RACING REVIEWED

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21085, 11 July 1938, Page 11

RACING REVIEWED

A. Great Finish Balmenter put up a splendid performance to win the Westport Handicap, the principal race at the Westport Jockey Club’s meeting held at Riccar- . ton on Saturday. It was his most important success to date, and only bulldog courage got him home a head in | front of Swordstick after they had had | a torrid struggle over the last furlong. Owned and trained by Mr T. Hobbs, of Oamaru. Balmenter was having his first run in open company. While Silver Sight was making' the running from Swordstick, Studley Royal, Mungatoon and Last Refrain, Balmentei was well back with Silver Ring, and was giving the leaders a good start at the straight entrance. Silver Sight was the first to weaken at the straight entrance and Swordstick came on, but could not hold off Balmenter which finished with rare dash. Last Refrain was a comfortable third with Mungatoon next, but they had no chance on the day. Studley Royal was another disappointment, crying enough when the field straightened up for the run home. Silver Ring never looked like improving, finishing sixth behind Studley Royal, while the hurdle horse, Jolly Beggar, was always tailed off. An Easy Win Supreme Court, at one time considered good enough to take to Australia, was never troubled in the Highweight winning witli ridiculous ease. His only other win this season was scored at Amberley in a similar way when he bowled along freely in front. Gold Boy was fifth to the straight and just got home from Gillie by a head after they had had a stirring fight over the last hundred yards. Gillie unaccountably lost a good position early. Mount Vai, third to the straight, failed to run on and finished a poor fourth. Metal Bird and Proscenium, which were well placed at the home turn, also failed to come on. Back Lead showed a bit of speed, but Game Hunter was never in the firing line, tailing off from the start. Supreme Court is unreliable, but on his day useful in this type of race. All The Way Density, a promising Pink Coat filly trained by D. Cotton for her breeder, Mr Donald Grant of Timaru, won her first race when she led all the way in the Maiden Stakes. Her success was anticipated on the strength of a second placing to Disdain at Easter, and she never gave her supporters any cause for worry. Rex Maitland, which also looks like developing into a good three-year-old, was always well placed behind the leader and he hung on well for second well clear of Colonel Rouge. His last start was in the Maiden Stakes at Ashburton where he raced well. Colonel Rouge surprised by her forward showing, but she was lucky to beat Comus for third as the latter was well back turning for home and then only failed to catch her by a short head. Synthetic had every chance, as did Phenomenal but they failed to run on. Merry March found the distance too chert and will be better suited over a mile. Crack o’ Dawn jumped sideways at barrier rise and took no part in the race. In Divisions

The Buller Trot Handicap was run in divisions and in each case the horses in the finishes were up in or near the lead all the way. Quest, bracketed with Rerekohua, was a solid favourite and. after trailing Resistance and Tinker to the straight, came on to win comfortably from Resistance with Drumcree a poor third. Rosalind Maid, a two-year-old filly by Great Bingen, and owned by J. R. McKenzie, went solidly all the way for fourth. Quest has been racing consistently and deserved a winning turn. Gaynor led early but broke up. She then trotted well to finish sixth. Loyalette was first out and first home in the second division to pay a dividend of over half a century. Turning for home C. K. Yeatman let Loyalette’s head go and she bounded away to open up a break on the field. Marfax was always handily placed on the rails and stayed on for second three lengths away. Balaclava, third, just held off Coleridge. Straight broke at the start. Scooped the Pool F. A. Roberts, the Riccarton trainer, scooped the pool hi the mile Scanlon Hack, his two representatives, Moonraker and Glenacre, finishing first and second in that order. Moonraker, an Australian-bred three-year-old filly owned by Mr H. D. Greenwood who has had a great season with Defaulter, trailed Sparkle and Robant to the half mile post where she took the lead, eventually to win easily by three lengths. Glenacre was slow to begin, but was looming up on the outside turning for home. He was again just not good enough, but is collecting place money fairly regularly. Robant, which always likes soft ground, was well placed throughout and was a fair third. Great Memory was unlucky, as she was slow out and after being last at the home turn, came on iii the straight for fourth. Patuma missed the start, but after going up to the field fast, did not last long.

Big Field Another big field contested the Granity Ti- 1 :. Oasis had the lead when the straight was reached, but Purveyor was not troubled to range alongside and then go on to win by over a length. Jovial, after being well placed all the way, finished third. Trinidad and Chieftainess made the pace for a mile. Llewellyn's Pet, from the back mark, again went a solid race for fourth. Wee Potts had every chance, but faded. Dolores Silk and Karoro failed to leave the mark. Nicely Garonne scored his second win in succession when he won the Flying

Hack Handicap nicely from Papernilla. L. J. Ellis was content to wait on the | leaders, The Sandwichman, Derive, | Royal Refrain and Papernilla, until the straight, where he urged Garonne through at the false rail. Though Papernilla challenged again, Garonne won by half a length. The Sandwichman was a fair third. Orange Bud ran a useful race into fourth place and should do well later. Derive stopped badly in the straight. Garonne will win decent sprint races next season. Reversal of Form Mount Vai, a well-fancied failure in the Highweight earlier in the day, showed a reversal of form to win the I Morley Handicap in much stronger company. He appeared on the scene late to wear Wine Card and Land Raid down and win by a length. Rebel Star and Metal Bird, which made most of the running, were done when fairly into the straight, and then Royal Gallant showed out only to be passed bv Wine Card and Land Raid. Mount Vai then put in his claim and won well. Grey Honour got a run on the rails at the false rail, but failed to carry on. while Palmyra also faded, but she had an excuse in that she was slow away and was then taken up fast to near the lead.