BLACK MARLIN WINS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 121, 24 May 1937, Page 13

BLACK MARLIN WINS

WAIKATO STEEPLES

DOUBLE FOR BAGBY STABLE

(Special to the "Evening Post.") HAMILTON, May 22. There was a large attendance for the opening day of the Waikato Racing Club's Winter Meeting. The weather was fine but the track was dead. The totalisator handled £36,273, an increase of £9863 on the first day last year. SAINT MUSK SURPRISES. There is not much of Saint Musk, but apparently he is all good, for he led all the way in winning the Melville Hack and Hunters' Steeplechase and rewarded his supporters with a win diivdend of over a quarter of a century. He was improved as a result of his race at Pukekohe, and, fencing well, he was kept nicely together to hold on to the end. Lucidus was never very far away, but had no chance at the weight, although he may develop into a good hack 'chaser. Sky Pilot, a hot favourite, just scrambled home ahead of Emancipation for third dividend, one or two bad jumps checking him. Emancipation went a nice race considering he has not been up very long. Kinkle, Pennyplain, and Illuminagh should improve. The winner was the fittest-looking horse in the field. DOUBLE FIGURES AGAIN. Far Land, at double figures, scored very easily indeed from a large field in the Otorohanga Hack Handicap. Getting to the front smartly from very wide' out, he-.was-'always,'clear'and in the run home-nothing could get near him. He won his first race on this track earlier in the season, and he has not raced much since. Besiege was just as easily second, being always prominent, and his turn may not be far off. Black Musk finished strongly to pay a place dividend which nearly reached that of the winner's straight out. Sunny Downs finished on in fourth place. The first and second horses were so vastly superior that excuses could not be found for most of the others. Royal Passage was last to leave the barrier, and Merial, Valspear, Trouvaille, Jan Ridd (second at the home turn), Te Huia, and Huntsman's Chorus all showed up during the running and may improve. TWO FINE PERFORMANCES. Jolly Beggar registered a great performance in running Lord Val to a short head in the Waikato Hurdles, for he was conceding the winner 321b and had to cover a bit of extra ground. He was in the ruck early, but at the six furlongs he was pulling hard in a veryhandy position. Lord Val was always handy and he was over five lengths ahead of Jolly Beggar at the last hurdle, which was nearly down, it was a splendid finish between this pair, Lord Val winning by a short head, with Jully Beggar going great ■nans on The post.- Collision went an excellent race, taking charge when Boughal retired at the six furlongs, and he should pick up a hurdle race on the trip. Brigadore and Lady Ruler were also handy at the finish without ever holding a winning chance. Sandy Dix, Erination, and Pango were well up early, only to fade out in the lmai quarter. Although Jolly Beggar has a big weight in the Great Northern Hurdles he must run a good race, although the records are rather against him Lord Val ran today's distance out to the bitter end and his success might have been more clear-cut had his rider noticed danger threatening earlier, so his Great Northern chance still appears good, even with the expected rehandicap. GOOD FINISHING EFFORT. A solid double-figure return was forthcoming when Gay Rose challenged the favourite King Rey fifty yards from the post in the President s. Handicap and scored very convincingly. She was not prominent early and she improved her position along the bacit to be up in seventh place at the home turn, where Royal Dance was just clear of Te Hai and King Rey. King Rey had forged to the front at the distance, but failed to hold oft Gay Rose at a difference of 211b in weight. Te Hai weakened in the last few strides to succumb to Horowhenua for the third dividend, with Scotland, Royal Dance. Tradesman, Boomerang, and Day Wind all handy. The winner was right at home in the going and should win again in her turn. King Rey made a gallant showing under his weight, while Horowhenua came from well back and enhanced his Cornwall Handicap chance. Royal Dance failed to stay. Boomerang was closer at the finish than at any part of the contest. BLACK MARLIN'S PROMISE. The success of Black Marlin in the Coronation Steeplechase completed the jumping double for trainer R. S. Bagby, and the gelding will now come into decided favour for the Great Northern Steeplechase. He was running on strongly at the end despite the fact that he bungled the last jump, and while he finally won by two lengths only he was being eased before reaching the post. He was always prominent. It was a fine contest, with most of the field holding chances five furlongs from home. At this point the leading bunch comprised Don Erma. Black Marlin. Valpeen, Tudor. Forest Glow, and Golden England, while four lengths away were Billy Boy, Royal Limond. and Free Air. all being close enough to be dangerous. Then Tudor fell at the sod bank, apparently not sighting the obstacle. Don Erma and Black Marlin were fairly well clear at the final jump, and the latter won comfortably. Free Air came home strongly to challenge Don Erma seriously tot- third, and Valpecn was a Rood fourth, with Monastic running on fifth. Don Erma van up to Hawera form and Free Air should do well at Ellcrslic. for she will improve. Billy Boy and Royal Limond showed u» for most of the way. and Forest Glow, tailed oft in the first half-mile, run up handy later. BARRIER TO JUDGE. Peter JBeckford led from barrier to

judge in the Stewards' Handicap and I won impressively. Black Thread i dashed lid into second place early but lie weakened in the concluding stages and Gay Seton got up to share second place with him. the late arrival paying double figures on the place machine. The unlucky runner was Johnny Walls, who was in a lot of bother and then finished very, fast from the ruck to be fourth. De Friend and Royal Appellant did best of the others, the latter coming on again after meeting with a serious check at the haH-mile. Prince Acre was always prominent but lacked a finishing efj fort. I A COUP ON KENO. A fine two-horse finish was seen in the Horotiu Hack Handicap with a surprise favourite in the Rotorua-trained j Keno just shading the outsider Gay I Rebel in a keen tussle over the last furlong. Gay Streak was a long way back third, with Thurwind and Ringshot next, the last-named being a bit unlucky in the running. Both Keno and Gay Rebel (who is still a maiden) should do well under winter conditions. Keno is a little-raced four-year-old gelding by Musketoon", and he is trained for Mr.X. L. Richards by A. McGregor. Royal Mistake is a likely improver. RESULTS IN DETAIL. Results were:— Melville Hack and Hunters' Steeples, £250; 2i miles.—B-8 St. Musk, car. 9.2 (T. Williams), 1; 5-5 Lucidus, 10.2 (A. Gilmer), 2; 1-1 Sky Pilot, 9.3 (R. K. Smith), 3. Also started: 4-4 Illuminagh 10.8, 2-3 Kinkle 10.7, 3-3 Emancipation 10.7, 6-7 Friendly Boy 9.11, 7-6 Curlew 9.9, 9-9 Pennyplain 9.7, 13-12 Bells of Bow 9.0, 10-10 Diacquedoon 9.0, 11-11 Dark Princess 9.0, 12-13 Precise 9.0. Time, smin 8 4-ssec. Otorohanga Hack Handicap, £200; 6 furlongs.— 4-4 Far Land, 7.8 (K. Home), 1; 1-1 Besiege, 8.3 (C. G. Goulsbro'), 2; IU-11 Black Musk, 8.13 (A. Tinker), 3. Also started: 7-10 Merial 9.0, 5-6 Valspear 8.10, 7-4 Trouvaille 8.7, coupled with Cappy 7.12, 2-3 Jan Ridd 8.7, 9-9 Hunting Star 8.1, 17-17 Sunny Downs 8.0, 18-18 Hymel 7.12, 13-12 Te Huia 7.9, 15-16 Lion Heart 7.9, 6-7 Royal Passage 7.8, 13-14 Hopalong 7.8, 14-13 Very Glad 7.7, 12-8 Huntsman's Chorus 7.7, 11-12 Maori Song 7.7, 19-19 Maereana 7.7, 20-20 Le Turc 7.7, 16-15 Requiem 7.7, 21-21 Te Maranui 7.7. Time, lmin 17sec. Waikato Hurdles, £350; 1J miles.—l-1 Lord Val, 10.0 (F. Baker), 1; 7-6 Jolly Beggar, 12.4 (R. Beale), 2; 6-4 Collision, 9.0 (B. Kowhai), 3. Also started: 2-2 Erination 11.3, 5-5 Sandy Dix 10.3, 10-11 Lap Up 10.11, 13-12 Prince of Orange 9.13, 3-3 Pango 9.13, 8-8 Boughal 9.8, 4-7 Brigadore 9.6, 9-9 Lady Ruler 9.3\ 11-10 Merry Lap 9.0, 12-13 Booklaw 9.0, 14-14 Sweet Lap 9.0. Time, 3min 20 2-ssec. President's Handicap, £500; 1J miles. —8-7 Gay Rose, 7.8 (R. Home), 1; 1-1 King Rey, 9.1 (B. H. Morris), 2; 3-3 Horowhenua, 7.9 (H. Long), 3. Also started: 5-4 Scotland 8.11, 2-2 Tybalt 8.1, 12-13 Dark Shadow 8.0, 10-10 Bonny Gay 7.13, 4-5 Day Wind 7.12, 11-9 Royal Dance 7.10, 18-18 Baroscope 7.9, 6-8 Mungatoon 7.8, 13-12'Pennycomequick 7.8, 16-15 Te Hai 7.8, 7-6 Tradesman 7.7, 14-14 Light Comedy 7.7, 7-11 Boomerang 7.7, 15-16 Con Fuoco 7.7, 17-17 Winlona 7.7. Time, 2min 13 l-ssec. CORONATION STEEPLECHASE, £700; 3 miles. s—4—Black Marlin, 9.5 (F. Baker) 1 3—2—Don Erma, 10.4 (A. Gilmer) 2 lo_lo_Free Air, 9.0 (M. Cairns) .. 3 Also started: 2-3 Tudor 12.1, 7-7 Billy Boy 11.2, 8-8 Royal Limond 11.2, 4-5 Valpeen 10.11, 1-1 Windsor Lad 10.7, 6-6 Forest Glow 9.13, 13-13 Golden England 9.10, 12-11 Pahu 9.9, 11-12 Cynical Kid 9.8. 9-9 Monastic 9.5. Time, 6min ssec. Stewards' Handicap, £300; 6 fur-longs.—l-1 Peter Beckford, 8.4 (P. Atkins), 1; 4-4 Black Thread, 7.13 (C. G. Goulsbro') and 18-16 Gay Seton, 7.7 (R. Orange) (dead heat), 2. Also started: 10-10 Triune 9.1, 13-14 Star Artist 7.9, 11-11 Tooley Street 8.12, 7-9 Tosh 8.7, 8-8 Crooning 8.5, 5-6 Royal Appellant 8.4, 6-5 Greek Gold 8.3, 14-15 Notium 8.2, 2-2 Adalene 8.0, 3-3 Prince Acre 7.1, 19-19 Mungacre 7.9, 8-7 Sweet Rose 7.10, 15-17 De Friend 7.10, 12-12 Johnny Walls 7.9, 20-20 Kilberis . 7.7, 16-13 Little Artist 7.7, 17-19 Lady Diana 7.7. Time, lmin 17 l-ssec. Horotiu Hack Handicap, £200; 1 mile.—l-2 Keno, 7.7 (R. Home), 1; 10-11 Gay Rebel, 7.9 (N. Howard), 2; 11-10 Gay Streak, 7.7 (C. G. Goulsbro'), 3. Also started: 3-5 Quadroon 9.0, 7-6 Sir Tommy 8.13, 6-4 Professional 8.12, 5-7 Survoy 8.9, 4-3 Ringshot 8.1, 8-8 Small Boy 8.0. 9-9 Royal Mistake 7.13, 2-1 Thurwind 7.8. 12-12 Mai de Mer 7.7. Time, lmin 45 2-ssec.