AUCKLAND RACES

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 154, 27 December 1924, Page 20

AUCKLAND RACES

NOTES ON THE; EVENTS

CUP TO -TE^KARA.-"

(bt teCeoraph,—special ' to_thb^?ost.)

AUCKLAND, 26th December.

Although in previous years rain has frequently fallen during the* progress of the meeting, the Auckland Racing Club has usually been lucky-in the weather experienced for the opening of.its Summer Meeting'jybut 'to-day its customary' good fortune deserted.it,. for heavy, rain fell during the nigKtrand^ it was- showery during the morning, and naturally the attendance was affected. The going was somewhat slow but still good, all things considered. -.■•"■■■■

AN ATTRACTIVE PERFORMANCE.

Passionate, Daddy's Girl, Turn, Piquant, Gauntlet, and Diamond Moon were withdrawn . from -the Queen's' Plate, and Degage, with :H. Gray in the saddle, was made a very hot■■ favourite, carrying practically twice' as much as Ring the Bell, who was second in demand. When the ''field settled down Cureaform and . Tactician were showing the way to Pelham, Degage,' and Quiescent. Pelham raced up to the leaders as they turned along the back1 and was quickly in the lead, with Son' o' Mine, Cureaform, Tactician, and Qui-' escent next. ..Pelham was first to turn for home, followed by Ring the Bell; Tactician, Tariadees, Siaosi, and Degage'.Ring the Bej[l.then drew out and looked like winning, but Gray brought Degage along with- a w.ell-timed run and won by a neck, with Pelham a length back. Siaosi wa^s . fourth, ...with.. ..Cureaform; Tanadees,- Knighthood', Arch Amie, Tactician,, and Phoenix Park in close order. .' "' ' . :

It was an attractive performance on Degage's-p'ai-t,-but Ring the Bell gave a very meritorious' display considering that he was -meeting the others at a. disadvantage in age. ■ ■ - Son o' Mine was the unlucky horse in the racej:; as he was racing well, but about five _ furlongs from home he was knocked right back. An- inquiry was held after the race, and R.',W. MTavish, rider of Pelham, was suspended ' for three months for boring.

GREAT NORTHERN ji-pAL,STAKES.

Of thirteen figuring on the card for the Groat Northern IToal-Stakes, Gold Acre,;' Star Stranger, Bank\ Draft,'.- and Oreu'fli'/vffjre scratched. After his form at Takapiifta...King's Speech .attracted most attention-from backers, tut Runny-mede-was.almost as weil supported. Ripon Abbey was'quickest to begin, but King; Xv soon: headed him, and a little further Ton; -the order was King Lu';. Ripon-Abbey,-Mimetic, and Shirley,' with Kirig-'s->.Speech -and-. Jiyde rParfc! well back. Kihg'Lu and Shirley opened. up :a . I b.ig;.>;br.eak.frbu'ndihg,'; tow,ards\ the): straight, Jiiit Jshey. had had- enough when; the field was properly in "line" for "homer Iving's Speech put in a good run at the distance, but Mimetic outstayed him and beat him decisively. , Mandane was a moderate third, and then in order came

Ripon Abbey, Runnymede, King Lv, and* Hyde Park.

Mimetic was purchased last season in Australia by Mr. A. B. Williams, ana King's Speech is also Australian bred. They are. both colts of much promise. Hyde Park did not get away very well, but his display was rather disappointing in view of his earlier form.

MUSCARI WINS CLEVERLY. The Robinson Handicap brought out a field of nineteen, but backers had no hesitation in making Muscari a good favourite, and their confidence was quite justified, for he won cleverly, R. Reed riding a well-judged race. Archibald, ■.Whetunui,'Finnote, and Desert Glow were-prominent in the early stages, and at the half-mile post Finnoto was leading from Quinsilia, Archibald, Kilris, and Muscari. Turning towards the straight Muscari improved his position, and taking charge at the distance, won nicely from Whetunui. Desert Glow', who had always been with the leading division, ran a very fair race in third place, and then came Uralla, Kilris, Archibald, . and Cherry Ripe. Finnote found the distance too much for him.

TE KARA'S CUP.

Royal Present was the only withdrawal from the Auckland Cup, which was a very even betting race. There was very little between Musketoon, Polonett, and Te Kara; and Boyal Divorce, Stork, Duo, and Limelight were also very evenly backed. It was a ■wellconditioned field, but nothing looked better than Limelight. Polonett and Illumination twere first Jto. break the line, with Royal Divorce, Kalakaua, and Far North next, while Stork and Limelight were last. Before reaching the straight the first time Duo had taken charge from Royal Divorce, Gold Jacket, and Polonett, and a little further On Gold' Jacket .was in front from Boyal Divorce, Duo, Musketoon, Gold Lights -Polonett; and Illumination, with' Limelight 'still last. Gold Jacket led along the back, and was still in front when they turned for home, with Muraahi, Gold Light, Musketoon, and Te Kara next. Illumination put in his claim at. the distance, where 'Gold .• Light, Te Kara, and Limelight were going well. When-asked for his effort Te Kara, finished very strongly, and beat Illumination decisively. Limelight was running on well in third place, and her effort was. very fine, considering the ground she had to make.up over the final stages. 'Gold Light's showing was very-gal-lant, and she was close behind Limelight ; then came Muraahi, Musketoon, Far North, Stork, and Royal Divorce. Polonett failed badly over the last halfmile, and he and Kalakaua, were the last to finish. Musketoon did well -under his weight, and Royal Divorce ran a ■■Very fair Tace. . . .

}-«Te,"_Jtara dead-heated .with -Muraahi ■last year',,-but,this year he showed much iin'provedXform. - :

•MIA BELLA WINS COMFORTABLY.

Santiago, Narrow Neck, Miss Melva, ■and-Advent were scratched for the '.GKftbir Hurdles, for which Bullford, .GJenotus,_.Maunga, and Mia Bella were ■very-evenly backed. Bullford came to grief early in the race, and Crown Coin .and.:Guianform also met with trouble -later on. King Abbey and Cool Stimulants were responsible ;for the early running, but Mia Bella was always well placed, and she led into the straight from King Abbey., Glenotus, and Maunga. Glenotus finished well, but he could make little impression on Mia Bella, 3ho_ won- -comfortably. Maun.ga was a •ipoor third, and then came King Abbey, SeaDe'jl,,and n ,Starland. The lastnamed cafoe bajdptb the.paddock bleeding" iron}i:;'a cut on one'of his hocks.

RAILWAY HANDICAP TO AN •""■ ••-■OUTSIDER, . ' -;■

The Railway Handi:jap brought out a field of 19 sprinters, Star Mist and Ttiahine being the only scratchings. The bracketed pair, Pavo and Ballymoy 11., carried nearly a thousand tickets more than Dan Quin, who was second favourite, with Hipo very solidly backed. The race produced a big surprise fol backers, as Master Doon was the absolute outsider of the field, and paid a dividend of over a quarter of a century. Fool's Paradise, Quinette, Dan Qum, and Lucius were the quickest out from a good start, but Finelli soon went to the front and led from Quinette, Lucius, Fool's Paradise, Civility, and Hipo. Turning into the straight Finelli, Ballymoy 11., Master Doon, Lucius, Deluge, Royal Blood, and Hipo were the leading division. Master Doon then shot out, and though H. Gray did his •best on Hipo, Master Doon stayed on to win by half a length. Pavo finished well in third place, and Royal Blood gave proof of his quality in carrying his big weight into third place. Motley. Broadwood, Tukia, Lucius, and Dan Qum were next to finish.

Master Doon has been running over all sorts of distances this season, but it looks as if sprinting will suit him best.

THE NURSERI

Shirley, Bank Lraft, Royal Mint, Star Stranger, Gold Acre, and Luxurious were scratched from the Nursery Handicap. Oreufa. was made a, good favourite, with Nastori and Golden Autumn almost equally backed. Neither Oreum nor Nastori ever looked like winning. Master Mind jumped away smartly, with Le Choucas, Merry Damon, and Golden Autumn next. There was little change in the order as they came into, the straight, and at the distance Golden Autumn looked dangerous, but he did not finish on as well as Merry Damon, who beat' him by three parts of a length. Le Choucas was only a neck away third and then came Master Mind Abberfeldy Queen Arch, and Nastori.

Merry Damon is by the defunct sire Polydambn, from Merry Roe, who was ."a .'high-class performer in her day ; :> THE. CHRISTMAS HANDICAP

Fourteen of the 28 acceptors wera scratched for the Christmas Handicap, Sandstar being made a sound favourite with very little difference between he and Footfall. The -favourite duly won but lie was. somewhat lucky in doing' so as .Bright-Day was badly left, and in' the early part of the race his chance looked hopeless, but he had made -up most of his ground when the distance was reached, and, finishing in great style, was beaten, by only three-quarters of a length, with Raceful a neck away third, and Lady Ridicule, Quest, Footfall, and Surveyor finishing in that order. Surveyor ran a great race under his weight. Footfall shaped fairly well, but did not have the best of passages, and Dazzling LiMit, after showing up well in the early stages, failed to stay. Roues was never dangerous.

The totalisalor investments were .£115,339, compared with £137,656 10s for the correeponding day last -year.

Results :—

The Queen's Plate, of 500 soys; one mile. Special weights—l Degage (Gray), 1; 2 Ring the Bel], 2: 6 Pelham, 3. Also started :14 Knighthood, 19 , Marble Glass, 12 Steel Bar, 10 Tacti' cian,;lß Te Mon;mui, 5 Transformer 13' Arch Amie, 8 Cureafomi, 20 Dorinda, 17 Brushwood Boy, 16 Phoenix Park, 4 Quiescent,. 9 Shining Armour, 7 Siaosi, IP Son o' Mine, 3 Tanadees. Time liriin .43 l-sseii. GREAT NORTHERN FOAL STAKES. ..,Oi\.lsoo.sovs; seven- furlongs ; special .;,;, '.':;..■■.. weights. -• 4 Mimetic (E. Reed) 1 1 King's Speech 2 ; 8 Mandane _ 3 Also started : 3 Hyde Park, 6 King Lv, 9 Eipon Abbey, 2 Runnyniede, 7

Anklet, 5 Shirley. Time, lmin 16 2-5 sec.

Robinson Handicap, of '400 soys; furlongs.—l Muscari, 7.10 (R. Reed), 1; 6 Whetunui, 8.2, 2; 2 Deeert Glow, 8.2, 3. Also started : 5 Archibald 8.6, 10 Kilris 7.10, 7 Finnote 7.7, 4 Uralla 7.7, 3 Cherry Ripe 7.5, 16 Explorer 7.3, 11 Exactly 7.0, 13 Piton 7:0, 15 Frowning Beauty 7.0, 9 Quinsilia 7.0, 14 Fiery Lad 7.0, 8 Drolatique 7.0, 19 Opaloid 7.0, 18 Otauru 7.0, 12 Princess Nata 7.0, Electrode 7.0. Time lmin 30sec.

AUCKLAND CUP, of 3000 soys': two

miles.

3 Te .Kara, 8.4 (O'Shea) 11 Illumination^ 8.0 .... 7 Limelight, 8.4

Also started : 9 Gold Light 9.7, 1 Musketoon 8.9, 6 Duo 8.3, 8 Muraahi 8.1, 4 Royal Divorce 7.7, 2 Polonett 7 2, 5 Stork 6.13, 14 Gold Jacket 6.7, 10 Far North 6.7, 13 Kalakaua 6.7, 12 Right and Left 6.7. Time, 3min 34sec Graf ton Hurdlee, of , 600 soys • two miles.-4 Mia Bella/ 9.13 (M'Rae), .1; 2 Glenotus, 9.0, 2; 3 Maunga, 10 10 3 Also started : 9 Starland 11.3, 1 Bullford 11.2, Sea De'il 10.2, 5 Crown Coin 10.1, 7 King Abbey 9.12, 8 Cool Stimulants 9.0, 10 Guianform 9.0. Time 3min 57 3-ssec'. • -. ' '

Railway Handicap, of 1400 soys: six furlongs—ls Master. D00n,'6.9 (Jones), 1! 3 Hipo, 7.12, 2; 1 Pavo, 8.6, 3. Afeo started: 8 Royal Blood-9.3, 9 Tukia 8.13, 12 Alfort 8.6, 5 Lucius 8 3 13 Killocra 8.2, 2 Dan Qain-8.6, 7 Grand Knight 7.13, 11 Finelli 7.12, 4 Deluge 7.7, 7 Fool's Paradise 7.7, 4 Motley 7."5, 10 Civility 7.4, 14 Broadwood 73, 12 Prinje Abbey 6.11, 6 Quinette 6.10, 1 Ballymoy 11. 6.7. Time, lmin 15 3-5 sec. . ■ ■

Nursery Handicap, of 550'sovs; five furlongs.—s Merry Damon, 7.8 (Rosen), 1; 3 Golden Autumn, 7.8. 2;iß Le Choucas, 7.2, 3. ' Also started : 6 Romantic 8.0, 4 Master Mind 7.9, ll.Paddon 7.8, 10 Gold Mint 7.8, 7 Abberfeldy 78 2 Nastori 7.4, 9 Air Queen 7.0, 1 Oreum 7.0, 13 Queen Arch 6.11, 15 Waning Light 6.11, 14 Lomint 6.1.1, 12 Charis 6.11. Time, lmin 2 l-ssec. Christmas Handicap, of 600 soys: one mile.—l Sandstar, 6.10 (Rosen), 1 ; 5 Bright Day, 7.8, 2; 6 Raceful, 7.3, 3 n*Vrr tar ne£: X Surveyor 9.10, 8 Kick ?fi,B. 7 9 Quest 7.12, 2 Footfall 7.3, 3 Lady Ridicule 7.3, 10 Landslide 7.2 4 Gala Day 7.0, 12 Mount Marta 611 13 •? r °"?x 6- 1°- 11 Dazzling .Light 6.9, 14 Malatour 6.7. Time, lmin 40 3-ssec