TONGARIRO RACING Club Opens Season at Hatch Park

Highlander, Volume 1, Issue 4, 27 March 1945, Page 1

TONGARIRO RACING Club Opens Season at Hatch Park

Conditions were perfect for the opening-of-the-season of the Tongariro Racing Club on its Hatch ‘Park course —the sun shone brightly on a large crowd, the track was dry and full fields faced the starter.

ORGANISATION and efficient handling contributed to the success of the fixture and the sum of 7s. was passed

through the totalisator, with the result /T 5 ss. 6d. made available for charity. A sizeable sum was also handled by tax-evading bookmakers. As a result of considerable schooling on the Two-Up course Postal Note (by Hocking, out of Italiano) belied his shaggy appearance to win the Highland Hurdles. Unlucky (by Caught, out of Bounds) lived up to his name and had to be content with the small end of the stake, while Happy Man was not so happy over the final furlong. The winner paid 4 to 1.

Homer (by Furlough, out of Fraser) was the popular choice of the day and came home in the Maiden Handicap at odds of 15 to 4. Finito (by Fatigue, out of Khaki) showed signs of being overworked, while it was evident that Courtship (by Blackout, out of Lounge) had had his training preparations interrupted.

The spirited Highland-bred colt, Lifeboat (by Highlander, out of Nippon) won the Tong-

riro Cup, but he was hard pressed to score from the well-schooled Out the Monk (by Tails, out of Two-Up). Kiwi (by Plonk out of Vat) , had his purple and white colours showing up at the turn for home, with Grim Dig (by Kiwi, out of Stella), staggering in close attendance. Lifeboat paid 17 to 4. The riders in the Ladies’ Bracelet went to the post without weighing-in, and Good Thing (by Satisfaction, out of Homeward Bound) proved a good thing by winning at the odds of 5 to 1. Mess Dixie (by Chance, out of Galley) was overloaded as the result of continued successes, but despite this he came with a clatter to beat Sleepy (by Dawn, out of Bed) who tired very badly in the run home. Furlough (by Holiday, out of Full Pay) acted as if his jockey had already commenced his leave, while Seaborne (by Warped, out of Port) was all at sea as the result of carrying his cavalry owner in training.

No. 3 saddlecloth was carried to victory for the third time when the Nazi-bred Ausreiser (by Tunnel, out of Stalag) dug into his task early and bored through the field to win the Flying Fish Handicap. Had-It (by Shortly, out of Khaki) certainly had when Ausreiser put in his run, while Attention Please (by Mate, out of Mike) stopped to listen at the wrong time. Pilot Peter (by Parachute, out of Bounds) drifted badly, and Nabbed (by M.P., out of Bounds) appeared to have business elsewhere. Form should be noted for future meetings.