NOTES ON THE RACING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22447, 17 December 1934, Page 15

NOTES ON THE RACING

(Special to Daily Times.) TE AWAMUTU, December 15. The outstanding feature of the Waipa Racing Club’s meeting wag the success of King March in the Te Awamutu Cup. He returned from Sydney less than a fortnight ago, and in a solidly-run race he smothered the opposition at the finish, drawing pointed attention to his chance in the Auckland Cup at Ellerslie on Boxing Day. , The light-weights, The Hiker and Record Flight, had the Pirongia Hurdles practically to themselves, and the foi’mer just .gained the honours by a nose. Record Flight looked like winning when he joined The Hiker at the last fence, but Burgess handled the latter well, and he won by a nose. Palm, running on, was eight lengths away third, and Verden was fourth, ahead of the favourite Chromadyne, who was a trifle short of work after an easy' time for a few ■weeks,' and tired at the end. Verden had every chance, and the others were well beaten.

It was with a good finishing effort that Engi got up to defeat Lady Zinnia in the Kihikihi Hack Handicap. The favourite, Lifeguard, who drew No. 14 at the barrier, reached the front after going over two furlongs, and led into the straight from Chief Lap, Day Wind, and Lady Zinnia. It did not appear as if Engi would get through, but an opening came near the post, and he got up in the, last stride to win by half a head. True Measure finished on to get third, and Chief Lap was fourth. The early effort told on Lifeguard, and he faded at the end.

Ford Acre brought off a surprise in the Waipa Plate, paying over a score on the win machine. Ford Acre, a halfsister by Acre to King Ford, proved just too solid for Ammon Ra’s half-sister, Astarth, at the finish. However, it appeared as if the two-year-old Lady Euler was a good thing beaten. She lost the lead after going about three furlongs, and then finished fast to get a close third ahead of Carshalton. Whirling was not suited by the turning track, and failed to show his true form.

King March, just returned from Sydney, gave evidence of improvement by winning the Te Awamutu Cup very decisively. King’s Knave set a good pace early, and after going a few furlongs he was out about six lengths. The held closed up to King’s Knave along the back, but he was still • in front entering the straight from Prince Colossus, Gay Broney, and King March. Once they straightened up King March dashed up on the outside to score very convincingly from King’s Knave, who defeated Prince Colossus by half a length. Gay Broney was fourth, and Mungatoon next. King March looks a picture, and if he retains his present form will take considerable beating in the Auckland Cup. King's Knave made a creditable showing, while Prince Colossus and Gay Broney did best of the others. Royal Artist had every chance, but stopped quickly at the turn. Coronig reached the front quickly in the Hack Cup Handicap, and stalled oh a determined challenge from Gay Rose to win by a neck. Respectful looked likely when he was handy to Coronie at the turn, but he tired in the run home, where Tuaheahe also failed. Coronis deserved her victory, but Gay Rose was a shade unlucky. Seven scratchings reduced the field lor the Paterangi Handicap to five, and Psychologist, third fancy each way, scored a decisive victory. Psychologist led all the w r ay, and when the pressure was applied in the straight went away from King’s Archer, who was on his quarters at the turn. Musquil ran just a fair race for third, and Delrain, having hie first outing since August, was fourth. Necks separated the placed horses in the Flying Handicap, and Wait and See, finishing wide out, stayed on solidly to win from Lucidus, who was the outsider of the field, and paid a fine price for a place. Imamint was third and Limex wa s fourth, with the favourites Scotland and King Ford in the rear. Imamint, King Ford, and Scotland went very fast early, opening up a gap on the others. Scotland was steadied slightly at the top, but the early effort left them all wanting in the straight, where Lucidus and Wait and See challenged. The latter might have won by a greater margin it she had not run so wide. Limex pulled up lame. Sunny Downs was responsible tor a mild surprise in winning the Ohaupo Hack Handicap. Valerina and Prince Acre led into the straight, where Sunny Downs challenged on the outer. Sunny Downs bored out in the run home, but scored by half a length from Prince Acre, who defeated Spearconrt by a length.