RACING

Putaruru Press, Volume XXI, Issue 1234, 12 June 1947, Page 5

RACING

V ITNAX, BAY AT ELLERSLIE I The real feature of ,the last and I final day of the A.R.C. winter meetI ing was the great race over a round between Surpeen, Paid and the top •weight, Brookby Song, in the Winter Steeplechase. Surpeen went for the doct or in the first round, with Paid in close attendance. In the last round ' Brookby Song went out very fast to bridge the gap and had to maintain a tremendous run right into the straight to catch Surpeen. Actually the three in front jumped beautifully, but Brookby Song appeared to jump the further. However, when on Surpsen’s quarters Brookby Song flinched aW the last hurdle and fell, to leave SSjrpeen well clear of Paid, with the others also started. The third horse. -oood Armour, was 35 lengths., behind Surpeen and 30 behind Paid. To those ► Who witnessed the race it will always be a conjecture as to whether' Brookby Song- would have completed a double fcrr the meeting, but the writer’s opinion is .that Surpeen wonlii have seen it out better. It will be remembered that when tired Brookby Song ran across the course in the Brighton: Hurdles; -that is just what he appeared to be endeavouring to do at the last hurdle. There is no doubt he is a great horse, hut both Surpeen and . Paid i made him carry his 12.5 all the way. l_ The greatest credit must be ! given to Gordon Campbell, of Okoroire, jfor the manner in which he brightened up Surpeen again for his, third start. The horse appeared to - be somewhat distressed after his second in the Great Northern Steeples, but he appeared bright again on Saturday, and ran out a very solid three miles to pay within a fraction of 10 to one, and about five to two for a place. No Brilliant Northern racegoers saw a horse of exceptional merit when Soneri won the York Handicap foriljjjKantly after being fairly well plac- " ed' throughout. Soneri js a magnificent looking mare, reminiscent of pictures of the old time champions. appeared to win fairly easily in good time for the holding track, 1. 38 2-5. Master Ted maintained his consistency by finishing within a length of the champion, while Lord Revel hung on to beat Chung Chong for third position. The Hin-uera-towned Two Jiina appeared to fall just before the start, and this may have affected his chances, while Neenah ran an unusual race to be out in front almost from barrier rise, and he was done with soqn after they entered the straight. However, his performance denoted a return to form. Valley Boy, which had wo-n three in a row, was not neither -was Honora or 3>ougal. went a goad l race, as did. Titahi; the last-men-tioned should get on the winning list when he returns home. The Matamata-train ed. Valtoon showed up temporarily, hut does not appear too solid. Bedivere ran his usual consistent race without being dangerous. Roman Ned Makes it Two Roman Ned won the Tamaki 'Steeplechase in rather easy fashion from the PutaTuru-owned Twelve I O’Clock, which paid a few shillings \ over doulble figures for second, witty k Merriful third. Seal** battled on but the race needs little comment, except for the brilliant exposition Of the winner. Roman Nedi is only six years old, sa is fairly young for a good steeplechaser, and his chances will not fee discounted when Tie goes out into open company. Town Echo Consistent Town Echo showed his consistency by winning the Orakei Hur- > dies, of a mile and thrreequarters, and did it well from the little fancied On Time, with Duncan 11 lengths behind the winner. Duncan’s performance fc-r a jfirst up over hurdles was a. good one, and all going right he should turn out to be something out of the ordinary. Two horses, Sir Dingle and the Matamata-trainied Tidowna, fell in this race and were destroyed. Prize Ring Good The southerner, Prize Ring, collected the major honours in two races at the meeting, and was third in his other start. He is a good type of gelding toy Ringmaster from. Keitoside, a bold jumper and a good

finisher. In this, the Campbell Hurdles, Sir Pox was going a good race, but the Matamata horse rapped. a hurdle when making a forward move along the back, and although Jockey Hawes retained -his seat it took him some time to regain an iron. Sir Fox appeared slightly lame behind when he went from the birdcage. Sporting Gold, trained l by Joe Goodwin, of Morrinsville and Pap.atoetoe, paid over 10 to one for second, being well clear otf Skyhawfk, who does not appear to be a stayer. Sporting Gold appeared to be subject to improvement, and should be a prospect for major honours in the near-future.

Royal Scot Pipped Royal Scot just failed to get two wins out of the meeting, being a neck behind the £6O to one chance, Irish Poet, with the consistent Light Opera in third position. Irish Poet is a promising three-year-old by the Irish-bred horse Douglas Hyde, imported' to Matamata by the late James Corbett. A promoted hack in Mabel Knight went a good race, but there were a number of fancied candidates which were never in the picture, including the winner at the meeting, Black Ace. Mindora went a fair race for this company, while Theophilus gave a lot of cheek out in front for a while, having his first race for some time. Theophilusi is likely at any time. The distance appeared to be a bit short few Brockton.

A Grey Wins The three-year-old grey colt, Sahib, went a good race to win the First Fitzroy as he had a lot of ground to make up in the straight. He is by Nizami out olf Queen City, so has the blood to become really good. Forth Bridge was made a lot of use of in the van for seven: furlongs of this journey, and it would have been surprising had Mr. Livingstone’s mare been able to withstand challenges up the straight. The Morninsville-owned Lyn Vaals was not sighted, and is apparently hot herself. One for Ketebne After his third in the second division of the Cornwall Handicap, Silver Lighting appeared to have a great chance in the Second Fitzroy, and he showed that his first day’s form was right by winning nicely from a recent winner in Gay Ranee, with a promising' sort in Chief RObin third The Otaki candidate, Pram, which came up with h reputation, did not strike any form at the meeting, but he was racing in distances a quarter of a mile shorter than over which he has won recently in the southern part of the island, so that he may still be worth following down that way.