OTAIRI GETS UP

Taranaki Daily News, 6 February 1931, Page 12

OTAIRI GETS UP

WIN WAS FULL OF MERIT VERTIGERN STOPS AT FINISH. FAVOURITES ALL WELL BEATEN. (By ‘'koturoa.”) The fifth Egmont Gup was won by the consistent Otairi, who finished with a fine burst of speed and caught Vertigern a few strides from the post. The favourites, High Falutin’ and Silvermine, had every chance, but they collapsed badly and finished well behind the placed division. High Falptin’ (and Silvermine ( £2t>4£) carried the bulk of the investments, while there was a big drop to the third fancy, Otairi ( £lfffi). After some delay the field went off to a walking start aud Silvermine, Vertigern and Otairi were among the first on to the course proper. Silvermine and Vertigern were together in front passing the stands, with The Swell, High Falutin’ and Otairi together next. Tfie pace was very slow going on to thp bend, and The Swell went up on the outside to take the lead from Silvermine, Otairi, Vertigern and High Falutin’ but he was steadied almost at once and High Falutin’ then took up the running and led down the back three lengths ahead of Vertigern, with four lengths to The Swell, Silvermine, Otairi and First Acre. High Falutin’ was doing his best across the top and Silvermine was beginning to tire , badly. Vertigern ran past High Falutin’ as soon as they straightened up, with Otairi improving his position and Chopin coining on the outside. Vertigern looked to have the race won at the distance, but he was doing his best and could not withstand Otairi’s last run, the consistent Paper Money gelding getting up to win by a good neck. Chopin also finished well and was three-quarters of a length away, clear of The Swell. High Falutin’ and First Acre were next, then Silvermine and Maui and Yoma, tailed off, last. Otairi has been very consistent lately and has been out of place only once in his last seven starts. He won well after bging awkwardly placed half a mile from home. Vertigern ran a good race, but seems to have slipped to some extent. Chopin tailed the field most of the way and finished fast. He may do better to-morrow. The Swell, ran fairly, but High Falutin’ and Silvermine cracked up very badly.