SUCCESSFUL OPENING DAY

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 8, 10 July 1922, Page 10

SUCCESSFUL OPENING DAY

NOTES ON THE RUNNING

(»X "Sin . LANCELOT.")

The Metropolitan Clilb was fortunate with the weather experienced for the opening day of its Winter Meeting, held at Trentham on Saturday. The attendance was large, probably a best on record. Prominent visitors present included His''Excellency* the GovernorGeneral, Viscount Jellicoe, the Eight Hon. W. F.. Massey, Sir James Carroll, Sir John Luke, M.P., Sir George Clifford, Mr, T. M. Wilford, M.P., and a big Parliamentary party, who were the guests of the club at luncheon. The new grandstand in the St. Leger enclosure was used for the first time, and' was a popular 'vantage point with outside patrons. The sura of £53,563 was passed through the totalisator, against £63,970 for the opening day twelve moivVis ago, when\the meeting opened on a Wednesday and concluded on a Saturday. A feature of the day's sport was the way the programme was got off on time. This was due to the starter, Mr. O'Connor, having the fields ready to be dispatched when tho signal was hoisted. The club's patrons were thus able to be back in town at quite a reasonable hour. ROYAL EXCHANGE WINS WELL. Local backers made a good start by selecting Royal Exchange as the best of the runners in the Vittoria Hurdle Handicap, with which proceedings opened. She was taken to the front, and, jumping beautifully) had her opponents strung out in Indian file, and mostly hopelessly beaten six furlongs from home. Sunray, - Rowan, and Sir Wai made the best attempt to overhaul her. Passenger and Rorke's Drift, who were two of the most fancied candidates, were close up to the placed horses at the finish. The time put up was faster than, in the Trentham Hurdles. Royal Exchange is trained at Trentham by J. W. Lowe for Mr.. O. S. Watkins, a steward of the club, whose success was well received. TRIAL PLATE TO L'AMOUR. There were sixteen runners for the Trial Plate, including no fewer than ten two-year-olds. The public hit the mark when they selected two of the older division in L'Amour and Lady Ridicule. The latter, a four-year-old Absurd, bred by Mr. A. N. Gibbons, and carrying the Kauri King colours, showed the possession of a lot of pace. She was well clear at the end of five furlongs, but stopped. in the run to the post, and L'Amour beat her, with something in hand. Royal Despatch (Clarenceux— Comely) finished in third place, and made the best showing of the two-year-olds. He carried the colours of his breeder, Mr. H. A. Knight, the well-known Canterbury owner. Boughleen Dhoun (Kilbroney—Sprig o' Erin) and Refrigerator (Martian—Snow Waif), carrying Mr. W. E. Bidwill's colours, were also close up. ANOTHER WOODVILLE WINNER. There were thirteen runners for the Hack and, Hunters' Steeplechase after Lord Nagar and Oak Rose had been withdrawn. Backers selected Grand Canyon and Seadown as the best of them. Tatton Park assisted Grand Canyon in making the pace for two-thirds of the journey, when the first-named fell. Seadown and John Bunny were lying handy to.the leaders, and when Tatton Park- dropped out, Seadown joined Grand; Canyon. The latter jumped best, but what he gained at the fences Seadown made 'up on the flat. The latter had, the Aucklander's measure- before reaching the last fence, and, jumping it safely, drew out to win by half a dozen lengtns, with Brown Linnet, from Longbeach, a fair third, and John Bunny fourth. The top weight, Hylans, gave a very poor .showing, being always well back, with Sir Agnes. Hylans and Lyroe stopped at the'logs. Ethiopian and Ngakanui .fell at the board fence near the top of the straight. Hyginas got rid of his rider at the post and rails. He kept with the field, and jumped one leg across the inside rail at the double in front of the stand, but, fortunately, got back without injury. Seadown has now won two steeplechases in as many starts. He was a present from Mr. 0. S. Watkins to F. Davis, the well-known trainer, who does not have much to do with jumpers. STEWARDS' HANDICAP TO LISTEN- < ING POST. ': All started for the Stewards' Handi,cap except Mantua, reserved for another engagement later in the day. Backers went mostly for'the Dunedin representative, Listening Post, who bore a solid appearance. He was well placed throughout, and held an advantage at the distance, but had to do his best at the finish to stall off the Awapunitrained Passionless, who was in receipt of a stone. Civilform, Machree, and Cold Steel were close up. The Kemball bracket (Miss Gold and Weldone) was well supported, but failed to get in the money, as also did the half-dozen Trentham representatives. Listening Post is trained by C. Giesler at Wingatui, and is one of the useful Solferi'rio tribe, from the American mare Eager Eyes. He is a good sort that might win a Winter Cup, but is sure to get a bit of weight after Saturday's performance. MASTER STROWAN'S STEEPLECHASE. The sixteen acceptors, for the Wellington Steeplechase all paraded. The top-weight, Coalition, who is a great favourite with local racegoers, was sent out best backed, while of the others tho Aucklanders, Waikaretu 'and.. Sea De'il, came, in for most support. Tho raco was robbed of a lot of interest by Ngata, who was lying in behind Waikaretu, falling at the second fence. The nexir jump, a board fence, saw Coalition, First Line,/and Old Gold put out of the contest. The light-weights Waikaretu, Red Cent, and Master Boris were ouc making a solid pace. Glenisla was also handy, and showed out in tho lead at the end of a round. The board fence the second time saw Sea De'il put out of tho contest. Waikaretu, Master Boris, and Glenisla were going strong at tho stand the second time, where Master Strowan was up with the front row and jumping well. Waikaretu was tiring when the end of the second round was reached, where Oakleigh and Master Strowan were together in front. . They made a good finish of an interesting contest, but Master Strowan outstayed his opponent, and won well. Waikaretu was a fair third. The others to finish were Calma, Glenisla, Red Cent, Khartoum (who was always well back), Lawsuit, and Likelihood. Master1 Strowan was not well backed, and those who supported him got a great price. His owner, Mr. F. S.-Easton, was not present. The,crowd cheered the horse and the rider, IW. Young. Master Strowan is now trained by.M. Williams at Otaki. CHARITY CUP TO ARCH SALUTE. All started for the Charity Cup except Listening Post, who had run earlier in the day. Backers went for Royal Box, whose track work certainly entitled him to the position of favourite. Arch Salute, Mantua, Gold Kip, and Blackmail began best, but with a furlong gone the colours of Gold Kip wore in the van. At half-way, Strategy wao in Mxc lea,d, with Civilform, Mart Avis, and

Prince Hal well placed. Gold Kip did best of those prominent in the early stages, but was easily beaten by Arch Salute, who came right away at the distance, and passed the post three lengths to spare. Demos was a good third, and Some Fashion (a stable mate' of Gold Kip) did best of the others. The favourite, who was well enough placed at 'the top of the straight, finished about fifth. There was some crowding at the turn. A meeting of the Judicial Committee was held, and A. J. M'Flynn, C. Reed, and H. M'Sweeney were heard. It was decided that any interference me'o with was accidental. , GENERAL PETAIN WINS HURDLES. Omahu and Master. Boris were the defections from the Trentham Hurdles, leaving in thirteen . runners. Backers went for No Bother and General Petain. Falstaff, Penury Rose, and Spook essayed the role of pacemakers, with the favourite always in a, handy position. Half a mile from home Spook was in charge, but he was the first to drop out. At the turn Falstaff gave way to Penury Rose. General Petain, hard ridden, drew up in the straight, and probably had the race won at the last hurdle, where Penury Rose made a faulty jump. This enabled General Petain to draw away and win by half-a-dozen lengths, with Falstaff a fair third, and Volo, who did the best of the top-weight, division, close .up fourth. General Petain, who has recently shown good form in the South under big weights, is trained by J. J. Lewis at Ashburton. He is by All Red—Lady Lillian, by Phaeton—Lady Zetland, a well-known family of flat race performers that has not produced many hurdle winners. General Petain is taller than his sire, who was a good big horse. A HAWKES BAY WINNER. All started for the Te Arp Handicap except L'Amour, Pink Rose, and Fortune Teller. The Riccarton-trained Economist (Absurd—Week End) was best backed, but failed to get in the money. The top weight, Wrangle (Hymettus— Snooze), got the verdict after a punishing finish with Liqueur, with Big Push and Loyal Maid next.' Sir Burnett (Quin Abbey—Ophelia) jumped but, well, but covered a lot of extra ground, and finished under the judge's box. Hs is probably used to galloping the reverse way. The price paid by Wrangle, -who was favourite when he won on the concluding day at Napier Park, came as a welcome surprise to his backers. Details of the concluding events are appended:— CHARITY CUP, of 500 soys; one mile. F. Ross's br g Arch Salute, syri by Marble Arch—Salute, 10.0 (A. J. ■ M'Flinn) 1 H. S. Keesing's eh g Gold Kip, aged, by St. Amans—Fraulein, 10.1 (C. Reed) 2 J. Hurley's br g Demos, 6yrs, by Demosthenes—Jeanne d'Arc, 10.0 (B. Morris) 3 (Winner trained by J. O. Lambess.) Also started: Tame Fox 11.1 (M. M'Carten), Dainiry Step 10.11 (S. Walls), Printemps 10.10 (F. C. Porter), Heathersprig 10.7 (R. Thompson), Royal Box 10.3 (H. M'Sweeney), Some Kid 10.0 (N. H. Campbell), Forest Gold 10.0 (Brady), Kilrush 9.9 (W. Bell), Tenterfield 9.9 (A. Wormald), Haurangi 9.7 (C. W. France), Strategy 9.7 (R. S. Bagby), Sunny Corner 9.6 (0. M'Carten), Some Fashion 9.4 (E. Keesing), Poanui 9.3 (J. O'Shea), Bagdad 9.2 (F. Waddell), Mort Avis 9.2 (H. Goldfinch), Stork 9.2 (E. Lowe), Callaghan 9.0 (F. E. Jones), Dutch Courage 9.0 (P. Keene), Kilkee 9.0 (J. M'Chesney), Prince Hal 9.0 (H. Stuart), Mantua 9.0 (V. Voight), Missland 9.0 (C. Wasley). Time, lmin 47sec. TRENTHAM HURDLE HANDICAP, of 500 soys; about one mile and threequarters. '.' J J. Lewis's br g General Petain, aged, by All Red—rLady Lillian, 10.12 (A. M'Millan) 1 R. Knox's b.g Penury Rose, 6yrs, by Penury — Merry Rose, 9.9 (J. Kaan) 2 Brown and M'Padden's br g Falstaff, " syrsy by Comedy King—Petrunia, . 9.8 (T. Reid) : 3 (Winner trained by owner.) Also started: Fisher 11.13 (W. H. Bowden), Volo 11.5 (R.S. Bagby), Gladful 10.13 (A. Wormald), No Bother 10.11 (S. Walls) Alteration 10.10 (H. M'Sweeney), Spook 10.7 (F. Copestake), Royal Gift 10.1 (A. M'Donald), Kyoto 9.9 (H. Burt), Kareao 9.9 (W. Ayres), Dick 9.2 (W. Scobie). ■ ■ '.... Time, 3min 21sec. -.'. . '. TE ARO HANDICAP, of 350 sove; six furlongs. , ' ' | A. Symes's br g Wrangle, 4yre, by Hymettus—Snooze, 10.10 (F. Corlett) ;...... i..: . 1 T. Deegan's b g Liqueur, 3yrs, by Winkie—Honesty, 9.8 (A. Peart) 2 G. M'Baln's: b g Big Push, 6yrs, 9.8 (W. Pine) 3 (Winner trained by M. Ratcliffe.) Also started': Battle Knight 10.10 (A. J. M'Flinn), Bitholia 10.10 (J. O'Shea), Sir Burnett 10.9 (P. Brady), Taipairu 10.5 (R. Hatch), Birkenella 10.2 (A. Wormald), Yankee Dan 10.1 (M. M'Carten), Economist 10.0 (A. Ellis), Te Kuri 9.10 (H. Wheeler), Rippling 9.9 (B. Morris), Loyal Maid 9.8 (E. Edwards), In the Pink 9.7 (F. C. Porter), Bonibrook 9.5 (L. G. Morris), Zero Hour 9.5 (C. Reed), Moonstruck 9.5 (W. Hawkins), Cochineal 9.3 (O. M'Carten), Roset 9.2 (W. Bell), Misrule 9.0 (H. Godfrey), Sponte 9.0 (A. M'Brearty), Punishment 9.0 (T. Young), Banogue 9.0 (R. Hunt). Time, lmin 17sec.