NOTES ON THE SPORT.

Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 154, 27 December 1918, Page 4

NOTES ON THE SPORT.

(By "Sir Lancelot.")

Tbo racing *>v of an inUi-ejting •nature, and ■ «ome' good contests were 'witnessed. Mr. J. H. Perret* acted «s judge, a position previously filled by the late Mr. W H. HartgiU. He gave his decisions promptly and correctly. Mr. Angus Keith despatched the large fields on even terms without any unnecessary delay, and the handicapping of Mr. J. B. Henrys produced good racing. The management of the meeting, conducted by Mr. J. M. Johnston (secretary), assisted by Mr. J. Griffiths, of Wellington, was satisfactory to the club's patrons. Th» fidd for the Trial Plate, ieven furlongs, was reduced to nineteen by the -withdrawal of Intermezzo, March On, Bed Signal, Livland,. Tyche, Sunburst, and Courtfield. Moutoa Ivanova (the fall sister to Saswrof) was sent out favourite. She carried about onethird the amount invested on the race, bat Was always well back, Papanui ww in front for about a furlong, when Hurry Up and.Yankee Jack went to the front, and were in charge throughoat. Papanui was a fair third. Then cun* Utawai. Kaimoto got chopped out at tfre sUr% tad ■ fioished last. The .winner, who wae mikint hit fiMt

appearance in a nc«, is by Advance, and resembles his sire in colour and some of his progeny in action. He win not much fancied, and paid a doublefigure dividend. Otter, Mies Sation, Tangihou, Tornea, Master Boris, Bio, Aurore, and Forum were withdrawn from the Tokomaru Hurdles Handicap, reducing the field to twelve. The Waneanui-trained Zola, who won on his only- previous appearance in a jumping race at Waverley, was sent out favourite. Arlington was in front to the first fence where Oreore went on and showed the way to First Line at the second obstacle. At the stand, Oreore, First Line, Zola , and Kurapai were almost on level terms, lArlington having dropped into the ruck. .Before the back straight was reached Zola had taken charge, and at the bend wac leading, Lord Nelson, and Waipunoa, who was going well. He ran up to Zola at the last fence and drawing out in the run home, won comfortably by two lengths from the 1 favourite, with Lord Nelson about the same distance away. Waipunoa, is owned by A. Atwood, the Feilding trainer, who generally has a useful jumper in hie stable, j A. M'Donald showed to advantage on j Waipunoa, who was a fair performer a couple of seasons back. Livland, Wonder, Belle Noir, Missland, Sea Foam, and Khatmandu were taken out of the Gillies Hack Handicap The top weight, Kipling, finished up favourite, Red Signal and Penny Rose being next best backed in that order. After delaying the *tart for a little, Mill Queen got the best away, and, with a furlong gone, was showing the way to King's Armour, and Kipling. At the half-mile, King's Armour was clear, with. Kipling, and Cotillion next. The latter headed Kipling in the straight, but a hundred yards from home, Ahika came with a late run and overhauling the leaders without difficulty, won by nearly a length, Cotillion was close up third. Then came Penury Rose, and Kipling. The winner is a member of F J. Carmont's Levin stable, and was coupled with Gold Problem. Soth horse* carried the colours of Mr J. Nash. All ten acceptors for the Cup were paraded. Client finished up a good favourite, Noblwnan also carrying over four figures. Ladogeur was slow to move, and lost a few lengths. When they had settled down, Mister' Moutoa, Mnltive, and Nobleman comprised the leading division. They were prominent as the field swung into ths straight, where Battle Song was badly placed oh the outside of the field. Passing /the stand Client was last. Racing along the back, Ladogeur dropped out of it. , Six furlongs from homo Battle Song and Nobleman were together in front, with Dusky Eve at 'the head of the others. The top weight closed on the leaders in the run to the half-mile po3t, ■■where Nobleman and Dusky live were with Battle Song. Nobleman led into the straight, and half-way down the running had to ba ridden out to secure the verdict from Dusky Eve by a bare length. Rewi Poto was close up on tho out-side, with Client and Master Moutoa next, Ladogeur allf3 Classification being last to pass the post. The race was run in record time for the course, and ths solid pace set beat Client. BalAle Song covered more ground than any other horse hi the race, and pulled to the front six furlongs from home. P-swi Poto looked much above himself, and under the circumstances ran a surprisingly !*ood race. Nobloros-n has won the rac<3 two years in snecp»sinn, an<" the win was ivell received. W. M'Ewen, rider of Detroit, was finfr! £3 and cautioned for 'nt-frferinij with Client. Murihiki, Sunburst, Guinea Gold; Borealis, Golden Bubble, Empyrean/ Isseus, and Import .were, scratched for the Juveiiiie Handicap.' Ora-trcss and Asteiina began best, the !a!ter being clear at four fnrlongs: At the bend', three furlongs from home, Affectation took charge, apd was first into the straight. A hundred yards from home Bonny Briar, who wp.u always wellplaced, threw out a challenge, and Affectation had to be kept genig to win by a length. Sycorax .was a coupta of lengths away. Then came .Idleness, who ran a fair race. Halbran (Hallowmas — Parer-a) i;ofc galloped on in the race, and was badly cut about Hie hind legs. The winner was a slightly, better favourite than GrritresG. This was the first success of Affectation (Kilbroney—Simper), who was bred ftt the Elderslie stud, and is trained by J. T. Jamieson «fc Opaki for Mr. A. M'Donald. The scratchings for the Tararua Hack Walter Handicap weue Cress Words, Toddy, Blue Gown, Dick, and Sea Foam. It was a good betting race, Moutoa Camp (from Fordell) finishing up actual favourite. The runners included Quinn's Post, who won the i-ace twelve months ago. War Scot and First Salute began best, and led out of tlie straight. Eacing along the back, IcUn Talk took charge, with Quinn's Post and Army Service next. The latter ran up to Idle Talk at the turn. In the run to the post several of the others joined in, victory going to Rienzi, with Idle Talk just clear-of Manu. Army Service (Signor—Helen Portland) ran a good race, and will improve. Rienzi, trained by C. Pritchard at Trentham. generally runs well , on the Awapuni track, and did not'-win out of his turn. Rienzi'd success made the tjiird win for R. S. Bs^by during the afternoon. - j The only withdrawals from the Fitzherbert Handicap were Parisian Diamond, Crowhurst, Kipling, and Hupana. The top weight (Croesus) finished up actual favourite. Torfreda (who drew a position next the rails) was best backed of the others. Waimatao, Inah, and Chimera began best, and had charge at the five furlongs, where Croesus and Torfreda were handy. At halfway the favourite had worked bis way through to the front, and entering the straight was out clear of Waimatao, Pennon, and Chimera. Halfway down the running, Pennon challenged Croesus, and in the last hundred yards Nystad came with, a rattle, and overhauling the leaders won by a length. 80-Peep did best of the others, finishing fourth. Chimera, Waimatao, and Active were next- This made the second win for the Highden stable. Nystad, who does not win out of his turn, has two Great Easter Handicaps to his credit. Any chance Damien had was extinguished by. her getting left at the start. Torfroda was never prominent at any part of. the journey, and finished some distance behind the field. She has been suffering from kidney trouble since racing at Riccarton, and will not run again at the meeting. All Over, Dribble, Henry Clay, Ladify, and Quinn's Post were scratched for the Grandstand Handicap. The race was started in front of tile stand. After sonio backing and filling, Rude got the worst of it. Galore and Hyginas took the turn first. The latter rushed to the front, and tried to win from end to end. Galore was first beaten, then Elocution dropped out. In the straight Hydrus challenged, and gradually wearing the leader down got ja front fifty yams from the post. Mn'taine struggled into third place and Elocution was fourth. Galore was considered the best of' the Opaki pair. Ridden by R. Bagby, she was sent out a good favourite. Those that" stuck to Hydrus were rewarded with a good dividend.