RACING BITS AND TURF TATTLE

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 39, 8 October 1931, Page 6

RACING BITS AND TURF TATTLE

the "Judge").

^ (Specially written for the "Post" by i

i The outstanding effort at Ellerslie ^on Saturday was that of Golden Wings in the Great Northern Guineas and this victory stamped him as a high-class three-year-old, worthy to rank with the best of past winners of this valuable classic. He was given two outings at Avondale and he improved each time. On the second occasion he led to within> two or three chains of the finish, this being in the Avondale Guineas. The firmer track last Saturday gave him the opporunity to prove himself what he was — the best in the classic contest at Ellerslie. Despite Bronze Eagle's failure at Avondale he was backed down to odds-on again for the Great Northern Guineas. Yiew Halloo, the Avondale winner, was next fancy at a fair price, but the evenly backed Croupier, Golden Wings and King Colossus \yere at fine quotations. At the start View Halloo jumped away ahead of j the field, although he was displaced within thirty yards by Golden Wings. Then this chestnut proceeded to show them how a 'mile race should be run — and won. At the end of a quarter of a mile, run in 24 2-5s from a barrier start, flat-footed, Golden Wings;opened up a gap to get to the half-mile in 48 l-5s and the five furlong in one minute dead. That was a torrid pace, and the crowd was waiting for Golden Wings to come back. Apparent,ly the other riders were doing the same. However, Bronze Eagle, who was running second clear of the others, was sent ahead to reduqe the margin. At the four furlongs Golden Wings held an advantage of four lengths, perhaps a bit more, over the favourite, and was about the same distance ahead of the others. Making the home turn, Grey had Bronze Eagle within three lengths of the paeemaker, Croupier and View Halloo (the latter being hard ridden) heading the remainder five lengths away. At the distance Bronze Eagle had collared Golden Wings, and then they raced together for a bit. Half a furlong from home Bronze Eagle's rider was anxious, but all that he was capable of was not good enough to prevent his mount stopping, Golden Wings going away to win by a good half length over the tired favourite. The merit of the performance was recognised, for Golden Wings received the plaudits of the crowd. The time for the contest was easily a record, being a second faster than Eaglet's next best two years ago. It was remarkable how the course recovered from the heavy rain, for it rolled out in wonderful order. To indicate how the handicapper was impressed by Golden Wings' effort, he placed him on 8.13 in the sprint on Monday, or 121b over weight-for-age. Karapoti's weight, 9.10, is 101b over weight-for-age, so that the handicapper assessed Golden Wings at

21b better than last year's crack three-year-old. If Golden Wings did so well, then did also Bronze Eagle take some of the honours.' He went a solid race, and his rider was content to let Golden Wings run himself out. It was scarcely Gray's fault that the big chestnut went on with it to some tune. Bronze Eagle ran very well, but his conqueror raced superbly, and surprised everybody. On the other hand, although Bronze Eagle may be a better sprinter than anything else, he ought to be the better for the run, for he was in need of racing. But as for beating Ammon Ra in the Derby at Ellerslie on New Year's. Day, Bronze Eagle's chance is rather remote. . As for Golden Wings and the Derby, he will have to be taken on trust as yet. He has great speed, and likewise in the case of Bronze Eagle, his brilliancy may prove to be found at the expense of stamina. The same was thought of Karapoti twelve months ago, but the doubters were quickly silenced. Both Bronze Eagle and Golden Wings are in the New Zealand Derby at Ricc'arton next month. but in the meantime there is

the Harcourt Cup at Trentham to claim the attention of their owners if they feel lilce talcing that ten furlon gevent on. Croupier was a poor third to Golden Wings and Bronze Eagle, and the others close up were King Colossus, View Halloo, Barascope and Royal ; Artist. The decisive manner in which the first and second horses accounted for the others supports the claim that they are oustanding three-year-olds, up to a mile at least. They were nearly half a dozen lengths in advance of Croupier and the bunch, so it will be seen that they were outclassed. The Mitchelson Cup at Ellerslie last Saturday was in many respects a most disappointing race, but at the same time it resulted in one of the most hotly contested decisions and the most discussed ever witnessed on the course. In the first place, the pace was slow. Prince Val, whose prospeets as a stayer were not too highly assessed on all sides, saw to that, and when he went to the front from the start it was the obvious policy to slow up the field. How effe.ctively this was done will be appreciated by the fact that it took them 56 l-5s for the initial half mile, 1.22 2-5 s for the six furlongs, -and 1.46 4-5s for the mile. From the six the pace was slapped on, and the final half-mile was left behind in 49s. The race has often been run in much faster time, and on this occasion the track was in wonderful order, much to the general surprise. The slow pace saw Historic lying just behind the pacemakers, Taurua and Prince Val, all the way, and pulling hard. At the home turn Taurua

retired, but Prince Val hung on. His- . toric then began to overhaul him, and he appeared to "catch the leader near the post. Then Prince Val forg- J ed slightly ahead once more, and Historic again came at him. But this time Prince Val's last desperate plunge for the imaginary line was — effective, while Historic was a bit slow to get to him, a deadheat resulting. A stride past the post the ^ favourite was in front, but then the g race was over. 5 The finishing line at Ellerslie is | one of the most tricky imaginable, | and the verdict was the subject of | numerous debates. It really appear- | ed a1s if Historic had failed to get | •up in time, but in these cases it is | only the man in the box who knows. f It was a coincidence that the preced- | ing race, the open sprint, should also | result in a deadheat, and this meant | that the boo"kmakers (are there = any ? ) would have to pay out on four | horses instead of two, at restricted \ odds, of course. f

Prince Val ran a sterling race. It | proved once again that it does not \ pay a handicapper to take a risk with | a horse, which, recognised as a sprin- h ter only, essays a distance. In future Prince Val will have to be taken into consideration for the big handicap ahead. He is not in the New Zealand Cup, but if he were, one would be chary of saying that he would not see out the two miles. Historic went a banging good race. The slow pace was of no earthly use to him, and he was unable to reveal his fine stamina over a mile and a half, for the contest resolved itself into a sprint over the last six furlongs. With a true run race, it looked as if Historic would have been the certainty he had been proclaimed. His connections were nnlucky; the honours were with their horse, who was conceding a couple of stone to Prince Val. Seatown ran one of his most gallant races. A couple of days before the event he was troubled with a sore foot, and this was opened on Friday and a quantity of puss removed. He was still a bit sore on Saturday. In the race be obtained a nice position early, but running along the back his rider was hard at him, the horse apparently loafing in order to save the affected extremity. Over the last three furlongs Seatown went great guns and his third, although three lengths behind the deadheaters, was full of merit. It looked as if Seatown might have repeated his last year's victory but for the slight injury mentioned. Had this occurred a week prior to the race, there would have been time to get over it, yet it was not to be.