IN PHAR LAP’S FOOTSTEPS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 76, Issue 178, 31 July 1933, Page 8

IN PHAR LAP’S FOOTSTEPS

WINOOKA AT TANFORAN AUSTRALIAN’S SUCCESS EASY WIN FOR CHAMPION (By Telegraph— Pres* Aaooelation —Copyright) Received J uly 30, 7.5 p.m. SAN FRANCISCO, July 29. With the memory of the great Phar Lap still fresh in the minds of American track followers, another crack Australian thoroughbred made his debut to day when Winooka went to the post at Tauforan in a 10,000-dollar match race, which he won decisively. The Australian invader was pitted against Hueu, of Charles Hartwell’s stable, in a five-furlong sprint at weight-for age, with Winooka under the impost of 8.8 and Hueu under 7.7. Frisky Matron, the three-year-old filly originally selected to race Winooka, has a bad knee. Hueu is Hawaiian-bred, by the leading sire in the Islands. Winooka went to the post a warm odds-on favourite. He was ridden by Edgar Britt, who accompanied the stable here. Two hours before the starting time Winooka ruled a warm favourite, ft was announced that Winooka had drawn the rail position and Hueu number two. The owners and stable per sonnel of the Australian mount were confident of their chances of success. Owen Webster, called “the quick-gate boy” and a powerful finisher, was announced as the rider of Hueu. The match race was the sixth on the day’s programme. The crowd was disappointingly small, due to the change in Winooka’s opponent. There were fewer than ten thousand persons when the third race went to the post, but the crowd made up in enthusiasm what it lacked in numbers, cheering Winooka and his stable-mate Trevallion when the two walked to the saddling paddock considerably ahead of time for their race. The weather was hot, San Francisco suffering from a prolonged heat wave, and the track was lightning fast. There was a slight wind blowing down the course, the horses having to meet it racing to the first turn up the back stretch. They would have the wind at their backs down the home stretch. Hueu, now a three-year-old gelding, ran thirteen races last year, winning five. Hueu, in his first race in 1933, ran fourth in a field of six and in his second race was second in a field of five. The third race saw him last in a field of six. On racing form he failed to impress racing enthusiasts. How Race Was Won A 3 Winooka and Hueu came to the post they became somewhat fractious, but broke quickly. Taking the lead a few strides after the start, after two furlongs Winooka was well in hanU with a short lead. He was running easily. Webster, on Hueu, was driving hard to catch the Australian horse. Winooka on the bend was headed by Hueu. Britt called on Winooka for extra speed, the Australian horse re sponding courageously, and in a charge through in the stretch passed and beat off Hueu inside a furlong from home, Winooka winning easily with speed in reserve by a length and a-half in 60 2-ssecs., which is 2-ssec. slower than the ten-year-old track record. The fractional times were 12 4-ssecs for the first furlong, 23 2-ssecs. for the quar ter, 33 l-ssecs. for three furlongs anti J 48isecs. for the half-mile. "Winooka came back to the scales ao proudly as though cognisant of the enthusiastic ovation. M. Polson, the trainer, smiled happily, apparently greatly pleased that the first hurdle lithe important invasion of the American turf had been cleared. Although Winooka has been.scheduled to run at the Seattle track on August 23, with the possibility that Pillow Fight and Tea Trader will also run there, racing circles here believe the Australian, horse will probably be shipped to the Hawthorne track at Chicago for the August meeting. Though gratified by the result, Messrs. Matthews and MacDonald, the owners, however, had little to offer in the way of comment. Mr. Matthews said: “He raced well, but under our expectations. It was his first race and that may have had something to do with it,” Mick Polson said: “Winooka will improve and when he does I expect him to show America better form, something approaching his winning effort in the Doncaster Handicap at Randwick.” The racing editor of the San Francisco News says: “Winooka wag in Britt’s lap from barrier to wire. Hueu did nothing more than provide the Australian with a work-out. Britt was looking back from the sixteenth pole. He did his best to make it look like a horse race. Winooka could have won by five lengths. However, final judg ment must be held in abeyance until he meets older horses possessing real class. ’ ’ “FIT TO BE ACCLAIMED” NEW YORK CRITIC'S COMMENT Received July 30, 7.5 p.m. NEW YORK, July 29. The New York Times’ racing editor says: —“It is to be hoped Winooka can go from a good beginning and beat better-class horses later in the Middle West and East. He has demonstrated by 'his victory that be is fit to be acclaimed and can run over American tracks. With that, much known, there is no telling how far towards the top he may go. ’ ’