FOXLOVE WINS WELL

Southland Times, Issue 23647, 24 October 1938, Page 10

FOXLOVE WINS WELL

Norseman’s Sprint

Success

MONA’S SONG DEFEATS LORD NUFFIELD

A fast track was provided for the opening of the Gore Racing Club’s spring meeting on Saturday, and this was a contributing factor in the success of the day’s racing. Milford’s time of Imin 48sec in winning the Waikaka Handicap over eight and a-half furlongs was one of the highlights of the day’s racing and it is doubtful if this time for the distance has ever been beaten on the course.

Ardmayle was sent out a good favourite for the Mandeville High weight Handicap but he raced badly and was last to finish. Hunting Chorus was the first to show out' from Smoko and Romp Along and into the back Hunting Chorus and Smoko were clear of Vantoon and Romp Along. Bow Street moved up down the back straight where Smoko and' Hunting Chorus were a length clear and Ilithyia the handiest of the others. -Smoko led round the far turn by two lengths from Vantoon, Hunting Chorus, Bow Street and Ilithyia. Smoko led into the straight from Bow Street, Ilithyia and Vantoon. Bow Street was the only one to throw out a challenge to Smoko in the run home and he got up to beat him by a head, with Hunting Chorus, who came from the back, three lengths ■away third. Ilithyia was close up* fourth ahead of Vantoon and Romp Along. This was Bow Street’s first start since he joined F. W. Ellis’s stable and he won really well. Smoko looked as well as he has ever done and he will be improved by the race. Ardmayle made a move at the top of the straight but was badly placed at this stage and made little impression. FAVOURITES BEATEN

Boswell and Natty were the favourites for the Gordon Hack Handicap but in a great finish Foxlove beat the pair. Boswell was the smartest to begin and he led out from Natty, New Note, Foxlove, Adina, Verdure and Astaire. At the half-mile post New Note had joined Boswell in the lead while Natty, Foxlove, Verdure and Adina were handy. New Note shaded Boswell and Vanity Queen running to the straight where Natty and Foxlove lost some ground. In the run home Boswell soon had the measure of New Note and then Natty and Foxlove put in their claims. Foxlove finished too well for Boswell and beat him by half a length with Natty two length further back. New Note (fourth), Verdure, Thermidor, Silkwood and Vanity Queen finished in a bunch behind the placed horses. Foxlove 'jumped out more smartly than usual and although he lost some ground running to the straight he put in a great run at the finish. Bosweil was beaten on his merits and the same can be said for New Note and Natty. Silkwood and Vanity Queen raced promisingly. MILFORD’S FINE EFFORT Milford, a New Zealand Cup candidate, put up a fine performance to win the Waikaka Handicap. After being well back in the early stages he improved his position running to the straight and in the run home came away to win decisively by two lengths from Nightwings. Araboa was first to show out from Petersham, Ocean Singer, Nightwings and Valantua. Araboa led into the back straight from Petersham, and Valantua, with a length back to Pink Robe, Made Money and then Milford. Valantua, Araboa and Petersham were in line at the far turn and Petersham, Pink Robe and Milford were next. Valantua, Araboa and Nightwings were almost in line at the top of the straight where Milford came round on the outer and Pink Robe and Petersham headed the others. In the run home Milford came on to win decisively and Nightwings hund on to get second money haif a length ahead of Last Refrain who finished with a great run. Valantua was fourth and then came Petersham, Ardchoille, Pink Robe and Made Money. It was a great performance on Milford’s part as he was required to cover a good deal of extra ground and then gave nothing else a chance, at the hnish. Nightwings hung on well after being in the firing line right through, while Valantua’s effort was a big improvement on his Wingatui form. Last Refrain would have been second over a longer journey. Ardchoille finished well up after being last down the back. GOLD BANK SCORES Honest Charlie, Provincial, Ginger Rey and Black Thread were slow away

in the Balfour Trot. Worthy Cross took up the running from Dunalister and John Dale and within the first half mile the field was well spread out. Passing the stands Worthy Cross was still in charge from John Dale, Dunalister and Charles Russell. This was the order into the back straight where Worthy Cross broke up and Gold Bank moved up to take charge at the half mile post from Charles Russell, Dewey Bell and Dunalister. Over the last three furlongs the leaders had the race to themselves and Gold Bank led into the straight from Dewey Bell, Charles Russell and Dunalister with Provincial at the head of the others. Gold Bank won comfortably by two lengths from Charles Russell who beat Dunalister by a similar margin. Then came Dewey Bell, Provincial and Central Lad. Gold Bank won very easily and looks certain to win in better company. GAY VIXEN’S FIRST Silver Choir misbehaved at the start of the Novice Handicap and he was left standing while Gold Course and San Marino were also slow away. Cone Peak was first to show out from Moonraider, King’s Chorus, Lochie River and Ratamai. At the far turn Cone Peak was a length clear of Moonraider, King’s Chorus, Ratamai and Bologna, while Silver Choir made a fast move on the outer. Silver Choir continued his rim and was third to Cone Peak and Moonraider running to the straight. Cone Peak was still showing the way at the straight entrance from Moonraider, Silver Choir, King’s Chorus, Bologna, Jedburgh and Gay Vixen on the outer. At the distance Cone Peak looked a winner, but Gay Vixen finished very fast and beat him by half a length. Moonraider was a neck away third and then came Jedburgh, Silver Choir, Disband, King’s Chorus and Lochie River. Gay Vixen had a lot of ground to make up over the last two furlongs and she finished with a great run. She was got by Gallant Fox, who sired an earlier winner during the day in Foxlove. Silver Choir showed a great burst of speed after being badly away and covered a lot of extra ground.

CLOSE FINISH Norseman put up a remarkable performance to win the Flying Handicap as he lost several lengths at the start and got up to beat Viking in the last stride. Dissemble was smartest to begin and at the half-mile post Silver Sail and Viking led Ballad, Dissemble and Rodeur. Silver Sail and Viking were still clear at the home turn and they led into the straight from Rodeur, Ballad, Moneyless and Peony Rose. Viking looked a winner a few yards from the post but Norseman, who was well back into the straight, came with a great run on the outside and got up to win by half a-head. Rodeur was a neck away third and then came Peony Rose, Ballad and Moneyless close up. Norseman did not appear to be properly in line when the start was made and he lost six or seven lengths. It was a great performance on his part. Viking had the race won a few yards from the post. Rodeur aand Peony Rose will be improved by the race. KATENE IN FORM Hoyle and Salalon lost their chances at the start of the Otama Trot and Katene went to the front within the first furlong and was not afterwards headed. Golden Miller was the smartest to begin but Katene took up the running and passing the stands was two lengths clear" of Golden. Miller, Mulguy and Capri at the head of the others. The order was the same into the back straight where Golden Miller moved up to Katene, and Regal also came into the picture. Katene was half a-length clear of Golden Miller at the top of the straight where Mulguy, Capri and Seascape were strung out. Katene was driven out in the run home and he finished on well to win by a long neck from Regal. Capri was a length away third ahead of Mulguy, Golden Miller and Seascape, all of which stopped over the last furlong. This was Katene’s first race for some months and he always looked a winner over the last mile. Regal did not put much dash into his finishing run. MONA’S SONG’S MILE Cintilla and Lord Nuffield monopolized the betting in the Charlton Handicap but Mona’s Song finished too well for either. Cintilla was chopped back at the start and lost several lengths. Master Dingle led out from Spendthrift and Lord Nuffield and into the back Master Dingle was two lengths clear of Spendthrift, Lord Nuffield and Mona's Song. Cintilla received a good run on the rails and moved up into fourth place behind Master Dingle, Lord Nuffield and Mona’s Song at the far turn. Master Dingle and Lord Nuffield were in charge at the top of the straight where Mona’s Song put in a run on the rails and Cintilla was beaten off. Mona’s Song finished strongly and beat Lord Nuffield by half a-length with Master Dingle a head away third. Cintilla was

fourth well clear of Triplecone and Our Pal.

Cintilla was the unlucky runner as the ground he lost at the start cost him any chance he had. Mona’s Song was well handled by the apprentice, W. F. Ellis but Lord Nuffield appeared to be rather much used.