WHEN THE WRONG HORSE SCORED

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 38, 7 May 1927, Page 8

WHEN THE WRONG HORSE SCORED

ELLERSLIE YOUNGSTER UPSETS STABLE’S VIEW OF RACE The Erierslie trainer, N. Cunningham, saddled up two youngsters in the Eureka Handicap at Te Rapa on Wednesday, and the one least fancied won easily. This is an occurrence not at all infrequent in the racing game, unpleasant and all as it is for those immediately concerned. Whakarite was the second string, but it is understood that the stable money went on Standfast, who it was thought would finish in front of his stable mate.

On Saturday Standfast was third in a similar race, with Whakarite just behind him, and on that occasion the former was second favourite and the other horse seventh choice, although there was very little money separating them on the totalisator. ALWAYS HANDY

The result on Wednesday must have come as a big shock to the Whakarite party. Always handy, Whakarite got up to the pacemaker at the distance, and from then on it was a one-horse race, and he went on to score by five lengths. It was an astonishing improvement on his Saturday running, and it probably took his trainer unawares.

Rarely is a race won by such a margin over six furlongs. On the day it seemed as if Whakarite was unbeatable, for he finished up the long straight like a bulldog, and gave nothing else a chance to get near enough to be dangerous. By Valkyrian from Fabriquette, Whakarite is a good advertisement for his sire, who in the very next race was to receive another mild boom when another of his stock, Valkon, beat a decidedly useful field of milers in the Te Rapa Handicap. CARLARIS IS GOOD

The unlucky horse in Whakarite’s race was undoubtedly Carlaris, who had acted the role of runner-up to Speechless on the opening day. Drawn on the outside of the field, the Carl Rosa gelding dwelt on the mark when the tapes went up and was soon standing the field a couple of lengths start.

He soon settled down, however, and was in a handy position after the field had gone over the first furlong. He was handy at the home turn, where it was expected that he would stop after being made so much use of in the early part to make up his lost ground, but he went on with it in no uncertain fashion, and fairly worried the tiring Lorna Doone out of second money. On his two showings at Te Rapa Carlaris can with confidence be ticked oft to play a successful part as a three-year-old next season. VERY MUCH OFF COLOUR

Lorna Doone was regarded as very nearly a certainty for this race, and going by the book it really seemed that she would not need to do her best to win. She went down well in her preliminary, and was at once backed right down to about evens. She began quickly and soon put daylight between herself and the others, leading across the top about four lengths clear of the nearest youngster. As she came round the home bend it looked any odds on her winning, but then she began to fade out, and despite the efforts of her rider she was a beaten horse at. the distance. Indeed, it was all that she could do to struggle on into third place. Lorna Doone has been right off colour for some time, and the spell that she will now have may see her a better filly next season. That cold she contracted in the summer has left its mark on the Tea Tray filly. THE FAILURES

The defeat of Lorna Doone came as a body blow to backers. Standfast was close up fourth, and was never able to improve on this position all through the race. His failure to come on in the straight must have been almost as great a shock to his supporters as was the downfall of the favourite to her backers. Standfast carried £230, as against the £126 invested on his stable companion, Whakarite. Speechless, the first day’s winner, was handy to the turn, and then when on the rails she met with some interference. Her position at the time looked a bad one to get out of, and so it proved, with one of the youngsters on the outside coming over on her. Auriculus again ran badly, and was actually last to finish. Apparently his good to Ruanui at Ellerslie in the spring was only a flash in the pan.