EXCELLENT CROWD AT MAKARAKA: TODAY’S RACING

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 22952, 21 May 1949, Page 6

EXCELLENT CROWD AT MAKARAKA: TODAY’S RACING

HURDLES TO LITTLE DUKE

The weather was cool and fine for the autumn meeting of the P.B. Turf Club held at flic Makaraka racecourse today. The track was holding. The attendance was excellent.

Good Win At First Hurdles Outing Little Duke was always well placed in the opening event of the day, the Wainui Hurdles, and came on from the half-mile to win convincingly on his first outing over hurdles. French Count, the favourite, was running a good race and was well in the picture from the turn, but could not pace it with the winner over the last run home.

Cherry Hunter and Quination were the early leaders, with French Count among the first four, and Navy Blue also going well. The pressure came on in the back stretch, where Lord Latour fell, and Navy Blue started to move up to the lead. Cherry Hunter was always prominent, however, and though challenged strongly by French Count held him off- nicely. Omaio was third and Gentleman Joe fourth, coming from well back. Time, 2.45 1-5. WAINUI HURDLES HANDICAP Of £230; about 1J miles. 4-4 Little Duke, Mrs. J. C. Beecher’s br.g-, syrs., Ninth Duke —Morehu, 9.0 car. 9.0 J (S. Waddell).. 1 1- French Count, J. Berrigan’s ch.g. 6yrs., Lang Bian —Lovely Lass, 10.3 (G. Ivil) 2 2- Omaio, E. J. Lane's < br.g., 6yrs., Gynerium—Memnon, 10.9 (F. Power) 3 Also started: 3-3 Lord Latour 9.5 (KWood): 6-6 Astrope, 9-1 car. 9.6 (P. Walsh); 5-5 Gentleman Joe, 9.1 (J. Nicholson); 10.10 Big Wonder, 9.0. car. 9.6| (P. T. Boyd); 7-7 Cherry Hunter, 9.0 (R. Brown); 8-8 Navy Blue, 9.0 (O. Ferrall); 9-9 Quination, 9.0 car. 9.0 i (R. C. Saxton). „ _ Length; half-length. Time, 2.46 1-5.. (Winner trained by C. M. Platt, Gisborne.)