NAPIER PARK R.C. SPRING

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 78, 29 September 1924, Page 10

NAPIER PARK R.C. SPRING

GOOD BACING. (81 TELEGRAPH.—SPECIAL TO THB POST.) j NAPIER, 27th September. I Up to the sixth race the weather for the Sprirf Meeting of the Napier Park , Racing Club was of the most desirable blend, for it was an ideal spring day; but just prior to the Taradale Hurdles down came the rain in a vigorous fashion. Luckily, however, it cleared up before the last race was run. Speculation showed a slight improvement on last season, for there was an increase of £976, the sum of £14,496 being put through the totalisator, against £13,620 last . year. Followers of the first favourites had a favourable afternoon, for of the prime selections four of them won. and one second was secured by a first selection. Had a ticket been purchased on each of the prime fancies a little over a couple of pounds profit would have been shown. One of the features of the gathering was .that three of the winners were bred by Mr. H. Hassall at his Soutra Stud, Hastings, Jovial, Merry Stager, and Kilceit being the horses in question. Nothing sensational in the way of dividends was declared, the best being that which wan collected by the supporters of Civilform in the Railway Handicap. • " TRIAL HACK. All started in the Trial Hack, The Strand having a. slight pull over Serene for first-favourite, the next in the market being Kenyon. The latter was first out, with Serene and The Strand at her heels.. After going a furlong, The Strand took second place, and at the entrance to the straight the order was Kenyon, The Strand, and Serene. Those were still the positions as the post was passed, Kenyon having a length advantage, which could have easily been increased had it been so desired. Epistle'is a half-sister by Polydamon to Correspondent. A SOMEWHAT EASY WIN. Damon was taken out' of the Greenmeadows Hack Hurdles. Despite the fact that Jovial was carrying a big load, for he was giving the next an the list/Pavilion, 23 pounds, 'he wtis made an odds-on favourite. The next in the market was Good Mark, Suspicion being third pick. The favourite was soon at the head of affairs, with Suspicion the next, and Good Mark handy. The Gisborne gelding, who fenced quick and clean, was never asked to do his best, and though Suspicion was always near him, he could not get on terms with the son of Merry Moments, who scored by a couple of lengths, with a bit in reserve, from Mr. Hunter's gelding, Birkenella being in third place, three lengths away. The next, to finish was Good Mark. The other contestants in the event were a poor lot, and the opposition will have to be very poor to give them winning prospects.

I THE TWO-YEAR-OLDS. Although there were nine youngsters ranged up at the post for the Prince of Wales Stakes, only one dividend was paid, for there were four brackets, Runnymede and Tiega, who were coupled, having a pull of four pounds over another bracket in Shirley and Taradiddle for the leading position in the betting. The Kemball combination, Hymestrason and Race Day, was third selection. Tiega, a shapely sonj.of Kilboy and Queen Lizzie, led from the rise of tho barrier, with Hymestrason next, Taradiddle third, his stable pal, Shirley, fourth. With heads turns for home Tiega was still there, with second position still filled by Hymestrason. When in lino for the post Shirley put in a great run, and soon beat Taradiddle. The leader, however, got there by the best part of a length from Hymestrason, Shirley third, three-parts of a length in the rear. The winner is owned and was bred by Mr. J. S. M'Leod, and is trained by W. J. Donovan. S. Waddell had four of his pupils in action, Beacon Light, Paris, Shirley, and Taradiddle. MERRY SINGER'S VICTORY. Correspondent was missing from the acceptors for the Park Stakes, Bumptious and Merry Singer in that order monopolising the betting, the third favourite position going to Kalakaua, First out were Master Black and Blissfulness. At the back Blissfulness gave way to Master Black. At this stage Merry Singer was fourth and the favourite fifth. With three furlongs to go, Merry Singer commenced to lessen the gap, and by tho time the entrance to the straight was reached had assumed control, Master Black being in second position, just clear of Festivity and Bumptious, who had been making up their leeway when Merry Singer was making his forward move. - Half a. furlong from the post i£ was apparent that Merry Singer could not get beaten, ar.d Master Black looked unbeatable for second money. And so it proved, for Mr. Vallance's gelding won with something to spare by three- lengths from Master Black, who I was half that distance to tho good of Festivity. THE FAVOURITE FIRST. Kilceit. Road Hog, and White Ensign were backed in that order for the Ahuriri Hack. The favourite, who was always well placed, pulled to the front at the distance, where Bonnie Gold, who had been slow to leave the mark, put in her claim. But the favourite was not. to be denied, and won by half a length. Minstrel Boy was in third place, a long neck away, Stymnio fourth. Backers of the second collected ' a few more shillings than came the way of the backers of Mr. Kemball's mare. TOPWEIGHT CARRIES TOO MANY GUNS. Highway was made the choicp. of tho majority of backers in the Taradale Hurdles, Crown Coin and Merry Bells being second and third selection respectively. Merry Bells was the first to begin, the favourite not far away, with Crown Coin well placed. Over the last half-mile the favourite and Crown Coin were hard at it, and at the home bend I it looked a toss up who would score. However, over, the last bit the topweight carried too many guns for the Maoriowned gelding, and secured the verdict by a clear couple of lengths from Crown Coin, who was three lengths ahead of Merry Bells, the next to finish being Woden. Toa Taua'came to grief at tho last fence, but luckily his pilot, A. Tricklebank, got off without injury. Backers of the favourite got a fair price considering that his last win at Avohtlalo was achieved in good company. Backers of Crown Coin lost money. WON BY A XKCK. Wasgni! kiw a very short price in th>

ber was nearly half of the total amount of the poll. Barrier was second in request, and Avonlea the next to meet with support. Civilform, who ranked as fifth favourite, made early play, and soon had a big lead, the favourite third. Civilform was still there as the field swept around the home turn, the favourite here appearing to make heavy weather of the job. First Salute was" third. Half-way up the straight Wassail gave way to First' Salute, who went in pursuit of Civilform, but, although he put in a determined effort, he failed to reach Civilform, who won by a long neck. The favourite was next, a couple of lengths in the rear, the next to cross the markbeing Barrier, who had a rough passage all the way. Backers of tho winner got a good return for their investments, while if First Salute had been able to-defeat Civilform his backers would have participated in a dividend very near the two-figure mark. A DESPERATE GO. j Crishna, one of the stable mates of j Tiega, a previous winner on the day. was sorted out as having the best chances in the County Hack, Roy Reed having the seat on the gelding. He was a very pronounced favourite. Gaze was nearly a couple of hundred pounds away in demand, Lady Joyce being third in request. The favourite was given every chance, for he was well placgd early in the fray, but when the pace was turned on he retired. At the entrance to the straight, Mount Marta, Lady Joyce, and Gaze became prominent, and this trio had a desperate go all up the straight, the honours coming to Lady Joyce, who was a nose to the good of Mount Marta, who was the same distance ahead of Gaze. Killoch was three lengths away fourth. Results:— i Trial Hack Handicap, of 125 soys; five furlongs.—Kenyon/. 8.11 (R. > Reed), 1; The Strand, 8.7, 2; Serene, 9.0, 3. Also started: Araby, Silver Mill 8.12, Lochaby 8.9, Epistle, Chama 8.7. Time, lmin 2 l-ssec. - ■..•■■••. -

■ Greenmeadows Hack' Hurdles, of 150 soys; one. mile'and a half.—Jovial, 11.5 (J. Nixon), 1; Suspicion, 9.0, 2; Birkenella, 9.0, 3. Also- started: Pavilion 9.10, Good Mark 9.7, Soliel dOr 9.3, Athens 11. 9.0. Time, 2min T3 4-ssec. 'Prince of Wales. Stakes, of 150 soys; five furlongs.—Tiega, 8.2 (H. Gray), 1; Hymestrason, 8.2, 2; Shirley, 7.11, 3. Also started: Runnymede, Beacon Light Paris 8.2, ■ Raca. Day, Taradiddle, Gurnion 7.11; Time,- lmin 3 l-ssec. - Park Stakes, of 250 soys; one mile and' a quarter.—Merry Singer, 8.3 (L. G Morris), 1; Master Black, 6.7, 2; Festl tivity, 8.6, 3. Also started: Bumptious 9.0, Kalakaua, Watchman 7.11, Blissfulness 7.1. Time, 2min 7 3:ssecAhuriri Hack Handicap,. of 125 soys; six furlongs.—Kileeit 7.10 (J Ban-y), 1; Bonnie Gold, 7.0, 2; Minstrel Boy, 7.7, 3. Also started: White Ensign 7.10, Road Hog 7.4, Stymie 7.0. Time, liriin 15 4-ssec. Taradale Handicap Hurdles, of 200 soys; one mile and three-quarters Highway, 10.12 (J. Nixon), 1; Crown Coin, 9.10, 2 ;■• Merry Bells, 10.6, 3: Also started: .Woden... 10.11,.,T0a Taua, 10 6 Rebuff 9.0. Time, 3min 22sec. Railway Handicap, of 200 soys; six furlongs.—Civilform, 8.6 (C. France), 1First Salute, 8.4, 2; Wassail, 9.11, %. Also started: Barrier 8.8, Avonlea 75* Royal Diadem 7.0, Crown Gem 6.7. Time, lmin 17sec. ' . ■ ■ ■ County Hack Handicap, of 160 soys • seven furlongs.-p-Lady Joyce, 8.10 (L 7G Morris), 1; Mount Marta, 6.12, 2; Gaze' I' 2' 3W- Aho started: Sweet Heather S.ll Cnshna 8.4, Mountain Top 7.8, Jiilloch 7.7, Rowley, Kilmint, Silver Alill 6.7. Time, lmin 32'3-ssec.