Langue d'Or's Win Was Popular

Chronicle (Levin), 13 March 1946, Page 6

Langue d'Or's Win Was Popular

Although this year's field for tlie Xorth lsland Challenge Stakes did iiot appear to be up to tlie bcst standard, tlie winner, Exeter, really put up au outstandiug perforinauce which met with a Hue ovation from the crowd. VVitli three furlougs to go he was well baclc at the rear of the field with Ai-Birat, and was still staiidiug up the leader about half a dozeu iengths over Lhe last furlong. liowever, iie ilnished .vith a wonderful burst of speed to overhaul Derene just short of the post to wiu going away. The older horses have not usually shone in this eveut and Exeter now ranks with Gloaming as the only six-year-old to have succeeded. The time, 1.26, was well up to tlie average for the race, the record being 1.242 established by Golden Wings in 1933/ in the probable absence of Bruce, Al-fSirat promise^ to be an outstandiug favourite for the Kew Zealand St. Leger Stakes next Saturday. He had a lot of ground to make up over the last three furlougs in the Challenge Stakes, and he did exceptionally well to iiuish within a couple of Iengths of Dereue. The Foxbridge throe-year-oid appears Lo have thrived siuce going south and is earryiug rnuch more condition than i'ormeriy. The Awajiuni-trained Langue d'Or earned a well-deserved and popular success in the Autumn Handicap. He was always within strikiug distance of the leaders aud, after he collared them half way down the straight, displayod rare gameness and staniiua to fight ofl' a late challenge by Royal Lancer. The Lang Bian gelding was liaving his 16th slart this season and his record is now three wins, two seconds and two thirds i or £4280 in stakos. Langue d'Or lias uot been au easy horse to traiu aud great credit must go to his mentor, C. ,J. Thomson, who has kept him at such a peak of fitness. Opening Success.

A surpnse winner rrom Awapuni was the three-year-old Merry Robin who anuexed the Rimu Highweight iu no uncertaiu mauner. He was well baclc iu tlie rear for the first mile, but threaded his way th rough the middle of the field iu the straight to score going away. In spite of the faet that lie had reveaied no form in his previous IU starls, tlie success of the Kobin Goodfellow gelding was not totally'uiiexpected by his conuections. He has given tlie impression that he is likely to do eveu better wheu the tracks become easier and, it' produced ne.vt Saturday, is not likelv to be at such good odds. i Eollowing on his good form at Hawera, Specialist gave further evidence of his nnproveuieut by giving a solid perforinauce to (ill third piave in the I'inakori Handicap with 9.0. The Broiefort gelding may have eveu been closer had he not suffered a slight clieek when Balclierrie i'eli two furlougs from liome. Specialist will be making his last appearauce in. hack ooinpany next Saturday, but ou his latest performauces is uot likely to Jiud it difficult to kold his own in better class. ' Xothing impressed moro umong the iinplaced div'ision in' the Thompson Handicap than Kuri, • wiip fihished a closo iifth. The Fordell gelding sulTerod a severe kick just before the start aud then was oue of the last to leave the barrier. He moved up to be witliiii strikiug distauce at tlie half-mile, but then lost grouud by being earried wide at the tuni. He gave the impres-

sion that the race would do him a lot of good and his chance may come iu the llutt Handicap next Saturday. Winner at his last three starts, the Waikato-traiiied two-year-old Hiraji > was expected to make a bold sliowing iu the Plunket Kursery Handicap. Hovvcver, after drawing the inside position at the barrier, he failed to jump . away on ternis and was .always in a hopeiess position in the middle of the field. The grey is not likely to be dis carded by this failure, and will be given an opportunity to make amends next. Saturday when he will be ridden by V. Sellars. A Leger Trial. Koticed iinishiug strongly iuto sixtli place in tlie Thompson Handicap was tlie three-year-old filly Swiugalong. She looked particularly well aud, as she lias given evidence of possessing stajiiina by iinishiug second in the Oaks at Riccarton, may be capable of a fonvard sliowing in the Kew Zealand St. Leger Stakes on Saturday.

After being always in the picture, Abdicate was responsible for a~ "very creditable sliowing in finishing liftli iu the Rimu Highweight. As it was his first appearance since tlie last Wellington liieeting, it may be safe to assume that the Feilding-owned-and-trained gelding will improve with the outing and, with the easing of the trade, his chances vvilj have to be talcen into consideratiou this week. Although beaten out of the mouey, Lady Spiral was responsible for- oue of lier best races in the Autumn Handicap. Adopting her usual role of pacemaker, tlie Awapuni mare earried the field along at a strong pace and at the halfmile was four Iengths clear. Although the field closed on her sooti after enteriug the straight, she failed to surrendel her lead until the last haif-furlong and then fini'slied alniost in line with the third horse. She figures in the I'resjdent's Handicap run over a mile aud a half next Saturday and should again be prominent. Contrary to expectations, Saludos crmtested the Autumn Handicap in preforeuce to the Thompson Handicap and, with any luck In tlie runuing, he may have vindicated the judgmeiit • of his connections. He was in a handy position on the rails and going well half-a-mile from honie when he appearecl to meet with a little trouble and dropped back several places. However, he came th rough again in tlie straight to ftnish close up behind the piaced horses. Providing he takes no harm from tlie raee the Salmagundi gelding will come iu for atroag cousideratigii

iu whatever he starts in on the- second day. ihe two-year-old Tribute was not disgraced in the Piunlcet Kursery as he drew 21 at the barrier and-was freely used to get a forward position in the first couple of furlougs. Although he weakened over the fiual stages, the brother to Subdued is not likely to gc out of favour with his admirers. .