SUCCESSFUL CONCLUDING DAY

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 90, 16 April 1923, Page 11

SUCCESSFUL CONCLUDING DAY

RAPINE THE LONG-DISTANCE

CHAMPION

NOTES ON" THE RACING.

The Metropolitan Club's Autumn Meeting was brought to a successful conclusion at Trentham on Saturday. The weather was favourable and there was a large attendance. The racing throughout was of an interesting nature, and the principal handicap event resulted in an exciting finish. Rapine, the only three-year-old to conteet the Trentharti Gold Cup, proved too good for the older division. The handsome trophy that accompanied the race was presented on the lawn after the race by the Right Hon. W. F. Massey. The sum of £60,----937 was handled at,the machines, against £64,417 for the corresponding day last year. The total for the meeting was £99,----440 10s, against £104,528 10s, a decrease of £4584. Starter C. O'Connor was in ljis best form at the barrier, and generally had the fields in line waiting for the signal to dispatch them. The meetins was capably managed by Mr. A. E. Whyte, with the assistance of' Mr. J. Griffiths, and passed .off without hitch of. any kind. GLADFUL CAUSES A SURPRISE. Backers eelected Soulterina, Royal Gift, and Urgency^ place-gottera on Thursday, as the best of the eleven runuers for the Second High Weight Handicap. Urgency, carrying top weight, was always in a prominent position, and looked like winning a furlong from home. Here opposition came from an unexpected quarter in Gladful, who finished well-, and got the verdict with little to spare from his heavier-weighted opponent. Sponte was out assisting to make the pace in the first part; and Matatua. showed that he is not ye^ a back number by hitting the front when half the journey had been covered. War Loan, who was at the tail of the field at the start, was -running on at the finish, and got up in time to cut Royal Gift out of third monej. Gladful was i foaled in 1910, and will soon be entitled to a. place among the veterans. He has two Grand National Hurdle Races to his credit, but this was his first win on the flat in the Dominion, although he won a Steeplechasers'' Flat Race ai Flemipgton three seasons back. JOY RIDE AGAIN. The Wellington-owned Bodyguard, making his first appearance at the meeting, wae the be,st backed of ihe seventeen runners for the Hutt Handicap. He was reported to have done a good gallop with l>is stable mate, Gold Light, but in the race he never got ojoser to the front than third, which position he held at half way. Zouave, Joy Ride, and Haurangi were prominent when they had gone a couple of furlongs. Passing the half-mile post Hauransi, Liatowel, and Bodyguard were in the van. Joy Ride, who /Was always handy, took charge in the straight, and had the race in safe keeping at the distance. Haurangi had to be kept going to stall off late runs by Cheer Up and Askari. The two focal representatives, Dainty Step and Militaire, appeared hopelessly out of it at one part, but at the finishing ■ poet were both close up to the- placed 1 division. During the running of the luce Zouave was said to have met with some interference from Joy Ride. The Judicial Committee went into the matter, and decided if there was any interference it was accidental, and the rider of Joy Ride was in no way to blame. Joy Ride, who is trained by his owner, Mr. W. Howard, of Gisbonie, has now won three times in succession, and is evidently a. much improved gelding. He was among the winners at Trentham in the spring. A WAIRARAPA WINNEft. Kilbird wae one of the outsiders in the High Weight Handicap on the opening day. and the fact that M. M'Carten was in the saddle may. have caused'him to have been best backed for ths Muritai Handicap. However, he never hit the front. Princess Fran, who was also among the unplaced division on the opening day. bejan smartly, and was always at the head of the field. She. had to be kept going at the finish to stall of a late run by Gluement, who paid over a century when he won at Blenheim recently. Parorangi and Birkenella. also took part in the finish. The two local runners, Patuki and Vindictive, were well enough, placed in the early stages had they been good enough. Any chance Lord Desmond had was spoilt by his failure to .lump off with the others. He ran up to the leaders at the turn, but the effort settled him; Princess Fran is trained at Opaki by W. Garrett, for her breeder-owner. She is a half sister to Starengo and King's Joy, both winners. Princess Fran has evidently improved since Masterton, where she was twice beaten into third place. AUTUMN HANDICAP TO GOLD LIGHT. " ' Several of the runners for the Autumn Handicap were well backed, with Cupidon actual favourite. He started from the oustide of the field, and began well, being next to Roseday and Quest when the mile post was reached. He was also well placed at the six furlougs, where Quest and Winning Hit were in charge, He lost his position before reaching the half-mile post, where Scotch Mixture and Gold Light were in behind the two leaders.' In the straight the Jatter was joined by Bonetter, this pair drawing away from the others. In a slashing finish the two "fought out the race, and the judge's decision was a short nose \u favour of Gold Light. King's Trumpeter, who began, smartly, and was always in a good position, beat Boadicea. for third money. Roseday was also well up at the finish. Gold Light has been a- successful performer on metropolitan courses this season. She is trained at Napier by Stuart Waddell for Mr. W. T.Hazlett, of Dunedin. who was present to see her win. Bonetter generally gallons well nt Trentham, and won the nrincip.il handicap event at the Spring Meeting, GAY JULIET WINS PACIFIC. The valuable : stake offered for the Pacific Handicap attracted Owlscombe,winner of the.C.J.C. Champagne, and Deluge, runner-up in the Great Northern Champagne. Probably because she was ridden by a stronger horseman than on the opening day, and the distance was a furlong shorter, Gay Juliet was sent out a good favourite. She drew an outside position, and was racing with Bugle Note most of the way. At the distance she drew away from the last named, and won with something in hand from Last Crust, who finished well under pressure. Bugle Note was next. Deluge finished in front of Owlscombe and Parody, and should be useful next season. Mr. W. R. Kemball started three, but thfiy all failed to get in the money. Gay Juliet is trained at Riccarton by W. Hobbs for Mrs. Tahu Rhodes. Gay Juliet is one of the second batch of the progeny of imported ' Gay Lad, from Gargoran, dam of Brackenfield and Lady Nassau. Lady Juliet scored her first win at the Cheviot Meeting, held at Riccarton. She also ran second in ;he Champagne Stakes to Owlscombe, beating Murihaupo, Parody, and others. j With only 6.13 to carry, she should htiva

done better ia the North Island Challenge Stakes. TRENTHAM GOLD CUP GOES TO RAPINE. Income was taken out of the Trentham Gold Cup, leaving in five runners. The St. Leger Stakes winner was opposed by four of the older division, the best of whom was considered to be Kick Off, a good stayer. Rapine was always well placed on the rails, and never looked like getting beaten. He came away in the straight to win easily by half a dozen lengths from Kick Off, with Sunart, who was close to the winner most of the, way, some ten lengths further back. Scion and Vagabond were in the rear all the way, although the former . moved up coming into the straight. Rapine has now won the-Wel-lington Cup, New Zealand St. Leger, and Gold Cup in the same season. This stands as a record. Although beaten by Enthusiasm in the Great Northern Derby, Rapine has won both St; Legers, and is entitled to be considered the best three-year-old of the season. He is not in the -Awapuni Gold Cup, but may make his next appearance in the Ormond Memorial Gold Cup at Hastings. MIREUSONTA TAKES OPEN SPRINT. Gold Light was she only defection from the Suburban Handicap. Royal Blood, Grotesque, Lucius, and Mireusonta comprised the leading division as they came to the course proper. The last named, on the rails, was doing best at the distance, and won with little to spare from Triboulet, with Pluto and Grotesque next. Solfanello is evidently not as good as he was, although ha still carries No. 1 saddle cloth. Mireusonta won the sprint double at Trentham twelve months ago, and last week just failed to repeat the performance. He carries the colours of Mr. R. A. M'Kenzie, a popular steward of the Manawatu Racing Club.. He will make his next appearance at Awapuui on Wednesday. LADY FINGERS AGAIN.. All the twenty-two acceptors for the Belmont Handicap paraded. With such a big field backers were in a quandary, and quite a lot of the runners received support. Ihe first day's winner, Lady Fingers, ridden by H. Young, scored in a decisive manner from Santonio, with Dominant and Alabama next. The latter looked to have a good chance, taking hfs form in the North Island Challenge Stakes as a- guide. Ho finished next to Gay Juliet in the classic race, but j could only get fourth again in the hack ! race. Lady Fingers won well, and it would have taken a pretty,' good hack to have beaten her. She won at Masterton and Carterton earlier in the season, arid will in future have to compete in open company. She was bred by her owner-trainer, Mr. R. Knox, by the defunct imported sire Merry. Moment .(sire of Joy Ride, from Kakawai), and is half-sister to 1 Sir Wai, who won in' the same colours.-. WINNING OWNERS. The sum of 10,250 soys was distributed in stakes. Mr. A.-.8. Williams headed the list with 1550 soys, Messrs. T. H. Lowry, 1050 soys, and W. T. Hazlett, 1000, soys, being the only other fourfigure winners. Then come Mr. W. Howard, 857£ soys; Mrs. Tahu Rhodes, 800 soys; Mr. G. M. Currie, 700 soys; Mr. R. M'Kenzie, 700 soys; Mr. R. Knox, 490 soys; Mr. W. .R. Kemball, 445 soys; .Mr. G. D. Greenwood, 320 aovs; Mr. Eliot R. Davis, 250 soys; Mr. T J. Loughlin, 245 soys; Mr. W. Brown, 245 soys; Mr. J. Tocker, 235 sbvs; Mr. W. Higgins, 185 soys.. WINNING SIRES. • : The list is headed by the successful sira Absurd (Sundridge—Absurdity), with 1570 soys, won by Parody, Thespian, and Mireusonta. Then come Martian (Martagon—Otterden) with 1530 soys, mostly won by Rapine. Merry Moment (Count. Schomberg—Merry Gal) is third on the list, with 1190 sove. Then follow «) order Finland (Bill of | Portland—Fishwife), ,1050 soys, won by Highland ; Hymettus (Cyllene—Sweet Balsam), 1000 soys, won*by Goldlight; Gay Lad (Cellini —Gaysome), 800 soys, won by Gay Juliet; San Fran '(Gozo — Porcella), 315 soys; Luoullus (Ard Patrick—Lucca), ,250 soys; King Soult (Soult—Lady Musket), 245 soys; Birkenhead- (Orme—Tragedy), 245 soys; Bezonian (Velasquez—Gas), 235 eovs ; Demosthenfis (Desmond —Carliu), 200 soys. WINNING RIDERS. - A. Reed _ and R. Reed were the most successful jockeys, with two wins each. G. Morrison rode one winner, r.nd took part in a dead heat, R. M'Tavish, G. Young, P. Raynor, L. G. Morris, A. J. M'Flinn, E. Garrett, F. Waddell, J. Barry, and H. Young each rods one winner, and F. M'Govern had a, dead heat to his credit. . • DETAILS, Details of the concluding events are appended:— TRENTHAM GOLD CUP, of 1000 sovb; | two miles. A. B. Williams's b g. Rapine, 3yrs, by Martian—Pineta, 8.2 (R. Reed) 1 J, S. M'Leod's br g\Kiek Off, 4yrs, 9.0 (W. Bell) .. '...'...1 2 R. A. M'Kenzie's br, g Sunart, 6yrs, 9.4 (M. M'Carten) .„ :......... 3 ■ (Wjnnev trained by J. H. Jefferd): Also started: Vagabond' 9.4 (L. Morris), Scion 9.0 (A. Olliver). Time, 3min 32 sec. SUBURBAN HANDICAP, of 750 eovs; six furlongs. R. A. M'Kenzic's eh g Mireusonta,. 4yrs, by Absurd—Rosie Desmond, 8.4 (J. Barry) \ 1 W. Higgins's b g Triboulet, 6yrs, 6.7 (L. Pine) 2 G. D. Greenwood's eh g Pluto, 4yrs 8.11 (G. Young) .........: 3 (Winner trained by T. Lloyd.) Also started: Solfanello 9.2 (A. Olliver), Grotesque 8.13 (R. Eeed), Royal Blood 8.10 (A. J. M'Flinn), Civilform 7.10 (C. France), Lucius 7.11 (A. Reed), Lovesign 7.10 (E. Lowe), Martian Miss 7.6 (H. Stuart), Ares 6.7 ( ), Astinome 5.7 (H. Burns), Backsheesh 6.7 (W. Bagby). Time, lmin 13 2-ssec-. BELMONT HANDICAP, of 350 soys; six furlongs. R. Knox's b m Lady Fingers, syrs, by Merry Moment—Kakawai, 8.5 (H. Young). ] D. O'Reilly's b g Santonio. 4yrs, 7.12 (J. Barry) 2 J. A. Taylor's b f Dominant, 3yrs, 7.0 (H. Dunn) 3 (Winner trained by owner.)

AI2O started: Laughing Eyes 9.3 (F. Porter), The Reaver 8.13 (M. M'Carten), Alabama 8.12 (W. Blande), Refrigeration 8.8 (G. Young), Vitella '8.7 (E. Garrett). Blue Socks 8.4 (R. Reed), Kahikatea 8.4 (A. J. M'Flimi), Derouledo 8.2 (T. Young)., Jolly Gay 7.12 (E. Keesing), Bonecto 7.12 (C. Reed), Sunny Vale 7.12 (A. Reed), The Emperor 7.6 (A. JM'Cormac), Gold Spinner 7.5 (E. Lowe), Bonny Friend 7.5 (C. Robinson), Blockhead 7.1 (D. Butler), Bonomel 6.10 (H. Stuart), En Route 6.10 (11. Wiggins), Martinique 6.7 (G. Phillips), Gold Pan 6.7 (W.Bagby). Time, Imin 13sec.