ON THE TURF

Wanganui Chronicle, 8 December 1948, Page 3

ON THE TURF

BY

"KESTREL."

AUDACIOUS AND BEAU-OR WERE WELL SUPPORTED AT WOODVILLE

Audacious and Beau-Or were winners of the respective divisions of the Gothard Handicap at Woodville on Saturday, and in spite of the fact that neither had sported silk in the Bolton Handicap on the opening day, barkers were right on the mark. Audacious was third favourite on the win machine and first favourite for a place, whereas Beau-Or, win favourite, was third in order for a place, Embrolita being second favourite each way. nf* Ilin unnnni't

reaiure ui me support accorded the pair was the fact that Audacious had had only one start since the beginning of the season, that being last month, but BeauOr had scored three wins and a second in his most recent starts.

Division races are not too popular with owners and trainers, while investors are sometimes chary of supporting events which have to be divided, as were six of the eight carded at WoodviLe on Saturday. However, the fact that the club was to show an increase on the totali sator turnover was a satisfactory feature. Stake-money for the Gothard Handicap was £6OO, increased to £7OO for the two divisions, the winner’s share in each division being £275, or £l5 more than went to the winner of the open sprint, which was not divided.

Audacious, an aged mare by Baffles from Land Tax, is trained by J. J. Waller at Awapuni for her breeder and owner, Mr. J. O'Donnell. At her only previous start she had finished third over nine furlongs at Feilding, and the expected improvement duly materialised. She raced in about tenth position entering the back stretch but had improved a little over the next half-mile to be handy entering the straight, where there were ,sthl half a dozen ahead of her. Settling down for a serious-challenge to the leaders, she swept up in the last 100 yards to win going away. That AuGacious will be benefited from the race may be uexpected, and it would occasion no surprise to find her winning further during the holiday period aheadMerry Kobin had not been prominent since he won earner in the season at Levin, but he was in the right IT;cod on Saturday and when he took the lead inside the distance an overdue victory appeared assured. However, he had nothindg in reserve when Audacious challenged. Merry Robin is not too reliable out on his day ne is capable of holding his own with the best provincial company.

Though Lord Holland has not reached the heights expected earlier in his career, the Charles Fox gelding ran an improved race and secured third money. He was only a head behind Merry Robin, and the effort suggested that he might get in the money when fields thin down a bit over the holiday racing carnival. Though he had to be content with fourth place, Vadoz ran a sound race. He was responsible for the pace and was not deposed from the lead until the straight was reached. Only a three-year-old, this Vaal’s colt looks like winning a provincial handicap or two, especially while he is at his present position in the handicaps.

The well-backed Embrolita was rather disappointing. He was always well back, though he had made up some of his leeway before the straight was reached. Over the final stages he again dropped out of the picture and was one of the last to finish. Lord Phrosa, a promoted hack, showed signs of eany improvement, and Flying Dink’s sixth was suggestive of better things ahead. The Sir Beau horse Bear-Or registered his first win in open company when he won the second division with a brilliant finishing run, coming from near the rear at the half-mile to cut down the leaders in the last halffurlong. Beau-Or ran out of hack ranks at Levin just over a month ago with a sequence of three wins and a second in four starts. Saturday’s success made his record four wins, and on the way he has been placed by his owner-trainer he should be in for further wins in the near future-

Emerge can generally be relied on for a stout effort, and that for which he was responsible on Saturday, was one of his best in recent starts. After leading early he dropped in behind the pacemakers and was third or fourth on *he home turn. He reached the front at the distance and beat the others just as easily as Beau-Or defeated him. The Manawatu meeting might find Emerge going on to better things.

The Tiderace mare Torrent ran another honest race for third after being in the firing-iine throughout. It was not till the last half-furlong that it was evident she would not be a dividend-payer, and probably had her run been reserved til! the final stages she might have been closer up. Another promoted hack in Lochrea finished a respectable fourth, with Mister Beau, Hormuz and The Denbigh almost in line.