DISQUALIFICATION OF FIRST IN

Chronicle (Levin), 15 May 1946, Page 6

DISQUALIFICATION OF FIRST IN

IMPRESSIVE N.Z. RECORD From Australia recently came news of the disqualification of First Ih, who left New Zealand with the intention of making a big name for herself, but her hopes were never iiilfilled, for in all. her races in Australia she has riever once been placed. The highest stake winner for the 1944-45 season, First - In won some of the most important races in New Zealand, defeating some of the best handicappers of that' season. This horse deadheated with Typhoon in the Metropolitan Handicap at Trentham and .later with Tara King in the Autumn Handicap, but she should have won. First In began her racing career as a two-year-old and at her first start won the C.J. Spring Nursery of five furlongs. She was unplaced at her next performanees, but filled two minor placings, one at Canterbury when she was beaten by Sea Spi and the other at Trentham, Screen being the winner. She commenced her three-year-old career by running unplaced at Geraldine in a hack event. A third was secured in her next start at Otago, and she followed up this run by winning the Gore Farewell Handicap of seven furlOngs. When she raced at Dunedin and then Canterbury she failed to gain a place, but she graduated into open company by winning ,a hack race at Canterbury. Her first open run proved unsuccessful and she was put away for the next season. As a i'our-year-old First In commenced her racing with an unplaced performance at Canterbury. The Geraldine track saw her first win as a four-year-old, tnis being followed up with another good performance at Otago, though she did not win. She ran unplaced at Canterbury, but at her next start won the Tradesman Handicap at the Southland mcetmg. Then, like a real stayer, shc dead-heated with Typhoon in one of the greatcst contests witnessed at Riccarton. The race was the C.J.C. Mctropolitan Handicap and the 1 •> milcs was covercd in 2.28 2/5. She was really at the peak of her fonn and it was 110 wonder that her owner wishcd to take her to Australia, for she was then almost a champion. Third in thc i Wellington Cup of two miles, the iv.iuiHT being Lambourne, First In ; went on to win the W.R.C.. Handi- : eup of 11 miles in the timo of 2 min. I31.J sec. At her next start Tara ' King mauagecl to jusfc get up in the last few strides to dead-heat with her, .this race being one of the most excillng seen at Trentham. Shc ran unplaced in thc Great Eastern Handicap, but won the Great Autumn in a close contest with Palfrey, thc II miles being run in 2.30. This was her last race in New Zealand and it wiil probably be some time before she races here again. She can be rightly called the "Lady of the New Zealand Turf" for -her record was that of -a great horse. First In is a five-year-old bay mare by Seigfried from Gobble, and is owned by Mr, S. S.,Taylor.