SPORTING NOTES

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 73, Issue 6306, 18 November 1946, Page 5

SPORTING NOTES

TE RAPA RACING REVIEWED BRIEF ITEMS FROM THE TRACK (By “Old Rowley”) Rea! Class Foxwyn’s Waikato Cup success on Saturday set the seal to his fame as a class handicap performed. He was very confidently and patiently ridden by Ray Ireland, who brought the Foxbridge gelding through smartly in the straight to register a nice win. There appears to be no reason why Foxwyn should not keep his present form until 26th December, and he looks likely to add another Auckland Cup to his list of successes if he* gallops as well on Boxing Day as he did last Saturday. •' Notable Consistency

Nearly twelve months ago “ Old Rowley” spoke to shrewd racing judges about Sylis, and they were of the opinion that the then four-year-old Baffles—Sanddrift gelding was worth watching. It has taken some time for him to come right, but his Victories in the Opotiki Handicap at Tauranga and the Members’ Memorial Handicap at Cambridge on Labour Day showed him in good light. However, “paper” assessment hardly showed him in favourable trim, for Saturday’s event, but his perform* ance proved how far wrong the majority were in summing up the quality of the five-year-old. It is passing strange that his sire, Baffles, a very well-bred importation, has never become really fashionable among breeders, but he has left some very useful performers, Sylis being among those in the forefront. Game Showing

On the small side, and not lustily built, Bedivere has a heart much bigger than many of his more solid equine opponents. Again on Saturday he fought on tenaciously, after having taken on Marinoto, the pacemaker, half a mile from home, and .his third in the Waikato Cup was his fifth minor placing in as many starts. The most unfortunate part is that this game little Medieval Knight colt will be steadily climbing the weight scale, and if he doesn’t strike a winning patch soon he may easily reach a position where winning will be very difficult indeed. Continued Success

Te Wepu continued his good form by running a grand race in the Te Rapa Hack Handicap, and his second placing was the result of a determined late run. I should say that on his effort on Saturday Te Wepu will be very hard to head off in his next few starts if he gets away well. Improving

Mentor A. Cook started Happy Fox in the Bruntwood Hack at Te Rapa on Saturday, b.ut the Foxbridge gelding was slow to move, and although his finish gave the impression that he was moving well he was, in the main, passing tired horses. Badly Needed

“ You can give away weight—but not time.” How true is that ! One of the shrewdest judges of racing passed that information on to “ Old Rowley ” some time ago. It is a truth which could be drummed into the heads of present-day apprentices with much benefit to themselves and to the owners and trainers who trust them to ride in races. It isn’t much good trying to make up a big gap to the field when the position is hopeless, and in many cases it only knocks the thorough-bred about. Of course there are instances where just bad luck leads to a slow beginning, but it is high time we had a proper school for riders, and it should be compulsory for trainers to prove that they are capable of teaching a boy good horsemanship before they are allowed to employ likely youngsters. W|ent Astray

The quiet word went round on Friday night and Saturday (morning about Leigh Hark’s prospects in the Waikato Cup, and those in attendance at Te Rapa certainly showered their money into the totalisator in support of the Leighon gelding. But they were well astray, for while he was not disgraced in his running he never really flattered his supporters. Seen before the Race Leigh Hark looked in good order—in fact, a trifle pretty, if anything. He should win a race soon, but don’t be surprised if it takes another outing before he is seen at his best. Badly Left

I think it can be safely said that any money lost on Topical on Saturday was more in the nature of a loan, for this Bulandshar colt was very badly left in the first division of the Bruntwood Hack Handicap, and although he caught his field before the straight was reached his position was obviously hopeless. Topical appears to be a hack above the ordinary, and it will be surprising if he doesn’t win his way out of hack class in quick time.