C.J.C. SPRING MEETING

Evening Post, Volume C, Issue 112, 8 November 1920, Page 11

C.J.C. SPRING MEETING

ORATRESS-ARROWSMITH WIN BIG HANDICAPS . MERMIN'S WELCOME STAKES. (BI TELEOKAPH.) : (From "Sir Lancelot.") CHRISTCHURCH, 6th November. ( The Canterbury Jookey Club's Spring Meeting opened at Riccarton on Saturday in fine weather. There was a largo attendance —probably a record. A cold breeze blew across th© course, and there were painful delays before the start of each race while the totalisator Spires were being adjusted. The last event was started three-quarters of an hour after the advertised time. All six acceptors for the Spring Hurdles paraded. General Petain, who looks a good horse and had recent form to his credit, finished up favourite. He bad two lives at the second fence, and hit the same hurdle in the last round. He was prominent for a mile, but failed to see the distance out. Gamecock drew away in the. straight, and was half-a-dozen lengths clear at the judge's box. He scored so easily that it will take a fair rise to stop him winning again before the meeting concludes. ■• ■ Eight withdrawals, for the Spring Plate reduced th© number of runners "to nine. Isabel and Royal Mac divided favouritism. Petunia, Jazz, and Askari were prominent for half-way, where Isabel and' Cashmere,. who were badly placed, moved tip on the inside and outside respectively. Isabel was in front at the distance, where several others ■.vere handy. Her© Cashmere came . through on the outside and ran on tb the rails and under punishment interfered with Isabel. He would probably have won in any case, but a demonstration was made against Cashmere on returning to the enclosure. The'stewards reversed the places and the dividends of the first and. second horses. In the Linwood Handicap, Deepwell, Shamrock, and Killala showed out from the start. Killala led into the straight. Truthful worked her way through and. was in front at the distance, but here Barleycorn shot out and won by a length, paying a sensational dividend. Prince Hal finished well on the raik, and beat Truthful by half-a-length for second. Battle Scene was next. All except Kilrush paraded for the Cup. Oratress finished up favourite. It wa# an interesting contest. Tenterfield went out to make the pace, and when the stand was reached with a quarter of the journey covered was showing the' way to Bengeroop and Warlike, Royal Star and Rose Pink being handy, with /Vagabond at the tail end of the field. There was practically no change in the order of running when the field reached the mile post, but'at six furlongs Rose Pink- was level'with Tenterfield ,-and Bengeroop, these three being dear. Vagabond improved his position along the top, Oratress being last to make her effort. Ac they swung into the straight the colours)of Tenterfield, Bengeroop, and Rose Pink were still prominent. In the straight Imaribbon headed the tiring leaders, and at the distance her victorywas . being proclaimed. / But a hundred yards from the post Oratress shot out, and, finishing well, crossed the line with nearly a length to the good. "^ Bengeroop, who lasted longest of the pacemakers, was close up. --Then came Bonnie Maid, Royal Star, Vagabond, Glencanny, and Kilgour. Te.iterfield and Johnny Walker were the last two. The winner was the best-conditioned horse in the race, and had the services of a rider probably 101b better than any other. H. Gray had ridden two previous winners of the race in.Sasanof and Bridge. ,F, Tilley also trained two previous winners of the race in 'Frisco and Lady Lucy, Oratrees's only other appearance at the meeting will be in the Canterbury Cup. A good field of thirteen contested the Welcome Stakes. Mermin spoilt the bet-' ting on the race, carrying about fourfifths of the amount invested.' The Hawk was the first to reach the course proper, clear of the favourite. This pair drew away at the distance, where Mermin forged ahead and won easily, thus retaining his unbeaten certificate. Next to The Hawk came Meteorite, Winning Hit, and Mixture. 16 is reported that Mermin will not run i.n the Juvenile Plate on Monday, in which Rational will be a competitor. All the acceptors for the Apprentices' Plate were paraded. Tout Bon and Will Prosper were badly left. Algidus began best, and when half the journey was covered was well clear of Castellan and ! Grand Duchy. Algidus Ijad a good break when he entered the straight, but at the distance was being ridden to keep his position. Malaga finished best, and won by a good length from Castellan, whose backers got a. slightly better price than those that supported the winner. Malaga, who ran a good race at Trentham, was ridden by A. E. Ellis, the best rider in the race.

Early Dawn, who had raced earlier in the day, was the only withdrawal from the Stewards' Handicap. Backers went for Arrbwsmith and Silver Peak, any of the other runners paying a good price. ■When they reached* the conrse propel', Miss Gold on the inside was in front, and Surveyor 'was also showing up well on the outside. At the distance Chimera, headed Miss Gold, and her victory was loudly proclaimed. A hundred yards from home Arrowsmifch put in a claim, fend overhauling the leader in impressive style won cleverly. Maioha and Radial were next. Both Blackmail and Solfanello were rieht in the fighting line at the finish. Sfrss Mimic, on. the inside, played up at the start and^ got left. She finished up in' fifth place, and might have had a chance had she got out with the leaders. Silver Peak got out badly, and was never prominent. The winners of both Cup and Stewards' were the best backed on the machine. The good performance of Arrowsmith was heartly applauded when he returned to. the enclosure. He is easily the best- splinter in the Dominion at the present time. .Maioha was the only defection from the Riccarton Welter. Nautical got a break, while Bonnetter was left several lengths. In a good finish between four, Dainty Step got the verdict, and paid a double-figure dividend. On his form in the race, Demand does not appear to have a chance in the Derby.

The remaining results -are :— : Welcome Stakes, of 1000 soys; fo\ix furlongs.—Mermin, 5.5 (H. Gray), 1; The Hawk, 8.5, 2; Meteorite, 8.5, 3. Also started : Solfa, Te Uru, Coniston, Winning Hit, Tapairu, Janus, Songbird, Mixture, Barmaid, Tata-u Tatau. Time, 48 l-ssec.

Apprentices' Handicap, of 300 soys; one mile.—Malaga, 8.9 (A. E. Ellis), 1; Castellan, 7.7, 2; Algidus, 8.12, 3. Also started : Foo Chow 9.5, Chaeronia 8.11, Adopted 8.11, Tout Bon 8.2, Will Prosper 7.7, Gratuition 7.5, Wanigan 7.5, Grand Duchy 7.0. Time, lrain 42sec.

Stewards' Handicap, of 1500 soys; nix furiongs.—iArrowsmith. 9.13 (J. Campbell), 1; Chimera 8.0, 2; Maioha, 7.9, 3. Also started : Surveyor 9.9, Trespass 8.9, Radial 8.6, Silver Peak 8.4, Jkide 8,4, Onslaught 8.3, Miss Gold 8.1, Right and Left 8.1. Clean Sweep 7.9, Killowen 7.8, Sunart 7.8, Solfanello 7.8, Chrysoetom 7:6, Sunny Corner 7.3, Blackmail 7.2, Will Oakland 6.13, Miss Mimic 6.13. Time, Imin 12sec.

Biooartoa Weltsr HeJidicag. of 400 «owi sine furloage.—Daiaty Step, 10.1

(L. Morrisl, 1; Bonettar, 9:8, 2; Kilkee, 8 9, 3. Also started : Eleus 7.7, Stariand 9.7, All Ready 9.6, Demand 8.1.3, Walton 8.7, Nautical 8.6. Time, lmin 55sec.