TO-DAY'S RACING.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 29, 4 February 1928, Page 11

TO-DAY'S RACING.

MATAMATA CLUB. CUP TO RARAKAU. TE KEROKE'S HIGH-WEIGHT. WAHAROA HANDICAP TO MASTER LU. V The Matamata Racing Clubs annual meeting is being held in beautiful weather, before a largo attendance. The course is in excellent order. Backers Start Right. Nine went to the post for the Tirau Handicap, the opening event of the day, and Te Koroke was made favourite, carrying about £S4 more than Prince Lu, who was second choice, with Lady Spalpeen and Bright Day also in demand. King Merv was the first to showout from Prince Lu, Te Koroke, Gold Rain, Day Abbey, Lord Thurnham and Bright Day. Prince Lu was in charge along the back from King Merv, Lady Spalpeeri, Te Koroke and Gold Rain, and he led across the top attended by Day Abbey, King Merv, Lady Spalpeen, Te Koroke and Bright Day. Prince Lu was first into the straight, followed by Lady Spalpeen, Loni Thurnham, Te Koroke and Bright Day. Te Koroke then came through and won by a neck from the fast-finishing Bright Day, who beat Prince Lu by half a length for third money. King Merv was fourth, and then came Lady Spalpeen. Lord Thurnham, Gold Rain, Raiti Hiki and Dav Abbey. Outsiders Score. Whaka King, Orchus and Day Guide were the defections from the Waharoa Handicap, and King Arch was made a warm favourite, being £310 better backed than Taurimu, with Dress Circle next fancied. King Arch was first away, and led laurimu, Queen Comet, Dress Circle, Menance and Tarrapeen. but when they reached the back Master Lu had run up fourth, and Taurimu led across the top, attended by King Arch, Tarrapeen (who had put in a fast run), Queen Comet and Master Lu. Taurimu was first to turn for home from Queen Comet, King Arch and Master Lu, and in a good finish the last-named got up to win by a head from Queen Comet, who beat laurimu by a similar margin. King Arch was fourth, and the next to finish were Dress Circle, Menance and Tarrapeen. Rarakau Wins the Cup. Wedding March and Museari were withdrawn from the Matamata Cup, and Bianson iiad £348 more on his number than the second choice, Mervette, while Siaosi was also well backed. Red Comet led out of tlie straight from Branson. Rarakau. Mervette, The Author, Siaosi and Lord Star, and along the back tnc order was much the same except that Siaosi had moved up to the middle of the field. Red Comet was still the leader crossing the top, attended by Branson. Karakau, and The Author and Siaosi racing together, and they turned for home in that order when Rarakau came through the inside and beat Branson bv a neck, with Mervette half a-length further back. Siaosi waf fourth, followed by Lord Star and Red Comet.

Detailed results:—

TIRAI" HIGHWEIGHT HANDICAP of SO sovs. Eight furlongs and a-lialf. I—TE KOROKK, ch g, syrs. bv Humbug —Tigritiya (Mr. J. Asher), lO.o— Collins 4—BRIGHT DAY, ch ;r, aged (Mr. S. Tapp). 10. l.'J— Warner ; - —PRINCE I U, blk g. syrs (Mr. X. Watson). 9.l3—Jarvis ;

Also started: (•">) King Merr, 11.J; «5) Gold Rain, 10.-: (3) Lady Spalpeen, y.3: <7i Raiti Hiki. (S) Lord Thurnliam. i!)) Day Abbey. 9.0. Won by a neck, third horse half a length away. Time, 1.40 1-".. Winner trained by J. H. Wallace. Te A roll a.

WAHAROA HANDICAP of SOsOvs. Seven furlongs and a-quarter. 4 —MASTER LU, b g, Cyrs. by Spalpeen -Lupin mare (Mr. J. O'Connor), 7.-. carried 7.o—McAnally ] 6—QI'EEN COMET, ch in. oyrs iMr. R. Burke), 7.10, carried 7.04 —Forbes.. - 2—TAI'RIMC. b g. ttyrs (Mr. J. McNicol), B.3—Keesiug S Also started: (1) King Arch. It.O: (,"i> Menanee, (3) Dress Circle. S. 1: (7) Tarrapeen, 7.2. Won by a herd, third horse a similar distance away. Time. 1 2-ri. Winner trained by R. H. Martin. Matamata. MATAMATA CUP of 2'2jsovs. and silver cup value £"Jo. One mile and a-quarter and fifteen yards. I—RARAKAU.1 —RARAKAU. I> ni. aged, by Day Comet—Waterwood (Mr. j. McNicol). 7.S—E. Keesing ] I—BRANSON,1 —BRANSON, b g. Oyrs (Messrs. A. J. Davis and H. Bennett). S.7—A. Driscoll 2 - —MERVETTE. b in, 4yrs (Mr. J. Fraser-.Smitli), 7.O—H. Gilmer .... Also started: (0) Lord Star. 7.13; <:>> Siaosi. 7.TJ: (7) The Author, 7.5: u>) Red Comet, 7.4. Won by a neck, third horse half a length away. Time. 2.S l-">. Winner trained by A. E. Cox. Te Aroba. HINUERA HANDICAP, of SOsovs. Six furlongs. —HONE HEKE. S.7—K. Gill 1 7—CYBELE. S.4 —H. .lones 'J 3—BRIGHT COMET. S.ll—J. Gray .. Scratched : Captain Cobham. Day Guide. Roman Abbey. Kosovo. Yellow Bonnet aud Glen Maree. Time. l.lTi -4-u. Won by one aud tt-lialf lengths.