RACING

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 684, 8 June 1929, Page 11

RACING

ICon tin Md.)

MANAWATU TOPICS OTAKI FORM UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT PROMISING HORSES (Special to THE SUN) PALMERSTON X., Friday. Although but a country sporting |>ody, the Otaki Maori Racing Club is fortunately situated geographically and the crowd of enthusiasts who patronised the two-day fixture on Saturday and Monday were drawn from all quarters of the Southern portion of this Island. Unfortunately the appointments are somewhat crude and the stand accommodation proved all insufficient on Monday when an extremely large crowd was in attendance. However, as the club boasted a totalizator increase of over £4,000 for the two days, possibly something will be done in the future. Honours in the hurdles on the respective days went to two horses who are better known on the flat —Lady Gay and Modem —and in both instances their successes were hardly anticipated by the public. Red Bank, who had the best qualifications, crashed at the first fence on the opening day—he apparently never sighted it—and was ! then beaten for speed in the run home on the second day after he had made the pace throughout. Tresham’s Debut The tasks of Lady Gay and Modem were further assisted by the fact that each day the top hurdle in the straight was flattened and the competitors thus negotiated but six fences on the circuit and a-half. Tresham made his debut at the game on the second day, but he surprised his backers by failing to hold Modern in the run home. However, it was a promising effort and more ahould be heard of the Tressady gelding at no distant date. At her one appearance in two-year-old company »at Woodville, the Chief Ruler filly, Zarene, had recorded a performance which was not forgotten, and with a flat scale of weights prevailing tor other than two-year-olds—the latter receiving a 101 b allowance —in the Kuku Maiden, the public installed her a firm favourite. The judgment was not misplaced for she was in the van throughout and scored comfortably at the finish. Better things should be in store for her, although, like many of the family, she appears to prefer the sting out of the ground. The Australian importation, Xaselle, attended Zarene home in the Kuku Maiden on the opening day, and then repeated the performance in the first division of the Waikanae Scurry on Monday, Grattan being the winner on this occasion. Both had been striving to emerge from maiden company for some time without success, although they had repeatedly filled minor placings. Grattan is an honest sort who should stay on, but he does not promise to be a weight carrier. Unlucky Course

The Palmerston North sportsman, Mr. C. T. Keeble, has found the Otaki course an unlucky one for him, for although he has been racing for 15 years, he has yet to record a clearcut victory at Otaki. Lucre, one of his candidates tvho had run a second 12 months ago, made a reappearance following a long spell in the Kuku Maiden on Saturday, but after running prominently to the turn, faded out of the picture. In the succeeding race Lucky Bag was beaten out of the major placing by Second Thought, while Blimp gave an inglorious display in the Cup, although the Gasbag gelding was once again galloped on and was almost down on his nose going out of the straight. Lucky Bag was again a runner on the second day, but without result, while Great Lady came in to run a third, and Mr. Keeble’s account still remains unopened so far as the Otaki course is concerned. Although difficult to train, Lady Limond is always apt to bob up when the sting is out of the ground. Following upon her second in the Connolly Handicap at "Wanganui Lady Limond was an absentee on the second day owing to soreness. In the Raukawa Cup at Otaki she was in the van throughout and won in commanding fashion from Paitonu, but was again showing evident signs of soreness at conclusion and did not figure in consequence on the second day. At His Best Paitonu, who had had to be content with second honours on the opening day, was able to improve on that performance on the second day, although he encountered considerable opposition from Teheka, who was making his first appearance. Whereas Teheka and Briar Root were out making the pace, L. G. Morris kept l’aitonu in behind on the rails and did not make his move until approaching the entrance to the straight. When asked the question the Bisogne gelding produced a great finishing effort, making light of the 321 b he was giving away to Teheka.

Three of the fancied candidates in the Ruakawa Cup Handicap, Black Mint, Spearmiss and Blimp, failed to live up to the expectations of their hackers, not one finishing in the first half dozen, while Blimp ran an inglorious last, although the fact that he was galloped on probably played a part to that end. On the second day Spearmiss came in for increased support, whereas Black Mint retreated in the betting order—Blimp being an absentee—but neither was included in the first eight to finish. Propaganda was backed as unbeatable in the Waitohu Hack Handicap r >n the opening day, but with Golden Flower and Lucky Bag out making the Pace the Star Stream gelding failed to make up the leeway in the man home, although Second Thought came from behind him to catcli Lucky Bag in the last few strides. Second Thought had failed badly at Wanganui, yet he ran right up to his best at Ota/*.i when ho followed up his victory with a second to Australis on Monday—the latter producing the form he had been confidently expected to for a long time Past by way of a change. However, those backers who kept with him duly benefited by a nice price. Coming Good The well-bred Disrank, who was somewhat delicate as a youngster, is now becoming more solid and he followed up his second to Shrewd at 'Tanganui by carrying 8.8 to victory ,n the Otaki Handicap on the first hay. Gold Bag and Royal Black attend'ng him home. With the first and second place-getters absentees on the -Monday the public advanced Royal Black from seventh favourite to an odds-on favourite, but Fine Acre, who finished fifth at the earlier start, beat him home. It was a great finish, bb® spirited effort on the part of T. Webster playing a material part to that end.