COMMENTS ON RACING

Taranaki Daily News, 8 February 1935, Page 9

COMMENTS ON RACING

FERSEN’S EXCELLENT WIN BURNISH RETURNS TO FORM. THE DEFEAT OF ILLUMINATE. The defection of Sandy Dix and Beau Star left five to face the starter in the Waitara Hurdles, with the top-weight Illuminate a hot favourite. He made a gallant attempt to carry his burden all the way, but over the last furlong he could not hold off March Alone. The winner was given up as a hopeless case 12 months ago, but his owner decided to give him another chance. Since being put into work again he has done everything right. Mcßae In the race adopted clever tactics. He took March Alone up to Illuminate with about seven furlongs to go and made the top-weight carry his load all the way. This policy was most successful, and March Alone fairly strolled home by four lengths. Blacksmith never looked likely. There was an unfortunate spill early in the race. Gowanlea galloped on to Blacksmith’s heels and fell and Ythan just behind could not avoid him and came down also. Hororata all the Way.

The South Island sportsman Sir Charles Clifford’s colours were carried to victory when Hororata scored an end to ’end win in the Ngamotu Juvenile. She jumped out smartly and soon had the rails in front. Matrimony and Note Issue were with her at the home turn, but carrying her weight like a good one, she more than held her Own in the run to the judge to win by a length. It was a smart performance. Note Issue failed to hop out from the rails position and was not well placed when the field had settled down. She moved up fast on the outside after passing the three furlongs and was almost on terms with Hororata at the straight entrance, but the effort had been too much and she was unable to finish as well as the winner. Link Divine was unlucky. He began well and was soon in third place, but was knocked back when Matrimony went up. She was well pocketed at the home turn and did not receive a run until too late. She finished solidly in third place. Windscreen was a long way back early, but displayed a fine turn of speed to run up into a fair position at the tum. She finished a good fourth. Grateful and Matrimony displayed plenty of pace hut faded out over the last furlong. Chief Lady refused to face the barrier and took no part in the race.

Burnish Finishes Strongly. Burnish scored her first win 1 as a three-year-old when she wore Diatomous down to score in the Flying Handicap. She had to register a good performance to win, as she was rather slow to begin. She was fourth when the field had run a furlong, but moved up smartly after rounding the High School bend and was handy turning into the straight. Over the last furlong she finished gamely to score narrowly. Diatomous had every chance. He was soon in front on the rails and was going easily at the turn for home. Bodyline improved on his Wanganui form. He was always in the picture and was only half a head behind Diatomous. Lady Kyra jumped out much better than is usual with her. She was well enough placed at the home turn but could do no better than fourth. Limulus was left several lengths at the start and under the circumstances ran a creditable fifth. Moutoa and Copyist were well beaten. Panloff Scores Well.

Wanganui form pointed strongly to Panloff in the Moturoa Electric, and he scored handsomely after having none of the' luck of the running. He jumped out well, but Joy Box and Lady Eka ran past him and he was about fifth after going a furlong.. He had to cover extra ground at the home turn, but finished far too strongly for his opponents. He is certainly a useful recruit from the hunting field. Inveresk is evidently only a moderate. He received a flying start and never left the fence all the way. His task was made easier by three of his opponents running wide at the bend, but even then was only a fair second. Lady Eka, who was having her first start, made a really good showing. She was always in the picture, weakening only over the last half furlong. Joy Box behaved better at the post and showed her usual pace. She was with Inveresk and Lady Eka at the turn and finished strongly. Ringside did not get away well but was finishing fast in fourth place. The favourite Vinco never looked likely. Red Sand and Bay Sand lost their chances at the start. Fersen a Good Horse.

Red Manfred, Hazoor, Cherry King and Fersen were all solidly supported in the Taranaki Cup, and they had their numbers hoisted by the judge. The winner, Fersen, was last to leave the barrier and was tailing the field passing the stands the first time. He began to move up running into the back, and at the High School bend Wiggins sent him along in pursuit of Red Manfred, who was running along strongly in front. The pair were on terms as they entered the straight, but Fersen soon had Red Manfred beaten. He had to stall off a solid challenge from Hazoor, but ran on well to score by half a length. It was a fine performance for the three-year-old, who has improved wonderfully during the

last two months. It was a truly run race, the time being only one-fifth of a second outside Goldsize’s record, and this suited a real stayer like Fersen. Hazoor ran his best race for some time. Roy Reed always had him well placed. He was third into the straight, and though he issued a strong challenge over the last furlong he was unable to reach Fersen. Cherry King secured a good position on the rails in the early stages, but became pocketed shortly after passing the half-mile and could not get clear until well into the straight. He finished strongly to be only a neck behind Hazoor at the end. Red Manfred as usual attempted to win from e’hd to end and he was going so well three furlongs from home that it appeared as though he might succeed, but he was done with as soon as Fersen got to him. Aga Khan failed to reproduce his Wanganui form. He was well back and put no dash into his finish. Tahurangi was out of his class, while Pomp was a long way back last.

Ingenuity at a Long Price. There was a big surprise in store for backers in the Okato Hack when the little fancied Ingenuity led all the way to pay a good double-figure dividend. She was soon in front, and though Dor-, ado and St. Clara challenged at the top of the straight she finished in the gamest possible manner to score by half a head from Dorado. It was her second win, the first having been scored at Hawera a year ago, when she also paid a big price. Dorado was always well placed and looked likely to win when he challenged over the last furlong, but the winner just held him off. St. Clara was Ingenuity’s nearest attendant most of the way but was squeezed out just after entering the straight, when Ingenuity came out from the rails. Red Rufus and Taitoru were together in the rear throughout and could make little impression in the run home. Rust’s Great Finish.

It was a splendid finishing run from fifth position at the turn that carried Rust to victory in the Mimi Highweight. She was second to last after the field settled down, and as they turned into the straight her chances did not appear bright. However, she put in a great effort and just got up. This was Mr. G. M. Currie’s second win of the day. Full Throttle, who was making her first appearance in open company, was ridden a splendid race by Voitre. He kept her on the rails all the way, and she looked sure to win a furlong from home. Merry Way was never further back than second. She went to the front three furlongs from home and led into the straight, but then weakened into third place. Considering that he was having his first outing for eight months, Ruri made a great showing. He was in third place for the greater part of the journey to finish a good fourth. He should not be long in improving on this. Chief Marionette did not receive the hest of passages but was finishing well in fifth place. Hunt the Slipper was well placed for half a mile, but then began to drift. Flamingo was never dangerous. Last to Brown Betty.

Brown Betty won the Timaru Hack Handicap in good style. Reed hopped her out smartly and she was soon running along with Debut and Gold Gleam in front. The trio led into the straight, where Brown Betty shook the other two off and, holding off Pladie’s challenge, won by half a length. It was a smooth performance. Pladie ran well under his big burden, finishing solidly. He was only a head in front of Aussie Ra and Onewhetu, both of whom put in some good work in the straight. Aussie Ra will do better over a distance. Windscreen ran a good race and Cereal put in a slashing finish after being left at the post. Gold Gleam and Debut showed plenty of pace, but were in trouble over the last furlong. Glenvane ran a shocking race, never looking likely.