THE TURF.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 125, 9 March 1936, Page 6

THE TURF.

WELLINGTON TROTTING CLUB. WAINUI TO BLAIIt ATHOL, REWARD WINS OPENING EVENT. (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. The second day of the Wellington Trotting Club’s autumn meeting was held in overcast and cool weather. The track was slightly holding. There was a fair attendance. Results:—. RANDWICK HANDICAP, of 120 sovs. One mile and a half. 2 (2) —Reward, 36yds ... 1 4 (1) —Mabel Chimes, 12yds 2 1 (3) —Helen’s Bay, 48yds 3 Won by two lengths; a length between second and third. Time, 3.30 3-5. MOERA NOVICE HANDICAP, of 100 sovs. One mile and a half. 3 (2) —Tenor, scr 1 2 i(3) —Lucky Jack, scr ... 2 5 (5) —Precious Metal, scr 3 Won by half a length; three lengths between second and third. Time, 3.31. WAINUI HANDICAP, of 130 sovs. One mile and a half. 1 (2) —Blair Athol, 48yds... 1 4 (4) —lcleal, 36yds ... 2 6 (5) —Zest, 24yds ... 3 Won by four lengths; a length between second and third. Time, 3.25 3-5. UNIQUE LIGHT HARNESS RACE. ON ASHBURTON CLUB’S PROGRAMME. A special race, the All Aged Stakes, an event- unique in light harness racing in New Zealand, will be included in the Ashburton Trotting Club’s autumn meeting. It should be of great interest to the public, as well as a boon to owners of the best horses of their age. The race is after the style of a weight-for-age galloping event with penalties, and should the response from owners be satisfactory, it might mean the framing by the authorities of a standard handicap for age scale. The race will be in harness, over 11 miles, for a sweepstake of 20 soys, payable at time of entry, with a stake of 400 sovereigns added. The winner will receive 65 per cent, of the total of the sweepstake and stake, the second horse 20 per cent., the third horse 10 per cent, and the fourth horse 5 per cent. Handicaps will be: Three-year-olds, scratch ; four-year-olds, 50 yards ; five-year-olds, 84 yards; six-year-olds and aged horses, 108 yards. Penalties will be: Three-year-olds, winners of New Zealand Derby and/or Grand National Derby and/or New Zealand Champion Stakes, 12 yards behind; four-year-olds, winners of New Zealand, Derby and/or Grand National Derby and/or New Zealand Champion Stakes, - 72 yards behind ; sixyear-olds and aged horses, winner of last Free-for-All, 120 yards behind. Entries close at 8 p.m. on March 19. THE AUSTRALIAN CUP. CUDDLE’S DISTRESSED FINISH. (Received This Day, 11.45 a.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. The Melbourne correspondent of the “Sydney Morning Herald,” commenting on the Australian Cup, says: “A feature of the race was the struggle between Cuddle and her rider (Pratt) in the early stages. Pratt attempted to keep her behind the first leader, Royal Amour, but Cuddle pulled herself past that horse and led into the straight the first time. She refused to settle down, and Pratt refused to let her run along at her top. Eventually Pratt won the battle passing the post the first time, but Cuddle lasted two more furlongs, then weakened suddenly.” The Melbourne correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph” says: “Few more peculiar exhibitions have marked the Australian Cup than that -of Cuddle. Pratt was prpbably riding to instructions when he tried to ease Cuddle back into the field, but the horse fought vigorously for her head. It seemed that, passing the post the first time, Pratt pulled Cuddle almost to a standstill, but lie stated after the race that the mare had collapsed. Nevertheless, Cuddle was still third at the half-mile, but her chance had been ruined completely. She walked, past the post half a furlong last, the most distressed horse ever to finish in the Australian Cup.”