GOOD RACING

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 11736, 25 January 1924, Page 10

GOOD RACING

FORM WORKS OUT FAST RUN HANDICAP. Once again the racing -was good, and the big race in particular provided a fine contest in which the topweights proved their worth and the accuracy of the handica.pper’s judgment by filling the first four places. Cup form worked out well in this race, as is generally the case. The winner turned up in Gold Light, who was second in the Cup, and Roseday, who was third in the Cup, was third In this event. Enthusiasm, who got a bad run in the Cup, was well placed all the way yesterday and ran a creditable second, while Highland was well up in fourth position. The bottom-marker, Diamond Ring, led all the way to the straight, but only on suffrnnce, and when heads were turned for home the topweights came away and had the finish to themselves. A RACE RECORD I . The race was run at a fast pace all the way, and the time recorded was a record for the event.' The previous best times were by Insurrection in 1922 and Eleus in 1921, both ran the journey in 2min 19sec, which is 2-sths of a second slower than the time registered by Gold Light yesterday. Gold Light carried 71b more than insurrection and 9lb more than Eleus. THE BIG HACK EVENT. The popularity of the Douro Cup with owners was shotvn by the largeness of the field which went to the post. A better contest could hardly have been wished lor. The winner, Penelophon, one of the King Mark family, was always prominent, and in the straight he finished better than his opponents and won, while Zero Hour came from well back and defeated Last Crust for second place. In such a big field luck plays its part, but the first and the second horses would have been hard to beat in almost any circumstances. i A GREAT BOIL OVER. There was a great boil over in the Metropolitan Handicap, for which Glontruin was a pronounced favourite. The big mare stripped better than she did on Cup day, and she ran a better race. Halfway up tho straight she was in front and the only thing that appeared to be likely to worry her was Santonio, who had ranged alongside and was going well. Weight told its tale in the last bit and Glentruin was unable to hold off the lightweight long enough to reach' the post first. Santonio won by a neck, and by his victory registered one of the surprises of tho meeting. He returned a big double-figure dividend.