CIVILITY HARD RIDDEN IN THE EASTER HANDICAP THEN WINS COMFORTABLY

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 22, 18 April 1927, Page 8

CIVILITY HARD RIDDEN IN THE EASTER HANDICAP THEN WINS COMFORTABLY

The hope of Wanganui in the Auckland Easter Handicap on Saturday was Civility, and right loyally did she pull her admirers through, to reward the owner with a rich stake and her supporters with a nice price. To win as she did Civility proved herself in the gamest possible fashion.

The race for the Easter Handicap at Ellerslie does not require much elaboration, but it is of interest to review the running of those engaged. It was a foregone conclusion that the three-year-old Joy King, who was bracketed with Rapine, would be the favourite, for his Thompson Handicap performance warranted this trust being reposed in him. Reremoana, too, was strongly fancied, and on looks alone he gained a number of friends. Civility was the third favourite, and while many backed her on the strength of her securing number one position at the start, there were others who stood off for this very reason, knowing that she would have the hardest part to do if she failed to jump out and go with them all the way, as indeed was the case in several of her races and had attributed to her defeats. RIDDEN ALL THE WAY Civility managed to get away with the field, and for a little way kept with them, but then she began to drift. However, Bagby gave her no peace and was at her all the way, with the result that after going back to near the middle of the field with half the journey gone she had had time to settle down, and fortunately she was lucky enough to get a good run along the rails. Just after passing the three furlong post Civility was recognised as the winner, for she was going very nicely indeed, and here it was that the jockey eased her so slightly as to give her a breather. Then she was on the rails just behind the pacemaker at the turn for home and was alongside him as they straightened, but Reremoana was there too, on the outside. However, Civility responded in great style, and drawing away surely made every post a winning one, finally scoring by a length and a half—there was clear daylight between her and the second horse. FAVOURITE DID WELL Joy King ran up to expectations, and he was unfortunate in striking Civility at her very best. He \yas never near the leaders until approaching the home turn, and did not get the best of passages. He responded gamely when called upon for his final run, and to get as close as he did was a rattling effort, for there was no loitering on the way—the time, 1.38, on a dead track, being exceptional—and he had all the ground to make up. Joy King did not lose caste by his display, and even if he does not run again this season he will go into retirement as a good three-year-old and will be looked to to do big things next year. The surprise of the race was the grim manner in which Day Guard hung on. The Day Comet gelding began brilliantly and led the field a merry dance for six furlongs, and even when obviously tired he went on with it, finally getting third money. Al- j

though he did not win, Saturdays race was one of the best in his career. PRAISE FOR REREMOANA Civility won so well that one cannot take away any of the glory attaching to her success, even in lauding the performance of Reremoana. With all his big weight the chestnut was actually the first to move at barrier rise, but High Pitch and Hay Guard were soon conspicuous. Then Reremoana drifted a bit and to hold his place had to run on the outside of several horses, with the result that he covered more ground than anything else in the contest. Three and a half furlongs from home Barry made his run, and as they swung into the straight there was the topweight almost on terms with and on the outside of Hay Guard and Civility. This effort, combined with the weight and the extra ground that he covered, told its tale in the run to the judge, for Reremoana, still a possibility at the furlong peg, began to weaken and then Joy King passed him. The topweight finished fourth, three lengths behind the winner, to whom he was conceding 281bs. Without detracting from the merit of the doings of the placed horses, a good deal of the honours of the race must be credited to Reremoana, who went under like the good one he is, with colours flying. RAPINE FINISHES FAST King Merv and Merry Jest both came on strongly over the last bit, but the finishing effort of one horse particularly took the eye, and that was Rapine, who was running over everything at the end and was almost up to the placed horses. He was a lgng way back during the early stages, as anyone would expect, and he was still in the rear at the home turn. When he started to cut them down he did his work in great style, although it must be remembered that he was passing a lot of beaten horses, cracked up by the pace set by Hay Guard. THE THORN DUE SOON Mosaic and Quincoma ran quite good races, and The Thorn was always prominent, being close up to the leader and a distinct possibility at the turn. His turn cannot be far off now. Magna Charta was a disappointment, although he had the hardest part to do, being placed behind the field after twice going through the tapes. The King John colt was up with the leaders at the half mile, but this effort took a lot out of him, and he finished well back. Nancy Lee went a good race for five furlongs, but the others were never in the picture. The action of the starter in treating Magna Charta as he did was quite in order, for the colt had every chance, and when he had broken through on two occasions the official did the right thing in ordering him behind.