BACKERS PROVED RIGHT MERRY ROBIN AT WOODVILLE

Wanganui Chronicle, 3 December 1946, Page 3

BACKERS PROVED RIGHT MERRY ROBIN AT WOODVILLE

Bucked down Io favouritism in the Held of fen for the Bolton Handicap at Woodville on Saturday, Merry Robin .justified the optimism with which his prospects were viewed, for he held a prominent position over the early stages, ran to the front before reaching the half-mile, and held on for a narrow I.nt. decisive victory. It was his first success in six slarts this season, and only the second of his career, his initial win coming in a highweight event at Trent han, last -March.

There teas not much form on which to base Merry Robin’s favouritism, but he was third to Lord Darnley and Saludos in the principal event at the Masterton meeting last month, and apparently lie had done well since. At any rate, backers invested £545 and £484 on the win and place pools respectively’. However, it was an even betting race. Incline (£481), Financial (£4444), Stony Broke (£4O9J). Dileas (£3BBj) and Cinna •Bay (£255) being supported in that order on the win machine. Thus backers of Merry Robin received an excellent dividend. Merry Robin will probably be found contesting more important events in the near future, and on Saturday’s display he should be able to hold his own, especially if the company is not up to the accepted metropolitan standard. He is a four-year-old entire by Robin Goodfellow from the Black Ronald mare Gay Debutante, whose dam was the Kilboy— Conceit mare Kilceit. Merry Robin is raced by his breeder, the Otaki owner-trainer B. Burgess. When the field had settled down in the Bolton Handicap, Merry Robin was steadied in behind Skyhawk, Dileas and Stony Broke, but as soon as they ran into the back stretch he was taken up to the leader, and at the half-mile he had hit the front. From that stage it was only a question of hi s holding the position against possible challengers. Such a challenge came late in the final furlong from Dileas, who could not get clear earlier. Though Dileas finished with determination from several places back, he could not bridge the gap, and Merry Robin won by a neck without being unduly pushed to the limit. As he registered 2.5 3-5 for the ten furlongs, Merry Robin was responsible for a sound effort.

Dileas appears to be getting near his best form, for it was a stout effort which he produced to :Henge Merry Robin over the final s.ages after being not too well placed at the halfmile. The Awapuni-trained gelding was at a generous price, though his dividend, had he won, would still have been short of double figures.

Waipukurau-trained Top Shot finished on well after being wcTi placed crossing the top, and he stuck to his task over the last furlong to get third money, oniy a neck and half a neck behind the major dividend-payers. On this display he should not be long in earning a winning bracket. Wanganui-owned Stony Broke was fancied for the Bolton Handicap, being backed down to 4/2 favouritism, and he did well to finish fourth, close to the stake-winning trio. He was one of the leading division at the end of a couple of furlongs but was sent back several places in the run down the Lack. The Inflation gelding finished on better than some of his opponents. Cinna Bay ran one of her best, races of the current season, tackling Merry Robin from the five furlongs and actually heading him across the top. Having to cover extra ground on the outside of the favourite, she lost the position rounding the turn, but she fought on well to he close up fifth at. the finish. The Dink mare should not be long in striking her best form. Fort Royal ran an honest race and was never far back. He followed Merry Robin and Cinna Bay at the half-mile and was still in the fighting line half-way up the straight, so his sixth placing at the finish was full of merit. Financial carried topweight, 9.0, in the Bolton Handicap, and was not disgraced in finishing seventh after being well back for the greater part of the journey. The Inflation horse was at the top of his form during the holiday racing last midsummer, and it would not be surprising to find him showing still further improvement when next he sports silk. That he was expected to make a forward display was evident when he was install--4 in the order of favouritism. The promoted hack Incline was bet- ’ r hacked than anything else save '■•'ie’.ry Robin in the Bolton Handicap, ■'tit his usual inability to begin smart■y resulted in his being tailed off for i-'.i'f the journey. At that, stage he '..•as a good distance behind the leade s. and though he made a forward hit.o crossing the top, he was unable to maintain his run. Eventually the only two that finished behind him were Hasten and Skyhawk, but h-' ••.'louid be improved by the race.

AVONDALE BRACKETS i Bracketed horses in the Titiran'. :• Hack Handicap at the Avondale meet-] ing on Saturday are:-Nancy Hanks and Hunting Dink: S’r Emmett and Diet a tress; Bridge Watcher and Aylesbury; Cooltgardie and Kiibeau; Native Son* and Interceptor; Chalacro and Yusuf; Koura Dink and Silver Cane: Coruscant and Prakash: Coast Patrol and Silver Queen; Miss Beau and | Camp Queen; Beau Rosa and Gaeli' j League: Brome and Oile; Hardware and The Gusher; Te Ark and Pin Up: Ro'.al Wines and Ko Taku; Starting Point and Lady Oriwai; Chief Robinand Supervision; Dawn Pilot, ant: j Princess Fox; Atomic. Si'k Thread I and Greek Port; Sir Bent. Vermah i and Bosario: Some Swell. Abbey Duke I and Alameda: Toire, Joi lac and Victory Bridge; Gwen Vaals. Lucky Duke| and Revelga: Modest. Led) - . Tu Maroj and Little Duke. | RACING FIXTURES November 30, December 7: AvondaleJ.C. November 23, 30, December 7: Canterbury J.C. December 14: Hororala R.C. (at Motukarara). December 14: Waipa R C. December 14: Otaki Maori R.C. December 14: Tapanui R.C. (at Gore). December 21: Ohinemuri J.C. December 21: Kurow J.C. (al Oamaru). 'December 21. 26. 28: Manawatu R C. December 26: Waipukurau J.C. December 26,28: Dunedin J.C. December 26, 28: Taranaki J.C.