OF HIGH CLASS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22619, 23 April 1948, Page 8

OF HIGH CLASS

HASTINGS RACING GALLANT CUP FINISH KING’S RANSOM AGAIN (Herald Special Service.) High class racing was witnessed at Hastings on the opening day of the Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club's autumn meeting- with the main feature the H.B. Cup. In that event one of the gamest performances for years was given by the winner, the Poverty Bay bred, owncd-and-lraincd four-year-old gelding, King’s Ransom. The brilliant three-year-old filly, Langspiel, repeated her Awapuni success by practically outclassing the open sprint field which was well up to provincial standard. Another fine effort was that of Master Meruit in winning the Hurdles with 11.5 His forward running strongly suggests that the Gisb’ornc-owned jumper’ should win another major event lhis jumping season.

The going was slow. Record For Four-Year-Old King’s Ransom in winning the 1943 Hawke’s Bay Cup carried more weight than any previous four-year-old winner of the event. The heaviest carried to victory in this contest was 10.7 with which another Poverty Bay-owned gelding, Mr. A. B. Williams’ Martian seven-year-old, Rapine, won in 1927 in record time

I By winning this event King's Ransom ! passed the amount won in stakes by : Golden Souvenir and needs only an;other important prize before the seas;on closes to outstrip the Southland I gelding,( Signal Officer, and make a !record. ! In the Cup last Saturday Mr. H. V. j Lunkin's gelding drew the very outjside. When he passed the stand the ! first time 19 horses were ahead of him. Even at the six furlongs post he was still a long way back but was improving his position with three furlongs to go. Several horses seemed to have a winning chance when the field swung for home. Swift Quarry led the field into the straight, but the big Lang Bian gelding moved up with Barrage to fight out a gallant finish. Barrage, winner of the Feilding Cup and the King George Handicap in the last few weeks, made a very game bid, but had to submit to the real high class performance of the winner. The Herald was perhaps the only publication in the Dominion to select Swift Quarry as a place proposition. This aged gelding was one of the smartest to find his feet and was always well placed. With heads turned for home, he went into a lead of two lengths appeared as a likely winner but was beaten into third money. _ Two years ago he was second to Arco in the Cup and won the chief handicap race on the second day. Desert Fox collected the fourth prize of £SO. This position was his best at any stage. He was not suited by the going. Royal Victor, third in the last N.Z. Cup, was another to come home well. He finished fifth just ahead of Yasda. After the jace the £IOO Gold Cup was presented to Mr. Lunken who, in returning thanks, mentioned that he had named the gelding King’s Ransom because at six months old he appeared to be good enough to race for the ransom of a king. Sterling Finish The feature of the opening event was the sterling finish of Master Meruit, who two and a half years ago won both the Wellington and Grand National Steeplachases. Mr. Henry Dod’s gelding was fairly well back early, his rider not asking him for any effort with his list. 51b. until the halfmile post. At that point he was about sixth and gradually improved and came with a well-judged run to win narrowly but with a little in hand. He may not race next Saturday, but later will go to Hawera and then proceeds north to again contest the Great Northern. In the race of 1946 he fell when half a mile from home. Poverty Bay, as well as breeding Master Meruit, also produced the runner-up, Master Peter, who is by the same sire as the victor and last spring was sold at Napier Park at hack price by Mr. Wattie Wilson to a patron of E. Deslande’s stable. Saturday’s race was his first hurdle effort in his new owner's colours. He ran a very creditable second being suited by the easy condition of the track. The third place-getter, Rockanui, was always well placed, being third half a mile from home. He jumped the penultimate hurdle in brilliant style but was not quite good enough to win. The fourth place-getter, General Lytup, was first over the initial hurdle. From then to the last obstacle he was not headed, but weakened in the last furlong. Imperial Crown came home fairly well for fifth. He seemed unable at first to handle the changed under-foot conditions, but may do better in his next effort. Filly Outclasses Sprinters

Mr. Frank Ormond’s three-year-old bay filly, Langspiel, winner of the seven-furlong open sprint at Awapuni, outclassed her opponents in the Havelock Flying and completed the day’s double for the defunct sire, Lang Bian. Again ridden by the stable apprentice, J. L. Moore, and drawn 12 at the barrier, she was not as smartly away as four or five of her opponents. Once heads were turned for home she quickly ran past those in the van and gave nothing a chance. Her improvement was most opportune for her stable as their No. 1 sprinter, Great Trek was injured in the A.R.C. Easter. At Awapuni Langspiel won on firm going, but at Hastings the track was holding.

However, the big majority of the Lang Bian stock have been best when the going lias been at its worst, The veteran. Bonny Bay, ran a good race, his finishing effort being attractive. He literally flew over the concluding stages to get up in the last yard to gain second money. Bronstar, a promising three-year-old in the spring when he unluckily went amiss was having his first race since finishing third to Wild Note and Morning Dew last mid-November. Thus he would hardly be back to his best and his close third on Saturday suggests that if produced next Saturday he will be very hard to beat in the absence of Langspiel. Cot-Case, the Gisborne representative, collected fourth money, being one of those in or near the van throughout and did best of the quartette, forming the leading division into the straight. After the Collision gelding came Morning Dew, who had every show. The top weight, Da Vinci, considering that he had not raced since last spring, made a good effort until the lack of racing condition told its talc. Fleetwood was heavily backed and had every chance but was well back, being all at sea in the going. Merry

Bing wanted the race. He, too, is best on top of the ground. Big Pool Invested

The Oreka Handicap, the extra open race, was supported by one of the largest betting pools in the history of the club, this indicating that events for the better class of horses are more appreciated than hack races. The race drew an acceptance of 22 and 16 went to the post. The winner, the Royal Chief four-year-old, Welcome Guest, was thought to need a firm track and on Saturday was not well backed. In the early running he was fairly well back. Even at the distance his chances seemed poor, but he unwound a great finishing effort and gained first position in, the last few strides. On that showing he is going to be one of the favourites for the mile and ihreefurlong handicap next Saturday. Prince Coronach, 7-9, the runner-up, was in the betting and was another not in the first seven or eight half a mile from the winning post. He, too, came home solidly. He appeared the winner until Welcome Guest came up. The Coronach three-year-old showed promising form last October when the going was on the soft side. The Wairoa owned-and-trained gelding, Omaio, half-brother to Glenfalloch was in one of his rare galloping moods and collected third money. The performance was his best to date considering the opposition. Sheilwyn was a very close fourth after looking the winner with heads turned for home and having every chance. Joe’s Cobber was one of the early leaders, but did not finish as,well as expected. The Langely pair. Precedency and Gild Chase, were in need of a race and may do better later. They are booked to race on Saturday and then go to Hawera.