprentice keeping the Acre gelding to the rails throughout to then come with a fast run along the inner over the final furlong Gold Bridge, who carries the l same- colours as that other.good distance performer of a tew years back, Grand Jury, has shown promising Ihighweight form on occasion, and last 1 season he won five races in hack distance and high weight company, three of his successes coming in a row. In the Ashhurst Cup on the same course last month he was fifth, and again ran a fair race in the Ta Timi Kara Handicap at Otaki, but his effort of Saturday was a sharp improvement, nevertheless. He is a typical Acre, and as his dam, Pont dOr, Was by Formative from the Gold Reef mare Kautuku. he has jumping blood in his veins, A Bold Bid. Despite the fact that he is approaching his tenth year, Maestro is by no means a spent force. At Otaki in December he gave indication by running second to Master Lackham in a highweight event that he was coming back to form, and he showed his, appreciation of the minimum poundage in the Woodville Cup by going very close to winning, it being only over the last 20 yards that Gold Bridge touched him off. Creditable Race. Even though Talenta did not have the services of N. Vaughan in the Woodville Cup, the Tiderace mare was made favourite for the event. However, patrons seemingly remembered Vaughan's record in recent Cup races and his mount on this occasion, Gay Fox, came in for surprising support. The backing was rather flattering, for although he came home well the Foxbridge gelding never looked a real possibility. . ■■ . Full of Merit. There was a lot of merit about Tuatara's performance in the open sprint at Woodville. One of thejast to move, he had only Happy Ending behind him half a mile from home. Consequently, he had to make his run on the turn and maintain it over the final furlong. For a moment it looked as though he could not maintain, the effort, but a touch of the whip saw him pull out a little extra. Big as he is, wieght should not trouble him. Fully Merited. The win of Colincamps in the Oringi Hurdles at the Woodville Meeting was fully merited, for the chestnut has raced consistently. On this occasion he filled his usual role of oacemaker, but held on better than usual, having sufficient in reserve to worry Glaciate out of it after the latter had assumed charge at the straight entrance. Disappointed. ■ After being handily enough placed half a mile from home, Cartoonist's rider allowed Glaciate and Colincamps to open up a break approaching the straight entrance, and although the Mimetic gelding came home strongly he could not bridge the gap, being about five lengths back. He is capable of better things than that.