NAPIER PARK RACES

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 126, 14 June 1937, Page 8

NAPIER PARK RACES

'The Barb.")

Comment on Second Day's Running GUIDE FOR H.B. MEETING

(By '

The fields engaged at Hastings on Thursday and "Saturday will be much different from those which competed at Napier last Wednesday and Saturday. However, a review of Saturday 'a racing may be helpful wben reviewing the fields for the Hawke's Bay. cneeting. Contact won the Waiohiki Hurdles mainly by his brilliaht fencing, but he had little to spare at the finish. On Saturday different tactics were adopted, as instead of making the pace he was ridden in behind, and slipping up on the rails at the home bend he went on to win by the . best part of a length. Bothwell, the, runner-up, jumped a little better than on the opening day, which enabled him to beat Wednesday 's winner by a long neck for second mon'ey. Begorrab, for a beginner, skaped promisingly. He lost ground early through faulty fencing, but getting warmed up to his work he jumped the last three hurdles better. At the finish, in fourth. position, he was going better and stronger than any other competitor. Mabala, with a change of horseman, also went a better race tban on the first day, and it should not be long before se wins a back hurdle event. Pukete was going all rigbt until something sent her back. Taken as a whole they were a poor lot. The money was agam poured on to Fossicker in the hack sprint, but he was not equal to beating the first day's winner, Joviality. Fossicker headed off* tbe winner coming down the straight, and appeared to have that horse's measure, but he weakened. Hinepit was a modefiiie third, and in the writer's opinion will do much better when tried over a middle distance as later on in the day she came out again and went down narrowly to Black Fox over seven furlongs. Quake was "piggish" at the barrier, which may have cost him a minor place. The chief flat event, the Marewa Handicap, saw another close finish, when Lucullus Lad just beat Trailer by a short lengtli. The winner, despite his 9.11, went to the front early to remain there until the finish. This win takes him out of the hack class. Trailer was forced to go on the outside of four horses going out of the straight, and at this stage "his rider would have been better off- if be had dropped in behind, thus saving him a fair amount Of ground. Had he begur. his run a little earlier he may have collected" first money. The third place-getter, Salon, ran a totally different race from that on Wednesday in the Ladies' Handicap. Tractile ran a fair race, but after his good track work Agog ran poorly to finish last. Who won the Park steeplecbase? The records will say Dozie, but it was really jockey Arthur Lord who won the race, as in the running he must have saved at least a hundred yards, so that as he won by a short neck only Dozie must be deemed lucky. This mare jumped well, taking every fence in the same easy manner. Wykemist covered much more ground than the winner. Monarehy ran quite a good race until about five furlongs from home, when he once again bled, and i'rom then on jockey Grindley just allowed him to paddle along. The Trial Plate saw Tullamore win her first race. This Tidal filly has always shown promise. Stamina she possesses, and he should furnish into an ideal filly for the Oaks next season. Seattle was always prominent and hung on better than expected to gain second money. Anubis ran a promising race. Star Lad, who was much on the big side, was running on at. the end -of the six furlongs into fifth place, just in behind the favourite, Shani, who failed to see the journey out. Clavercourt made the pace for a while, but retired wben heads were turned for home. Mon Ace was badly away, so had very little chance from the beginning. Mr. F. Ormond 's Tliala, by Arausio — Courtesy by Limond from Saluto by Soult, was seen poking her nose^ up on the inside half way down the running, but later weakened. She was having her first race, and on this showing should at least be useful witb more racing experience. Gay Hunter won the Winter Oats, but was not the good thing many considered. He moved a little short in his preliihinary, which may have been tbe cause of him drifting at the start and occupying last position to the home bend, when he got a run through on.the rails, which enabled him to get up and win. all out. Passion Fruit, who is held on lease by Mr. L. C. Breakwell, of Dannevirke, from Mr. O. Nelson, ran a first-class race to ■ gain second honours, just nhead of his full sister, Passiou Flower. Blygain was fourth. This maro was the early pace-maker and led into the straight, when she went out wide. The concluding event, the Newstead Hack, was the best betting race of the meeting. The Nigger Minstrel gelding, Blafik Fox, was made favourite, and although he did win he had to be ridden right out to defent tlie Cockpit mare, Hinepit. Eoyal Feast was also well backed, but third was his best after looking a most likely winner when the field were well into the straight. Fossicker was not in tlie least inipressive. Paul Eobeson, who stripped in great condition, ran a very fair race for fourth, but found seven furlongs just a little too far.