VERTIGERN OUT

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 801, 23 October 1929, Page 12

VERTIGERN OUT

THE WELLINGTON HANDICAP TRENTHAM TOPICS WRI.T.IXGTOX. Todav. The "rather "as cold and ovtrcast. "'ith a suggestion of rain, a t Trentham this morning, and there *a s little fast work, but one or two reallv good gallops. Historic did a working gallop two rounds on the plough and sprinted home. Talisker. on the grass, ran a mile i„ 1.41 4-5, the last half in 51 3-5. ir finished well. Tenterden. on the plough, ran tlireo easily in 41. and Concentrate and Grand Blow two solid rounds on the plough. Ex Bono and I>uellona, ridden out went five on the grass in 1.3 1-5. the last four in 50. Banket ran the last four of five in 49 3-5, a good effort. Yertigern. on the grass, covered six in 1.17 2-5. the last four in 51 2-5, and worked well. Yertigern was withdrawn from the AV.R.C. Handicap at 9 a.m. today, the stable relying 0 n Talisker, who is to be ridden by A. Fratus. Rabbi, picked up by Tresham, covered seven furlongs on the grass in 1.44 1-5. Rabbi is not a good track horse and was sticking on. Count Palatine, going easily on the grass, ran seven in 1.37. Star Stranger, Knightlike and False Scent were out for easy pacing. All look well. UNDER DIFFICULTIES RANDWICK PLATE SUCCESS NIGHTMARCH’S PERFORMANCE Any doubts that may have existed about Nightmarch not being able to run out two miles were dispelled in the A.J.C. Rand wick Plate, from which the New Zealander emerged with flying colours. The race was regarded as a match between the Epsom Handicap winner and Winalot, and arguments that Nightmarcli had two strenuous runs at the' meeting, whereas Winalot had one race, and in which he had an easy win, resulted in the prices about the pair being very close. Nightmareli closing at slight odds against and AVinqlot at odds on. Bacchus was the other runner at less than twenties, and about him double figures were proourable. Nightmarcli did not leave the rails until nearing the turn into the straight, and there his backers were not too pleased with his prospects. He had been a few lengths from the leaders most of the way. and just when it was time to make a run the field, owing to the slow pace early, crowded round him and there looked the possibility of his not being able to get a clear passage. Crueis led into the straight from Winalot, and suddenly there was a change in the scene. Winalot ran a little wide, and Reed sent Nightmarcli between him and Crueis. The New Zealander made up liis ground well and was coming on to what promised to be an easy win when Kidaides put in a claim. The South Australian mbnifntarily caused a little uneasiness, but Nightmarcli responded again to Reed's riding. J. Pike had a task restraining Winalot for the first mile. The appeared to be favouring one of his forelegs as he returned to the enclosure. The winner was given a good cheer as he returned to weigh in. In his last 17 starts, Nightmarcli lias been three times out of a place. STILL SUSPICIOUS RANDWICK STEEPLECHASES OUTSPOKEN CRITIC Steeplechasing at Randwick seems to be under such deep suspicion that the wonder is the A.J.C. keeps it goinjr, commented a Sydney “Guardian’’ writer on October 14, two days* after tho conclusion of the Randwick meeting. Every time there is an easy win, a stewards’ inquiry into the form follow;The notorious Grey Knight race is a memory that will live forever. On Saturday the stewards had to investigate to assure themselves that the form in the Dowling Steeplechase, won by My ail. was fair. Myan could not win the 21 miles race on Metropolitan Day. Despite his lead of 20 lengths, Burraform beat him homo easily. On Saturday Myan led throughout the three-miler, and Burraform, who by Monday’s form might have been accepted as the better stayer, proved so slow and hopeless that he was pulled up before the end of the race. Jockeys Changed The stewards’ investigations were not i directed upon Myan’s improvement. | Changed jockeys led to his stamina being better conserved- Tie tried to bolt on Saturday, as he had at the start of .Monday’s Steeplechase, but "• Baker checked him, and, keeping bim well in hand for the rest of the journo}, while still holding the lead, he retained just sufficient reserve to enabl* Myan to beat off the challenges ot Home Made and Honest Light. . Myan is a perfect fencer, and ; more careful handling, and the bene*? I from Monday’s run over fences— t* 1 " j first for many months—enabled him 0 | improve sufficiently to beat two nonI stayers. A Terrible Effort Burraform’s display certainly * ar * ! ranted a stewards’ inquiry. Ho scored in dashing style on Aletr®" politan Day, but on Saturday he always toiling laboriously in the rea !\* if ho had a pain that would not let n do his best. He was going so badly s ; furlongs from home that his joCnC. Cutler, pulled him up. . nS The explanation that the connect!» had backed him was accepted, M that of the jockey, that the horse co do no better. , Tho fact that in face of Monday* 6 feat Myan was packed from fours to a point lower with some *>° p ; j and “no offer” with many other men, created, after he had won. a s picion concerning the opposition Saturday’s race. . The inquiry was certainly uS^L lV e I although the stewards seem to u*

sifted it out that all was well. , Nevertheless, steeplechases at wick seem to stink in the nostrilsP public. faC t Apart from the suspicion, tnQ that so few compete in them j”. t j,f them unsatisfactory races, and j? premier body perseveres with tn a mystery.