Wild Spur Pays Over a Century

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 538, 15 December 1928, Page 10

Wild Spur Pays Over a Century

SET SAIL’S VICTORY RACING AT OAMARU (Special to THE S L N ) OAMARU, Friday. After two days of steady rain, the weather broke gloriously tine tor tne opening day of the Oamaru Joekei Club's summer meetm = jesteiaay. There was only a fair crowd in attendance. and consequently there uas a slump in the returns, the machine handling £'1,701, as against for the first day of last year's meeting. Initial Hurdles Carinthia was backed down to a : short price for the Initial Hurdles, but 1 there was also plenty of money for Rangatahi. Gayoma, making his first appearance over hurdles, made the pace for the first few furlongs, but he ran his jumps down badly and after half a mile surrendered the lead to Rangatahi. The last-named opened up a break of three lengths down the back and he led across the top and into the straight, well clear of Gayoma, Shandre and Carinthia. Rangatahi held his own over the last 100 yards, and won easing up by three lengths from Carinthia, who beat Gayoma by a similar distance. Shandre was fourth, and then came Pantler. At his last start at Washdyke Rangatahi acted as runner-up to Tunamoe in the Otaio Hurdles, and i improved by that outing, he always j held the opposition safely in yester- | day’s race. When trained in the | North Island the Monoform gelding i proved himself a speedy jumper, and now that he is getting back to his ! best again he may win more races in the near future. The favourite, Carinthia, finished well, but he was palpably sore in his preliminary, and failed to hit out with freedom. He jumped the last obstacle badly and cut himself about the chest. Gayoma 1 did fairly well for a novice, but he still . has a lot to learn before he could be ! termed a proficient jumper. Short’s Handicap Pink Coat burst into the limelight by the dashing manner in which he won the Short’s Handicap, indicating that he may aspire to great heights when he becomes thoroughly' seasoned. Waving Corn was the public fancy for the five furlongs’ race, but Pink Coat, who was bracketed with Win Abbey and Colonel Quex, was a good second choice. When the barrier rose Pink Coat jumped sideways and lost considerable ground, and he was also interfered with soon after the start, and at the half-mile got into such serious trouble thpt he nearly came down. Young Ellis quickly straightened the two-year-old up again, however, and racing across the top he began to mow the leaders down one by one. Just before entering the straight he took fourth place to Waving Corn, Kilbot and Captivate, but at the turn he ran wide, and Waving Corn was doing so well in front at this stage that victory for her seemed assured. Over the last furlong Pink Coat galloped like a machine and getting up in the last few strides defeated Waving Corn by* a long neck. Miss Marco was three lengths away third, and then followed Kilbot and Captivate. It was a sterling performance, and to stand up the leaders such a start at the half-mile and then gain the judge’s verdict was no ordinary feat. Having his first run in public it was only natural to expect that he would race a trifle greenly, but the game effort he put up under such distadvantages stamps him as a likely promising galloper. Owner j. M. Samson has not experienced a great deal of luck in his racing ventures this season, but when he purchased Pink Coat at the Trentham yearling sales for 150gns he made a rare bargain. It is not intended to race the Hunting Song colt again until the Canterbury Jockey Club’s autumn meeting, when probably he will contest the Champagne Stakes. By then he should be beginning to assume real racing trim, and if he progresses as well in the meantime as expected he will not be disgraced in the two-year-old classic. Mr. Samson is an enterprising man and nobody will begrudge it to him if this colt develops into a Derby proposition. President’s Handicap Set Sail disappointed her large army of admirers when sh.e failed in her engagement at the Cup carnival, bur. she showed a return to form when she brilliantly defeated her opponents in the President’s Handicap. She always held her opponents safely over the concluding furlong, but with a more virile horseman aboard Sarnia might have made the Solferino mare’s task much more formidable. After being badly bumped at the start she occupied a rear position early, but at the end she was lying in fourth place. Royal Saxon began with his cu»U>mary brilliance, but was soon steadied, and at the end of a furlong Gold Brick was rushed to the front. Down the back he showed the way to Vaward. -Royal Saxon, Taboo, Set Sail and Bilbo, and in this order they raced till within half a mile from home. Racing across the top there was a sudden 1 change. With a fast run Set Sail came from the middle of the field and entering the straight was just behind Vaward, who had headed the tiring Gold Brick. On the home bend a furlong from the post Set Sail ran up to Vaward, and quickly gaining the upper hand went on to beat Royal Saxon by a length and a-lialf. Bilbo was a neck away third, and a similar distance away in fourth place came Sarnia. Vaward then followed, with Taboo and Gold Brick next. It was a clean-cut victory on the part of Set Sail, but the surprising part about her win was the great price she returned. She went down very sore in her preliminary, but once warmed up to her work she galloped in her best style. Royal Saxon was ridden a peculiar race. He covered a lot of extra ground, but finished on well over the last furlong. Bilbo had every chance, and in another few strides Sarnia would have cut him out of third place. The Paladin filly got into all the bother in the race and had to be checked on three occasions, but when she did get going she galloped in rare style, notwithstanding that she was well back early. She probably would have done a lot better with a more vigorous horseman. She is a lazy customer and needs a strong rider to get the best out of her. Nelson de Ore scored a ridiculously easy win in the Waikaura Trot Handicap, for over the last six furlongs he was always handily placed, and three furlongs from home ran to the front. He was never seriously troubled in the straight and eventually beat Erin’s Chance by three lengths. Le Thorpe was another four lengths away followed by John Appear. Nona Bingen and Wild Bingen began smartly, but in the straight the first time Wild Bingen put his foot through Nona Bingen’s sulky, and the latter had to be pulled up. After the race the president, Mr. W. Gardiner, presented a whip to the winning driver, J. Henderson, whom he complimented on his win.

Gay Sonnet was backed down to odds-on for the Flying Handicap, and she never gave her supporters any cause for anxiety. She was always doing her work nicely, and after catching Royal Tractor came on to beat the

fast-finishing Martis by a length. Royal Tractor was two lengths away third, followed closely by Money Mine. Meadow Lark pur up a. really smart performance when he landed the Hack Handicap from the top-weight, First Raid. Ho began with rare speed and soon had his opponents scratching to keep up with him. Ho led into the straight from Singer, Filosel. Star Stranger II and First Raid, and easily holding his own beat the last-named by half a length, with Red Sea. who finished strongly, in third Place. Then followed Singer, Filosel. Camisader and KLillorna. Meadow Lark won with something in hand, and will soon work his way out of hack class. Several runners were solidly supported for the Loudon Trot Handicap* but a surprise proved to bo in store for backers, for the winner turned up in the little-fancied Wild Spur, who paid a sensational dividend. Wild Spur began well, but tangled soon after the start. However, he quickly settled down again and had run into a handy position with half a mile to go. Halfway down the straight Logan Brae looked the. winner, but Wild Spur, who ; was ridden with great confidence, fin- j ished stoutly and defeated Logan ! Brae by a length. Two lengths further away came Erin’s Lynn, who was followed by Bingen Patch. Wild Spur, who is an aged gelding by Galindo from Wild Rose, had only £6 invested on his chance, and his few backers received a dividend of over a century. Twelve speculators participated in the wonderful return, and included among them was Wild Spur’s owner, Mr. C. E. Ross, who thought so little of his horse’s prospects that he backed him to the extent of only ten shillings. The withdrawal of Taboo from the Parkside Handicap left only four starters. Lucy Locket was made a staunch favourite, while Tripaway and Money Peer also had numerous admirers. Arrowy soon took charge and he led down the back from Money Peer and Lucy Locket, with Tripaway whipping in. There was no change in this order till the straight' was reached, where Lucy Locket began to close on the leader. In the run home Arrowy and Lucy Locket had a great set-to, and in an exciting finish Lucy Locket gained the judge’s verdict by a nose. Tripaway was three lengths further hack, just clear of Money Peer. Lucy Locket carried her 9.0 like a good mare, but a stronger horseman on Arrowy may have reversed the positions. First Hurdles Handicap, of £140: li miles. —2 Rangatahi, 9.3, O’Connor, 1; 1 Carinthia, 10.8, Thompson, 2; 2 Gayoma, 9.0, A. S. Ellis, 3. Also: 4 Pan tier, 5 Shandre, 9.0. Won by two lengths. Time, 2.45 3-5. . , Shorts Handicap, of £135; o turlongs. —2 Pink Coat, 7.11, L- J. Ellis, 1; 1 Waving Corn, 8.10, F. Voight, 2; 4 Miss Marco, 8.10, Brodie, 3. Also: o All Smiles, 0 Kilboa, 9 Louise, 7 Madame, 10 The Missioner, 11 Wigway, 2 Win Abbey and Colonel Quex (bracketed with winner), 3 Captivate, 8 Sunward. Won by a head. Time, 1.2 3-5. President’s Handicap, of £230 and cup: 9 furlongs.—2 Set Sail, 9.5, E. Voight, 1; 5 Roval Saxon, 8.1, D. Kerr, 2; 1 Bilboa, 7.7, L. J. Ellis, 3. Also: Sarnia, 7.0; 1 Taboo, 7.12; 7 Gold Brick, 7.0; 6 Vaward, 7.0. Won by a length and a-hall, with a head between second and third. Time, 1.54 3-5. Waikaura Trot Handicap, ot £l-.0 (3.40 class); 11 miles —2 Nelson de Oro, J. Henderson, I; 7 Em’s Chance, W. Gallagher, 2; 8 Le Thorpe, 24yds bhd, T. Wallis, 3. Also: 8 John Noble (bracketed with Le Thorpe), 5 Myra Locanda, 3 Nona Bingen and Wild Bingen (bracketed), 4 Nonsuit, 1J Onoto, 0 Otaio Rose, 15 Patch Junior, 1 Star Lady, limit; 10 John Appear, 12yds; 12 Pretty Pointer, 9 Wild Nita, GO; 15 Streak, 72; 14 Glen Farg, S 4. Won by three lengths. Time, 3.34. Flying Handicap, of £165; 6 furlongs.— 1 Gay Sonnet, 9.2, C. Emerson, 1; 5 Martis, 7.0, R. Coveny, 2; 3 Royal Tractor, 7.11, L. J. Ellis, 3. Also: 2 Eaton Bells, 4 Money Mine, 7.7; 6 Equerry, 7.0. Won by a length. Time, 1.13 4-5. Hack Handicap, of £135; 6 furlongs.— 4 Meadow Lark, 5.6, B. Brodie, 1: G First Raid, 9.9, T. Humphrie, 2; 2 Red Sea. 7.11. L. J. Ellis, 3. Also: 1 Camisader, B.S: 7 Singer, 9 All Comment, 8 Filosel, 5 Killorne, 3 Star Stranger IT, 7.0. Won by half a length. Time, 1.14 1-5. Landon Trot Handicap, of £145; 1 \ miles—3l Wild Spur, J. W. Twoomey, 1; 1 Logan Brae H. Butcher, 2; 7 Erins Lynn, T. Wallis, 3. Also: 2 Admiral Bingen, 3 Cynthia, 9 Onoto, limit; 6 Dan Logan. 12yds bhd; 4 Bingen Patch, S Red Shiner, 5 Rita McKinney, 48; 10 Free Pointer, 60. Won by two lengths. Time, 2.57 2-5. Parkside Handicap, of £360; 3 mile.—l Lucy Locket, 9.6, F. Voight, 1; 4 Arrowy, 7.1, W. Hogan, 2; 2 Tripaway, 8.13, Brodie, 3. Also: 3 Money Peer, 7.2. Won by a neck. Time, 1.41 3-5.