Night Lad Scores Overdue Victory

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 841, 9 December 1929, Page 12

Night Lad Scores Overdue Victory

DECOY BIRD’S SURPRISE ONE FOR MASTER CLARENCE Special to TIIE SL X ASHBURTON, Saturday. The Ashburton County Racing Club's summer meeting was held in line but boisterous weather. The course was hard and the attendance large. The totalisator receipts were .£9,065, against £6,636 10s last year, an increase of £3,328 10s. The stewards inquired into alleged interference with Audience by Royal Heritage in the first race, and suspended the latter’s rider, D. Ilall, for ono month. Winchmore Hack A rather large field of 13 contested the Winchmore Hack Handicap, with which the programme opened. Punchestown was favourite, but he was well beaten. Master Clarence was a good second fancy and Phastar next in request. The race proved the best of good things for Master Clarence, who came away in the straight and won very easily by four lengths, thus confirming the promise he displayed at Ricc-arton last month. Audience was second, and might have been a bit closer to the winner but for being seriously interfered with. Phastar was another length back in third place, and looks like getting back to form. Melrose Trot "Lydia was made a better favourite than the Mussolini —Regal Voyage bracket in the Melrose Trot. The favourite lost a lot of ground at the start and did well to finish fifth. Passing thfe stand the first time Great-De-Oro had charge from Reaper, Mussolini, Oinadora and Mistress Pointer. Mussolini put in a run in the back and led into the home lane from Regal Voyage, Mistress Pointer, Eiffelton Lass and Great-De-Oro. Mussolini failed to stay on. Royal Voyage lasted out well to beat Mistress Pointer by half a length, with Eiffelton Lass four lengths away third and Great-De-Oro fourth, followed by Lydia. Oinadora lost his driver in the back stretch, careering unchecked, and interfered with several horses. Tinwald Handicap Night Lad. was first favourite for the Tinwald Handicap, and was well back early, but four furlongs from home began to improve his position. Entering the straight he came round the field and with a furlong to go, had drawn level with the pacemaker, Buoyant. Night Lad had to be hard ridden over the last 50 yards, and finished gamely to beat Buoyant by a short head. Quarterdeck was three lengths away third, followed by Sea Raid, Malmsey, Chickwheat and Gold Brick. Night Lad’s victory was his first this season, but he won so well today as to suggest that he is back to his best form. Buoyant made a bold bid, showing most surprising form. Quarterdeck met with interference at the start, and was soon at the rear of the field. She finished strongly to

gain third place. Malmsey was very iamo on his return to the bird-cage. Lagmhor Plate Sleipner was a strong favourite for the Lagmhor Plate, but after having every chance failed to do better than run third. It was a poor start, and nfter a furlong had been covered only Straiglitcourse. Sleipner and Quinopal had a chance of winning. The others were w r ell in the rear. Before the home turn was reached Sleipner was showing the way to Quinopal and Straiglitcourse with Lieutenant Him leading the remainder. Straiglitcourse made a fast run when they straightened up for homo, getting the better of Quinopal and Sleipner, and at the distance camo on to score an easy win by three lengths, with Sleipner two lengths behind and Quinopal in third place. Then came Compris, Whatnot, Colonel Quex and Sapient. Straightcourse’s win was very popular. He is a three-year-old colt by The Ace out of Winning Way. The manner in which lie ran away from the field showed that he is very smart. Moreton Hack Hutch Money was heavily backed for the Moreton Hack Handicap, but any chance she possessed was lost when she was slow in leaving the barrier. When the field settled down Discordia had taken charge from Thurso, Solmuri, The Viscount and Ranelagh, with four furlongs to go Dutch Money and To Awhina had begun to improve their positions. Entering the straight Thurso and Discordia were in the van, but Te Awhina was handy, while Ranelagh had begun to move up. Inside the distance Te Awhina had taken charge, but had to be hard ridden to beat Ranelagh by a long head. Alar sham was two lengths away third, then followed The Viscount, Thurso, Tane, Zeuxis, and Kentish Lady. Te Awhina registered a performance of exceptional merit, being the last to leave the barrier, and when the field had run two furlongs she was standing up the leaders a good start, and then worked her way into a prominent position before the half-mile was reached, and came home full of running. Ranelagh finished strongly iii second place. Both Marsham and The Viscount came from a long way back. The Viscount met trouble at the top turn and was forced to drop back several lengths to get an opening, and then finished with a great rattle into fourth place. Selma Trot The Sea Mist—Wrackeen bracket held the confidence of backers for the Selma | Trot Handicap, and Royal Iroquois was next in order. Royal Iroquois went away fast and was soon showing the way from Last Pointer and Bessie Huon. With half a mile gone Last Pointer had taken the lead and Royal Iroquois began to fall back, giving the way to Millie De Oro, with Sea Mist improving her position. Millie De Oro then went to the lead and entered the straight with a good advantage from Sea Mist, Royal Iroquois, Sodium, Rough Voyage, Some Guy and Lady Zora. Millie De Oro was not troubled in the run home, and won by six lengths from Sodium, who came with a fast run to beat Sea Mist by half a length. Next were Royal Iroquois. Rough Voyage, Lady Zora and Some Guy. Wakanui Handicap Bonrose was a good favourite for the final event, but she had to strike her colours to the little-fancied Decoy Bird. The latter finished on stronger than usual, and the Humbug gelding downed the favourite over the last bit, winning by half a length. The wellbacked Solgele was a good third. Pol lowing are the results: Winchmore Hack Handicap, of £110; 6 furlongs.—2 Master Clarence, I. Tilson, 9.13, 1; 4 Audience, 9.2, 2; 3 Phastar, 9..7, 3. Also: 5 Last Mark, 9.12; 6 Fair Exchange, 9.0; 1 Punchestown, 9.5; S Gay Crest, 9.5; 7 Royal Limond, 9.4; 11 Gaslight, 9.2; 12 Lord Middleton, 9.2; 13 Royal Heritage, 9.0; S Bon Waif, 9.0; S Garvary, 9.0. Won by four lengths, with a length between second and third. Time, 1.14 3-5. Melrose Trot, of £llO, 2 miles.—2 Regal Voyage, L. Davidson, 24yds, 1; 3 Mister Pointer, limit, 2; 9 Eiffelton Lass, 3. Also: 13 Reaper, 5 Oinadora, 10 Jeanette Locanda, 11 Great D’Oro (coupled with Lady Alice), 2 Mussolini (coupled with Regal Voyage), 7 St. George, 1 Lydia, 8 Author Franz, 12 Logan Brae, 14 Grace Huon, 6 Mignonne. 4 Salient, 17 Auto Minto, 15 Cyone, 16 Real Huon. Won by hAlf a length, with four lengths between second and third. Time, 4.39. TINWALD HANDICAP Of £175; 1£ miles. I—NIGHT LAD (W. Hogan), 8.3 .. 1 6—BUOYANT, 7.G .. .. .. 2 3—QUARTERDECK, 7.10 3 Also:—1 Malmsey, 5 Sea Raid, 2 Chick - wheat, 7 Gold Brick. Won by a head, with three lengths between second arid third. Time, £.6 3-5. Lagmhor Plate, of £100; 5 furlongs.— 3 Straight Course, R. Coveny, 8.4, 1 ; 9 Quinopal, S.lO, 2; 1 Sleipner, 7.5, 3. Also: 10 Thuralda, S Saxie, 11 Lieutenant Ulm, 8.0; 2 Sapient, 6 Night Attire, 5.4; 7 Compris. 4 Colonel Quex, 5 Whatnot. Won by four lengths. Time, 60sec. Moreton Hack Handicap, of £110; 1 mile. —2 Te Awhina, B. Brodie, 8.5, 1; 4 Ranelagh. 7.7, 2; 10 Marsham, 7.5, 3. Also: 3 Dutch Money. 11 Zeuxis (coupled with Discordia), 5 Thurso, 2 The Viscount, 6 Solmuri, 12 Tane, 9 Night Dew, 5 Pahautanui, 7 Kentish Lady. Won by a neck, three lengths between second and third. Time, 1.41 1-5. Selma Trot, of £110; 1} miles.—3 Millie D’Oro, M. B. Edwards, limit, 3; 8 Sodium, limit, 2; 1 Sea Mist, limit, 3. Also: 5 Last Pointer, 20 Harold Denver, 4 Glanville (coupled with Eiffelton Lass), 17 Lady Zora, 6 Rough Voyage, 14 Some Guy, IS Slogan, 13 August Pointer. 7 Bessie Huon, 2 Royal Iroquoise, 9 Erie Dazzle, 14 Irene D’Oro, Wrackeen, 19 Becky De Oro. 11 Author Frank, 12 Logan’s Last, 16 Logan Brae, 10 Jessie Huon. 15 John Noble. 21 Editor, 22 Wild Voyage. Won by 10 lengths, with half a length separating second and third. Time, 2.55 1-5. Wakanui Handicap, of £120; 6 furlongs.—s Decoy Bird, L. J. Ellis, 7.7, 1; 1. Bonrose, 8.3, 2; 2 Solgele, 7.6, 3. Also: 6 Arikiwai, 4 Arrowmir, 3 Buoyant, 7 Courtlike, 10 Gold Mint, 8 Proud Knight, 9 Xastori. Won by half a length. Time 1.13 1-5.

A NEW TRAINER

TAKING OVER LLOYD’S STABLES W. L. Russell, who was at one time attached to G. New’s stable in the capacity of head lad, has taken over Mr. C. T. Keeble’s string from G. New, and Blimp, Great Lady and Jason, etc., have been transferred to Woodville, where Russell has secured the premises originally occupied by T. Lloyd. With the present track conditions prevailing on the day, it would not be surprising to find Blimp signal his transfer auspiciously at this week’s Woodville meeting, for the Gasbag gelding is very well and should revel in the heavy going. He has been somewhat of a disappointment of late, but with conditions to his liking, he should break his run of outs.

For the Patient Trainer While many of the yearlings from the Elderslie Stud, to be submitted at the National Sales in January, are bred on early speed lines, there is at least one who may reward a patient policy. This is the Weathervane colt from Rada, who may make a stayer. Weathervane was a great English sprinter, but lie is bred on stout lines, being by Lemberg, a Derby winner, from Vain Air. by Ayrshire from Vane, a sister to Flying Fox. The other side of the colt’s pedigree is equally attractive, as Rada is by Hallowmas, a Martagon hors© who sired good stayers. from Ukraine, by Stepniak from Madder. Ukraine was a sister to All Red. winner of two Auckland Cups, while she earned great fame as the dam of Sasanof, whose sire, Martian, like Hallowmas, was by Martagon.

Injured Jockey Progressing The North Island jockey, T. Webster, was seriously injured when he fell from Kiriana at the C.J.C. meeting last month, and at one stage was in a serious condition. However, he has made much progress lately, and left the institution at the end of last week. According to medical opinion it will be some months before Webster will be sufficiently fit to resume race-riding. Strephon in England Latest reports from the Old Country state that Mr. Sol. Green’s Saltash colt Strephon is doing extra well in his preparation for important engagements ahead and that his trainer is particularly pleased with him. When Strephon raced in Sydney and Melbourne as a three-year-old he revealed a high standard of form and was regarded by sound judges as the equal of sensational Manfred, and if he should develop his best form in England he is going to play an important part in the decision of the big handicaps there. An event that will suit Strephon, and pi'obably will find him competing, is the weight-for-age Coronation Cup, run in June, at Epsom, and if all goes well he will tackle the Ascot Gold Cup, which, of course, is his main mission in England. Strephon is not the first Australian classic winner to be transported to England. Noctuiform, who scored a most brilliant and decisive victory in the A.J.C. Derby at Randwick, beating with ease his stable-mate Sun God, and Lady Wallace, preceded him. Noctuiform, who was bred in the Dominion, annexed the New Zealand Cup. New Zealand Dei'by, and G. G. Stead Gold Cup after his success in the Randwick classic, and finally it was decided to give him an opportunity to earn distinction on the English Turf. But the horse came to a most inglorious ending. Whether the long boat trip affected him or the climate did not agree with him is not known, but his form in the Old Country disappointed his admirers. He never showed anything like the prowess he revealed in the colonies. The only race he succeeded in winning was an event worth a modest £IOO at Leicester, and later he was put to hurdling, at which department he eventually met with an accident that put an end to his career. Racing folk of long standing say that a comparison of Noctuiform and Strephon at three years shows that there was little to choose between the pair, and so it will be most interesting to see how Strephon will fare in his approaching engagements. Tt is understood that Strephon will eventually be sent back to Australia, where he will do duty as a. sire at Mr. Sol. Green s elaborate stud farm.

Luck This is supposed to be an enlightened age and free from superstition, but superstition seems to be inherent in us. For some extraordinary reason a Chinese is associated in some minds with good luck, and one frequently hears of'a man “having the luck of a Chinaman.” Why a Chinese should be endowed with more luck than anybody else nobody seems to know. On the morning of the Victoria Derby a bookmaker, who is by no means unknown, was standing in a street in Melbourne, when a Chinese passed wearing: a none too clean panama hat. The bookmaker startled the Celestial by dashing over, removing the panama hat, placing it on his own head, and dumping his own on the head of the Chinese, “Now,” he said, “I am going *o have some luck today.” It, however, did not work out as he anticipated, as four first favourites and two second favourites won, consequently the bookmakers had a bad day. I did meet a backer who was lucky, states a Melbourne writer. Before the first race the bookmakers were operating on the Cantala Stakes, and a friend of mine backed Amounis at 7 to 2, which was an extraordinarily good price. Later in the day he found his pockets overcrowded with betting tickets, and decided to get rid of them. He had forgotten about the Amounis ticket, and discarded it with the others. A couple of hours later he realised what he had done, and having a hazy recollection of the spot where he had had the clearing out of his pockets, he strolled across in the hope of being able to locate it. It was adjacent to the stand of one of the biggest operators in the ring, and by that time -there must have been a couple of thousand tickets strewn on the ground. The first ticket he picked up was the missing one on Amounis. Luck was with him, but not with the bookmaker who had swapped hats with the Chinese.