AWAPUNI MEETING.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 306, 27 December 1929, Page 10

AWAPUNI MEETING.

MANAWATU RACING CLUB.

SEATOWN HOME IN CUP.

OPEN SPRINT TO ARROW LAD

RUANUI'S GRANDSTAND HANDICAP.

(By Telegraph.—Special to " Star.") PALMERSTON N., Thursday,

A substantial increase in totalisator returns and gate receipts and an all-round improvement in tone marked tho opening day of the Manawatu Placing Club's summer meeting at Awapuni. The attendance was very large, and it Avas easily tho club's most successful day for several yearn past, a happy initiation indeed for the new secretary, Mr. V. T. Dibble.

Tho Manawatu Cup was won by the Stratford trained and owned gelding Seatown, who, being unable to get to Auckland to run in the Cup there, had his plans altered at the last minute. Seatown ran second last year to Star Area. The sprint event fell to Arrow Lad. The truck, ae the result of rain, was soft and elow, but improved under tho fine conditions that prevailed for the racing, which wae of a high standard. Favourites won only two events, while two others ran second, so that their record was not too pleasing to backers. No doubt the altered conditions of the going affected form to some extent. Wagering wa-s always in advance of Boxing Day last year, and there was a fine, pool of £8009 in the Cup. The amount put through on the eight races was £51,763, compared with £43,999, an increase of £7764. A Punishing Finish. In the Cup Seatown scored narrowly from Cashier in a slow-run race, which did not suit a stayer like Rabbi, who started a good favourite. Arrow Lad and Piuthair were withdrawn. Courageous was slow to get away, tailing the field. Tho leaders at the start were Great Charter, First Acre, Cashier, Full Mark, Rabbi and Hoylake. Seatown rushed up, and was quickly in second place. Passing the stand the first time

the front divieion comprised Great Charter, Seatown, First Acre, Cashier, Full Mark, Singleton and Rabbi. There was little change as they entered tho back, but at the half-mile Seatown had headed Great Charter, the order of the others being Singleton, Cashier, First Acre, Rabbi, Full Mark, and Hoylake. ; Great Charter hung on to the straight entrance, but there cried enough, and Seatown and Cashier joined issue. In a punishing finish the former, though momentarily headed 70 yards from home, got up again to win by a head, with First Acre two lengths back. Hoylake, Full Mark, Rabbi, Courageous, Singleton, and Star Area finished in that order. The race was not a true test of stamina. Seatown owed his win largely to the slow pace, for he lost a lot of ground at the start, yet was able to get up second in the first three furlongs without using himself up unduly, and in the finish he stuck just too well for Cashier. Rabbi was not disgraced. Hoylake ran a patchy race, dropping out in the middle stages, and coming on again at the finish. Star Area had no chance in the going. First Acre was always handy. Full Mark was not very lucky in the running. The Open Sprint. Consent, The Raider and Arrow Lad were all solidly backed in the Fitzherbert Handicap. The Raider, Consent, and Callanmore, with Arrow Lad handy, was the order early, Full Feather tailing off. Arrow Lad took charge at the three furlongs, and led into the straight two lengths clear of Consent, Callanmore, The Raider and Gold Cure. Callanmore threw out a solid challenge, and ran Arrow Lad to a neck. Consent was a couple of lengths away, third, with The Raider fourth, then came Full Feather and Gold Cure. The winner had nothing to spare, but going to the front so early was not good judgment. Consent and The Raider ran well. The distance was too short for Full Feather. A "Certainty" At Last. Ruanui was backed as a certainty in the Grandstand Handicap, and, going well in a handy position throughout, scored decisively. Macroom and Blimp led out of the straight from Ruanui, Atholspear, and Cerf. Down the back Blimp had charge from Cerf, Macroom, Admiral Drake, and Ruanui. Ruanui moved up entering the straight, where Blimp was still clear. Ruanui cut him down, and won by two lengths, while Blimp went under in the last stride for second to Atholspear. Briar Root was fourth, followed by Cerf, Macroom, and Admiral Drake. Atholspear was unlucky, but Ruanui won too well to admit of any excuses. Cerf ran a good race.

Detailed results: — MAIDEN PLATE of 150sovs. Six furlongs. 3—HURLY BURLY, B.9—R. Coveny .. 1 a—KILOREL, B.O—C. Davies 2 2—LEISURE, B.9— J. Barry 3 Also started. 17 Across, 16 Acrospire, 12 Basaloma, 1 Ben Hur, 10 Evening Hero, fe Emerald Abbey, 7 Good Acre, 8 Hystnde. 11 Maidstone, 4 Parl, 15 Pahu. 6 Rational 11., IS Royal Mission, 14 The Perch, 13 Tunbridge, 8.9. , Won by six lengths, with half a length between second anfl third. Time, 1.16 2-u. TAUARUA HACK of 200SOVS. Nine furlongs. S—BALLOON, 7.11 —5. Anderson ... 1 O—SHORTLY, B.3—R. Coveny 2 11—MOTHPLANE, 7.11—C. Davies ... S Also started. 4 Make Up, 8.3 j 3 Styrider, 8.9 : 7 Rich Harvest, 8.5; 2My Own, 8.3; 5 Plw star, 8.0; 1 Democratic, 7.13; 10 Dainty Ways, 7.11; 12 Callaraart, 7.6. Won by two lengths, a short head separating second and third. Time, 1.59 25. MANAWATU CUP of SOOsovs. One mile and a half. 3 SEATOWN, S.4 —0. Melnally 1 4—CASHIER, B.H—L. G. Morris 2 B—FIRST ACRE, 7.13—. T. Barry 3 Also started: 1 Rabbi, 9.1; 9 Star Area, 9.6; 2 Hoylake, 8.4 I 7 Great Charter. 7.13; 10 Singleton, 12 Merry Damon, 7.9; f> l< nil Mark, (J Courageous, 7.1; 11 Gold Boy, 7.0. Won by a head, with two lengths between second and third. Tiino, 2.40 2-5. NURSERY HANDICAP Of 200SOVS. Five furlongs. o—i,,\DY PAM, 8.2 —A. Fratus 1 I—PRINCESS BETTY, B.9—L. G. Morris * 3—ARAJEAN, 7.4 —K. Voitro 3 Also started : 2 Mastorton. 7.3 (coupled with winner) ; 11 Royal King, 7.5; 6 Bayacre, 7.11; 10 Hawkßhaw, 7.4; 0 Jayson. 7.6; 4 Ball Dress, 7.1: ", Sea Scout, 7..'!: 7 Catherine of Aragon, 7.0; 8 Tripping, 7.1. Won by two lengths, four lengths separating second and third. Time, 1.3 -i-o. GILLIES HACK of 200sovs. Six furlongs. S—HEAD SERANG, 7.O—W. Brougliton I I—ACORA, 7.12— J. Barry 2 2—BLUB PAPER, 7.B—C. Broughton 3 Also started: 4 Noteworthy, 7.13; 11 First Ruler, 7.3: 7 Oscar, 7.2- 3 Semper Paratus, 7.3: 8 Emotion, 10 Royal Queen, 9 Agrestic. 6 Paiko, 7.0. Won by one and a half lengths, with a similar distance between second and third. Time, 1.17 4-5. FITZHERBERT HANDICAP of SoOsovs. Six furlongs. 3 —ARROW LAD. B.6—E. Manson .... 1 (I—CALLANMORE, 7.O—K. Voitrc .. 2 I_CONSENT, B.9—L. G. Morris 3 Also started : 2 The Raider. 9.3 ; 5 Full Feather, 7.13; 4 Gold Cure, 7.7. Won by a nest, two lengths separating second and third. Time, 1.16. GRANDSTAND HANDICAP of 250SOVS. Nino furlongs. I—RUANUI, B.5—L. G. Morris 1 3—ATHOLSPEAR. 7.10— R. Coveny . 2 •2— BLIMP, 7.13 —E. Manson 3 Also started: 4 Admiral Drake, 7.11: C Stanchion, 7.11; 7 Macroom, 7.3; 5 Briar Root, 7.0 ; S Corf, car. 7.2.