NOTES ON THE RUNNING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27017, 28 February 1949, Page 2

NOTES ON THE RUNNING

TAIERI HURDLE HANDICAP The scratching of Lord Roland left a field of 11 for the hurdles, and Perusha won at his first attempt over jumps. Easily Seen was the last to leave, and running past the post the first time Bridgehead was showing the way to Air Lord, Perusha, Knight Crusader, Bren Gun, and Easily Seen. Balan came down with a mile to run, and into the back it was still Bridgehead from Air Lord, Perusha, and Knight Crusader, - with Cloister and Bren Gun next. Three furlongs from home Knight Crusader moved up to Bridgehead and outjumped him to lead him into the straight, and then came Air Lord, Perusha, and Cloister, with Benbecula coming fast. Bridgehead dropped out, and Perusha was clear at the last hurdle, winning decisively from Benbecula, with Knight Crusader third and Cloister fourth. The next to finish were Bren Gun, Laindon, and Desert Victory. TRIAL HANDICAP The Trial Handicap provided one of the best finishes of the day, the three placed horses going over the line practically on terms, the judge declaring a dead-heat between Dinnyhazer and Robin Redbreast, with Sweet Lorraine half a head away. Sweet Lorraine was the unlucky runner as she was badly placed when the field settled down. It was a good start, and the first to show out were Good Form, Dinnyhazer, Golden Mirage, Running Brook, Robin Redbreast, and Asaf Jah. There was little alteration as they galloped down the back, but Sweet Lorraine moved up fast on the bend, and Chord also came into the picture. Good Form was the first to weaken, and Dinnyhazer led into the straight to be challenged first by Robin Redbreast and then Sweet Lorraine. In a thrilling finish Dinnyhazer and Robin Redbreast split winning honours, with Sweet Lorraine, who ran about a bit in the straight, right up with them and Chord fourth. Good Form and Running Brook were the next to finish. MAUNGATUA HANDICAP The field for the Maungatua Handicap left to another good start, and ran in a bunch over the first half-furlong. Past the six Right Through was shading Ara Chief, Attractive Air, Crease, and Milly Mandy. Into the straight it was Ara Chief from Crease, Right Through, Attractive Air, Silver Spray, Baygundi. Milly Mandy, and Paper View. Attractive Air drew to the front in the straight and looked all over a winner, but Baygundi came with a fine run to get up and beat her, with Putechan. who came from a long way back, third, ahead of Paper View. Wien came Silver Spray, Crease, Lights On, Ara Chief, and Milly Mandy. AUTUMN HANDICAP St. Bruno went down very short in his preliminary, but the others all looked fit. They went away to an even line, but St. Bruno immediately dropped to the rear. Cipher and Batli Slipper were the first to show out, and they were followed past the four by Frances, Red 'Pickle, Sea Venture. Excellency. The Grate and St. Bruno. Excellency moved up on the bend and she was fourth into the straight behind Bath Slipper, Cipher and Frances. With a brilliant run, Excellency came through on the rails to hit the front at the distance, and she galloped right away from the field to win by four lengths from Red Pickle, who finished particularly well to get up and beat Bath Slipper by a neck, with Cipher another neck away. Then came Sea Venture, Frances and The Grate, with St. Bruno beaten off. The most likely to show early improvement is Frances, who looked just a little on the robust side OTAGO HANDICAP

The seven runners left in line, and as they galloped past the stands Royal Sal was shading The Denbigh, arid Sea Flower, with Money Lender at the back of a close running field. At the mile Royal Sal was clear from The Denbigh, Sea Flower, Magnaform and Money Lender together. Broie and Fine Night. Running down the back Fine Night put in a fast run to go up to Sea Flower, who

had taken the lead after passing the seven, and then came Royal Sal and Money Lender. Half a mile from home Fine Night was shading Sea Flower and Money Lender, with the others m close order. Money Lender led into the straight from Fine Night, with Sea Flower. Royal Sal and Magnaform next. Fine Night threw out a strong challenge in the straight but never looked like catching Money Lender, who won by three-quarters of a length, with Sea Flower three lengths further back, and Magnaform fourth. Then came The Denbigh, Royal Sal and Broie. DUNEDIN HANDICAP Fille d’Honneur and Current were the last to leave in the two-year-old handicap, and the early leaders were Silver Slipper, Swayup, Lady Claret, Ferry Post, Robinfaye and Indiana. Silver Slipper was the first to drop out and Swayup and Lady Claret led into the straight, followed by Robinfaye, Indiana, Ferry Post and Silver Slipper. Lady Claret began to drift with over a furlong to run, and Swayup was left in the lead, but Robinfaye easily gathered him in and won impressively from the Sir Galloway colt, with Indiana finishing strongly in third place, ahead of Benevoius, Ferry Post, Lady Claret and Threaten. ST. ANDREW’S HANDICAP Super outclassed the field in the St. Andrew’s Handicap, winning by five lengths. after lying third under a hard hold for most of the journey. Arabian Night was slow to find his legs and Night Fighter led out, followed by Super, Trident, Wee Mac. Speedy and Heroic Girl. Super dropped back a place running down to the four, where the order was Night Fighter, Trident, Super and Speedy, with Tring and Arabian Night well back. Super headed off Trident on the home turn and also gathered in Night Fighter before they straightened up for home. Without apparent effort, he went right away for the easiest ;of wins, Speedy getting up for third, a head behind Night Fighter. Heroic Girl was fourth, and then came Trident, Arabian Night and Tring together, and Wee Mac last. TRADESMEN’S HANDICAP Tuatea paid well over a score to win the Tradesmen’s Handicap, and Flibbertigibbet, who finished second, was also an outsider. Tuatea got away well and led past the stands from Royal Lark, Gleneagles, Sally Gazelle, Lance Art, Flibbertigibbet, Olio, 171011133, Military Chief and Zarcon. . Turning into the back. Royal Lark took up the running and drew out to a three-length lead from Tuatea, who was followed by Gleneagles, Sally Gazelle, Flibbertigibbet, Olio, Lance Art. Thomas and Zarcon. Royal Lark weakened on the home turn and Tuatea hit the front again, with Flibbertigibbet, Olio, Gleneagles and Lance Art in the call. Flibbertigibbet put in a solid finishing run to draw up to Tuatea just short of the post, but Tuatea got in the last stride to win t/y a head, with Olio four lengths away and Gleneagles fourth, followed by Lance Art, Zarcon and Thomas.