VERY CLOSE RACING

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 33, 9 February 1931, Page 6

VERY CLOSE RACING

EGMONT MINOR EVENTS

SUCCESSFUL WALK UP.STARTS

. ■ Close finishes wore a feature of the racing at Hawera on Saturday, an'd^tlie results over the two days were a distinct credit to the work of the Egmont Racing Club's new handieappcr (Mr. A. Tronson). Owing to the indisposition of Mr. A. Patterson, Mr. A. Morse officiated as starter, and his walk-up releases were on the whole rather successful, but at times had the appearance of being fluky. Nevertheless, judged on results, the starting was the best that has been witnessed ,on country circuits for some time. ' ROYAL ACRE'S HURDLES. < Royal Acre, who was left and took no jiart in the Hurdles on Thursday, was always one of the pacemakers in the Okarawa Hurdles, and when Denier had had enough half a mile from home lie took sole charge and thereafter' was never in actual danger of defeat. Full Mark made an effort to close on the two leaders along the back, but Royal Acre went away from him again on the turn, and after crossing the final fence with several' lengths advantage was not asked to show his best to hold off Full Mark by a length. Democratic, who was last over tJjg early stages, was third seven lengths away, and there was a gap of another four lengths to Denier. Waltzer and Goblin Market followed at intervals. Full Mark was over £.100 better backed than Royal Acre in a small pool. Democratic being the only other to carry much support. Full Mark's supporters received little more than half their investment back. Royal Acre jumped extravagantly at first, but once he settled down he was always going like a winner. v Full Mark went another good race, and jumped well for a comparative novice, but ho was beaten on the merits. He was going strongly at the finish, and witli experience should turn out a useful hurdler. Democratic will improve with the race. • WON ON THE POST. Chief Link had a close call in the Electric Handicap, and it was only the vigorous riding of 11. Gray that enabled him to get up in time to snatch the race from £eter Jackson, who had made practically all. of the running. Peter Jackson and Sporting Chance came into the straight together clear of Paparua, Chief Link, Gibraltar, and Open Cheque, and Peter Jackson ran into sole lead at the distance, but Chief Link put in a strenuous challenge and managed to catch the leader just as they were crossing the line. Three lengths away was Paparua, with. Sporting

Chance another length back, followed by Open Cheque, Summertime, Ripple Song, and Gibraltar. ' ' There was little to choose between Chict Link nnd Open Cheque in tho betting, and each carried nearly twice as much as Sporting Chance, who was the only other much sought. Chief Link was skilfully ridden, for he had a big,, weight to carry and any other tactics than those adopted would have failed. He is. the three-year-old brother to Silver Rule, and halt-broth-er to Silvermine, and carries the same colours. Peter Jackson is a speedy two-year-old brown gelding by Nigger Minstrel from the Martian mare Left, full sister to Nones, Menelaus, and. Lovematch, and more will be heard from him. Open Cheque, in contrast to his usual running, was .well' back early in the race, and, although he finished more strongly than he often does, he was never a place possibility. Sporting Chance appeared to be rushed, too much over the early stages. Paparua, 'catching the jump-out, was always prominent. . ORAPAI WINS AGAIN. Orapai, moving away with the same alacrity as ho did on Thursday, led throughout the Meremere Hack Handicap to give H. Gray his second win in succession. Silver Rule, Singer, Chief Savage, and' Kissless attended him over the early part of the race, and entering the straight he was well clear of Chief Savage,. Silver Rule, Singer, Hinewai, and Tea Queen. Nothing threatened his supremacy in the run down to the judge, and he beat the fast-finishing Tea Queen very easily by a. length and a half, Singer being another half-length away third. Anbridge was fourth, followed by Kissless, Chief Savage, Silver Rule, and Hinewai. Orapai was a very hot favourite, and paid well under even money. Tea Queen arid Chief Savage were .much the best backed of the remainder. Orapai is probably the best of Thespian's stock yet to race, and he is fitter now than he has been at any other part of the season. His win on Saturday lifted him out of hack class, but he still has nominations to run out. Tea Queen did not move away too well, but she finished attractively and a win for her is long overdue. The disappointment of the race was Chief Savage, who had every chance, but.did not infuse the kick into his finishing that he did on Thursday. He was possibly made too much use of early in the race. Singer and Anbridge are improving and should shortly have a turn. EASY FOR IBIS. Ibis and Moatoa, neither of whom had a race on Thursday, outclassed their opponents in the Trinl Hack Handicap. They were first out, and, after leading Double Red; Nimble, Goldzone, Orby's Choice, and Bon Eve into the straight, came on with the greatest of ease to take the dividends, Ibis finishing the more strongly and beatting Moatoa by a length. Two lengths away was Orby's Choice, just in front of Bon Eve and Goldzone. Miss Chatter, Double Redi and Nimble followed: .■ Nimble, as the result of her good showing on the first day, was made a good favourite, with Ibis, mucb better backed than either Double Red,or Orby's Choice. Moatoa, who was eighth fancy, paid much more than the winner. Nimble was prominent to the straight, but then began to weaken, and was ndt persevered with. Ibis, a four-year-old bay mars'by Chief Ruler from the Achilles mare Peroiieal (dam, of a former fair sprinter in Standard), has not been much raced, for she had previously started only twice, having been second each time. She is likely to prove a useful hack on the autumn circuits. Moatoa ran above expectations, and his good showing was due mainly to his quickness away at the start. Orby's Choice-is improving and is likely to win before long. FAST FINISHING RUN. Calamine, one of the last horses into the straight in the Normauby Handicap, came with a dazzling run down the outside and snatched a victory that looked well beyond his reach half a furlong from the post. Callapat, Green Linnet, Belle Star, 'Jenacre, and ilalayan led over, the middle stages of, the race, but Green Linnet had enough before the straight was reached, and Callapat turned for home ahead of Hello Star, Bonogne, Malayan, Green Linnet, and Tenacre, with Calamine and Kawhakina last. Callapat was under pressuro a furlong out, and Malayan, Calamine, and Kawhakina swooped down on him at the end to cut him out of participation in the stake, Malayan losing the race to Calamine by a neck over the last fifty yards. Kawhakina, who could not get through, was a length away third, and Callapat was close up fourth. Best of the-others were Bonogne, Tenacre, and •Belle Star. Malayan was in somewhat better demand than Belle Star, Bonogne, or Kawhakina. Calamine, who showed ■ a big improvement on his Thursday's effort, was sixth favourite at the best price of the day. Malayan was in front half a furlong from home, but he was unable to withstand the powerful challenge lodged by the winner, who was last away and was well tailed off along the back. Belle Star had every chance. Bonogne had to be ridden hard all the way, and this left him without a run for the finish. Kawhakina was the unlucky horse in Lhe race, for he came through the field fast over the closing stages, but was blocked by Malayan nnd Tenacre, He should have paid i! dividend. TRIBUTE TO HANDICAPPER. ' Crennii' Town,' galloping smoothly throughout, had a reserve.ot speed ; leit at the finish of the Inaha Hack Handicap, and this enabled him to cut through near the post and gain the decision m one of the closest contests of the meeting, lhe early order did not materially attcct the 1 result, Tentcall and Kissless taking over from Joyspear, Werata, Rich Harvest, and Tobaccoland at the half-mile, and turning for home ahead of Werata, Joyspear, Miss Shef, Tobaccoland, Statuary, Crenna Town, Banbridge, and Saltpot. Joyspear and Stati/ary challenged Tentcall strenuously from the distance, and then Gray brought Crenna Town through fast near the end, tho four crossing the line with only heads separating them, and the verdict being ostensibly for Crenna Town, Joyspear, btatuary, and Tentcall in that order. A length further away was Banbridge finishing strongly, ahd.then came Tobaccoland, Miss Shef, Werata, and Gasnapper. : Saltpot was over £100 better backed than Tentcnll, and there was even support for Crenna Town, Statuary, Rich Harvest, Banbridge, Tobaccoland, and JoJWeaiSaltpot made a promising run eaiy in the ' stra ght. but his way was blocked and he ■ was not knocked, about in a _f utileen- • deavour. He W lame after Thursday s ; race, and there is some doubt about Ins : racing nt( New Plymouth. Tentcall made ' his-main effort much too soon, otherwise ! 1,0 would possibly have won. Statuary was I always handy to the .front; but he again i went wide on the turn and down the ' straight, and the handicap he thus set him- ' self was too much to recover entirely. ' Rich Harvest was not good enough when • tho pace was clapped on.' Banbridge hn- ■ ished attractively and appears to be on the ' improve. Touaecdland went honestly, but ' weight is stopping him. and he is now ' deserving of being dropped a little in nan-; , dicappers'estimation. Joyspear was never 1 far ■' away from the leaders, and was in ' charee half a furlons from, the post, Ijnt Iho was unable to hold.off. the winner He [ should not have to wait long for a turn.