PEGGOTTY AGAIN

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23115, 13 August 1938, Page 13

PEGGOTTY AGAIN

TENTH WIN ACHIEVED SONOMA KING VICTORIOUS PARISIENNE BREAKS AT START [JBY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION"] CHRISTCHURCH, Friday Better track conditions gave the trotter? in the Mid-Winter Handicap a chance, to show their true form and Sonoma King in his victory registered 3.23 for a mile and a-half, an improvement of lis on his assessment. Sonoma King was the quickest to begin, while following closely were Guy Hugo, .Reward, Grade Fields and Prince Harvester. Sonoma King was always going nicely in front and he easily held his own to defeat Guy.Hugo, who put ill; a fast finish. Indolent trotted another solid, race for third ahead of Grade Fields, Reward, Walter Wrack, Kippagh. and Prince Harvester. The winner was a class above the rest and gave "a very hue display of trotting. Guy Hugo went one of his best races and fought on gamely at tho finish. Pilot Peter showed speed,, but failed to go steadily. Walter Wrack lost all chance through a bad beginning. Splendid Performance The Lightning Handicap saw a splendid performance: by Donor, who was forced to cover a lot of extra ground, and fought on to gain a narrow victory in the good time of 3.16 3-5 from a 3.27 rriaTk. Dark Hazard mixed his gait at the start, and with half the journey covered Fremont was in charge from Embark, Philario, on the rails, Gold Salute and Dark Hazard. Fremont tired, Embark, Gold Salute and Dark Hazard being the leaders into the straight from Philario, Golden Moness and Donor. With a great finishing effort Donor got up on the post to win from Dark Hazard. Philario was third ahead of Twenty Grand and Moana Tama. Donor's effort showed him to be a horse gifted with rare gameness and stamina. Philario was hemmed in on the rails and made a fine dash when he got clear near the end. The National Handicap provided another exciting finish, the Aucklander F. J. Smith winning with Ironside. Blair Athol led in the early stages, but at the end of half a mile Morello raced to the front from Isabel Derby, Blair Athol, Village Guy and Bocks Ahead. The field raced in close order and, with a round to go, Ginger Jack and Ironside were well placed. Rocks Ahead joined Morello with half a mile to go, the pair going away several lengths clear of Blair Athol, Isabel Derby and Ironside. In the straight Morello quickly disposed of Rocks Ahead and was in front a hundred yards from home when Ironside came with a fine finishing run to beat him decisively. Blair Athol was third, followed by Ginger Jack, Village Guy, King's Play , and Glenrossie. Ironside in Rare Form Ironside paced brilliantly and was kept in a handy position throughout. He stayed on particularly well. Morello found the task of pacemaking just too much for him, but he put up a sterling performance. He is one' of tho best pacers in commission and over a shorter journey than two miles should make a showing in any company. Ginger Jack and Blair Athol were beaten on their merits, although the former lost ground at the start. Village Guy and Rocks Ahead failed in tho final test. The last mile was run in about 2.5. Cantata again proved herself a sterling pacer by winning the Federal Handicap, and She fairly outclassed the field over the concluding stages. A smash, in which Waipahi and Red Ranger came down, might have affected the result. Red Ranger and Aircraft were tho early pacemakers from Marsceres, Cantata, Iraq, Waipahi and Carver Doone. A quarter of a mile from home, Waipahi, then in a good position, fell and brought down Ked Ranger, and' Cantata led into the straight from Aircraft and Iraq. Cantata was never seriously troubled in tho run to the post, and won handsomely from Marsceres. Iraq was a moderate third, followed by Aircraft. The win was decisive, but the race was robbed of interest when Waipahi met with an accident. However, it is unlikely that he would have beaten the winner. First-class Trotter Peggotty gave another of her classic displays when-she won the Addington Handicap. It was an exhibition that stamped Peggotty as a really great trotter. Her record in 12 starts as an unhoppled trotter is ten victories. Peggotty began in her usual steady style, and Lament took up tho running from Bittersweet, Discord and First Wrack, while Wahnooka was soon in front of Peggotty. With half a mile to go Peggotty set off after the leaders, and m a furlong on the outside of the field she had the race well in hand. Down the straight she was a comfortable winner, while all the others wero under pressure. Bittersweet had the race run to suit her, and came on gamely to finish second. Lament appeared to be feeling the effects of his earlier racing, and he failed to display the dash expected.

i Walmooka found the company just teo good, but he appeared to have had enough. The remainder were outclassed, which was not surprising when the time is remembered. Southern Chief pulled to the front shortly after the start of the Islington Handicap, b'ut in a very fast-run race ho felt the strain with hair a "nilo to go and faded out rather badly toward the end. From the start Southern Chief was the leader, and was still in charge with half a mile to go. At this stage the pace increased, and Southern Chief was in trouble. Silver Guy then toolc up the running and led into the straight from Acq Pot and Southern Chief, with Ked Pigeon corning fast. Silver Guy was never troubled in the run to the post and won comfortably, while Red Pigeon just as easily defeated Ace Pot, who had a hard battle with Sandusky, Nell Grattan and Zincali. Silver Guy won well. He has not always been consistent, bub this was a high-class performance. Aucklander Wins Keen Finish King's Warrior finished up a good meeting for the Auckland trainer F. J. Smith when ho won the Farewell Handicap, after brilliantly pacing a mile in 2.9 1-5. He was always handily placed, and showed, rare courage in a fighting finish. Worthy Light was the quickest to begin, with Evicus, King's Warrior and Pocks Ahead handy, and Parisienne, who mixed her gait at the start, in the rear. Worthy Light set a merry pace until three furlongs from home, when, he was joined by King's Warrior. The pair came into the straight almost together, with Evicus in close attendance. It was until 100 yds. from home that King's Warrior asserted his superiority, but this he hd in no uncertain manner. Ho won like a real racehorse. Worthy Light put tip liis best race for some, time, but the unlucky pacer was Parisienne, who went off unsteadily, apd showed more speed than anything in the race. The pace was too much for her, and when all chance of success was gone she was eased in the straight. Plutus, who appeared short of a race, went particularly well, and may do better in tho near future.