Sly Robin, Surprise Winner Of Manchester Handicap, Scored First Open Success

Wanganui Chronicle, 22 November 1950, Page 3

Sly Robin, Surprise Winner Of Manchester Handicap, Scored First Open Success

(By

“KESTREL.”)

When Sly Robin ran home three lengths ahead of his nearest opponents at the finish of the Manchester Handicap at Feilding last Saturday the Robin Goodfellow gelding, now a six-year-old, registered his first success in open company.

The win dividend approaching a score, however, was to be expected, for Sly Robin had not won since he scored in the Mount Wellington Hack Handicap at Ellerslie in March, 1948.

It was in his winning effort at Ellerslie over 11 furlongs that Sly Robin indicated that his best efforts could be expected over a distance, but he struck a lean patch. A few months ago he was transferred to the Stratford stable of F. S. Hill to be tried out as a hurdler. He had only one attempt at this branch of the game but again failed to impress, though he had the stable support. However, his schooling over the battens appears to have proved of benefit to him, as he is more solid than formerly. On Saturday Sly Robin was able to take up a prominent position trailing the leaders in the Manchester Handicap, and over the final stages he appeared to revel in the greasy going, coming right away from the opposition to score rather comfortably. If he maintains his present form he may win in the best provincial company for Mr A. Lile, of New Plymouth. Three Hastings stables supplied well-backed candidates for the Manchester Handicap in Bursar (favourite), Dennis O’Kelly and Count Bian, but it was the last-named who did best of the trio to take second place, with Dennis O’Kelly fifth and Bursar last. Count Bian generally does best when the going is easy, and he appeared to be at home in the conditions ruling at Feilding. Though well back early and not in the first eight at the half-mile, the Lang Bian gelding improved his position crossing the top and came home strongly to oust Emerge from second place. Had he been able to gain a better position early he might have extended the winner, to whom he was conceding a big start over the last two furlongs. Emerge was a winner at Woodville a couple of seasons back when the going was slushy, and he ran one of his best races to gain third money at a lucrative price. When the tapes went up Emerge swung sideways and it appeared as if this might adversely affect his chances. However, he made up his leeway rapidly to be fourth into the back stretch and actually took over the role of pacemaker at the half-mile. Under the circumstances it was not surprising to find him weakening a bit in the run home. He had no chance with the winner, but he was definitely superior to those who finished behind him, and his chances will have to be viewed seriously in his early engagements. The three-year-old Beau Vite gelding Britovite showed promise in finishing fourth after being several places back at the half-mile, and he would need to improve only a little on that effort to be dangerous in strong provincial company. Dennis O’Kelly was in a handy position half a mile from home after making up a good deal of ground, but he was not at home in the going, as was the case with Bursar, who in addition received a check when making a run along the back. Ngarobi, interfered with at the start, never appeared to be going kindly.