JUDGE KEPT BUSY

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 49, 27 February 1945, Page 8

JUDGE KEPT BUSY

FIELD DAY AT PAHIATUA

The racing at the Pahiatua Meeting held at Woodville on Saturday, was productive of several magnificent finishes, and that in the open sprint must have been something of a nightmare to the judge, for a blanket might have .covered", all eleven runners. The winder scored by a neck, with the third ;horse half ahead back, and two horses $c.ad-heating for lourth at a similar interval. In the Juvenile Handicap Specialist and Dutch Mary fought it out all the way up the straight and the judge was unable to separate them, while in the first division of the Maiden Eace the winner squeezed home by half a head, with the next two dividing second money. It was certainly ;a day. of thrills.

; Has Gone Further.—When he first appeared on the racecourse enthusiasts .were struck by the similarity, in colouring and conformation of Phoenix and his dam, Land Tax. The dam, who was raced by Mr. J. O'Donnell. of Bunnythorpe, was a very useful sprinter, and at the close of her career she was mated with Phaleron Bay, and the product of the mating, Phoenix, has gone even further than his dam. Being trained in private, he was rather lively early in his career, declining to line up at the barrier, but age and experience have greatly improved him in that respect, and the manner in which he won the Pahiatua Cup on Saturday suggests that Phoenix will ■hold his own in middle-distance events Unfortunate Delays.—Although the Pahiatua Racing Club was fortunate enough to top the totalisator turnover at the Woodville Club's gathering, held a week previously, by £6832. the' aggregate would definitely have been greater but for unfortunate delays in paying out. An inquiry into the running of the Juvenile Handicap led to the pay-out being held up, and in the succeeding event, the Pahiatua Cup, the jockey of Lowry Bay intimated that he was lodging a protest against Phoenix on the grounds of alleged crossing at the straight entrance. Consequently, the all-clear signal was deferred, and it was not till some time had elapsed that it was found that the protest had not been lodged. As a result extra late-dividend windows had to be opened to cater for patrons, many of whom held their positions in the line, and as a result their betting activities were lost to the totalisator.

A Cheap Horse. —Since being taken over by Mrs. C. R. Garmonsway, the six-year-old gelding Daljarrock has won twice. His.first came in modest company at Blenheim, but he beat quite a strong field at the Pahiatua Meeting on Saturday to raise his stakewinnings in three starts to £295. As he paid over a score on the win machine a small investment would have more than returned the outlay entailed in his purchase. Daljarrock is now a gift horse, and he should carry his account still further, for he is quite at home in heavy ground. Further, he is the right stamp to make good as a hurdler.

Good Type.—Specialist, who followed up his win in the Sapling Stakes at the Woodville Meeting by deadheating with. Dutch Mary in the Juvenile Handicap on the same course on Saturday, was awarded first money following an inquiry. Dutch Mary, who was meeting Specialist on 6£lb better terms than on the previous Saturday, had the inside running crossing the top, but on reaching the straight she bored out, carrying Specialist with her, and she was relegated to second place by the judicial committee. It also led to her rider, W. L. Aitken, being given a holiday of one month. Specialist is a product of Broiefort and the Rosenor mare Cock-Eye, thus a half-brother to Yorkish. He is a commanding type, and Should carry his- account much further. Cannot Win. —Based on his gallant second in the New Zealand Cup, it was anticipated that Lowry Bay would be an early winner on his home circuit, but he has still to win this term. In both the Woodville Handicap and Pahiatua Cup he filled the position of runner-up after having been right in the picture in each instance. Phoenix, who was out in front with him in the Pahiatua Cup, appeared to cross over to the rails rather sharply at the top of the straight, but he won too well for Lowry Bay to be viewed as an unlucky runner. It was Lowry Bay's fifth second placing this term, and it would appear as though he does best under the lighter scale, even though the company may be more formidable. A Distinction. —The former southerner T. L. Jennings, who is now training at Opaki, had the distinction of saddling up the winner of each division of the Maiden Race at the Pahiatua Meeting. Gay Corrie, who was originally one of T. R. George's team, took the first division narrowly but well, and Lady Chips finished on to take the honours in the second section. Gay Corrie is a three-year-old by Coronach from imported Revinella, who was by Reveillori from Dulcibella, by Gay Crusader, and Lady Chips is by Croupier from the Australian-bred Wedding Eve. who was got by Excitement from Ritual. However, the latter family was founded on this side of the Tasman, for Cross Battery, the fifth dam of Lady Chips, was got by Stepniak from Firecross, a mare who was imported from New South Wales.