COMMENT ON FORM

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23810, 11 November 1940, Page 5

COMMENT ON FORM

BLACK MUSK SCORES FOREST ACRE AN OUTSIDER ROUTE MARCH AT SHORT ODDS BY ARCHER The Rangitoto Hurdles proved easy for the each-way favourite Black -Musk, who jumped much quicker than in his previous races over fences and won very decisively. High Star led over tjie first two fences, at which he swerved hadly and interfered with Ringshot, Avliose rider was unseated at the second fence. Black Musk then went to the front, and he was never afterward troubled, winning by three lengths from Temonatekapa, wlio battled 011 gamely under pressure. The Trimmer, after being second in the middle stages, was three lengths away third, and Saccone was fourth, with High Star well beaten. Black Musk should soon win again. Saccone may improve with the run. High Star pulled up tender. Midland, after doing his preliminary, was withdrawn owing to soreness. The improving three-year-old Foxola registered an easy win in the Trial Slakes, for which she and Stratford shared favouritism. Several of the outside horses lost ground at the start, including Lady Pay; and Golden Bonnet was quickly in command from Pleuron and Stratford. Nearing the tunc. Foxola ran to the front, and she letl into the straight from Golden Bonnet, .Pleuron, Bournemouth. Stratford and Court Favourite. Nothing bad a chance with Foxola over the last furlong and .<he won by three and a-half lengths from Stratford. Sir GencraJ "finished solidly to be a length and a-half away third, and Karatoki. finishing on, was fourth ahead ,of Natal, Sealaw, Pleuron and Court Favourite. Foxola is doing better with every race and may not be long in extending her record. Favouritism Justified Backed down to very short odds. Route March justified his favouritism for the Juvenile Handicap by winning nicely.. but he caused his supporters much uneasiness when 110 came right away from the inside, fence in the straight and finished up almost 011 the' extreme outside. Auto Lass was smartest to begin from No. 1. but she soon gave way to Route March, who went fast from No. 7, Bright Lady and Snake Gully, who came into the straight almost together. Route March came right across at the distance. but he won by half a length from Bright Lady, who defeated Snake Gully by a length and a-half. Silver Clarion ran 011 fairly well for fourth ahead of Kronos and !Dependabie. l?onte ilnrch ■is still green, but is a good galloper who would have had a bigger margin if he, hud kept straight. Manuroa and Funny Fox lost their chances at the start by failing to jump out with the others. . , The extreme outsider British 'lalent won the King George Handicap practically from end to end, staying on solidly to win by a head from the each-way favourite Cheval de Volee, who challenged in determined fashion after being close up fourth at the straight entrance. Rarotouga and Valamito, after following the winner most of the way and being right in it at the distance, had a close iuss.e for third. Rarotouga securing the placing only a neck behind Chevnl de Volee. Valamito weakened a little in the last half-fur-long after appearing dangerous. The rest of the field failed hadly, Golden Sheila and Mnzir. who was. groggy, being well beaten. Milanion broke down and was pulled up. Kraal Wins Narrowly The second fancy Kraal scored narrowly in the Three Kings Hack Hajidicnp, in which the favourite, Calula Boy. ran third. Veru- • lam and Veritable were the early leaders, Verulam • and Classic leading into the straight from Biddy Girl, Forest Bridge, Kraal, Mysito, Surpai and Brahman. After passing the distance, Kraal got through 011 the inside, and she stalled off the fast-finish-ing Brahman to win by a head. Calula Boy also finished well to be a close third, and Forest Bridge was almost in line fourth, ahead of Classic, Miss Valerie, Veritable and King's Flight.- The first and second both had outside post positions, Kraal being fav- ' oured by slightly the better run. Finishing with a great rattle on the outside after being near the rear and well back until reaching the straight, the thrce-ycar-Old Lou Rosa won the Members' Handicap by a head from Bronze Moth, who defeated Cornish by Jialf a length. Silver Quex was a close fourth, followed by Inver, Barrister. Clipper and the favourite Phaleron, who ran disappointingly. Lou Rosa registered his best performance this season, and he-may yet fulfil the high promise he gave as a two-year-old. Bronze Moth showed a definite return to form, staying on solidly after making all the running and stalling otT Cornish, who challenged strongly at the distance. Silver Quex ran a good race for fourth. Inver and Clipper made creditable showings without being really dangerous. Ivy Willonyx fell. Marshall Hall Prevails The three-year-old Marshall Hall was made an each-way favourite for the Electric Handicap, and he duly won, although lie did not have a great deal to spare-from Gaymiss. Tea Gong, Maxam and Pirate King were badly away, Maxam showing great brilliance to take the lead after a little more than a furlong, and to lead into the straight from Marshall Hall, Lovaals. Tea Gong and Gaymiss. Marshall Hall held command below the' distance, and stayed 011 to win narrowly from Gaymiss, who was disappointed when attempting to go through on the inside and had to be steadied to come to the outside. Gaymiss would have been very difficult to beat if she had not been checked. I'fate King came home well 011 the outside for third and Lovaals was fourth, ahead of Noitaro, Clintlt and Maxam. A protest against the winner for crossing Gaymiss was dismissed. An inquiry into interference with Grandora is to be held to-day.. . , . The Nihotupu Ilacfc Handicap culminated in a thrilling finish and a narrow victory for the little-fancied Forest " Acre, who was unsuccessful last season, and paid over a score. Valdene and Glen Connell streaked away from the field in the middle stages, and they came into the straight six lengths clear of Kaalooa, General Riske, Bronze Emerald and Korotangi. Glen Connell collapsed at the distance, and Valdene went under only b.v a half 'a head to Forest Acre, who finished very fast on the outside. Rival, who cajne home strongly on the rails, was another head away third, and Korotangi was fourth, succeeded bv Maxown, Kaalooa and Hunting Bee Gold Money Song half turned at the "tart and was hopelessly left, following some lengths behind the field. THOROUGHLY DESERVED CUP VICTORY OF SERENATA APPRENTICE RIDES GOOD RACE [by TELKORAPII—OWN COJUtKSI'ONOKNT] CHRISTCHURCH, Sunday The victory of Screnata in the New Zealand Cup was thoroughly deserved. She was ridden an excellent race by S. Waddell, who is apprenticed to G. New. Ihc lud is a son of F. Waddell, who was well known as a rider, and a nephew of the late veteran trainer S. Waddell. Taurangi registered a creditable performance, as she was well back most of tho way. She narrowly missed being the first Beau Pcre progeny to win over two miles. Little Robin, who has been making steady improvement, was unfortunate that he was de.prived of third, which he decisively earned from Capricious and Royal Chief, who were separated by only a narrow margin. Little Robin's rider weighed out three-quarters of a pound overweight, but weighed in 'l%lb under, and there was no other course but to disqualify him and awurd third to Capricious, who showed vast improvement on previous form this season. Capricious might have been more prominent only for being made a lot of use of disputing tho lead with Wardress two furlongs from home, and being called upon to make her run too soon. Wardress was also a sufferer by the same tactics. And both were ridden as if the winning post were at the false rail. . . Royal Chief disappointed his army of supporters by failing to gain a place. Some considered he was kept too far back during the middle stages, but the pace was on all the wav and he had 9.0, so that his rider was justified In adopting tho tactics ho did. Royal Chief looked likely inside, tho last furlong, but did not finish with tho dash he displayed at Trcnthaui. All of tho others disappointed, especially The Buzzer, Dictate, The Raker and the King Tho Buzzer went down well, but his form was all wrong, and be was palpably not himself. Dictate failed to hit out at any part oil the hard ground. ■ The winner, Screnata, was bred by Mr. A. Loußson. of Christclnirch. owner of her siro Nightmarch. Tho dam. Praise, was bred b.v Mr G. M. Currie and was purchased as a yearling by the late Mr. G. D. Greenwood, for whom she won the New Zealand Oaks. She was secured by Mr. Louisson as a five-year-old and was put. to the stud. Praise is bv Lirnond from Eulogy, and her first living fon I to Nightmarch was Russian Ballet, a gofid performer in tho North Island. Screnata was sent as a yearling to Trentham along with Stylist, by Nightmarch from Pride, but, they failed to reach the reasonable reserves placed upon tlieiri and were brought back to Christchurch. Later Mr. Louisson disposed of Screnata to Mrs. W. Richmond and retained Stylist, who lias yet to win a race, but is expected to do well this season. Two full-brothers were successful in successive races at Ricearton yesterday. Enrich winning the Stewards' Handicap and Globe Trotter the Riccnrton Handicap. Both were bred bv the late Mr. W. Higgins. whose horses have nearly all done well for their new owners since the disposal of the team last year. It is probably unique in racing for brothers to win successive races.