COMMENT ON FORM

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23850, 28 December 1940, Page 5

COMMENT ON FORM

VICTORY FOR BOMBER PETITE JEWEL SURPRISES SUCCESS OF WORTHY NEED The three-year-old Bomber was responsible for a solid performan -e in winning the Seibv Hniulieap practically from end to end, staying on in good style under pressure at lho finish. Bomber is by the imported stallion Quite Sure, whose stock are achieving great success, and he made it, difficult for the others by going 3.38 -i-o, oif 3.49. Many of the field failed to settle down at the start and among these were the favourites Suspense and Range Finder, who broke, up badly, effectually settling their chances. Silver Countess. Port Chalmers, Totara Park, Loyal Star and Matawah also lost a lot of ground. Rara Avis led for a few furlongs when he broke, and Bomber took up the running from Vera Worthy, Getaway, Car Bingen, who broke badly, and Vera Worthy. Over the last half-mile Bomber, Vera Worthy, Getaway and Golden Journey, who made up ground quickly on the turn, were the only iiues with chances. Just after straightening up, Golden Journey appeared likely to win. but Bomber would not bo denied and he beat her by half a length. Getaway was a length away third, and Mac's Jimmy was fourth, ahead of Vera Worthy, Dolores Silk, Gold Kip and Expensive Lady. Golden Journey did very well after being slow away. Favourites Unplaced The favourites Portadown and Katoomba were unplaced in the December Handicap, which was won by the third fancy Barbara Scott, who was well driven by M. Stewart. Cam Derby, Exporter and Magic task were slow to strike their hopples, and Erua Peter led out from Josedale Dawn and Cyonc (iirl. Commencing the last half-mile ( yone Cirl led from Erua Peter, Cam Derby, Portadown and Barbara Scott. Cyone Girl and Barbara Scott leading into the straight trom Magic Task. Barbara Scott held on solidly to win by a neck from Magic Task, wiio defeated Franco by half a head. Cam Derby was a close fourth, followed by Katoomba, who was checked a couple of limes in the running. Pearloro and Portadown. It looked as if Magic Task would have won if she had left the mark correctly. Portadown was forced to cover a lot of ground in the first mile and failed to finish on. Franco stayed on solidly for third and paid double figures. The Betty Boop-Connenora bracket was backed down to a very short price in the Grandstand Handicap, carrying more than half the pool on the win machine, and their supporters suffered a severe reverse when they ran unplaced, Toceetie winning at double figures. Betty Hoop completely extinguished her chance when she failed to begin correctly and was soon well back last. Princess Linnett made the running from Chili Bean. Keie Kura, Bedford and Toceetie, the field racing in pairs. Princess Linnett was tiring at the home turn and once into the straight _ toceetie came strongly on the outside to win by a length from Great Chum, who also nnisheit solidlv. Princess Linnett was half a length awav* third, and Bedford was fourth, followed by Mazaire, Counenora and Belfast Jack. The winner was well driven by r. Holmes, who timed his run to a nicety. 1 rue Trust and Proletarian fell about three furlongs from home. Molly Direct Unlucky The each-way favourite Molly Direct, who was bracketed with lied Flush, lost the Auckland Jubilee Trotting Cup through running into a pocket on the rails behind the leaders in the last half-mile and being unable to get out when full of running. She eventually finished third, just beating Bayard for thai ! position in the last stride. If Stewart had i pulled her out immediately ho reached the straight. she would have had her chance, but he persisted in waiting on the fence, and there was no hope of getting out a little further on. The winner Ned Worthy was responsible for a fine performance in leading throughout, his driver not permitting the back-marker Bayard to take the rails when he dashed up on the outside commencing the last round. Bold Venture, always handily placed, finished strongly on tho outside for second. Bayard made a great effort, going 1.22 J-o, and it was only in the last little hit that he tired, after making a run in the middle stages. Mongolian and Red Flush went creditable races. Accountant was bandy on the outside with five furlongs to go, but was never really dangerous, t'enuku followed the pace-maker for the greater part of the journey and then tired. Cruiser broke at the start, Xed worthy and Parauri going on in front from Lenuku, Molly Direct and Mongolian. Running up the straight the second time Bayard dashed up on the outside, and commencing the last half-mile he was up in front with Ned Worthy, with Uenuku and Molly Direct handy. Xed Worthy and Bayard led into the straight just ahead of Molly Direct, with Mongolian. Bold Venture and Lenuku next. Under a hard drive, Xed Worthy stayed on to win bv a neck from Bold Venture, who defeated Molly Direct by a length. Bay ard was a close fourth, followed by Red I*lush, Bill B. and Uenuku. Chapter of Accidents The Akarana Handicap was a chapter of accidents, onlv six of the 1 2 runners finishing. The eacli-wav favourite. Whanako. who was bracketed with Kitty's Choice, lost his chance at the start by breaking badly, and was evwituallv pulled up. Then when the field had covered two furlongs Winning Post and Kewpie's Bingen fell, and Star Guide was badly checked, after which Cavalryman and Petite Jewel were just, clear of the driverless Winning Post, with Silver Watch and Lynn Rev closest of the others. Going out of the straight, W. H. Andrews, driver of Petite Jewel, attempted to fight, off winning Post with the whip, and just before reaching the back he pulled out, allowing Winning Post to go past. Winning Post collided with the leader, Cavalryman, who was brought down. Over him also went Lynn Rey. and Petite Jewel was afterward clear to win easily from Silver Watch, with Monty Chimes third and Kitty's Choiffl fourth. Showing improvement upon her recent form. Margin finished strongly to register a surprise in the Rowe Memorial Handicap, in which the each-way favourite Short Wave finished third. Elite Rey broke up early and lost her chance completely. Margin going away in front. Passing the stands Margin was closely attended by Milestone, Snort Wave, wide out, Within and Roi Grande. Milestone broke up badly after going seven furlongs, and commencing the last half-mile Margin led from Short Wave. Great Surprise and Within, with the others well beaten. Crossing the top Margin made a short break and rhecked Within, who recovered ouickly. Great Surprise then assumed command, and he led into the straight from Within. Short Wave and Margin. Ilalfwav down the straight Within looked like winning, but Margin came strongly and heat her hy a head. Great Surprise was fourth, followed bv Josedale Dictator. Listowe! anil Hoi Grande. Short Wave was forced to cover a good deal of ground, otherwise he might have been harder to heat.

Swift Lady Prevails Another surprise was forthcoming in the Christmas Handicap when Swift Lady wnn at, double figure*. Tho bracketed horses M:ta.va and Neutrality were best supported, but they failed to pace evenly and were we'l beaten. Swift Lady and Ihi Ihi carried on the running from Repose Don Waila and Mu.,ar('. who was forced to cover a good deal ot Kround rarly, Ihi Ihi broke three f'.ir.omrs from home, and Swift Lady continued m the lead to win by a length and n-balf from Milliard, who vhal'rnged gamely but tiring badlv near the end. Davev Dav. alter being a long way baek as a result of a slow beginning, was a length and a-ualf a> a> third, making up a lot of ground ;n the last half-mile. Don Walla was fourth, followed oy Peter TravK Repose and Ihi Tin. Auto oad and Avr'hire Scott, lost their chances at the start, both breaking up badly. After a slow beginning. Worthy registered a good performance to win the St. HPliers Handicap. Worthy Need secured a hickv run through on the rails a.ong the back, and that enabled him to be haudv at Ihe turn, where he came to the outsioe to make his run. Tangaroa betran very fjntekiy, but broke after going about three furlongs, and Transwell then tool; up the running from Shrewdv, Hillcrest, Noble Prince and A tain. Hillcrest and Our Jewel, who was foilrtn lo la = t after the first ritiarler, made smart runs along the back, and they wero first into the straight from Worthy Need, Great Chum and Superior Rank. Worthy Need finished well to win by threp-quarters of a length from Superior Rnnk, who finished attrnetivcly /ifter being checked when some crowding occurred just before the home turn. Our Jewel, who weakened near the end. was half a length awav third, and Hillcresl was a clo'e fourth ahead of Mongolian, Great Chum and Bronze Queen. STEWARDS' REPORT FINES IMPOSED ON DRIVERS Following the running of tho Akarana Handicap at the Auckland Trotting (Tub's Summer Meeting at Epsom yesterday, the stewards held an inquiry into the falling of Winning Post and Kewpie's Bingen. The occurrence was found to be accidental. II McN a u gilt on, driver of Kcwoie's Jewel, received a broken collarbone. L. J. Mahoney. driver of Winning Post, escaped injury, although he was severely shaken. W. H. Andrews, who drove Petite Jewel to victory in the Akarana Handicap. wa« fined •/.."> for careless driving. He was also derated to a 1) j?r:ule driver for three months for incompetent driving. F. J. Smith was fined £lO for offensive behaviour at the start of tho December Handicap.