NOTES ON THE RACING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21764, 2 April 1934, Page 7

NOTES ON THE RACING

MASTER BRIERLY'S SUCCESS EASY WIN FOR GOLDEN HAIR HUSHING EFFECTS SURPRISE BY ARCHER Only three started in the Great Northern Oaks and Golden Hair justified her pronounced favouritism by leading all tho way and winning hands down. The field had some unique features in that the runners were all chestnuts and were all sired by horses owned by Mr. G. M. Currie, who bred the second and third, Rust and Melisande. Golden Hair was allowed to go along at a very slow pace in the lead and the otheis were unable to give her any serious trouble when she cracked on the speed over tho last half-mile, which she ran in 47 2-ss. Golden Hair has three successive wins to her credit and, except, for lier failure in tho Great Northern Derby, her form has very consistent since alio opened lier winning account for the season in Melbourne, where she won three races, inciuding tho Victoria. Oaks and tho Wakeful Stakes at tho Cup carnival in November. As a result of the small field and tho dominance of Golden Hair, speculation 011 the race was very limited, but the pool of .£1435 was considerably in advanco of last year's total of i'-187, when Silver Scorn was opposed by only two others. Tho topweight. Master Brierly, was responsible for a sterling performance in winning the President's Handicap with 9.7 in 2.5, thus equalling tho course record established by Nightly when he won the Clifford Plate at the last summer carnival. Ridden by his trainer, R. S. Busby, who does little riding nowadays, owing to increasing weight. Master Brierly was back near the rear most of the way, but he made a brilliant run over the last three furlongs and scored nicely from the lightweight Gay Broney, who looked like winning when he whs clear below the distance. Gay Broney's Good Effort Gay Broney did really well at his first, attempt in a metropolitan handicap field and his turn should come. The favourite, Knight of Australia, finished on to get third after being a fair distance back iuo3t of the way. He should be improved by the run and will do better. Sunny Sky, Epigram and Desert Star all ran good races to be close behind the placed horses, and Royal Artist also shaped very creditably. King March failed to run to form, but appeared to be above himself and should be benefited by the run. A course record of 3.39 3-5 was established by Thespis in winning tho Brighton Hurdles from end to end. Thespis outpaced the field early and always had a lead of from five to seven lengths over tho last mile. He jumped with moro confidence than on any occasion since he fell in the Great Northern Hurdles last year and the only blemish on his display was a poor jump at the last fence. Thespis is tho first horse trained by D. J. Burgess to start in a race and he was also ridden by his trainer. Wee Pat ran her usual honest race, always being one of tho closest of the field and staying 011 gamely at the end. Snow Prince made a very creditable showing and Simeon did best of the others, who were well beaten. Callamart was going well when he fell at the seven-furlongs post and would probably have made a good showing. Prince of Orange lacked tho necessary condition, but he indicated that he is coming on and should do better later. Biform hit a couple of fences very hard and lost a good chance of filling a place by his faulty jump at the second to last fence. Mia Stella went well for about a mile and a-lialf. but tired in the straight, finishing well back. N Brilliant Finishing Run It was with a brilliant finishing run that Jonathan, third fancy to Gay Sheila and Red Manfred, won the Easter Handicap in the race record time of 1.37 1-5, which ie one-fifth of a second faster than Golden Wings registered last year. There were 10 horses ahead of Jonathan when the field passd the half-mile post and he was still well back at the turn. Actually Jonathan did not come prominently into the contest until the last furlong, when he made an irresistible run and dashed through between the leaders about 40yds. from the post to win brilliantly. Purchased as a yearling by Mrs. S. L. Parsons for 100 guineas, he has proved a good investment in, winning .£1305 in stakes. Until last January ho was trained by Mrfi. Parsons' brother, H. L. Russell, but owing to that trainer temporarily relinquishing training on account of ill-health he has since been under the. care of A. Cook, who won the Easter in 1930 with Pegaway. Imamint made a &reat attempt to win ail the way and just failed at the end, after . running easily the best race of her career. > Imamint was solely responsible for tho fast pace and she hung on surprisingly well considering that she rjin the first five furlongs in under a minute. Pomp was always handily placed and made a fine effort in the straight without being able to head Imamint. Pomp's performance was his best to dato in an important handicap. Red Manfred's fourth was a good effort. Ho was always in the first four and battled on gamely in the last furlong. Lady Spy did better than generally anticipated in finishing fifth, while Curie and Gay Sheila, both performed very creditably. Gay Sheila appeared to be properly beaten when she lost second position nearing the turn, but she made another effort in the straight. She was affected by soreness. Curie displayed plenty of brilliancy 111 running into a forward position on tho outeido along the back. Turning into the straight he appeared a likely winner and was right in the leading bunch until the last half-furlong, where he weakened slightly. Curie should bo benefited by tho race and his turn should not far away. King's Archer and Lordly Knight ran fair races, but Star Artist faded at the end. She was kicked at the post. Kiltowyn, Impaste, Tnkakua and L'Allegro g-'it into the ruck early and were never prominent,. Golden Chant showed up to the turn, but failed to run on. Sea Fox alio Rereatu were never in the picture. An Exciting Contest

Only four started in the Great Northern Champagne Stakes, but the smallness of the field was more than compensated for by the exciting tussle between Burnish and Gay Blonde, who rar. a dead-heat for first. Burnish was ft pronounced favourite and her supporters showed a loss on their investments. Tho time for the race was only onefifth of a second outside the record and both fillies registered fine performances. As usual Burnish revealed brilliant speed in leading to the straight, but Gay Blonde was always handy and they had a gretjl battle ovtr the last furlong. It seemed as if Gay Blonde had gained the upper hand when she got her head in front, insido the distance, but Burnish came again under the whip and divided the honours with her. It was a fine contest between two well-matched fillies, who outclassed their fwo opponents. Giving a fine exhibition of fencing Riotous Rcorerl a very decisive win in the Mangero Steeplechase. Riotous was threatened with defeat when Brown Abbey drow away from him going up the hill the second time, but he recovered the leeway with two exceptionally good jumps at the fences on the hill and always had the measure of Brown Abbey after turning down, ihe incline with a slight advantage, eventually winning with a margin of six lengths. Riotous performed splendidly for a horse who was having only his second race over country. lie had a life at the stonewall in the middle and nearly lost his ridur. but his fencing was otherwise excellent. At present Riotous is inclined to be too keen, but. more experience should overcome this. Brown Abbey did well in his first attempt over country and with the improvement, ho should make he should bo a good prospect for an important steeplechase in the winter. Patutahi was affected by soreness Lady Kyra.Wins Well The class in the Stakes wub not strong, but Lady T'.yra created a good impression by winning decisively after being disappointed when attempting to go between Coionilla and Capris below the distance. She afterwards secured an opening on the rails and was going away at the end. Lady Kyra is one of the most contented youngsters it would he possible to find and promises to be decidedly useful. She is one of the first of the progeny of Lord Warden to race and is a fine advertisement for her young sire, who has also been successfully represented by Custodian. Lady Kyra has now won twice and is a real bnrcain at the 10 auineas she cost as a yearling. Capris shaped really well and elie. is an improving filly who will do better. Coronilla hnd every chance and failed to run on. Wa.itoka appeared likely to be dangerous when lie made a forward move just after rounding tho turn, but weakened near the end.

Recording her bed. performance to date. Hushing brought off a surprise in defeating the favourite Senior in tho Eden Handicap. She was only eleventh fancy in a field, of IS and paid a good double-figures dividend, which was easily the best of theday. Hushing's ability to begin well enabled her to take up a forward position behind the pace-maker Solomon in the early stages and she was always a winner over the last furlong. Senior finished verv fast and would have seriously troubled tho winner with a little further to go. He did not have the best of luck in running.

Mungacre was always in tho first three and battled on solidly at the finish. D'Artagnan made a gooJ showing and King Musk came from near the rear to finish fifth. With a better position early lie would have been very difficult to beat. Wee Musk and Expectancy did best of the others.