NIGHTRAY'S CUP SUCCESS

Evening Post, Volume CXXXV, Issue 39, 16 February 1943, Page 6

NIGHTRAY'S CUP SUCCESS

(By "Binocular.")

Earlier in her career Nightray, who brought off a surprise win in the Egmont Cup on Saturday, had run some highly creditable races, but all too frequently she placed herself at a handicap by being slow to move at the barrier rise. At Trentham last month she won the highweight event on the opening day, coming with a 1 strong run to touch off Madame Rachel on the post. On the second day she was a long way back early, and was running on at the finish, although too late to figure in the money. Now she has made a successful debut in Cup company, her staying power again assisting to that end. By Nightly, a son of Night Raid, she was the first foal of the Kiosk mare Lady Eka, the dam being the only produce of the Acre mare Eka. Although Eka won a few sprint events she never went far, and Lady Eka failed to win a race during her career. Seemingly Nightray secures her staying power from her sire, who has several useful sorts running up this way.

Went Close. —History was nearly repeated in the Egmont Cup on Saturday, for despite the fact that it was her first outing for the term, Mahaina, winner of the event twelve months ago, narrowly failed to take the honours. Like many of the Posterity family, Mahaina took time to make good, her first win coming at her twelfth start as a three-year-old, but she followed it with three" wins in five starts as a five-year-old. She took the Atiawa Hack Handicap and the Taranaki Hack Cup in December of 1941, and later won the Egmont Cup from another Koatanui Stud product in Dynasty. Like Nightray, she is a first foal, being from the Pombal—Episode mare Burnish, who is a winner of the G.N. Champagne Stakes and the Manawatu Sires' Produce Stakes, etc., Mahaina was sold by Mr. G. M. Currie at the 1938 Yearling Sales for 160 guineas. A Success. —After being placed in four of his preceding starts, Kaite-he got on the winning list at Hawera on Saturday. Previously he has been a trifle difficult to handle in his races, but as he is by Defoe from the Gainsj CO urt —Crimson Wing mare Lovecourt, I who was a fair winner, he should go on improving. Beaten.— Although she failed to gain a place in the Winton Cup Gold Flight was galloping better at the end of the race than at any other stage. She is well forward in condition and should improve on a bigger course. Short Straight.— The short straight at Winton favoured the leaders m more than one race. Three who were at a disadvantage were Silver Sox, Lady Adin, and Sea Lady, who were finishing strongly, if too late. A Bumper. —Both at Dunedin and again in the Douro Cup Prince Shad paid quite useful dividends, but they fell far short of the price he returned in his first important success at the Grand National Meeting at Riccarton in August. On that occasion he paid about a quarter of a century. His owner had £100 each way on him, and the cheque, which was in the region of £3000, was the largest ever paid out in dividends since the C.J.C. operated its own totalisator.