VALANTUA CHIEF WINNER

Southland Times, Issue 23648, 25 October 1938, Page 10

VALANTUA CHIEF WINNER

Ballad Surprises In Open Sprint

SPIRITED RACING ON SECOND DAY

The track for the second day of the Gore Racing Club’s meeting yesterday was not as fast as on the opening day, as a result of rain over the week-end. The going was first class, however, and with the sting out of the ground it suited most horses. Valantua s time of 2.8 in winning the Spring Handicap, over a mile and a-quarter, was a performance of some merit and compared more than favourably with those put up in other events. Bow Street and Hunting Chorus were the best in the Pukerau Highweight Handicap and the pair finished first and second. - Hunting Chorus was the early leader, but he was soon joined in front by Vantoon with Ilithyia and Smoko handy. Smoko moved up to second place at the hall mile post and he and Vantoon led round the far turn where Bow Street also made a move into third place. Vantoon and Smoko led into the straight with Hunting Chorus and Bow Street right' up with them on the outer. Hunting Chorus came through on the rails and was in charge at the distance but in the run home Bow Street wore him down and won by a head. McHeath was a length further back third and then came Smoko and Vantoon. Bow Street was excellently handled by F. Voight and he finished on gamely. McHeath tailed the field most of the way and came from a long way back. Hunting Chorus improved on his first day’s form but _ Smoko stopped at the top of the straight. FOXLOVE’S LAPSE Foxlove was a firm favourite for the Waimea Handicap, but he jumped back as the tapes flew up and took no part in the race. Ortyx held up the start •for a time. Gipsy Fair was the smartest to begin and she led out from Astaire, Prince Flaneur, New Note and Ortyx. At the half mile Gipsy Fair was two lengths clear of Natty, Astaire and New Note with Verdure and Straightdel handy. Gipsy Fair held her position across the top and she led into the straight by two lengths from New Note, Natty and Verdure with Adina at the head of the others. Gipsy Fair stayed on to win by three lengths from New Note, who' hung on to beat Thermidor "by half a length. Verdure was fourth and then came Natty, Prince Flaneur, Black Bard and Triplecone. It was an end-to-end victory for Gipsy Fair who stayed on better than she usually does. VALANTUA STAYS ON Milford and Last Refrain were evenly backed in the Spring Handicap but neither finished in the money. Milford, from the outside, was one of the fastest to begin and with a mile to go Ardchoille, Milford, Pink Robe, Valantua and Last Refrain were in bunched order. Pink Robe took up the running into the back, being followed by Ardchoille, Valantua, Last Refrain, Milford with a gap to Made Money. The order was the same to the home turn, where Pink Robe was a length and a-half clear of Ardchoille, Valantua, Last Refrain and Milford. Pink Robe was still showing the way at the straight entrance where Valantua, Last Refrain, Milford and Petersham were handy. Pink Robe was beaten at the distance and Valantua came through on the rails. The challenges of Milford and Last Refrain were short lived and Petersham on the outer was the only one to seriously challenge Valantua at the finish. Petersham was half a length away second, with Pink Robe half a length further back third. Milford was fourth ahead of Last Refrain, Made Money and Ardchoille. Valantua who finished fourth the first day was staying on at the finish. BACKMARKER’S SUCCESS

Gold Bank put up a fine performance to win the Labour Day Trot from 60yds

back. He was not hurried in the early stages and only came into the picture half a mile from home and from then on he always had the race in safe keeping. Sagacity was .the early leader from Charles Russell and Royal Chief. With a mile to go Royal Chief was in charge from Charles Russell, Provincial, Ginger Rey and Kentucky Sun. At the half-mile post Charles Russell was still showing the way to Royal Chief and Sagacity while Gold Bank moved up into fourth place. Gold Bank continued his run round the home turn and led into the straight from Charles Russell, Provincial and Royal Chief. Gold Bank was hot challenged in the run home and he won comfortably. Willowbank came from the back to be second and Provincial stayed on to beat Kentucky Sun for third. Royal Chief, Ginger Rey and Nancy Guy were next. Honest Charlie broke at the start. FROM END TO END A big field in the Trial Handicap, got away to a good start. Royal Huntsman was chopped back and Gusto took up the running from Slayer, Cone Peak, Attractive Note and Astral Flash. At the far turn Gusto was a length clear of Lady of Spain, Slayer, Silver Choir, who Moved up from the back, and Cone Peak. Gusto led into the straight from Silver Choir, Lady of Spain, Slayer and Astral Flash. Gusto stayed’ on to win rather easily by a length and a-half from Slayer, who beat Lochie River by a similar margin. Vanity Queen was fourth, and then came Astral Flash, Royal Huntsman and Silver Choir. Silver Choir did not stay on in the ran home after putting in a promising run at the home turn. Gusto, who is a halfbrother by Gustavo to a smart sprinter in Mobile, was not seriously challenged over the last furlong. Slayer added another second placing to his list. STEWARDS’ HANDICAP Roseman and Araboa were chopped back at the start of the Stewards’ Handicap' and at the end of a furlpng Viking ran to the front from Silver Sail, Ballad, Moneyless, Mona’s Song and Rodeur. The order was the same at the far turn where Valantua improved his position. Viking was in charge at the top of the straight from Silver Sail, Ballad, Mona’s Song, Adina and Moneyless. Ballad had the measure of Viking, who was stopping, halfway down the running and,he came on to beat Valantua by half a length. Rodeur was a head away third and then came Mona’s Song (fourth), Adina, Viking and Silver Sail. Ballad returned a win dividend of almost a third of a century, and hung on much better than usual. Valantua, who won the Spring Handicap earlier in the day, was produced a second time and he was finishing on better than anything. Rodeur again went a sound race but Mona’s Song did not put as much dash into her finishing run as usual. SALALON’S GOOD EFFORT Direct Thorpe broke up at the start of the Mataura Trot and at the end of a furlong Golden Miller was in charge from Glen Elad, Bright Voyage, Mtilguy, Seascape and Edith Grattan. With a mile to go Golden Miller was two lengths clear of Glen Elad, Mulguy, Bright Voyage and Salalon. The order was much the same down the back straight and at the far turn Salalon and Mulguy improved their positions. Golden Miller was still in charge at the top of the straight • from Mulguy, Salalon, Sydney Grand and Glen Elad. Salalon finished on better than Golden Miller in the run to the post and beat him by three-quarters of a length. Sydney Grand was close up fourth and then came Seascape, Bright Voyage, Glen Elad and Edith Grattan. Salalon, who broke up at the start the first day, finished well over the last half. The favourite, Edith Grattan was well placed in the early stages but she did not threaten danger over the last six furlongs. FAREWELL HANDICAP Almost £4OOO was invested on the Farewell Handicap and the winner, Foxlove, one of the favourites paid a good price. Cintilla jumped out smartly and led out of the straight from Ardmayle, Foxlove and Doubleack, Ardmayle took up the running into the back from Cintilla and Foxlove with Doubleack two lengths further back. Half and Half improved his position at the half-mile post and at the far turn Cintilla was clear of Ardmayle, Foxlove, Doubleack, Straightdel and Half and Half. Foxlove ran to the front at the home turn and was two lengths clear of Cintilla into the straight. Doubleack, Ardmayle arid Straightdel were the handiest of the others. Foxlove was not seriously challenged in the run home and he beat Straightdel by a length. Doubleack finished fast to be a head away third and then came Cintilla, Ardmayle and Half and Half. It was an outstanding performance on the part of Foxlove, who was always galloping within himself over the last half mile. Half and Half did not threaten danger at any stage.

RANGITIKEI RACING CLUB REHANDICAPS ANNOUNCED (United Press Association) WANGANUI, October 24. The following rehandicaps have been declared for the Rangitikei Racing Club’s meeting:— McKelvie Memorial.—Brazen King 41b, to 9.4. Clifton Hack.—Race Call 41b, to 8.12. Rangitoto Hack.—Amatory 31b, to 9.2; Dainty Sue 31b, to 8.7. Farewell Hack.—Dainty Sue 71b, to 8.11.