REVERSAL OF FORM

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 91, 15 October 1934, Page 6

REVERSAL OF FORM

SATISFACTORILY EXPLAINED

There was much booing when Koyal 1 Routine won the Waipipi Handicap, the •• day's open eeven, for he had run nearly a furlong last on Friday, but there had been ■ a satisfactory" explanation on the earlier occasion, and no inquiry was deemed neces- . sary on Saturday. The stipendiary steward (Mr. B. N. Sandilands) after Fri- ' day's race questioned W. J. Broughton, who said that the gelding had stumbled at the top of the straight and then immediately estopped galloping. He had returned v to the enclosure a most distressed horse, suggesting that probably he had got his tongue over the bit at some part of the race, as he had previously done, and had choked himself. At least it was clear . that something untoward had happened to him during the race, for otherwise he could not have put on the brakes as he L. G. Morris held Royal Routine well together on Saturday. Lady Spy quickly opened a gap of three lengths from Koyal Routine and La Poupee (who had actually begun smartest), and the w;is still well clear at the straight entrance, but sho then tired, and Koyal lioutine, allowed his head, drew up past her and frustrated a challenge from Mercian I'rince by a length. 'Royal Routine's effort was probably better" than either of hits performances at Otakt. He is not too sound a horse, but his latest showings, omiLtin- Friday*, have been very solid. He ran a very smooth race on Saturday. Mercian Prince, rehamlicappcd alb, wns ■ at the back to the straight, and although lie came home well the winner was always going too freely for him. La Poupee hung on for third money, halt a length away, and Royal Bengal was placed . fourth, though Emotion appeared to be in that position. Emotion, the favourite, received a clear run along the fence, but his weight anchored him. Lady Spy dropped right out of the contest when beaten.