FAVOURITES FAIL

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22572, 27 February 1948, Page 8

FAVOURITES FAIL

EGMONT FIRST DAY CUP FIELD NOT STRONG SILVER TREASURE'S \V!N (Herald Special Service.) Silver Treasure, second recently to Desert Fox at Wellington and to Robin’s Reward in the Wanganui Centennial Cup, and winner ot (he Egmont Cup, was (he only favourite to win on the first day of the Egmont meeting. Brown Derby, who had not won a race for about 12 months, returned to (he winning list in the Flying Handicap, where the Wanganui winner, Morning Dew, was among the “also rails.” The Cup field was not strong, most of the runners being promoted hacks of this or last season. Winners of the race include (he late Mr. F. Hall's Soult mare Merry Roe (1916) and Mr. A. B. Williams’ highclass galloper Chortle (1918). The latter, ridden by S. J- Reid, carried 9.8. this being the second highest weight carried successfully in this event. The highest was the 9.8 that the Vanguard gelding Convoy succeeded with in 1904. Silver Treasure, the virtual topweight last Saturday, after his Wellington and Wanganui form looked the best of the field. Although his win was not scored in easy fashion, it was impressive nevertheless. He won his way out of the hack grade last season, while his first win after being classified was at Stratford last New Year, so Saturday’s triumph was his second in open company. He is a stable companion of Beau le Havre, and is a six-year-old by the Beau Pere horse Silver Stick from Queen Lu, by King” Lu out of a St. Arrians mare. Form Improving

The Australian - bred Embrolita (Ernborough—Estrellita) earned his first cheque since coming to New Zealand by running second. He ran creditably and as he is showing an improvement trainer Jack Cameron may not have to wait very long before he wins a first prize. He impresses as a gelding that requires a longer distance than the 11 furlongs he raced over last week-end.

The third place-getter, Second Seal, did the best he has for some time. He is trained by Henry Callahan, who also had Loyal Bian in the same race, and is now a five-year-old by Revelation from Belle Caste, by Pombal from Caste, by Posterity from Cowl, dam and ancestress of many first-class gallopers. Mr. C. Croker paid 250gns. for him as a yearling, but he has not been a bargain. Maybe he is improving and perhaps he may win a mile and a quarter race before long. Brown Derby’s Success Overdue The five-year-old Brown Derby scored an overdue win in the Flying Handicap. As a provincial sprint field the acceptors were right up to standard. Brown _ Derby was bred at Hastings by Jimmie Paul and as a yearling was purchased by Mr J. R.,McKenzie for over lOOOgns.. but proved very difficult to train on account of being so highly strung. After F. D. J ones gave him best another Riccarton trainer took him over and he, too, gave him up. but since being under the charge of Pick Johnson at Hawera he has been alright. When he struck his right gait he quickly ran himself out of hack company, but In's recent success was only his second in open class. He is by Robin Goodfellow from a "rand-daughtcr of the Soult make Merry Roc. Aggravation once again ran an honest race and this season is building up a great and consistent record, which comnrises four wins, two seconds, two third?, and an unplacing in nine starts. He is trained by Jack Farrcl at Hawera. Cressida, who is finding it hard to win an open race in good comnany, ran another creditable race for third.'but on Wellington form at the weights she *hould have beaten (lie runner-up. Possibly this Inflation five-vcar-old mare might do better over a longer course as, several Inflations have won over middle-distances. Morning Dew, a disappointment in this race, was slightly sore. This n\ight have been t Jig reason for not running up to Wanganui form, but at Wanganui a previously reported sore horse, Robin's Reward, won the two chief events brilliantly. As Good as he Looks Snow Boy proved in tlie Juvenile Handicap to be as good as he looks. He is by St. Boswells out of the Lord Quex mare Snowball, who was about 15 hands, but could gallop and was game. This black colt has been described as a handsome colt and one able to gallop, and judging by the way lie was backed over on the other coast his apnearar.ee must have pleased them there. When he was a yearling the writer was told by Baden Brooker that he had charge of one of the finest looking yearlings ever seen in the district. Snow Boy is not exactly the two-year-old type, but the writer will he very surprised if lie does not later prove (he genuine racehorse.