NOTES ON THE RACING.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19803, 16 December 1929, Page 18

NOTES ON THE RACING.

Racing opened with the Trial Handicap, a loose class race for unhoppled trotters Once again. Nancy McKiimey was entrusted with the biggest amount of monev and once again she disappointed. Kapture was in front from the s.tiirt. followed by Waiata Poi and Miss Wilkes, with Scuttle handy. With half a mile to go Rapture broke and Scuttle rushed to the tront. Ha t-wa> down the straight the latter looked a certain winner, but she tired badi.>. and Ka.pt.ure settling to her work again won t'airlv comfortably. The winner is not, by any means, a steady trotter as yet, but she has a lot of speed. Once she becomes solid she will win more races. Scuttle appeared to be made too much use of in the early stages, for she does not stay well. Bonora trotted solidly for the greater part of the journey, but two bad breads spoilt her chance. Of the remainder Fifa a four-year-old filly by Guy Parrish' did the* best, and with age she should become more than useful. Nancy MoKnmey and King's Vovago never threatened danger.

A Fast Race. St. George, Mussolini, and Ruth Lo<?an Were the favourites for the Improvers' Handicap, but the race was a one horse affair. Kid Logan, handily placed from the start, cleared out from her field half a mile from home, and was not afterwards troubled. She won pulling up after having run the mile and a half in 3.22, an improvement of 16sec on the 3.38 she had been set to do. Under the circumstances it was not surprising to find the field well strung out over the latter part of the journey. Kid Logan, Audience, St. George, Mussolini, Otaio Kose, Logan Spot, and Tahoo were all prominent afc different stages of the race, but over the last half-mile St. George was the only one to make any impression on the leader. His task was a hopeless one. although his effort was creditable. He fairly outstayed Mussolini and his chances of a win in the near future are bright. Kid Logan is a recent addition to N. C. Price's Rangiora stable, and under the present system of handicapping she should win a number of races before getting on to a tight mark. By Logan. Pointer from Stanley's Child, she is a half-sister to Waitaki Girl. St. George, purchased only recently by the Dunedin sportsman, Mr J. Black, showed good staying powers, and he was unfortunate in running up against a particularlygood mare. Mussolini failed to stay at the pace set, and Otaio Eose and Eolex appeared just out of their class, as were most of the others. Brixton, Ruth Logan, and Peter Daunt were never dangerous. The winner paid a surprisingly good price for one from N. C. Price's i stable.

From End to End. Backers were well on the mark in their selections for the Mace Memorial Handicap, for Neeoro and Arikitoa, the favourites, occupied the first two places at the finish. Neeoro commenced smartly, while Arikitoa lost ground, and Apex and Sunshower refused to begin. It was not a very exciting contest, for Neeoro led thr6ughout at a good steady pace and was not troubled at the finish to withstand the challenge o( Arikitoa Mae Dillon, Sonoma, Granite City, and Okoura were always handy, but none of them had a chance at the finish. Neeoro is a well-proportioned chestnut gliding by Key de Oro from Neeratte, therefore half-brother to Glenelg, Neerson. and Co. He was bred by his owner, Mr W. J. Moir, and was turned out well by A. Hendriksen. Neeoro has a lot of speed, and stays well in either saddle or harness, but unfortunately he is not sound, aDd he was decidedly sore after the race. A softer track might suit him better than New Brighton did, and he should win again during the. holidays. Arikitoa is still a bit uncertain at the barrier, but once on the journey he went a fine race. Mac Dillon, by no means a good stayer, was in third plaee, and close up were Sonoma, Jolly Chimes, and ,Jean McElwyn. The last-named raced as consistently as ever, but she would need to have done better than 4.26 to have won.

The Favourite. I In a good betting race Kate Logan was made a better favourite than Mae Locanda and Petronius in the Bowhill Handicap of a mile and a quarter, and after being well placed all the way she came away at the finish to win very nicely. Petronius stopped on the mark. Kate Logan, Mae Locanda, Author Franz. " Otaio Rose, and Harold Lee were always prominent, and Cyone, onee on the journey, paced a solid race. Cyone came with a well-sustained run over the last three furlongs, and she was rapidly overhauling the leader at the finish. Kate Logan had raced well at the Forbury Park Meeting, and her win was anticipated, although, for a favourite, she paid a very good price. Cyone is not too reliable at the barrier, but she is a good stayer, and should be heard of during the Christmas and New Year holidays. Kate Logan went ".52 3-5, from a 3.0 mark, which set the back-markers a big task. Mac Locanda and Author Franz had every chance, but were not good enough. A Lucky Run. Cushla d'Or, Tennessee's Child, and Baron Bingen were the selections for the Dash Handicap, but both Cushla d'Or and Baron Bingen lost their chances at the start, and Tennessee's Child set off with a good lead of the rest. Young Bingen, Pet Locanda, Schoolmate, Audrey Dillon, and LogaD Princess were the leader's nearest attendants for the first half-mile, but. at this stage Free Holmes, behind Eugene de Oro, secured a very lucky run on the rails, and before the other drivers had realised it he was disputing matters with the leader. Til the straight. Eugene de Oro easily held his own in The face of a strong challenge by Logan Princess to win rather comfortably. A big pacer, Eugene de Oro is very speedy, but a mile or a mile and a quarter is his favourite distance. He was certainly lucky in the run that he got, hut under any circumstances he would probably have won. Tennessee 's Child had had enough long before the post was reached, and he was beaten out of a place. "Wild Nita did not hav« any the best of the start. and there was some merit in her effort. Haydock did not go away well, and could never get near the leader?. The time. 2.14 1-5 from a £.lB mark, was smart going. A Close Finish. Writer and All Peters were backed soiidly for the Seavie-w Handieap ; aad

] the former, beginning smartly, j j all tho running. For the greater part ; jof the iot!ra»'y he had as his nearest ' attendants Avalanche, I*ir*le Johnnie,} Boneta. and Young Carbine. Hit- half ai mile from homo Ai! Peters y>"t in a; j r;re;>t effort tb.it landed him in second I i place in the straigh*. Fifty yards from j | home 'he headed Writer. but n". ior the I | whip the latter made & great effort. ! i and gained the vcrdn-t by th* narrowest j \ of margins. . ! Writer had p:\ viou>h" shown ex-' ' treuie speed in hi.* race?, but his start- ; i ing manners were had. On this oeca- j ! moii, however, he went away sm::rtiy, ] | and trotted befuuifuliy. Ht- should ■ | win again soon, and Ait Peters should i j enjoy better luck next time out. There j I was a demonstration by the ptiblb- ; ! against the judge's decision, which was \ i piaiuly the correct one. The leading , i pair had the finish to themselves, but, i i You!ig Carbine went a very good race : jto gain third money. Bone!a also j showed good form, and the best- of the ! remainder was Nelson Boy.

Omaha Wins. > Avonwood and the bracketed p'air, ] Pearl Logan and Kempton, were heavily supported to win the Wainoni , Handicap. Warepa was first away, j and following him were Pearl Logan, j Avonwood, who broke. General Bingen, ■ Granite City, and Omaha. The lastnamed drew up <>u Warepa in the straight, and in a punishing finish he gained a two-lengths' win. while Kempton, who was. not well placed in the early stages, came with a great rattle over the conoludinjr stages. Omaha is a consistent racehorse, and has only recently joined F. Holmes's stable. * He fairly outstayed Warepa in what was a comparatively slow-run race. Warepa does not stay well. Perhaps the most pleasing feature of the race was the good effort made by Kempton, whose next engagement will be in the Bowe Cup at Auckland. Granite City went his usual solid race to get fourth" money, and of the remainder Dundas Boy made a fine showing. The. chestnut pacer may be a bit short of work, and this race should improve him. Coneliff, who is engaged in the Auckland Cup, went fairly well, but did not show the dash expected. .Proud "Dillon and Trimmer never threatened danger. A Smart Pacer. Lady Matchlight was made a good favourite for the Eleclric Handicap, and witli helf the journey gone the result was beyond doubt. Ricardo and Logan King'lost ground at the start, and could never make up the leeway. In the straight Horotane came fast, but Ladv Matchlight had something in reserve, and she went on to win very nicely. This marked Lady ilatehlight's first start since going into Nf. C. Price's stable, and the time, 2.12 3-5 from a 2.15 mark, was good. Horotane went a surprisingly good race, and Firpo came fast at the end to gain third money.