LUCK OF RACECOURSE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21497, 22 May 1933, Page 11

LUCK OF RACECOURSE

MEETING AT TE KAPA SUBSTANTIAL DIVIDENDS SIR MUSK'S LONG PRICE The largest place dividend that has so far been recorded in the Auckland Province was paid by Sir Musk for third in tho Kopaki Hurdles at Te Papa on Saturday. Sir Musk, who is trained at To Awamutu, was having his first start over hurdles, and he carried only £4 for a win and £5 for a place, with the result that place supporters reaped the richest return of the day, approaching one-third of a century. The next largest dividend of the day, only a few shillings less, was returned by another To Awamutu horse, Beryl Latour, in the last race, the Rangitoto Hack Handicap. Beryl Latour had so often disappointed her party by running badly in a raco after showing encouraging ' form on the training track that she was allowed to take her placo in the field only as a last chanco. Carrying No. 13 saddlecloth she scored a decisive win. She is a half-sister to the good sprinter Awarere and a fullsister to Marcchal. Family history was strikingly repeated when Allegretto won tho Maiden Handicap at a good double figures price. Allegretto is a full-brother to the solid performer L'Allegro, and followed his example by winning at his fiist start. Tho owner, Mr. J. R. Vercoe, is a younger brother of L'Allegro's owner, Mr. P. G. Vercoe, and both aro sons of Mr. G. W. Vercoe, ex-president of the Waikato Pacing Club. L'Allegro and Allegretto were bred by Mr. T. Wilson and Mr. G. W. Vercoe in partnership. As a yearling Allegretto was sold to tho late Mr. Campbell Johnstone for 250 guineas, but when Mr. Johnstone died the sale was cancelled. Owing to leg troubles Allegretto could not be seriously trained, and when he was four years old Mr. Wilson sold his half-share to Mr. J. R. Vercoe for £lO down and £2O out of the first two wins.

Radiant Sun's dividend in winning the Kopaki Hack Hurdles was a little larger than that paid by Allegretto. Radiant Sun is a member of the team of the young Pukekoho trainer F. R. Foster, and was ridden by him. A year ago Landmark won a steeple-, chase at Te Rapa and then went on to defeat his stablemate Make Up by a narrow margin in the Great Northern Hurdles. On Saturday Make Up easily accounted for his four opponents in the King Country Steeplechase, his display drawing marked attention to his prospects at Ellerslie. High Commissioner, the last horse sired by the dual Auckland Cup winner All Red, won the Te Kuiti Hurdles in attractive style. His breeder, Mr. James Bull, of Hunterville, was present to see him win. Paddon, named after the famous sculler, was second.