OPUNAKE DOUBLE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 31, 7 February 1939, Page 4

OPUNAKE DOUBLE

Wanganui Apprentice’s Success RODE CUP AND FLYING WINNERS WINSOME LU AND AIRING Attached to the stable of H. W. Johnston, W’anganui, the young apprentice, S. T. Edwards, was in good form at the Opunake races on Saturday, when he steered to victory the winners of the Opunake Cup and the Flying Handicap, Winsome Lu and Airing. It was a meritorious feat and suggests that with the more numerous chances Edwards will get as a result of his successes he will register further wins. On Winsome Lu Edwards showed excellent judgment, riding a waiting race. Somewhat similar tactics were pursued on Airing in the Flying Handicap, and the confidence of Edwards in his mount proved to be not misplaced.

Two successes came the way of Wanganui-trained horses, for in addition to Airing’s win in the open sprint for Mr. F. Bristol, Baron Boid scored in the Borough Stakes for Mr. T. Baker. This four-year-old gelding is by Bold Baron from the Night Raid mare Praeda. The Hurdle Race was won by Ohanga, winner of last year's Opunaxe Cup, trained by H. Dulieu, New Plymouth, who led in three winners, Gold Petal, in the Electric Hack, ana Mischel, in the Juvenile, also hailing from his stable. He was the oni> New Plymouth trainer to win a race and the only trainer to lead in mure than one winner. Hawera trainers had three winners, so that Taranakitrained horses had a good day, winning six of the eight races. An Attractive Win. After lying last for the greater pazt of the journey, Winsome Lu came with a great rush in the straight to win the Opunake Cup in attractivefashion. She fairly buried the opposition over the concluding stages. Red Sand made a game effort when coming from the back with Winsome Lu, but was not quite good enough. The favourite, Aussie Ra, had every chance but was being ridden before the straight was reacned. Though he ' appeared likely at the distance he i could not go on with it. Nereus ; pulled hard in the early stages ana i was asked to cover too much ground. ITe Huia was the leader lor about I seven furlongs. From a good stall Te Huia lea through the straight I from Aussie Ra, Nereus, Red Sana •and Winsome Lu. Racing along the I back Aussie Ra moved up to Te Huia and Nereus went up outside him. The trio raced abreast, with Red Sand and .Winsome Lu together about two lengths away. Te Huia had dropped iout before the straight was reacned, i with Red Sand and Winsome Lu .moving up. At the distance Aussie iRa ana Nereus were hard at it until Red Sand and Xyinsome Lu swept ■past them, Winsome Lu going on to score by a length and a-half from | Red Sand, with Aussie Ra a similar ! distance away third. Nereus was fourth and Te Huia last. Airing’s Return to Form. Airing staged a return to form when he won the Flying Handicap in decisive fashion. He was ridden confidently by Edwards, but ran past the opposition in the easiest manner in . the straight. Lifeguard attempted to : win all the way and was going so : comfortably at the straight entrance I that he looked a winner, but he had • no chance with Airing at the finish. , Taitoru was always in the pictuie I and followed Lifeguard into the i straight. How ever, he made no imi pression over the last furlong. Alyth ; had every chance, but Clessamor was always in the rear. Alyth was the lirst to show up, but Liicguard soon ran through to the front to lead along the back from Alyth and Taitoru, with Airing and Clessamor in the rear. They raced in this order to the straight, where Airing was making up ground. Lifeguard looked a winner at the distance, but. Airing with a great run beat him by two lengths. Taitoru was a similar dis- < tance away third, followed by Alyth and Clesamor.

Baron Bold at Last. Despite losing ground at the start, ' Baron Bold won the Borough Stakes 'in good style. H? made up his ground ‘ quickly along the back and was in second place behind Sang Bleu round- : ing the far turn. He soon hit the I front in the straight, and holding ofi Karerenui’s challenge scored handily. I Karerenui ran a solid race but api peared a shade unlucky at the home 'turn. Resinguard came with a great •rush for third after appearing hopelessly out of it. Kernel Mint made a ; good show ing, but Sang Bleu stopped ’ quickly in the straight. Kernel Mint ! was the first to move from Colonel i Bunsby and Karerenui, but Sang Bleu soon took charge and showed the way along the back from Kernel ■ Mint, Baron Bold and Karerenui. i There was little change in the order |of racing into the straight, where ,Sang Bleu quickly retired and Baron i Bold took charge, with Karerenui challenging. Baron Bold hung on to win by three-quarters of a length, I with Resinguard finishing fast to beat j Kernel Mint for third. Sang Bleu was fifth, followed by Young Charles.