ON THE TURF

Wanganui Chronicle, 25 May 1948, Page 3

ON THE TURF

"KESTREL."

BY

SPARKLING LADY HAS WON TWiCfe ON FOXTON COURSE

When Sparkling Lady led the field home in the Foxtou Cup on Saturday the Rhodes Scholar mare scored her second success of the current season. By a coincidence it was at Foxtou that Sparkling Lady had registered her previous win, that being in the Carnarvon Handicap last August, so evidently she can be expected to show her best form on a track similar to that at Foxton. •

Sparkling Lady war. ridden by A. Johnson, who had been successful on her nine months ago and handled her to perfection. In contrast, however, she was at a good price, returning a win dividend just under double figures, whereas in the Carnarvon Handicap she was 2/7 in the betting. Her form on Saturday was in contrast to her display in the Ta Timi Kara Handicap at Otaki the previous Saturday When she ran at Otaki Sparkling Lady was weighted at 7.0 but carried 111 b overweight to secure the services of W. J. Broughton. She ranked 8/8 in the betting and after being never further back than third till the halfmile was reached she eventually drifted and finished about tenth. In the Foxton Cup the Handicaps were framed on a higher scale, Beguile, who had been on the same mark as Sparkling Lady at Otaki, being set to carry 7.7, as against the Rhodes Scholar mare’s 7.10, and the eventual winne:- was thus meeting her on 61b better terms. On Saturday Sparkling Lady carried 21b overweight. Jumping out smartly, Sparkling Lady was always one of the pacemakers and it was only on sufferance that her rider allowed Lord Theio to take the lead across the top. Once they swung into the straight Sparkling Lady again assumed command, and she had a couple of lengths to spare when the post was reached. Though she ranked 6/6 in the betting, Sparkling Lady was well suppci ted in a good pool, carrying £205 10s (win) and £209 10s (place), as against £445 10s and £353 10s on Loyal Bian (1/2 in the betting) and £378 and £367 on Sheilwyn, who was the place favourite. Twelve months ago last November Sparkling Lady won the Parewanui Hack Cup at Bulls, and in her next start was beaten a .: a u m -

Wanaka in the Champion Hack at Levin. That was her only glimpse or form till she ran fourth in the Riddiford Handicap at Marton last July, after which she enjoyed a spell until she won the Carnarvon Handicap at her first start of the current season. Coming on to Wanganui, she finished second to Robin's Reward in the Marangai Handicap, and the following Saturday she was third to Rosswood and Ramicourt in the Wairarapa County Gold Cup at Carterton. After being unplaced in the Wairarapa Cup in the summer she was set aside till she resumed in the Hawke’s Bay Cupin April, being unplaced in her two starts at Hastings. These races, together with that at Otaki, resulted in her being in great trim for her tilt at the Foxton Cup. Sparkling Lady is a five-year-old brown mare by Rhodes Scholar from Sparkling Song, by Hunting Song from Scintillate, by Kilboy from Sequinette, by St. Ambrose. 3he is owned by Mr. J. Cuming, of Rewa, who trains the mare himself with marked success.

Sheilwyn was confidently backed to repeat her Foxton Cup success of 12 months ago, but she failed to match it with the winner over the final stages. She was always well placed at the head of the bunch behind the pacemakers, and was actually third into the straight, but could make no impression when Sparkling Lady shot away again in the final furlong. Loyal Bian justified the iconfident backing accorded him, but he found the Foxton course unsuited to him. It was not till the field had covered six furlongs that he improved his position to be sixth. Once they straightened up for the run home he finished solidly enough to be within a neck of Sheilwyn and just ahead of the little-fancied Master Raymond. On this form he may be expected to play a prominent part in his early engagements.

Master Raymond, one of the last to leave the straight, came home well to earn £2O for fourth. Lord Theio showed that he will have to be reckoned with in minor handicaps when he ran up to the van on the home turn, and Merry Robin ran another of the races which encourages his supporters to continue to back him.