ARABOA BEATS SPRINTERS

Southland Times, Issue 23817, 15 May 1939, Page 10

ARABOA BEATS SPRINTERS

i 3 ink Robe’s Easy Win

Over Hurdles

HACK SPRINT WON BY HUNTING CHORUS

The field which contested the Southland Hurdle Handicap was practically a novice one and three of the seven starters fell. Viking led to the first fence where he fell, while Ocean Singer came to grief at the second. Racing out of the straight Vantoon had charge from All Humbug and Pink Robe. Poniard stumbled and dropped his rider at the third fence. Pink Robe ran to the front down the back and at the far turn Baitruin moved up into second place. Baitruin lost ground at the fence across the top and Pink Robe drew out eight lengths clear of Baitruin at the straight entrance, where Vantoon was a similar distance back. Pink Robe came on to win comfortably by 12 lengths from Baitruin, who beat Vantoon by five lengths. All Humbug was a long way back fourth. Pink Robe jumped well right through and had too much pace on the flat for the others at the finish. It was a promising effort for her first appearance as a hurdler. Baitruin was the only one who looked like making a race of it half a mile from home where Vantoon and All Humbug were beaten. Poniard stumbled on landing and All Humbug appeared the cause of Ocean Singer falling.

SAFE VOYAGE’S FIRST

Safe Voyage put up a good performance to win the Invercargill Harness Trot as he was in the thick of the big field right through and had to be checked two or three times on the journey. Muldoun, Prince Echo and Indian Wrack made mistakes at the start and when the field had settled down at the end of two furlongs Brown Cloud had taken charge from Northern Sun, June Tide and Harbinger, who made up her handicap quickly. With a mile to go Brown Cloud was at the head of a bunched field which included Northern Sun, June Tide, Tracey Lass, Harbinger, Safe Voyage and Indianola. The order was much the same down the back and at the far turn Brown Cloud, Harbinger, Northern Sun, Indianola and Safe Voyage were bunched with Pontoon and Drumbunnif making up ground. Safe Voyage took charge at the home turn and led into the straight from Brown Cloud, Drumbunnif, Northern Sun and Royal Chief. Safe Voyage looked an easy winner at the distance but Royal Chief came with a late run and got to within a head of her. Drumbunnif was a neck away third and the next to finish were Tracey Lass (fourth), Northern Sun and Pontoon. It was a useful effort on Safe Voyage’s part as she was staying on at the finish. With a better early run Royal Chief would have made it much harder for- the winner. Pontoon received a bad run but Harbinger and Brown Cloud were beaten three furlongs from home. A DECISIVE WIN Hunting Chorus was a good favourite for the Myross Handicap and after being one of tlie leaders to tlie straight he came away at the distance to win with something in hand. Triple Cone, Adina and Strathalbyn missed the jump out and Cone Peak was the first to break the line. At the end of a furlong Cone Peak was showing the way to Hunting Chorus, Kippen, Sparkle and Straightdel. Pink Bond raced up to the leaders and with Kippen led across the top from Sparkle, Straightdel and Hunting Chorus, who lost some ground. Kippen and Straightdel were closely attended at the straight entrance by Pink Bond, Hunting Chorus, Sparkle and Triple Cone, wide out. Hunting Chorus took charge at the distance and won comfortably by one length and a-quartei- from Straightdel, who stayed on to beat Triple Cone by a head. Kippen was fourth ahead of Pink Bond, Adina, Strathalbyn and Ramana. Hunting Chorus had the conditions to his liking and he was a winner a long way from home. Triple Cone was unlucky as he lost several lengths at I the start. Sparkle was beaten at the home turn as also was Pink Bond. Kippen (lid not stay on. AWARUA HANDICAP Ashaway tried to win the Awarua Handicap all the way and after leading

to the straight entrance he compounded and was actually last to finish. In an even betting pool Peony Rose was a slightly better win favourite than either Alma or Wild Career and she justified this confidence by winning well. Racing out of the straight Ashaway was showing the way to Peony Rose, Wild Career, Alma and Amelita, who received a check and lost several lengths. Into the back Ashaway was two lengths clear of Wild Career, Alma and Peony Rose and this was the order to the half mile where the field closed on Ashaway. Running to the straight Ashaway shaded Wild Career, Alma and Peony Rose, where Galleon also moved up to the leaders. Ashaway was first into the straight but he was the first beaten and in the run home Galleon and then Alma looked the winner but Peony Rose came through with a great finishing effort to beat Alma by a long neck. Galleon was a neck away third and then came Wild Career (fourth), Amelita and Ashaway. Peony Rose was ridden a much different race than usual. She was kept in fourth place right through and at the finish outsprinted both Alma and Galleon. Alma stopped over the last half furlong but Galleon was unlucky as he covered more ground than anything else. Wild Career was beaten at the straight entrance where Ashaway also stopped.

PANDINE SURPRISES

Faculties was backed down to a short price in the Ritchie Memorial Handicap but he was beaten a long way from home and he did not complete the course. The winner turned up in Pandine, who gave a fine display of jumping and won well from Corban. Pandine went to the front running out of the straight from Faculties, McHeath and Poniard. Pandine had drawn out four lengths clear of Faculties running into the back but racing to the far turn Faculties went to the front. With a round to go McHeath had charge from Pandine, Corban, Poniard and Faculties. Pandine joined the leader racing into the back and at the far turn he had drawn out five lengths clear .of Corban, with a similar margin back to McHeath. At this stage Poniard and Faculties were beaten off. Corban raced up to Pandine at the home turn and the pair had the race to themselves. Pandine and Corban took the last fence almost together but in the run home Pandine came away to beat Corban by one length and a-half. McHeath was eight lengths away third and Poniard was a long way back fourth.

It was an excellent effort on Pandine’s part as he jumped well right through and was staying on at the finish. Corban also gave a fine exhibition but Pandine beat him on his merits. McHeath was beaten a long way from home while Poniard and Faculties were disappointments.

DRUMOAK IN FORM

Drumoak was always handily placed in the Otatara Harness Trot and after running to the front at the home turn he came on to win with something in hand. Safe Voyage lost a lot of ground at the start and when the field had settled down Happy King and Ra were showing the way to Drumoak, Prince Roydon and Sinbad. Racing down the back Happy King and Ra headed a bunched field in which Overproof, Drumoak, Gentleman Jim and Prince Roydon were prominent while Safe Voyage made up some ground. Drumoak joined Ra in the lead at the far turn and racing to the straight Drumoak was three lengths clear of Ra, Overproof, Happy King and Gentleman Jim. Drumoak was well clear into the straight and he came on to beat Gentleman Jim by two lengths and ahalf with Overproof three lengths away third. Safe Voyage was finishing on in fourth place ahead of Desert ICoud, Ra and Happy King. Drumoak was a winner a long way from home and Gentleman Jim was the only one to throw out a challenge in the straight.

VANITY QUEEN’S MILE

Vanity Queen upset calculations in the Bluff Handicap when he beat a firm favourite in Hunting Chorus. From a good start Hunting Chorus was the first to show out from Straightdel, Atua Rere, Merry Simon and Vanity Queen. At the far turn Hunting Chorus shaded Atua Rere, with Vanity Queen, Straightdel and Merry Simon handy while Bow Street made up some ground. Across the top Atua Rere was attended by Hunting Chorus while Straightdel also moved up to the leaders ahead of Vanity Queen and Bow Street. Hunting Chorus was first into the straight and he looked a winner at the distance but Vanity Queen finished too well for him and got up to win by a neck. Straightdel stayed on to be two lengths and a-half away third ahead of Merry Simon and Astral Flash.

Vanity Queen won by staving on but

Hunting Chorus put up a solid performance. Straightdel was beaten at the distance and Merry Simon did not finish on after having every chance. Atua Rere was one of the first beaten. This was Vanity Queen’s best performance to date and she returned the best dividend of the day.

SPRINT TO ARABOA

Tauramai and Amelita lost ground at the start of the President’s Handicap and Fleet Street was the first to show out from Phalanx and Spanish Lad. Racing down the back Fleet Street was two lengths clear of Phalanx and Spanish Lad with Roseman and Araboa two lengths further back. The order was the same at the far turn but running to the straight the field closed on Fleet Street. Fleet Street was still in front at the top of the straight from Phalanx, Spanish Lad, Araboa and Roseman in a bunch. Araboa shot to the front at the distance and came on to win comfortably by a length from Fleet Street with Phalanx three lengths away third. Spanish Lad for fourth ahead of Ashaway, Amelita and Wild Career.

Araboa was always going like a winner and when asked for an effort over the last furlong he came right away from his field. Fleet Street tried to win all the way but he had no chance with Araboa. Spanish Lad and Phalanx had every chance.