OTAKI SIDELIGHTS

Taranaki Daily News, 16 October 1930, Page 5

OTAKI SIDELIGHTS

FORM AND OTHERf ODDITIES

“BERT.” MORRIS’ HOLIDAY TICKET.

“PARITUTU” TALK'S THINGS OVER.

The totalizator dropped only a couple of thousand at Otaki. It might have been worse. #** _ * Some of the “form” was very hard to follow, but on Saturday several genuine triers tasted defeat. *- * *

How good is Staghunter? Classed as an “iffer,” he seems to win when least expected, and he wins well. 1 * * * *

There were many shocks at the meeting, and the biggest was when' Bert. Morris went for a month s skate. # v * *

A month’s suspension, if fulfilled, will keep Morris out of the saddle until the third day of the New Cup meeting. An expensive- holiday. * * * *

Racked from the right quarter each day, Equitant let Sammy and Co. down. There was a. parcel for the Martoman on Saturday, but it got left in the ‘‘lost luggage department.” * * * *

Awapunian “Jim” Coyle had a day out on Friday, winning events with Skyrider, Brilliant Light and Robbies Mistake, but the one which “hurt was Palm, who was unlucky to get stoushed in the big event. * * * *

Skyrider exemplified the axiom “horses for courses” by again running two cn-'eat races over fences. On the first day she won by a minute, but a 71b. rise allowed Disrank to displace her on the Saturday. # # The bet of the day- on Friday was Paratoo, and ' punters cheerfully laid odds-on to be on the Wanganui three-year-old. Tommy Green hopped him out in front, and many backers immediately made for the pay-out window. The judge said six lengths. It was never in doubt. **. * *

Baskier is just a moderate, but on Wanganui running looked to. be next best to Paratoo in the Otaki Maiden, but down that way they don’t care what runs second. Those who cared, to take a second chance received a good return —greater than even the most optimistic expected. ## * ■

Catch-as-catch-can appeared to be riie outstanding feature of the Katihiku Hack Handicap on the opening day, and though Brilliant Light suffered as much as anything in the race, Sqowy Morris (by vigorous riding) drove him home by a bare head in front of the favourite, Fitzquex. The latter looked to be a trifle unlucky. # ft • ®

Captain “Ernie” Whiteman was as confident as ever that Paiko, whose breeding is familiar to Taranaki spoilsmen, being by Chief Ruler-Vestalis, would w'in the Ling Memorial Handicap, and he did, the muddling pace making it only a sprint home, which suited Paiko, to the discomfiture of the proved stayers in the race. It Was hard to ept'huse over an- exhibition like this.

Punters showed remarkable perspicacity in selecting Trojan;. Melody and (Lady Rene to pay the dividends in the Pahiko Handicap, and the first-named, who is a three-year-old by Hunting Song-St. Helen, led all the way, winning comfortably from Mr, ; A. Goodman’s mare. Lady Rene finished fast 111 second place, which accounted for her favouritism.on Saturday, when she won. ft # * ,„ * There was only a fiver between Melissa and Acora when the totalisator closed on the Waitawa Handicap’on Friday, and while the Martonian was always in a handy position, Melissa made hard work of the going. Arikinui looked to have the race won from the home turn, but left the rails, and Bert. Morris slipped Acora through to win cleverly. Arikinui was unlucky to lose, and his backers were getting a great price. # / ’# ft ® Reserved 1 for the hack event in preference to the open distance handicap, Mount Shannon was made a firm order, but there was good backing for Robbies Mistake (Psychology-Lovelock) in the Tanmanuka Handicap. The favourite ran a wretched race, while third place was filled by the fast-finishing Playground (Acre-Pleasure). The latter was -better placed in his race on Saturday, and juSt got home from the useful Dainty Way's. • » * *

Mr. “Wally” Kirkland was very sanguine of success with the Hawera-train-ed Tenacre in the final event on the first day, and the Acre gelding was in front on the fence from start to finish, just holding off the Australian, Malayan, at the end. The favourite, Maui, shaped just fairly, but High I'alutin, of whom great things were expected, faded out of the picture when the whips were produced. Best Friend, with the vigorous Skipper at the helm, finished on well in third place, and may repay watching in the future. * ft * *

Tons of money poured in for Baskier in the maiden event on Saturday,, but a surprise was in store, and Pythia, a three-year-old filly by Psychology-Flora McDonald, made hacks of the opposition when the pressure was on, and Baskier just gained second money, a head l in advance of Valrewa. The latter filly is improving with every gallop, and should finish in front of Baskier (and many others) next time up. # * * *

Glunv’s third to Brilliant Light and Fitzquex on the opening day was not very meritorious, but the public preferred him to the pair in the Otaki Hack Handicap on 'Saturday, and B. HMorris got him through on the rails at tlib death to win by the shortest of heads. Whether there is something strange about the formation of the track at Otaki one cannot say, but quite a number bf winners there last week owed their success to lucky runs on the fence. # # * *

Nothing but Ruanui and Paiko would go down with the public when the Makitonoro Handicap came to be sized up, and anything else was paying a tall dividend. The big price arrived all right, tiie quality horse, Vertigern, who had cut up badly the previous day, swooping down in the straight and beating Paiko narrowly. The win was quite unexpected by the general run of the punters, who received an . out-size in set-backs. It was after this race th: - the stewards dealt witfli Morris for

alleged interference while riding Cluiiy in the previous event, and the result of tlje stewards’ finding added further to the public’s amazement. ##. # #

Staghunter, withdrawn on Friday, was produced, was backed, and won on the second day, and scored just as he did at Wanganui. Well back until the straight was in sight, the Quantook gelding came with a paralysing run, to catch Veronese and Consent right on the post. Consent ran a great race under 0.8, and will lose no admirers by the effort. The extra bit •of weight stopppd Acora at the end, and Melissa had to be content with fourth place. Coon Song again proved a Hash in the pan, beginning quickly and stopping even quicker.