BEAU LE HAVRE SHOWED HIS MARKED SUPERIORITY

Wanganui Chronicle, 30 September 1947, Page 3

BEAU LE HAVRE SHOWED HIS MARKED SUPERIORITY

Won Ling Memorial Stakes at Otaki in Convincing Style

Beau le Havre is apparently back to his best form, judging by the effortless manner in which he. strode away from the opposition in the Ling Memorial Stakes at Otaki on Saturday. The Beau Repaire horse carried 9.8 to victory over a field which was probably a good deal short of metropolitan strength, though it contained a number of useful provincial handicap performers. Whether he will be confined to weight-for-age racing for the remainder of Iris career depends on how the handicappers treat him, but at any rate he cannot get more thaP the 9.7 sot down as the maximum for the New Zealand Cup next November.

The Stratford-trained but Auck-land-owned horse was having the first race of his four-year-old career, but he came back from his late, autumn spell to contest the Whyte Handicap mile at the Trentham winter meeting. In that event he met with interference when eleven of the large field fell, and he had to jump a couple of fallen horses to avoid trouble. Since then he has done a good deal of work, but he should still be susceptible to improvement. Installed favourite by investors who appreciated his chances against a field that was only moderate in quality, Beau le Havre carried £ll4B on the win machine and £BlO 10s on the place pool, compared with £863 and £727 10s invested on the second favourite, Rosswood That the public summed up the field aright was evident from the fact that, the first four to finish were placed in the order in which they were backed. Beau le Havre drew the rails position at the ten-furlong barrier, which is awkwardly placed at Otaki, being only about one hundred yards from the entrance to the straight. Connor, who has ridden the favourite in most of his successes, steadied Beau le Havre in behind the pacemakers as they ran down the straight, with Even Light and High Order disputing the lead. Beau le Havre was on the rails behind them, with Sparkling Lady on terms outside the favourite, and Rosswood, Imperial, Tremello, Hulabaloo and Dunbar following in close order. Connor was standing up in his effort to restrain Beau le Havre at this stage, and it was not till they were well into the back stretch that he let out a notch or two. Then Beau le Havre ran up to Even Light, who had been left in the lead when High Order commenced to drop back. It did not take long to head off Even Light, and Beau le Havre ran into a clear lead at the half-mile. From that stage on it was only a question of the winning margin. Connor did not leave the matter in doubt once he had swung into the straight, and with hands and heels urged Beau le Havre to increase the gap till he ran past the winning post, half a dozen lengths in front. Beau le Havre pulled up well, and he was accorded a warm reception on his return to the official enclosure, patrons being generous in their re-

cognition of the performance of a champion. x z There will be several weight-for-age races ahead for Beau le Havre, and if he retains his form he should add materially to an already useful record. Moreover, there is * a New Zealand Cup with a 9.7 maximum and a stake of £sloo—and a £lO,OOO Auckland Cup later in the season. Beau le Havre was clocked to run Saturday’s mile and a-quarter in 2.5 1/5, and he has only got to show that be has developed stamina with age to be given a royal chance in whatever big event, his connections have set as an objective. The Wellington-owned Rosswood >vas not disgraced in filling second place behind a champion like Beau le Havre. The Foxbridge gelding was ilways nicely placed, and even hough he could make no impression du the winner he beat the others al■nost as comfortably as he himself ivas beaten. Rosswood has had only three races this season, but he has registered a win and two seconds. At Wanganui he finished fast' to be run-ner-up to Battle Survey in the Flying Handicap, and a week later carried off the honours in the Wairarapa County Cup at the Carterton neeting. Saturday’s second placing earned £2OO for Mr. S. J. Newland, making Rosswood’s total so far this season £BOO. Rosswood is now trained sy R. A. Tudor, who took over when T. R. George retired. Tudor, incidentally, turned out the Lowry Memorial dinner at Hastings on Saturday, Royal Victor winning for another patron, Mr. J. G. Donald. Having his first race since he contested the St. George Handicap at Ellerslie last April, Imperial showed that he should not be long in opening his season’s account when he finished on for third in the Ling Memorial. He improved his position Lrom the middle of the field to be third to Beau le Havre and Rosswood dii the home turn, and he finished strongly to hold oft Tremello. The race should improve Imperial, and next time he steps out he is likely to be even more strongly supported. The Otaki track did not appear to suit Tremello, and the Ringmaster gelding should be seen to better advantage at the Masterton and TrenLham meetings, though the opposition may be tougher. Tremello had previously contested the Wairarapa Count Cup at Carterton, and on Saturday he appeared to have improved considerably as a result.