NOTES ON THE SPORT

Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 41, 16 August 1918, Page 5

NOTES ON THE SPORT

(BI lELEORAPH.—SPECIAL TO THE POST.)

CHRISTCHURCH, 15th Aug.

The course had dried up wonderfully under the influence of the wind, and it provided first-class going. ' The large crowd was a speculative one. the. totalisator investments being £60,401, which is a record for the course. How much greater the total might hava been under favourable conditions it is hard to say. There were some long delays between the closing of the machine and the hoisting of the signal authorising the start.' To some extent at least this was probably due to the operation of the new system of Government inspection inaugurated this week, but a slow working staff may have been equally responsible. Whatever the cause, a lot of time was wasted, ■while hosts of backers were shut out on more than one race in the effort to pick it up, and even then the last event was half an hour late before the field was got off. In other respects the meeting passed off very smoothly.

OPENING EVENTS.

The Hunt Club Cup drew a field of six. They did not look a high class lot of 'chasers, but they provided a very interesting contest for the greater part of the journey, their jumping being a special feature. .Gaekwar was a strong favourite, and when he put in his claim he quickly settled the pretensions of the others.

There were eight starters for the Trial Hurdle Handicap, Tornoa being a little better backed than Master Boris. They vere both well placed all the way, but Jeannot, making practically all the running, came away from the last hurdlo to win comfortably. Tornea appeared to be in trouble half a mile from home, but he finished on well and just beat Master Boris, who failed to see the journey out, stopping badly ovjr tha last furlong. Hylans showed a lot of pace on the flat, but his jumping was bad. Reformation never looked dangerous. Jeannot was, working exceptionally well up till a fortnight ago, when he developed lameness. Since then ha has not done much fast work, which enhanced the merit of his win.

KAURI KING'S GRAND NATIONAL

A field of eleven, contested the Grand National Hurdle Handicap, Kauri King winding up a little better favourite than Gang Awa', with the bracketed pair Gladful and Wishful just heading Art in third fancy. Gluetanus was tho outsider. Gang Awa' streatad to the front at the start and soon opmed a break of several lengths, but at the end of a mile, though still in front : he was coming b?xk to the nejd, and half a mile further on Sir Solo joined him. All this time it had been apparent that all was not right with Gang Awa', who dropped right back, and ft transpired afterwards that his rider had a mishap at the first hurdle, one of his stirrup leathers breaking. When Gang Awa' retired, Gluetanus went on with Sir Solo, and these two were still in front half a mile from home. Then Kauri King made his appearance on the scene for the first time, after occupying a place a long way back in the early stages. He was in front before the last hurdle was reached, and from that point he never looked like being beaten. Sir Solo lost his place at the entrance to the straight, but he came on again and finished an easy second, this being the third successive year in which he has been in a. place. Art was never prominent in the early stages, but he came very fast over the last half-mile, just snatching third place from Gluetanus, who tired badly in the run from the last hurdle, after making a bold showing up to that point. Gladful was un near the front early, but lost his place, coming on again ab the end. His stable companion, Wishful, gave, a moderate display. Fisher went well for a time, but failed to stay, while Sir Fisher 1 never looked dangerous. Thrace was

badly left, and nearly fell at the first hurdle, so that he had no chance from the start, but he ran a good race. Sleight-of-Hand never got near the front, and he was pulled up a long way from home. The winner was ridden in a most confident fashion by F. Ellis, who never made an effort to go after the leaders till six furlongs from home, and even then he showed no undue hurry. The winner's performance was very attractive, and there can be no doubt he is a stayer. AVONHEAD HANDICAP. The Avonhead Handicap attracted a field of nineteen hacks, and Piano, ridden by H. Gray, was rather better backed than Omahu. The favourite was never dangerous at any stage of the journey. Three Riccarton candidates —Moorabbe, Jingo, and Derby Day— were prominent early. The first-named pair held good places to the distance. In the last hundred yards, however, Hastie and Silver and Black joined in, Hastie winning by a comfortable margin. Jingo raced more solidly than usual, while Moorabbe should be worth keeping in mind as a mare who is sure to win good races. ST. ELMN AT LAST. Onneshy was withdrawn from ths Grand National Steeplechase, leaving eleven 'starters. Speculation was very brisk, the totalisator investment being £12,076, a record for Riccarton. Master ■Strowan wound up favourite, but St. Elmn, Yellow and Black, and Coalition were also in strong favour. Merry Lad, one of the outsiders, set out to win all the way, and he ran a great race. He got a big lead early, and stayed in front for nearly three miles. Even then he struggled on gamely, and he was only beaten on the post for third money. Waimai registered a fine performance ; he was in second place practically all the way, and was the first to head Merry Lad: By this time, however, St. Elmn was in close attendance, and he wore the Aucklander down, winning with a bit to spare. Master Strowan was more than a hundred yards behind the leaders, and not jumping well. M'Soveney continued to hang on to him till the last round, when he set sail after the front lot with the pace on very strongly, hut ho was set too great a task. The Southland horse Zarkoma, did not show much pace, though he finished on well, while Stone Ginger, a great fencer, was going nicely till six furlongs from home. He finished the course, but was very lame. Yellow and Black came to grief at the first fence, Coalition at the end of a round, and Crib about a mile from home, when going well. Collector refused at the kennels double the first time, while Nita lost her rider at the second of this double in the last round. The performance of St. Elmn was very smooth. Rangi Thompson rode him a first-class race, not hurrying him in the early part but sending him along in great style over the last mile. St. Ehnn's win was very popular; it was his first success as a steeplechaser, though he was three times second and twice third over fences la-st season. His trainer, J. M. Cameron, was always confident from .the day he arrived at Riccarton that his horse would run a big race. ENFIFXD STEEPLES. v The Enfield Steeplechase was not an exciting event There were only five in the field, and Moddite was a.strong favourite. He went well till half a mile from home, when he fell. Boro having come to'grief at the previous fence, this left Arlington to win as he liked from Master Hamilton, who was very sore. BEDFORD'S WINTER CUP. Of the twenty-four acceptors for the Winter Cup, the only withdrawal was Gamecock, who is slightly ami6s. All Over wound up favourite with John Barleycorn, Cardrona and Form Up also in strong request. ' Comment, on the rails, set ont tQ win all the way, and she just failed in her task. Slie was still out in front inside the distance, where Bedford camo on- the scene with a late run, and won by over a length. Ibex was handy all the way, and just missed catching Comment as the post was reached. Sardinia^ was always well placed, while Ascalaphus and' Cardrona were also in the first half-dozen from the start. John Barleycorn, on the other band, came from the back, finishing strongly. Hydiras was prominent at the end, but at no stage did he look a likely winner. Tharldeus ran a great race after getting off badly, and he was-finishing very fast. In a- smaller field he should win a good raa* soon, possibly over a little longer journey. The favourite, All Over, ran badly, finishing a long way back, but Volo was the greatest disappointment, as he was last to ps£- the winning post. Bedford was badly fciced at the start, being on the extreme outside, but his rider was in no hurry after getting out'well. ■ Once in the straight, however, he sent his mount along,. and the Bunyan gelding responded like a good one. He only started once last season, but if he remains sound he should' gain further honours before long. SUMNER HANDICAP^ The conculding event, the Su.mn.er Handicap, attracted a field of fourteen. Ardmora, Belgian King, and Primato were in most favour. Ardmore was always handy, but Leaping Burn, who was also one of the early pacemakers, wore him down in the straight. ' Ardmore is evidently not quite equal to a mile, in which respect he differs from the majority of the progeny of Varco to race here. Leaping Burn was making his second appearance during the day, as ho had been beaten badly in the Avonhead Handicap. His win was a great surprise, his previous form being very moderate. Warform ran a good race, finishing very fast, and he will win before the season is much older.