AUTUMN RACES

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 87, 12 April 1923, Page 8

AUTUMN RACES

FIRST DAY AT TRENTHAM WELLINGTON RACING CLUB MEETING (fftOll OUR SPECIAL RSPORTJB.) TRENTHAM, This Day. -Trentharo is again the centre of attraciion for racing enthusiasts to-day, the occasion being the first day of the Wellington Racing Club's Autumn Meeting. The weather..has improved since earlier in .the week, and the grounds, lawns, and track are in, good order, much benefited by that' improvement. For to-day's proceedings the weather was dull, although there did. riot appear to be any likelihood of :rain..' There was a light wind, but it was not at all unpleasant. Among not-; able events to be decided to-day were tHe Thompson Handicap, the principal racje over a mile in-the Dominion, and t"v;o classic events —the New.Zealand St. larger Stakes .and the' North Island Challeiige Stakes. The fields for most of the events are large, exceptionally so in some cases, a-nd included are some of the best horses in the Dominion, There is every prospect • of interesting racing throughout the day. The early trains to the course were well patronised, and there was a large amount of traffic on the road, indicating. that the attendance for the day would be large. To those present, the stewards and members' stand in the course -of -construction presented a, fine eight, much addition having been made to'the work since the last meeting. The f faded-.ways to the top of this stand aye been .'completed,, and seating accomir(ddation; has,peen;provided for 2500 people on the top of the stand, from wftich position an unusually good view of the progress of the race and the finish is to be obtained. Other necessary work had also been carried out, and the 1 mound for the new people's stand on the lawn has been boxed: Among those present is Viscountess Jellicoe, who has a representative competing. Music is being supplied' by the Lower Hutt Municipal Band. .... • ;For the first time the racing is being judged frpm the members' stand. '; Results up to the time of going to press are as follow :■ — FIRST, HIGH-WEIGHT HANDICAP, '^ of 350 sovs, second horse 70 sovs, " and third 35 sovs from the stake. '.■'■ Minimum weight 9.0. One mile and '.[ a quarter.- . . . ' T.* J.- Loughlin's br m Soulterina, "" by" King SoultA—Cyrenienne, 4 ;: years, 9.0 (R. M'Tayish) 1 T. Harper's b g Royal Gift, by King ;.. Rufus—Keepsake, aged, 9.11 (R. ■; S. Bagby) s 2 Hi* A. ; Knight's b g Urgency, by - c Clarenceaux —Madrid, 4 years, j; 10.10 (5. Walls) 3 •Also started: Kilbird 10.11 (A. Tricklebank), :Matatua, 10.8 (A. E. Ellis), Explorer 10.3' (D. M'Brierty), Vindictive 9:10 {A. M'Donald), War Loan 9.8 (J. A. Kaan), Empyrean 9.0 (P. Raynor), Sir Wai 9.8 '(F: Corlett), Tigerland 9.7 (H. "M'Sweeney), Lord Desmond 9.5 (W. Tdung), -Patuki (J. T. Young), Birkenella 9.2,?(J. Morris), Sponte. 9.0 (J. Clements). -;: ;Of the twenty acceptors for the opening event, Malingerer, Glenshine, Gladfril, Lady Waimangu, and Firsit Born,were not saddled up, leaving a field of fifteen. The public" was of fairly even mind about.the chances of Soulterina and Royal Gift, and their opinions about the possibilities of the two horses.were well'.-fouhjjed'.'' 1 Soulterina' finished up a' slightly better favourite than Royal Gift. Good support was also given to Urgency, « Vindictive, and Tigerland. There was some uneasiness at the barrier, Empyrean being responsible for a little delay, but when the tapes were lifted the' . field got away in good order, Kilbird and War Loan being the last to leave. Empyrean immediately assumed the lead and kept the position round to the back stretch, where Tigerland and Urgency were his" close attendants. Along the back stretch the position was much the same, Empyrean still having the lead from the other pair. At the next bend arid on the way to the straight, there ■were some changes in the position, some of- the horses closing up on the leader*. Empyrean was. first into the straight,, but as heads were turned, Royal Gift appeared to be in a prominent position. Along the straight Empyrean was headed off by Royal Gift, and the favo^fite also.came on the scene-with Urgency. Empyrean losing his position, the- other three fought out an interesting firiiffi'.'over "the" distance. Soulterina finished well, and won by a neck from Royal Gift, with Urgency half a length f«rtEer'"b"ackr" Empyrean was close up fourth, and the next to finish were Vindictive and Sir Wai. Time, 2min 4sec. :; (Winner trained by P. E. Pope.) N;Z. ST. LEGER STAKES,.of 550 sovs-; second horse 75 sovs, and third 25 j sovs, and nominator of winner 50 gbvs from the stake. For three-year-olds. Special weights. One mile and • three-quarters. A/.8. Williams'sb c Rapine, by MafVtai.Pireta, 8.7 (R. Reed) 1 E.'iW. King's b-g Many Kittle, by : I Winkie—Sunglow/:B.7.;,(CAEmer- , < son)" ■':....■.!...■.'.'.■".'.'.'.':. .1'...-......'.....'.. 2 C. 'Elgar's b g Zouave, by Martian— ;: Rose''.,Red, -8.7 (C. Reed) ........:'3 The only'starters. ' '■'■■ ' < Lucius and Gold Light did not take patt in "the first classic race of the day, those saddled up being Rapine, Zouave, and Many Kittle. Rapine was made a warm favourite, and Zouave was con-, siderably less fancied than Many Kittle. At"; the outset of the race Zouave took up- the running and led past the stand forUhe first time. Rapine was a length behind, with. Many :Kittle close up. Going round to the back the position was the-same,, although Many Kittle lost a little grounds About a length separated each ,of.the horses, all going well, along the back stretch, and there was no alteration until towards the entrance to the straight, where Rapine commenced to make his final effort over the business part of the journey. Many Kittle followed the favourite, and Zouave was soon beaten off. Once into the straight, Rapine drew away, and , appeared to have the race won. Many Kittle entered a challenge, but the favourite drew away, and won in the easiest of'".fashions. , The judge's" decision was,'that, Rapine .won by'.'eight lengths, and ( that Many Kittle was twenty lengths in front of. Zouave. The time for the' distance was . the same as that recorded by' Kick Off last year. The winner was accorded an ovation on returning to the birdcage. Time, 3min 4sec. ■ I (Winner trained by J. H.Jefferd.) PLUNKETNURSERY HANDICAP,:of j 350 sovs; second horse 70 ;sovs, and third 35 sovg from the stake. For two-year-olds. Five furlongs. G.; D :..Greenwood's ch i Parody, by - Absurd—Mimi Girl (G. Young) 1 A • M'Donald's b c Buglenote, by Solferino—Mazurka, 7.10 (C. Reed) 2 J. Tocker's br g Last Crust, by Be--zonian—Elevonia, 6.12 (D. Butler) 3 Also started: Kilceit 8.5 ,(L. Morris), Kilris..B.(K (H. Stuart), Laughing Stock B.2'(A. Heed), Star Ranger 7.8 (E. Kees-ing)i-Popoff 7,0 (H. Gilmour), Ralston

7.0, (H. Wiggins), Kuhio 6.12 (H. Dunne), Kamehameha 6.9 (L. Pine), Panorama 6.7 (K. D. Morris), Sunshot 6.7 (C./ Robinson), Bright Eyes 6.7 (W. Bagby), Axle 6.7 (C. Butler), Liffey 6.7 (E. Rosewarne). Ovevweight: Kilceit lib, Panorama 9Jlb. ,;f.; Sixteen two-year-olds contested the Plunket Nursery, those of the acceptors that were missing being Orofino and Clandha. The topweight, Parody, was installed a warm favourite, being fancied practically twice as well as the Kemball bracket (Kilris and Kilceit). Laughing Stock and Buglenote also had a good many friends. The field was dispatched smartly from the five-furlong post, and appeared to be well bunched to the entrance to the straight. As the horses swung round the bend, Buglenote, on the rails, seemed to be in the lead, with a good chance of success;' but in the centre of the field, in a good position, was Parody. The pair named, Buglenote'and Parody, engaged in a stirring finish, with others close at hand, and the.favourite, well ridden, succeeded in accounting for Buglenoto by half ' a length. One of the least fancied, Last Crust, filled third place, a length and a half behind Buglenote', and close up fourth was Kilceit. Pop-off and Sunshot were prominent . among the others. Time, lmin 1 2-ssec. (Winner trained by R. V. Mason.) THOMPSON HANDICAP, of 1503 sovs ; second horse 300 sovs and third 150

sovs from the stake. One mile. T. H. Lowry's ch c Highland, by Finland—War Scare, 3yrs, 7.13 (A. Reed) 1 W. T. Hazlett's ch f Gold light, by Hymettus—Simper, 3yrs, 8.2 (E. Waddell) .' 2 E. Riddiford's br g Quest, by Martian —Trichas, 4yrs, 7.5 (H. Wheeler) 3 Also started: Silver Peak 8.12 (S. Porter), Cupidon "8.12 (G. Young), Income 8.12 (A. J. M'Flynn), Roseday 8.10 (A. Wilson), Grotesque 8.10 (C. Reed), King's Trumpeter 8.2 (R. Reed), Solfanello 8.9 (A. Oliver), Blackmail 6.10 (H. Higgins), Sunart 8.6 (M. M'Carten), Royal Blood 8.2 (E. Keesing), Scotch Mixture 8.0 (C. France), Rouen 7.13 (J. Bnrry), Lovesign 7.8 (E. Lowe), Printemps 7.7 (C. Brodie), Haurangi 7.5 (A. Dixon), Martian Miss 7.5 (H. Stuart), Boadicea 7.4 (D. Butler), Golden Light 7.1 (E. Garrett), The Speaker 6.10 (H. Dunn), Cheer Up 6.7 (C. Robinson), Pantler 6.7 (L. Pine).

Of '■ the twenty-six acceptors for the principal mile event of the Dominion, twenty-fojur saddled up, the two absentees being Listowel and Taipairu. With such a select and large field, the public was given a difficult task in deciding upon the horse most likely to be succeesful. Grotesque and King's Trumpeter (the bracket) were accorded most support, but there were fairly solid Rowings for Roseday and Lovesign. Grotesque drew the inside position, with Cheer Up next. There was some difficulty in getting steadiness at the barrier, but finally a fairly good start was effected. After soing a furlong. Queat had the lead, with Highland and Roseday in close attendance. At the firat turn Royal Blood made 1 a forward move, and going round to the straight was on even terms with Quest. Most of the others were well bunched behind the two leaders. For the final battle in the straight, Highland and Quest appeared to be in the .'best position; the' latter slightly in: the lead. At the distance Gold Light moved forward in good style to take part in the finish of a very fine race. She .got up in time to head off Quest, but failed to catch Highland, j who won attractively with a length and a half to spare. Quest was a neok behind Gold Light, and Cupidon finished well into fourth place. King's Trumpeter was a igood- fifth. Time, lmin 40 2-ssec. ' "■' ("Winner trained by F. Davis.) ; NORTH ISLAND CHALLENGE STAKES, of 1000 sovs, second horse 200 sovs, and third 100 sovs from the stake; weight for age; seven furlongs. G. M. Currie's b h Thespian, by Absurd—Leta, 4yrs; 10.0 (T. Raynor) 1 E. R. Davis's b!k f Queen March, by Lucullus—March, 2yrs, 7.13 (A. Reed) 2 Mrs. Tahu Rhodes's b f Gay Juliet, by Gay Lad—Gargaron, 2yrs 6.13 (G. Garrett) .....: 3 Also started: Listowel 9.1 (M. M'Carten), Bumptious 8.11 (L. Thomas), Rose Martian 6.13 (H. Stuart), Alabama 8.8 (W. Young), Viewpoint 7.4 (H. Burns).

Rouen was the only scratching in this event, leaving a field of nine, including two brackets. Thespian and Listowel (bracketed) were heavily supported, and the next best fancied was Pluto. A good start was effected, Alabama ■ showing the way down the back stretch, with Thespian on hand. The position was unchanged until near the entrance to: the straight, where Thespian moved forward and Queen March made .some improvement. In the straight proper, Alabama was beaten off, and Thespian, Queen March, and Gay Juliet fought out the; Raynor had no great difficulty 1 in; piloting his mount to victory, Thespian winning by a length frdm Queen March, with Gay Juliet half a length further back. Alabama was fourth,, and Listowel and Viewpoint were the last to finish. Time, lmin 27 2-ssec. (Winner trained by W. Rayner.)