RACING NEWS & NOTES

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 51, Issue 3139, 10 July 1942, Page 6

RACING NEWS & NOTES

Two Steeplechasers A feature of the opening day of the Wellington Winter Meeting was the double win enjoyed by the Palmerston North owner, Mr L. H. Collinson, who took the two steeplechase events, Foxiana winnifig the Wellington Steeples and Hunting Lore the Mariri Hack and Hunters’ Steeplechase. Both horses are spns of the Martian mare Martulla, who did good service for the same owner some years ago. Foxiana is the younger of the pair, but has made the more rapid climb to fame as a hurdler. He won five times last season, whereas Hunting Dore repeatedly proved just good enough to be beaten for the major stake. Included among Foxiana’s successes last season was the Century Hurdles, a race his elder brother, Old Surrey, also won. Both Foxiana and Hunting Lore are trained by L. G. Morris, who won the Wellington Steeplechase in successive years on Omahu.

Form Astray Trentham lived up to its reputation on Saturday for backers found the “going” very rocky, only one favourite, Boloyna, winning; three ran second. The track steadily became worse in the rain and several of the fancied runners failed to handle the conditions. Boloyna has shown himself at home on a heavy track, and won really well;

Was Going Well ' Grandora began better than he has been doing of late in the Stewards’ Handicap at Wellington on Saturday, and he was going nicely among the leading bunch when he was crowded l and lost his rider. The extra furlong of the Members’ Handicap on the second day may not suit him as well as the distance of Saturday’s race.

Had Every Chance Rara Avis, the favourite for the Stewards’ Handicap, ran a good race, but was not quite good enough. He was right in line' with the fourth horse. He drew No. 1 and., while he did not jump clear, he was on the inside of the leaders down the lane to the course proper and had every chance. The same remarks apply to the second favourite, High Class, who drew 2, was prominent throughout, and just shaded Rara Avis on the post. Very Unlucky

Without detracting in any way from the merit in Whackie’s performance in winning the Stewards’ Handicap at Trentham under 9.6, an excellent effort for a three-year-old, Moutoa Bond, whom he defeated by a neck, was very unlucky. At the end of two furlongs she was crowded over on to Grandora, and after recovering from this scrimmage she was again hampered about 150 yards from the .finish when making a late run up to the leading bunch. The extra furlong in the Members’ Handicap this week is not likely to trouble her. RACING FIXTURES July 11: Wellington R.C. July 18: Manawatu and Rangitikei Combineed. H;C. (at Marton). July 25: South Canterbury H.C. August 1: Christchurch HjC. August 8: Christchurch J.C. August 15: Christchurch J.C.