GRAND CITY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 95, 24 April 1939, Page 14

GRAND CITY.

AT VERY LONG ODDS

VERY GLAD'S BIG RETURN.

RACING IN THE RAIN.

There were two substantial dividends at Kensington Park on Saturday, when the Whangarei Racing Club concluded its autumn meeting, t/he beet being that of Grand City, who won the concluding event, the Kia Ora Handicap, paying over two score, while Very Glad, who accounted for the Autumn Handicap, returned about half that price. The weather wae very bad, rain falling all the afternoon, and the track, which was very soft at the commencement, became heavy as the racing progressed. Considering the weather the attendance was good, the sum of £13,943 10/ going .through the machine, compared with £17,020 tor the second day last year, a decrease of £3076 10/. This made a. total for the meeting of £30,306, against £20,522, an increase ot £781.

Very Glad showed a lot of speed in the Waipu Handicap on the tirst day, and with nearly a etoue off hie back he ecored by a couple of lengths from Sergia in the Autumn Handicap. He ran to the trout going out of the straight, and was never afterwards headed, though he had had enough at the finish. He was followed round the home turn by Jack Tar, High Sea, Sergia and Tooley Street, while Te Hai was moving up. Very Glad went on to win as stated, with Te Hai only a head behind Sergia. Then came Tooley Street, Tybalt and Jack Tar.

Aii am, with a change of riders, gave a greatly-improved exhibition in the Parua Bay Hurdles. She went to the front about three furlongs from home, and wae attended by Gadger, King Musk and Clooneen when they came into line. Once over the last obstacle. Airain had no difficulty in beating Gadger toy three-quarters of a length, with Clooneen ten lengths away, followed by Chief Lap,. Adsum, King Musk and Brilliant Acre. British Sovereign fell at the fence in front of. the birdcage when going well, and 'his rider, J. Day, had his collarbone broken and wae sent to hospital.

Handling the heavy going in great style, Brazilian ecored his third (successive victory, w'hen he won the Flying Handicap. He was in front before the home turn wae reached, followed by Ohmaha, Aero King, Gay Seton and Triune, and went on to win .by a couple of lengths from Aero King, with Triune ihalf a length away. Then came Ohmalia, Trilliarch and Gay Seton.

Royal Message, who was third in the Settlei-s' Plate on the firet day, won the Ruatangata Stakes by a narrow margin. She jumped out quickly and was then steadied. Mise Valerie, linperator and Silver Lance were just ahead of her when they came into line, but ehe finished on resolutely to ecore by a neck from Miss Valerie, with Gay Bell, who came from a long way back, a length and a half away. Silver Eagle, Orient Dawn and King Song were next. ■'■

Eastern Heir made it two on end when he won the Northern Hack Cup, returning another good price. He was always one of the leaders, and rounding the home turn was attended by Heesketoon, Silver Cloud, Spinning Wheel and Kaepian. In the run home he won by a length from Hessketoon, with Spinning Wheel two lengths further back. Then came Race Camp, Silver Cloud, Gay Sieter and Kaspian.

Xhe meeting concluded , with the Kis Ora Handicap, which resulted in the big' geet surprise of the meeting, Grand City getting the verdict by a. narrow margin. Day Wind, Prince Rangi, Silver Eagle, Silver Quex and Valepear were bunched a furlong from home. Grand City, who had 'been a long way back, then put in an appearance, and finishing strongly scored by a neck from Silver Eagle, with Prince Rangi a head away. High Tea and Ivy Willonyx followed. Later results:— AUTUMN HANDICAP of 1250. One mile. 9—9—VERY GLAD, 7.O—W. Thomson . I 4—4—SERGIA, 8.12— J. Day 2 S—6—TE HAI, O.2—E. Manaon 3 Also started: 2-2 Tooley Street, 9.8; 1-1 Jack Tar, 8.13; 10-11 Valmlnt, 8.8; 5-8 High Sea, 8.0; 3-3 Gay Rebel, 7.13; β-o Tybalt, 11-10, High Tea, 7.11; 7-7 Valdene, 7.0. Two lengths; short head. Time 1.46 2-5. Winner trained by J. L. Morris, Cambridge. PABUA BAY HURDLBS of £150. One mile and a half and 282 yds. a—S—AIRAM, 12.7— F. Foster 1 4—4—GADGBR, 9.2—Aukett 2 6—6—CLOONBEN, 9.o—Bernle 3 Also started: 9-8 Adsum, 10.0; 1-2 British Sovereign, 0.5; 5-1 Chief Lap, 9.3; 8-9 Brilliant Acre, 7-7 King Musk. 10.10 Thrust, 2-3 King's Lancer, 9.0. Three-quarters of a length; ten lengths. lime, 3.X4 1-5. Winner trained by W. H. Maria, Avonaale. FLYING HANDICAP of £200. Six furlongs. I—I—BRAZILIAN, B.3—A. Messervy 1 3—2—AERO KING, 7.7—Gllchrist .. 2 6—S—TRIUNE, B.l— J. Mclnally ... I Also started: 2-3 Gay Seton, 8.4; 6-6 TrUliarcb, 7.1; 4-4 Ohmaba, 7.0. Two lengths; half a length. Time, 1.17 1-5. Winner trained by D. J. Burgess, Takanihi. fiUATANGATA STAKES of £100. Six fnrlongs. 2—2—ROYAL MESSAGE, 8.6— H. Wigging 3 I—I—MISS VALERIE, B.4—C. G. Goulsbro 5 6—7—GAY BELL, 7.11—A. Messervy i Also started: 3-3 Orient Dawn, 9.0; ii-f Silver Lance, 4-4 Strathearn, 8-8 King Song, 7-6 Imperator, 7.11. Neck; length and a-half. Time, 1.20. Winner trained by W. Kirk, EUerslie. NORTHERN HACK CUP of £150. One mile. 4—B—EASTERN HEIR, 9.2— J. Me-. Inally ...................... 3 I—I—HESSKETOON, B.2—C. G. Goulebro ....-- 2 S—S—SPINNING WHEEL. • B.4—A. G. Murray 2 Also started: 2-2 Kaspian, 8.6; 3-4 Silver Cloud, 6-8 Master Appellant, 7.6 Prival, 7.13; 8-9 Race Camp. 7.1O; 8-7 Gay Sister, 7.8. Length; two lengths. Time 1.47 1-5. Winner trained by W. H. Maria, Avondale. KIA ORA HANDICAP of £150. One mile. 12-12—GRAND CITY, B.7—C. Blrnie . 1 I—I—SILVER EAGfLE, 8.9 — H. Wiggins 2 4—4—PRI.VCB RANGI, 8.4 —h. Dulieu ... f 3 Also started: 7-8 Day Wind, 8.13; 0-11 Glen Abb, 8.0; 10-8 High Tea, 8.7; 8-7 Oi«* A 3P« llaat ' 3 " 3 Valspear, 8.5; 2-2 Silver Oirl, 8-8 Oriental Bay. 11-10 IvyWUlonyx, «?* [ h *»d. Time, 1.50 2-5. Jnau/T tralneu J - W. Cathro, MataANSWEBe TO CORRESPONDENTS (M*nunui).-(i) £ S 10/6; (2) "SSSSr f * r ™4 *«. and