W. R. C. WINTER MEETING OPENS

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 241, 12 July 1928, Page 16

W. R. C. WINTER MEETING OPENS

-r- ■" ❖ BEAUTIFUL WEATHER AND HEAVY TRACK BIG STEEPLECHASE A POOR CONTEST SLASHING FINISHES IN CHIEF FLAT EVENTS AND TRENTHAM HURDLES (By “The Watcher.”) £r .s «>= * 'S" o“« finished and the victory of Pouri was far too easy to permit of any excitement. There was an interesting finish in the Whyte Memorial Handicap, the lo.cal representative, Black Mint, getting up with a fine run in the concluding stages to beat last year s wmner,, Nukumai. Gaze decisively asserted himself in the Trentham Hurdles and wo like the good horse he is.. He has now to carry a 51b., P en alty m the Winter Hurdles on Saturday, which brings his weight in that event un to 10.4. On the whole backers did not have a bad day, the only really long-priced winner coming home in the concluding event. Consequently there was plenty of money turningJ? ver ’ a very satisfactory increase was registered compared with the first day last year.

The big steeplechase was a very uninteresting : and most disappointing contest. Maunga and Comical were quickly eliminated, and almost from the start there were only two in it—Beau Cavalier and Pouri. The duel between this pair, which finally saw -the exit of the favourite. Beau Cavalier, was the only bright spot in the whole race. Beau Cavalier last year was claimed as a rival to Coalition, but Mr. Riddiford s horse, as pointed out at the t\me, had a much better record under weight and a comparison between the pair is impossible. Despite Beau Cavalier's great record, he is not exactly a game fighter under pressure, and lie was a very tired horse when he crashed yesterday. Really his previous superiority emphasises the poor quality of the present-day jumpers. Pouri won w’ell and most decisively, but there again the poolquality of to-day’s fields is emphasised, for he is just a beginner at the cross-country game. Kawini added another second to hik long sequence in the,role of runner-up, and It is plain that lie is just good enough to cet beaten. An error of a minute was made in the official time posted, which, was subsequently corrected. ; 1

Nukumai Again in the Limelight. That horses able to handle winter going, are at a decided advantage was again shown by old Nukumai in the Whyte Memorial, a race he won last year. Black Mint only just got to him in time, although ho was rapidly going away as they/passed the P °A t fcature of the day was the fine win of Gaze in the Trentham Hurdles. Hq ed most solidly from the rear of the field. It was a very pleasing win in every respect, for Mr. W. <T. Craig, has had the most evil luck with Gaze and Perle de Leon, both lumpers out of the ordinary who have been prevented through injuries from proving their real worth. A solid performance went to the credit of the Southern Taboo when he got up

to win from Panther in the concluding stages of the Stewards’ Handicap. Taboo is a great horse under winter conditions, and although hard ridden was finishing all over Pauther and Duke Abbey. 1 anther ran an excellent race, and. all going well, will fulfil his promise of being a good stake winner this coming season. ® The opening of the meeting was favoured with fine bright weather, although the breeze was rather cool iu exposed places. The track, all-things considered, was in good order for racing, although naturally heavy and slow; The timing of the races appears open to some comment. It is hard to accept the fact that Toxeuma and Roscrea in the Trial Plate ran IJsec. faster over six furlongs than Taboo and Panther in the. Stewards’ Handicap,■ despite the fact that a race intervened. Then in the Wellington Steeplechase the correction was due to representations’ from the Press, although it is understood tliat the clock registered accurately. It is only a detail perhaps, but' Trentham prides itself upon attention to detail. During the day T. Green recovered the lead by one on R. Reed for the jockeys’ premiership. There was an excellent attendance for a mid week day. and the sum of £48,079 10s. was put' through tile totalisator, as against £42,524 ,10s. last year, an increase of £0155. ! • : VITTORIA HURDLES. • ■ i 'i . ■ ' The hack hurdle, field was reduced to seven .runners,’but it provided a very interesting finish between San Pedro iind Troilus, the former, nicely . handled throughout by IV. Bowden, wearing his oppoiient down in the last fifty yards. Troilus went out in front a mile from home and made a big bid for lite stake, but San Pedro was just a little bit better. Atareria ran a bad race, his mate, Home Made, securing third position after being well up

throughout. In fact, had he jumped the last fence well he might have been very roublesome. The favourite was Sir Moment but he could only get a very poor fourth, just beating Atarerla for that posit°on At the second last fence Patuki fel and brought down Braeman and B ul ’S Ring. Patuki was making a showing at th post ta positions were as follow:—1 Atareria, 2 Sir Moment, 3 Braeman, 4 San Pedro, 5 Ruby Ring, 6 Home Made, 7 Troilus. TRIAL PLATE.

Thp stewards decided that neither Mark Mint nor Raineses was eligible to start in the Trial Plate. R. Reed, who was up on Mark Mint, therefore had the mortification of seeing his rival, T. Green, ride the winner Toxeuma, who led all the way. There was a good bit of money for him. Roscrea, who was started a good favourite, was cominc solldlv at the finish, but he failed to7et up by a length. Still it was a very satisfactory performance, and he f “rther emphasised his gameness andl great prom ise Roscrea was slow to begin, and lox eunia had at least five lengths advantage «r as thev turned for home. Consent wastry solidly backed, but he was beaten at the false rail, up to which stage ho had been very prominent. Solgele was in; the van with Toxeuma early, but faded ngui; out Gold Cure did best of the beaten lot who were well away and spread over a lot of ground. Dancing Star, Le c aamp, lea Bose and Lucky Light being the most prominent. Battle Torque and Water Spear were as follow:—! Tea Rose, 2 Dancing Star, 3 Roscrea, 4 Battle Toraue. 5 Water Spear, G Lucky Light, 7 le Champ, 8 Consent, 9 Historic, 10 Toxeuma, HSolgele, 12 Gold Cure, 13 Cold Air. HACK STEEPLES. The Hack Steeplechase was a fine race, and provided a thrilling finish. The favourites Matu and Radiate lay well back early with San Fera, the running being made by Jovial, Captain Sarto, Oriilamb, and Mainspring. Over the last circuit, however, the favourites moved up, the leaders stopping, and then at the last fence San Feta came with an electric run. He was actually In front of Radiate and Matu with a hundred yards to go, but then Matu got up to win in solid fashion, while San Fera weakened into third place. Matu did not like flie ground too well, and the top brush the last time saw him put in a poor jump, but he w-as still good enough. Radiate had every chance. San Fera was held back as long as possible in order to get him to run on at the finish, and he nearly surprised but was not good enough. Mainspring ran a fair race/but was beaten on merits, and the others had no chance. Post positions were as follow .—1 Han gawera. 2 Mainspring, 3 Jovial, 4 Captain Sarto, 5 San Fera, 6 Radiate, 7 Sir Wai, 8 Matu, 9 Oriflamb.

STEWARDS’ HANDICAP. The sprint race saw a very solid performance on t'lie par| of Taboo. He was not too well placed early, but got up in the run home to win by a head from Panther, who had made all the running. Panther’s forward showing was a surprise, and he very nearly scored, whereas even for second his supporters got « better price than those on the winner. Although drawn right out, Panther was first out, and soon on the rails. Duke Abbey had every chance, being well placed throughout but he did not linish very gamely. Ho was a substantial second favourite. King Lu and Waltzer, the bracketed pair, tarried most money, but they were never dangerous. King Lu showed up momentarily at the three furlongs, but lie was wide out and finished well back. Really outside the placed 'norses there was not a great deal of merit in the form. Ring Bov was only a moderate fourth, clear of Monaghan, Bonogne, Catkin. Ballymov II and King Lu. < atkin came from actual last after half the journey 'had been covered. Oration and Ronaki showed early speed, but died away badly in the last half. ~ Post positions were: 1 Waltzer,The Swell, 3 Catkin. 4 Duke Abbey, o Ronaki, 6 King Lu, 7 Monaghan, 8 Ballymoy 11. 9 Taboo, io Ring Boy,. It Bonogue, 12 Oration, 13 Panther. WELLINGTON STEEPLECHASE. The big jumping event, of the meeting was a very disappointing contest, beven started and only three finished. Incidents

commenced early, Maunga tipping out at the first fence and Comical tossing his rider at the next. From that stage onwards the only interesting feature was the duel between Beau Cavalier and Bouri. Beau Cavalier was sailing along in front, but entering the straight the .second time Warner, on Pouri, took on the leader. It was nearly his undoing, both at the first fence in the straight and again at the stand double, but Warner then waited till going down the back the last time, when he sent Pouri forward with a strong run and gained half a length advantage on Beau Cavalier. They went thus at the sod wall at a solid pace, and over went Beau Cavaner in a complete cropper. This left Pouri unbeatable provided he stood up,. and l b s chances were further Improved when Tuki fell at the boards six furlongs from Kawini kept up a hopeless chase of Pouri, but again had to be content with second nlace, and Passin’ Through struggled on into third at another big interval. Pouri and his rider received a good reception, the crowd recognising the piece of game riding by Warner In taking on and beating the favourite. Tuki had no chance when lie fell, while Maunga and Comical practically took no P art 2 Pouri Post positions were:—l Kawini, 2 Fourl, 3 Tuki 4 Beau Cavalier, 5 Comical, 6 Maunga, 7 Passin’ Through. TRENTHAM HURDLES. The favourite, Gaze, lay well back In the running of the Trentham Hurdles, but at the finish came with a paralysing run and scored decisively. Aberfeldy was always well-placed and running njcely. He did not get' too good a run over the last half-mile, and at the last fence Kauri Park was responsible for running about and getting in his road, but at the same time Aberfeldy would not have beaten 'Gaze Kauri Park was under pressure practically all the way, and stayed on gamely into third place. Star Shell and Brigadier Bill were responsible for the pace, but Star Shell was soon out of the possibilities. Brigadier Bill, however, ran a creditable fourth, just getting there from Mia Bella, who ran a good race. The others had uo chance, and Kaikahu pulled up lame. o Post positions were: 1 Star bhell, ~ Panorama, 3 Aberfeldy, 4 Kilburn, o Kaikahu. 6 Vexatious, 7 Mia Bella, 8 Gaze, 9 Brigadier Bill, 10 Peneus, 11 Kauri Park. ■ • WHYTE MEMORIAL. Nothing but, the well-drawn division had a chance in the Whyte Memorial Handican. The supporters of the veteran Nukumai again rallied to his support and thev had the pleasure of seeing him make a very gallant effort to repeat his victory of twelve months ago. Being fractious at the post, he stood behind, but at the last moment walked into his place aiid got away all right. He made a very bold bid from the false rail home but Black Mint was too good. Black Mint came from further back and finished very solidly. He had to be hard ridden over the concluding stages, but at the post was drawing right away. His mate. Royal Game, was much better placed throughout but was not good enough. Day Guard had every chance. He was particularly well placed all the way, and although lie ran a good honest and consistent race he was not good enough. Nor' were Bisox or Beaumont, both of whom were well up in the running. Bisox was fourth and Avro fifth. It was their best effort to date A couple of horses finishing on were Rovai Mint and Shining Armour, both from well back. Nucleus rau a great race. She made a bold showing round the turn and at the false rail raised hopes, but. she failed in the concluding stages. Queen Arch drew 21, was last but one .to begin and never dangerous. Gold Mint was last away and wide out entering flic straight, never flattering his supporters. Paitonu finished last. No doubt the big field and the luck in running had a deal to do with his moderate showing. Royal Damon failed badly. Horomoa made the pace to the straight and then quickly retired. Fairy Herald was never conspicuous and Kilperon faded out at the end of three furlongs. Post positions were: I Hordmea. 3 Lynthin N.. 3 Black Mint. 4 Gardanl. 5 Bisox f, Gold Mint. 7 Avro. 8 Dav Guard. 9 David Garrick, 10 Nukumai, 11 Paitonu, 12 Royal (Continued on Page 17.)