ROTORUA CUP

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 118, 12 February 1940, Page 13

ROTORUA CUP

Kena Scores Decisively

HUNTER’S ROSE NARROWLY Dominion Special Service. ROTOIWA, February IL The first day of the Rotorua Racing Club’s annual meeting was held on Saturday in heavy rain. The track was in good , order early in teh day, but became progressively more holding as the rain continued. There was a good attendance, and the. totalisator turnover tor the day was £24,354, as against £2b.(id ( lust A mediocre lot contested the Poharu High weight at the Rotorua meeting yesterday, and the third fancy, Haile Boy, had little difficulty in scoring a comlortable win. Haile Boy took charge five furlongs from home, and led into the straight well clear of Advance AeyeRoyal Huntress, Norse Lady, and Midland, who were well bunched. Aorse Lady threw out a strong challenge over the last furlong, but she had no ehanee ot reaching Haile Boy, who stayed on in good style. Orient Dawn also finished well to be a good third. After drifting a little on the turn, Erination came with a late run to finish a close fourth, and he may have given more trouble had he not suffered a check at the hali-mile. The best of the others were Midland and Simint. While doing his preliminary, AVapaugh wrenched a joint and was withdrawn from the race. Merry Vaals Scores. With several placed performances to his credit, Merry A’aals was , made a strong favourite for the Wainiangu ■Stakes, and revelling in the going, he cleared right away from the opposition over the concluding stages to Avin with ridiculous ease. Commemoration begau best, but Merry Vaals was soon in charge from Expellant, Commemoration,, Vaalsmae, Herbage, and Fleuron, with the others well strung out. Merry Vaals increased his lead approaching the straight. Merry A r aals was not troubled oyer the final stages to win by a big margin from Pleuron, who finished stoutly to beat Commemoration, with Expellant almost in line fourth, Loch Acre, Glenbevan, and Vaalsmac.

A likely improver is Loch Acre, who finished in great style from a good way back, and he was unlucky not to be in the money. After giving trouble at the start, Douglas Hyde and British Isles were left, and took no part in the race.

Mokoia Handicap.

The Opotiki trainer M. B. Abbott produced his third successive winner when Sir Robin got the decision in the Mokoia Handicap after au exciting finish in which heads separated the first four horses. Sir Tommy received the best of a straggling start and showed tiie way to the straight from Pasture, Town Section, Spearford and Valerian, the rear being brought up by Kenneth Robert and Gazeful. As they straightened Sir Tommy held a handy lead from Valerian, Pasture and Town Section, witli Silver Cloud and Sir Robin challenging on the outside. , The field closed on the leader at the distance and in a stirring finish Sir Tommy did beet in the last few strides to beat Town Section and the fast finishing Kenneth Robert, who got up to deprive Sir Tommy of third. Silver Cloud was right up fourth, followed by A’alerian, Bronze Emerald and Pasture.

The unlucky runner was Kenneth Robert who, after failing to jump out clearly and meeting with a couple of cheeks in tile straight, finished better than anything. Town Section went her usual honest race, but the favourite Pasture faded out badly after being well placed to the turn. Bronze Emerald failed to handle the going and was never prominent. Kena Scores Decisively.

Showing his partiality to the going, Kena scored very decisively in the Rotorua Cup to pay over double figures on the straight-out machine. Kena, ivho was well handled by A. C. Messeryy, scored his last success at AVoodville in December under similar conditions when he was trained by H. Lorigan at Trentham, but during the interim he has been returned to his former trainer, AV. G. Stephens, at Rotorua.

Cornish was the early leader but Erlick took charge passing the stand from Cornish, Eastern Heir, Brazilian, Greek Queen, Lady Montana and Kena, the rear being brought up by Saccoum Along the back Erlick was still making play from Eastern Heir, Brazilian, Lady Montana and Cornish, with Namara heading the others. Racing to the turn the field underwent several changes and Namara ran up fast to be the leader from Erlick, Greek Queen, Kena and Cornish, with Saccone and Jack. Tar showing up on the outside. On straightening up Kena shot to the front and, finishing full of running, went on to win comfortably from King Rey, who came fast in the inside to beat Namara in the last few strides. Cornish was a good fourth and then came Greek Queen, Saccone, Jack Tar, Erlick and Brazilian. The straightout favourite, Cornish, appeared to have every chance and though he threatened danger half way down the running he weakened over the last bit. The going may not have been in his favour and he may soon do better. King Rcy was a trifle unlucky in the early running and his finishing effort was a feature. Namara gave an improved showing but none of the others flattered over the concluding stages.

Hot Springs Handicap.

Capably handled by the apprentice B. Markwick, the favourite Hunter’s Rose showed improved stamina by scoring a narrow but decisive win in the Hot Springs Handicap. She was restrained in behind the leader on this occasion and it was not till the last furlong that she got to the front. Ngawiri was the early leader and was closely followed to the straight by Hunter’s Rose. Estro, Gazeful and Trig Station, with Little Ruso heading the others. Estro ran wide at the turn and Hunter’s Rose and Gazeful were the first to straighten up with Trig Station and Little Ruse challenging. Hunter’s Rose was in charge at the distance and she went on to beat Little Ruse and Trig Station, who finished fast into third. Gazeful was almost in Hue fourth, and then came Kakarere and Estro. But for suffering a check in the straight when making a strong challenge Trig Station would have been more clitlicult to beat. Making his second appearance Gazeful went. a creditable race and looks to be on the improve. Hunting Beo Makes Amends. Making amends for recent failures Hunting Bee outstayed the opposition in the Geyser Handicap to win pointlessly from the favourite, Kaspian. From the start Kaspian took up the running and led along the back from Starbright May Song, First Gold Money, Agog. Nyohi, and Hunting Bee. Passing the half-mile First. Gold .Money ran through fast and approaching the turn was several lengths clear of Kaspian. May Song, Starbright and Agog, with Hunting Bee heading the others. Hunting Bee made a forward move on the outside rounding the turn and sustaining her effort, in solid sty.e was in front at the distance to go on and beat Kaspian. who came again over (lie last: bit to del'enl First Gold Money for second. Starbright was a moderate fourth, with May Song. Rnepata, Agog, and Nyola next.

Exciting Finish.

The Arawa Park Stakes provided an exciting finish in which the first, four horses passed I lie post-practically in line. The two-year-old Surpai finished very gamclv under punishment to get the decision' and' give the Tak.anini trainer., 11. Gray, his second successive success. Gold .Money Song and Paymaster received the best of the start, and were several lengths clear of Surpai, Silveyor, A alsome and Fairfield. After going a furlong at the straight entrance Paymaster had charge from Gold Money Song and Surpai, with Valsome, Fairfield and Gay Widow closing ul>. Paymaster and Surpiu were " lighting out the issue 11 furlong from the judge, when Valsome and Fairfield came fast on the outside, and. in a close finish Surpai just held on long enough .to beat Paymaster by the narrowest of margins, with Valsome ana

I'’airlield almost in line next. Gay Widow, Pantheist, and Sir Lysander were next. The race was marred Io some extent by a false start, in which Silveyor and Gold Money Song galloped some distance before being pulled up. The unlucky ruinier was A'alsome, who did not jump out cleanly, and stood the leaders up several lengths’ start over the early stages. He finished in great style, and in a few more strides would have been the winner. Tile favourite, Gold Money Song, faded out badly in the straight, but Fairfield weal a creditable race after not meeting with the best of luck. A likely improver is Gay AVidow, who showed a tine burst of speed after beginning slowly. Condo's Return to Form. Staging a return to form, Cornto led all the way to score a comfortable win in the Tourist Handicap, in which he was only moderately fancied. Cpratp and Trilliarcli were the first to show out, and they led to the turn from Gamos, Tosh aud Anion. Corato was the first to turn for home, and went on to win untroubled from Noitaro, who finished strongly on the outside to beat Gamos for second. Tosli was a moderate fourth, followed by Penzance, Tiilliareh, and Anion. The favourite, Gamos, was all at sea in the going, but Noitaro was responsible for a sound race, and should be improved. ’l’he second favourite. Aero King, broke through the barrier and bolted a round prior to the start, aud eventually took no part in the race.

Results Of Racifig (By Telegraph—Press Association.)

POHUTU HIGHAVEIGHT HANDICAP, of £2OO. ■ One mile and 160 yards. 3/3 HAILE BOY. 10.8 1 6/6 NORSE lady. 9.0 (Cleaver) 2 1/2 ORIENT DAAVN. 9.2 .. (Thomson) 3 Also started: 2/1 Midland, 10.6; 4/4 Erination. 9.2; 7/8 Advance Acre. 9.0; Diversity, 9.0: 5/5 Royal Huntress, 9.0; 10/10 Simint, 9.0; 9/9 Stokowski, 9.0. Two lengths: one. Time, 1.53 4-u.

AVAIMANGU STAKE'S, of £l6O. Weight-for-age. Six furlongs. 1/1 MERRY VAALS, 8.7 ... (Cameron) 1 2/2 PLEURON. 9.0 (McTavish) 2 6/3 COMMEMORATION, 8.7 (Winder) 3 Also started: 15/15 Expellant. 9.0; 14/13 British Isles, 9.0: 3/3 Herbage. 9.0; 16/16 Loch Acre. 9.0: 5/7 Vnalsniac. 9.0; 9/12 Ventre a Terre, 9.0: 10/9 Bronze Spear, 8.11; 6/5 Misorn. 8.11; 4/4 Miss Ridicule, 8.11; 12/10 Augment, 8.7: 8/6 Glenbevan, 8.7: 11/H Surtoy, 8.7; 13/14 Douglas Hyde, 8.0. Six lengths; three-quarters. Time, 1.10

MOKOIA HACK HANDICAP, a sweepstake of £2 each, £lBO added. Six furlungs. 2/2 SIR ROBIN, 9.0 (Horne) 1 3/4 TOAVN SECTION. 8.8 ... (AVinder) 2 10/9 KENNETH ROBERT. 8.12 3 Also started: 9/10 Spearford, 8.12; 8/8 A'alerian, 8.7; 4/3 Silver Cloud, 8.6; 1/1 pasture. 8.5: 5/6 Sir Tommy. 8.4; 6/5 Bronze Emerald, 7.9: 7/7 Gazeful, 7.8. Head each way. Time, 1.15 1-5.

ROTORUA CUT, of £5OO. One mile and a quarter and 180 yards. 9/7 KENA (Messervy) 1 ■l/1 KING REV, 9.0 (McKenzie) 2 11/12 NAM.ARA, 8.0 (Cleaver) 3 Also started: 7/8 Lady Montana, 8.7: 2/3 Jack Tar, 8.4; 6/5 Erllck, 7.0, car. 7.13; 5/6 The Cardinal. 7.9; 8/9 Brazilian, 7.8; 10/10 Saccone, 7.6: 1/2 Cornish, 7.4; 3/4 Scotland, 7.2; 4/1 Greek Queen, 7.2; 12/11 Eastern Heir. Greek Queen and King Rey were bracketed.

Four lengths; three-quarters. Time, 2.20 1-5.

HOT SPRINGS HANDICAP, of £165. Six furlongs. 1/1 HUNTER’S ROSE, 8.7 (Markwick) 1 4/3 LITTLE RUSE, 8.5 2 3/4 TRIG STATION, 8.6, car. 7.13 (Brown) 3

Also started: 2/2 Estro, 8.1; 6/6 Ngawiri, 8.1; 5/5 Kakarere, 7.12; 8/8 Gazeful, 7.11; 7/7 Lady Acushla, 7.7; 9/9 Valrua. 7.7. ■Neck each way. Time, 1.15.

GEYSER HACK HANDICAP, ot £lB5. One mile and 160 yards. 4/5 HUNTING BEE, 7.7, car. 7.6 (Cleaver) 1 1/1. KASPIAN, 8.7, car. 8.0 (Gollop) 2 2/3 FIRST GOLD .MONEY. 8.2 (Evans) 3 Also started: 5/4 May. Song, 9.0; 3/2 Starbright, 8.7; 7/7 Agog, 7.10; 8/6 Raepata, 7.10; 6/8 Nyola, ?.7. Two lengths; one. Time, 1.55.

ARAAVA PARK STAKES HANDICAP, of £165. Five furlongs and a half. 6/6 SURPAT, 7.0 (Cleaver) 1 4/2 PAYMASTER, 7.0, car. 7.2 (Midwood) 2 8/7 VALSOME, 7.11 (Evans) 3 Also started: 2/4 Sir Lysander, 9.5; 7/8 Pantheist, 8.3; 3/3 Fairfield, 8.0; 10/10 Lord AVaitangi, 7.11; 9/9 Gay AVidow, 7.0; 1/1 Gold Money Song. 7.0; 5/6 Silveyor, 7.0. Head each "way. Time, 1.12 2-5.

TOURIST HANDICAP, of £3OO. Six furlongs.

3/5 CORATO, 8.0 (Green) 1 6/6 NOITARO, 7.8 (Cleaver) 2 1/1 GAMOS, 7.9 (Thomson) 3 Al«o started: 4/3 Tosh, 7.12; 7/8 Trllliareh, 7.10; 8/7 Anion, 7.8; 2/2 Aero King, 7.7: 0/9 Cappy, 7.7; 5/4 Penzance, 7.7. Two lengths; half a length. Time, 1.15 1-5.’