MASTERTON RACING CLUB

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 90, 13 October 1923, Page 22

MASTERTON RACING CLUB

NOTES ON THE RACING.

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The Masterton Racing Club's Spring Meetibg opened at the Opaki Course yesttiday. The threaLeping stale of the weather affected the attendance, which was good, considering everything. A lot of rain had fallen during the previous forty-eight hours, and the course -OTta

very heavy. Straw was placed in the enclosures, which permitted the visitors to get about with a minimum degree of discomfiture.

HIGH WEIGHT HANDICAP

Manchester was the only withdrawal from the High Weight Handicap. Nufcumai was the best fancied, with the Kemball bracket, Tenterfield and Blue Hall, next in demand. Puketoi led out of the straight, with Otaura Kid and Nukumai handy. The former led down the back, with Proclaim coming fast. The_ latter took charge entering the straight,:-and, galloping in rare style, ran past the box with three lengths to spare'from Nukumai, with Otau'ra Kid a dozen lengths away, third. Sir Fanciful was fourth.

IN HEAVY RAIN.

■ The scratching of Waimana, Clandhu, Ralston,: Bright Eyes, Glimpse, and Panorama from the Maiden Stakes reduced the field to nine, runners. The race was run in heavy rain. At the jump-off Kilroyal refused, and was left standing. Glaive was the first to show out, and led to the entrance to the straight, when the field began to close up, with Last Crust, the fa-vourite, coming fast. The latter took charge coming up the straight, and won, pulling up, by two lengths from Hall Mark, with Glaive six lengths away third. Prideaux was fourth.

SOLID SUPPORT FOR QUEST. Solid support was forthcoming for Quest in the Flying Handicap, while Lady Fingers was the next best fancied. At the jump-out Kilris was the first to begin, but they had not proceeded far when Lady Fingers assumed the lead, and never appeared likely to get beaten. Lady Fingers.was-still in front when heads were turned for home, and, going on, won comfortably by two lengths from Kilris, with Merry Day a head away, third. Backsheesh, who did not Set the best of the start, was close np, fourth, while Quest was next.

ARIZONA RUNS WELL.

■: All started in the Lawn Handicap, for which Princess Fran was the most fancied; while Merry Queen was also well supported. At the send-off Semplice took the lead, closely followed by Arizona and Princess Fran. Before the straight was reached Arizona was at the head of affairs, and, staying on v«ll,,ian past the judge's box with two and a half lengths to:, spare from Merry Queen, who .wis' four' lengths in front of Zero Hour, while Semplice was the next to finish.

VAGABOND TOO GOOD

Trespass and Kilbird were the eleventh-hour, withdrawals from the Masterton Cup, for which Muraahi was the public's choice. The last-named, however, ■ could not act in the coin? and was never dangerous. Kahikatea, Little River, and Scion comprised ihe leading division as they swept past the stands on the first circuit. Going out of the straight Little River took charge, and cleared away with several lengths' advantage from Kilgour, who passed the leader four furlongs from-home. The latter was first into the straight, with Vagabond coming fast. In the run to the post Vagabond shaped . extremeiy well and crossed the winning line ;>ith a clear length's advantage from Krlgour, with Insurrection, who appears to be. coming back to form, three lengths away, third. Kahikaten. was close up, fourth while Scion and Muraahi finished well behind the placed division. No notice need be taken of Muraahi's and riT? nJ\i , lng ' as Jt %ras quite obvious wiat both horses were hampered by the heavy state of the track.' Vagabond, who was coupled with his stable mates .trespass (who was not started) , m d d" 8"^! 6? 10"' returned a very acceptable

A MUDLARK.

Bonunel was the first to become prominent in the Lansdowne Handicap, and led to the turn, where Native Queen came on the scene, and, relishing the heavy going, the maro soon placed the issue beyond doubt by galloping in capital style, and' winning very comfortably by three .lengths; from 1 Redsome, with Bommel a neck away third. Bonecto was. fourth, just behind the placed division. ; - - r

BEST RACE OP THE DAY.

Kilbird was the best fancied in the Grandstand Handicap, while Helen Kufus also had hosts of admirers. Tatau Tatau was soon out in front, with. Kilbird handy, while Helen Rufus, who played up at the barrier, was left several lengths. Tatau Tatau was done with entering the straight, where Kilbird assumed the lead. Meanwhile Helen Rnfua could be seen threading her way through on the outside of the field. In tie run to the post Kilbird outstayed the opposition, and won an exciting ' race-by a neck from Helen Rufus, who came fas* over the last furlong/ Bumptious, who was always. well placed., was "a"' head away third, with Counter Attack a close' fourth. This race waa undoubtedly tie best contested of the day.

- .A SHORT HEAD VICTORY.

The withdrawals' from the concluding race of the day were Merit, Piquant, and Idano. Foolish was the popular pick, and flattered her supporters by winning somewhat luckily by a short head from Solrino, with ■ Hytinus a similar distance away third, Karutahi very close up. Several of the, horses were prevented from showing their best form owing to the heavy state of the track, which had been cut up severely by the preceding seven races: '

Details of the racing are, appended:— High Weight Handicap,!of 100 soys; one mile and a quarter.—Proclaim; 9.0 (L. Young) 1; Nukumai, 10.7, 2; Otauru Kid, 9.9, 3. Also started V Tenterfield 11.2, Sir Fanciful 10.1,' Fisher 9.13, Puketoi 9.3, Sir Agnes 9.0, .Blue' Hall 9.0. Time, 2min 22 4-saec.- -"V .V; :

Maiden Stakes, of 100 soys; six furlongs, special weights.—Last Crust (A. Reed), 1; Hall Mark, 2; Glaive, 3. Also started : Waiwhinau, Sir Moment, The Chattel, Prideaux, Bonlita, Kilroy'al. Time, lmin 23 3-ssec. ' ' '

Flying Handicap, of 140 soys; six furlongs.—Lady FingeTs, 7.1 (Bagby), 1; Kilris, 7.7, 2; Merry Day, 8.8, 3. Also started: Chimera 9.3;. Quest 8.3, Backsheesh 8.2, Matareka 6:7. Time, lmin, 22 3-ssec. * .. .

Lawn Handicap, of 100 soys -one mile.—Arizona, 6.12 (M'Govern), 1; Merry Queen, 7.1, 2; Zero Hour, 7.4, 3. Also started : Princess Fran 7.9, Semplice, 6.12, Panorama 6.12. Time, lmin 53sec.

Masterton Cap, of 235 soys; one mile and three furlongs.—Vagabond, 7 8 (Smith), 1; Kilgour, 6.7, 2; Insurrection, 8.8, 3. Also started : Scion 90, Little River 7.9, Muraahi 7.9, Kahikatea 7.3 Time, 2min 41 l-ssec. Lansdowne Handicap, of 100 boys ; six furlongs.—Native Queen 7 5 (A Stowe) 1; Redsome, 7.0, 2; Bonimel, 1.11, 3. Also started : Bonecto 9.0, Merrimas 7.13, Rose Martian 7.9 Time lmin 22 4-ssec.

Grandstand Handicap, of 130 soys ■ one mile.—Kilbird, 9.8 (R. S. Bagbv),

3. Also started : Tatau Tatau 8.5. Counter Attack 8.1. Time, lmin 52 3-ssec.

Farewell Hack Handicap, of 100 soys; six furlongs.—Foolish, 8.3 (C. Reed), 1; Soh-ino, 6.12, 2; Hytinus, 8.2, 3. Also started : Karutahi 8.1, Martinique' 7.13, Royal Divorce 7.12 Carnbrae 7.8, Blonde 7.0, Solrino 6.12, Waimana 6.12. Time, lmin 17 2-ssec.