THE TURF.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVI, Issue 144, 17 December 1908, Page 2

THE TURF.

NOTES ON THE RACING AT DANNEVIRKE. ißy Telegraph.) (From Our Special Reporter.) PALMERSTON N., This Day. A stiong easterly wind, with heavy rain, made hard work of the sporting lifi at the Dannevirke meeting. The club has a nice course, but its appointments in the shape of stands certainly require bringing up to date. The going was good, the rain just taking the bone out of the ground. Speculation was restiicted, and the totalisator turnover fell about £2000 short of what was expected. The club, however, did better out of bookmakers' fees than did Woodville. It was a drawn battle between backers and fielders, four good favourites in Hermia, Tumut, Highden, and. Splash catching the_ judge's eye. For the Hack Hurdles, Hipporofla was the early-paddocn: tip', nor was Commander overlooked by the experts. Master Douglas and Don Carlos did not run up to their Woodville form. Commander was always in a handy position, but he had to.be shaken up to stall off a great challenge from Scenery, who finished very fast. Hipporofla jumped quickly and cleanly, and this run in public will bring him on. ThiF St. Hippo gelding stood out from the others for good looks. Master Douglas was kept too far away from the leaders, but was making up ground towards the finish. Strathmere was last, nearly two furlongs away. Merrivonia and Effort were the best backed of the twelve starters in the Umutaoroa Hack. The despatch was a straggling one, Effort being one of tho last away. Pluck, by Merriwee, from Victoria Cross, a smart mare in her day, got going quickly, and was never caught. Entering the straight, Merrivonia commenced to overhaul the leader, and Effort got out of the ruck, but neither could quite get on terms. Both, however, know how to gallop. Aborigine and Truganini were equal favourites in the Dannevh'ke Handicap, and it did seem as if Mr. Melrose's consistent yet unlucky mare would break the spell of seconds. As usual, she got into the lead, but going out of the straight, lost several lengths through running wide, Eowe apparently being unable to control the mare on account of the greasy reins. Aborigine slipped up and secured the rails, and iin company with Truganini, showed the way down the back. Coming to the home turn, Truganini left Aborigine, and entered the, straight with an advantage of two lengths. Just when her victory was being proclaimed Moral made a tremendous run, and, all out, snatched the race on the post by a long neck. Mahuta and White Lie were close up next. ; Pnsm showed a bit of pace for seven \ furlongs. Moloch got a bad run, whilst Waitapu appeared unable to raise a gallop. The soft going suited Moral, who is a hsavy-topped horse, and none too sound. On the other hand, Truganini slipped about a lot in the greasy going. If Debonnaire was apy good at all he should have won the Maiden, for he got all the best of the start. • Hermia caught him in a couple of furlongs, and coming on full of running, won handsomely. . Theodore, a two-year-old by Merriwee from the Castor mare Heavenly Twin, paid good figure^ for second place, and is useful Hermia^ was easily the best looking of the field', and is so well ihat further, wins should come her way. Vinco stopped dead at the crossing, where his saddle shifted, and he nearly parted company with his rider. The placed horses were out by themselves in this event, and it seems as if the alsostarted division, with the exception of tho Royal Artillery gelding, Royal Guard, who ran well whilst his condition lasted, are a poor lot. Tumut and Hatch were a strong combination in the Flying Handicap, but Gold Lace was also warmly supported. Shuja was comparatively neglected, his trainer fearing that the distance was too short for tho colt, who has been given lots of work lately t<> fit him for the Auckland Cup. Gold Lace and Tumut were locked together all the way down the straight, and- after a rare set-t& Hatch landed his mount a clever winner by a neck. It was a tip-top performance by Gold Lace ,to concede 61b to a horse of Tumut's calibre and only lose by so narrow a margin. Shuja was slow to get unaer weigh, but he was galloping in fine style over the last furlong. Tumut will have a 101b penalty in the Awapum Handicap, but oven then his weiglit is a nice racing one. Sealer was the favourite at the opening of the Hack Welter, but a rush set in for Oliver's mount, Highden, that quickly sent the latter to a short price. The finest looking horse in the field was North-east, a grandly-built chestnut, showing heaps of size and power, and it was only in the last furloug that Highden wore him down. Sealer was a poor third. This gallop will do North-east, whu is by Euroclydon from a sister w> Helen • Portland's dam, a lot of good. Splash was a warm order in the Dash, Andrew Mack and Ora Pinsent coming in for a little support. Cute was first away, followed by The Saint and Stylish, with Andrew Mack rather badly placed on the rails. Entering the straight Oliver moved on Splash, and this half-sister to Mahuta simply played with the opposition. Andrew Mack knows how to gallop, but Splash is pretty fair. Stylish was close up, fourth, but Cute and The Saint turned it up early. Only five went to the post for the Weber Welter Lethean and Wailethe were best backed, but shortly before the start a big demand set in for Auldearn, a Gisborne-trained gelding -whose party threw in for a big win at the Hawkes Bay spring meeting. Auldearn justified his strong support by running j to the front at the barrier rise, and his two lengths margin at the finish could have been extended had his rider ivished. Lethean covered a lot of ground and Wailelhe did not appear to be in her winter form. Flotilla, who got badly away, ran well.