NOTES AND COMMENTS

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 348, 8 May 1928, Page 11

NOTES AND COMMENTS

CAMBRIDGE SIDELIGHTS

W ITH the dividend earners Saturday at Cambridge was anything but a pleasalit day for the majority of speculators, and with three outsiders rolling home in the first four events it would not have occasioned surpi ise had backers buttoned down. But with cheerful optimism they kept pegging away in an endeavour to get even, but with the exception of Joy Bird, who dead-heated with Uramic, and Hostess, who beat Lord Haldane by a whisker, no favourites succeeded in landing. Notwithstanding these drawbacks, investments were well in front of last year’s figures. Fine Youngster Koro Peter, it two-year-old son of Peter Moko and Koro Ena, proved a surprise packet in the Introductory Handicap, and ?;ave a great display of trotting. Commencing well, he was in second place passing the stand, and going out of the straight went to the Front to stop there, winning comfortably by a length and a-half. Ownerdriver T. W. Cooper and the youngster received an ovation on returning to the enclosure. Dealer Holds All Trumps The Leamington Handicap proved a good thing at the finish for Dealer, who went one of his best races. From 72 yards behind he began well and was soon in a handy position, although he made no attempt to get to the leaders till half a mile from home. Here he moved into third place, and at the turn for home was in behind Moko Fly, but from there to the judge he did better than the leader and won nicely. Chance for the Double

Dillon Huon made no mistakes in the Cambridge Cup, and when it came, to real business the Corrigan representative spreadeagled the field to win with ease. He was splendidly handled by Alex Corrigan, and was never further back than third at any stage of the journey. Before the straight was reached Dillon Huon was Keeping Nelson Tasker busy and pressed the leader Andover to a break. In the run home he made the others look very cheap, practically walking in. The II aw era pacer, penalised 12 yards, looked to have a great chance in the mile of completing the double, but a bump at the start spoiled his prospects, and he did well to finish third. Success Well Deserved

Lord Lou, the four-year-old son of Lord Nepean and Lou Cap, won the Haulafin Handicap from end to end, and although very few of the public participated in the good price paid, there was general satisfaction at Owner Young’s success. S. August was in the sulky and took no chances, hopping Lord Lou out smartly and making every post a winning one, was well in the van three furlongs from home. The young colt was called upon to .do his very best ajl the way up the straight- and he displayed rare gamepess to win by a narrow margin. Joy Bird and Uramic fought out a great finish in the saddle race, the judge being unable to separate the pair at the end of the journey. Uramic was in third position half a mile from home, and Joy Bird was two removed further back. At the bend Joy Bird and Uramic wire together, and the former momentarily got in front. Uramic came again inside the distance, and both riders were hard at it to pass the post on even terms. It was a rousing finish. Popular Victory Joe Gee drove a splendid race with Anseline in the Bardowie Handicap, and when the happy combination returned to the paddock they received a hearty reception. The old mare began to put in a forward move six furlongs from home, and was in fourth berth when heads were turned for home. Joe brought her along with a great dash, and Bebisca breaking under pressure, Anseline went on to win by two lengths. A Close Call Hostess was all out at the end of the Stewards’ Handicap to beat Lord Haldane, the margin at the box being very small. Alex Corrigan got the mare away nicely, and she was always in a handy position, and was not asked to cover any unnecessary ground. The Hawera-trained mare was the first to poke her nose in front at the bottom of the straight, but Lord Haldane came again, and in a stirring finish Heiress won by a nose on the post. Beatty Makes Good Beatty did not lose any time in getting on the journey in the Farewell Handicap, and she got a splendid run behind the pacemaker Gold Cast, a position August kept her in till the straight was approached. Then she dashed to the lead, and after that it Was plain sailing, and the mare easily stemmed the attack of Admiral Hock, to win in comfort by a couple of lengths. This was the second surprise Sid August sprung on the punters. Kolmar’s Big Effort

Although Kolmar was giving away a lot of start in the Introductory Handicap, he trotted so solidly and well that be was a big possibility approaching file straight. He was in third berth when the last bend was negotiated, and Putting in strong work he was able to toward his backers with a useful second divvy, but could make no impression on the Peter Moko youngster, ''nieh finished in front. Produced in tne two-mile later, Kolmar was made « warm favourite, but failed to make Sood.

Moko Fly Just Fails Whangarei-owned and trained woko Fly was flattered in the Learn*bSton Handicap by backers, and he ent to the post favourite. The Peter -uoko gelding did not disappoint his _ P llr ® rs > either, and while he failed to rf?} most important portion of the thr^ e ’ *?chon’s pacer pulled his party t OUg “ by getting second. At the n for home he raised high hopes for “ ® supporters, and was in front halfy down the straight, but when came with an irresistible run Tho ° »N haci to Piay second fiddle, gelding was started again in the Gutter, but althouhg lie ran *v * *°F furlongs, he faded out at uic end.

Another Second to the Admiral nan? 1 * 111 Rober tson was again unfortuenough with Admiral Lock to a , flrst Place, but backers of the GartK , ad some consolation when tnrwi lan A e fl him in second berth, rea u ? eful price. The Admiral fairJ y consistent this season, in^ ter i ne second dividends at Alexa R ark, Thames and Wanganui, tiai « n each instance paying substanFjH nsures. There was an element of ® a turday’s effort, as. had Dillon a dece nt run over the first jA-j be would have been in a dividend- paying position.

Nelson Tasker is establishing an unenviable record for place-getting ! n *£'°-'r ile events, and his effort m the Cambridge principal item •narked the third occasion since December that he has filled the role of runner-up, the Hendersontrained horse filling similar positions at Whangarei and Thames. At Te Aroha he received the third share of the prize. If he effects any improvement between this and June the handsome pacer should have a big say in the Adams Memorial Cup at the Auckland winter fixture, where he will no doubt be dispatched off the front peg. Sebisca’s Bad Lapse With half a mile to go in the Bardowie Handicap, the old trotter Sebisca looked as if he would tear off the flrst certificate for his persevering owner-trainer, C. Mitchell, hut the best he could do when the box was reached was to gain second berth. The Harold Dillon gelding was the first to turn for home, and victory seemed assured, when he went into the air, and chances for a first dividend went. He came again, however, and Billy Carbine breaking near the post, Sebisca saved something for his supporters. Bell Dial’s Final Dash Bell Dial put in a wonderful run over the concluding stages of the Hautapu Handicap, and it looked as if the Wellsford mare would have been in front had the judge’s box been removed a few yards further on. Williams’s mare did not commence to show up till crossing the top, but by the time the straight was reached she was in 111 b'd berth, and finishing full of pep, suffered defeat by a narrow margin! When produced again in the 13-furlong heat, Bell Dial was accorded a lot of support on the strength of her previous display, but she failed to gain a situation, although finishing well up. Only a Whisker

Lord Haldane, on his Te Aroha form, was given a big chance of annexing the stake in the Stewards’ Handicap, and he certainly went just as close as possible without accomplishing the objective. When the field passed the stand the first time Lord Haldane was in front, and he made a great effort to stop there, Hostess displacing him at the post by a “nose." To many it appeared as if Lord Haldane had just got there, while from the Press stand the opinion was “dead-heat.” However, it was another of those cases where the judge was in the best position to decide.

minor one—that the caution of the Metropolitan Club had been duly endorsed by the association, and that in connection with the Timaru case the Timaru Club had written the association that Holmes was not to blame for the incident. The association representatives also frankly admitted that in private life the conduct of the appellant was exemplary. Timaru Incident It would appear that the action taken by the association would not have been taken but for the incident at Timaru. If the association had disagreed with the finding of the Timaru Club it is obvious that action could have been taken at once and the matter sifted to the bottom. The rules provide ample powers. Instead, the association confirmed the decision of the Timaru Club and afterwards called upon Holmes to show cause why he should not be dealt with. The Timaru Club had acquitted Holmes, although, on account of an accidental interference, the positions of the two horses were reversed. If this decision was wrong, why was it confirmed? If the association thought it right—it admits this by confirming the decision —why was Holmes called upon at all? Association’s Power Under the rules there is power to the association to approve, vary or reverse the decision of the stewards of clubs, and may increase or lessen the penalties inflicted by clubs, and we think that the time for action by the association should be, in cases such as the one now under review, at the time when the matter comes before it for confirmation or otherwise. If this course is not followed it would savour of punishing a person twice for the same offence —or lay the association open to a charge of inconsistency. Appeal Allowed For reasons given we allow Holmes’s appeal and order that the costs of the appeal be paid by the association. We rqgret that in our judgment we have been unable, on the evidence before us, to uphold the decision of the association, fully recognising the excellent work that it is doing in the interests of the sport.