PETER GAZELLE IS SMART

Wanganui Chronicle, 19 September 1946, Page 3

PETER GAZELLE IS SMART

SURPRISE IN OPEN SPRINT RACE AT WANGANUI ON SATURDAY

Winning the Owpii Handicap, the open sprint on the conchiding day <d‘ the Wanganui Jockey Club’s spring meeting, Peter Gazelle returned the best dividend of the meeting in a surprise victory which was not altogether unexpected by some keen observers. The surprising feature was the faet that Peter Hazelie, unsighted at Foxton a for.night earlier, this lime jumped out smartly and was never headed, running the six furlongs and 80 yards in a tick under 1.17, as against Dymondy’s .1.18 1-5 on the opciiing day. It was a decided improvement, on his previous display.

Now a live-year-old. Peter Gazelle is a chestnut gelding by Pink Coat from the Valkyrian narc Lady Carette, whose dam, Care.te, traces back to the Trail uccr marc No Name. At Wanganui he was having only his second start, since coming the to North Island, so his form was known to few racegoers up this way; hence his double-figure dividend of not far short of a score.

Starting racing as a three-year-old in the 1944-45 season, and carrying the colours of Mr. T. J. Lister, Peter Gazelle started on 15 occasions for three wins and two minor placings. His first win came in the Trial Plate at the Waikouaiti New Year meeting, and three months later he won the Waitangi Hack Handicap at the Waimate Racing Club and Hunt Club combined meeting. At the final meeting of that season, at the South Canterbury and Christchurch Hunt Clubs’ combined meeting, the Pink Coat gelding won the Levels Hack Handicap. with Dash o’ Dink and Plutocrat in the minor places behind him. Prior to this he had been trained by T. Gibbs at Oamaru, but on this occasion he was trained by his owner at St. Andrews.

Last season Mr. Lister raced his horse twice, securing a second placing, before disposing of him to the Riccarton trainer G. Gorvin. In his new colours Peter Gazelle scored two wins in quick succession, these being the Berwick Hack Handicap (seven furlongs) and the Abbotsford Hack Handicap (seven furlongs) at the Wingatui summer meeting: Those two wins added £4BO to his stake ' earnings and made the total for five i races £785. The horse had only one more start last season, after which 1 he again changed hands, being pur- j chased by Mr- A. Scott, for whom he I is trained by W. McEwan at Otaki. j At the Foxton meeting Peter Gaz- I elle started in the Robinson Handicap, which was run over a little mor? than six furlongs. He carried 8.1 (including 11b overweight), with W. Connor in the saddle and was 8/8 in the betting in a field of ten. After going three furlongs he was lying sixth, covering extra ground, but at the finish there was only one Jiorso behind him. Declining his first-day engagement in the Flying Handicap at Wanganui, Peter Gazelle was stepned out in the Owen Handicap with A. C. Messervy in the saddle and carrying 21b overweight to make his impost 7.2. He was 7/8 in the betting, and. though drawn well out at the barrier, he was smart enough to jump into the lead as soon as the tapes went up. After that it was a case of follow the leader, for the further thev went the better the margin he held. He was well clear of Stony Broke, Blue Chips, Whackie and Lord Theio crossing the top. but Alright, who had got away badly, finished strongly to get second place, but about four lengths behind the winner. The merit in Peter Gazelles- win lies in the fact that he ran the distance in nearly two seconds faster time than the first-day sprint winner. On that form he may prove equal to winning in the best sprint company-

ALRIGHT’S GOOD EFFORT In finishing second to Peter Gazelle the Wanganui-owned and trained Alright again showed that he can run his best races when fresh. He has been off the scene since the Wanganui June meeting, and prior to running on Saturday he had had only one or two gallops over half a mile. Under the circumstances his was a creditable display, for he lost any-

thing up to half a dozen lengths at barrier-rise, and was then still badly placed three furlongs from home. He had to cover exlra ground crossing the top, but hr came home by thr shorter! route, and although he had no chance of boating the winner, especially when conceding him nearly a stone, he beat the remainder just as easily as he himself was beaten. Alright is engaged at Marton on Saturday and he would need very little improvement to add to his record. STONY BROKE COMING BACK Twelve months ago Stony Broke won a hack distance double at the Wanganui spring meeting- On Saturday he made his first appearance of the current season, finishing third in the Owen Handicap. That may be accepted as an indication of further good races by the Inflation gelding, who is now trained by R. J. Nicol at Awapuni. He looks more solid than hitherto and appears susceptible to improvemen I. Blue Chips is a smart marc and rather consistent, and it was not sur-

prising (o find her playing a prominent part, in the open sprint last Saturday. She was lying third when the field swung past the three furlongs, and although Stony Broke beat her rather easily for third place, she may do better than that next time out. I Lord Theio was installed favourite | for the Owen Handicap, but the only I time he flattered his backers was when he jumped out well, just behind Peter Gazelle and Stony Broke. After that the Theio gelding drifted, to be fifth at the turn, a nosition he still occupied when the judge was reached. Probably a more roomy course would suit Lord Theio best, and he might be found occupying a more prominent position at the Wellington meeting at Awapuni. Saludos prefers middle distances, but he had his first start of the season in the ooen sprint last Saturday. He was 10/10 in the betting, but his display was better than that of the recognised sprinters. He was finishing on strongly in sixth place when the winner reached the post. He will be more at home on his home track at Awapuni.