RACING NEWS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 107, 9 May 1927, Page 13

RACING NEWS.

AMBERLEY RACING CLUB.

SIR ROY RUNS TRUE TO FORM.

STARKEY MEMORIAL TO

THORNDALE.

VOLANT GETS AWAY WITH THE

SPRINT.

(By Telegraph.—Special to tlie "Star.") CHRI-STCHURCH, Saturday.

The Amberley Racing Club was favoured with perfect weather for its nnnual meeting, which attracted a large attendance, including many Christchurch visitors, to whom it afforded an exceptionally pleasant holiday outing. The race track, which had been very hard, was harrowed before the meeting and provided good going, being like a light plough, the only drawback being that it was very dusty. Good fields were the rule and there was some excellent sport. The totalisator handled £8062, compared with £9165 last vear.

An Improved Horse. A start was made with the Brackenfield Handicap, a highweight race, which attracted the five acceptors. En Route was a pronounced favourite, with Beaming easily second choice, though they all received fair support. Flaming Ray was first to show out and she led En Route for two furlongs, with the others all handy. En Route then took charge, while half a mile from home Beaming took third place. En Route was bowling along freely in the lead at the home turn, Well clear of the other pair, and he went on to win easily by two lengths from Flaming Ray, who beat Beaming by a length, while Ascetic was several lengths away fourth. The winner has not been in work a great time, and he has come on a lot since he was beaten in a similar event on the second day of the Easter meeting at Riccarton. Not a Stayer. Five scratching left a field of -eight for the Novice Stakes. Solgele was always a little better backed than Master John, while after a long gap Malmsey and Grey Wells came in for fair support. Solgele jumped out smartly and soon had a lead of three lengths from Grey Wells, while at the end of a furlong Master John took third place, with Majmsey and Spearman heading the others. They ran without change to the home. turn. Solgele still held a good lead at this stage, where he was going very freely. Over the last little bit, however, he tired badly, and just struggled home a length in front of Grey Wells, who beat Master John by half 4 length. Motor Smash, who was running on strongly, was fourth, with Lady Swinton just behind him. The winner showed a lot of promise in the spring until a severe cold sent him into retirement. Since his reappearance a few weeks ago he has demonstrated that he retains his speed, but he does not stay, five furlongs being his utmost limit at present, and even over that distance he is not so good as was hoped at one stage. Full of Merit.

Thorndale was the only scratching for Jfce Amberley Cup, and in a field of fight Sir Roy was a little better fancied than Ophir. They went off in good line vith no delay. Tarleton and Jarretierre drew out at the start, leading past the stand from Gay Queen, The Harp, and Ophir, with Fresco last. There was not much change in the next two furlongs, but Sir ROy then dropped back to last. They ran like this till three furlongs from home, when Ophir headed the second bunch, and he followed the two leaders round the turn, where Sir Roy commenced to move up. When the straight was reached Tarleton and Jarretierre were still going well in front, with Ophir and Sir Roy handy. Tarleton was the first of the leaders beaten, and a little further on Jarretierre was in trouble. Sir Roy finished strongly on the outside, and was drawing away from Ophir at the end, winning by half alength. Gay Queen, who was running 'on in good style, was a length further back, with Jarrietierre and The Harp next. The performance of Sir Roy was full of merit. He had to put in a good run over the last three furlongs, and he came home very strongly. Tarleton, though well beaten at the end, ran a good race.

▲ Promising Trotter. The fourteen acceptors lined up for the Kowai Trot. Lady Cio, Bingen Patch and Athalone monopolised the betting. Meritor was first away, with Athalone, Noble Dillon, Bingen Patch and Teremoa next. At the end of half a mile Athalone was showing clear of Meritor, Noble Dillon, Bingen Patch and Henry Tracey, with Prologue next. Half-a mile from home Athalone was just in front of Bingen Patch, while half-a-dozen lengths away Prologue and Henry Tracey headed the others. Bingen Patch was in trouble at the entrance to the straight, leaving Athalone to win easily by three lengths from Henry Tracey, who finished well, beating Bingen Patch by four lengths, with Surfboard, who came with a late rattle, only a length further back. The winner, a four-year-old by Harold Dillon, was always going comfortably, and he will do a lot better before long. Bingen Patch showed speed, but failed to stay. Lady Cio broke up at the start. An Attractive Effort.

Booster, Miss Minerva and Gold Brick were withdrawn from the Seadown Handicap. Volant was a strong favourite, while after a good gap Serotina and Nincompoop were evenly fancide. Volant was unlucky at the start, as he met trouble at the rise of the barrier, and lost several lengths. Nine of Spades was quickly joined in the lead by Nincompoop, the pair being three lengths in front of Serotina, who was joined by Volant. After going a furlong Volant took third place, and moved up at the home turn. Volant ran to the front at the entrance to the straight, and won as he Hked by two lengths from Nine of Spades, who just lasted long enough to stall off Serotina's lat run by half a length, with Nincompoop close up. It was an attractive effort, after the bad luck Volant had at the start. ' He has just struck form, and he may win more races before the end of the season. Won in Good Style.

For the Glatnevin Hack Handicap Peho and Paper Boy were withdrawn, leaving a field of eight, of whom four had started earlier in the day. Spode was sent out a hot favourite. Tannadice and Motor Smash were smartest out, hut Spode soon joined them. After .going two furlongs Motor Smash dropped iback a. Jit tie, but a furlong further on he

the home turn. The three leaders were in line at the entrance to the straight, with Master John heading the others. Spoke was soon in trouble, and Motor Smash drew out to win by a length, while Master John, coming with a late run, got up in time to beat Tannadice by a neck, with Spearman close up. •Spode had every chance, but stopped quickly. Motor Smash won in good style, but it was not a strong field. A Characteristic Finish.

Sir Roy was the only scratching for the G. B. Starkey Memorial Handicap. In a field of six Sagittarius was easily better backed than Thorndale, these two monopolising the betting. Thorndale was smartest out, but Sagittarius soon ran past him, having a lead of three lengths at the end of three furlongs, where Jarretierre had taken third place, with Beaming next. The three leaders were running at length intervals at the home turn, with Beaming several lengths further back. On reaching the straight Thorndale moved up on the outside. He and Sagittarius drew away together, Thorndale gradually wearing his rival down and winning by a neck. Jarretierre was three lengths away, with Beaming fourth. The winner finished with a characteristic run over the last furlong, the distance being one at which he is seen at his best. It was an unlucky experience for F. E. Jones who usually rides Thorndale, but who was claimed for Sagittarius on this occasion, C'. Emerson being on the winner.

A Speedy Stayer. The Teviotdale Trot, the concluding event of the meeting, drew a field of 12. Mac Dillon, who appeared to be exceptionally well treated in view of his form at Ashburton last month, was a strong favourite, while Dick Logan also came in for solid support. Dick Logan went off in a tangle and never settled down properly. Copra began smartly and led out of the straight, with Mac Dillon and Bankhead in close attendance, while after a gap Polo Jiin and Routine were heading the others. At the end of two furlongs Yen joined them, and going along the back Copra drew away with a good lead. When seven furlongs had been covered MacDillon and Bankhead joined Copra, with Erin's Royal not far away. Passing the stand these four were in a bunch, but six f.urlongs from home MacDillon went on from Erin's Royal and Bankhead, while Copra retired. Erin's Royal had the measure of Mae Dillon before the straight was reached, and he went on to win easily by three lengths. Alvira, who came with a good run over the last half-mile, was three lengths behind Mac Dillon, with Bankhead close up. The winner paced home in good style, staying on well after showing a lot* of speed in the early stages. MacDillon went a long way below his Ashburton form.

Details of the concluding events:—• KOWAI TROT of 90sovs. 3.42 class. One mile and a-half. .3 —ATHALONE, limit i 14—HENRY TRACEY, 12yds •» 2—BINGEN PATCH, limit ......."".I 3 - Bt * rt Won by two lengths, three 34Z between second and third. Time, SEADOWN HANDICAP of lOOsovs Six furlongs. I—VOLANT, 8.3 i 4—NINE OF SPADES, 7.10 2 2—SEROTINA, 7.3 ... 3 Scratched: Booster, Miss Minerra, v °t? Bl ? ck - Won by two lengths, with naif a length between second and third. Time, 1.14 1-5. GLASNEVIN HACK of SOsovs. Six furlongs. 6—MOTOR SMASH, 7.0 1 2—MASTER JOHN. 7.10 -J. S—TANNADICE, 7-9 3 Scratched: Peho, Paper Boy. Won by a length, a neck between second and third. Time, 1.15 1-5. G. B. BTAHKEY MEMORIAL HANDICAP of lOOsovs. Seven furlongs. 2—THORNDALE, 9.3 1 I—SAGITTARIUS. 9.4 2 S—JARRETTERRE, 7.7 3 Scratched: Sir Roy. Won by a neck, three lengths between second and third. Time, 1.27 2-5.

TEVIOTDALE TROT of lOOsovs. 4.56 Class. Two mil<;s.

9—ERIN'S ROYAL. 103 yds J I—MAC DILLON, 12yds 2 6—ALVIRA, 96yds 3 Scratched: Bingen Patch, Meritor. Won by three lengths, four lengths between second and third. Time, 4.49.