VERDANT STRIKES FORM

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 90, Issue 117, 22 May 1946, Page 6

VERDANT STRIKES FORM

LED ALL THE WAY AT TE RAPA (Special) Auckland, May 21. Verdant was not seen at his best at the Auckland Easter meeting, but he returned to form at Te Rapa on Saturday, when he won the Stewards’ Handicap in good style. He jumped out smartly and led all the way, never appearing in danger of defeat over the final stages. Verdant should do well at the Auckland meeting, one of his engagements being in the Cornwall Handicap. The Feilding gelding Battle Dance ran a very fine race in the Stewards' Handicap at Te Rapa, for he succeeded in beating all but Verdant, and the latter is a difficult horse to head off on his day. Tai rd early. Battle Dance went back a couple of places and then he finished very strongly to occupy second place at the judge. He, too, is entered for the Cornwall Handicap. Now training at Te Rapa, Tideover had little difficulty in winning the minor cross-country race on the opening day of the Waikato meeting, his amateur pilot getting a good ride throughout. The Tidal gelding was improved by his two races at Rotorua at Easter. Runner-up to Tideover on Saturday was thd Awapuni-trained Lady Premier, and another Awapuni jumper in Speed King went a fair race for fifth. Lady Premier might have had difficulty in ho I '“ng off Tangatanai had the latter commenced his run sooner. It has taken the three-year-old filly Kanga a long time to win a race after showing promise in the first two or three outings of her career over eighteen months ago. This fillv won her division of the C’tv Handicap at Te Rapa on Saturday, finishing too strongly for two outsiders. A disappointment was Cur Bridge, who took up the pacemaking at the end of a ; furlong and then weakened into fourth place. This filly is proving expensive. EXASPERATING FOR VISITORS Visiting horses had an exasperating time of it on the opening day of the Wa’kato fixture while they gained several places L. did not win a race. Seconds were seen . u by Lady Premier, Winning Ticket ana Battle Dance, and ; Blue Title finished third. If started again next Saturday all those named may be able to leveal improvement, for they are in fine condition. The second division of the City Handicap at Te Rapa was won by Chetsvorde, who scored his third success of the season In view of his record he uaid a surprisingly good price, for the opposition was by no means strong. He had little difficulty in beating lhe Paeroa maiden winner, Crystal Ring, all hough the latter hung -on gamely enough. Chetsvorde shoulddevelop into a useful performer next season. Those who backed Master Dink when he won at Paeroa a week earlier and collected a huge dividend probably followed up the form at Te Rapa. ( But they must have been surprised to collect another fine dividend, over a score, when the Dink gelding ac'counted for Tilting (also at surprising ! odds'* and Foxstar. Master Dink shapes like a stayer, for he ran out the I mile very solidly in the mud and that tafter having to make up a lot of leeway in the final quarter. The favourite in this event, Cracroft, and Mollie .Ben, failed t j perform up to expecta-|li.-ns the former finishing fifth and ?4ollje Eon ninth.