BARRAGE AND IMPERIAL WILL CLASH IN FEILDING CUP

Wanganui Chronicle, 14 April 1949, Page 2

BARRAGE AND IMPERIAL WILL CLASH IN FEILDING CUP

Because Barrage, who won the President's Handicap at Levin last Saturday, is engaged in the Fcilding (Tip next Saturday, it is interesting to note that he was the winner oli the big Feilding event twelve months ago. His return to form at Levin will probably raise the question whether he is in line for a repetition of last year’s victory.

Runner-up to Barrage on Sat-1 urday was Imperial, who will meet him again in the Feilding ' Cup The pair have clashed on 1 several occasions, and as Barrage has been rehandicapped for his Levin success the Ninth Duke gelding may turn the tables on his older ri\ al. At the Feilding meeting last Easter Barrage got home in the Feilding Cup by half a head from Dunbar, with Theiolyn only half a head away, third, and Yasda a close fourth. Barrage went on to win lhe King George Handicap at Awapuni, with Dunbar again second. This time the Manawatu meeting preceded the Feilding fixture. Imperial was topweight in the King George Handicap and finished third to Yasda and Indian Song, a head and a half-head separating the trio. Barrage was produced in the Tamatete Handicap on the second day and also carried topweight, being a close sixth' in a blanket linish. Last December Barrage won a division of the Raukawa Handicap at Otaki, an event in which he had deadheated with Imperial two years earlier. By a coincidence, Imperial won the other division that day a,t Otaki, and as he had finished second in the Otaki event the previous year the pair had a great record in the Raukawa Handicap, with four wins and, a second between them. In the President's Handicap at 1 Levin Imperial, who carried 9.1, conceded Barrage 131 b, but in the Feilding Cup Barrage has gone up to 8.7 and will be in receipt of 81b from Imperial. That may bring the pair much closer together, but Barrage is cer-j tain to be improved with the racing and it is on the cards that he may again emerge with the honours. j Imperial was the each-way favourite at Levin, carrying £1213 10s (win) 1 and £BB6 (place). Tenor Rdyal (£93b 10s) was preferred to Barrage (£807) in the win pool, but in place betting Barrage (£824 10s) carried a little more than Tenor Royal (£791). That; backers were not far off the mark was proved when Barrage won from Imperial, with Tenor Royal third. Barrage made a move from near the rear at the live furlongs and improved his position crossing the top to be on terms with Playboy and Reveller at the straight entrance, in spite of having to cover extra ground. From that stage he ran on strongly to win by a length and a-half. Imperial, on the other hand, though making his move at the same time as Barrage, did not get a clear run when Tattersail elected to stick to the in side position, and a check a little moje than two lurlongs from home cost him three or four lengths. Imperial came home strongly but he could no bridge the gap. Howevet, a l ‘‘ U ® ter luck in the running in the I eild ing Cup may make him a haid horse to beat. TENOR ROYAL The confident support forthcoming for Tenor Royal suggested that the Royal Chief gelding was expected to make a prominent showing, but in spite of being well placed behind the pacemakers all the way he did not put much dash into his final effort. Tenor Royal generally finishes on better if lie is restrained early in his races, and probably the bustling to maintain his early position took the sting out of his effort. Playboy was responsible for a creditable performance in his first essay ove r a distance, sharing the lead with Reveller for the greater part of the journey. He dropped out of the picture in the final stages but was not far behind the placed quartet. He should win in his turn. High Order generally runs best when allowed his own rules out in front, but he was denied this role on Saturday, being kept in behind the leading pair to the half-mile. He was fifth at the finish but his display was not very impressive. Reveller ran a surprisingly good race and was not done with, alter helping to make the pace, till a furlong from home. Even then he hung on well for fourth money, and he might be a prospect at Tauherenikau on Saturday. Another Trentham-trained candidate who pleased was Master 1' ox, who was back near the rea r most ot the way and then finished on to be with Playboy when the judge was reached. A middle-distance handicap in minor provincial company should not be beyond the Brer Fox gelding. BARRAGE WAS A BARGAIN That Mr. F. H. Bustin secured a bargain when lie purchased Barrage as a yearling for 320gns. is proved Dy the fact that the horse has won m stake-money £10,519. Barrage has secured 13 wins and 25 minor placings, and he retains his form well in spite of his advancing years. He is a good advertisement lor his sire, Spiral, who has had limited opportunities at Mi. Currie's Koatanui Stud but has lett some useful performers, including stairway, Blithe Spirit (a winner is India), Damask, Screen, Spirillum, Dark Victory and Lady Spiral. Barrage’s dam, Curtain, was by Thespian from Cowl, by King Rufus from OutLady. one of the foundation mare at Koatanui. Curtain gave the turf that great miler Smoke Screen. AIR BELLE’S GREAT SPEED Following her display in the Johnston Memorial at Awapuni, where she led (ill just, short ot the post and went under narrowly to False Step and Playboy, Air Belle was expected to lie favourite for the Stewards’ Handicap at Levin, as the turning track would suit her admirably. She was sent out each-way favourite, but support for several other candidates enabled her backers to collect what was really a generous dividend. Air Belle "jumped out smartly and soon established a break on the remainder, though Follow Suit ran up to her crossing the lop, at which stage the pair were rail a dozen lengths clear of the remainder. Far from stopping in the straight, Air Belle

came away again and had an advantage of live lengths at the finish. She carried 7.9, at Levin and has gone up to 8.2 tor her Feilding engagement, but that should not stop the Airway lilly from extending her record. The Trentham-t rained Follow Suit, a five-year-old gelding by Broiefort from Floral Robe, surprised by holding on lo r second place at odds not far short of double figures. Only recently emerged from hack ranks, Follow Suit might win an open sprint when the company is not too select, and the chances are that later he will be tried as a hurdler, as most of his sire's progeny have shown an aptitude at jumping.

Merry Bing, a Gisborne-trained sprinter, backed down to 3/2 in the betting with Broughton up, beat the remainder in the run home for third. There may be good races on the 'Bay circuit for Merry Bing.

Angell generally shows form when the tracks are getting soft, and her fourth in this sprint suggested that her turn may not be far off. Julius Caesar was a fair fifth at the finish, but it was scarcely a good enough display to suggest that he will be prominent in his Easter engagements at Riccarton.

Travel King was one of those who was tied up by Air Belle’s phenomenal early speed, and probably he may do better when the pace is not such a cracker. However, he is up in the weights and that may tell against