WOODVILLE FORM

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 34, 24 February 1937, Page 8

WOODVILLE FORM

" The Barb"),

A Guide to Napier I

(By

With the Napier Park autumn meeting at the end of next week a review of the Woodville form may not be out o'f place. The weights for the Napier meeting have made their appearance to .general satisfaction. • * • Gironde ran well on the opening day at Woodville, as after a furlong had been covered he simply ran away from his field to win comfortably by three' lengths, not extended. The second day, through he drew No. 9 at the barrier, he was soon rnnning in a handy position, but between the four and three furlong posts he galloped on another horse 's heels and went back two or three positions, as well as being thrown off his balance. Straightened up again, he was forced to come on the outside of his field, so that his third, under the circumstances, was a most creditable performance and undoubtedly h« was a certainty beaten.

w m m Parry was another of the entries for Napier that attracted attention. On Saturday he "was never out of trouble in the early part of the maiden event, and it was only a furlong off the post that a clear run came his way. Then he put in a fine finishing claim to go down narrowly for second place when paying over a tenner for that position. On Monday he was started in the seven-furlong race, but any chance he had was lost at the barrier, when he and Bumble were left so badly that either would have needed to he a Carbine to have woiu • • " m Inheritance in the maiden race the first day had every chance had he been equal to the occasion. At the finish was about seventh or eighth, though at one part of the race was nearer the leaders than that. But why, with this xunning iu mind, was he made favourite for the highwoight event on Monday? From the time the machine opened he was the one that carried the bulk of the investments, and eventually £551 was the amount on his number. He was fairly well away and going out of the straight was pulling a little, but going down the back it could be seen that he was hardly likely to finish in a place. Passing the winning post he was np closer to the front than, on the first day, so to win a. race' at Napier Park he will need to improve greatly in the next ten days. • * • The Greenmeadows-trained Cockpit gelding Paro was not started the first day, but on Monday he was first out from No. 4 position, and immediately took up the role of pacemaker. Although challenged hotly by two or three in the straight, he was meyer headed, winning all out by a little oV6r a Jength. Although ^here were many substantial dividends at the meeting this gelding 's was more than double any other, running as it did over the XXX mark. • r • Colleen Gain, a half sister by Gainscoiirt to Abbey Feale, lined up for the Novice Plate on Monday. .That was as far as she got, as when the tapes went up she whipped round in the wrong direction. She is considered smart, as in her only other start she won at Egmont when xunning off the traek. « Tupai ran twice unplaced, but as he was suff ering. from a slight cold therq is an excuse for his indifferent displays. The second day in the novice he was fairly well supported, but was never seen in an advantageous xun ning position. ; • • • - • Son and Heir was the only juvenila participating that will be seen in action at Greenmeadows. • The first day he bolted about three-quarters of a mile, throwing T. Green, who sustained an injured back. This colt is a little way"; ward, and on Monday it took A. Jenkins all his time to prevent him from; taking charge. His second and close fourth, among smart youngsters, brings him into prominence for Napier. • • Mr. C. Haldane 's Red Cbckade was started the first day only, and shape| very green. Although not in tho first day's acceptance list for Napier, he may be a contestant the second. • • • Sansfoy ran two Bolid races for ' a third and a se.cond. On Saturday he seemed to be ridden too confidently. The second day he was kept nearer the leading division, and at the distance appeared to have the issue safe, when Blue Garter suddenly ranged up alongside him and took the major honour. Sansfoy is very well at present and, although from now on he will have to compete in open company, should prove a useful "welter" performer.

» * * • ,*■ On Saturday Blue Garter was again seen in second position, but on Monday went one better by collecting the Maharahara handicap. She ran two good races and thoroughly deserved bier suCeess, in which B. Bi. Morris jlayed no small .part, riding an extremely clever and fine . finish. An ovation was accorded both Morris and his mount on returning lo scale, to Morris on account of his fine horsemanship, and to Blue Garter on her win after so many placings. * • Eoyal Solo went only sp-so, and to have a chance at Napier will need to improve. This she might do, as on the Woodville trip she did very poorly, hardly ealing one feed while away. . The , sprints both days saw ■ great finishes. On Saturday the first fouT crossed the final line with heads only separating them. In this race Sir Nigel paying something over a score, was left slightly, and then had anything but a good run, so his fourth looked as if with a little luck it might have been a win. The pnblic recognised this, and on Monday when he did win, he paid a dividend of about a tenth of his first day's odds.. He got well away, but gradually drifted, and when it came to turning for home th©

white-faced gelding was in seventh position among eight runners, and his chance looked hopeless. However, once in the straight, he put in a great run, and in the last stride or two, got up to beat Land Tax by a short neck, a proinising performance. «r * » King's Lancer, who is to be brought up to Napier for the Hack Cup, ran two consistent races for a c^ange. He is trained by his owner, Mr. W. Gaisford, on his sheep station, aud the first day at Woodville was in need of a pipe-opener, yet ran a creditable second. Improved with that race, he came out on Monday to win with P. Atkins ' able assistance., • • • Silver River on the opening day rau .his best race to date this se'ason when he won the County Hack Handicap from a fair field. On Monday, though having every chance, he failed to finish in the first four, # # » Quake was third the first day, but was never seen on Monday. He. like a few others at the meeting, was suf-' f ering from a cold, so an excuse may. be tendered for his moderate displays. • % • • Mohua was fourth the second day, but it was a moderate performance, and she will have to run decidedly. better next time to be a possibility. Her stable companion Helios on Saturday had his chances spoilt at the start, and on the concluding day, though with Atkins in the/ saddle, ran much below expectations.