NOTES ON THE RACING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22392, 13 April 1936, Page 7

NOTES ON THE RACING

SUCCESS OF FLOOD TIDE ROXY CAPTURES STEEPLES TE HAI SCORES NARROWLY BY ARCHER The light-weight Lagoon attempted to win the President's Handicap from end to end, but she was narrowly defeated at the finish by the three-year-old Flood Tide, who ran on very resolutely. It appeared as if Lagoon would see it right out when she entered the straight ahead of King Musk, Greek Shepherd and Flood Tide and still held a slight advantage inside the distance. •However, Flood Tide came with a welltimed run and gained the verdict by half a length. The winner has improved in the past few weeks and he was splendidly ridden by the Australian rider VV. Bartle, being on the fence practically throughout and not going outside a horse until he challenged in the straight. Lagoon and King Musk ran fine races, the latter doing well with 71b. overweight. Greek Shepherd looked very dangerous at the distance, but his weight told on him in the last little bit. Kelly had every chance. Korero was going on at the end.

Lady Graceful Left The favourite Lady Graceful practically took no part in the Great Northern Oaks. She was disinclined to line up at the barrier and was eventually hopelessly left, going away about a hundred yards behind the others and being pulled up before going three furlongs. Fulojoy was responsible for most of the running and she was the leader into the straight from Oratory, Valise, Galilee and Light Comedy. Once in lino for the post Oratory soon ran to the leader and she was almost immediately challenged by Light Comedy., Oratory was travelling very comfortably and she came right away at the end to win in the race record time of 2.32, which was three seconds faster than Gay Blonde ran last year. The winner was inclined to pull early, but she displayed definite superiority and won like a stayer. Light Comedy was responsible for a highly creditable performance and Valise also made a fair showing. Galilee faded out of place only near the end and Fulojoy failed to stav.

The favourite King's Archer realised expectations by winning the Brighton Hurdles in good style. King's Archer followed Modern Maid and Clan .Ronald until about five furlongs from home, when* he assumed command and retained the lead to the finish in spite of determined challenges from the minor place-getters Master Musk and Lap Up. The latter did not have the best of the running, otherwise he might have been a little closer. Prince of Orange made a creditable showing for fourth and was followed by Billy Boy and Soloist, who was closer at the finish than at any other stage after being in a rearward gosition for most of the journey. Wee at completely lost any chance she possessed when she nearly fell at the fence near the six furlongs, her rider L. Dulieu, making a remarkable recovery. Fine Finishing Bun

It was with a fine finishing run that Royal Appellant scored at double figures in the Easter Handicap. Tonnerre and Namakia carried the field along at a fast pace, running the first half in 49s and five furlongs in 1.1, and they were still the leaders just below the distance, where Sinking Fund and Gay Seton were also prominently in the' picture and Royal Appellant was moving up. Half a furlong from the post Royal Appellant dashed up between the leaders and won by going, away from.Sinking Fund. Gay Rose finished very fast on the outside to get third and Namakia, after weakening near the post, was a good fourth. The winner was fortunate in getting a good run through in the straight, but thoroughly deserved his success. Sinking Fund ran his usual honest race, paying a fine prico for second. Gay Rose rattled home at a great rate. Namakia failed only in the last fifty yards. The favourite Epris had his chance extinguished at the start by getting badly left. An outsider, Golden Sheila, brought off a surprise in the Great Northern Champagne Stakes, paying double figures. Following a false start, there was some delay at the post, and Golden Blonde, who gave considerable trouble, was badly left and took no part in the race. Moquette, Wagner and Notium were the first to become prominent, but they were soon headed off by Cheval de Volee and Golden Sheila. Notium losing his position and drifting well back. Golden Sheila was going nicely when she entered the straight ahead of Cheval de Volee, Merial, Wagner and Maxown, who were abreast, and she drew right away at the end to score handsomely from Wagner. Notium, after losing a forward position early, ran on solidly at the end to get third, but never looked like winning. Merial made a creditable showing for fourth and Moquette did best of the others. Golden Sheila is closely related to Gay Blonde and Gay Sheik, being by Gay Shield from Madam Ruth, by Lackham from Lady Marie, dam of Gay Blonde and Gay Sheik.

Steeplechase Mishaps The Mangere Steeplechase was ' a chapter of accidents, and the little fancied Roxv triumphed from the second fancy Forest Glow to return one of the best dividends of the day. Roxy was in the lead practically throughout and thoroughly deserved his success, as most of the horses who fell appeared to be beaten when they went out. An exception was Diamond, who was going extremely well when he toppled over at the second fence on the hill the second time round, when Town Beauty and Sandy Dix also fell. At the time Diamond was just behind the leader with Forest Glow and would probably have been very difficult to beat. Forest Glow made a game effort to overtake Roxy in the run home, but the latter was too good with his light weight. The Hiker went well until ho fell at the end of the first round.

On the strength of his promising form previously Inver was installed a pronounced fftvourito for the Onslow Stakes and he gained a very comfortable victory, inver was always well S laced and was just behind Rulette, ed Cuttle and Palustre, who were abreast in the lead at the straight entrance. As they were rounding the bend Rulette swung out from tho rails and I nver immediately ranged up on the inside. Rulette continued to bore out in the run home and Inver had no difficulty in beating her by a length. Raepata battled on solidly to get third two lengths away and Black Friar ran on strongly to he fourth. Inver has improved and won well. An Exciting Finish Two outsiders, To Hai and Valmint, finished first arid second in an exciting finish in tho Eden Handicap, Te Hai paying over a score and tho best price of tho day. Sweet Rose reached the front quickly and carried on tho running into the straight from Te Hai and Valmint, who were clear of Loortibination, Hawthorn, Day Wind, Solas and Pound Sterling. Sweet Rose came away from tho rails in tho run home and in an exciting finish Te Hai did best to win by a neck from Valmint, with Loombination a similar distance away third and Sweet Rose was almost in line fourth. Te Hai and Valmint ran right up to their best form and tho former is greatly improved. Entheos was close enough at the turn to have a winning chance, but was unable to make any impression in the straight. Likely improvers may be Dutch Girl, who was a long way back early, Supremo Court and Shy. Tho last named did not get away well, but was running on at the end after being in a rearward position most of tho way.