METHVEN TROTS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 303, 5 October 1935, Page 6

METHVEN TROTS

THE ANNUAL MEETING

BATTLEFIELD WINS CUP.

DRAYTON HANDICAP TO BON CHANCE.

The Metliven. Trotting Club field its ninth annual .meeting on the Mount Harding racecourse to-day. ’The weather was bright and warm, but a strong north-westerly wind was blowing. The attendance was large, and "’the track was in first-class order.

A number of improvements on the course have lately been carried out by the club, the chief of them being the erection of a second open stand over the administration offices, the erection of more commodious horse-boxes and enlargement of the bird-cage, which will be further improved after this meeting. The judge’s box, which formerly was at the edge of the track, lias been moved back to the rear of the bird-cage and raised several feet. The Ashburton Silver Band, under the conductor (Mr E. R, Hopwood), played a programme of lively music during the afternoon. Results up to the time the “Guardian” went to press were:—

DRAYTON HANDICAP TROT. (Harness). Of 100 sovs, second horse to receive 20 soys and third horse 10 isovs from the stake. For unhoppled trotters that can do 3.49 or better. One mile and a-half.

8 (8) —Mr Jas. Wilson’s ch g Bon ■Chance, aged, scr (Owner) 1 4 (3) —Mr J. D. Litten’s b m Royal Romance, 4yrs, scr (M. Holmes) ... ... ... 2 12 (9) —Mrs T. Oldfield’s hr g Walter Wrack, 6yrs, 60yds (S'. A. Edwards) ... 3 1 (4) —Mr W. Connolly’s b g Pleasant Voyage, aged, scr ... 4

Also started: 2 (5) Cracksman scr, 18 (13) Bellerina scr, 24 (14) Burlesque ser, 2 (1) Bittersweet scr, 15 (11) Braemar scr, 9 (6) Coreopsis scr, 7 (15) Fluke scr, 16 (10) Great Horatius scr, 22 (17) Great Linnet scr, 17 (16) Jaeky Cross scr, 21 (14) Joe 'Carbine scr, 18 (7) Lament scr, 17 (13) Master Wrack scr, 5 (7) Parrish Chimes scr, 4 (2) San Michele scr, 14 (11) Win Thru 24ydsT, 13 (12) Sonoma Boy 36, 10 (8) Axiom 48, 23 (18) Imperial Nelson 48. Bon Chance led out at the start and had a substantial lead all the way, with Lament second in the early stages and third later on. With half tho distance gone, Royal Romance was second. Fluke, Jacky Ci’oss and Burlesque fell, the first-mentioned galloping all the way round, to the imminent danger of the others. Bon Clianoe won by six lengths, and a similar distance off was Walter Wrack, with Pleasant Voyage fourth. Times —3.39 1-5, 3.42 4-5, 3. 40 2-o.

WESTWARD HO' HANDICAP. (Harness), Of 100 sovs,, second horse to receive 20 soys and third horse 10 soys from the stake. For horses that can do 3.43 or better. One mile and a-half. 6 (7)—Mr A. H. Busch’s b m Trireme, syrs, scr (G. McKendry) ... „ • ••• 1 2 (s)—Mr C. S. Donald’s ch g Golden Miller, scr (Owner; 2 9 (10) —'Mr A. Read’s b m Credit Funds, scr (J, Behrnes) ... 3

Also started: 2 (3) Twelfth Earl scr (coupled with Loretta 36yds), 8 (9) Henry Drusus scr, 1 (2) Lady Hannah scr, il (11) Master Garry scr, 7 (6) Monetary scr, 10 (8) Voluntary scr, 5 (4) Cruiser 36yds, 2 (1) Casanova 48. There was a good start, and throughout the distance the field was well bunched. Passing the stand the first time the leaders were Twelfth Earl, Trireme, Master Garry, Voluntary and Golden Miller. The order was little changed round the back, and as the straight loomed up Casanova was seen coming fast. Trireme, however, went on to win by a length, Credit Funds being half a length away. Casanova was fourth.

Times—3.26 4-5, 3.27 1-5, 3.26 2-5. METHVEN CUP HANDICAP. (Harness). Of 250 sovs (canteen of cutlery, value £25, donated by Jno. Dewar and Sons, per Mr Victor Cornaga, and 225 sovs), second horse to receive 50 soys and third horse 25 sovs from the stake. For horses that can do 4.40 or better. Gold Mounted Whip, donated by A. E!. Wilson, will tie presented to the driver of the Cup winner. Two miles. 4 (6)—Mr F. P. Brosnan’s b g Battlefield, oyrs, scr (M. Holmes) 1 8 (B)—Mr R. J. Dunlop’s bli Young Travis, syrs, 12yds (O. King) ••• 2 5 (2)—Mr B. Grice’s b g Village Guy, syrs, scr (0. E. Hooper) 3

Also started: 1 (2) Dollie Derby scr, 9 (9) Golden Cross ser, 10 (10) Gunmetal scr, 4 (7) Marie Celeste scr, 5 (3) Racketeer scr, 13 (13) Ileal Huon scr, 12 (12) Margaret Bell 24yds, 12 (11) Young Frank 24, 11 (7) Grace McElwyn 36, 6 (1), Morello 36, 14 (14) Reporter 84.

Battlefield led from Village Guy and Gunmetal after the field had settled down. Then at the back Dollie Derby took charge with Gunmetal. The field was well bunched throughout. At the stand the leaders were Dollie Derby, Battlefield, Golden Cross and Village Guy. Soon after the field reached the far turn Dollie Derby broke. v Battlefield went to the barrier a length and a half ahead’ of Young Travis, with. Village Guy third a length back. Mqfgaret Bell, who was second when entering the straight, was fourth.

Times—4.33 3-5, 4.32 4-5, 4.34. AVONMORE HANDICAP. (Harness). Of 115 ,sovs, second horse to receive 23 sovs and third horse Ilf sovs from the stake. For horses that can do 3.34 or better. One mile and a-half.

1 (I)—Mr W. F. Magson’s hr g Tricliff, syrs, scr (L. A. Maidens) 1 8 (7)—Mr W. Johnstone’s b m Lady Fame, aged, 36yds (S. A. Edwards) 2 o (4) —Mr G. J. Barton’s b m Rongomai, 4yrs, 12yds (J. Fraser, jun.) 3 Also started: 4 (5) Doris Derby scr, 6'(8) Dundee, scr, 3 (3) Full Hand scr, 9 (9) Portlight scr, 12 (12) Royal Escort scr, 11 (10) Sage King scr, 7 (6) Wee Wrack scr, 2 (2) Noble Prince 12yds, 11 (10) Subsidy 24. I>e Soto was scratched. Portlight and Rongomai went out.

first, and at the stand the leaders were Portlight, Rongomai, Wee Wrack, Doris Derby and Tricliff. Rongomai led most of the way round the remainder of the course, and Lady Fame was seen to be coming up to a handy position as the field reached the straight. Tricliff came on to win by a length from Lady Fame, with Rongomai three lengths back third. Doris Derby was fourth. Times—3.26, 3.23 1-5, 3.26 4-5.

MT. HARDING HANDICAP. (Harness). Of 100 sovs, second horse to receive 20 sovs and third horse 10 sovs from the stake. For horses that can do 3.5 or better. One mile and a-quarter. 2 (3) —Mr M. Scoon’s b g Sports Review, syrs, scr (Owner) 1 7 (4) —Mr J. Young’s b c Harlequin, 3yrs, scr (R. Young) 2 7 (13) —Mr H. Hendry’s b g Our War, Syrs, scr (T. M. McGirr) 3

Also; started: 13 (10) Alpine Prince scr (coupled with Author’s Choice scr), 10 (11) Brigadier scr, 3 (2) Satin Lass scr (coupled with Ivan de Oro 24yds), 13 (14) Celebrity scr, 11 (6) Credit Balance scr, 9 (7) Fine Art scr, 15 (14) Green Tanger scr, 16 (20) Harvest Gift scr, 4 (5) Heather Queen scr, 6 1(9) Juju McElwyn scr, 1 (1) Lady Hannah scr, 20 (19) Master Garry, 21 (16) Mistral scr, 17 (2-1) Mystery Girl scr, 20 (22) Phasalia scr, 5 (8) Silk Bonny scr, 18 (16) Fortex scr, 18 (18) Westcliff scr, 12 (11) Sky Wink 48yds. Scratched: Trireme, Chief tainess, Coral Prince, Tapdancer. Heather Queen and Our War were in the front in that order at the stand, and at tlie back Brigadier was leading from Harlequin and Heather Queen. Harlequin led int# the straight from Brigadier, but. Sports Review, which was well back just before that, came out to win by two lengths from Harlequin. Two lengths back was Our War, with Brigadier fourth. Times —2.53 4-5, 2. 54 2-5, 2-55.

RIVERBANK HANDICAP TROT. (Harness). Of 110 sovs, second horse to receive 22 sovs and third horse 11 sovs from the stake. For unlioppled trotters that can do 5.3 or better. Two miles. 9 (9) —Parish Chimes (C. Pringle) 1 4 (2) —Axiom (F. O. Brown) ... 2 X (I)—Walter Wrack (S. A. Edwards) 3 Times—4.sl 4-5, 4.50, 4.49 1-5. Won by a length; half a length between second and third.