Exciting Trotting at New Plymouth

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 958, 29 April 1930, Page 13

Exciting Trotting at New Plymouth

HORSES IN FORM THRILLING FAREWELL FINISH By "ABAYDOS” The racing at New Plymouth on Saturday was of a high order and the spectacular contests with their thrilling finishes raised the enthusiasm of the large assemblage. The finish of the Farewell Handicap, in which it was impossible for any one but the judge to give a decision, was the most wonderful ever known in New Zealand and was a fitting termination to a good day’s sport and a triumph for handicapper Goosman. * * * Manco, a big son of Peterwah, was well handled by Jim Gerard to get the thick end of the purse in the Novice Handicap. He was never farther away than third, and when asked for a final effort did his work well to get the verdict. Prince Pedro began in good style in the Novice Handicap and with a mile covered was sailing comfortably in front to the delight of his supporters. In the concluding stages A. McMillan’s pacer had enough and was beaten into second berth. * * * Finoro, who raced into a place at Ashhurst and Hastings, was the medium of good speculation in the Waitara Handicap, and getting to the front early, had no difficulty in bringing joy to her backers. The Corrigan mare trotted steadily and this won her the race. * * * Nelson Girl showed good speed in patches during the running of the Waitara Trot, but three errors made the difference between first and second at the post. A. Julian got her back to her stride at each break in good style, still the mare lost a lot of ground. Richmond Hass proved herself the best stayer in the Urenui Handicap field, which was a moderate class lot. She waited in behind Lightfoot till the home turn, where H. Tags asked her a question. Responding gamely, Richmond Lass got up at the finish to win nicely. * * * Lightfoot went for the doctor in the slow two-mile race and at the end of 12 furlongs held a good lead. He was first round the corner and hung on well when challenged by Richmond Lass, but a break near the post saw him relegated to second place. * * * Harold Logan proved a good one by winning the Taranaki Cup after being in anything but a good position in the early stages. 1-Ie moved up after a mile had been covered and coming fast over the final quarter won nicely. All Red showed improved form in the Taranaki Cup and gave a display more in keeping with his Hastings effort. Nicely placed all the way, J. Gerrard looked a winner until Harold Logan appeared on the scene to take the trophy off him. A sturdy sort of two-year-old is Bingen Crest, and he won the Moturoa Handicap at the finish like a real gentleman. J. Shaw drove the half-brother to Derby Lynn, who is the first of Worthy Bingen’s progeny to record success. The Wanganui-owned pacer should do well with age. Hemlock Hero had his initial race at Hawera, and he shaped well for a mile of the 12-furlong journey. The Moturoa Handicap suited him better, and with T. Grimmond behind him

Native Hero’s son put up a fine performance. He led from barrier rise to within 30 yards of the post, where Bingen Crest headed him for first place* * # * Rangitero’s consistency was rewarded in the Inglewood Trot, when W. Hughes drove him home a narrowmargin winner. The Native King trotter never made a mistake, and, getting a good advantage at the turn, held on better than usual to score. * * * Brian Bingen went a sound race in the two-mile trot, and over-confidence on the part of his driver saw him finish second instead of first. With a mile gone, Brian was a long way back, but from there on he made up ground. In tho final lane he travelled fast, but failed to reach Rangitero by a neck. * * * Highland Derby made amends for his earlier defeat by lasting long enough to win the Omata Handicap, and pay a nice double-figure dividend. The chestnut looked like winning the mile when A. Julian met with interference, but in the larger race “Tartar” dodged any trouble, and brought the Nelson Derby gelding home. Manco put up a gallant fight in the ; Omata Handicap. Penalised 12yds ] for his earlier success, lie was always i handy in his second start. At the home turn the Peterwah four-year-old j

was giving Highland Derby a lot of start, and got within half a length of him at the finish. Evidently thinking that 60yds was too much for Ngahuia to give away in a field of 18, over 10 furlongs, the public selected four others in order of merit on the machine. That their judgment was not correct was proved when Jim Gerrard got the brilliant sprinter home in a sensational finish by a very narrow margin. Cornelian was on her best behaviour in the Farewell Handicap, and paced a resolute race. She had a

useful lead into the straight, and looked all over the winner as the post was approached, but Ngahuia swooped along, to cut the Author Dillon mare out of tho first prize.