BAY ROBE IMPRESSED

Chronicle (Levin), 9 October 1946, Page 6

BAY ROBE IMPRESSED

'False Rail")

(By '

When Bay Robe won the Kapiti Hurdles at the Otaki spring meeting last Saturday, he opened his winning account for' the new season. Scoring in the Roira Memorial at the Levin June meeting at Otaki, he failed to follow this form up and it was decided to train.-him as a jumper. Making his debut at Marton, where he finished fourth, Bay: Robe then ran at Otaki, winning with a good deal in hand. Actually- he ran a mile in the lead, leaving all opposition far behind him. -'Doc" Knapp, of Awapuni, is the trainer of the Robemond from Unique gelding and next Saturday should find him hard to beat again. Greek Dancer was responsibie for a solid performunce in running third to Bay Robe while conceding a stone. Being badly left, he soon shortened the lead of the winner, but made his run too late. If taken to the front early, the Phalerori Bay gelding is difflcult to head,For a novice Rockanui showed much promise in running Bay Robe to two and a-half- lengths. He was first out and led past the stands, only to be overtaken by the winner shortly after. His jumping was without fault and success should come his way soon. The Wheriko gelding, Gold Claim, ran a ^terling race to fill fourth place. 1 Being in the rear most of the way he soon gathered up the leaders after passing the three furlong post. His form last season was consistent, for he secured three wins, two seconds and six thirds. Theolateral and Leybourne should benefit by their first race over hurdles, and should not be long in opening their accounts. Prince Wanaka, who has had a short spell, returned to facing at Oiaki on Saturday. He-was looking fit, but carried a little surplus condition. His third placing showed that he will soon be in the news again. ' In his last seven starts he has had three wins, one second, one third and two fourtbs. Mr. E. F. Ward's Horouta, in his second start, ran third to Mr. Pym and^flomesbun. He is well-develop-ed 'and rah a good race, making up much ground in the straight. This Lang Bian-Kaihoro three-year-old has good prospects ahead of him. Grand Central gave a good impression by winning the Taumanuka Hack in a particularly close finish with Nanaaki. Being the leader past the stands, the Royal Shot horse piloted the field till three furlongs from home, where he d^ifted. In the straight, however, his finishing run on the rails outclassed the opposition and i he won conv|ncingly, , though the rnargin was ndrrow. Battle Dance surprised his few supporters by finishing fast into third place in the sprint, and rewapding with a dividend of the odd ftalf-dozen. " He was not mentioned till the straight, where he put in a telling run in the centre of the track. This was his first race for some time and on this performance he may soon improve.

The Otaki gelding, Peter Gazelle, spreadeagled, .the .field of .the open six-furlong and won with a good deal in hand. This was his second win'.on end,..ind on both occasions he lead throughout. " He gave nothing a phance in his race. on Saturday, and it may take more than weight to stop. him. Peter Gazelle is a five-year gelding by Pink Coat from Lady Carette. His trainer is W..McEwan. At last the Robin Goodfellow colt, Robin 's Reward,-' showed something like his old form in following Peter- Gazelle home for second. He chased the leader most. of the way, but never looked like catchihg him. His race was a big improvement on his Wanganui form.