POVERTY BAY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 October 1940, Page 3

POVERTY BAY

GAY MIMIC WINS NARROWLY. CITY SONG'S SUCCESS. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) GISBORNE, October 26. The opening day of the Poverty Bay Turf Club's centennial meeting was held on the Makaraka course today in bright sunshine. The track was in good order and there was a good attendance. The totalisator handled £5096 for six races, compared with £3739 10s last year when there were seven races, an increase of £1356 10s. Results: — Cook Hurdles, Ilm.: 3, Whctu, 9.11 (M. Ritchie), 1; 2. Eupatrid, 9.9 (J. H. Mcßae), 2; 7, Lacan, 9.1 (C. L. Kerr), 3. Also started: 1, De Friend; 4. Fossicker; 6, Seven Seas; 5, Royal Stuart. Four lengths; six. Time, 2.45 3-5. Nick’s Head Hack Handicap, 6f.: 3. Kinneff, 7.9 (S. Tremain), 1; 1. Native Chief, 8.9 (N. Howard), 2; 2, Catanach, 7.9 (R. Marsh), 3. Also started: 5. Ririwai; 4, Shani; 6,’Vain Crop. Six lengths; two. Time. 1.14 1-5. Centennial Handicap, lm.: 4, Gay Mimic, 7.11 (P. Fenton), 1; 1. Native Song, 8.9 (N. Howard), 2; 3, Boldstep, 7.13 (S. Tremain), 3. Also started: 2. Noble Fox. Neck; two lengths. Time, 1.40. ,

Roseland Handicap, IJm.: 1. City Song. 7.9 (R. Marsh), 1; 2, Queen's Dream. 8.9 (N. Howard), 2; 3, Lovelilt: 7.10 (P. Fenton), 3. Also started: 4. Kincarole; 5, Vacation. One length; three. Time, 2.10 4-5. Maiden Scurry, 5f.: 5. Etruscan. 8.7 (R. Marsh), 1; 1. Dusky Morn. 8.7 (N. Howard), 2; 7, Centennial, 9.51 (M. Ritchie), 3. Also started: 3, Callcardine; 6 Katesbridgc: 8, Lady Rosalie; 2, Royal Wave; 4, Skyette. Three-quart-ers of a length; three lengths. Time, 1.2 2-5. October Hack Handicap, 6f.: 1, Native Chief, 8.9 (N. Howard), 1; 4, Boatsong. 8.2 (P. Fenton), 2; 3, Birkology, 7.81 (T. F Kilgour). 3. Also started: 2, Ashaboy. Two lengths; half a length. Time, 1.14 4-5.

Superior Class. Par Avion showed superior class in winning the two-year-old handicap at Trentham on Saturday. Always well placed, and running smoothly, he ran away from his opponents in the straight, and won comfortably, again beating Flying Spray. Flying Spiajwas not too well placed in the early stages, but she ran on too well for second from Gunyah, who had been one of the leaders throughout, and actually was first to turn for home. Gunyah was weakening at the end, and would have been beaten in another few strides by Bird of Prey, who was running on well from an early rearward position. Kevin, The Whipper, and Prince Plato were next. Prince Plato was one of the leaders to the stiaight. It was an effortless win by a good colt.

Reversal of Form. The wiseacres of racing never judge a horse on its worst form, particulaily when it is as opposite as the poles to recent wins. Two recent cases crop up. Doria galloped away from Don’t Forget on the first day at Wingatui when giving him 141 b. They met in the Dunedin Guineas, with Doria meeting Don’t Forget on 191 b better terms for a handsome beating. The form was too bad to be tine. On the first day Don’t Forget was a bit slow away, and then 100 much use was made of him. He raced up to, and disputed leadership with, Lord Nuffield and stopped at the finish. On the second day Don’t Forget was allowed to set his own pace in front, and the filly had to give him a start over the final half-mile. She finally could not muster up a serious challenge. If Dame Rumour is not a false lady, Doria’s defeat could be attributed to the fact that she went off her feed on arrival at Wingatui, and one race settled her. She, in fact, did not show much dash when galloped with Royal Chief on the morning before the meeting opened. There is no doubt that some of the horses were a bit upset through being close to a military camp, and one trainer said his horse never stopped sweating. It may have upset others. In the Churchill Handicap The Raker finished about two lengths in front of Swordstick, with the latter giving 61b. They met at Timaru, with The Raker giving Swordstick lib, but while the former won all the way the latter was never in the hunt. Here again was another remarkable reversal of form. The only thing surprising about the upheavals consists in the fact that the public was not officially supplied with some information concerning them. No doubt the trainers, riders, or owners would have been only too pleased of an opportunity to supply an explanation. In reference to the military occupation of Wingatui, it has to be said that as soon as it was learnt that horses might be upset by anything in connection with early drilling, etc., instructions kept operations as quiet as possible until 9.30 a.m. Trainers expressed appreciation of the consideration bestowed by the military authorities.