Truf Notes

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 281, 17 February 1928, Page 6

Truf Notes

Conducted by »

“EARLY BIRD”

WANGANUI TAKES FIRST TWO The first two races at Wanganui the first day, were won by local horses in King Mart and Elysianor. The latter paid a remarkable dividend, considering that he had scored in the Hurdles the second day at New Plymouth five days previously. KING MART IS GOOD The connections of King Mart made no secret of the fact that they expected to win the Maiden at Wanganui. The King Mart gelding took charge after going a couple of furlongs, and after surviving a late challenge from the little-fancied Service, won well. There should be some more races in store for King Mart, who, if not a champion, is likely to turn out fairly useful. He races in the colours of Mr. Ben Bennett, who won the New Zealand Cup many years ago with Halberdier, and more recently captured many steeplechases with Khartoum. WAS HAVING HER FIRST RACE Despite the fact that Thrift had put up a smart gallop a couple of days before, Mr. T. A. Duncan’s filly was not the actual favourite in the Maiden yesterday, but nevertheless she ran a good race, and will be all the better for the outing, which was her turf debut. Thrift weakened over the last furlong, and was beaten *nto third place, but the stable must have been satisfied with her showing. WAICULLUS WAS A LITTLE LUCKY The ability of Waicullus to get a good position early and stick to it was the prime factor in the success of this gelding in the Stewards’ Handicap at Wanganui yesterday. He was always second to within three furlongs of the post, when he ran up to the leader and left him in the straight. However, he had to be ridden right out to beat Lady Limond and Tiega, but he hung on to his task. Even so, he would have been third with a little further to travel.

NOT AT HER BEST In her preliminary for the Maiden at Wanganui yesterday. Double Mint moved very scratchily, and it was noticed that she was booted. She drew the ace, but this did not assist her, for she was in the rear most of the way, and at the judge had but one horse behind her. WERE BOTH UNLUCKY There were two unlucky horses in the Stewards’ Handicap at Wanganui yesterday, and they did extremely well to get up into second and third berths respectively. These were Lady Limond, a hot favourite, and Tiega. The former was not out of all the trouble in the running, and- Reed was absolutely lifting her along s at the finish. Tiega was hitting out so boldly going out of the straight that he galloped on to the heels of something in front of him, being near the rear then. Going out of the straight, Mrs. Perry’s representative was second to last into the home stretch, so that he did remarkably well to get into a place.

CIVILITY IS RETURNING TO FORM For part of the journey in the Stewards’ Handicap at Wanganui yesterday, Civility was racing prominently, being in third position when nearing the straight, and she was running on nicely from there. However, she weakened a bit over the last 50 yards, and finished out of a place. It was an illuminating effort, and with that race into her she should be difficult to dispose of in the near future. It was the best race Civility had run for some time. THE CUP WAS A GOOD RACE The Wanganui Cup on Thursday was fully in keeping with the stirring contests of past years, despite the fact that it was admitted on all sides that the class was not quite up to standard, alhough every bit as good as expected, in view of the- reduced stake money. Mandane won strictly on her merits, and showed that she can stay out the distance. Now she is a possibility for some of the distance handicaps for next season. , CREDIT FOR WIGGINS Wiggins rode Mandane a judicious race in the Wanganui Cup, and a lot of credit must be given him for the win. Over the first part Mandne was well back, being near the rear of the field with a mile to go, and frdm this out her rider set out to make up the leeway, which he did without covering much extra ground . The daughter of Panmure and Cherry Mart hit the front two furlongs from home, and stayed there, answering every challenge with conspicuous gameness. AGAIN MINOR PLACE Once again has Eden Hall had to be content with a minor place in an important race. The latest occasion was the Wanganui Cup yesterday, in which he had to acknowledge- defeat by Mandane. The Quin Abbey gelding was handily placed all the way, generally lying third or fourth on the rails, and he was still there when he came into the straight. Eden Hall .finished very solidly, s§d was travelling even faster than the winner as they went past the judge, with a good head between them. PACEMAKER IN THE CUP Joy Bird is nothing if not consistent, and before the season concludes she should succeed in winning a good handicap over a middle distance. In the Wanganui Cup yesterday the Eng-lish-bred mare was responsible* for setting an excellent pace, that fully tried out the stamina of the field, and she finally finished third, but she was not a length away from the winner. Apparently her rider did not think of giving her a breather, for if this could have been done on the bend with half the journey covered, this might have assisted her in seeing it out. RAN A CREDITABLE FOURTH When betting had almost closed on the Wanganui Cup yesterday Yoma was favourite, but a late rush set in for Eden Hall, and he eventually carried £SO more than the Taranaki representative. The rush for Yoma tickets was no doubt occasioned by the substitution of Bert Morris for the usual pilot, A. McCormac, who had probably not got the best out of his mount in the Taranaki Cup previously. Yoma went well for a bit, and then drifted, to come again half a mile from home. At the turn he seemed done with, and then he made another effort that carried him to fourth berth, within a couple of lengths of the winner. Yoma was suited by the going, and may improve at his next outing. COULD NOT SEE IT OUT When the field turned into the straight in the Wanganui Cup several were calling Novar’s name, for the half-brother to Piuthair was noticed making his run. However,, he did not sustain it, for he petered out in the last hundred yards, and was fifth, no less than seven lengths behind Yoma. Novar was going so well at the spot mentioned that his failure to see it out was rather surprising, especially in view of the fact that he had won this very race a couple of years ago. WHY THEY DID NOT WIN At a mile and a-half Atareria was going like a winner in the Wanganui Cup, but from this out he was stopping badly under his light impost, so that any pretensions he had to staying powers failed to show out He might go better in the mile and a-half race to-morrow, if started, and yet that may be a bit too far for him. Henna also failed to stay, and incidentally T. Metcalf was fined a fiver for failing to keep his engagement to ride this mare. Mint Leaf, as erratic as ever, finished last after having every show, for he was nicely placed with half the journey covered. AN EASY WIN FOR PAGANELLI Probably Paganelli is • better now than at any time of his career. He was backed in no uncertain manner for the Flying Handicap at Wanganui yesterday, and he fully justified the confidence reposed in him, to quote a favourite phrase of some sporting writers. He got away well—indeed, it was one of the best starts seen for years, the field racing in line for half a furlong, but High Finance then hit the front, and McTavish then lay in behind the filly. He ran up to her on the home turn, and this made the filly stop quicker than she had ever done before. Paganelli was almost clear coming into the straight, and then he bowled along in front, to the judge, in much the style that he did at Takapuna in the late spring. He was challenged by several, but one after another they gave up. Paganelli won impressively, and even so it is doubted whether he will be good enough to account for Reremoana or Prince Humphrey in the Jackson Stakes on Saturday. All the same, he will go well.