OTAKI RUNNING

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22513, 17 December 1947, Page 12

OTAKI RUNNING

KING'S' _RANSOM EAGERNESS LACKING . MOROTAI’S SUCCESS After his moderate performance, in the Raukawa Handicap at the Otaki Maori Raciilg Club’s meeting*, it is problematical if King's Ransom 1 will now make the trip to Ellerslie for the Auckland Cup engagement. On Saturday he was placed well in the running throughout. About five furlongs from home he received a slight check. This did not, however, affect the winning result although possibly it may have cost King’s Ransom the third place. He did not show the eagerness to gallop which marked his racing at the Wellington spring meeting and it is possible that the slight lameness he suffered from at Riccarton is still causing him a little pain. The track at Otaki was firm and for that reason he may have been shy in extending himself. , Morotni gained her .first success in open oompanv in the Raukawa Handicap and looks like be in. 2 a very fair winner this season over middle distances. In seven starts this season she Ims won three races and has been out of a place only once. A. E. (Darkle) Neale trains her at Bulls for the Kangitikei sportsman, Mr. G. Macdonall. Morotai is a five-year-old bay mare by Bulandshar from Bamiam, by Colossus from N^arangi. Imperial, who was again second, was always well placed. Third money went to Robin’s Reward, never further back than sixth in the running. He finished strongly with his 9st. 21b., which is 141bs. more than lie lias in the Auckland Cup. Whether he is to contest that important race or the Manawatu Cup has not yet been decided, but it is expected he will make the Auckland trip. On breeding he should develop into a sound stayer and a track like Ellerslie should suit him.

Sea Fury and Yandra The Huia Sprint Handicap, in which three A.R.C. Railway Handicap candidates competed, was run in divisions, both being closely contested. In the lirst Sea Fury, who had run a fair race in the C.J.C. Stewards, trailed the leading three or four until the distance when she ran to the front to win by a length, going away. It was a fair performance which gives her a chance in the big Auckland sprint. Second to Sea Fury was Castlebrae, who forfeited her Railway engagement last Friday and is to do her holiday racing at Manawatu and Marton. On Saturday she had every chance to run a fair race. . Third went to the three-year-old Ladyship, who may have been in need of a public pipeopener. In this division the topweight, Theocritus, was one of the early leaders, but found the distance and his impost a little more than he could cope with. At the finish he was fifth with Carmalita just ahead of him on the post. Concrete, making his debut as an. open sprinter, swung round at the start to take no part in the race. In the second division the five-year-old chestnut mare Yandra (Coronach —Kara) succeeded in winning her first race of the season. Early this term she raced over sprint courses then when ready took on middle-distances which she proved equal to last winter to win the Connolly Handicap. Lady Burford appeared to have Saturday’s race in keeping, but Yandra gained the decision in the last stride. Had Lady Burford been ridden a little more desperately over the final chain, she might have arrived home first. Craven, the third place-getter, was always prominent and at the finish was close behind the winner as the official margins being a nose and half a head. Deprive was near the front for half a mile. Then the lack of racing told against him and he retired. Mnlanui was never in the picture and Alderman was eased up after bleeding. Overduo Success

Rothnic scored an over-due success in the opening event. His previous win was in the autumn of. 1945. One of .Tim Waller’s Awapuni team, Rothnic is a six-year-old by the defunct Foxlight, from Cheerful Day. Bon Chale Improves

Of late Bon Chalo has been running just good enough over short distances to be beaten out of a place. Tried at Otaki over a mile and a quarter, he succeeded in winning, although the time was slower than in the high-weight event. Bon Chale is a four-year-old by Philamor. This success was the second of his career, the previous win being in the Trial at Bulls in June. ■ The well-backed Patanui ran prominently, being beaten by half a head only. His rider, C. A. Bowry, who was well booked up for the holiday meetings, received a month’s suspension for alleged interference in what was described ns a very rough race. The third place-getter. Tenor Royal, the win favourite, suffered in the running and then was ,beaten by about a length. That showing 1 will be remembered over the holiday mootings. Commercial was again a little unlucky in the running, while Waimanu was one that did not get, the best of runs, being sent back twice during the race.