SPIRITED BETTING

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 72, 22 September 1930, Page 6

SPIRITED BETTING

IN AVONDALE CUP

PEODICE'S GREAT FEAT

(By Telegraph.)

(Special to "The Evening Post.")

AUCKLAND, 20th September.

Two'defections left fifteen runners in the" Ayondale Cup on Saturday, and in spiritjed.betting Historic was preferred to Sealjdwn and " the Prodice-Desert Glow bracket. They were sent away from a walk-in start, from which Paddou, Hannibal, and Standfast were the first to show out. Standfast,took charge going out of the straight, and along the back he was iwo : lengths clear of Paddon, Hannibal, and Seatown, Prodice being ninth at this stage and Historic twelfth. Seatown ran iuto second position passing the five-fuy-long post, and a little further on Historic began to make a forward move. Standfast was still- clear of Seatown entering the straight, where Hannibal, Nassock, High Pitch, and Prodice were close up, with Historic coming fast on the outside. It looked as if Standfast would see it o\jt at the distance/but Prodice and Historic then challenged, and Prodice, finishing brilliantly, got up to.beat Standfast by three, parts of a length. Historic was half a. length away third, and Seatown fourth. Then followed Eager Eose and Maori Boy. ' . ■" Prodice's feat in winning the race with over 9.0 is one that has been accomplished only six times in • forty years. She was .■well handled by A. E. Ellis, who waited patiently for a final run. Prodice had not raced since winning the Takapuna Cup last January, and her success proved that horses can be thoroughly prepared for important races without being raced in the course of preparation. Standfast ran easily, his best race, and made d great effort'to win from end to end. Historic .finished, gallantly, and his performance was one of true merit. It was a coincidence- that: Historic and Prodice, who finished first and second respectively last year, should again have been so prominently concerned in the finish. Seatown, who drew the extreme outside at the "barrier, was bustled early to "secure a position going out of the straight, and flattered the hopes of his supporters until the last furlong, when he could make no impression. Eager Rose made a respectable shoeing, and.should be all the better for the race, .