IN ROLE OF CHASER

Evening Post, Volume CXL, Issue 57, 5 September 1945, Page 10

IN ROLE OF CHASER

A "POOR RELATIVE"

STILL HOPE FOR AGA KAY

Being by Bulandshar from the Martian mare Left, thus a half-brother to those great campaigners of the past Peter Jackson, Game Carrington, and Wotan, it was naturally expected when he made his debut on the racecourse that it was only a matter of time before Aga Kay would also write history. His earlier activities were considerably restricted, but he was freely tested as a five-year-old without the j desired result. His breeders finally tired of him, and after being raced on lease for a period by Mr. E. G. Bowden, he passed into the ownership of Mr. A. Lisle, of Taranaki, who decided to try him as a jumper.- He was placed with L. Knapp at Awapuni, but after showing a tendency to bleed he was not persevered with, and Mr. Lisle gave him away. Shortly afterwards the recipient turned the gift to profit by selling Aga Kay to, Mr. R. E. Laurent, of Waitara, at th»; modest fieure of £25. In the role of 'chaser Aga Kay recently won a point-to-point steeples, which encouraged Mr. Laurent to test him further, and the outing at New Plymouth on Saturday was Aga Kay's first outing on the racecourse for his present owner. Although to date Aga Kay has been something of a "poor relative," there is still hope for him in the role of jumper, and he may yet do honour for his family. Satisfactory Return. Tlie Paeroa owner-trainer H. Evans is not averse to travelling his horses, and Bettermaii is a real campaigner. The trainer had a team of four at New Plymouth on Saturday, . and he enjoyed a good innings by collecting firsts with Bettermusk and Old Mack, and a third with Betterman. • Finished Well. Colonel Vaals was responsible for an impressive finishing effort in the Stratford Handicap. He and Royal Raider missed the jump -out, and after going two furlongs they were both so far back that they were almost forgotten until Colonel Vaals flashed up into fourth place at the finish. The effort suggested that this northerner will run out a longer journey. A Fair Showing. Keen Play ran quite a creditable race in the Halcombe Handicap at New Plymouth. In the past he has not shown to advantage on a heavy track, but he was running on at the finish of his race on Saturday for fourth; He does not appear to have suffered any ill-effects from his accident at Wanganui in June, and he may not be long in making his presence felt in middle-distance events. Up to a mile and a quarter he represents good class. An Unlucky Horse. Peter's Choice rarely runs a bad I race, but he seems destined to fill minor placings. Last season he weighed in on 11 occasions for only one win, and he has started off the current term with another minor placing. He has schooled well over hurdles at Hawera, and he may make his debut in the role at Wanganui. Made of Iron. Isambard, who ran third under 11.10 in the Australian Hurdles, has filled placings in, the event for three years in succession. He was second to David Spear in 1942, won in 1943 and was third this year. Now something of,,a battle-scarred veteran, Isambard continues to carry on whereas Father Time and accidents have removed many of his former rivals. R. Watts has ridden Isambard over about 800 obstacles, and only 20 of them has he jumped without touching. However, the Harinero gelding goes on rapping them without doing any serious injury to himself. Shorter Distance. The distance of the Australian Hurdles has been changed a few times since its inception in I^B2. Then run over two miles, the race was first won by the late James Scobie on Rhesus. Four miles was the distance when His Grace won in 1897, but it was later altered to 3£ miles, less 92 yards. This year the V.A.T.C. further reduced it to 2 miles 5 furlongs and 65 yards. Have Been Named. The name of Bramerton has been claimed for the chestnut colt by Chatsworth from Tavoy, who figures in the Wanganui Debutant field on Saturday. He will be raced by the Hawera trainer O. Cox, in partnership with Messrs. A. G., F. H., and L. V. Walker. The chestnut filly by Sir Beau from the Lackham mare Charmante, has had the name Beguile registered for her.