THE TURF.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIX, Issue 87, 14 April 1910, Page 4

THE TURF.

FIXTURES. April 20 and 21— Nelson J.C. April 20 and 21— South Canterbury J.C. April 27 and 28— Hawkes Bay J.C. May 4 and s—Marlborough5 — Marlborough R.C. MANAWATU~MEETING. [BT TEf-EGRAPII— HIESS ASSOCIATION.] PALMKRSTON X., 13th April. Concluding res-ults of the firet day's racing at the Manawatu autumn meeting:— Telegraph Stake;, of 150 eo\s; six furlong*.— 4 Boanerges 8.3> 1 ; 6 Overtime, 6.7, "; 2 Parula, 7.4, 3. Aloo started.— l Lord Soult, 9.7; 8 St. Bill, 9.0; 3 Hermia, 8.7; 7 Lady Menechikoff, 7.9; 5 Ballarat, 7.7; 9 Toanga, 7.3; 10 Redwing, 6.7 ; and 11 Lady Doris, 6.7. Time, lmin 17scc . Longburn Handicap, of 200 eovs; nine furlongs. — 9 Mendip, 7.1, 1 ; 6 Merrie Koee, 6.8, 2; 1 North East, 9.0, 3. Also started.— l 2 Kir Antrim, 8.7; 2 Woodhey, 7.13; 4 Truganini, 7.13; 8 F.itawdy, 7.7 ; 3 Coronetted, 7.6 ; 11 Adria, i 6.10: 13 Mataari, 6.9; 14 Ambro«ian, 6.8; 10 Te I'uia, 6.7; 5 Flingot, 6.7; and 7 First Battery, 6.7. Time, lmin 56*ec. Woodhey Hack Handicap, of 120 soys ; seven furlongs.— B Mulga Bill, 8.4, 1 ; 7 Waitoto, 7.2, 2; 5 Royal Maid, 6.7, 3. Also started.— 3 John, 10.10; 4 Strathtnoira, 9.3: 6 Captain Bell, 8.5; 1 Attention, 8.3 ; 9 Liquid Air, 7.8 ; 12 Guiding Step, 7.5; 2 San Law, 7.3; 10 Marathon, 7.2 ; and 11 Moutoa Girl, 6.7. Time, lmin 3O*ec. Taikorea , Welter Handicap, of 150 auvs; one niile. — 1 Marton, 8.5, 1; 6 Waikaraka,- 9.4, 2; 2 Bourrat=que. 9.11, 3. Also started. — Teotane, 8.10; 4 Wee Trinket, 8.8; 4 Perolina, 8.6; 7 Redwing, 8.0; 5 Obscurity, 8.0; and 8 Splash, 8.0. Time, lmin -.osec. I>uring tbe day £3220 was invested on the totalizator, an increase of £652 on the corresponding day last year. Bookmakers' fees totalled £280. XOTES ON~THE RACING. (By Telegraph.) (From Sir Bedivere.) PALMERSTON N., 13th April. Yesterday afternoon it rained heavily. The sky cleared overnight, however, and at breakfast time there was every promise of a fino day, but it was not to be. A high wind sprang up during the forenoon, and later in the day, when several showers fell, the weather was distinctly baiaterous. The predictions of the wiso heads who maintained that Powelka's presence in this ntugh* bourhood would have a serious effect upon the attendance proved only too accurate. The attendance was a very moderato one, and there can be no doubt I that many people who reside in this part of the world are at present afraid to leave their homes. Hundreds, perhaps thousands, of people, missed seem? one of the • finest day's racing ever held in New Zealand, for to so describe tho sport witnessed at Awapuni this afternoon is not -to exaggerate in the least. Though the going was sufficiently dead to militate against fast times be. ing recorded, it was far from being really heavy, and must have exactly suited all horses but those who simply must hear their feet rattle. Mr. O Connor was in his very best form with the lever, and came in for more than one hearty round of applause for the excellence of his work; and the general management of the meeting left nothing to be desired. From a backer's point of view, the day was a disastrous one. Outsider after outsider rolled home with tantalising persistency, and the layers had a right royal time of it. ' THE MANAWATU STAKES. The chief attraction of the caVd. wa*, of course, tbe Mnnawatu Stakes, and everybody was anxious to see how many were going to start. When no less than eleven numbers were hoisted ' there was a distinct murmur of approval to be heard in the pnddock, nnu as the horses so represented paraded in the weighingIn enclosure, all eyes were turned towards them A magnificent sight they made, too. Indeed, during all tho years I have followed racing in New ZeaTnnd, I do not remember ever having seen so fine-looking a field. Penates stripped bright and well, and though the hypercritical wero inclined to fancy they had seen a greater fullness about the top of his quarters, there was really nothing to complain of with respect to his appearance, and all wero agreed that the going was precisely as he liked it. Polymorphous was turned out in superb trim, and, with Danube, divided the honours as the fittest bone of the field. His party were extremely confident of success. Madam Madcap, whose off fore fetlock is much enlarged, was sent off in bandages, and scarcely looked the tally she was on Middle Park Plate day at Riccarton Fonnby* i& lightening up a little after all the hard racing he has done. Warsong looked as lusty as usual. I/ord Kelviu and King Soult stripped in nice order. Inspection is still backward. Vice-Ad-miral looked really well, and Effort's sister. Excel, who was the commoner of the party, appeared to be out of place in such company. The tapea rose to an even line, and Warsong at once set out to make the pace a cracker. Danube and Fonnby, who followed him, were racing on terms, and- then came Penates, whilst Polymorphous was some distance back, ' and Madam Madcap last. Racing up 'the back stretch Polymorphous improved his position, but the order was not otherwise changed until the head of the top turn. Here Warsong was still clear out by himself, and Penates, who appeared to be galloping great guns, had to be momentarily checked so as to keep off Danube's heels. Polymorphous was still creeping up, and when the two-year-old ran out wide at the 'home turn, he shot up on the inside, and with Penates promptly challenged the leader. At the distance Oliver, Hatch, and Wilson were riding as if for their lives. Warsong ( was the first \o give way, and in falling hack was interfered with by Penates, who, now a thoroughly tired horse, rolled over on to him and squeezed him out, *o causing him to stumble. From this point the rate was in the keeping of Polymorphous, but he had to be ridden tight out to win by three-quarters of a 'ength. Danube was a length and a half away third, half a head in front of Warsong. Formby was fifth, and the last to finish were kaeel and .Vice- Admiral. It was a {rand contest, und needless to Kay the winner received an ovatiou on his return to scale. That Polymorphous is good, let my readers make no mistake. Of course the usual excuses were forthcoming on account of the beaten horsei, but I nave no doubt that the best horse at the weights gained the day. Warsong was to my mind the unluckiest of the two-year-olds, for had he not been knocked out of his stride he would assuredly have finished third. The question of their relative merits remains as far from being satisfactorily answered as ever, and one- can only conclude that fte tifithe.- of them really stands out from th«> others, they are no more than an average lot. THE LONGBURN HANDICAP. Next to the Staxes, the Luiighunt Handicap attracted mo>t «»t- • lention. and Sir rrLio benm the only e'evenlli-hour withdrawal, a field ot i -iirtren went to the po*t. Favountt- it rested with North £»xt, but. though h i an well, he «•• n»v*r really dan,.toui, and after Merrie Bos* had led

to tbe distance Mendip, who had been away back amongst the ruck during tbe •arty stages of tho race, came away and won cleverly, not to say comfortably, by half a. length. Sir Antrim, who strode down in scratchy fashion in hia preliminary, was lying 'fourth until the final turn for home, when he retired beaten, and ultimately finished last juxL behind Coronetted, who bad acted n« whipper-in ihe whole > way, nnd gave a very, disappointing display. Woodhey, the public')* second choice, wan well placed for ceven furlongs, when she tried enough, and Truganini got badly away.' The last-named was made rather too much u*e of at the back of the counts v.hiUt overhauling her opponents. Had she been allowed to make up her lout ground more gradually she might have finished closer to the winner. As it was, however, she got home fourth, with Woodhey dose behind her. THE TELEGRAPH STAKEB. Lord Soult was turned out in oeiter trim than he was in Feilding, and as his connections were known to fancy hi*) chance, it was not surprising to find him installed favourite for the short distance event. In accordance with hi* usual custom, he soon got to the front, but when it was seen he wsc unable to shake off Parula's attention those of ns who had backed roon realised we were not destined to receive. Parula had him in trouble at the home turn, and in h> forcing the pace she beat herself. Up to the distance she appeared to have a chance, but Hermia then ranged up alongside of her. Overtime came fast on the extreme out*ide, nnd Boanerges was going great on the rails. In getting clean through on the inside) le*s than a fur rang from home the lastnamed had quite extraordinary luck, for if Parula's rider had not allowed hi* mount to run a bit wide- Oliver wouldi have been obliged to pull Doanergea to the out »ide. As Mr. "Highden's" representative soared decisively by a length, he might, of course, have won in any circumstances. St. Dill retired after running prominently for a furlong on two, but T>adv Memrhikofr, who was always badly placed ,»never flattered her admirers. THE MINOR EVENTB. Once again Pikopo let his large array of followers down, and it is evident that wind troubles are affecting him with increasing severity. Excepting when Lothair momentarily headed her six furlongs from home, Nightmare was always in tbe lead in the Linton Hack Hurdles, and she won as she liked by fully a dozen lengths. Himitangi, who jumped in a slovenly fashion, ran past some beaten horses in the straight, and Arclight, who was making her debut as a jnmber, was only about half trained. The Karere Welter fell to Emblem, who won easily by half a length. Being strangely neglected on the totalisator she returned thorn who stuck to her a very false price. Being unable to get a flying start as he did at Feilding Ascalon was soon done with, and could do no better than finish fourth. He is apparently not nearly the flyer many of his admirers wero wont to believe. Celeano failed to run up to expectation*, but Moree i-haped creditably, and came with a great rattle at the final turn after being badly placed. Waiarikt was fifth. Attention was in chief demand for tho Woodhey Hack Handicap, for which San Lars and John were auo well fancied. Once again, however, an outsider prevailed and this time it was Mulga Bill, who led throughout and scored by half a length. John, who was easily tbe kin? of the party so far as appearances went, was far from artistically handled, and appeared to have rather more energy than bis rider towards the end of the contest. Tho day's sport concluded with the Taikorea Welter, and at last a favourite managed to do tbe trick, for Marton won easily by two lengths. Teotane, who had the confidence of his party, failed to see the journey out, and Perohna again disgraced herself. The third money gained by Danube, who, by the way, will not race again this season, Draught Mr. O. D. Greenwood's winnings for this season up to ovei £5000. AVONDALE RACES. (nr TEiKciurß— mess AUSootATiosr.i AUCKLAND, 13th April. Tho concluding day's racing in connection with the Avondala. Jockey Club's Autumn meeting took place this afternoon. The weather was line, and the attendance good. The sum of £6779 went through the totalisator, as against £7009 last year. In addition, 31 bookmakers were licensed. Remaining results :— Dominion Handicap, of 70 soys. ; five furlongs. — Waiata 8.10, 1 ; Turbine 9.0, 2; Mahinga 8.3, 3. Also started— Lady Dot 7.8, and All's Well 6.10. Won by two lengths, with Mahinga half a length away third. Time, lmin 2 4-ssec. Handicap Steeplechase, of 90 soys. ; three miles.— First Barrel 9.12, 1; Pierre 10.7, 2 i Cavaliero 10.2, 3. Also started— Te Arai, Loch Fvne, Wbatashot, Gordon, Regal, and. Flying Cloud. Won by five lengths from Pierre, with Cavaliero six lengths behind the latter. Time, 6m in 15sec Mt. Roskill Handicap, of 75 soys. ; six furlongs.— Fremantle 7.12, 1 ; Sir Rupert 8.10, 2; Kilsyth 7.13, 3. Also started — Prince !<eo, Haku, Waiotahi. Frontino, Tuikitua, Alarm, Maroon and Black, Toa Tere, Koroiianci, and Siola. Won by half a length, a length separating second and third. Time, lmin. 17sec. Waitaxerei Handicap, of 100 soys. ; six furlongs.— Kakama 7.11, 1 : Impulsive 7.3, 2 ; Manapouri 8.0. 3. Also started— Waiata, Cyrcne, Illustrious, General Soult, and Miss Advance. Won by a head. Time, lmin 16sec. The Riverside Racecourse, the rendezvous of the Marlborough Racing Club, has received a considerable amount of attention from the committee during tbe ls>t ten years. Every year it is top-dre»sfd once and sometimes twice, the result being that what used to be one of the worst courses in tbe Dominion is now one of the very best. The committee of the dub has been considering extending the ({randktnnd, the totalisator abed, and improving the accommodation for jockey*, but have decided to postpone this until after the autumn meeting, which is to be held on the 4th and sth May. Xom inn t ions for the meetinu close with the secretary (Mr. L. Griffith*) at Blenheim on Saturday next.