Artificer Has Been Consistent At Te Aroha

Wanganui Chronicle, 4 May 1949, Page 3

Artificer Has Been Consistent At Te Aroha

AUCKLAND, Last Night (Special). —Three horses took part in a spirited finish for the Te Aijha Hand cap on Saturday, but the favourite, Swanee, was not one of the trio, the honours going to the consistent Lang Bian horse Artificer. The winner nas run good races at Te Aroha and has also won on the provincial circuit. Artificer secured a good run all the way, Rating leading him out of the straight, with Silver Dan, Foxbay. Hineroto, Frontier Mac and Chung Chong trailing them. Going away from home Foxbay began to drift and had only two horses behind him at the six furlongs. Here the field closed up and Napredak went out to force the pace, but she in turn was supplanted across the top by Frontier Mac. who held a slight advantage at the home turn over Napredak, Silver Dan, Hineroto, Rating, Telegram. Swanee (wide out) and Artificer, with Foxbay last.

At the distance the non-stayers faded out of the picture and Artiiicer and Chung Chong went ahead. For a moment it appeared as if Chung Chong might win, but Artificer took his measure and then was called on to resist a challenge from Prince Rana, who ran him to a neck. Chung Chong was only half a length back, third, and Frontier Mac was a lair fourth, ahead of Napredak, Foxbay. Telegram, Swanee, Silver Dan and Earldale. The last-named, who shared actual favouritism with Swanee, was disappointing. Artificer won ilke the good horse he has proved himself, but if the going had been heavier he might not have appreciated it. Prince Rana, Chung Chong and Frontier Mac ran good races. A feature of the race was the even support accorded half a dozen contestants, with the result that Artiiicer paid a shorter price than is generally expected of a fifth favourite. This was not tae first success Oi Artiiicer at Te Aroha. As a five->ear-old he had only two starts, at the second winning the Ralph Somers Memorial. Last season, his only placings were two seconds, to Tiger Tan (beaten half a head) in the King George Handicap (first division) at Ellerslie, and to Pelias in the bec^ d division of the York Handicap. In the current season he won the Waikato Cup (beating Conspiracy a nose), and l he Matamata Cup, in addition to besecond to Kyrat (beaten a long neck) in the President’s Handicap at Te Aroha- and third to Prince Rana and Indian Song in the Taranaki Cup. an,l to Lord Revel and Napredak in the St. George's Handicap al the Ellerslie Easier meelir.g. General Mentciln was at a suipiibingly good prices when he won the N-arua Handicap most decisively and he° will have to be respected again when he strikes another easy track. He started from wide out and it was not until the field haa gone nearly three furlongs that he Hashed up into second place behind Lady Cometary. He then went into ’he lead to show th'e way into the home stretch by

three lengths from Driving Creek, Highland Lad and Angeline. Driving Creek was the only one to 1 make a race of it with General Mvnteith and hung on well, although he i never looked like pulling back the I leader. There was a close contest for ! third, with little between the promoted hack Fleet Fox and a bunch comprising Bedivere, Intervene and I Angeline, Beaufighter and Highland I Lad following. Angeline dwelt when i'he harrier lifted and she covered a j lot of ground.