LADY PAM'S SUCCESS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20779, 23 January 1931, Page 9

LADY PAM'S SUCCESS.

OTAIRI IN SECOND PLACE. EFFORT BY NIGHTMARCH. WEIGHT TELLS ITS TALE. LBY TELEGRAPH. —RACING RI, POUTER. ] WELLINGTON. Thursday. Tho "Wellington Racing Club Handicap, the leading event of tho day, provided a spectacular contest and cave G. Jones, trainer of Lady Pam, his first success since taking charge of Mr. W. 1?. Kemball's Trentham stable a, month or two ago. Nightmarch was favourite and Gay Crest carried only £3OO less. Otairi, Don Jose, Stanchion and Lady Pam being next in order of favouritism. Gay Crest was immediately taken to tho front and led past tho members' stand from Merry Damon, Nightmarch, Compris and Otairi, with Stanchion, who again was troublesome at the post. last. Shrewd moved up along tho back, nnd across tho top the order was Gay Crest. Merry Damon, Shrewd. Don Jose, Nightmarch, Compris, Lady Pam, Otairi and Stanchion, with very little between them all.

The field was still fairly well bunched entering tho straight and Nightmarch's name was confidently called as tho winner. Gay Crest and Merry Damon were atill in front u furlong from home, with Nightmarch almost up with them and Otairi and Lady Pam challenging. In a fine finish Lady Pam won by half a length from Otairi, with Nightmarch a head away third. Merry Damon was fourth and then cam© Stanchion. Shrewd, Gay Crest, Don Joso and Compris. Lady Pam was responsible for an attractive performance, her finishing effort being' characterised by rare gamcnesa. Otairi demonstrated that he is a better stayer than many people thought. Tho way in which he has mixed hurdle and Hat racing in recent weeks, performing creditably in each department, stamps him as a rather remarkable horso. Nightmarch at last showed something approaching his true form, for although one would have expected him (at his very best) to show moro dash at the finish, he had a big weight and tho weight told its tale.

HIGH-WEIGHT HANDICAP.

NEWCOMERS FILL FLACES,

Three newcomers. Mister Gamp, Dumblane and Money Mint, filled tho places in the Mungaroa High-weight Handicap. Tunbridge, with A. E. Ellis, substituted for A. Jenkins, was favourite, with Dumblane, Avro and Mister Gamp next best supported. The change of riders did not make Tunbridge win, and Jenkins, who had the mount on Money Mint, had the satisfaction of beating him for third placo. Aberfeldy was soon bustled to the front and held the lead right round into the straight. Tunbridge and Money Mint were close to him at this stage, with Mister Gamp, who had not been further back than fourth all the way. making his run on the outside. Dumblane came through on the railf-, but Mister Gamp wore him down to win by a neck. Money Mint was two lengths tiway third, and Tunbridge was fourth. Tunbridge met with eome trouble in tho straight, but for which he would have been in the money. Avro was never within striking distance and Trishna was last. It was Mister Gamp's fira't run 6inco winning over hurdles at Ellerslie on New Year's Day and while the margin was narrow, he seemed to be going away from Dumblane at the finish. COMPENSATION'S SPRINT. A SPECTACULAR FINISH. A great race in which fully half a dozen runners had winning chances 50yds. from the post was seen in the Metropolitan Handicap, for which Compensation, Bayacre and Meadow Lark were confidently backed. Bayacre again caused trouble at tho post, but got away with tho field when they settled down. Mandy was in tho lead from Arrow Lad, Autopay and Palermo. Palermo came through to lead into the straight from Autopay, Mandy nnd Bayacre. In a thrilling struggle in the run homo Palermo was caught 50yds. from the post by Meadow Lark, who immedidately was challenged by Compensation. They flashed past tho post almost in line, (ho judge declaring for Compensation by half a head from Meadow Lark, with Palermo a neck away third. Bnyhcro wus fourth, and Mandy, Autopay and Arrow Lad were close up.

Compensation's weight advantage of 12lb compared with the first day proved too much for Palermo. Meadow Lark came from woll back and wns unlucky not to bo able lo stall off Compensation's final dash.

GADLAND'S IMPROVEMENT. " OUTSIDER RUNS SECOND. Cadland improved upon his second on tho first day to score a good win in the January Handicap. On form lie looked an excellent prospect, hut the presence in tho field of ecvoral nowcometß confused tho issue for investors, and tho order of favouritism was White Fang, Love Song, Full Feather and Cadland, Admiral Drake, who ha 3 been sold hy Mr. F. Armstrong to Mr. J. M. Samson, of Dunedin, and was having his fifrst raco in his new owner's colours, was badly left at the start. Miss Hansom quickly went to the front, but at the half-mile was displaced by Caterpillar, who led across tho top from First Raid, Miss Hansom, Cadland, Love Song and First Acre. Caterpillar was still in front coming info tho straight, but Cadland soon had her measure and ho went on to win by half a length from Mount Boa, with First Raid two and a-half lengths away third. First Aero was'fourth, followed by Lovo Song. Vertigern and Full Mark. "White Fang was checked early and was not sighted again, while Full Feather nlso was never prominent. First Acre, who was sixth favourite, ran well enough lo bo kept in mind for coming events. Tho outsider Mount Boa, who finished Btrongly into second place, paid a better dividend than tho winner. Cadland has shown much improvement in his recent racing, and may be useful over longer distances.

THE TWO-YEAR-OLDS. DULEN AND ORATORIAN. Fedora was heavily backed in the Nursery Handicap, with Dulen and Distortion, who ran second and third to her on luesday, next in demand. Oratorian was eighth favourite. at a good price. The race was marred by an accident a furlong from the post, when Cricket Bat fell and brought down Solvent, but the result was not affected, and in an exciting finish Dulen won narrowly from Oratorian and Distortion. High Comedy, from number two position at the post, was first to show out. and ho held his placo into the straight, where Fedora and Distortion were also prominent. Distortion singled himself out, and then Dulen and Oratorian challenged. Responding well to Gray's call. Dulen gained tho mastery in the last few strides, winning by a head from Oratorian. with Distortion a neck n way third. Teller was fourth, and Buster Biown, Richborough. Gay Court and Movie Star followed. Dulen owed much of his success to Gray's horsemanship in reserving him for the final dash. He is undoubtedly useful, and Oratorian also has great promiso. Distortion would poßflibly havo won a jockey Gray or B. 11. Morris (Oratorian a rider), substituted for Gerrand. who did not. show much discretion. Distortion should win good racea.