NOTES ON THE RACING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21906, 18 March 1933, Page 19

NOTES ON THE RACING

SHATTER LIKELY TO IMPROVE. (Special to Daily Times.) WELLINGTON, March 17. The Wellington autumn meeting was opened in fine weather, and attracted a fair attendance for an off day. The track was firm and fast, and the card provided some first-class racing and close finishes in the majority of events. Autopay scored a meritorious win in the Thompson Handicap, but with a more energetic and wide-awake rider on Bayacre he would have just about landed the money. Shatter ra,n an excellent race, and will be better suited by a longer distance. Too much use was made of Cricket Bat in _ the first half-mile, and this left him without a finish. Ruling Light ran a bad race, and commenced to drift after _ being well placed over the first half-mile. The Champion Two-Year-Old Plate aroused a lot of interest, and although Dole won well, Fracas would have been far more dangerous with a clear run. It created surprise that an inquiry was not held into the interference suffered by Fracas. Kerbside just won and no more in tne Railway Handicap in a fighting finish with Lordly Knight. v Fine Acre dropped out of the Highweight Handicap, _ and Chief Line was favourite for a win and a place. There was no pace on in the early stages, when Palace led the way and Locksley lay at the tail of % field. They closed on Palace a furlong from home, where Chief Line joined the leaders of a bunched field, and Locksley; was putting in a claim on the outside. A good finish horde saw Locksley get up and beat Revision by a short headi ,Red Flush was a neck away, and then close up came Gay Court and Chief Line. Gay Court seemed a bit sore before the race. Chief Line looked a winner at the distance, but then faded. Locksley was patiently ridden, and came with a well-sustained run at the finish. Shining Gold got cut out at the start of the Trial Plate, and Granado, when with the leaders in the first furlong, got sent back, and was last at the far turn. Heather Glow, Eupator, and Bonnie Vale were always well placed. Eupator and Bonnie Vale were in charge as they turned for home, and Shining Gold and Granado were making up ground. Eupator | oo ‘2® d to have Bonnie Vale beaten, but the latter stuck on, and they could not be separated at the finish. Shining Gold did well to finish two lengths behind the dead heaters, and then came Royal Basn and Heather Glow, who faded in'the run home. Granado and Shining Gold were the unlucky horses in the race, and witn a better run the latter would have won. A numerically good field started tor the St. Leger, and La Moderne started a sound favourite. 1 Rebel Song and Golden Horn took up the_ role of pacemakers, and ran together in front ot the field, with the others well placed enough to win if able. They ran the first halfmile in 50 3-ssec and the first six turlongs in Imin 17sec. The leadership w& s unchanged as they turned for home, where La Moderne, Rocket, and Gold Trail were each travelling well. Inside the distance La Moderne put in her effort, and, stalling off Gold Trail, beat her by three parts of a length. Rebel Song was close up third, and Rocket was about two lengths away in fourth place. Tout le Monde faded out in the. run home, and Rocket also stopped after looking dangerous at the home turn. Both these horses stay, but only when acting under a light weight. Inflation was always in the middle of the field, but is better suited over a shorter course. Gold Iran ran her best race since running at the Auckland Cup meeting. La Moderne was all out to beat Gold Trail in a Dominion record for the distance, First Acre holds the Australasian record at 2min 56isec. The Champion Two-year-old Plate proved to be a good betting race, with very little between the first three in favouritism. Diatomous, Dole, Princess Doreen, Golden Hair, and Gay Shiela led the way to the straight, where Fracas was coming through on the rails. Dole took charge and finally won by two lengths from >■ Fracas,, who was twice blocked inside the final, furlong. Golden Hair was over two lengths away third and Diatomous next, followed by Guarantee and Red Manfred. Fracas would have supplied far more trouble to the winner with a clear run. Guarantee went down sore in his preliminary, and was never in the picture. Inflation and Arrow Lad were taken out of the Thompson Handicap. Autopay, Cricket Bat, and Ruling Light were the popular picks. Autopay was last away at the start, from which Bayacre soon took charge and carried on from Miladi, Martian Chief. Princess Argosy, and Ruling Light, with Shatter last, as they ran along the back. Cricket Bat ran into second place behind Bayacre at the far turn, where Autopay and Shatter were still well back in the ruck. Ruling Light commenced to drift back half a mile from home. Bayacre led Cricket Bat into the straight, with Miladi and Princess Argosy handy, and Autopay making up ground on the outside. Autopay came with a strong run in the straight and, racing up to Bayacre, beat him by a short neck. Bayacre’s rider did not move on his horse until Autopay arrived on the scene. Shatter came from nowhere and, finishing on well, was two lengths away third, just beating Martian Chief. Assemble finished on well with Eminent, and Gay Crest wag close up. Cricket Bat dropped out in the run home, and so did Princess Argosy. The time put up by the winner equalled the race record. Shatter ran the best race apart from the winner, and Bayacre’s rider appeared to be caught napping. Speed gave trouble at the post for the Silverstream Handicap, and, after breaking through the barrier four times, finally got out on the move. Speed led Senegal and Peschiera along the back, with Zeebrugge close up and Trek last. Speed continued in the lead, and, finally stalling off Peschiera, won by a neck. Zeebr.uggc was about four lengths away,

after being under pressure over the final half mile. March Alone and Trek followed the placed lot. Golden Wings started an £BO better favourite than Lordly Knight in the Railway Handicap. Kerbside, who was Held on the extreme outside of the field, led with Lordly Knight and The Tiger to the straight, with Hunt the Slipper, Pomp, and Golden Wings close up. Lordly Knight and Kerbside were in charge inside the distance, and, under the whip, the latter won by a head. Golden Wings was nearly two lengths away, with Hunt the Slipper and Pomp close up, and Normandy next. The Wingatui trained Mobile was most in demand for the Tinakori Handicap. Ho was in the lead all the way, but finally failed by a narrow margin to a challenge from Might, who won in the last stride. Cottesmore was a fair third. Chief Light was close up, after being last into the straight, and then came Worship, who got well away, but failed to hold his position.