COMMENT ON FORM

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23162, 7 October 1938, Page 9

COMMENT ON FORM

HURDLES TO MOUNT VAL

VICTORY FOR WITHDRAWAL LORD NUFFIELD PREVAILS [by TELEGRAPH —OWN correspondent] DUNEDIN, Thursday Mount Val was made a good favourite for the Spring Hurdles and, after Night Scout, Vantoon, Grand Finale and Delrain had disputed tho lead, he raced to the front coming to tho last hurdle and won comfortably. Vantoon made a bad jump at the second hurdle and Delrain fell at the second to last. Withdrawal was made a good favourite for the Trial Handicap and, nfter lending with Colonol Rouge into the straight, she camo on to win decisively from Attractive Note, who finished well. Chirp made up ground to finish third, just boating Vatlock, who also had to mako up leeway. Colonel Rouge dropped back in tho last 50 yards. Our Pal, Moonraider and Neptune were handy 'to the loaders as they came to tho homo turn. Defeat of Sparkle Sparkle was made a strong favourite for tho Maungatua Handicap/but gave her supporters a poor run. Cintilla soon drew out to a leacl of five lengths from Passaform, Ardehoillo and Hunting Chorus. Passaform. overtook Cintilla at the distanced and won narrowly. Ardchoille was a. poor third and then came Gay Vixen and Sparkle. Defaulter was supported as a certainty for tho Electric Handicap and had the race won oO yards from home when Silver Streak got a run on him and won by half a length. Defaulter appeared to loaf on reaching the front, and this cost him the race. Viking and Janet Gaynor made the early running, but tired in the straight. Silver Streak was lame on returning to the birdcage. He bore in on Defaulter at the finish and had to be pulled out to avoid interference. Defaulter should be improved by the race.

Petersham and ,Made Money -dropped out Of the Mosgiel Handicap, Valantua being made a much better favourite than Alma, who received strong support in spite of her reputation as a non-stayer. Valantua forced the pace and Alma and Balmenter, who were in! the rear,- moved up in the back stretch.Balmenter then seemed to get squeezed back and went to the rear four lengths behind the field. Valantua and Milford led the way up the hill to Pink.Robe and Last Refrain, Alma having dropped hack after racing up to the leaders. Valantua and Milford led into the straight, where Last Refrain challenged. Last Refrain and Milford came'oil together and, in a good finish, the former just won. Pink Robe was a moderate third and Balmenter drew up to finish almost in line fourth. Balmenter. would have been closer with a better run. Alma appeared to be injudiciously handled in being raced up froih last to the leaders. Good Finishing Run Winning Rival would have been unlucky to miss the McLean Stakes. She began well, but before going a furlong appeared to get sent back. Dark Flight and King Gustavo led into the straight from Mondello and Moneymore. Dark Flight was. two. lengths clear as. they straightened for home and looked a Winner, 'but Winning Rival, retrieving her.'lost ground with a fast run, got iip-to..^in. : narrOw.lyfroixrSang r Gustavo. Dark Flight tired into third, place, but was, clear of Gay Salute. . \ Petersham started an od<3s-on favourite'for the' October Handicap and comfortably beat Swordstick, who provided the strongest opposition. Osculate went as,' far as his condition lasted. The' others were well beaten. . Density and Kilrobe were most in demand for the Taioma Handicap. Density was in charge as they turned for home, but Straight Dell looked a winner at the distance. Lord Nuffield then came with a run and won from Straight Dell and Kilrobe, Density fading into fourth.

HAWERA ACTIVITIES STUDENT PRINCE PLEASES IMPROVEMENT OF SILVANUS' [by telegraph—OWN correspondent] HAWERA, Thursday In spite of several heavy showers early, the outside of the course proper at Hawera provided firm going for training operations this morning, when some useful sprinting was accomplished. Notium (Cole) gained two lengths, on Daisy Chain (Sexton) at the commencement of half a mile and maintained the advantage to the end in 54 2-ss. Notium was under a good hold throughout. After running the first three furlongs in 41 2-ss, Student Prince (Sexton) shaded' Naughty Marietta (Ryan) at the close of seven furlongs in 1.37. Student Prince is in great heart. Naughty Marietta worked satisfactorily." * Lickem (Monkley) defeated Prime Quality (Sexton) over half a mile in 535. Over the same distance Golden Orchid registered 53 2-ss. Gold Glare (Farland) and Captain Bligh (Fryer) were not out to make time while traversing five furlongs in 1.11. Filbert (Ryan), Mischel (Sexton) and Kokakoe (Cole) jumped away at intervals of a length, at the start of half a mile sprint along tho back, but Kokaka was practically on terms with Filbert at tho end in 53 2-ss. Mischel was a couple of lengths further back at the finish.

Dark Eagle (Monkley) was under a good hold alongside Lord Cavendish (Cole) over the final stages of four furlongs in 53 4-ss. Dark Eagle continues to impress. Narrator (Sexton) completed half a mile in 54 2-ss. Algerian (Monkley) hit out boldly over three furlongs in company with Kilometre (Sexton) in 39 2-ss. Both are making good progress. Silvanus (Farland) beat Race Call (Fryer) over five furlongs in 1.7 3-5. Silvanus displayed vast improvement compared with her effort on the plough earlier in the week.

Le Marquis (Farland) and Gold Card (Fryer) moved smartly over three furlongs on the plough in 395. Friesland, Lady Kyra, One "VVhetu, Viracious, Gold Band and Winsome Lu were let off with useful pace work. RACING FIXTURES October 7, B—Hawke's Bay Jockey Club. October B—Dunedin8 —Dunedin Jockoy Club. October 8, 10—Auckland Racing Club. October 12, 13—Masterton Racing Club. October 20, 22, 2-1 —Wellington Racing Club. October 22, 24—Gore Racing Club. October 21 —North Canterbury Racing Club. October 24—Wavorloy Racing Club. October 24 —Waikato Hunt Club. October 27, 20—Poverty Bay Turf Club. October 20—Banks Peninsula Racing Club. October 20 —Rangitikei Racing Club. October 20—Rotorua and Bay of Plenty Hunt Club. November 4, G —Whangarei Racing Club. November 5, 7, 0, 12 —Canterbury Jockey Club. November s—Napier Park Racing Club. November 12 —Napier Park Racing Club. November 12, 14—Avondale Jockey Club. November 10—Levin Racing Club. November 19—Southland Racing Club. November 19, 21—"Waikato Racing Club.