CHRISTCHURCH HUNT CLUB

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 31, 6 August 1923, Page 11

CHRISTCHURCH HUNT CLUB

A VERY SUCCESSFUL MEETING,

(B* TBLEGRAPB. —SPECIAL TO THB TOST.)

CHRISTCHURCH, 4th August

The Christchurch Hunt Club's Meet--1 ing, which was held on Saturday, proved a. very successful affair. It was a happy .' inspiration that resulted in the fixture ' taking place at Riccarton just over a week before the opening of the Grand National Meeting. The weather was fine, ■' but dull, and there was a very satisfactory attendance. The racing was good, . the presence of a number of leading candidates for the big meeting giving the . fixiure a special importance. 1 THE OPENING EVENT. The racing opened with the Calma Hunt Club Steeplechase. In a fiela of seven the South Canterbury gelding ' Rhobbro was a warm favourite. He was kept a- long way back, and as he jumped 1 badly, he never looked like a winner. : Intolerance made the early pace, but he " was done a long way from home. Over the last bit Tokomairiro outstayed Raumanuwhiri, while Rhoboro was a poor third. The winner is by the Lochiel horse Crichton, from a Euroclydon mare, " and is just a useful hunter. : A DECISIVE WIN. The Kennels Hurdles found the Tren- ' tham gellding Carawock a bit better backed than Phil May. These two and Mainspring set the pace, but after goiDg a mile Phil May was beaten. Roni- - form then came on the scene, and he de- . feated' Carawoclf decisively, with Paul /Pry, finishing on well, a fair third. '. Roniform is a useful sort when he hap- . pens to be caught right, but that is not ■■often. WINTEE CUP CANDIDATES. • The fifteen starters for the Brabazon . Welter Handicap, included a dozen Winter Cup candidates. Purpla Spur, Pitprop, and Fabrinade were the popular . picks. Fabrinade and Petunia led to ; xhe straight from Pitprop, Bonny Mau, Boadicea, and Carmine. Boadicea was in 1 front below the distance, and she beat Pitprop easily, with Contempt and Petunia close up. ,Bqdicea's performance .was attractive. She should vace well in the Winter Cup. I prefer Pitprop, however, if he is decently ridden. He was very unlucky in this race, as he was all • over the course. It was his first effort .under colours for more than a year, and it will do him good. Contempt should also benefit by the outing. Petunia ran a good race, but Fabrinade was in trouble a long way from home. Sunny . Loch, one of the Winter Cup favour- ' ites, was never seen. A similar remark applies to Purple Spur, whose defeat ■ was expensive to many people. It was a surprise to find the public rushing him after such a long spell. WHIPCORD'S EASY VICTORY. A field of twelve contested the Homeby Steeplechase, the local bracket, Manawapango and Red Cent, being bet- . ter backed than Birkwick and Whip- ■■ cord. In the early stages Bed Cent was m front, and he set a sound pace. He looked a winner half a mile from home, but Whipcord came on the scene with ..K. late run, and won easily. Pawerewere was third, and Staff Officer fourth. Explorer fell when going very well, and ' Birkwick was also bowling along nicely •when he came to grief. Manawapango, Romance, Multive, Vociferate, and Master Peter all met trouble at different stages of the' journey. Isla Bank fin-,-ished' fifth, but he waa beaten a long way from home. Whipcord has a f air , chance in the Grand National Steeple- . chase, as he stays and jumps well, but I would not care to back any. of the others. A POOR RACE. The Xawford Steeplechase, for hunters, was a poor race. There were six starters, but Message Boy, Orange Bit--ters, and Mettle Drift fell early. Tornea had a good lead for a mile, when Tokomairiro looked a winner. Rhoboro came along over the last bit, and' won comfortably.' He owed his success to covering less ground than Tokomairiro. The win was unpopular with a section of the crowd. ' He. certainly improved on his earlier effort, and his. jumping was much better. A GREAT FINISH. A field of thirteen contested the Open Hurdles Handicap, Omahu, Blue Socks, and Cerberus being the favourites. Blue Bocks led for half a mile,'and then rath cd. For the remainder of the journey Cheer Up, Mata-tua, and Peter Amans were in charge, the first-named pair Showing the way. Matatua led gver the last hurdle, but he was tiring, and a great-finish saw Cheer Up beat Matatua by a neck, ■ with Peter Amans a head away. Cheer Up and Peter Amana were ' finishing -on wall, and they should be suited by a longer journey. General Advance was fourth, and he is fancied for more important events. Omahu looked dangerous at the home turn, but he failed "to'make any impression in the straight. . Cerberus was » disappointment, as he never got near the front, and so was Blue.Socks, who was beaten very early. A protest against the winner by the rider of Peter Amans for a cross at the last feqce was dismissed. A USEFUL SORT. The Hunters' Plate saw Chinatown backed very solidly tp beat seven opponents, but he was never showing out like a winner. Alleynp. led all the way, and won easily from Sherlock, with Chinatown and Grim Joke next. The winner is an aged mare by Masterpiece, and she is a useful sort for hunters' races. AN OUTSIDER WINS. Tlie Flying Hack Handicap, which attracted a field of fifteen, was a" surprise. Prinieira, one of ths outsiders, was never far from the fr-jnt, and r;hg won easing j •up from Ljnmark and Saratov, aftui whom came Bln7.es, Frenchman, Benmure, and Red Couriei- in a bunch. The winner •.has .tha reputation of being no good in heavy ground, so she should do well Inter, when ii:c tracks get. hard. Agnola and Distant Shot, who were tha favourites, iv:M never prominent. " I Ca'lmii Siocpi&chaie, of 130 soys; ab^ut two milcsi.—.Tokoina-rirL-o. ?.9, 1; Bi:umanuwhiri, 11.(5, 2; Kholioro. 11.10, 3. .41. starts;!. Won by two lengths. Timo, 4mm lQsec. Kennels Hurdles, of ]60 soys; about one mile and a, b.ilf.—Roniform, 10.12, 1;-Carawock, 10.5, 3; Pu,ul Pry, 9.9, 3. All started. 'Won by two lengths. Time, omin 10 »!-ssse. Brabazon Walter, of 110 soys; seven furlongs.— Boadicea. 10.10.- 1; Pitprop. 943, .2; Contempt..'.9,B, :S. Scratched : Mythology, Explorer^ Won by ;i length, 'i'ime, linin 33s.ee. Hojneby Steeplechase, o f 200 spi-s; about 'two miles. —Whipcord. 10.9", ( ; .Red Cent, 10.4. 2; Viiwermvpi-p. 0.10, 3. Ail started. M*na\vapanso. E.-jpiover, snd Birliwith fell. Won by six ieiigfchs. lima tnjjn 4sec, Lawford Steepler, of 200 soys; about two milsi.—Rhoboro, 11.1, I; Tokomairiro, 9.0. 2; Tornea, I.LS, 3. Also s>irt&d: Orange Bitters 9.13, Message ■ B-;y 0.10,. Sletfol Drift 9.5, all of whom fell. . Jyan bythree lengths, with twe:vs

lengths between second and third. Time, 4min 10 2-ssec.

Open Hurdles, of 200 soys; about one milo and a half.—Cheer Up, 9.10, 1; Matatua, 10.5, 2;' Peter Amuns, 10.13, 3. Also started: Cerberus 11.8, Omahu 11.3, General Advance 10.9, Blue Socks 10.5, Rowan 9.11, Falstaff 9.10, Paddington Green 9.9, Here-we-are 9.3, Pitch Dark 9.0, Headlong 9.0. Won by half a length, with a neck between second mid third. Time, 3min 8 3-ssec. Hunters' Plate, of 130 soys; one mile. —Alleyne, 10.0, 1; Sherlock, 10.8, 2; Chinatown; 11.5, 3. Also started: Grim Joke 12.9, Carton 11.5, Message Boy 10.11, Little Willie 10.7, Mainspring 10.0. Won by a, length, with four lengths between second and third. Time, limn 51 '4-ssec.

Flying Hack Handicap, of 100 soys; six furlongs.—Primeira, 9.0, 1; Linmark, 9.3, 2; Barmaid, 9 11, 3.' Scratched: Quarrelsome, Geranial. Won by a length, with four lengths between second and third. Time, lmin 18 3-ssec.

The totalisator returns amounted to £14,012 10s. >