LAST AWAY; FIRST HOME

Taranaki Daily News, 19 December 1929, Page 5

LAST AWAY; FIRST HOME

KNIGHTLIKE UPSETS HOT POT ■ ■ • COVENEY RIDES VIGOROUS FINISH WRETCHED START SPOILS RACE. CIMABUE A GOOD THING BEATEN. What promised to be one of the best races on the menu, the Flying Handicap, was spoiled by an atrocious start, and the hot favourite, Lady Quex, was asked to make up too much ground to have a chance. Knightlike, who received an even worse start than the mare, was patiently handled by >R. Coveney and surprised by beating a good thing in Cimabue. Oration dropped out and the public went for Lady Quex as if the race was all over, the Lord Quex mare carrying nearly £5OO more than Knightlike. Cimabue and Gold Dawn moved attractively as they went down, but Havering was favouring himself in the preliminary. - Starter O’Connor attempted to effect a walk-up etart, but the despatch wae very unfortunate, Lady Quex turning around on Knightlike and Cimabue Itadin» but from Gold Dawn, Goshawk and Llanore. When the field had settled down Gold Dawn was rushed to the front from Cimabue, who was steadied, Llanore, Goshawk and Lady Quex being next. At the four furlong post- Gold Da.wn was two and a half lengths ahead of Lady Quex and Cimabue, with Llauore, Goshawk and Knightlike next.

Knightlike .began to move up .on the bend and Cimabue stole up on the rails beside Lady Quex, Gold Dawn still bein<r clear. Lady Quex was done at the bottom of the straight, leaving Gold Dawn ahead of Cimabue and Knightlike. Cimabue threw out a half-hearted challenge, but dropped back as quickly and Knightlike rah up to the leader. Gold Dawn and Knightlike raced stride for stride to the half distance, but the mare was first to give in and Knightlike seemed to have the race well in hand. It was then that Morris drew the whip on Cimabue. The Leighton gelding made up half a dozen lengths in fifty yards, and though he flew over the last few yards he just failed to catch Knightlike by a head. Gold Dawn was very tired at the finish and was a length further back in fourth place, well clear of Goshawk, Llanore and Lady Quex, with Havering last. . ’ ‘ ... , .... . . ,■' Knightlike ran a great race and fully deserved his win, though the horsemanship of Coveney was the deciding factor. Cimabue ran a peculiar race, to say the least, of it', and .it Idoked as if Morris would have given Knightlike more trouble had he gone on with his first challenge. Cimabue ran well enough to suggest that his form will warrant a trip to Ellerslie for the Railway. Handicap, in which race his ability to begin will stand him in good stead. Gold Dawn ran an honest race, but she. may have been made too much use of over the first half-mile. She did not finish on as well as expected, but she should be all the better for the race and may not be long in paying a dividend. -

Goshawk was not bustled at any stage of the race, but he went well throughout and the race should tune him up for the Christmas Handicap at Auckland, run over a mile. Lady Quex made up too much ground between the five and four furlong pegs to have any finishing effort. However, her form, even under the circumstances, is not good enough for the Railway Handicap.