SLIPPERY’S RETURN.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 304, 23 November 1937, Page 10

SLIPPERY’S RETURN.

BACK TO FORM RECORD AT LEVIN. (“By Spectator.’’) Slippery, whom many thought to ho on the down grade in judging him on hit; early spring form, won the McDonald Memorial Handicap well at Levin on Saturday. He had been third at Bulls and second at Hastings in his previous two starts, and now appears to bo right for holiday racing.. Slippery has a good record in the Levin event. Ho won it in 1933 and 1934, was second in 1935, and won again this year. Except in 1934 when H. Young hail' the mount, he has been ridden on each occasion by P. Atkins. Slippery has had a long career as a sprinter. Old Habits Shown. Alloa showed his old habits at the barrier in the maiden event, refusing to line up and, after some delay, the field was despatched without the Grand Knight gelding. Whistle Pinkie Improved. Whistle Pinkie, though not endowed with a wonderful name, has run several fair races recently, and was a good fourth in the Weraroa llack Handicap at Levin on Saturday. Irish Orders. Irish Orders might not be long in picking up a.maiden stake. Trained at Otaki, the Thomond gelding was prominent in his first race at Bulls and was in the leading division all the way on Saturday at Levin to finish third. First Hurdle’s Start. Aurora’s Love, the five-year-old daughter of Aurora Borealis, negotiated her fences safely, but was well, back in fifth' position at the finish of the hurdle.;. However, it was her initial outing over the fences., and she can be expected to improve. King’s Lancer, another Awapuni candidate, went poorly. Death Of Seaham. The owner-trainer J. Butler, of Stratford, suffered a severe less when his three-year-old Lackham —Seaspritc gelding Seaham had to be destroyed owing to internal trouble last week, j Ho bore a marked resemblance to his half-brother Seatown, and was a winner at the recent Waverlcy meeting. Still Minor Places. Sigurd, who filled minor places at both Trontham and Riccarton, had to be content with another second at Levin. The Siegfried colt has not yet shed his maiden status, but ho showed an abundance of early speed, only to be overhauled by the long-striding Mca Mca close to the post. Beaulack Stays On. Beaulack, being tried for the first time over a distance, went very well after being the last to leave the barrier, and it was a promising indication of future possibilities for the daughter of Lackham, who had hitherto been confined to sprint distances in the races she had run. Not Going Well. Southern Blood, who has been second to Patagonia at Foxton, and who had won at Otaki, did not show his- usual dash in the Manakau Hack Hurdles, at Levin, and it was evident that he was far from his best form. The Cape Horn gelding tired badly at the finish, and was lucky to fill second place when Even Money fell. Merryman Runs Well. Merryman, formerly Rahotahi. ihe big Lackham horse, made a surprisingly forward showing at his first start, in the maiden event at Levin, and will be greatly improved by the outing. Ho has been galloping freely, on the track, and it will not bo Tong before he is doing much better. He is a half-brother to Manawatu and Silent Acre. Two Solid Efforts. Lady Iloariri ran two . solid races at Levin. After a duel with the, speedy Sigurd , for most of the journey, she finished third in thesj Weraroa Hack Handicap, and later was actually first into iho straight in the Lake Hack Cup, but found the effort too great. She "-stays on well. Nearly Stable Double. Racing on their- home track, W. H. Hume’s pair-Terry and Mittie were prominent at Levin'. Though ho had not had a groat deal of preparation, Terry, getting a clear run, finished solidly . to win the Levin Handicap, while Mittie, after setting a merry pace in the McDonald Memorial, . just went under to Slippery at the finish. Onewhetu For Feilding. Le Grand, Ned Cuttle, Vadanoc, and Onewhetu, who are to compete at Eeilding, have all been getting through plenty, of solid pace work and aro ready to he sent along seriously at Hawcra, Onewhetu is fining down nicely and shows no sign of the disability that brought about his enforced spell. The racy-looking Valanoc is also doing satisfactorily.

A Forward Showing. Started from the outside of the field, Gay Boy, considering it was his first race of the season, and that the distance was a little short for him. made a good showing in the McDonald Memorial right to the straight entrance, and it was a good pointer to the form he is expected to show in future engagements. Royal Romance Fades. Royal Romance appears to have tired a little of racing. The Royal Divorce gelding, who was on his home track at Levin on Saturday; got away -well with the leading bunch, but faded very badly when the pressure was applied, Ho had proved equal at Waverlcy to boating- Captain Trevillc, who won the maiden. event at Bulls and was third in the Hokio Hack Handicap on Saturday. Lapse From- Form. Both- Tidewaitcr and Malibu failed unaccountably at the finish of the Lake Hack Cup. They looked well when paraded, but. did not sec out the journey as expected; the former wont the better of the pair Clint, after practically tailing the field in the early stages, appeared on the scene at the finish. but nothing had a chance with the winner. Good Sun, who cleared out from the field. The Buzzer’s Failure. The Buzzer was braien by the muddling pace set in the Levin Handicap when Mister Qucx, the leader, tried to slow down the field entering the back. He had to be taken to the front and, though first into the straight, had not not. enough racing condition to see it out. Next time he starts The Buzzer may be difficult to head off- at tho finish. Both he and Oratory, from the same stable, aro entered for the Auckland Cup. Not Yet Finished. Grand Jury, after a succession oi failures, is at last showing signs of returning to form, and it would occasion no surprise should tho veteran again be prominent at Feilding, where he won twelve mouths ago The Gainscourt gelding showed up for a short distance towards the finish of the McKelvie Memorial at Rangitikci, while on Saturday ho was a good third in tho Levin Handicap, making a prominent showing from the five furlongs onwards. Round Score’s Surprise. Successful at his fifth start over hurdles, Round Score brought off a surprise at:' Levin when the leader Even Money, who has been very unlucky, crashed at tho last fence. The Greyspear gelding had given little promise in his previous outings, except at Bulls, where he came up rapidly towards tho finish. He was nearly run off on Saturday at the third fence when lie suffered accidental interference from Cyclopean, and ho Jost a lot of ground, but two furlongs from home he came very fast behind the leader.