H.B.J.C. EVENT

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 16, 12 October 1937, Page 15

H.B.J.C. EVENT

"The Barb.'"

Reviefw of the Form Shown HORSES' PERFORMANCES

(By

The Hawke's Bay Jockey Club was rather unfortunate in that, after a fortnight o£ perfect spring weather, the morning of SatuTday was anything but promising and about the time country patrons were thinking of leaving home a southerly wind set in which had every appearance of deve.'oping into heavy rain. Half-way through the afternoon it cleared up, but the damage was done. Had the fine sunny weather continued, the club would have staged a mo6t successful one-day meeting. As it was a proiit was made, while the racing tliroughout was most enjoyable and of good class. The Favourite's Mishap. Speculators began the day's operations on the wrong leg, as the firm favourite, Blue Shirfc, was beaten out of a place. He was xidden coniidently near the rear of the field in what was not exactly a fast-run race. Three furlongs from home jockey Strntton gave him his head and just when beginning to improve his position back came Acron to give the favourite a severe jar which sent him well back as well as unbalancing him. Getting going again after this mishap, the chestnut again met with trouble and from then on was in a hopeless position. The writer considers he would for certain have troubled the winner. At better odds than he sh'ould have been, Buster Brown went a fine Tace always near the leaders, and when Lord on top asked him for a little more pace in the run home, the Weather vane gelding came on in good style to have a good two-lengths margin at the finish over TJmpire, who'was a little unlucky at the start to lose quite a few lengths. However, the general opinion is that he would not have beaten the wumer. Black Fox, who gained third money, had every chance, the same applying to Cletrac who went a fair race. Clavercourt, after the field had taken np their running positions, endeavoured to win all the wa y, but over the last two furlongs began to lose ground when weakening, finishing sixth. The next paix to finish was Acron and Eapa Waiata, but neither ever threatened danger. Aa Impressive Win. Lindrum, .despite drawing No. 14 at the barrier. very soon was in on the rails in second position thanks to the riding ability of H. Young, ' wlio has no superior at the beginning of a race in the Dominion. Young allowed Lindrum to drop into third position half a mile from home, and losing no ground at the turns, never asked an effort from his mount until heads were turned for home. Giving the Siegfried tkree-year-old a couple of reminders with the whip, he finished full of running and undistressed to score by a couple of lengths. Eeasonable, who for some reason or other was only fiftli in therv betting order, was also ridden a welljudged race, as he was always near tho lead with something in reserve, bnt when Forsyth on him challenged Lindrum his mount was hardly equal to the occasion. Undoubtedly the race will do him a great dehl of benelit as he suffered in comparison in racing condition with the winner. As at Wanganui, Amoroso showed plenty of eariy speed as he piloted this smart field until the straight was reached when weakening to finish a moderate third. Once he develops a little more stamina this Philamor four-year-old will win races. Tominy Atkins surprised by finishing fourth, but his racing experience and solid condition may have been responsible for his beating some of the more fancied ones. It was indeed surprising to see the Manawatu filly, Havanna Princess# the favourite, for which the supporters of the winner were truly thankful. This filly had a chance to win as she was not far away from the three leadera three furlongs from home, but, as at Otaki, slowed up over the last two furlongs to finish fairly well back. Fundy Bay was • seen over the concluding stages finishing like a train, and as opined once before in these colnmns the Tidal gelding will not win in good company until such time as raced over a distance. Star Lad and Jacynth were a little disappointing; in fact, never did they at any part look as though a place would come their way. Riding Judgment Prevails. When tho horsos paraded for the Duke of Gloucester Cup Soho stood out on his own; in fact, in a Melbonrne Cup field would still attract attention. No matter perhaps how the race was run, this handsome gelding of Mr. G. D. Beatson's would have won, but seldom has an amateur rider given a better exhibition of riding and judgment than Mr. George Beatson, junior on Saturday. He was one of the first out, to pilot the field out of the straight assuring himself that the race was not going to be a false run, and once the pace was established to his satisfaction, he dropped in behind on the rails. Half a mile from home he was riding with the coolness of a veteran in fourth position. He still remained there until the home tum. had been negotiated, when he gradually allowed his mount to lengthen his stride to come on and win a well-judged race, reminiscent of liis father in days gone hy. He won by a long neek, but (liat margin could have been niuch groafi'r iJ" desived. Tho win was most popular us the eheers proved on Soho returning to scale. Soho pulled up as fresh as a "iarlc," proving that ■he was trained to the minute, althougli

I, for one, did think that perhaps he was a little big for the weight and distance. It is a long way from a race of this description to a New Zealand Oup but the l)efoe gelding has only to go on the right way to be very hard to beat in that two-mile race. Taillight was always handy, but is not in the same class as the winner. Many thought that Mr K. Duncan could have been eeen to better advantage at the finish, but Soho held a lot in reserve and even a vigorous professional first-class, horseman. anned with a couple of batteries could not have won on Taillight. Hunting Queen went a very creditable third, but a big percentage of those who witnessed the finish were strongly of the opinion that Parry was in third position at the finish. This gelding ran a firstcla&s race. Never over the first mile was he up near the leaders and came from well back to ba close np at the final. De Friend carried 200 ticket3 more than Soho, but at the rise of the barrier he reared up to lose many lengths, tailing the field past ,the winning post the first time. Mr H. Dodds has been seen to better adyantage on many occasions than he was on Saturday. Tres Sec did not go quite as well as expected, but perhaps the biggest disappointment of the race was Royal Minstrel, who never flattered his 352. supporters. The form he displayed was too poor to be true, but his easy preparation may be the reason. Mercian Prince and Daryill were together, well back, last. A Smart Youngster. Sudan made no race of the Nursery Handicap, as always being handy. she simply played with the opposition when it came to racing home. The Hawke's Bay juvenilfes were considered to be far superior than for many years, but perhaps that was an opinion that may not hear fruit, or Sudan is better than thought, as the time, 48 2-5, is above the average recorded in past years over half a mile on the Hastings course. Sudan is a well-grown filly and one that last January, before taken to the Trentham saies, was favourably commented upon in the Herald-Tribune. Young always had Diana Tetrix in a winning position, but Sudan was too hot a proposition and second was her best. Jeanne is an improver and looks like developing into a smart galloper over short distances with a little more experience. The Gascony — Mori filly, who for looks compared favourably with the best of the field, has speed. but hatt not the best mouth. She ran wide at the first turn, which cost her the race. Once this filly learns to be more tractable she will win races. Imogen got the worst of the start and it was an impossible task to stand up the leaders the start she had to over the last three furlongs. Her stable companion, Ivar, who won so well at the parade, on the eve of the races developed a slight cold so had to be scratched. The Eing was the most impressive of the others and it will not be long before having a win. Night Attack and Sweepaway could not take their places in the field, for the reason that they had not been registered or named, a fact that had been overlooked by their respective owners, Meissrs T. H. Lowry and C. Haldane. The Best Horse Beaten. A false-run race was the Spring Handicap. For the first six and a-half furlongs the field was loitering at nothing more than three-quarter pace. Hunting Cat won by the narrowest of margins, but it was only the vigorous riding of S. Wilson that won for the Hastings-trained gelding. Big Dook at the "distance" had the race won.Padishah was not suited to the slow-run race. Nevertheless, he ran a fine one for the short sprint that it. proved to be. Hunting Cat and Padishah. two of the locals still standing their ground in the New Zealand. Cup will later on in the month be taken to Wellington, and, all going well, will go on to Riccarton. Passion Fruit went a fair race foT fourth, but the race was no criterion as to whether he will make a successful come-back. Tiger Gain led for most of the way, but oyer the last two furlongs drifted back to last to pass the finishing post alongside Maine, who was always in the rear. A Smart Hack. The Bigot, who at one time was trained and owned in Hastings, despite the fact that he has not raced since winning at Manawatu last April with 8.4,. won well the Little Flaxmere. He has grown into a fine stamp of a thoroughbred, and assuming that he will make improvement with racing, has every appearance of furnishing into a higher-grade winner. Granvale was payIng over the half-hundred mark when running second to the one-eyed gelding. He ran a capital Tace. coming from well back to gain that finishing position. The diminutive Huntette was burdened with 9st., so that her third was a creditable performance and secOnd-class open sprints should come her way. Felicitation, judging by her finishing effort, will win in the very near future, but she too is on the small side, which may prove a handicap. Rotoma, the favourite, and Son and Heir were not fortunate at the start, so may do better at Masterton this wcek, although Rotoma is not up to the class she locked like being at the beginning of last season. Taro and Thala, the local bracket, did not run up to expectations. wliile Colleen Gain, after showing pace ±'or about half a mile, faded away over the business end. Le Toquet was an unlucky performer. After jumping away smartly he toas twice knocked before the half-mile post was reached, which, in my opinion, cost him a place, although he would hardly liave beaten the winner. Le Toquet should go close to retrieving himself on Thursday at Opaki in the seven-f urlon g hack race, as he looks like being better over a rniddle distance than at sprinting. FJame Queen rau a very fair race and had she not been disappointed when makiiig the home lurrt, may have D«en in Ihe money. A fine-looking thrcc-year-old is Raana that later on should show , improved formu

An Ail-the-way Winner. Making his first appearance in open company Joviality, who this season has proved a brilliant hack, was first out in the Flying and never at any part after the field got going was anything within a length of this handsome Hunting Song horse who at the finish had a length and a-half winning margin. He should go on and win in even better company. Oratory, who at 9st. had her share of weight. was at the handicap and condition no match for the winner. However, she ran a creditable second, so her turn with that race into her may not be far distant. Pakanui was third, but hardly ran up to track time, although the 1.13 recorded on Saturday was fast for the Hastings tracRs, as only about three times has that been bettered here. Black Thread will improve with the outing, as also it ia hoped will the three-year-old Brunhilde. It must bo said her form was a little disappointing, as never di.d she show the speed of last season. Pladie's outing will benefit him for Thursday 's Masterton Highweight. Mata Hari in the middle stages showed pace, but later finished well back to fail to run up to her Gisborne track gallop put up prior to her coming down last week. The latter'a number was hoisted as being second, but a mild uproar by the backers of Oratory rectified the mistakes. Both mares are chestnuts, which may have caused the judge to make the mistake. Winning Owners, The following were the most successful owners: — Messrs O. Nelson £140, G. D. Beatson £115 (inc. £10 miniature cup). F. Hall £90, L. D. Berry £80, T. C. and Mrs J. N. Lowry £80, T. White £70 and F. F. Newman £70. Successful Tradners and Jockeys. No trainer won more than one race with wins credited to horses prepared by L. D. Berry, C. Stratton, G. D. Beatson (owner-trainer); Mrs Macdonald, G. W. B. Greene, L. G. Morris and W. McKinnon. Thus four races came to Hastings-trained horses, two to Awapuni and one to Greenmeadows. S. Wilson was the only rider to win two races, a single win going to -A. E. Lord, H. Young, S." Anderson, G. Tattersall and Mr G. Beatson. who received a cup for his victory on Soho. Successful sires were: Hunting Song (Hunting Cat,. Joviality and five minor place-getters) was the only sire represented by more than one winner, his progeny aggregating £300. Then came Defoe (Soho) £115, Beau Pere (Sudan), Weathervane (Buster Brown) and Baralong (The Bigot) £70 apiece.