SENSATIONAL FINISH

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 89, Issue 300, 20 December 1945, Page 7

SENSATIONAL FINISH

>/EN ALL IN LINE AT OTAKI LAST SATURDAY

When sensational finishes are being discussed in future, that staged in the ie Horo Hack Handicap, the concluding event at Otaki last Saturday, is certain to be quoted as one of the best. “Blanket” finishes are no infrequent, with three or four horses passing the winning post locked together, but Saturday’s was a different kind of finish, •tor over the final hundred yards the field spread across the track and came down like the proverbial cavalry charge. As they flashed past the judge six or seven of the runners were almost in line, and few experienced onlookers would have been prepared to place them correctly. It was a situation which, on some courses, might have led to a display of hesitation on the part of the responsible official, but the Otaki judge, Mr. A. V. O’Brien, was prompt to declare Tid-Apa the winner, with Incline, Iron Duke and Delinquent next in order. It was a decision with which the “regulars” agreed, but even they were not in a position to appreciate that the margins separating the quartet named by the judge were the barest possible, noses. W hen it is realised that Miss Delaware and Gynerio were practically in line with the fourth horse and Tifox was not much more than a neck further back, it may be appreciated that the finish was as sensational as any hardened racegoer could expect. Tid-Apa, who had finished fifth in the hignweight event earlier in the day, was neglected in the betting, Delinquent being the “win' 7 * favourite, with Miss Delaware, Tifox and Iron Duke next in request, but Tifox was preferred to Delinquent and Miss Delaware in the place pool. Tifox. Iron Duke and Miss Delaware were the early leaders, almost in line, with Foxella and Delinquent in behind them and Tid-Apa well back. On the home turn Iron Duke and Miss Delaware had outpaced Tifox, Incline had moved up, and Delinquent was pocketed behind them. The favourite had to change his ground at the straight entrance and nearly came down. In the final furlong first one and then another of the contestants joined in the struggle, and the stirring finish described developed rapidly. No photograph of the finish was taken, but it will remain as an outstanding memory for those fortunate enough to witness it.

Typhoon has joined up with C. J. Stowe’s team at Woodville and is likely to make his reappearance m the Amalgamation Handicap at Waipukurau on Boxing Day. He may have another race at the Manawatu meeting, and it is interesting to note that he figures among the nominations for the Marton fixture. Since his return from Australia and a short spell on his owner’s farm, Typhoon has taken on some condition, and his preparation for the Wellington Cup will be followed with interest. A. Midwood has accepted the engagement to ride Typhoon at Trentham.

Baffling is proving a very acceptable gift to the Riccarton owner-trainer R. E. Humphries, to whom the Baffles gelding was presented nearly a year ago by Mr. G. A. Lang, of Wellington. He has now won two races this season, his latest success being in the Horolata Hack Handicap at Motukarara on Saturday, when he had the race in hand a furlong* from home.

Te Awamutu trainer A. Cook narrowly missed the honour of turning out the winners of all three divisions in the Waipa Plate, the first event on the Waipa Racing Club’s programme last Saturday. He trains Happy Fox and Democracy, winners of the first and third divisions respectively, and another of his representatives, Princess Fox, was third in the second division.

The successful Auckland apprentice C. Jillings rode three winners at the recent Waikato meeting at Te Rapa but was unable to secure a winning ride at Te Awamutu last Saturday. He is to ride Miss Medley in the Auckland Cup, and D. J. Thistoll, who piloted Miss Medley in the Canterbury Cup, will ride Palfrey in the big Ellerslie event. • • • •

H. N. Wiggins, who rode Lord Chancellor to victory in the Auckland Cup two years ago and completed the Railway Handicap “double” on Sweet Biscuit, is likely to have the mount on Expanse in the Cup on Boxing Day.

With an ounce of luck Derene would have won the H. A. Knight Memorial at Motukarara on Saturday instead of going down by half a head to the stubborn challenge of Royal Rae. It was sheer ill fortune that lost Derene the race, an unusual weakness developing in the saddle which resulted in the stirrup leather coming adrift. D. Stove cleverly regained his balance and kicked his other fqot clear, but he was unable to get the best from his mount under the added handicap. Providing her Riccarton trainer and part-owner E. J. Jennings can keep her sound, Derene should come into her own at Wingatui during the holidays. Her performance was a particularly good one as it was her first race since early in the season. Further, she had made all the running with Nurnie.

The position of clerk-of-scales to the Wellington Racing Club, which became vacant through the retirement of Mr. U. Shannon after some 28 years of service, has been filled by the appointment of Mr. R. S. Clothier, of Wellington. While resident in Canterbury Mr. Clothier acted in this capacity to several clubs on the country circuit and was assistant clerk-of-scales to the Canterbury Jockey Club.

One of the most notable performers that ever linked a name with the Dunedin Cup is Lady Emma, who won in 1882 and 1884. The records show, writes “Sentinel” in the “Otago Daily Times,” that she started in the Dunedin Cup of 1881 as a three-year-old, in the nomination of Sir Hercules Robinson, in whose colours she won the following year. She failed in the race of 1883, when the nomination and colours had been transferred to Sir George McLean. Altogether she started six times in the Dtmedin Cup when it was run over two miles and a distance. Ladv Emma won the Great Autumn Handicap as a three-year-ola with 5.13 She started twice in the C.J.C. Handicap, and twice when if became the New Zealand Cup. Her con- ■ • ibutions to the Stud Book included Lord Rossiyn. who won the Dunedin Cup and the D.J.C. Handicap in 1897. AUCKLAND SCRATCHINGS (PA.» Auckland, Dec. 18. Swift Quarry was withdrawn from the Auckland Cup at 1.35 n.m. to-day. Exeter, who is engaged in the Railway Handicao. was scratched for the Christmas Handicap at 9.45 a.m. Imaman was omitted from the Queen’s •ie in the telegraphed list of acceptors. ' *