GREAT WINNING PERFORMANCE

Putaruru Press, Volume XXI, Issue 1231, 22 May 1947, Page 2

GREAT WINNING PERFORMANCE

WEIGHT-CARRYING RECORD? Achievements Of Valley Boy A great weight-carrying winning performance was established at Te Rapa on Saturday when the Mor-rinsville-owned and trained gelding-, Valley Boy, raced by Messrs. D. and- R. Douglas, of Mo-tumaoho, carried 12.7 to victory in the race for the coveted Duke of Gloucester* Cup. In presenting the cup to Mr. R. Douglas, who received; the trophy on behalf of his father, His Excellency, Sir Bernard Freyberg, recalled that it was presented by H.R.H. the Duke of Gloucester in 1935 to improve the stamina of horses- bred in New Zealand, and to encourage amateur riders. The splendid performance of the horse and its rider, Mr. L. Keyte, of Cambridge, and the fact that the cup was one of the most-sought-after of all trophies in New Zealand were referred to by Sir Bernard, who said they provided sufficient proof that the objectives had been, achieved. Very Fine Racing Sir Bernard extended thanks to the Waikato Racing Club for the invitation to its meeting, when introduced to the large gathering by the club president, Mr A. Miller. The meeting afforded their Excellencies an opportunity of renewing some of the friendships made in Waikato, and also of witnessing some very fine racing. After receiving the cup Mr. R. Douglas paid tribute to Valley Boy’s amateu- rider, stating it was fitting that Mr. Keyte should receive a miniature of the cup as, in the speaker’s opinion, he was the best amateur rider in the Dominion at present.

TE RAPA WINTER MEETING ENDS A remarkable feature of the raeinp on the second day of the Waikato club’s meeting on Saturday was the success of three trainers sending out the winners- of both divisions in three races. . The sequence commenced with the Gordonton Handicap, the first division being won by Light Opera, and the second by Severe Lass, both trained by A. C. Jones. It occurred again in the second race when Jack Muir saddled up Mr. W. S. Coosman’s pair, Foxstar and Ratal, and again in the eighth race, when J. C. Edmunds supplied the winners of both divisions, in Gay Ranee and Hunting Mac. Only in the second race were the winners bracketed, the horses- in the other two being raced by different owners. Valley Bloy Easily Another feature was the great performance of Valley' Boy in the Duke of Gloucester Cup race, worth £650 and a handsome miniature of the cup to the owners of the winner. Valley Boy, ridden by Mr. L. Keyte, the well known polo player, raced more prominently in his field than usual, and- when it came to the business end just romped away from Ascot Lad, with Altess another two and a half -lengths- further back. Punters were apparently afraid of the 12.7 awarded to Valley Boy, and he surprisingly paid within almost a pound of double figures, and over two and a half to one for a place. The judge’s verdict was four lengths, but what be -could have won by is a different matter. Two Hurdle Winners Foxstar drew attention to his future prospects by carrying 11.2 to victory in the first division of the Matangi Hurdle race. It is problematical whether things were made easier for him by the fall of four of the leaders, Sir Emmett, Kalimera, Prakash and Glenfarne, but Foxstar was going well in behind these, and by the manner in which be finished the -mishap may not have made any difference to the ultimata result. Incidentally, in connection with Fioxstar it might be noted that he has been raised 21b in the Great Northern Hurdles for his win, making him 9.6, whereas Airport, a previous winner of open races, and the winner of the Waikato Hurdles on Saturday (£650), has only been raised 41b.

In' the second division of the Matangi, Batal led practically throughout; his pace on the flat had it all over his opponents, and although he lost ground by attempting to run down the last hurdle he had enough left in reserve to make amends. With Town Survey, Representative, Foxstar and Ratal in the Great Northern Hurdle race Mr. Goosman may be said to hold am exceptionally strong hand. The Matangi race was 56 yards over a mile and t-hreequarters, so that Foxstar at least of the two hacks should be expected to get just over another half mile. Nearly f!or Betterman Betterman, which had got a place, in a steeplechase at the same meeting the previous Saturday, put up probably his best performance over battens to just get pipped on the post in the Waikato Hurdle, race. He looked all over a winner after being prominent throughout, but Airport came with a characteristic dash to take major honours, with Representative, who had always been in it, beating Stock Exchange home for third-, with Kouraeka close up. The distances show how thrilling was the finish, the judge’s margin being half a head and- half length, Tha performance of the previous- week’s winner, Khadim, pointed to a mile and threequarters being about his distance. As on the previous Saturday he went to .the front to jump perfectly, but he failed to finish on that extra quarter of a mile. Kouraeka was not disgraced. Bedivere's Best Win The consistent Bedivere, which almost invariably is brought into the weighing in stalls, was fairly well neglected in the Hamilton Handicap, but in the running finished on resolutely to beat Gay Ghat, also at good odds. The Matamatatrained Valtoon was the early pacemaker, and raced; prominently for the major part of he journey, but Landfire and St. Leon were the actual leaders. Valtoon dropped out with Horonui taking his place, and Ghung Chong, Tavemside and Cowper were handy to the leaders. 'Gay Chat actually was in the van down the straight and appeared to be doing it nicely, but Bedivere finished- brilliantly to win by half a head-, wth Chung Chong beating the fastfinishing southerner, Blanket, for third position. Swift Quarry was fifth, Cowper sixth, -and Dougal, which had been a long way back, doing well on terms. Has the Bubble Burst? By his running in the Frankton Steeplechase the Australian horse, Win-terset, has set the heads thinking as to his future prospects in the Dominion. He looks a gross customer, but he had had two races, and if the leppers over the other side are any good at all he should have given a better performance on Saturday. He showed speed in both his races at Te Rapa, but he gave the impression that if anything takes him on he doesn’t like it. In the actual running of the race Gold Spot was mo-sftly the leader, with Surpeen, always up, from • Bright Fox, Winterset, Roman Orator and Paid. The promising Roman Orator went up to the leader along the bade, with Surpeen ahead of Winterset, and Abbey Lu, with Abdicate next. Gold . Spot was- still slightly in front entering the straight but he toppled over the penultimate fence, leaving Roman Orator in front, from Surpeen, Winterset and Abbey Lu. Abdicate then came fast to beat Abbey Lu, showing his best form for two years, a head- away, with Paid, which had come again, just beating Surpeen. The margins of the placed horses were two heads, Contango Again Contango showed what a great bit of stuff she is when she carried second top weight (receiving an allowance of 51b) to victory in the six furlongs Maeroa Handicap. She had a great run home with the surprisingly well backed G-aymeer (bracketed with General Menteith), to win by a nose, Swanee going well over a shorter distance than usual was a length and a half away third-, with the improving Tactical fourth. Good Bay looked as though it would be all the better -by the time the Ellers] ie meeting comes- round, but Grand Tourist was never nearer than where he finished, about eighth. Mindora went a fair race for fifth, while Reorapa showed early speed to fizzle. The Te Aroha ' representative, San Rosa, was never in it after the first three furlongs. Edmunds’ Double Gay Ranee, the winner of the first division of the Farewell Handicap, paid a false dividend of within a pound or so of a score, considering form at Taranaki this month when it got a first and a second. Te Wepu, which had been made fav- •

ouTite the previous week, was beaten by half a length, with Bycroft third l , and one which may be ticked off, Greekette, in fourth position. Silver Lighting- went disappointingly, while Foxrose ran her usual race of threatening without having anything left for the finish. Hunting Mac was at over double figures for a win, which was not surprising to investors- of this dis- , trie % who remember him when six furlongs usually gave him the stitch. His period 1 of hurdling must have made him a lot more solid fer he had run a good race into third position the previous Saturday at Egmont. His next start will probably be in the ‘Great Northern Hurdles, and he will cause much thinking. Beib showed signs of returning to form in the second division ,by getting second after appearing done with at the bottom of the straight. Our Dave went a fair race, but he was five lengths behind the winner, with Fianna Fail behind him.