RACING AT RICCARTON.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 174, 25 July 1932, Page 12

RACING AT RICCARTON.

THE COMBINED MEETING. SUCCESS OF RED HECKLE. ELUDE WINS CHIEF EVENT. (By Telegraph.—Special to "Star.") CHRISTCHURCH, Saturday. The combined meeting of the Amberley and Horofata Racing Clubs and the Chiistchurch Hunt Club, was held at Riccaiton to-day. The weather was clear, but cold, and'the course was in fine order. The meeting was of special interest because of the coming Grand National carnival. There was a good attendance. Totalisator investments amounted to £8015 10/. Won ImpressiveSy. Toplhorn, with several placed performances to his credit, was a hot favourite for the Novice Stakes, and he never gave bis admirers any cause for uneasiness. Jumping out smartly he was m front all the way, and though popularly believed to be lacking in stamina, ho won easily. Porlock and followed him to the course proper, Hurlingham staying on the better of the pair to get second place. I'orlock tired, and Pacify cut her out tor third place on the past. Sam Smith and Chile were next, and both will do better in the new season. Topthorn won in impressive style, and looks like making a useful three-year-old. Western Light showed up for a couple of furlongs, and then dropped out, while none-of the others ever became prominent. Well Fancied. Dark Girl, Craganour and Betty Wrack ■were the only Horses seriously backed in the Nunburnholme Trot Handicap. Craganour and Little Victor were soon in front, with Dark Girl, Dolly Huon, le Kingi, Betty Wrack, Komanos and Directum in close attendance. There was very little change two furlong-s from home, where Dark Girl shot to the front and won easily. In a good finish for the places Dolly Huon stayed on well to beat. Te Kingi_ by half a length, while Craganour, after losing his position, finished with a late rush only a neck away. Betty Wrack and Raywood were next. Favourite Beaten. Craigavon wound up a- little ■ better favourite than Elude in the Combined Handicap. Metal Bird made the early running with Craigavon and Elude next, but Metal Bird dropped back after going two furlongs- A little further on Craigavon had Elude ahd'Saltpot in close attendance, with Hounslow and Appeal heading the others. The three leaders were well clear when the straight was reached. Ji hide joined Craigavon more than a furlong from home, and won comfortably by halt a length. Saltpot finished strongly less than a length away, while three lengths further back, Hounslow just stalled Water Polo off for fourth. The performance of Elude was very attractive. This Night Raid four-year-old has taken time, and now looks like turning out a good horse in the hands of the veteran trainer Free Holmes. Craigavon ran a sound race, and so did Saltpot. These two may both get some more money next month. JNight Flyer was a long way back at the end of a mile; and though he moved up in the straight he never looked like being in the money. He may do much better early in the new 'season. An Interesting Steeplechase. The Homeby Steeplechase, run over the schooling fences in the middle of the course, provided an interesting contest with, an exciting finish. The main trouble about the race was that the small circuit provided sharp turns, which did not suit some of the competitors. Peterette wae soon out ' in front, and was still showing the' way when he fell at the second last fence. There was another mishap earlier, Lancer running off at the fourth fence after jumping the other three like a veteran. When Peterette fell Deportment was left in front with Onflamb, Fresh Breeze and Royal Reign not far away. Royal Reign failed in the run home, but the other three had a great struggle. Deportment was in trouble fifty yards from the post, and Oriflamb hung on long enough to beat Fresh Breeze by a neck. This was Oriflamb's second success over country lately, as he won a few weeks ago at South Canterbury. Calham ran disappointingly, never being in the picture after the first mile. Apache tailed the field all the way, while Marco Polo also failed to muster much speed. An Exciting Finish. The finish of the Racecourse Hill Handicap was one of the most exciting that has been seen on the course for some time, a big bunch of horses going past the post in a heap. Water Power and Taku Tama led out from Night Recital and Adelphi, but at the end of two. furlongs Taku Tama had taken charge, while Red Heckle had joined.in with the leading bunch. There was no change when the straight wae reached, but at the distance Red Heckle had taken charge, while Ranelagh, Minerval and Sempar Paratus were moving up fast, with Ringing Cheer improving his position further back. There was a thrilling finish, Red Heckle stalling off Ranelagh by a head, with Minerval a neck away. Night Recital was only a neck further back, with Semper Paratus, Taku Tama, Water Power, Adelphi and Ringing Cheer almost on iterms. The performance of Red Heckle was very attractive, and directed attention to his Winter Cup proepecte. Ranelagh also ran up to his best form, while Minerval looks like being an early winner. Semper Paratus ran a game race, and Night Recital raced ivp Ito his Trentham showing. Ringing Cheer lost his chance through jumping off badly. Scored Decisively. The Hororata Handicap produced another interesting contest, although the actual finish .was not so exciting. Iceni, Niggerhead, Red Royal and Crash were the early leaders, Monastic taking fifth place after going two furlongs, while Sailor's Love and Dunraven moved up fast a* the home turn. Iceni then retired, Niggerhead leading to the straight, with Crash, Sailor's Love, Red Royal and Dunraven no* far away. Niggerhead and Crash dropped out at the distance, where Red Royal took charge from Dunraven, with Locksley moving up. Red Royal went on to win decisively by nearly two lengths, while Dunraven stalled off Locksley by a head. Three lengths further back Sailor's Love headed the others. Red Royal has made steady improvement during the last few months, and on a firm track he is a hard horse to beat in hack company. Dunraven registered his best performance for some time past, and apparently requires a- strong horseman. Locksley, having his first race for eome time, pave promise of early success. Sailor's Love is another who will do better before long. Concluding Event. The Glendoro Trot, the concluding event of the day, was run in a failing light, which made it difficult -to follow the competitors on the "big track. Coral Prince led out, having Glengarry, War Officer, Titri and Vesta Bay in close attendance at the end of a furlong, while at the stand Dark Girl, penalised to S4yds, was able to join the front division owing to the very slow pace. Botty Wrack had alfio taken a good position at this stage. There wae not much change along the ■■i ' ant * Coral JMneo wae still in front r&? n th « straight was reached, with War Wfticcr, Dark Girl'and Bebty Wrack in *»f>t puiwut. These. four turned on a

great finish. War Officer broke near the pi»t, and Betty Wrack beat him by nearly a length. Coral Prince was a neck away, wtih Dark Girl a length further back. The slow speed for the first mile spoilt the race as a real test of stamina. Results:— NUNUURNIIOLMB TROT HANDICAP of SOsovs. Ono mile and live furlongs. Limit 4.0. 2—DA-UK GIRL, limit (R. Donald) .. 1 9—DOLLY HUOX. limit (G. S. Smith) 2 O—TE KINCiA, 24yds (It. Young) 3 Also started : 12 College Boy, 1 Cragannur. 10 Diroetiini. 17 Xance Axworthy, 13 Komanos, limit : 9 Valestend, limit, and Littlo Victor, 12yils (bracketed) ; 4 Betty Wrack. 10 Bonny Prince, 13 Rovlef. 12yds; 7 Midnight Sun. 3 Plain Silk. 8 Raywood, 14 Kuin, 24yds; r> Aimworthy, 11 War Girl, 3Gyds. Four lengths; half a length. Crasranoiir was fourth. Times: 3.4G, 3.47 1-3, 3.47. COMBINED HANDICAP of ISOgOVS. Ono mile and a quarter. 2—ELUDE, S.O (L. J. Ellis) 1 I—CKAIGAVON. S.ll (G. Humphries) 2 4—SALTPOT, 9.3 (A. B. Ellis) ij Also started: 6 Weatherley. 9.9; 3 Nightflyer. 9.2 : 7 Hounslow, 8.10 ; S Metal Bird. 11 Owlsfiight. 8.3; 10 Luccss, 9 Appeal, 5 Water Polo, 8.0. Half a length : same. Hounslow was fourth. Time, 2.7. HOMEBY STEEPLECHASE of HOsovs. About two miles. G—ORIFLAM, 9.13 (R. Beale) 1 4—FRESH BREEZE, 10.2 (D. ,T. Bar3—DEPORTMENT,' IO.'S "(G.'SnlY)' '.'.'.'. 3 Also started: ,"> Calham, 2 Lancer, 11.3: 7 Apache, 10.S; 1 Royal Reign, 9.13; S Marco l'olo, 0 Peterette, 9.0. Neck ; two lengths. Time, 4.54. RACECOURSE HILL HANDICAP of HOsovs. Seven furlongs. 7—RED HECKLE, 9.11 (A. E. Ellis) . . 1 S—RANELAGH, 9.5 (D. O'Connor) .. 2 9—.MINERVAL, 5.4 (G. Humphries) .. 8 Also started : 15 Itamo, 9.9. aud Royal Love. 8.6 (bracketed) ; 12 Jaloux. 9.9 ; 3 Don Jose. 8.9: 2 Adelphi, 8.5; 13 Arrowmaid, 5.4 : 4 Water Power, 1 Ringing Cheer. 5.3; 3 Taku Tama, 8.2 ; G Night Recital. 8.1 J 11* Gigglesnvick, 14 Semper Paratus. 10 Nightguard, 10 Coll, IS Nassock, 17 The Raider. S.O Head; nock. Night Recital was fourth. Time, 1.27 2-5. HORORATA HANDICAP of OOsovs. Seven furlongs. 2—RED ROYAL, 8.13 (A. B. Ellis) .. 1 3—DUNRAVBN, 9.11 (D. O'Connor) .. 2 S—LOCKSLEY, S.ll (W. Pascoc) .. 3 Also started : 0 Niggorhend, 5.12 : 1 Monastic. 8.11: 5 Crash, S. 10; 4 Sailor's Love, 9 Iceni, 5.3; 7 Homecoming, 8.0. Length and a half; head. Sailor's Lore was fourth. Time, 1.27 1-5. GLENDORE TROT HANDICAP of lOOsovs. Two miles. Limit 5.0. S—BETTY WRACK, 3Gyda (W, Warren) 1 I—WAR OFFICER, limit (M. B. Edwards) - G—CORAL PRINCE, limit (Owen) .. 3 Also started : 2 Desert Maiden, 9 Gleujrowrie, 11 Titri, 3 Vesta Ray, 10 Welcome Guy, limit; 8 Dark Girl, 12yds: 7 Raywood. 60yds ; 4 Stanley Biugen, 72yds. Three-quarters of a length ; neck. Dark Girl was fourth. Times: 4.47 2-5, 4.50 3-5, 4.50 1-5.