FOUR IN FINISH

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20477, 11 February 1941, Page 9

FOUR IN FINISH

COOK HACK HANDICAP RACES AT MAKARAKA CENTENNIAL’S VICTORY The promise of good racing was realised to-day at Makaraka by the finish of the Cook Hack Handicap, second race of the day’s programme. Four horses figured in the finish, Centennial winning by half a head from Ashaboy and paying a handsome dividend, • Katesbridge, coming from a long way back, was a neck away third arid Waikawa a very close fourth. Centennial was never badly placed and Ashaboy also had a trouble-free run, but Katesbridge was the unlucky one of the field, for three furlongs from the judge she must have been seven or eight lengths from the leaders. Jt was not until She hit the straight that she was able to unwind her real speed, and had she been closer up at the turn the result would probably have been different. In her Wairoa and Gisborne racing, Katesbridge has demonstrated real speed over the last furlong or two, her performances being highly consistent in this respect.

Totalisator investments during the ■first half of the day’s racing were substantially better than those of last year, and after the running of the third race the figures were £1124 higher than for the first three races on the second day of last year’s meeting.

COOK HACK HANDICAP

First £BO, second £lO, third £5; 7 furs.

7—CENTENNIAL, H. J. Mullooly’s br.g., 6yrs., Mimetic—Threadless, 7.7 (J. Forsyth) 1 S—ASHABOY, E. O. Warren’s ch.g., 4yrs„ Skycracker —. Agile, 8.3 (P. Atkins) 2 2— KATESBRIDGE, Mrs. W. L. Torbett’s br.m., 4yrs., Foxbridge —Veloce, 7.10 (R. Marsh) .. 3

Also started: 1 Native Chief, 9.5 (E. Power); 3 Waikawa, 7.11 (T. Winiata); 4 Silver Bat, 8.1 (N., Caveney); C Callcardirie, 8.1 (S. Anderson); 8 No Wonder, 7.7 (P. Fenton).

An electrifying finish in the Cook Hack Handicap offered racegoers the biggest thrill of the season to date, for Centennial, well in the picture to the last furlong, was challenged by Asha briy and looked to be defeated when lie dug up another effort and just succooded in nosing Ashaboy out by the liriest of margins. Katesbridge and Waikawa were also close up to the first and second horses, contesting closely for third moriey. Silver Bat and Callcardine were late in getting oft and the early leaders were Centennial, No Wonder, Ashaboy and Waikawa, with Katesbridge, Native Chief and the other two behind them.

Native Chief moved up rapidly after covering two furlongs, ranging up on Ihe outside of Centennial and Ashaboy at the half-mile and then going out to load by a length. Katesbridge dropped back to last at three furlongs, and both Callcardine and Silver Bat made temporary .improvements. Coming to the straight Native Chief was still in front, but he was quickly accounted foir by Centennial and Ashaboy, who cajme away to fight it out for third place. Ashaboy was in front at the distance, but Centennial stuck to him and wore him down. -• Katesbridge, badly placed just before the turn, put in a great run in the straight and got into third money a head in front of wlaikawa. After them the order was Native 7 Chief, No Wonder, Silver Bat and Callcardine. Time, 1.28 3-5. G. 15. OMAN MEMORIAL STAKES. First £7O, second £lO, third £5; two-year-olds arid upwards that have never won a race; G fur. 2 FAIRIE SONG, E. O. Warren’s br.m., aged. Mimetic —Evensong, 8.7 (P. Atkins) .. .. 1 3 ST. BILL. E. N. Fitzgerald’s blk.g., 2yrs., Kincardine—Our Bonnie, 8.0 (F. Power) .. .. 2 I—SKYETTE, Mat. Johnson’s ch.m., 4yrs„ Skycracker—Donnette, 8.7 (N. Caveney) 3 Also started.—7 Big Wonder, 8.7 (P. Fenton); fi Cartoonist, 8.7 (T. Forsyth); 5 Queen Cardine, 8.7 (R. Marsh); 8 Vain Crop, 8.7 (T. Winiata); 4 Final, 8.7 (S. Anderson).

The field of eight runners got off fairly well, St. Bill being, first to show out, with Fairie Song and Cartoonist next and .Final fourth. Skyette was fifth and the other three were bunched behind her. In the first furlong Cartoonist displaced Fairie Song from second position, but otherwise the order did not change materially until they got round the next turn. There St. Bill was still out in front and Cartoonist whs the nearest of the others, but Fairie Song was within a length and swinging out to get a run on the outside of the leader, tackled him strongly. Together they drew away from the others and duelled it out to .the end, with Skyette making vain efforts to get on terms with them. Fairie Song prevailed in the last few strides and won by a neck, Skyette being third two lengths back. Then ckme Final, Vain Crop, Big Wonder, Queen Cardine and Cartoonist, the last-mentioned having failed badly in the straight. Time; 1.15.