BETTORS SURPRISED

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 125, 24 November 1930, Page 6

BETTORS SURPRISED

BAYACRE AT A FALSE PRICE

Bettors had an almost unaccountable lapse in the Hokio Hack Handicap, when they let Bayacre go out ninth favourite and at a double figure price. They argued that ho would not win, but he upset all their arguments. Ten years ago Sasanof, at the height of his form, was similarly allowed to start 'at a false price in a sprint at Woodviiie, and he, too, confounded those who speciously reasoned that he would not win. Before Bayacre left for Australia he had six starts in the Dominion without' ever filling a place. In Sydney, however, he quickly stepped on to a • purple patch, winning twice in his early starts, and being beaten into second place on two occasions only by Tregilla and Veilmond respectively. ' These performances marked him as one of the most promising three-year-olds in Australia,'and, although he was not up to A.J.C. Derby class, he led for six furlongs of that race and was by no means disgraced. Saturday's was his first start since his race in the Derby. Bayacre's win concluded a good day for the progeny of Acre, an Australian-bred sire who did all of his racing in the Dominion and has since'made his mark at the stud. Acre is not fashionably bred, for, although he is by a successful sire in Linacre, of the valuable No. 8 line, he is from a mare (Miss Arlington) whose pedigree cannot be warranted purebred. For this reason, he has not had the best of opportunities, but with those he has had ho has obtained excellent results. His stock are usually sprinters, but some of them can go over distances. First Acre, as an.instance, is the mile and three-quar-ter record holder. , : Bayacre did not score as he liked on Saturday, but his victory was convincing. He drew. No. 13 from the rail, but was quick in moving, and when the field had settled down he had only Hunting Boy and Leisure ahead of him. Rule' Britannia ran' to the front on the turn and led Leisure and Bayacre into the straight, where Ephialtes, Hunting Boy, Open Cheque, and Pass On were, next following. Bayacre went after Rule Britannia and wore her down to win by a short head, Pass On finishing with a rush into third place two lengths further back. Ephialtes was a head away fourth, and next were Leisure, Tapestry, Hunting Boy, and Open Cheque. Open Cheque, Hunting Boy, Leisure, Pass On, White Doe, and Rule Britannia all had good followings, and any of them would have paid a fair price., Open Cheque again failed to reproduce his brilliant track ability, and he never looked like doing better than he did. Hunting Boy flattered early only to deceive, and he is now deserving of'being dropped a little in the handicap. White Doe was noticed eai-ly, but lost her chance in the .shuffle for positions. Rule Britannia, a four-year-old mare by Chief Ruler from that bril.liant sprinter Gladiole, showed a lot of toe, and appears to be coming to hand, Ephialtes, the big diyidend payer at Carterton, ran another sterling race, and on his.two efforts to date he is going to be a useful customer. He was squeezed back at the start, and his chance .of winning vanished, but he then came right round the field and was running on in fourth place very strongly at the end. Nothing in the race covered as much ground as ho.