SURPRISE BY AIR PORT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 88, Issue 230, 26 September 1944, Page 6

SURPRISE BY AIR PORT

FORM AT THAMES MEETING Having his first outing for five months, Air Port sprang a surprise in the President's Handicap, the principal event at the Thames Jockey Club’s meeting at Paeroa on Saturday. He shared with Billy Peach the position of being outsider of the field, but that did not prevent him from leading all the way, never being seriously bothered, his win dividend being over a score. Babrow came home strongly for second place, ahead of the extreme outsider. Billy Peach, with Night Comedv and La Fillette handy. Then came the favourite, Sir Dingle, who was beaten on the turn. Betterman also failed to show his best. Last season Air Port won five laces, including the Poiand Cup ■ ■ the Ohinemuri meeting at Paeroa. the Ashhurst Cup at Marton, the Franklin Cun at Te Rapa, the Tauranga Cup a't Paeroa. and the Storey Memorial at Te Rapa. In addition, he was three times placed and six times out of the money in nine further starts. Powys was at fine odds when he led from start to finish in the Parawal Handicap, and although Rara Avis and Gavmeer were closing on him ai the post, his rider had the situation well in hand. Gavmeer gave a very promising showing. The surprise of the race rias the forward showing of Manuma, who was right up with the leaders not far from the post and finished fourth. Tiger Tan. handy at the turn failed in the straight. Hunting Mac held off a determined challenge to win the Hikutaia Hurdles from Wildore, who is in fine form, but the winner revealed too much pace. Sir Fox improved for third, ahead of Lucky Alex. Our Nation and Besiege. Likely improvers are Lucky Alex, Sir Fox, Quination cr. Aero King. All the way up the straight in the First Trial Plate Seafire and Lord Theio had a great tussle, the former just holding on to get the decision after having made all the pace. Bonny Baf, Pai' Acre and Alazon Br followed them home, and should d'better. Lord Theio started from wide out. A maxmuni field of 26 contested the Stewards’ Hack Handicap, in which Lord Luck returned to the winning list bv sco. ii’.g comfortably. Tavernside reveal.'! improvement to g: ■ second, and Bournemouth also went well. Finishing on were Argovie and Rampede. The Second Trial Plate was run in two divisions. Mercurial just go. home in the first from a big outside/ in General Burleigh. Leigh Hark finished very wide out. and he nug have won had he come horn the direct route. Playfellow was fourth. In the second division there came the surprise of the dav when Home Again led throughout to win very easdy at odds of over half a century. Princess Doria chased him up the straight for second, ahead of Embassy, who was not prominent early, and San Antone. The Steeplechase was full of incident, with six of the thirteen contestants completing the course without mishap. Winning Tray set up a bi lead, but nearing the final fence Rival ran up to him. although he could not head off his bracketed mate. Waiwainui struggled on for third ahead of New Battle. Hunting Chief, when a place possibility, fell at the last fence. Hessketoon was always in the ruck. Sousa scored his first win when he led throughout in the Ngatea Hack Handicap, for which he was favourite. He gave nothing else a ch mce. Royal Musk ran past the be » ' division to get second from Fi.rn Lass and Esmonde. • • • • The pay-out on the last race at the Foxton Racing Club’s meeting at Awapuni on Saturday' was so protracted through an inquiry in an incident in the race that many investors left the course without collecting. Ti c club has arranged that dividends m v; lie collected on application to Mr. H. G. Bagnall. Box 117, Palmerston North.