HAD ONLY ONE RIVAL

NZ Truth, Issue 1216, 21 March 1929, Page 15

HAD ONLY ONE RIVAL

Burwood Handicap A Nice Plum For Athalone AVENGER MATHAVE IT YET v • . i . '■ '

(By "The Toff").. ' Driven a quiet race by his trainer, J. Davidson, Athalone won the Burwood Handicap at New Brighton, going* away over the last half -furlong from Avenger, whioh weakened during the last seventy yards of the trip.

PLACED fifth with a mile to go,' Athalone paced along m resolute style m that position until within fifty yards of the home bend, where Davidson shook him up, and he proceeded to gather the leaders. He was on the outside of two sulkies while negotiating the turn, and though given a stroke of the whip to shake off Avenger over the last furlong, he held his opponent cheaply at the end. Athalone is' a six-year - old brown gelding by Harold Dillon from Violet Lyons, and is owned by Mrs. L. White. At >the start, Golden Author, . Mercury and Royal Serene declined to begin pacing, and soon were out of court. ' Sahib led out of the straight with Firpo, Okoura, Avenger, Kiowa and Athalone racing m that order. Passing the three- furlongs peg, Sahib broke and "rattled"' m his hopples for a couple of furlongs. Firpo then took charge and led to the first half-mile m 1.12 3/5, with "Linkman, Okoura, Avenger, Kiowa and Athalone next.

And so they raced down to the mile station m 2.21, where the field commenced to bunch, Firpo .still being m possession from Okoura, Linkman, Kiowa, Avenger, Athalone, June de Oro, Shadowland and Travis Axworthy. There was no change as they raced past the mile and a-half peg m 3.31. Then the pace was increased. Firno was first m line for home, with Linkman, Athalone, Avenger, Okoura and Travis Axworthy after him. No sooner had they straightened for home than Firpo and Linkman left their feet. Athalone then hit the front, with Avenger as his only serious opponent. A short struggle ensued and then home Athalone came. Five lengths behind the pair finished Travis Axworthy, which will be seen m a favorable light over a two-mile- journey before the winter sets m. The last half-mile was run m 1.5 2/5.