Corineus Returned Better Dividend Than Expected In Winning Winter Hurdles

Wanganui Chronicle, 26 July 1949, Page 3

Corineus Returned Better Dividend Than Expected In Winning Winter Hurdles

(By

"KESTREL”

Corineus proved himself one recent years when he won the Saturday, repeating his feat of “double” which has not fallen t< Lively long period. One of the surprising features of this race was the fact that Corineus was only fourth in order of preference with investors on the win machine, whereas his record and his recent form entitled him to much greater support.

Ruling Master was the public choice, probably on the strength of his Trentham Hurdles win on the opening day and his impressive finishing run just behind the placegetters in the Parliamentary Handicap. Win investments on the Foxbridge gelding totalled £3481 10s and place investments were £2583. There was a drop of £l5OO to Desert Trek (£1967 to £2145 ), with Detain carrying £1843 and £2135, and Corineus £1897 and £2178 10s. It win thus be seen that Corineus was actually second in favour among place bettors, though there was little between the quartet in this direction. In all there was £282.626 10s invested on the race, showing that the club is justified in offering a stake of £2750 in retaining the race on the programme. As was the case last year, when Corineus carried 10.13 to victory, as against the 11.8 he had on Saturday, the Lang Bian gelding was restrained over the early stages, and it was not till entering the back stretch, with about a mile to go, that Collett sent him along. Passing the six furlongs he was lying third, thougn several lengths behind High .Order and French Count, who were in receipt of 361 b from him. However, it did not take him long to gather them up, and at the half-mile he held command. Though headed a li' He further on by Detain, Corineus was going the better oi the pair at the last fence, and he came on full of running to win handily in time nearly llsec slower than when he won last year.

This was the third success Corineus has registered in the present season, the other two being in the Jumpers’ Flat at Riccarton last August and in the Waikato Hurdles at Te Rapa in May. It was the fourth win of Corineus at Trentham, as in addition to the Winter Hurdles last year he had a year earlier won the Corunna and Talavera' Hack Hurdles, each time starting at generous odds and putting up a dashing display. He was young

?. of the best hurdlers seen out in Winter Hurdles at Trentham on the previous year to register a o any other horse for a comparathen as hurdlers go, and with the experience he has gained and the stamina he appears to have developed the J chances are that he may carry on to add the Grand National Hurdles to his jcredit next month. Detain, who had been unlucky the ; previous Saturday, ran a splendid (race, and probably had he not made a laulty jump under pressure at the last fence he might have extended the winner still further. He was fairly well back in the field commencing the final round- but he made up his leeway rapidly along the back, with the result that he was on terms with Corineus at the second last fence. Taking the lead on the home turn, he appeared likely tc come on for a win, but Corineus was tackling him at the last obstacle, where Detain made his one mistake. Before he was balanced again Corineus had’ established an advantage which Detain, though running on resolutely, was unable to bridge. Master Ted, who had finished second to Young Bob in the Lambton Hurdles on the middle day. finished on better than the remainder of the held to take third money, out he was several lengths behind the major divi-dend-payers and had at no stage appeared likely to be dangerous. He may yet win a major hurdle race, but he is at a rather difficult place in the handicaps compared with some of the hurdlers with better records. Dawn March earned £135 for fourth place after making up a good deal oi ground over the final stages. The Nightmarch gelding has disappointed on several occasions since winning a winter double at Awapuni, and he would have to improve to win in the best company. Roman Duke and Peijia Prince ran honest races, and High 'Order gave a dashing display out in front for a mile and a-half, suggesting that he may win an open hurdle race in provincial company. Ruling Master raced sourly and faded out of the contest after hitting the fence near the mile with such force as to take a good deal of the sting out of him This was rather disappointing to his army of supporters, and it appears as if a rest will be accorded him. Desert Trek, winner two years ago. was never in the picture and was tailed off a long way back when he was pulled up.