“WHITE FACE”

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 539, 17 December 1928, Page 12

“WHITE FACE”

LEADS THEM HOME A RAILWAY PRELIMINARY AUSSIE’S BRILLIANT GALLOP Aussiej may not win the Railway Handicap at Ellerslie on Boxing Day, but there were many who saw him lead his field home at Te Awamutu on Saturday that will wish “white face” well in the valuable sprint event next week. With all his 3 0.6 he was one of the first to move in Saturday’s contest. In a way he was lucky to draw number two alley, for that in itself was an immense advantage. Ruffles, on the inner, was actually first out, with Aussio right on his quarters. As the field approached the straight Tinker saw danger threatening when several horses made a run on the outside: he kicked his mount to the front* and he was first into the straight, on the rails, at the turn. One or two attempted to get through on the inside, but what a fine chance they possessed! Did it Easily Up the straight Aussie easily shook off! Nancy Lee —the latter was in receipt of 261 b, too —and won very nicely indeed by a length and a-half It was a brilliant effort, and deserved the mild demonstration of approbation that was forthcoming. N Nancy Lee beat the others—and they were an ordinary lot—as decisively as she herself was downed. Town Bird, not well placed in the early stages, did well to get up. third, and on that showing he looks like coming back to something like his old form. Marble King’s Form From all accounts there has been a bit of nibbling at Marble King for the Railway Handicap, and therefore his form on Saturday in the sprint was closely watched. Soon after the start he got knocked back, and then made a last run to be up with Aussie at the home turn. That effort took too much out of him, however, and he finished well back. But there was no doubt that the Marble King gelding retains his brilliant burst of speed, and under difficulties he could not have done much better on this occasion. Master O’Rorke finished fourth: he is now trained and owned by R. I-lall. of Papatoetoe. Both Ruffles and King Peg raced as if they would be benefited by the outing. Liaison tried to concede a start to the field, and, of course, she failed, which was not surprising on this course.