TRAGEDY OF THE FLYING STAKES

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 159, 26 September 1927, Page 6

TRAGEDY OF THE FLYING STAKES

TOWN GUARD WINS, BUT DELIGHTMENT SHOULD HAVE SCORED THE BACKERS’ LAMENT A certainty is grammatically looked upon as a horse that eventually wins his race. At Ellerslie on Saturday there was a certainty, but he didn’t win. That “dead cert" was Delightment and the race tho open sprint. credit must be awarded to Town Guard for liis brilliant victory, for such it can be called. He did not get away as well as some of his opponents, but he was so fit that he ran up to the leaders just when his rider, E. Ludlow, desired. He was lying third at ttie half-mile, and was almost in front at the home turn. From this out it wasn't a race, but over the last chain Delightment threatened grave danger. However, Town Guard had a bit left in reserve, and he eventually pulled the race off in comfortable fashion. BEST TO DATE This performance marked Town Guard’s best achievement to date, and on this form he should win more sprints before the weight begins to tell its tale. He is such a fine upstanding type that he should be able to carry weight with the best of them. It was a tragic affair for the backers of Delightment. At the start of betting operations they had to accept a remarkably cramped price, but at the pay-out they showed a profit. Drawn number 12, he did not g§t off the mark too well. There appeared to

be a mix-up at the.barrier, in which Sir Archie and Kingfield were concerned, and this might have been responsible for Delightment dwelling slightly when the tapes were released. BEATEN AT THE START It was at the barrier that Delightment was defeated. He was away back ninth at the end of the first furlong, and the field was strung out with the pace set by Co vent Garden. For half a mile he had made only a slight impression on the leaders, and at the home turn he must have been standing the’ leader, Town Guard, fully a dozen lengths. Then he flew, and tho ! fact that he finally got to within three j parts of a length of the winner showed i how unlucky he was. With an even break from the barrier Town Guard would no; have won. That effort made by Delightment in the straight was even more impressive than that he put up when he spreadeagled the sprinters in the sprint at the Pakuranga meeting live weeks previously. ALL HER OLD PACE Nancy Lee hung on in surprising fashion to get third money, and it was only Delightment’-s thrilling finish that cut her supporters out of nearly a double-figure dividend for second. Tinokoa went a fine race, finishing strongly, and on this effort he can be looked to to win a sprint event in the near future. Laughing Prince shaped fairly well to get fifth, and under the conditions it was a fairly satisfactory Guineas trial, for Quantock colt was not unduly pressed when it was seen that he had no chance. In the Shade also went nicely, and can be relied upon to win a sprint event before long, even if he does not prove up to classic standard. WENT FAST—STOPPED QUICKLY Covent Garden went out very fast from number three position and made the pace a cracker for four furlongs. Then he stopped as quickly as he went out from the tapes, and he eventually finished well back. He showed a lot of pace while he lasted, and it is obvious that when he is ready and strikes a track to suit, he will score in some good sprint contests. Oration finished strongly, even if he did not possess a winning chance. Sir Archie did well to get- up eighth after being slow to leave the mark, and close to him was Kingfield, who is not yet ready. Benzora failed to become conspicuous, despite the fact that he drew the rails. His great burst of speed was missing. High Pitch was in trouble after half a mile, and the way he pulled up seemed to suggest that a lengthy spell will be necessary. 8— Sir Archie, 7.0, B. Tuohey ...... 7 3—Covent Garden, 7.7, W. H. Jones 8 10— Kingfield, 8.7, R. McTavish .. .. 9 11— Benzora, 9.0, T. Tito 10 12— High Pitch, 7.6, L. Man son .. .. 11 6—ln the Shade, 7.7, T. Green .. .. 0 9 Finelli, 7.0, R. Orange 0 (The winner was trained by his owner, A. Kemp, Onehunga.) Won by three-quarters of a length with the same distance separating second and third. Time, 1.21 3-5. • SWANSON HANDICAP Of £250; one mile 3 WAR OFFICER (R. B. McLaren and Mrs. J. Henderson), b g, by Warplane—Lady Officer, 4yrs, 8.1, W. S. Bagby 1 4SO VENA (T. O’Donnel), b m, by Bisogne—Avena, syrs, 8.1, L. A. Pine 2 14— FIERY LAD (G. Jerkovich), ch g. by Campfire—Glacier, aged, 3.0, A. Reilly 3 Also started: — 11— Bahama, 8.7, C. Carniont 4 6 Star Comet, 8.0, S. Henderson .. 5 13— Kendal, 8.0, Hall fi 5 Branson, 9.9, Driscoll .. 7 2 Modest Boy, 8.12, W. Ryan .. .. 8 10— Rarakau, 8.0, W. Tricklebank .. 9 12— Killute, 8.7, Robertson 10 I—Takarunga, 8.7, R. McTavish .. 0 15— Schorr. 8.1, H. Dulieu 0 7 Blue Sky, 8.4, J. Sharkey 0 8— Alonsoa. 9.2, McGregor (fell) .. 0 16— Te Tahi, 8.0, J. Cammick (fell) .. 0 (Winner trained by R. E. Brown, Remuerh.) Won by three-quarters of a length with half a length separating second and third. Time, 1.53. HENDERSON HANDICAP Of £250; seven furlongs 1— KING LU (R. B. Hines), b g, by Lucullus—Shower Gold, syrs, 9.0. A. Tinker 1 11— NUCLEUS (E. R. Davis), br m by Lucullus—Persus, syrs, 7.0, Nordstrand ’ ' 2 4 ARCHENO (W. J. Urquhart). br m, Archiestown—Maheno, aged, 7.9, R. Reilly . . . ; 3 Also started:— 5 Tinoiti, 7.C, F. Foster 4 3 Llandudno, 8.2, L. Manson .. . . r* 9 Phaola, 7.6, H. Lee " 7—Barometer, 7.6, W. H. Jones !! 7 12— Golden Krist, 7.0, N. Davis . . .. 8 2 Thaw, 8.5, L. G. Morris 9 13— Pelham, 8.2, W. S. Bagby 10 3 Ballachulish, 7.9, C. Davies .. . . .! 11 I if* —Thursby, 7.4 J, J. Cammick .. ..12 10—Transformer, 9.0, S. Henderson . 13 2—Damaris, 8.5, B. H. Morris . . . 14 9—Nippy, T. 9, T. Green . . . , e I S—Vivo, 7.31, T. Tito " 0 (Winner trained by his owner at Te Aroha.) Won by five lengths with half a length between second and third.