Turf Notes

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 146, 21 June 1924, Page 20

Turf Notes

SY" SIR LANCELOT "

'■ FIXTURES.-

HAWKES BAY RAGES

June 25 and 26—Hawkes Eay J.C. Winter. June 26—Hawkes Bay Hunt Winter. July 0' and J2—Wellington Racing Club. 'August 2—Christchurch Hunt Steeplechase (at ' Riecarton). August 12, 14, and 10— Canterbury J.C. Grand National. .... ;;

OPENING DAY

NOTES ON THE SPORT.

(BI TELEGRAPH.—SPECIAL TO THE TOST.)

NAPIER, 20th June.

For the opening day of the Winter Meeting of the Napier Park Racing Club the weather was none of the best to make a start with, for the early morning was not of the cheerful variety, several showers falling ■as the time for making a move to the scene of operations arrived. But luckily, as the day wore on the weather improved. The sun appeared before the third event (.ame up for decision, and better conditions prevailed for the remainder of the day. Naturally the weather made a difference in the matter 'of attendance, and speculation was not at all brisk, a fact that was forced home when the totals for the various races were cast up at the conclusion of hostilities, for then it was seen that £10,823 had been handled by the tote staff, this sum being £221 short of the amount registered at a similar meeting last June. The track, as might have been anticipated, was holding, but there was an entire absence of anything serious in the way of accidents. Eangi Thompson, who had the mount on Mosthenes, was the only jockey to get damaged. His injuries were not .very severe, and he was able to take a seat in the saddle later on in the afternoon, THE HACK HURDLES. Jovial was withdrawn from the Moteo Hack Hurdles. Merry Bells, Antler, and Landbird were backed in that order. From a good send-off Landbird assumed control, with Crown Coin the next best. Antler was slow to move. The first fence saw the end 'of Mosthenes, for the gelding just tipped, the obstacle, and his pilot, Eangi Thompson, got shifted. At the back Crown Coin led from Landbird, with the favourite well piaced, Vindictive being next. Before the home bend o.vas reached Landbird had Crown Coin beaten, and a little later on he also gave way to Merry Bells. At the last hurdle it looked odds on Landbird, but his rider, taking matters too easy, allowed M'Donald, on Merry Bells, to snatclf the .verdict from him on the post. The daughter of Merry Moment and Sonnette scored by the barest margin. Crown Coin was in third place, six lengths away, the next to finish being Vindictive. Antler ran off at the last fence. An inquiry was held into the running, by Antler, but after hearing evidence the stewards decided to defer taking action in the matter until the next day. ".-, ■NO MISTAKE. Tassin' Through, Buckeye, Cambric, Merry Owen, and Silk Rein were missing from the acceptors paged for the Petane Steeplechase. Mahuru, who had rhe assistance of A. M'Donald, was elected a solid first favourite. Killard was the second pick, and Guanaco the third. Those who stood the favourite to pull them through made no mistake, lor Mr. Vallance's mare was always going well, and was never farther back than third, and at the finish won by teven lengths from one of the outside pack in Tarakete, who was just a short neck ahead of the top weight, Ouanaco, with Ethiopian and Panchito fourth and iifth respectively, necks between the brace. There were a lot of mistakes made during the trip, Silta, Birkenella. Rowan, Mahia, and Killard meeting with mishaps. The success of Mahuru made the second winning score for A. M'Donald out of the same number of mounts, both being made in a row. Guanaco looked as if he will be improved with his efforts to-day, a ro-■na-rk which also applies to Silta.. One r>i the first to peter out was Killard. - who up to_ the •■time he fell at the post, and rails in the second circuit, fenced well, and he also will be seen to better advantage to-day. BETTING TAKES A WIDE RANGE. i The betting took a wide range in connection with the Stewards' Stakes. Merry Singer, who had the assistance of. A. Reed, was made favourite, with Barrier next in demand. The next best backed .was the top weight, Comical. Haurang was in charge for a short time, Barrier and Koodoo being the most prominent of the others. 'At the fourfurlong post Blissfulness made a forward move and took charge, with Barrier, | Koodoo, and Comical lying in good I positions. The favourite was on the i rails, and did not seem to be able to i get clear. A bit further on Reed pushed i his mount out, and came on the outside. At the home bend, where Bhssfulness was silenced, and ran into fourth place. Comical, Barrier, and Koodoo were all hard at it in their struggle for. supremacy. Halfway up fcho .running Cgmical got the best of Barrier and Koodoo, and came on to win by a bare two lengths,. Koodoo just mastering Barrier for second place by half a head, with the favourite, who met with trouble when making his effort in the straight, fourth: For a horse ot his class Comical paid a great price and had Koodoo prevailed lie would havo returned ' his' fanciers, a dividend in excess1 of- a score of'pounds. As it was, his second dividend was a few pounds ahead of the amount received' by the hackers of the ■ winner. < The .triumph of Comical made the third success for the gets of Merry Moment, and they were in the first three events contested. THE STEEPLES. Kipling had the most support accorded to him of the seven runners in the Napier Steeplechase, the next in the market being Te Jlaire, with San Forte third pick. For the major portion of the trip Passin' ThroiiKh and Gang Awa' held v big advantage from the rest of the field. The top-weight, San Forte, was a long way back in last place with half a niilo to go. In the hint circuit Passin' Through held command from Gang Awa', with Te Main; at the latter's heels. San. Forte here also made a. forward move. At the bottom of the straight, with ono' fence to go, Passin' Through was going so well ;that it was only a question of him standing up to win. Before reaching the final obstacle Te Main; had Gang Awa' silenced, and before reaching the fence San ] Forte had also got Gang Awa1 settled.

Once over the last obstacle Passin' Through came away, scoring without an effort by halE a dozen lengths, San Forte just beating Te Maire by a short neck for second position, the next to finish being Gang Awa'. Then came First Line, Kipling, and Zeus. The fencing of the field was of a high order.

POLONETT WINS.

Polonett was backed down to a very short price, in the Ladies' Necklace, i Many Colours being second in request, with Asleep third "pick. The majority of backers made no mistake as regards the selection of the dividend producers, for Polonett had no difficulty in winning from Many Colours, with Asleep third, the next to finish being Communicate. It was an easy thing for the winner, who was on the rails in third place for about six furlongs, when he got a clear run, and from then on he ■ held the key of the situation. Mr. Howard had one of the armchair rides from the entrance to the straight, for he scored without having to show his best. The winner is Auckland-owned, and is one of the pupils of J. Buchanan, of Auckland. TENTERFIELD SCORES. There were- but half a dozen starters in the Ahuriri Hurdles. Tenterfield', Alteration, and Admiral Codrrngton were backed in that order, and that was the way they finished, proving that backers had the matter well sized up. From the rise of the barrier Admiral Codrington showed the way from the favourite, and this pair were always in the front rank. Admiral Codrington, who was fencing in a faultless manner, was first into the straight from Tenterfield, with. Alteration putting in fast work. When well in the straight run to the chair the favourite had Admiral j Codrington at his mercy. The Admiral made a bad jump at the last fence, which gave • Alteration a chance. Tenterfield had no difficulty in winning by thren lengths, Alteration just Snuffing out Admiral Codrington by a bare head. The next to finish was Birka. The winner is a much-improved horse since last seen out, and he fences quick and clean and stays on well. Later on. in "tapping" events of a more pretentious character than the one he proved successful in today, Tenterfield is sure to he amongst the winners. Admiral Codrington is another who will see a better day, for his fencing is rapid, he taking the obstacles in his stride. A GOOD FIELD OF HACKS. Sixteen of the seventeen listed for the Settlers' Hack lined up for business. The Gisborne-owned and Aucklandtrained Sunny Eoe was made a very warm first choice. Ma Boughal, with nearly a couple of hundred pounds less invested on his number, was second in request, and Tino Maunga was third pick. The favourite was never prominent at any stage of the argument, for Ma Boughal hit the front when the barrier was released, and continued in the lead to well up the straight, when he was tackled by Puketoi, who was not at all favoured in the initial stages of the contest, ■ and though the full brother to Loyal Irish put up a good defence he was not quite good enough to keep the Hymettus gel-ding from succeeding. Treadwell also challenged Ma Boughal over the last bit, and it took the latter to do his best to squeeze into second place by a head from the daughter of Treadwell and Thetis. Puketoi, who was fourth choice, returned his backers a nice wind-up-for-the-day dividend. Although Ma Boughal was second favourite, the strong support accorded' to Sunny Roe (the could-not-get-beaten lot) had the. effect of making him return to his fanciers a dividend' several shillings in advance of the original purchase price of the tickets. He ha,s been under suspicion for some time, owing to suffering from knee trouble, and. it must have been satisfactory for his connections to see him pull up quite sound. It was a' fair day for supporters of the first favourites, for four of the clique won, and though they did not return anything great in the way of dividends, a slight profit would have accrued- had a ticket been purchased ok each of the first choices. A. M'Donald, with a brace of winners, headed the victorious horsemen at the meeting, the following each having the seat upon a single winner:—Mr S Howard, C. Reed, P. M'Brearty, A. H. Burt, and. R. Hunt. ' The totalisator investments weire £10,823, compared with £11,044 for the fi..~t day last year. Results: — Moteo Hack Hurdles, of 150 soys; one mile and three-quarters.—Merry Bells, 10.7 (A. M'Donald), 1; Landbird, 10.9, 2; Crown Coin, 9.0, 3. Also started: Molyneaux 10.12. Antler 10.12, Vindictive 9.10, Mosthenes 9.6, Rebuff 9.0, Gold Piece 9.0. Won by a nose, six lengths between second and third. Time, 3min 31 4-ssec. Petane Hack Steeples, of 175 soys; two miles.—Mahuru, 10.1 (A. M'Donald), 1; Tarakete,. 9.0. 2; Guanaco, 10.10. 3. Also started : Rowan 10.1, Killard 9.12, Silta 9.7, Etheopian 9.5, Birkenella 9.3, Panchito 9.0, Mahia 9.0. j Won by eight lengths, half a length ! between second and third. Time, 4min 48 3-ssec. Rowan, Silta > Killard, and | Mahia fell. j Stewards' Handicap, of 2CO soys; one mile.—Comical, 10.8 (C. Reed), 1; Koodoo, 9.6, 2; Barrier, 10.4, 3. Also started: Correspondent 10.8, Arch Salute 10.4, Haurangi 10.0. Merry Singer 9.0, Kahikatea 9.7, Happy Days 9.7. Hallowvonia 9.0, Blissfulncss" 9.0, Mountain Top 9.0, Suspicion 9.0, Whariti 9.0, March On 9.0. Won by two lengths, a head between second and third. Merry Singer was fourth. "Time, lmin 50 4-5 sec. i Napier Steeplechase, of 400 soys: three, miles.—Passin' Through, 9.4 (M'Brearty), 1; San Forte, 11.2, 2; Te j Maire, 9.10, 3. Also started: First Line 10.6, Kipling 10.4, Zeus 9.2, Ganjj Awa' 9.0. Won by six lengths, a neck between second and third. Time, 7min 4 l-ssep. - LadieV Necklace, of 100 soys; one mile and a quarter.—Polonett, 11.7 (Mr. S. Howard), 1; Many Colours, 11.2, 2 ; Asleep, 10.9; 3. Also started: Communicate 11.5, Empyrean 11.2, Detroit 10.13, Earthshine 10.13. Won by two lengths; a length and a half between second and third. ■ Time, 2min 26sec. Ahuriri Hurdles, of 250 soys; one | mile and three-quarto'i-s.—Tenterfield, j 9.1 (H. Burt), 1; Alteration. 9.6, 2; j Admiral Codrington, 9.11, 3. Also I started: Kohu 11.13, Woden 9.4. Birka j 9.0. Won by three lengths, a head be- ■ tween second and third. Time, 3min 29 4-ssec. Settlers' Hack Handicap, of 150 soys ; . six furlongs.—Puketoi, 9.i2 (11. Hunt). 1; Ma Boughal, 9.12, 2; Treadwell 90' 3. Also started: Sensible 10.6, AVhilo Ensign 10.2,. Tina Maunga 9.11, Sunny Roe 9.5, Merry Imp 9.5, Kilroe 9.5 'Lady Hill 9.3. Kahumanu 9.0, Pita 9.0. Damon 9.0, Royal Heather 9.0, Master Black 9.0, Ajax 9.0. Won by a length, a head between second and third. Time, lmin 21 2-ssec.

GUNCASE WESTS BIG HANDICAP.