NOTES ON THE RACING

Evening Post, Volume XCIII, Issue 47, 23 February 1917, Page 4

NOTES ON THE RACING

(BT "SIR LANCELOT.")

Tlic going was in excellent condition. In the'a'bsencc of Mr. William Hall (secretary), whose health has not been good for some time, Mr. D. Dobbins, (assistant secretary) carried out tho details in connection with the meeting in a. capable manner.. B. H. Morris, rider of Bjorneborg in the Cup, was suspended for three months "for interference with Depredation. % Proceedings opened with the Stewards' Handicap, for which all the horses figuring on the card paraded. Tho runners included two Trentliam representatives in Mascot and Devotion. Tho first-named divided favouritism with Cleft, who had shown good form at Poverty Bay. Mascot and Lady Middlcton began last, and going out of the straight were showing clear of Cleft. The latter joined Mascot at the six furlongs post, and they raced along tho bnck well clear. Vl.adineau headed Lady Middlet.on at^ the half-mile post and at tho bend Golden Grafton challenged the leadere. She was finishing best at tho distance, where Cleft bad to be ridden out to win- by a head. Lady Middlcton was only thrtp-parts of a. length away; Devotion vfas fourth and Mascot fifth. Clcifc, who was ridden by J. Olsen", is a Multifid gelding, and i'a-n- well,at Ellerslito.daring tho holidays. Mascot failed to see the distance out,-

The Waif was withdrawn from the PetvG Hack Handicap, leaving in eight runners. Starcngo and Munition wore smartest to begin, and at halfway were showing.- '-clear oE Moutoa • Queen. The latter headed Munition ' at tlic bend, liook charge at tho distance, and won all out by half a' length from Revocation,. who got up in time to beat Starcngo ■by a head. Lady Edith was fourth, and Cora,Ora, who'appeared unable to apt under her big woight, fifth. Rewa, Rewa was pulled up during tho race, something having .struck B. Deolcy iv ithe face. Moutoa Queen is a momber of ]?, Tilley's' Fovdell team and ran third in open company to Form Up at Woodvillo.

The four acceptors for the Westmeve Handicap Hurdle Race all started. The top weight, Harbour (Light, who scored on his last appearance at Ellerslie, was the least fancied. Record, making his first appearance in the colours of Mr. F. Moore, carried about one-third the money on the machine. He was out in front doing his best with Glenorchy, who outjumped the favourite at every fence and had him in trouble six furlongs from home. Hero Marton wen* out after the leadei'j but was unable to reach him, and he scored comfortably by three lengths. At the end Harbour Light put in a late run and had no difliculty in beating Record for the 15 soys third money. It was ,a. good stake, and it was a pity tlic club- did not get a better, return 'from tho owners of jumping horses. Copeetako was fined £1 for not riding Record out. A. M'Donald was similarly penalised for not riding Sir Wallace out in the next race.

The field for tho Tayforth Hack Welter Handicap was considerably reduced by tho scratching of Spain, Iceberg, and Altercation. Thames, and Haupai began best, and with six furlongs to go they were well clear of tho others. Half a mile from homo Thrace and Sir Wallace went out after the leaders. Ha.upal was dono with at the turn, whrffc Thrace was in hot pursuit of Thames. • She 'held the advantage gained at tho start and passed tho post two lengths clear of Thrace, with Haupai throo lengths away. Sir Wallace, who appeared unable to set Hie pace with tho leaders in the. early part, was fourth, Thames was favourite," and followers of R. J. Mason got a good price.

j All started for the Wanganni Cup exfept Sun bird and Master Lupin, Analogue and Colonel Soult were prominent (it the start,.with Housewife and Blaekall next. When tho stand was reached, with a. mile to go, Housewife, had charge, with Blackalt ami Analogue next, Kurapai, Bjorneborg, Colonel Soult, and Client fol-

ln«'ing in. that order. Housewife' w s still leading at the back, Wat wa4 do with at the bend,, where Bunting a cl Client ami Bjornebora; comprised tl p leading division. Bunting leel into t) straight, and at the distance v-'as join d by Client, who finished best- and secur cl the verdict by two lengths, with Am loguo three leng-tbs away. Then ran Housewife, Blackall, Colonel Sou It, Dei vocation, and Indigo; Kiirapai and 51; ter Moutoa wore the last to finish. Clk ran a good race in the Wellington Cuj finishing fourth, and now met Bunting o i much better terras. This was'his mot important win to date. The time put i P is only a fifth of a second outside tl record for the race put up by Mast Lupin two years ago. Client fs taint 1 at Fordell. by F. Tilloy for Mr. W. Dv can, a, steward of the club, whose vie tory was well received. Bunting d c well to run second, as he was conceding the winner a year and 151b. Ami-ldgULi ■\vlio stripped well, ran a, good race, bein" prominent throughout. H. Young, who rode Client, also rode Master Lupin when he won. Tilley also trained Milan, who won in 1910.

AH the acceptors for the Juvenile Handicap went to the post. Silver Tongue, who carries the same cotouis as Elocution, was given out as a likeh winner. Staccato refused to face , the barrier, and caused some delay at tl c start. When they settled down the colours of Acre and Agnestes were pro minent. At half-way Staccato was clos" up, third. At the. bend Birkenhead ran up to the leaders, took charge at the dl tance, and led to within fifty yards of the post, where Silver Tongue' was lucl enough to get through on the rails, ftn i scored by a head. Acre was i ck a,way. .Conlpan (Cooltrirc—Pastry) lo was makjng his first appearance i fourth. The winner is a well °io ra gelding by Demosthenes—Pearl Pondei one of Ivlr. GJ. V. Donnelly's bree 1 q; He was making his first appearai cc i I was ridden by T. Avery, who 1 a ot been heard of much since he sewed ni Sweet Corn when she put up n A.i tralasian record at Trenthain a >en

The scratching of Analogue, 11 me and Thrace for the Wiritoa Hacl Rico Handicap reduced the number 6"f no .to five. Crown Head and Pohel em le the running to the half-mile post 1c o Iceberg, who was a good favom ten i up to the leaders. Crown Head le 1 i to lUie straight just clew of Iceberg Half way down the running the latter got in front, but Crown Head, well handled by H. Young, .finiahedbest and won by a head, with Spain, who looked better for tho race, close up third. Pohehe was fourth. The winner is owned by Miss Maud Brewer, a patron of M. Gardner's Waverley stable, and is a half-brother to The Voucher, who w » trained at the Hutt course a. few yeats ago. Crown Head returned the. be t Ilivklend of the day.

•All started for the Flying Handicap except Cora. Ora and Madam Riston The successful performer Form Up wis Bent out a good favourite. After some delay Tete-a-Tete a.nd Chakwaria weto brat a-way. Form Up took charge aftei going two -furlongs and won by three parts of a length. Tete-a-Tete half a. length away. Tree Lucerne was knocked back last, ran round the field, ancf got fourth. Otherwise,he might have re pea.ted his performance of two years 'ago,