NOTES AND COMMENTS

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 521, 26 November 1928, Page 11

NOTES AND COMMENTS

OTAHUHU SIDELIGHTS AMONG THE DIVIDENDS Numerous surprises were in store for backers at Alexandra Park on the second day of the Otahuhu fixture, and those who followed the favourites, or in some cases endeavoured to follow previous form, were in most instances left lamenting. Royal Bob was in better humour on "Wednesday and giving a glimpse of his Whangarei form won the Innovation Handicap comfortably. He left his feet on occasions but lost no ground. His display was a marked contrast to his galloping exhibition of Saturday. Not Quite Good Enough Billy Carbine trotted a fairly solid race in the Innovation Handicap and except for one break kept his gait

better than the majority. Billy did not have much punch left when it came to the finish and could make no impression on Royal Bob. An Improving Pacer Warplane, whose form on Saturday suggested he would soon be in the money, went a nice race in the Epsom Handicap to win from a strong favourite in St. Bridget. The Man o* War colt was well driven by Jack Shaw and when it came to the finish the local pacer had too much speed for the opposition. Will Not Be Long St. Bridget had every chance in the Epsom Handicap, being well placed from the word go. She made a good effort to pull her backers out of the fire, but Warplane carried too many guns and the favourite was forced to play second fiddle. She may make amends at Dunedin next week. Taipare Improves Taipare showed a big improvement on his first day’s form by romping home in the Franklin Handicap after playing with his field for the greater part of the journey. Two furlongs from home A. McMillan let the grey have his head and he soon showed the opposition a clean pair of heels. A Consistent Customer Laplander gave another consistent display in the Franklin Handicap, but despite a good effort Freeman Holmes’s charge could make no impression on Taipare. Laplander finished better under pressure than in his Saturday’s essays, having dropped his boringtactics. Dillon Huon is generally a moody customer, but it was his day on in the Fergusson Handicap, as he began like a rocket, and never giving anything a look-in sailed into the straight well in front of the field. Although stopping at the finish Alex Corrigan kept his charge going to win by three lengths. After his defeats at the Auckland fixture last month and again on Saturday he did not carry the confidence of his connections. A Good Effort Mate o’ Mine was evidently better used to the Epsom way round on the second day, as he showed up all the way in the Fergusson Handicap. M. B. Edwards drove a heady race and saved his charge over the middle stages. This left him with a good final effort, which saw him cut Gold Jacket out of second money. Mare with a Future Evelyn Locanda was patiently driven by A. Bryce in the Papatoetoe Handicap and she came home to win nicely

from Van Rich. The winner is owned by the local popular sportsman, E. Cucksey, and is trained by J. Bryce at Hornby, Christchurch. The daughter of Brent Locanda is a sweet pacer and should go a long way in the game. Another Second “Divvy” Van Rich is the acme of consistency and Garth Robertson was unlucky enough to bump up against an improving pacer like Evelyn Locanda. Van Rich never runs a bad race and whenever the little fellow cracks it for a win the crowd will not forget to raise a hearty and appreciative cheer. Williams of Wellsford Ngatira trotted a fine race in the Visitors’ Handicap to score his second victory of the meeting. Owner Williams did not bustle the black gelding in the early stages, and when the last furlong was entered he came away to win nicely by a length in the good time of 4.35 4-5. In Better Mood The Tartar, as usual, did not begin well in the two-mile trot, but once on the journey he trotted in good style and was well in the picture with a

mile to go. Over the final pinch Garth Robertson brought the old chap along with a fine dash but lie could not head oft Ngatira in the run to the box. Popular Victory Nelson Tasker began best in the Spring Handicap and led from start to finish to win by a narrow margin from Free Advice who lost a lot of ground at the start. Arthur Ayres took no. chances and kept the Henderson horse at it all the way to score a popular victory. Good Thing Beaten Free Advice "was looked upon as unbeatable in the Spring Handicap and when she stopped on the mark her army of admirers looked blue. Half a mile from home the little filly was going nicely and hopes were again raised, but despite a great effort in the straight J. Bryce could not overtake Nelson Tasker. Free Advice ran her last half mile in 1.3, and then failed to pay a “divvy.” Goldman, well ridden by Fred. Gilchrist, scored a popular win in the Royal Oak Handicap, in which He came away in the straight to win comfortably. That the race was run true to label was proved by the time, 2.12, which proved that had Goldman not met with interference on Saturday he would probably have beaten Joybird. Dead-heaters Luvan went a solid go in the saddle heat and she was cleverly handled by Jim Cockle, who lost no ground and got through on the rails at the turn to overhaul Master Huia at the post. The latter was always in the picture and had every chance, but was not capable of stalling off the final challenge of Goldman and Lu r an.