NOTES ON THE RACING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21377, 29 December 1932, Page 9

NOTES ON THE RACING

AGA KHAN WINS DECISIVELY LA MODERNE'S GOOD FORM LAST RACE TO MERRY DAMON BY ARCHER The Taranaki hack Aga Khan registered a stylish win in the Fergusson Handicap, in which he was a good third fancy to Thespis and Carfex. Aga Khan was always going nicely behind the leaders once the field had settled down and had not the slightest difficulty in disposing of Delrain and Lordly Knight when asked for a final effort. He has been rather unlucky up to the present, but is very fit now and should not be long in winning again. Delrain and Lordly Knight ran fine races, both fighting on well after making all the pace, but they had no chance with the winner at the weights. Holly Lu made a respectable showing and was battling on at the finish. Thespis disappointed. Ho was outside three horses for a good part 6f the way and lost ground near the home turn. He made up a little leeway in the straight and was staying on in the last furlong without getting close enough to be dangerous. La Moderne, fifth fancy in a field of six, effected a surprise in winning the King's Plate very decisively. She was not in the least troubled by the fast pace Tea Trader set early and she followed him closely until the home turn, where she slipped through on the rails and gave nothing a chance in the last furlong. It was a pleasing performance on the part of La Moderne, and she is undoubtedly a much improved filly. Pillow Fight had every chance and looked like being very dangerous when close behind the winner at the distance, but could not make any impression when his rider drew the whip. As he was not thought to be at his best, his effort was also good, and he may have performed a shade better only for getting his tongue over the bit. Cadland travelled nicely in fourth position for three furlongs, when he came in contact with the rails and lost liis position. Ho again struck trouble at the half-mile, but made a gallant effort on the outside in the straight, only to weaken at the end after being up fairly handy at the distance. The time for the race was only two-fifths of a second slower than Thespian's race record of lm 3G 3-ss. > Captain's Gilt Falls Captain's Gift was installed a pronounced favourite for the Ponsonby Hurdles, but his supporters were put out of suspense when ho fell hearily at the fourth fence. He was going well at the time and the mishap was probably due to the fact that he did not sight the fence properly when going in between two horses. Arcade ran another good race and finished more generously than usual to go under narrowly to Imperial Prince, who Btayed on very solidly. Imperial Prince nearly extinguished his chance by a faulty jump at the fifth fence, where he dropped' back from second to the rear, and his performance in the circumstances was very pleasing. Sub-editor was going remarkably well just behind the leaders half a mile from home and looked like being very hard to beat until he made a very bad jump at the second to last fence and Just managed to retain his feet.

The Summer Cup was a fine contest and atriumph for the topweights, who smothered the opposition at the end of a fast-run race, which was just a trifle slower than tho course record of 2m 5 2-5s established by Jaloux last year. There were only two horses behind Antique and Concentrate half a mile from home, but they put in remarkably good run 3 on the outside and stayed on far too well for the light-weights. Antique commenced his run a trifle sooner than Concentrate, and that just made the difference. Jaloux and Eager Rose both made good showings, and Eager Rose may have done better if she had been a little more patiently handled. King's Knave faded out in the run home, but he was up in the front to the turn and will do better. Great Star stoppe-d also, but this was not surprising considering the way he was bustled early. Korokio disappointed and was never dangerous over the last few furlongs. Dole Scores Again Fracas and Impasto were the favourites for the Criterion Handicap, but they had no chance with the third fancy. Dole, who led all the way and won brilliantly. The winner was assisted by jumping out clear, but he was never troubled to hold the lead and, even after shying about 60yds, from the post, he had two and a-half lengths to spare. On his two performances at the meeting Dole is one of the smartest of the season's two-year-olds and his meeting with the best will be awaited with interest. Im"'pasto and Pelagia again ran good races and the former just stayed the better to get second. Guarantee again finished well after being badly placed early, but Fracas had her chance spoiled when Bon Rapide went back on her at tho turn. The moderately-fancied Psychologist was responsible for a surpriso in winning the 1 Waitemata Handicap at double-figure odds. It was easily his best performance to date, because he went to the lead with Marching Song six furlongs from home and then fought on splendidly after being headed by Master Brierly inside the distance. Master Brierly made a fine effort., but ho weakened a trifle just when he looked like winning. Knight of Australia and Sunny Bachelor both ran well and are improvers who should not be long in doing better. Marching Song went well for nine furlongs and there is still hope for him, while Belltopper, who appeared to get checked at the foot of tho straight, also shaped creditably. Victory for Exaggeration On the strength of his good win in the Railway Handicap' The Quorn was sent out an odds-on favourite for the Electric Handicap but, although he made a fine effort, he had to lower his colours to Exaggeration. Exaggeration followed Lack to the turn and she finished on with great determination when The Quorn issued a stout challenge over the last furlong. Arisus ran a very creditable third and is likely to be improved by the run. Lack went very fast for five furlongs, but fired 'with a furlong to go. Karangapai was cut off early and had none tho best of the running, but was going on fairly well at the end. The Plunket Handicap was run at a fast pace and the favourite, Cricket Bat, was left Without an effort at the finish as the resist of endeavouring to head off the light-weights Whakapara and Jalldy Karo when they were forcing the pace in tho middle stages. He was in front at the turn with King's Archer, but they both tired in the last furlong, although Cricket Bat hung on fairly well to get fourth. The winner, Merry Damon was at a good price, verging on double figures, in spite of his fourth on the first day, and he was assisted by being patiently liandled in the early stages when most of the other riders seemed anxious to get to the front. He was last at the half-mile, but made a fine run from that point. L'Allegro again went well and Chief-Joy made a respectable showing. Chief Joy was helped by being more quietly ridden in the first half-mile than some of the others.