MASTERTON AUTUMN.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 77, 31 March 1928, Page 17

MASTERTON AUTUMN.

VERTIGERN'S CUP. SPRINT TO ROYAL DAMON. MOLONG AND SPEARMISS BEATEN. (By Telegraph.—Special to "Star."} WELLINGTON, Friday, The autumn meeting of the Masterton Racing Club opend to-day in fine, warm weather. The track was firm, and the going good. Favourites won the principal races, Vertigern scoring in the Cup from Discourse and Ring Boy, while Royal Damon won the sprint from C'erf and Sarehee. There was a fair attendance, and the totalis&tor handled £11,170. There was only a one-day meeting- last year held on the Saturday when £12,189 was handled. Modern Lifts High-Weight. Red Fuchsia was a solid favourite for the High-weight, Bonhomme being the best backed of the others. Cornliill and Modern led the field for six furlongs at a slow pace. Modern then went to the front, and led into the straight from Bonhomme, Red Fuchsia, Manderine and Lady Gay. Modern held her place and beat Lady Gay by a length, with Red Fuchsia two lengths further back, a neck in front of Bonhomme. Then came Mandarine and Sir Moment. Modern won very comfortably. Bonhomme pulled very hard in the early stages. He looked dangerous a furlong from home but then weakened. Good Thing Goes Wrong. Molong was a red-hot favourite for the Novice Stakes. Court Jester and Sky Bird being the only others backed. Molong. Tatrina, Sky Bird and Court Jester began well, but Tatrina soon fell back. Later Molong also lost her place, Sky Bird being clear as they turned into the straight. Sky Bird came on and beat Molong, who was finishing stronger, by a length, with Court Jester two lengths further back, just heading off Tatrina and Fullmark, with Kelhopeite following. The only comment on the running that can be offered s is that Molong and Court Jester were unlucky. By the Narrowest of Margins. Flying Hero was a substantial favourite for the Juvenile Handicap, with Millais well backed. First Ruler began best, and led into the straight from Par Money, Flying Hero, Stanchion and Millais. Flying Hero was in front a furlong off the post, but Millais tackled him as they neared the post, and in a very close finish the verdict went to Flying Hero by what must have been the narrowest of margins. First Ruler was the best part of three lengths away, with Tripaway next, then Stanchion, Greywitch and Parinoney. Millias was very unlucky, and had the bad fortune to draw No. 11. Tripaway ran a fair race.

Another Setback for Punters. Spearmiss, with Court Jester out, was backed as a good thinp in tho Hack Mile. Royal Time was first out, but Holus Bolus soon went to the front and led nt a moderate pace. He was never caught; and, although he ran wide into the straight and finished in the middle of the course, he won by a length and alialf from Auroroa Borealis, who beat Spearmiss by a neck. Vexatious was fourth; then came Avazone and Royal Time. It was an easy race to win, especially when Spearmiss was badly placed entering the straight. All the same Holus Bolous ran very well.

Always Going Well—Vertigern. Vertigem was a substantial favourite for the Cup, Joy Bird —claiming a 51b allowance —being second choice, and Ring Boy next. From the start Joy Bird was rushed to the front, and at the end of a furlong had a lead of eight or ten lengths from Vertigern and Ring Boy, who were running together. Discourse headed the others, who were strung out. Joy Bird increased her lead down the back, but five furlongs from home the gap was being closed; both Vertigern and Ring Boy headed her off entering the straight, with the others handy. Vertigern always had the measure of Ring Boy, but Discourse threw out a challenge in the run home, Vertigern beating her by a length. Ring Boy was nearly three lengths back third, with Twink and Joy Bird handy, then Perl© De Leon. The winner was always going well, and won handily. Discourse and Ring Boy ran fair races, and Twink will be suited by a lesser distance. Joy Bird was ridden into the ground in the early stages.

Royal Damon Too Classy. Royal Damon was a liot favourite for the Flying Handicap, Sarchee being slightly better backed than Royal Ceres. Sarchee showed out first, but Quantum soon took charge, and was well clear on the turn leading into the straight from Sarchee, Royal Damon and Royal Ceres. When the last furlong was entered upon Royal Damon came right away, and won by four lengths. Cerf came well from the back, and headed off the tiring Sarchee for second money, with Royal Ceres and Quantum next. It was a very easy victory for Royal Damon, who outclassed his opponents. First Aero was never prominent. Cosmetic Knocked Out of Victory. Cosmetic and King Midas were practically equal favourites for the Grandstand Handicap. Lin Arlington soon ran to the front, and led Willow Wai to the turn, the bunch being headed by Vesperus and King Miriam. Once in line 'King Midas challenged Lin Arlington, but the latter liung on and won by half a-length. Cosmetic came fast from the back, and was a neck away third. Vesperus was a fair fourth, and then came Pencils and Haurangi. Aided by a 51b allowance Lin Arlington, capably ridden at the finish, got liome cleverly. Cosmetic was unlucky. She got knocked ! back about five furlongs from home, and it looked as if it cost her the race. The others ran onlv fair races.

Panther Springs Up the Straight. Vigilance was a warm order for the concluding event. Eka and Fee Simple cut out the pace from Vigilance and Panther. Onee well in line the leaders weakened, and Panther won by the best part of a length from Vigilance, who beat Fee Simple by a similar margin. Fameses was a moderate fourth, and Eka next. Panther stayed too well up the long straight for his opponents. Vigilance ran a good race, and was far from disgraced. Fee Simple and Eka cut each other's throats, but despite this Fee Simple finished very well up.

Detailed results:— HIGHWEIGHT HANDICAP of 130sors. One mile and a-quarter. S—MODERN bm, 6yrs (Mr. J. O'Meara), 10.0—P. Mcßrearty .. 1 4—LADY GAY (Mr. H. L. Kingan), O.B—A. Jenkins 2 I—RED FUSCHIA (Mr. C. F. Vallance), 10.12—A. McDonald .. 3 Also Started:- (2) Bonhomme. 10.2; (3) De Luxe, 9.11; (7) Mandarine, 9.4; (6) Sir Moment, 9.0; (8) Cornhill, 9.0. Won by a length, two lengths between ■Kondi ud third. Time, 2J.1 2-5.

NOVICE STAKES of HOsovs. Six Furlongs—all 8.5. 3—SKY BIRD, bg, 3yrs, (Mr. V. E. Riddiford) —B. H. Morris .... 1 I—MOLONG (Miss G. Maher) —R. Reed 2 2—DESPOT (Mr. J. McCombe) —W. S Bagby 3 Also Started: (6) Tarlna, (7) Fair One, (9) Atholspear, (4) Fullmark, (5) Kilhopeite, (8) Bridal Wreath. Won by a length, with two lengths between second and third. Time, 1.17 1-5. JUVENILE HANDICAP of 130sovs. Five Furlongs. I—FLYING1 —FLYING HERO, blk c, 2yrs (Mr. A. McDonald). B.6—W. S. Bagby 1 2 —MILLAIS (Mr. F. Ormond), B.3—D. Metealf 2 B—FIRST8 —FIRST RULER (Mr. L. Rathbone), 7.3 —K. Robinson 3 Also Started: (3) Tripaway 90, (6) Parmoney 7.12, (5) Wet Paint 7.6, (7) Greywitch, Conflicting, The Fool, (4) Stanchion. (9) Kentish Lady, (10) Degree 7.0 Won by a none, two lengths separating second and third. Time, 1.2 1-5. LAWN HANDICAP of 130sovs One mile. 3—HOLUS BOLUS, b g, 3 yrs (Mr. H. •t. Palmer), 7.6—MetValf 1 S—AURORA BOREALIS (Mr. F. R. Waller). 7.2—Potter 2 I—SPEARMISS (Mr. W. R. Kemball), B.6—Mackie 3 Also Started: (6) Vexatious, (4) Royal Time 7.4, (2) Avazone 7.2, (7) Handsome 7.0. Won by a length and a-half. Time, 1.44.

MASTERTON CUP of 250sovs. One mile und a-quarter. I—VERTIGERN, b g. 4yrs (Mr. E. Elgar). B.B—B. H. Morris 1 S—DISCOURSE, 3,vrs (Mr. F. J. Carriont), 7.4— K. Robison 2 3 —RING BOY, 3yrs (Mr. W. H. Tyer), 7.3— R. B. Beale 3 Also Started: (2) Joy Bird, 8.9: Perle de Leon, 7.5; (7) Lady Killer, 7.2; (6) Twink. 7,0. Won by a long neck, a length and a-half separating second and third. Time 2.7 1-5, a record for the race.

FLYING HANDICAP of 150sovs. Six furlongs. I—ROYAL DAMON, ch g, syrs (Mrs. A. It. Hutchinson), 9.4—L. G. Morris 1 S—CERF5 —CERF (Mr. A. Goodman), 7.11 —R. B. Beale) 2 2—SARCHEE (Mr. W. It. Kemball), 7.9—L. Daly 3 Also Started: (6) First Acre. 8.5; (3) Ro.vnl Ceres, 8.1 : (4) Quantum. 7.0 Won by two lengths. Time, 1.13 1-5. GRANDSTAND HANDICAP of 140sovs Seven furlongs. 4—LIN ARLINGTON, br g, syrs (Mr. C. C. Biel), 7.10 —Murray .... 1 2 —KING MIDAS (Mr. C. E. Elgar), B.B—L. G. Morris 2 I—COSMETIC (Mr. V. E. Riddiford), 8.13—8. 11. Morris 3 Also Started: (3) I'eneus, 9.G; (5) Vesperus, 8.3; (8) Willow Wai, (0) Haurangi, (7) ltivernia. 7.7. Won by half a length, a neck separating second and third. Time, 1.28. LANSDOWNE HANDICAP of 120sovs. Six furlongs, C—PANTHER, b g, 3yrs (Mr. V. E. ford). B.l—B. Morris 1 I—VIGILANCE (Mr. J. H. Hardwick), B.o—Reed 2

3—FEE SIMPLE (Mr. W. White), 7.3 —Broughton 3 Also Started : (6) Imitation, 8.5 ; Eka, 8.1; (2) Rauieses, 8.0; (7) Calluna, 7.0; (8) Exhibition, 7.0. Won by three-quarters of a length, with half a length between second and third. Time, 1.14.