NOTES ON THE SPORT

Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 155, 28 December 1918, Page 10

NOTES ON THE SPORT

(By "Sir Lancelot.")

Perfect weather conditions prevailed for the concluding day of the Manawatu Racing Club's Summer Meeting at Awapuni yesterday. The attendance was satisfactory, although not so large as on the holiday. The racing track, was in good order and accounts for the faat times 1 registered. There was heavy speculatjon on the totalisatbr. Ponctuality ,in running off the pro&'aninie was again observed, enabling 'visitors to catch trains on the return journey home: All twelve ""acceptors saddled up for the Kelvin Hack Handicap. J W. Lowe's stable started both Cooing and . Courtfield. The latter was ridden by A. Reed, w^io arrived from Auckland that morning. War Scot, and Cooing were first to show out, but racing, along the back War Scot was showing' the way to Willy's Knight and Signovella. These three.ran round the turn almost abreast, just clear of Courtfield. The leaders were done with half way down the straight where Courtfield took charge and won nicely from Penury Rose, with Cooing close up third. The latter was ridden by H. Young. Signorella, and War March were next to the placed horses. Courtfiiild (Elysian—Lady Gwen) was tried over a distance for the first time. He is trained by J. W. Lowe for a well-known Wellington sport, who adopts the norn de course of Mrj "Boring. Courtfield paid the best dividend at the meeting.

AH started for the Te Matai Hurdles Handicap except Kurapai. Waipunoa and Zola, who made the best showing on the opening day, disputed favouritism. Waipunoa came to grief at the hurdle, in front of the stand, and A. M'Donald appeared to* get a nasty spill, but fortuuately he got off with a; shaking. Arlington gave a more lively exhibition than on the previous day. He led throughout and never looked like getting beaten. In the first part he had First Line and Te-Ore Ore in hot pursuit, and half a mile from home Zola moved up but failed to get his opponent, who held the advantage gained at the start and won well. Those that stuck to the useful chestnut gelding got a fair return. Montoa Ivanova was the only defection, from the Highden Hack Handicap field. Backers went solidly for the Trentham trained pair, Cotillion and Red Signal. The former made the best showing of the two, being put in 'ront with Gold Problem to the turn, when the latter drew away and won with something in hand. Red Signal, ridden out, beat Mill Queen for .third plage. Two other Trentham representatives 'in Seance and Esperance finished among the "also started" division. Cotillion finished in front of Gold Problem (Gold j[ ee f —Probability) on the previous day in the Gillies Hack Handicap, won by Ahika, a stable mate of the last named. The race evidently did Gold Problem good. '.' ' ' All started for the President's Handicap eioept Multaine, who had an engagement later in t.'»3 day. Rewi. Poto was expected to improve on his previous day's form, and wa# sent out a good favourite, carrying over four figures. Galore a.cted as pacemaker, and set a. solid pace for six furlonga, with Classification and Dusky Eve at the head of tho others. When GaloTe dropped out half a mils from home, Classification took up the running, and at th« top bend -was leading Dusky Eve, .. with Ladogeur, Hydrus, and Rewi Poto next. Classification was first into the straight, where Dusky Eve got _ a clear run through on the rails, and, finishing up well, won by( a clear length from Hydrus, who headed Classification, in the last hundred y^rds. Rewi Ppto and Detroit,were nexti G»lor# being last. The time put up by Dusky Eve {2min 5 2-ssec) was particularly fast. The Signor gelding ran second in the Oup the previous day, and showed consistency. He acted as runner-up in the last Hawkes Bay Cup, and this i was his first win of importauce. •

Torfreda arid Asterina' were taken out J of the PaUnerston North Stakes, nine starting. Croesus was favourite, BoPeep being a good second favourite. From what appeared to be a straggling start, the colours of Croesus, 80-Peep, and Affectation, were . pTominetit. At half way Croesus was leading 80-Peep by two lengths, Affectation about the same distance away, just clear of Nystad. 80-Peep ran up to Croesus at the bend, and, drawing aiway in the run to the post, won by a length and a half. Nystad was a fair third, and then came Affectation and Pennon. The success of 80-Peep (ridden by A. Reed) was popular. She carried the colours of H. Telford's patron, Mr. W. E. Herbert, at present on active service. The time put up equalled the record of Impediment twelve months ago. The field for the Terrace Hack WeJter Handicap was reduced to fifteen by the withdrawal of Idle Talk, Quinn's Post, Courtfield, Red Signal, and Papanui. After the success of 80-Peep in.the pre? vious race Philomela (a stable mate) was sent out a hot,favourite, being th» heaviest backed .candidate during {.ha. day. She failed to-.stay the distance out, and Hurry Up, winner of the Trial Plate on the previous daY; scored in good style from -Nainur Hurry Up was the only double winner at the meeting. Hurry Up i» Wicj first, foul of MoueUo (AUrtkn—CuiraJba), h»li-»bter tQ Puera

(dam of Nyland, Boanerges, and .other performers) to win in the colours of Mr. Goring Johnston, president of: ' the Manawatu "Racing Glub. " ■ . . All eight acceptors* competed for the Awapuni Handicap. The Fovdell-train-ed Acre, who was favourite j is gradually being rac*d into form, and he scored from Inah and: Waimatoa, whose turn should come soon. Damien was fourth in a fast-run race. This was the first success of Linacre's son this season. Hydrus, who had competed, earlier in th» i day, was taken out of the .Camp Handicap. Hyginas, runner-up in the Urand Stand Handioap on the' opening day, \jras again unlucky enough to run second to Rude, whose chance on the previous day ■ was. extinguished by failing to get a.way at the start. Like Acre, Rude was bred in Australia, and is trained by F. Tilley for his principal patron, Mr. W. Duncan.