SPANISH LAD’S EASY WIN

Southland Times, Issue 23783, 3 April 1939, Page 10

SPANISH LAD’S EASY WIN

Sparkle Returns To Form INDIANOLA JUSTIFIES CONFIDENCE Merry Simon was sent out a better favourite than Eastern Prince for the Crown Stakes, but he went under to Dr Duthie, who finished with a great run over the last furlong. Rollem was slow away and Dolita was the fii-st to show out from Gay Feather and Merry Simon. At the far turn Dolita and Gay Feather were clear of Merry Simon, Eastern Prince and Rollem. Dolita was first into the straight from Gay Feather, Merry Simon Dr Duthie and Royal Vane. Merry Simon soon had the measure of Dolita in the run home and looked a winner when Dr Duthie came with a late run and got up to win by a head. Dolita was half a length away third and then came Royal Vane, Gay Feather and Eastern Prince. It was a fine finishing effort on the part of the winner, who, however, had nothing to spare. Merry Simon again raced solidly and looked a winner a few yards from the post. Dolita ran an improved race, but Eastern Prince was beaten a long way from home. A DECISIVE WIN Indianola was twice as well backed as anything else in the Wallace Harness Trot and after being well placed in the running right through, she came away in the straight to win comfortably. Tracey Lass was the first to show out from Indianola, Ebb Tide and June Tide. With a mile to go Tracey Lass was attended by Indianola, Ebb Tide, Young Dewey, Samara, Prince Echo and Country Lady. Samara was on the extreme outer racing out of the straight and into the back he ran to the front from Tracey Lass, Indianola, Ebb Tide and Young Dewey. Prince Echo and Harbinger both improved their positions at the far turn and into the straight Samara was closely attended by Young Dewey, Indianola, Harbinger and Prince Echo, with Yon Yan at the head of the others. Indianola soon had the measure of the leaders half-way down the straight and she came on to win easily by two lengths and a-half from Prince Echo. Harbinger ‘ was a neck away third and Young Dewey and Samara were close up next. The winner had a good deal to spare at the finish.

FOXLOVE’S CUP Foxlove was backed down to a short price in the Otautau Cup and although he was not well placed at the home turn, he came away in the straight to win with something to spare. Viking took charge running out of the straight from Mungatoon, Rodeur and Foxlove, with Ashaway at the rear. Viking was two lengths clear turning into the back where there was little change in the order. At the half-mile Viking still led from Rodeur, while Foxlove made up some ground on the inner. Viking was first into the straight from Foxlove, Rodeur, Ashaway and Mungatoon. Viking looked a winner at the distance, but Foxlove finished too well for him and at the post had half a length to spare and was going away from Viking, who beat Mungatoon by five lengths. Rodeur was a poor fourth, with Ashaway close up. Foxlove had to be ridden right out to beat Viking, but when he was asked for an effort at the finish he had a good deal in reserve. Viking stayed on better than usual after making all the pace and Foxlove did not catch him until 100 yards from the winning post. Foxlove was inclined to loaf on the job. Mungatoon went a fair race, but Rodeur dropped out when the pressure was applied.

A BAD START From a poor start in which Turaki, Double Gift, Kippen and Royal Style were badly away in the Ringway Handicap, Sparkle was one of the few to get away in line and after being first into the straight she came away to score the easiest win of the day. Down the back straight Kippen raced into second place behind Sparkle where Moonraider, Silkwood and Garonne were handy. Sparkle was attended by Kippen and Silkwood across the top, but Sparkle was well clear into the straight and in the run home she came right away to win by seven lengths from Kippen. Moonraider was half a length further back third and then came Silkwood, Royal Style and Turaki, with Garonne last. It was an effortless win and this was by far Sparkle’s best effort since she returned to Southland. She looks certain to win in much better company. She did not look like being beaten over the last three furlongs. Kippen stayed on better than usual, while Moonraider ran her best race for some time. Silkwood had every chance and so did Garonne.

JUMPERS IN ACTION Black Banner was backed down to an odds-on price for the O’Brien Memorial Steeplechase Handicap and he gave a splendid exhibition of jumping to win in decisive style. The field was reduced to five starters and it was a good race right through. Racing into the back the first time Corban took charge from Black Banner, Rifle Range and Master Balboa. Black Banner had run to the front with a round to go where he was closely attended by Corban, Master Balboa, Rifle Range and Impel. Rifle Range hit the log fence where Impel made up some ground. With half a mile to go Black Banner was four lengths clear of Corban, who hit the post and rails and dropped his rider. Black Banner was left 10 lengths clear of Impel, Rifle Range and. Master Balboa at the far turn. Black Banner was not challenged over the last half-mile and came on to win easily by 15 lengths from Impel, with Rifle Range a similar distance back third, just ahead of Master Balboa. It was a clear-cut win for Black Banner, who carried his big weight without any trouble. FROM END TO END Northern Sun and Southland failed to leave the mark in the Bayswater Harness Trot, while several others were slow

away, including the favourite, Indianola, who was badly interfered with. At the end of a furlong Sungauge had taken up the running from Country Lady, June Tide, Harbinger and Loyal Emblem. Sungauge had charge into the back from Catawrack, Harbinger, Country Lady, Prince Echo, who moved up, and Ebb Tide. Harbinger moved up to Sungauge down the back and across the top the pair were two lengths clear of Catawrack, Prince Echo and Young Dewey. Sungauge shaded Harbinger at the straight entrance where Prince Echo, Young Dewey, Ebb Tide and Catawrack, beaten off, were at the head of the others. Sungauge was strongly challenged by Harbinger in the run home, but he stayed on well to win by a neck. Prince Echo was three lengths away third, ahead of Loyal Emblem, Ebb Tide and Young Dewey. The shorter distance suited Sungauge and he won all the way. Harbinger ran a promising race but the favourite, Indianola, lost her chance at the start.

FOUR-HORSE RACE In a four-horse field in the Strathmore Hack Handicap, Silkwood was sent out a firm favourite, but she raced badly and was last to finish. From a good start the field raced in line for half a furlong and at the half-mile post Triplecone was shading Pink Bond with two lengths back to Forecast and Silkwood. There was no change in the order across the top and at the straight entrance Triplecone and Pink Bond were still two lengths clear of Forecast. Triplecone finished too well for Pmk Bond and beat her by two lengths. Forecast was half a length away third with Silkwood close up. It was a poor race. Triplecone went his best race for some time and he stayed on much better than usual. It was a particularly good gallop on his part. Pink Bond raced right up to her good track work, while Forecast’s form was better than for some time. SPANISH LAD EASILY Spanish Lad was backed as a certainty for the Macaulay Memorial Handicap and he won from end to end. Araboa was the first to break the line, but racing into the back Spanish Lad ran to the front from Amelita, Araboa, Ocean Singer and Waitaka. There was no change in the order at the half mile, but across the top Amelita moved up to Spanish Lad in thq lead. Spanish Lad was first into the straight and he did not have to be ridden out to beat Amelita by half a length, with Araboa two lengths away third and Waitaka a length further back fourth. Spanish Lad stripped a picture of condition and it was a bloodless victory. He had the race won a long way from home and his rider did not move on him in the i straight. Amelita was in second place right through, but she had no chance with the winner. Araboa was only a fair third and both he and Waitaka will be improved by the race.