MAGNIFICENT CONTEST

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26969, 3 January 1949, Page 7

MAGNIFICENT CONTEST

GREAT NORTHERN DERBY Special to the Daily limes AUCKLAND, Jan. 2. A photo finish was called at the conclusion of a magnificent contest between the first two horses in the' £3500 Great Northern Derby for three-year-olds, the principal event on the third day of the '''■ Auckland Racing Club’s summer meeting at Ellerslie on Saturday, and the camera gave victory by half a head to the favourite, Tauloch, from Rizzio. Beau Conte was three lengths away third. Tauloch and Rizzio galloped stride for stride all the way up the straight, and the crowd was raised to a high pitch of enthusiasm. The principal handicap event, the Auckland Racing Club Handicap, was won decisively by Star Performer from Royal Tan and the favourite, Valley Boy. The success of Star Performer, 6/6 in the betting, did not find favour with a section of the spectators, and cries of “ Put him out!” greeted his return to scale. Star Performer carried siJlb over-weight and was ridden by E. V. Dye. It is customary for him to show his best form when the ground is soft, and the conditions were right to his liking. In his previous start at the meeting he ran poorly with 111 b overweight on a firm track in the Auckland Cup, being well back always. The grey five-year-old gelding Morocco again showed his liking for soft ground when he won the Newmarket Handicap, the open sprint, from the favourite. Citril, and General Menteith. Citril also ran second in the Railway Handicap on the first day, and her two placings were worth £IOSO to her owner-trainer, F. A. Roberts. Most of the winners were well backed, and the only real surprise was the success of Shar> Lady in the County Handicap. She is a five-year-old who had never won previously and paid a straight-out dividend approaching half a contury, besides double figures for a place. Tauloch’s Performance In the Great Northern Derby Tauloch began from the outside, and when after about two furlongs he was racing well out from the rails, with Rizzio, Idle Jest and Empire Prince on the inside, his jockey, W. R. Hooton, decided to allow him to run to the front. Before three furlongs were covered Tauloch was on the fence making the pace, and with seven furlongs to go he was just ahead of Idle Jest, who was two lengths clear of Rizzio. Then after an interval of several lengths were Mountain Glory, Regal Gold, Empire Prince, and Beau Conte. Inside the last half-mile Idle Jest began to weaken, and Rizzio went up on to Tauloch’s quarters. Beau Conte also'moved up to be handy in third position. There was little between Tauloch and Rizzio as they entered the straight, with Beau Conte in close pursuit, and they settled down to a great finish. One hundred yards from the post Rizzio appeared to have a very slight advantage, but Tauloch responded gamely to hard riding and just took the honours. Beau Conte was three lengths away third, and Regal Gold was a moderate fourth, followed by Idle Jest, Empire Prince, Eulogize. and Mountain Glory. It was a magnificent race between two courageous race horses.

Racing Club Handicap The four-year-old Star Performer gave one of his best performances when he scored very decisively in the Auckland Racing Club Handicap. He was last at the end of three furlongs, and did not become prominent until inside the last half-mile, when he made a fast run on the outside to be up in front with the leaders entering the straight. Regal Praise Conspiracy, Pimlico, Robin’s Reward, ’Artificer and Cowper were among the first to become prominent. Regal Praise leading past the stands from Conspiracy and Pimlico. The field bunched near the five-furlong post and there apneared to be a little crowding, Highfield soing right back. Passing the half-mile. Regal Praise, Conspiracy and Artificer were together in front from Robin’s Reward with Royal Tan and Cowper also handy, and Star Performer beginning a run on the outside. Vailey Boy was also commencing to improve his position. Regal Praise, Artificer and Star Performer

were almost abreast in front racing round the turn into the straight, and they were closely followed by Robin’s Reward, Royal Tan, Cowper and yalley Boy. No sooner had the straightened up for the run home than Star Performer drew clear. Responding well to the urging of his rider, he went on to win by three lengths from Royal Tan, who finished solidly Valley Boy also came home strongly to be a neck away third, and Pimlico was fourth, followed by Artificer, Dakota, Robin’s Reward, Cowper, Regal Praise and Highfield. Led All the Way The each-way favourite, Citril, ran a good race for second in the Newmarket Handicap, but she was decisively beaten by Morocco, who led all the way. The inside horses, Super Vaals and Coonbridge, were the first to begin, only to give way before a furlong to Morocco and General Menteith Morocco led into the straight from General Menteith, Super Vaals, Citril and Chubin, who were in close order. Morocco was clear at the furlong post, and he stalled off a challenge by Citril to win by a length and a-half. General Menteith was two lengths and a-half away third, and Coonbridge was fourth, with Super Vaals, Chubin, Shirley Fox and Niloch next.