HUNTING CAT SCORES

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 86, 8 October 1938, Page 26

HUNTING CAT SCORES

_ RAKAHANGA'S BURST OF SPEED

BACKERS SUFFER REVERSES AT HASTINGS

(From "Ariki Toa.")

Features of the Hawke's Bay Jockey Club's Spring Meeting were the convincing wins gained by Hunting Cat and Rakahanga in the chief events. Both horses scored in stylish fashion and need only to maintain their present condition to continue to play prominent parts. The weather was beautifully fine and, considering that it was an off day, there was a good attendance.

Backers were not too well treated, for only two actual favourites scored, although there were ho particularly large dividends. The racing, generally, -was well contested and even, though there were some easy wins. A good deal of interest centred in the opening campaign of many likely, three-year-olds. FALLS SPOIL. RACE. The meeting opened in sensational fashion, no less than five of the eight starters in the Hollycombe Hurdles coming to grief at the first fence. The mishap was brought about by Agog hitting the obstacle and bringing down Love Lilt and Red Rufus, with Royal Record and Thrasher falling consecutively. This left Soho and Glenvane only with any chance of success, for Boat Song suffered interference and dropped back to be about fifty yards from the other pair. Soho and Glenvane had alternate turns in making the pace, but the former's superior speed on the flat enabled him to turn for home two lengths clear. Although Glenvane made a good effort over the last furlong, he failed to overhaul his opponent by a head. Soho, although inclined to jump high, never looked like making a mistake, and it is unfortunate that he is touched in the wind, for there is no doubt that he would develop into a first-class jumper. He has raced -over obstacles on three occasions for two firsts and a second. Glenvane ran an honest race, and a repetition of the form would find him an early "Winner. It was an unsatisfactory race for supporters of the favourite, Love Lilt, who was at less than even money. A SMART PERFORMER. A very promising three-year-old "in Hagen was backed down to a short price in the Imperial Plate and the optimism was justified, for he never gave his supporters a moment's anxiety. He was quickly into his stride at the start and actually hit the front after going a furlong and a half. He was not at top in the straight and he won by a length and a quarter. He is a ready-made galloper and is sure to develop into a leading performer Once he becomes properly matured. Titter showed plenty of speed and beat the others just as easily as she was beaten by Hagen. However, she does not appear to stay too well as yet. Carrington Hall was always in the picture and Royal Ace was not disgraced. [ Stern Chase, who was having his i first start, will lose no friends, for he ; is definitely green. He jumped away in about sixth place, but soon drifted , to the rear before settling down. He , made up a lot of ground in the later j stages, and should be an early winner. , Gay Laura came down in the first furlong through getting on the heels ! Of another horse. i A BRILLIANT YOUNGSTER. Nora Gregor simply outclassed the , opposition in the Empire Nursery, and over the last couple of furlongs it was , only a matter of what she would win by. P. Atkins bounced her out in ] front, and she quickly established a ' lead of four lengths at the end of a furlong. Silver Bat was within strife- < ing distance at the turn but he had no ] , chance of catching the winner. } Nora Gregor is a bay filly by Bui- ] andshar, and is a typical daughter of j the English sire, whose progeny have j had two starts for two wins, the other j winning representative being Win- . ning Rival. High Art, dam of Nora ' Gregor, also produced the promising Ivar. The winner is trained by S. ' J. Reid. Silver Bat showed the bene- ' fit of early racing,by being a com- < fortable second after occupying this . position practically all the way. J Katesbridge showed n lot of speed, I but is "not yet ready, and should be ( ah improver. Sunola, a full-brother _ to Round Up and Bodyline, impressed as likely to do a lot better, for he 6 riussed the jump-out and then finish- * ed a fair fifth. Sleeveless was handy r at the straight entrance, but then ran i right off the course. f RETURN TO FORM. *. Having his first start since last March, C Hunting Cat comfortably accounted 1 for the Hastings Spring Handicap. He 7 was holding fifth place at the comple- t tion of half a mile, but his rider took him through on the rails racing along the back, with the result that he was third to turn for home. From this stage on he always had the measure of .his opponents and was not ridden right out. Considering the class, he was particularly well handicapped with only 8.1, and it was surprising to find him only fifth in reruest. Hunting Cat was having his first start in the colours of Mr. L. C. Breakwell, who received him as a gift irom Mr. O. Nelson, who also passed on Passion Fruit to Mr Breakwell. Master Cyklon ran a gallant race under weight, and the only excuse that could be; offered for his defeat was that his rider appeared to make his run a trifle early. Curie was making the pace for the first six furlongs, but he appeared to drop back a bit at the turn and was forced to cover a lot of extra ground in the straight. Had he kept a straight course he would have been a comfortable second. Tiger Gain showed early speed but faded out underpressure, and Slippery was too sore to do himseli justice. Buster Brown..ran a fair race. WELL RIDDEN. ( Tail Light was easily the best-rid-den horse in the Epsom Handicap, and this stood to him in a punishing finish. InTthe early stages be was m the middle of the field, but he made a. fast move across the top and was actually first into the straight. He showed rare courage over the final furlong and held off; all challengers to wm^mcely. Hamarin made a good .effort ovei-the Sit bit to overhaul Tail Light, but the task was a shade beyond, hun..However, he should not be long in winning a similar type of race. Patches covlred a good deal of extra ground and it was an encouraemg effort to finish fourth. Trailer did hot hit out at all well on the hard track and he began to drift half a mile from home. AN UNLUCKY RUNNER. Dainty Sue was an unlucky horse in' the Otane Hack Handicap, for jhe should have won comfortably. .. She was; slow to begin, with the result that there were only two behind her at the end of three furlongs. She commenced to make a forward move _at this stage, but was still occupying fifth t position at the turn, but she then put m some excellent work to get within a length : and a half of the winner, t Lady Chat. With anything like a deceit beginning, she would have won ._ comfortably. , Lady Chat was one of the first out, j and she came home really well. She -, ■ wafe having her first start for some i months and there was a deal of merit in 'her performance. Bold Step did r not receive the best of runs m the i final furlong and he did well to fill the i minor place. He should not be difficult to place to advantage. Diana l Tetrix showed a lot of speed, as did t Liridrum, but neither finished oh. I IN THE VAN THROUGHOUT. , | Having her first start as a three-year-old, Rakahanga was responsible for an t impressive performance in the Home- E wood Flying Handicap. She got the i best of the, iump-out aiid led all the c way, never looking in danger of defeat over the concluding stages. She t was one of the most consistent of her I lige last season and, judging by her I flffort of today, she will continue to t: May a leading part in sprint races this b tteason. Her pilot was R. Howell, a I tliminutive .lad who was having his 1

first ride. He is apprenticed to J. H. Jefferd at Hastings, and is a most promising lad.

Brunhild was in the firing line throughout, and it was a good, effort considering it was her first appearance of the season. She should win a sprint event in the near future. Jazz Boy drew the outside position at the barrier and failed to get out, with the result that he was eighth early and had a lot of leeway to make up. He came home particularly well, and a few strides further on would have been second. Joviality was one of the early leaders, but. he failed to run on, and the same applies to Peter Beckford. The Bigot was in the middle of the field throughout, and he will improve very shortly. As usual, Padishah was tailed right off, but he has never shone over short distances. He is in splendid condition, and by the time the New Zealand Cup comes round should be right at his top.