SPORTING Dark Arrow Is Due For Winning Effort

Greymouth Evening Star, 22 September 1949, Page 7

SPORTING Dark Arrow Is Due For Winning Effort

If ever a horse was due for a winning break it is Dark Arrow, who added to his consistent record by finishing second to Marybiirn in the Ashburton Handicap last Saturday. In four starts this season the Nightly gelding has finished in the first four on each occasion, probably his best effort being in the Winter Cup when he finished second behind Julius Caesar.

Actually, Dark Arrow has been off the winning list since the Dunedin winter meeting in the 1947-48 season, but in spite of the fact that he always seems to bump up against one just too .good at the weights, he has more than paid his way with place money. He was a widely-travelled gelding last season. In May he was taken north to the Waikato meeting, collecting £3OO in stakes for the two days. Back at Trenthan his form was not so impressive but the National meeting found him in better form. For the three days he won £5OO in stakes. In the Ashburton Handicap his second place was worth £l2O, so that all told since May he has won £920. This Saturday he will race in the Ling Memorial Stakes at the OtakiMaori meeting.

Two Champions Comic Court and Carbon Copy, two of Australia’s best horses, have now met. 12 times and Comic Court has finished in front on seven occasions. If Carbon Copy had beaten Comic Court in the Craiglee Stakes at Flemington on Saturday his stake winnings would have exceeded those of Columnist, Carbine, Flight, and Tranquil Star. Related To Akbar

Betula, a McLean Stakes candidate, is owned by Mr D. McFarlane and is trained for him by F. D. Jones, who has already turned out three winners of the classic —Prosperity (1921), Control (1933), and Magical (1947). Betula is a quality black filly by Foxbridge from Pedile, and is thus a half-sister to Akbar. Badl” Left Whitley and Clyde Bridge, joint favourites for the Spring Handicap at Ashburton, were among those which were “left” eight or 10 lengths by Magical. Magnaform’s good fourth in the same race is worth keeping in mind. He did best of the bunch which was unfortunate at the start. Red Emperor Red Emperor, win favourite in the Lynn Handicap at Epsom last Saturday, was a shade unlucky not to return a dividend. He received a bad check entering the back, and after drifting to the rear, finished well in sixth place. On Saturday the Light Brigade horse will be much better suited by the conditions of the Franklin Stakes for four-year-olds, run over a mile and a half. In a field of 15 he is well placed on 24 yards. The Grey Lynn Handicap, incidentally, resulted in a fine finish, five horses, Petite Direct, Chedworth Hall, Admiral Peterson, Tidy Lady and Josie Grattan crossing the line in close formation. A photo was called for and revealed that the five finished as named, separated by necks only.

Peggydale Peggydale, second thrice in her last five starts, was again unlucky in her race at Ashburton last Saturday, finishing with a late run in second place behind Joygiver. The Waimate mare, with a bit of luck, should reach the winning list in the near future. Even sc, she will have a difficult task in the Introductory Handicap at New Brighton on Saturday as she is placed on the 24 yard mark behind a big field. Led All The Way Sir Peterson won both his races last Saturday at Epsom by piloting his fields all the way. Sir Peterson was well clear of Fortuna, Indianote, Marshall Ney, Sunny Hall, and Bexdale com-

mencing the final half-mile in the September Handicap, with British Machine behind them and pacing well within himself. Indianote and Fortuna had had enough at the home turn, and Sir Peterson stayed on well to win by a length from Marshall Ney with British Mashine finishing well three-quarters of a length away. Sunny Hall was next and Popular Girl finished, best of the others. Following the race the connections of. Indianote were questioned concerning the horse’s running, and the explanation was accepted. Sprayman Unlucky Sprayman appeared to be unlucky at Epsom, as he was going particularly well, handy to the front bunch, when his chances were ruined when Popular Girl fell. Sprayman started brilliantly from the 60 yard mark and the grey gelding may not find his 48 yard handicap beyond him in the Papatoetoe Handicap on the second day. Sprayman may find two miles in Cup company a little beyond him but he is up to the best over the shorter distances. Single Direct, who started from the same mark as Sprayman last Saturday, gave an attractive performance. running his last mile in 1.2 4-5. It showed that the Auckland pacer is coming on well in his N.Z. Cup preparation. With the winner Sir Peterson clocking a shade over 2.40, Sprayman must have gone very fast over the early stages.