TORO KOURA WINS SPRINT

Southland Times, Issue 23741, 13 February 1939, Page 10

TORO KOURA WINS SPRINT

PHALANX NARROWLY BEATEN RECOLLECTION’S SUCCESS IN HURDLES. (From Our Own Reporter) DUNEDIN, February 11. Recollection, making his first appearance at the meeting was backed down to an odds-on price, for the Owhiro Hurdle Handicap, and he justified this confidence by winning comfortably. Western Song made the early running and racing out of the straignt he had drawn out four lengths clear of 'Baitruin, Recollection and McHeath. Into the back Western Song was six lengths clear from Recollection with Baitruin a similar margin further back. Recollection reduced the margin at the far turn and across the top took charge from Western Song, with McHeath and Baitruin the only others in the picture. Recollection was well clear into the straight and although Western Song made ~a bold effort to overhaul the leader, Recollection finished full of running to win by six lengths. McHeath was six lengths further back third ahead of Baitruin and Slayer. Recollection gave an outstanding display and was a winner a long way from home. This was his fourth successive win over hurdles and on today’s performance will win in much better company. He made light of his 11.3 and his time of 2min 41 3-ssec bettered Arctic Star’s track record by 1 3-ssec. Western Song again gave a first-class display but the others were beaten a long way from home. The support to come for Baitruin was surprising and he did not flatter his supporters at any stage. FAVOURITE BEATEN Crack o’Dawn was backed as a certainty for the Novice Handicap but she could do no better than finish third after attempting to win all the way. Sunny Jean and Neptune were actually the smartest to begin and at the end of a furlong Crack o’Dawn had run to the front from Sunny Jean, Neptune, and Lord Puck, with Bilbao bringing up the rear. At the far turn there was little change in the order and Crack o’Dawn let into the straight from Sunny Jean, Invadere, Neptune and Lord Puck. At the distance Sunny Jean and Crack o’Dawn appeared to be fighting out the finish when Spearthrust arrived on the scene and came on to win comfortably by two lengths. Sunny Jean beat Crack o’Dawn by a neck for second with Neptune two lengths further back fourth. Then came Pilot’s Love, Lord Puck and Bilbao well beaten. Spearthrust improved on his first day’s form and he stayed on in attractive style. He is a three-year-old by Irish Lancer, and is the first of that sire’s stock to get on the winning list. Crack o’Dawn was beaten on her rperits. SPRINT TO TORO KOURA Second Innings was a pronounced favourite for the Flying Handicap, but after being well placed in the running right through he did not finish on and was beaten out of a place. Wild Career lost several lengths at the start and Norseman also missed the jump out. At the end of a furlong Toro Koura and Phalanx were showing the way to Second Innings, Rodeur, Rebel Chief and Swordstick. Norseman moved up at the far turn and across the top Toro Koura and Phalanx had drawn out two lengths clear of Second Innings and Norseman with Rodeur and Rebel Chief. Toro Koura and Phalanx were two lengths clear into the straight from Second Innings, Norseman and Rodeur.

At the distance Toro Koura and Phalanx had not been challenged and they fought out a great finish, with Toro Koura staying the better to win by a length. Norseman finished on to a neck away third, a neck in front of Second Innings and then came Swordstick, Wild Career and Rodeur.

It was a solid performance on Toro Koura’s part as he finished on gamely under pressure. Phalanx was only beaten over the last 100 yards. Norseman again lost ground at the start and he did well to get up for third. Wild Career lost his chance at the start and Second Innings failed to race up to his first day’s form. TRACK RECORD BROKEN

Boswell was the win favourite for the Dunedin Jockey Club Handicap but on the place machine he was only sixth in order of favouritism. Thermidor was the place favourite with Argentic and Mona’s Song also well back. From a good start Boswell, Mona’s Song and Alma were the first to show out and racing out of the straight Boswell held charge from Mona’s Song, Alma, Petersham, Galleon and Queen Dorothy. Boswell was two lengths clear of Mona’s Song racing down the back where Galleon, Alma, Cape Gabo, and Queen Dorothy were at the head of the others. Alma moved up to third place behind Boswell and Mona’s Song at the far turn where Thermidor was right at the rear of the field and began a forward move. Mona’s Song joined Boswell in the lead racing across the top where Alma, Rabble, Galleon and Queen Dorothy were at'the head of the others. Boswell led into the straight from Mona’s Song, Alma, Rabble. and Galleon with Thermidor putting in an appearance (on the outer. Boswell came on again at the distance where he was clear but over the last 100 yards he was tackled by Thermidor who finished on to beat him by a length. Petersham was -half a length away third, a neck in front of Rabble. Then came Galleon, Argentic, Nightwings, Cape Gabo, Queen Dorothy, Mona’s Song and Ashaway. ' Thermidor made amends for his unlucky defeat the first day. He tailed the field to the half mile post and won by staying on. It was a fine performance as he bettered Last Refrain’s track record by 1 l-ssec. Boswell tried to win all the way and was only beaten over the last 100 yards. He responded gamely when asked for an effort over the last furlong. Mona’s Song had every chance but did not stay on and Alma stopped badly at the top of the straight, being last to finish. COMBAT WINS WELL

Gipsy Fair refused to line up in the Abbotsford Handicap and was finally left by several lengths. Teak was the first to show out from Spartan, Flagman and Combat. At the far turn Teak and Flagman were together from Combat and Spanish Lad. There was little change across the top and Spartan and Flagman led into the straight with Teak, Chirp, Spanish Lad and Combat handy. Spartan looked a winner at the distance when Combat challenged him and outstayed him over the last 100 yards to win by a head. Teak was a head further back third and then came Chirp, Spanish Lad, Adina, Remembo, Flagman, Epic and Waitoru. Combat confirmed the opinion that he was unlucky the first day when he broke away in his preliminary and then finished a good third. Spartan and Teak both raced solidly. Steer Clear lost his rider at the far turn and Bad News lost ground at the start. Flagman did not stay on and had every chance. Disband had to be checked when Steer Clear lost his rider and this cost him his chance. MASTER HOTSPUR FAILS Master Hotspur was twice as well backed as anything else in the Hopeful Handicap but he failed badly after being one of the first into the straight. Queen Beth refused to line up and she lost her chance at the start. Night Pal was .smartest to jump out from Master Hotspur, Blissful Lady, Asia and Moorsotis. Master Hotspur and Night Pal were disputing the lead at the far turn from Moorsotis, Asia, Montessa and Blissful Lady. Master Hotspur and Night Pal were first into the straight but Master Hotspur was the first beaten. Moorsotis, who had been in third position across the top, challenged Night Pal over the last furlong and came on to win comfortably by two lengths. Aranui finished oil to get up for third three lengths further back and then came Master Hotspur, Montessa and Asia. Moorsotis made no race of it at the finish and improved greatly on his first day’s effort. His time of 60 2-ssec bettered the track record held jointly by Epic and Alma by one-fifth of a second. Master Hotspur was a poor fourth. Night Pal, who did not race the first day, put up a promising showing. He is a brother to Our Pal. Aranui was doing his best work at the finish. HAZLETT GOLD CUP Royal Chief was sent out an odds-on favourite for the James Hazlett Gold Cup and in a great finish he beat Queen of Song by a neck. From a good start Auta Rere took up the running from Top Row, Wild Chase and Queen of Song. At the far turn Atua Rere was joined in the lead by Top Row with Wild Chase and Royal Chief handy. Wild Chase moved into third place behind Atua Rere and Top Row at the far turn while Royal Chief and Queen of Song were right up with them. Atua Rere was beaten at the straight entrance and Top Row had charge from Wild Chase with Royal Chief prominent on the outer and Queen of Song well placed on the rails. In a great race home Royal Chief had the measure of Top Row and Wild Chase 100 yards from the post when Queen of Song got through on the rails and finished brilliantly to get within a neck of Royal Chief. Top Row was a length away third, half a length in front of Wild Chase. Atua Rere was 20 lengths further back.

On returning to scale Royal Chief met with a mixed reception. It was one of the finest finishes in the history of the race and Royal Chief raced right up to his best form to win narrowly but handsomely. Queen of Song finished better than anything else and had she secured an opening on the rails earlier may have won. CAPRICIOUS STAYS ON

Capricious, who was solidly supported for the Waihola Handicap, raced right up to his first day’s form, and impressively over the lOj furlong journey. Our Pal, Master Dingle and Auctor were the first to show out and racing into the back Lady Argosy took up the running from Auctor, Straightdel, Our Pal, Settlement and Green Boa. Auctor had taken charge at the far turn from Glenacre, Straightdel, Lady Argosy, Settlement and Half and Half. Auctor was beaten across the top and Glenacre led into the straight from Settlement, Master Dingle, Capricious and Straightdel. In the run home Master Dingle had the measure of Settlement 100 yards from the post when Capricious put in her claim and got up to win by two lengths. Settlement was two, lengths further back third, three lengths ahead of Elmarch. Then came Glenacre, Straightdel, Auctor and Green Boa. Capricious was not prominent in the early running but was well placed into the straight and outstayed both Master Dingle and Settlement. APPRENTICE JOCKEY IN HOSPITAL The Invercargill apprentice jockey, W. F. Ellis, was admitted to hospital in Dunedin early on Saturday morning and operated on for appendicitis in the afternoon.