First Day’s Form Under The Microscope

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 633, 9 April 1929, Page 12

First Day’s Form Under The Microscope

Favourites Tancu ~«dly at Avondale on Saturday, but they may hold their own to-morrow. In any case, they could not very well fare worse. Arihana in the Maiden He has shown a good deal of speed in most of his races, but had not gone too generously when it came to the punching part. However, he waited on Diamond Queen To the turn, and* in a few strides was in front, finally winning very easily. Now that he has come right, the Sir Dighton gelding should win more races, for he is endowed with the necessary pace. It was a fine finishing effort that landed Measurer into second place in the Maiden, and on that showing it should not be long before he salutes the judge. Measurer is one to bear in mind, for he begins smartly. Failure to foot it with the field cost Archileen at least second money in the Maiden. She drew 17 marble, and this in itself was a severe handicap. She was a long way back three furlongs from home, but she finished with a rattle past a lot of the beaten division, and got third money. She may make amends shortly. * * * Of the beaten division in the Maiden, Diamond Queen did best. She made the pace hot from a bad position, and did well to finish a good fourth. It was her best showing to date, and it would seem that there is still hope for her. Gold Lily went surprisingl\ well, but the much-fancied Katuscha was always scratching in the early part, and had no chance from where she was at the home turn. Catonian and Cat-i-mes are likely improvers. One of the worst hurdle contests seen for some time was that staged at Avondale last Saturday. The only redeeming feature was that the favourite won, but he was stopping to a walk at the end. Ilighflown and Roman Abbey took the second to last hurdle on terms, the latter falling, and from the way Roman Abbey was tiring it looked as if I-lightlown would have won had he stood up. The latter was heavily bandaged on both hind legs. Komak was asked to do too much in the Avondale Hurdles. He was always in the rear until half the journey had been covered, and then he did so well that, after being 15 lengths away from the eventual winner half a mile from home, he finished fast, and got to within four lengths. Komak should very soon do better, for he was troubled by Highflown at the final obstacle. Golden Wedding, recently placed on the schooling list, made her debut over the sticks at Avondale. Perhaps it would be more correct to say that she was all dressed up for the part, but her. ladyship had other views. She refused to go near the barrier, and although the starter on two occasions walked the field right back to pick her up, she would have none of it. and the field was dispatched without her. When they were let go. Golden AVedding was standing quite unconcerned a furlong behind the starting point, and stayed thei'e, with £372 10s of the backers’ money. At the distance post in the Folev Memorial. Desert Glow was in front of Flying Juliet, but races are not won

at that stage, and they both finished out of a place. It was rather surprising to see riders of the experience of Reed and France making such a mistake on this big course. High Pitch is now at his best. That much must be conceded after seeing him win the handicap at Avondale on Saturday. He was handily placed in the middle stages, but lost his position then, and was nearer the tail than the front at the home turn. He came with a great rattle over the final 100 yards, and won handsomely from Corinax, giving a fine return. That there was merit in the performance was seen when the time was hoisted, for they cut out the first half-mile in 49 4-5. and the six furlongs in 1.15, the last half-mile taking 50 3-5. From this it will be seen that there was no loitering on the trip. It was rather surprising to find Corinax so close to the leaders in the first half of the Foley Memorial on Saturday, and he lost his chance crossing the top, when the field began to run round him. This made his task much more difficult, and he.had to come on the outside. His second was therefore a smart effort. Reed rose Subdivision very patiently in the Railway Handicap on Saturday, and these tactics, so different to the tear-away policy usually indulged in by the chestnut, were nearly rewarded bv catching the thick end of the stake. He was in front when the post was only a chain away, but King Lu’s desperate finish was too much for him.

That mile barrier at Avondale was in itself responsible for Standfast's defeat on Saturday. Yet Ohinemuri. a smart beginner, drew the outer there, and won. White Fang hud every chance to win the Foley Memorial on Saturday, but he was well beaten, appearing to fail over the last bit. He had the inside running over the last three furlongs*, and that assisted him to finish in the money. Perhaps he will show to better advantage over a mile, for A\ondale is essentially a stayer's course. * * « It was extraordinary that on the eve of the Avondale meeting Roy Reed was without a ride in the Foley Memorial Handicap. The fact that they were said to be very sweet on their chances led the Flying Juliet party to get the crack Southern horseman. and a furlong from home they had every reason to be on good terms with themselves, only to see her fade out in the last hundred yards. Hyde Park would lose no friends by his display in the Foley Memorial, for he was going strongly in fourth place as they flew past the judge. Ho had

the hardest part to do to beat those in front of him, for he was awkwardly placed at the turn for home. Hyde Park is now at the top of his form, and we do not appear to have seen the best of him. The awkward barrier at the mile at Avondale was responsible for the downfall of a warm favourite in Standfast in the Oakley Handicap, quite apart from the fact that the three-year-old lost a couple of lengths through missing the jump-out. He then ran round a couple of horses crossing the top, and was up with the leaders into the straight, so it was small wonder that he weakened at the finish into third place. Standfast is a. smart juvenile, and may win before the season is out. Kawainga ran a tine race in the Oakley Handicap on Saturday, but it was only through superior horsemanship that she was enabled to beat Good Boy. who finished strongly, and is now in fine form. The filly has the makings of a fine handicapper, and next racing term should find her in a better class. It was a great race for the All-Aged Stakes, with Aussie perhaps a bit unlucky. Gay Ballerina gave a game display under pressure, and she was largely assisted to victory by Reed, who gave a superb exhibition in the saddle. There is no doubt about her speed, and the filly was given a fine reception on returning to weigh in. She has now won £2,100 in stakes in her last three starts, and is now a cheap horse for the Sydney sportsman, Mr. H. G. Kirkpatrick, who gave 2.000 guineas for Gay* Ballerina three weeks ago. One of the surprises of the Avondale All-Aged Stakes was the great effort made by Eaglet, who was beaten by only half a head by Gay Ballerina. Like the latter, she got through on the inner in the straight. and then struggled on gamely, to run the winner to half a head. The Chief Ruler filly sprang a great surprise by doing so well, and is apparently even better than thought. Aussie was carted out wide when Polyxena turned for home in the AIIAged Stakes at Avondale, and this might have cost him the race, for not only did he have to concede that much ground, but it enabled Gay Ballerina and Eaglet to come up on the inside. It was not one of Tinker's good races, and the layers of big odds on were a bit unlucky in being beaten by half a length by the two-year-olds. » * * The good-beginning qualities of Air King won the hack sprint for him at Avondale on Saturday. He was actually the first away, and although Bulolo ran up to him approaching the straight, he had an easy task from this point, for he simply jogged home. At his best, Air King is very fast for a short distance, and next season should not be difficult to place in open company’, round the country circuit at least. The unlucky* horse of the hack sprint on Saturday* was undoubtedly British King. He was drawn wide out, and to add to the disadvantage, the English br?d horse began to back out just before the barrier was skied, losing some lengths. He was still last as the field swung round into the straight, and here at any rate fortune favoured him, for he made his effort right on the rails, and beat everything else just as easily as he himself went under to Air King. At his best, British King is a good sprinter, and able to carry weight.