RODEUR’S SPRINT SUCCESS

Southland Times, Issue 23438, 19 February 1938, Page 10

RODEUR’S SPRINT SUCCESS

Trisox Accounts For Hunting Go

MONA’S SONG SCORES OVERDUE WIN The track at Winton yesterday was in excellent order and fast times were a feature of the day’s racing. In spite of the regular defeat of the favourites the racing was of a high standard and there were many keen finishes. Rodeur’s time of 1.13 in winning the open sprint race has seldom, if ever, been bettered on the course. MONA’S SONG’S FIRST Although Astral Flash was the win favourite for the Novice Stakes she was only fifth selection on the place machine and the place favourite, Mona’s Song, was fifth favourite on the win machine. Bad News was the best backed of the others. . Wyn and Bilbao were slow to begin and Astral Flash was the first to show out from Cone Peak, Bad News and Silkwood. Kippen dropped his rider within the first furlong where Astral Flash and Cone Peak were showing the way to Silkwood, Bad News and Mona’s Song. Running to the straight Mona’s Song ran up to be third to Astral Flash and Cone Peak with Bad News and Silkwood handiest of the others. Astral Flash shaded Cone Peak into the straight with Monas Song, Silkwood and Bad News right up.„ Mona’s Song ran to the front at the distance and came on to win nicely by a neck. Silkwood finished too well for Cone Peak, while Foxlove came from a good way back to be fourth. Then came Astral Flash and Bad News. Mona’s Song made amends for several recent placings and she was allowed to pay a good price on the win machine although favourite for a place. Both Silkwood and Cone Peak were outsiders and promise to do better. Foxlove’s performance was a good one as he came from a good way back. KEEN FINISH Happy Locanda was a good favourite on the place machine for the Otapin Trot Handicap and he won well at the finish. Dewey Cloud broke up badly and Betty Joffre, Abel and Hoyle were slow to move out. Foremost Junior was smartest to begin from Glenelad, Katene and .Hoyle and running past the stands with a mile to go Foremost Junior was a length clear of Glenelad, Hoyle, Katene, Happy Times, Sun Gauge and Sunny Dell. Foremost Junior had charge into the back from Glenelad, Katene, Hoyle, Happy Times and Loyalist. Down the back straight Foremost Junior, Glenelad, Happy Times, Katene and Hoyle drew away with a gap of four lengths to Betty Joffre. Foremost Junior led Glenelad, Happy Locanda, who moved up at the turn, Katene and Betty Joffre into the straight. It was a good finish but Happy Locanda finished too well for Foremost Junior, who was a length and a-half clear of Katene. The latter finished better than Glenelad. Sun Gauge was fifth and then Betty Joffre and Kentucky Sun. It was a good performance by Happy Locanda as he came from a good way back over the last half. He finished much more strongly than he did at Tapanui. In three starts to date he has won twice and been once second. WINTON CUP Paladino .was backed down to a short price in the Winton Cup, but he had no chance with Amelita at the finish. With a five-horse field there was only two dividends, and the wagering on the win machine was almost double that of the place totalizator. From a good start Amelita led out from Paladino, Ashaway, Ardchoille and Trivet. Passing the stands, and with a mile to go, Amelita was a length and a-half clear of Paladino, Ashaway, Trivet and Ardchoille. Amelita was two lengths clear of Paladino and Ashaway, running to the back straight, where Trivet and Ardchoille were also right up. The order was much the same down the back straight and at the far turn Paladino joined Amelita in front, with a length to Trivet, Ardchoille and Ashaway. Amelita and Paladino led into the straight with Trivet right behind them but unable to get a run on the rails. At the distance Paladino and Amelita were fighting it out and it looked as though Paladino had the measure of the mare, but when Amelita was asked for an effort she came away at the finish to win by a length and a-quar-ter. Trivet was two lengths away third and Ardchoille was fourth. At the weights Amelita had the measure of Paladino at the finish. She finished full of running and her apprentice rider handled her excellently. Paladino was not disgraced but Triyet stopped in the run home after being unable to get through on the rails FAVOURITE LEFT The favourite, Janet Gaynor, was badly left at the start of the Flying Handicap, which was won by .Rodeur, the outsider of the field. It was not a good start and Viking appeared to be moving in and was then pulled up when the signal was given. Rodeur was first to show out from Roy Bun, and Viking. After a furlong Rodeur shaded Roy Bun, Viking, Beam and Janet Gaynor who had run up to the field but dropped back again. At the far turn Rodeur was a length clear of Viking and Roy Bun with Janet Gaynor still at the rear. Rodeur was first into the straight from Viking and Roy Bun, while Janet Gaynor came up on the outer. Janet Gaynor was soon done and Roy Bun set after Rodeur but he had no chance of catching her although he was finishing the better. Rodeur hung on to win by a neck, Viking being two lengths away third. Janet Gaynor was fourth. This was Rodeur’s first win in open company and judging by this performance she will win again. The distance was too short for Roy Bun as he was galloping over everything at the finish. Janet Gaynor lost all chance at the start, but Viking had every chance. ONLY THREE FINISH Only three of the seven starters in the Winton Steeplechase Handicap completed the. course, the finish being fought out by Trisox and Hunting Go, who were a furlong ahead of Royal Pal. Hunting Go was a firm favourite. Scotsden came to grief at the first fence. Jollyanna led out from Glenmure, Hunting Go and Trisox. Jollyanna ran to the front from Glenmure, Hunting Go and Trisox at the stands. Jollyanna led over the sod wall from Hunting Go, Glenmure, Trisox and Royal Pal. Jollyanna drew six lengths clear down the back, from Hunting Go and Royal Pal together, with two lengths to Glenmure and Trisox. Jollyanna was four lengths clear of Hunting Go at the far turn. With a mile to go Jollyanna was headed by Hunting Go and Trisox, while Vitaphone moved up to be handy to the leaders. Vitaphone lost his rider at the sod wall where Trisox and Hunting Go v/ere in charge and Jollyanna beaten off. Jollyanna and Glenmure tipped out at the first fence into the back and Hunting Go and Trisox drew out 10 lengths clear of Royal Pal, who was labouring in the rear. Trisox appeared to have the measure of Hunting Go with three furlongs to go. Trisox

led over the last fence and came on to beat Hunting Go by seven lengths. Royal Pal, the only other to finish, was a furlong awjiy third. Trisox put up a particularly good performance as he has not been in work a great length of time. He jumped like a stag under conditions that were not to his liking. Hunting Go was not disgraced and he, too, was not suited by the going. ASPIRE UNLUCKY

The Barkly Handicap saw the defeat of another favourite, when Roseman was chopped out at the start and had little chance from then on. Aspire was another chopped back. Peony Rose was the first to show out from a bunched field and after a furlong Peony Rose shaded Ballad, Final Bell, Sailing Lady, Irish Birdcatcher and Coat of Arms. At the far turn Peony Rose, Final BeL and Ballad were still in line and running to the straight Sailing Lady ran up to the leaders. Peony Rose, Final Bell Ballad and Sailing Lady on the outer were in line turning into the straight. Peony Rose drew out at the distance and looked an easy winner, but Aspire, who had to come from a long way back, put in a dab and got to within half a length of the winner. Coat of Arms finished on well to beat Ballad for third and then came Roseman and Sailing Lady. Peony Rose who was the favourite on the place machine won nicely at the finish and raced right up to her good Tapanui form when she spread-eagled a field. Aspire was definitely unlucky as she was last away with Roseman and finished better than anything else. Ballad and Final Bell had every chance. FROM END TO END J. Walsh won the second trotting event of the day when Gold Streak won the Hokonui Trot Handicap from end to end. Edith Grattan and King Drusus were slow to begin and Gold Streak led out from Jesse Owens, Happy King and Ghandi. Running to the straight Gold Streak just headed Happy King, Jesse Owens, and Sydney Grand. Gold Streak was joined by Sydney Grand in the lead at the stands, Happy King, Jesse Owens and Vinola being the handiest of the others. Gold Streak and Sydney Grand led Vinola, Happy King, Jesse Owens and Bonnie Brydone down the back. At the far turn Gold Streak and Sydney Grand were clear of Vinola, Bonnie Brydone and Jesse Owens, while Edith Grattan moved up to head Happy King. Gold Streak led Sydney Grand, Bonnie Brydone and Jesse Owens ipto the straight while Vinola and Guywin were also close up. Gold Streak had enough in hand to stave off a challenge from Bonnie Brydone who stayed on better than Jesse Owens in the run home. Guywin was fourth and then came Edith Grattan, Sydney Grand and Vinola. This was Gold Streak’s first start since joining Walsh’s team and he _appears to have improved a good deal. The brother to Eighteen Carat stayed on much better than previously. Jesse Owens went his best race for some time. It was a good effort by Bonnie Brydone to get up from 24yds back. Happy King had every chance. RETURN TO FORM Grand Finale who was fifth favourite each way in a field of six won the Tradesmen’s Handicap in a keen finish from All Humbug. Song Boy had every chance, but did not hang on at the finish. The favourite Daring Deed was chopped out at the start. Song Boy led out from Poniard and All Humbug, and running into the back Song Boy and All Humbug were clear of Daring Deed, Grand Finale, and Poniard. Song Boy and All Humbug were together at the far turn where Daring Deed moved up and Grand Finale and Poniard were handy. All Humbug led into the straight from Song Boy and Grand Finale. Song Boy stopped in the run home and Grand Finale finished well to beat All Humbug by half a length. Poniard had to make up a lot of ground and just failed to get up for second. Song Boy was fourth and Daring Deed next. It was Grand Finale’s first success for some months and his form was a decided improvement on recent efforts. Song Boy was beaten on his merits but Daring Deed was unlucky. Poniard was unlucky as the distance was too short for him. WINTON CUP WINNER AMELITA BEAUTIFULLY BRED (By SIR MODRED) It may not be generally known that the Winton Cup is the senior event of its class in Southland as an event always run on the same course with its foundation in the early eighties. The event is also contested annually on the only Racecourse Reserve in the home province—political and municipal influence many years ago brought about the disposal of a second reserve of this kind which was situated within a few miles of Invercargill and which should have been retained for the thoroughbred industry. During the many years the Winton Cup has been controlled by the Winton Jockey Club, the race has been won. by a number of useful gallopers, one of the best of the early days being a gelding called Victory, by Feve, from Clipper, owned in the Winton district by Mr Crockett and trained by James Lawson. It won the coveted event on more than one occasion. Excellent fields have faced the starter from time to time, but only five runners turned out for the 1938 Cup. However, an interesting race resulted when the outsider Amelita beat a staunch first selection in Paladino over the last halffurlong. Owned by one of the province’s veteran breeder-owners, Mr J. Graham, this Australian-bred mare is a pupil of F. W. Ellis, and the Invercargill trainer’s lightweight son, Wilson Ellis, was in the saddle to pilot his first Cup winner. The rider is a nephew of the well-known horsemen L. J. and A. E. Ellis, and the successful trainers E. J. Ellis, of Timaru, and A. S. Ellis, of Riccarton. Imported to Southland from New South Wales by a studmaster who used to pursue his hobby at Waikiwi, Amelita displayed early sprinting ability and was quickly hailed as a winner. She subsequently passed into the hands of Mr Graham when the victim of several accidents in succession and it was expected that she would have to be relegated to the stud, hut under the care of F. W. Ellis, she recuperated to train on into a stayer up to 10 furlongs. Misfortunes still dogged the mare’s steps, however, and she narrowly missed several good stakes as the result of accidental interference, although minor races went down to her credit. A perfect mover, she is rather lightly framed and this has more than once led to her undoing in strong fields. Hence, with four opponents she was favoured in the Winton Cup running. Of English parertage each way, Amelita is by Ronsard (imp., and a successful sire), by Son-in-Law from Joie de Vivre (dam of Jeunesse, a mare whose sons Lackham and Grand Knight are well known in Mew Zealand), by Gallinule from Melinda, a mare running back to the maternal taproot which produced Steppe, dan of Stepniak, She, and Stepfeldt, noted stud successes. The Winton Cup winner of yesterday claims as her dam Black Vera (imp.), by Black Jester (son of Polymelus from Absurdity, dan of Absurd) from Perseverance 11, br Persimmon (son of St. Simon) from Reminiscence, a mare tracing back to La Francaise, half-sister to Fenella, ancestress of Sansovino (Derby) and Hyperion (Derby). Amelita is bred in the purple and more than likely to have success when relegated to a stud.