NOTES ON RACING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22612, 28 December 1936, Page 11

NOTES ON RACING

ESSEX'S GOOD FINISH SUCCESS OF ROYAL CHIEF FRANCIS DRAKE RUNS SECOND BY ARCHER Showing improvement upon liis previous form, Essex finished brilliantly to win the Queen's Plate at a good price from an outsider, Sergia, who would have returned double figures to win. Fsscx was a good way back when the field had settled down and at the home turn he was still some lengths behind the pit comaker, Hollickcr, although he was going strongly on tho outside. Once the pressure was applied he rolled into his work in taking style and won convincingly. Essex is a tine typo of three-year-old by Siegfried from Gay Virginia, by Lord Quex, and may now be regarded as a Derby possibility. Sergia ran one of her best races and Corne Abbas did well to get third after being a long way back early. Corne Abbas has become solid and a middle distance should suit her. Valspcar got away badly and in the circumstances his fourth was good. Hollickcr failed only near the end after making the running. Quadroon and Small Hoy ran very creditable races. Defeat oi Francis Drake On the strength of three successive wins Francis Drake was made favourite for the Great Northern Foal Stakes, but he had to lower Lis colours to the third fancy, Hoyal Chief, who came from last to win. Hoyal Chief scored only by a neck, but his winning margin might have been greater only for tho fact that Francis Drake, who hung badly, bored liim out all the way up the straight. It was a good performance on the part of the winner, who began from the outside, and was in the rear to the turn. Francis Drake did not run kindly arid affected his own chance by boring. Brunhilde made a fine attempt to win all the way and it was only in the last little bit that she surrendered the lead. Smoke Screen was not too well placed early and his fourth was very creditable. Greenwich appeared a likely winner about a furlong from the post, but she weakened near the end. Bachelor King was by no means disgraced and Highborn went well for a maiden. A Mild Surprise

The three-year-old Rulette brought off a mild surprise in defeating the favourite. Jack Tar, in the Robinson Handicap. In spite of the fact that she drew No. 16 at the barrier, Rulette was quickly in the lead and she won with something in hand after shaking off Gay Egypt at the foot of the straight. She looks greatly improved. Jack lar was always in the picture and fought on gallantly for second, a position he has occupied in both his races to date. Wililona was responsible for a good effort, running one of her best races. Fox Moth ran on fairly well at the finish to get fourth. Gay Egypt went with the winner until reaching the straight and made a good showing, lie tired in the last furlong. Solo Song, impersonator and Fleetwind all shaped respectably. Some of the runners had their chances affected by failing to jump out cleanly in the large field and one of these was the well-fancied Lofty, who was never dangerous. A Brilliant Performance A brilliant performance was registered by Cuddle in winning the Auckland Cup for the second year in succession and reducing her own existing race record of 3.23 1-5 by one-fifth of a second. She is the first mare to win twice in succession and score with over 9.0. Cuddle was suited by the fast pace set by Dark Shadow and Kellv and when they began to weaken about half a mile from home she dashed to the front to retain the lead to the finish. Argentic fought gallantly all the

way down the straight to overtake Cuddle, but she was too good and was going away from him just near the end. Scotland ran a fine race and also battled on gamely in the last furlong. Mazir, after being well back early, became prominent in the straight and made a fine dash at the distance, only to weaken in the last little bit. Flood Tide was beaten after being prominent until reaching the straight and failed just when ho was expected to be running on. The fact that he pulled hard early did not enhance his prospects. Master Brierlv was never dangerous and Sporting Blood pulled up very lame. Jonathan was in a handy position about half a mile from home but failed to stay and lost ground in the straight. Fersen was closer at the finish than"at any other stage. King Ue.v made a creditable showing. Dark Shadow and Kelly were responsible for the fast pace and they were beaten when beaded by Cuddle, although Kelly battled on gamely. Knight of Australia ran a good nice and lie might have been even closer if his rider had not allowed him to make a fast run on the outside ascending the rise at the five furlongs.

Eleven-Year-Old Winner The eleven-year-old Indolent brought off a surprise in winning the Grafton Hurdles and returned double figures. Good jumping stood to Indolent, who was in front throughout. High Quality was with him most of the way and looked like winning about half a mile from home. However, he made a poor jump at the second to last fence and after that Indolent always had his measure even-though he made a game effort. The race may benefit High Quality, who is really only a beginner at hurdling. Val Watch carried her heavy weight in good style to get third and she mav improve with the run. which was her first for some months. Valpai made a fine showing and he might have won only for going amiss during the running. Lap I P failed to race up to form and was never dangerous. The Railwav Handicap provided an exciting finish and the little-fancied Adalene just got up to win at long odds from Oratory, who made a fine attempt to lead all the way after jumping out clear from No. 1. Jt was easily Adalene's best performance to date and she ran on very resolutoly after having a fine run behind the leaders for the first half-mile. Oratory was responsible for a sound performance and it was only after withstanding several challenges from others that she succumbed to the winner. Royal Dance ran his best race for some time, fighting on well at the end. Golden Sheila went verv fast early from an outside position and this told at the finish. The race may prove beneficial to Golden Sheila, linpasto, who drew the extreme outside, made a fine showing and Round Lip ran verv well for a hack. Galilee faded in the straight and Tonnerre lost his chance when lie struck the rails early. He came in with his side covered with white.

The Crooner Wins "Well Having his first rare, The Crooner galloped very resolutely to win the Nursery Handicap from the favourite Aiwai. The Crooner was always handily placed and smothered the opposition in the last furlong to win going away. He is a very sturdy colt witli a fine huist of speed and should have good prospects of winning again soon. Aiwai displayed brilliant speed in the first couple of furlongs to join Money Raid in the lead after beginning from an outside position and it was not surprising that she weakened near the end. Girl Pat and Money Raid both ran fine races and Aero King shaped well in his first start, showing plenty of jwice. Inches separated the first four in the Christmas Handicap and the places were filled by horses who wore only moderately fancied. The winner Sweet Hose was always handily placed and she put in some good work in the last furlong to got up in the last few strides. The second horse, Tjornacre, was a shade unlucky, as he was checked when attempting to go up on the inside of Light Comedy in the last furlong. LightComedv made a brave attempt to lead over the last seven furlongs and it was only in the last little bit that she was headed. Kilousa looked a likely winner when she challenged at the distance but she weakened slightly just near the end. De Friend made a good showing and Hoy a I Appellant did very well to be seventh after getting away badly. The favourite Custos made a fair showing without being really dangerous and Mandamus tired after being prominent to the turn.