HIGH CASTE AGAIN

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 2, 4 January 1939, Page 13

HIGH CASTE AGAIN

THE ROYAL STAKES

GAY SON IN BETTER FORM

(By Telegraph.) (Special -from "Early Bird.**) AUCKLAND', January 3. High Caste left no doubts as to his superiority over the season's two-year-olds when he scored in the Royal Stakes on ,the final day of the Auckland Racing Club's Summer Meeting at Ellerslie today. He was ridden right out in a punishing finish, but he finished in the gamest possible manner. The Clifford Plate saw Gay Son slow the field up early, and then have enough in reserve to withstand all challenges. There were several minor surprises, the biggest dividend of the day being returned by Poland in the final event. RESPECTFUL AGAIN. Respectful repeated his victory of the previous evening by dashing to the front at the distance in the Goodwood Handicap and winning hands down. He was not far away at the turn, where Rollicker and Golden Blonde were leading, and he was easily best in the run home. Fidelis, favoured with a run on the inner, was a good second over Dark Shadow and De Friend, with High Tea (tailed off in the first halfmile), Ivy Willonyx, Rollicker, Inver, Golden Blonde, and Tooley Street following. IMPROVED SHOWING. Hopalong improved to win the Auckland Hurdles at a price approaching double figures. Simint and Rozel.were together early, but the latter drifted when she hit the fourth fence very hard, Simint was joined at the last obstacle by Hopalong and Charade* arid the trio staged an interesting finish. A bad jump caused Charade to lose some ground. Hopalong was enjoying his first success as a jumper and he was ridden very judiciously. Pyrenees was never a possibility, but Little Briton's fourth was promising. , » A SPOUTED DUEL. Lutahist arid Konneta had a spirited duel over the last hundred yards of the Sylvia Handicap, and the former obtained the decision by a very narrow margin, with Classic close up third. Valerian showed the way to the turn from Gay Movie, Gold Wings, Lady Fox, La Vie, Konneta, and Lutanist. The last-named pair finished too strongly for the others. Classic came from the rear. Valerian was fourth, ahead of Gay Movie, La Vie, Lady Fox, Gold Wings, and Gold Tray. Neither Lutanist nor Konneta was well drawn at the post. CONSISTENT VALAMITO. The Nathans' Memorial Handicap was another good race, with the consistent Valamito leading the field home. Paddy the Rip was always prominent and Day Wind ran up to him crossing the top, the pair b«ngjust clear at the home turn from Valamito, Jonathan, and Jack Tar. who were m line. Paddy the Rip held the advantage aft the half-distance, but m then Valamito shot through on the inside and he was a shade too good for the leader. It is not often that L. J. Ellis allows a horse up on the inside but it was done today. Valamito was a bit hampered by the horses outside of him and it was a fortuitous circumstance that drove him to go for the inside running. Homily finished very gamely under punishment. Golden Sheila lost her position nearing the turn but she was running on surprisingly well in fourth place. Jonathan was best of the others. Arctic King, who moved very short in his preliminary, finished fifth after being last all the way. A THRILLING FINISH, The three-horse Royal Stakes was a thriller and the odds-on favourite High Caste duly prevailed, though the horse that should undoubtedly have won was Te Hero. The favourite carried more than twice as much as Beaulivre, with Te Hero only slightly less backed. Te Hero got a shade the worst of the start and Beaulivre went to the lead, with High Caste moving quickly up on the outside. In the battle up the straight Te Hero was boring in badly and his rider finally allowed him to go over to the rail which the other pair had left. The trio crossed the line almost on terms, with Te Hero going great guns and splitting the other pair. It was a splendid contest between three good horses. GAY SON AT BEST. Gay Son; going his best race at the meeting, led throughout the Clifford Plate and he succeeded in defeating the heavily-backed Round Up and Stretto. Round Up and Stretto followed the pacemaker all through, and then when they tried to go after him they hampered each other, Stretto finally closing to within a length of the winner. Peerless did not go at all kindly and after moving up handy at the turn she petered out, the slow pace early not suiting her. The result of the race was a triumph for the jockey H. N. Wiggins. ALL IN A LINE. Bachelor King and Llangollen had a rare tussle in the Bowen Handicap, with the former winning narrowly. Valimeen was badly left and Anion was poorly placed early. Tepoto began brilliantly from the outside, and so did the two inside horses, Palustre and Whirling, but Tepoto's pace soon carried her clear and she led a bunch into the home stretch. The field spread across the course in the final burst, and while Bachelor King just headed Llangollen they were only slightly ahead of Whirling, Anion, Surella, and Palustre. On the running Anion and Whirling could be said to have been unlucky. SURPRISE OF MEETING. The surprise of the meeting came fittingly in the last event, the Grey Handicap, which Poland won at odds approaching two score. He had run badly yesterday, hence the neglect of backers to support him. He had moved up handy on the outside of the bunch at the turn into the straight and hej asserted himself at the distance, being a definite winner over Melvanui and

Full Hand. Following in a bunch were Midland, Coronation, Silver Eagle, and The Trimmer. Coronation was poorly placed early and he was forced to cover extra ground, so his effort was promising. Lady Meath had every chance.