Grand Shepherd Made Other Promoted Hacks Look Cheap At Waipa

Wanganui Chronicle, 21 June 1949, Page 3

Grand Shepherd Made Other Promoted Hacks Look Cheap At Waipa

AUCKLAND, Last Night (Special) —Owned and trained by Mr J. Paterson at Huntly, Grand Shepherd sprang a big surprise on form followers when he won the Woodstock Stakes, principal Hat event at the Waipa meeting at Te Awamutu on Saturday, returning a win dividend of close on half a century. It was his lirst win since the spring, when he ran out* of hack company with successes in the lirst division of the Frankton Hack at Te Rapa and the Pukekawa Handicap at the Franklin meeting at Pukekohe. Since then he had had eight starts without success. An interesting feature about the Woodstock Stakes was the fact that several promoted hacks were expected to make a bold showing, but none of them finished close enough to suggest that they were anything but good hacks. On the other hand, it was one of these promoted hacks who won, but the dividend he paid indicates how lightly his chances were assessed. Grand Shepherd had run one very good race at the Great Northern meeting. He was always near the forefront on being headed only by The Gent, going out of the straight and then taking command along the back. Grand Shepherd then drew clear and was not afterwards headed. He was followed into the home stretch by Frontier Mac and •Corineus, together, with Bedivere. a surprise favourite, heading the bunch* | Grand Shepherd had to be ridden 'right out to hold off Frontier Mac at jthe post. A length away were Bedi- • vere and Corineus dead-heating for t third, a neck in front of Maricrana, I who met with trouble on the trip. 'None of the others gave much bother io the lirst live horses home. Challenger, Bramble Leighon and Redingote were never in a position to prove themselves. < In spite of drawing wide out, Parawera won his first race in open com |pany when he scored decisively in the jkihikihi Handicap. iTis early speed •took him into the lead in a little over a furlong and he ran on well when challenged. Woolooga, fairly handy, worried Bengal Bay <at a nice price) out of second money. Filth Note, with Master Arthur the last to leave the barrier, finished on brilliantly for a close fourth, ahead of Take-a-Lot and Master Arthur. Tommy Gun received a bad run. The defeat of several hot favourites on the day again confirmed the fact that this course is not an easy one tor good horses, Sareel brougnt about the defeat of Ruling Master in the Orakau Hurdles to complete a unique , double, for he won a hack flat race a • little over two hours earlier. Ruling i Master had every chance, but he fenced a bit slowly. Sareel took charge i two fences from home. Ruling Mas- ' ter ran through on the inside to head . him off, but Sareel had no difficulty in ; winning. I