Comment on the Running

Rotorua Morning Post, Issue 5324, 10 February 1947, Page 6

Comment on the Running

Tommy Gun Hits Builseye Tommy Gun proved his superiority in the final furlong of the Waimangu Handicap to beat the fast-finishing Greek Silver by nearly a length. The win favourite, Balancer, had every chance. They went avvay to a good line, the leaders when they had settled down being Digest, Balancer and Abbey Duke. Koura Dink made play round the top turn from Balancer, Digest and Te Parata, and led into the straight from Digest, Te Parata and Balancer, who was already under press'ure. Tommy Gun was right behind the leaders, and he ran through at will within the distance to score decisively. Greek Silver carae with a wet sail to , cut Te Parata out of second money. Pavaals was a close fourth, then catne , Little Duke, Koura Dink, Airies apd j Title. Digest ran vvide at the home | turn, and carried out Tatanga and Abbey Duke. Smart Two-Yeav-Old Ballaview was the first to break the line from a good start in the Arawa Nursery Handicap, but she was quickly joined by Golden' Beau. In close attendance were Woolooga, Belcroon and La Rita. As they ran across the top, Golden Beau and Woolooga had opened up a gap of three lengths from Belcroon, Monty, La Rita and Distributor, who was badly away, tailed the field. Golden Beau took complete comman.l as soon as he was headed for home, and he won easing up by two lengths from Ballaview. La Rita was running on, a clear length away, then carae Earldale, Woolooga, Monty and Belcroon. Monty, the win favourite, never looked like scoring*. The winner's perfoi'manee \*as impressive. Brief Out of Bag After long knocking, Brief opened the door Lo success for his owner in the Pohutu Ilighweight Handicap. From a ragged start, Battling Brave, the favourite, Carthage, Rere Tere, Brief and Norman .Knight were early on the way. Running out of the straight, Greek Boy joined Battling Brave in the lead. Carthage and Norman Knight took over the pacemakers' role at the six furlongs, and with half the j'ourney covered, the order was these two, then Battling Brave, Greek Boy, Royal Advice and Rere Tere making a forward move. Brief made his way from the ruck on. the home turn, and at the foot of the straight, was lying second, with Rere Tere and Battling Brave still in the picture. Brief ran 011 best of all to beat Rere Tere by a length and alialf. A similar distance away carae Norman Knight and Battling Brave together, the former being awarded thircl place. Next to finish were Slavonik, Greek Boy, Victory Bridge and Jay Wind. The start was delayed 20 minutes through North Wilts bolting. Corot Fails The win favourite, Corot, had his chances of winning his fourth Rotorua Cup extinguished at the start, for when the field got under way, he was a bad last, while Baffles Rex and Land Warden also began slowly. The pilots at this stage were Hazroy and Morehu Park. Running through the straight, Bright Fox was just clear of Morehu Park, -with La Fillette, Hazroy and Te Kiwi lying handy and Our Bridge behind these, lying in eig'hth jfiace. Our

Bridge moved up quiekly to be tucked in behind the leading- quartet, huL almost at onec he fell back again. At the three furlongs, Bright Fox, Batal, Morehu Park "and Te Kiwi had J the best positions, but once straight- 1 ened up for ,home Bright Fox soon drew away, and had the race won at the distance. His" margin over Our. Bridge, who was rushed. up from an almost impossible position, was a length. Te Kiwi was at a similar interval," ahead of Commissar, who also was doing his wonk at the rig'lit end. La Fillette and Land Warden were in close attendance on him, with Brown Night and- Morehu Park following*. The whipper-in was Baffles Rex. 'Although Bright Fox wron decisively, his task would have been much harder had Our Bridge not been ridden a shocking race. Hardware Home Nanakea broke the line in the Hot Springs Handicap, Hardware, Revelene, Lyn Vaals, Mabel Knight and Rosslare attending her. The lastnamed joined Nanakea in the lead at the - half-mile, but there was little change in the order of the rest of the field. Rosslare fell back again, and Nanakea was closely aeeompanied into the straight by Hardware, doing it -nieely, Revelene, Surella Boy, Mabel Knight and Hazara. Lig-ht Opera came later into the picture, ar.d the aged Hardware held off Revelene to win . by a head. Light Opera was two lengths away, and Nanakea fourth. Mabel Knight, Pavaals, Merry 'Nymph, Hazara and Surella Boy comprised the middle division. The favourite, Euryalus, never flattered his supporlers for a minute. Hack Cup Battle The favourite pair, Gay Fault and Foxfable, had a very close race in the Geyser Hack Cup, and finished as name.i. Foxfable was slow to find her feet and after two furlongs, she was standing *p the leaders 'i rlozen lengths. Cornell and Cydonia shared the pacen:akc-r's role, and running along the back they were chased along by Captain Jesse, Raphael, Star Duchess, Brown Duke and Foxfable. Into ihe straight, Cornell was still in possession, but he was being hardridden. Foxfable, who was third as they straightened up, came on to overhaul Captain Jeses and Cornell. He l'ooked all over' a winner until Gay Fault, who had trailed him, came with a wet -sail 011 the outside and pipped him 011 the post. Captain Jesse was a length and a-half further back, then in the next division were Cornell, Brown Duke, Raphael, Hunting Park and Donnyhrook. Open Sprint •Contango was the first choiee of speculators for the Tourist Handicap, but she stumhled and lost her rider at the top bend. The running was made from barrier rise by King's Pride and Diamond Doll, who were attended by Bueno, Hunting Loch and Bonnie Grey, running together. The " first horse beaten was Diamond Doll and King's Pride held his advar.tage, but onuly by a neck from the fast-finish-ing Bonnie Grey and Bueno, who were separated by about the same margin. Hunting Loch was fourth. The Last Race The scratching pen was plied heavily in the Mokoia Handicap, for of the 20 acceptors, only six i'acei the barrier. Playfellow \vas favourite, but he was beaten out of a place. Irish Poet, with a 71b. apprentice allowance, led all the way, being attended first by Revelene, then by Quick Draw. Irish Pott beat Nancy Vaals, who finished much better than any of tho others, by a length. Revelene was third, and Playfellow, Quick Draw and Mayfall, who was tailed ofl* from the beginning*, were well beaten. :W. J. Broughton Rides Four Winners At Wanganui FORDELL HURDLES, U miles: 2 — 2 Peter's Choice 10.12 (W. E. Carter) 1; 5 — 6 Roto Parera lO.'O, 2; 3 — 3 Foreign Coin 9.(12, 3. Scratched: Rockanui, Red Chief, Homespun, Red Roeket. Half length; half neck. Time: 2.46 3-5. SEDGEBROOK HANDICAP, 51 fu\\: 1 — 1 Marilyn 8.3 (W. J. Broughton) 1; 2 — 2 General Victory 7.5, 2; 4 — 4* Night School 9.2, 3. All started. Head; two lengths. Time: 1.7 2-5. LAXDGUARD HANDICAP, 6 fur. ; and 80 yards: 1 — 1 Flarepath 8.2 (W. 1 J. Broughton) 1; 3 — 3 Trig Point 9.0, 2; 0 — 6 Nuptial 7.7, 3. Scratched: All Bay. Length and ahalf; four. Time: 1.18. ' BRUNSWICK HANDICAP, 71 fur. and 36 yards: 4 — 5 Robin's Reward 9.2 (W. Connor) 1; 6 — 1 Fort Royal 8.2, 2; 8—8 Tortago 8.0, 3. * Scratched: Lady Seholar. Threequarters of a length; three. Time: 1.35. EARLE STAKES 11 miles: 5—5 Barrage 7.12 (W. J. Broughton) 1; 1 — 1 Flying Ace 7.43, 2; 4—4 Imperial 9.0, 3. Scratched: Black Plato. Half head eac-h way.' Time: 3.5.

HARRISON HACK CUP, II miles: 7 — 5 Rockaniti 7.13 (W. Connor) 1; 12 — 11 Goody Two Shoes 7.7, 2; 5 — ® Audacjous 7.7, 3. Scratched: Our Jock, -Master Raymond, Queen Plato. Half head eacli way. Time: 3.7 1-5. MATARAWA HANDICAP, 6 fur. 80 yds.: 1—1 King Tissa 8.10 (W. J. Broughton) 1; 5 — 4 Lady Oratory 8.2, 2; 4 — 5 Shiraz 8.9, 3. Scratched: Floral Dance, First Act, Follow .Suit, Currcncy Lass. Length; half. Time: ti. 17 1-5. CAMPBELL HANDICAP, 6 fur. 80 yards: c — 5 Lord Theio 7.0 (A. Johnson) 1; 3 — 3 Tideless car. 8.13, 2; 2—2 Molly Martia 9.3, 3. Scratched: Craven. Half a head; head. Time: 1,17.