RACING NOTES

Grey River Argus, 16 April 1948, Page 6

RACING NOTES

(By

“Galtee More”)

All the Way Geisha Girl was first out and first home in the. .President’s Handicap at Invercargill, in which she returned a win dividend of almost a score. At the straight. entrance .she ..was .- clear of Naughtv Lady, Young Bob, Pensacola, Sea Venture, -Sal’s Pal and the favourite Special Flight. Pensacola threw, out. a . determined - challenge over the last furlong but’ Geisha Girl hung on to. beat him by half a length. Sal’s Pal finished from the back to be a Long heck .away third, with Verdant close up fourth. Triumphal, Naughty LadyLPerusha and Young. Bob were next. . . Return to Form Desert Trek put, up a .great performance to win the Bluff Handicap as -he .was last of a strung-out field at the half-mile, but he finished with a fine .run to secure a narrow decision aver String Band. At the straight entrance String Band had charge, with Alsvider, Lady Melrose. Desert Trek, - Defendant, and Good Sport handiest of the others. String Band was clear inside the distance, but. he was unable to hold off Desert Trek’s challenge, and the last-named got. up for a neck decision. Alsvider, who was one of the last to jump out, finished solidly half a length back third. Defendant was fourth.

At Good. Odds - - , --- - Twice a winner over , hurdles at the Nelson -meeting, the former northerner Pedantic won the Presidents Plandicap on the last day of the Marlborough meeting. Beau Raide was pacemaker and had a clear lead at the straight entrance, but he then commenced to feel the pinch when Pedantic and Delinquent put in their claims. Pedantic finished the stronger to. win bv three-quarters of a length, with Falconbridge, who had been badly away, getting up to touch off Delinquent.

Grill's Imorovement The field that Grill - beat in the Waimate Cup was not a strong one, but his winning margin was fairly wide and in his present form he should go on to further successes. His recent improvement -makes him a bright- prospect for a -rich handicap during the next few months.

Luck of the Game Some time ago Mr O. R. Porter, Melbourne’s biggest owner ol the day, was reported to have refused an American offer of £70.000 for the t-wo-year-cld Scotwvn. Since then Scotwvn has been beaten three times, and at Randwick he injured a tendon and will-not-be able to race again for a- long time.

Promising Filly When Sea Venture went under by the narrowest of margins to Bath Slipper in the Flying Handicap at Riverton, she was having her first start in open company, but. she made ample amends for her defeat by a clear-cut win on the final day. Sea Venture is owned by Dr. J. E. Rogers, who bred her from Set Sail, Solferino mare who had many outstanding successes to her credit on the race track.

Due for Winning Turn The Man’s Pal four-year-old. String Band, who had two second ulacings to his credit at Riverton, looks like playing a prominent part in hack events in the south. His only success to date was in the Novice Handicap at the Birchwood Hunt Club’s meeting last year, but not much has been seen of him on the race track. He is by Man’s Pal from the Nigger Minstrel mare Dinner Music, and was bred by the wellknown Invercargill owner-trainer, F. W. Ellis.

Disappointing Irish Wit, who won the Gardner Memorial Steeplechase at the Birchwood Hunt'Club’s meeting earlier in' the month, after a good display of clean jumping, though burdened with 11.2, was the logical favourite for the big cross-country events at Riverton. He lost his rider,’- however, in the Great Western Steeplechase, and on the second day he failed to show his best, being beaten into third place after an unimpressive display of jumping. At Invercargill on Saturday he had a commanding lead when he fell two fences from home.

Good Staying Mare Grande Melee scored her most important success when she accounted for the Opawa Handicap field at Riccarton. She has been most consistent this season, scoring her first win at the Banks Peninsula meeting in October, and she followed this up with a win at Hororata, and won again on the Banks Peninsula course a few weeks ago. She is from the Winning Hit —Scrimmage mare Fracas, who won several races for the late Sir Charles Cliffoid.

Company Too Good Dark Arrow was a disappointment in the big race on the second day of the Manawatu meeting. He was well placed turning for home, but instead of unfolding his customary finishing run he quietly dropped out of it.

Worth Watching Golden Hope, an attractive-look three-year-old filly by Salmagundi from Helen Gold, came in for support in the Te Matai Hack Handicap at Awapuni last Saturday. After holding a prominent position to the straight entrance she was beaten into seventh but she should do netter when the tracks ease slightly.' Should Win Again

Langspiel, winner of the open seven furlongs at Awapuni last Saturday, is a product of Lang Bian from Nora Gregor, and thus has a strain of staying power as well as sprinting ability. In the race she displayed both, for, after holding a handy position to the straight entrance, she unfolded a finishing run that, carried her through to a' decisive victory.