OPENED IN FINE WEATHER

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 88, 13 April 1923, Page 10

OPENED IN FINE WEATHER

A LARGE ATTENDANCE

NOTES ON THE'RUNNING.

(HI "SIR LANCELOT.")

The xlutumn Meeting of the Metropolitan Club opened at Trontham yesterday in fine but dull weather. There was a satisfactory attendance, and some good racing was witnessed. The completion of the official stand enabled everyone to get a good view of the racing, while those favourably placed on the top story were able to see ths finishes in a direct line from the judge's box. The official named occupied a position in the stewards' stand, and the numbers were hoisted in the centre of the course. Viscountess Jellicoe was present to see Ralston carry her colours in the Plunket Nursery Handicap. During the afternoon the sum of £38,502-10s was passed through the totalisator, against £40,112 10s for the corresponding day the previous year, a decrease of £1569. AN AUCKLAND WINNER. Five withdrawals from the High Weight Handicap reduced the number of runners to fifteen. Royal Gift, a winner at the Wellington Cup Meeting, and Soulterina were the popular picks. Empyrean, who was coupled with War Loan, tried to win from end to end. When they had gone half way he was at the head of affairs, and his stable mate was at the other end of the field. Royal Gift joined Empyrean at the distance, and when he looked all over a winner Soulterina put in a claim, and finishing best got the verdict' with little to spare. Vindictive, who drew an inside position, | and Sir Wai ran fair races, being close up to the placed division at the finish, j Kilbird failed to jump out with the others, and was never prominent, but Urgency ran up' to his Ricacrton form. The winner hails from Auckland, and is a half sister to Oxenhope, a good sprinter and Thompson Handicap winner. NEW ZEALAND ST. LEGER. Lucius and Gold Light were started in their handicap engagements, leaving three runners for the New Zealand St. Leger. The Wellington Cup winner, Rapine, was considered something in the nature of a moral. At the stand, with half a mile gone, Zouave led Rapine by a couple of lengths, with Many Kittle a.bout the same distance away. . The same order was maintained along the back, but the distance was reduced half a mile from home. Rapine took charge at the bend, and, drawing away in the straight, won" easily by a good half-dozen lengths, with Zouave twice the distance away. Considering the going was holding, and the ea-sy nature of the victor)', the time put up must be regatrdied as good. Rapine must be conceded to be the best three-year-old of the season.

A BICCARTON WINNER. Parody, who carried top weight, was the popular pick with backers for the Plunket Nursery Handicap, which served to introduce Rapine last year. When the course proper was reached the Wood-ville-trained Bugle Note was at the head 'of affairs, but inside the distance, was challenged by Parody, who put •in a eti'ong finishing run, and won cleverly, with little to spare. The Wairarapa representative Last Crust was in third place, and Kilceit did best of Mr. Kcmball's pair. Of the Trentham representatives Laughing Stock and Kuhio. ran*' fairly well. Parody, who has recently won twice in the South Island, is a'full sister to Mockery, and carries Mr. G. D. Greenwood's colours. She is a wellgrown filly by'"Absurd, and has the family gift of galloping. HIGHLAND FIRST IN THOMPSON HANDICAP. Backers failed badly in their attempt to pick the Thompson Handicap. Grotesque drew inside position, but he failed to jump out when the barrier rose. Silver Peak and Sunart were also glow to find their feet, and had their chances early extinguished. When they had settled down, Quest, Highland, Solferino, Solfanello, Roseday, and Blackmail comprised the leading division. With half the journey gone Royal Blood had joined Quest, and they were clear of the others. The latter lasted longest, but at the finish was headed by Highland and Gold Light, who reproduced her form at, the Summer Meeting. Highland was not much fancied, and those that supported him got the best dividend of the day. Cupidon did best of the top weights, finishing in fourth place on the outside of the field. King's Trumpeter did best of H. J. Jefferd's pair. Highland carried the colours of his breeder, Mr. T. H. Lowry, who was not present to see him win. NORTH ISLAND CHALLENGE STAKES. It was a good field that contested the North Island Challenge Stakes. Thespian, who had shown a return to his best form at Auckland and Avoridale,. was a good favourite. He was last to begin, but ran up to Alabama, who acted as pace-maker for about five furlongs, entering the straight and won attractively from the two-year-olds Queen March and Gay Juliet. Alabama did best of the others. Viewpoint shaped disappointingly, finishing well back with Liatowel. It was an attractive performance on the part of Thespian, who was conceding all his opponents weight and beat them handsomely. He is owned by his breeder, Mr. G. M. Currie, who was present to see the Absurd horse win. Pluto appeared outclassed, as also did Mr. Kemball's pair, Bumptious and Rose Martian. DEAD HEAT IN SILVERSTREAM „ ... HANDICAP. Warhaven, who was not. brought up from the South, was the only defection from the Silverstream Handicap, for apprentice riders. It was a great betting race between four runners, and produced a dead heat between Kahikatea and Lady Ben, Redlogne had charge at half-way, but failed to hold the advantage in the straight, and was beaten into third place. Wheatfield, who was actual favourite, did best of the, others. Parorangi ran a fair race, but two other fancied candidates in Five Eighths and Bonrina failed to run up to. expectations. The two dead-heaters had recently, shown winning form at Waipukurau and Wairarapa respectively. RAILWAY HANDICAP GOES TO • JOY RIDE. ' Four withdrawals from the Railway Handicap reduced the number of runners for the open sprint event to twelve. Mireusonta, winner, of the race twelve months ago, was well supported. Jackaroo, Joy Ride, arid AsCinome began well, and when- the course proper was reached Mireusonta, Joy Hide, and Civilform appeared to be in the leading division. At the distance Joy Ride and Mireusonta came right away from the others, and fought out a slashing finish. The lightweight had slightly the j better of it. Lucius and Civilfonri did best of the otheTa, while Jackaroo and> ! Astinome were well back at the finish. 1 Joy Hide carried tho oauie colours as

Kahikatea, and, like his stable mate, was among the winners at Waipukurau. A WAIRARAPA SUCCESS. All the acceptors for the Tinakori Handicap started except Warhaven and Bonecto. Backers went for The Reaver and Blue Socks, but failed to pick the winner. The Opaki-trained Lady Fingars was in charge when the course proper was reached, and, drawing away in the run to the post, won by a fair margin from Refrigeration, with Sunny Vale and Dominant at the head of the others. The winner is owned and trained by her breeder, Mr. R. Knox. She is evidently a good sort, and should not be long winning her way out of the hack class. Details of the concluding events are appended:— SILVERSTREAM HANDICAP, of 350 soys; second horse 70 sov«i and third horse 35 soys from the stake; apprentice riders. One mile. Mr. W. , Howard's br c Kahikatea, 3yrs, by Wormwood—Kooya, 7.8 (G. Morrison) '■ + Mr. H. Nee's br m Lady Ben, 4yrs, by Waimangu—Benison, 7.5 (P. M'Govern) t Mr. C. P. Nash's b m Redlogue, 4yrs, 7.2, car. 7.7 (L. Pine) 3 tDead heat. (Kahikatea trained by owner, and Lady - Ben by T. Higgins.) Also started: Wheatfield 8.6., car. 8.11 (A. Curran); Five Eighths, 8.2, car: 8.7 (H. Alexander); Parorangi, 7.10 (D. Butler); Bonrina, 7.8 JW. Bagby); Gluernent, 7.0, car. 7.5 (Brodie); Stream, 6.7 (G. Butler). . • Time, lmin 44sec. RAILWAY HANDICAP, of 500 soys; second horse 100 spvs andl thirdhorse 50 soys from the stake. Six furlongs. Mr. W. Howard's eh g Joy Ride, 4yrs, by Merry Moments—Sanguine, 6.7 (G. Morrison) 1 Mr. R. A. M'Kenzie's. eh g Mireusonta, 4yrs, , by Absurd—Rosie Desmond, 7.13 (J. Barry) 2 Mr. Eliot R. Davis's blk g Lucius, 3yre, by Lucullus—March, 7.10 (A. Reed) 3 (Winner trained by owner.) Also started: Vespucci, 8.11 (G. Young); Scion, 8.2 (E. Lowe); Civilform, 7.9, car. 7.13 (C. W. France); Prosperity, 7.1, car. 7.2$ (H. Stuart); Strategy, 6.12 (W. Bagby); Ares, 6.9, car. 6.11 (H. Wiggins); "Triboulet, 6.7 (L. A. Pine); Jackaroo, 6.7 (G. Butler); Astinome, 6.7 (D. Butler). Time, lmin 13sec. TINAKORI HANDICAP, of 350 soys; second horse 70 soys and third horse 35 soys from the stake; six furlongs, Mr. Kriox's b m Lady Fingers, syrs, by Merry Moment—Kakawai, 7.5 (carried 7.12) (W. Bagby) 1 Mr. iW. E. BidwUl's b f Refrigeration, 3yrs, by Martian—Snow , Waif 8.3 (H. Stuart) ..-. 2 Mr. A. Barlow's br g Sunny Vale, 4yrs, by Sunny Lake—Vanna, 7.8 (carried-7.11) (C. Reed) ......... 3 (Winner trained by owner.) Alao started: Laughing Eyes 9.5 (F, C. Porter), Ths Reaver 9.1 (M. M'Carten), Blue Socks 8.5 (R. Reed), Deroulede 8.4 (T. Young), Jolly Gay 8.1 (E. Keeßing), Santonio 8.0 (J. Barry), The Emperor 7.8 (A. M'Corm'ack), Gold Spinner 7.7 (E. Lowe), Bonny Sox 7.5, carried. 7.8 (A, Reed), Blackhead 7.3 (D. Butlei-), Dominant 7.0 (H. Dunn), Bonomel 6.12, carried 6.7 (Ridgway), En Route 6.12, carried 6.7 (G. Morrison), Princess. Fran 6.11, carried 7.4 (G. Garrett), Puketoi 6.11, carried !6.7 (Robinsorj), Elmorz 6.7, carried 6.8 i (H. Gilrnour).

A special train, conveying horse* and men' to ■ Palmerston North, will leave' Trentham at 9.15 a.m. on Sunday, the 15th instant, arriving at Palmerston North at 2.50 p.m. Owners and trainers who intend patronising tho Manawatu Meeting next week are given a final reminder that acceptances for the opening day close to-night. ■ •