AT METHVEN

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 136, 6 December 1926, Page 7

AT METHVEN

CUP TO JOHM BRADBURY

ECONOMIST SUCCESSFUL.

(By Telegraph.) (Special to "The Evening Post.") y CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. The annual fixture of the Methven Racing Club was held in perfect weather, and there was a good attendance. It was not a speculative crowd, however, and the tote investments amounted to £6751 lus. The fields in several of the galloping events were small, and the sport was not very exciting. MOUNT HARDING HANDICAP. The racing opened with the Mount Harding Handicap, a high-weight hack race for jumping riders. Clarenson was a pronounced favourite, while after a good gap Coch-y-Bondhu just headed Thorndale for second position. Thorndale was chopped out at the start. Clarenson showed in front with Tarn Glen and Coch-y-Bondhu. His Majesty was slow to get going, but at the end of three furlongs he had joined in at the tail of the bunch. Coch-y-Bondhu had taken charge at this stage, with Clarenson, Horatius, and Saxette next. Clarenson lost his place at the home turn, and at the entrance to the straight Horatius joined Coch-y-Bond-hu in the lead. Coch-y-Bondhu was tiring badly and she dropped out a little further on. Then Thorndale came on the scene with a strong run. He had the measure of Horatius over a hundred yards from the post and. won easily by two lengths. Saxette finished well, but Horatius lasted long enough to beat her by a neck. Clarenson was two lengths further back with Coch-y-Bondhu a bit further still, while His Majesty was last. ._, The winner is a good looking gelding by Antagonist. He has not done much racing, and he was bought'cheaply some time ago by the Riccarton trainer F. P. Claridge, for whom he has now won twice, the previous occasion being at the Banks Peninsula Meeting a few weeks ago. Each of his wins was in a mile race, and he may stay even'further. Horatius finds seven furlongs quite far enough, while Coch-y-Bondhu prefers six. Clarenson did nothing to justify the support he received. SPINGFIELD TRIAL PLATE. In a field of ten for the Springfield Trial Plate, All Colours carried a few pounds more than Kilbox, while Royal Head and Moratorium were both well backed. Kilbox, All Colours, and Moratorium, were the smartest out, but Kilbox soon lost his place, All Colours and Moratorium going on from Chivalry, while at the end of three furlongs The Atom was heading the others after a slow start. All Colours was going well with a slight advantage over-Moratorium at the entrance to the straight. A little further on All Colours collapsed, leaving Moratorium to win easily by three lengths, while Chivalry beat All Colours by half a length. Master Clarence was close up, finishing strongly, while Royal Head, Kilbox, and The Atom were not far away. Moratorium won nicely, and he will get some more money this season, though he will never be better^than a useful hack. All Colours is a speedy galloper, but he can be written off beyond five furlongs. The Gay Lad mare, Chivalry, may win a race later in the season, but she may never get past .the moderate class. Kilbox is a great disappointment, as he is a good galloper on the tracks. The Solferino—Raid filly, Bloodshed, was lame after the race, and as she has beep a source of worry for some time F. D. Jones may not persevere with her much longer. DRAYTON TROT. There were twenty-four starters for the Drayton Trot Handicap. The Noble Dil-lon-Loburn bracket was a little better supported than the Brent Fire-Genuine bracket. Genuine was soon out in front, and at the end of two furlongs he had Carnival, Princess Thorpe, and Daisy Pointer in close attendance. Two furlongs further on Daisy Pointer ran to the front, leading along the. bick, but with j only a slight advantage from Genuine, who had Logan Lily close behind him, Wfiile Loburn was moving up after a slow beginning. These four were well clear of the field at the entrance to the straight. Genuine then moved up. He and Daisy Pointer were engaged in a good finish when the latter broke near the post, leaving Genuine to win by six lengths. Daisy Pointer got going again and beat Logan Lily by three lengths. Loburn was close up fourth, while Honour Bright, driven right out to the end, was next, .with Bower Dillon next. The winner is a Lighly promising young pacer who will reach a much higher class before the end of the season. Daisy Pointer returned to the paddock with a broken hopple, and probably this was the reason for her leaving her feet near the finish. Loburn, driven by his owner, F. Holmes, began badly and, though he showed up at the end, he was never going like .a good horse. Logan Lily showed some speed, but she is not an attractive pacer. METHVEN CUP. The Methven Cup attracted only four runners. Margaret Birney finished up with four tickets more than John Bradbury, while Kilris was nearly as well backed, Red Wink being the outsider. None of the riders seemed anxious to set the pace, but after going about a furlong Margaret Birney took charge with Kilris and Red Wink next and John Bradbury two lengths further back They raced like ' this for half the journey, when John Bradbury moved up fast, while a little further on Kilris lost her place. Red Wink retired at the home turn, where John Bradbury went after Margaret Birney. They were together half-way up the straight, but John Bradbury gradually drew away, winning by two lengths. Kilris was six lengths away, with Red Wink two lengths further back. The pace was not very fast in the early stages, but John Bradbury stayed out the mile and a quarter very solidly, and he may win again over the distance in better company. Margaret Birney ran a fair race. Kilris cut up badly, being done with a long way from home. Red Wink is a long way short of his old form, and his prospects do not look bright. ELECTRIC HANDICAP. In a field of five for the Electric Hack Handicap, the Oamaru mare, Solrose, was a pronounced favourite, but Precious and Gold Mint were both well backed. When they settled down Solrose was showing the way to Precious and Gaybird. At the end of two furlongs Precious was in close attendance on Solrose, and they were on terms at the entrance to the straight. Gaybird was handy at this stage, while Gold Mint was moving up. There seemed a prospect of a good finish a furlong from home, but Solrose stopped and Precious drew away and won easily by three lengths, while Gold Mint beat Solrose by a neck, with Gaybird two lengths back. Precious was making her first appearance in the colours of Mr. J. M'Cormack and, from the ease with which she won she is likely to do her new owner further service very soon. Gold Mint was unlucky, as he covered a lot of ground, appearing to be carried out by one of his opponents. When racing for the straight Solrose stopped rather quickly, but she did not

look so forward in condition as when she raced at Riccarton. VIEWMONT HANDICAP. The Viewinont Handicap was a poor race. Gold Brick was backed as a certainty in a field of four, and his supporters were never uneasy. Will Oakland began smartly, and soon had a break of two lengths on Gold Brick and Coch-y-Bondhu. When two furlongs had been covered Coch-y-Bondhu joined Will Oakland, who retired a little further on. Gold Brick then moved up. He was with Coch-y-Bondhu soon after reaching the straight, and he only had to,be kept going to win easily by three lengths. Will Oakland was a similar distance away, with Tarn Glen two lengths further back. Gold Brick is very well, and he may pick up another stake during the holidays. FARMERS' TROT. There were twenty-one starters for tho Farmers' Trot Handicap. Loburn, coupled with Bell Somerton, was again favourite, but there was solid support for Daisy Pointer and the Molly Pointer-Logan Lily bracket. Logan Lily soon opened out a good gap, but at the end of half a mile Princess Thorpe, Bower Dillon, Loburn, Bay Nut, and Daisy Pointer were all handy. Going along the back several others joined in, St. Bridget bemg one who was going well. Daisy Pointer took second place at the home turn. She and Logan Lily led Loburn to the straight. In a good finish Logan Lily beat Daisy Pointer by a good length. Loburn was beaten a furlong from the post, but though easing up at the finish forty yards behind the leading pair, he retained third place. Panto, Bay Nut, and St. Bridge, were next at the head of a bunch. Logan Lily, as in the earlier race, showed a lot of pace, but she hung out badly, and eventually finished under the judge 3 box. Daisy Pointer paced another solid race, and was unlucky to be beaten twice by a different opponent, each time alter registering fast time. MOUNT HUTT HANDICAP. The concluding event, the Mount Hutt Handicap, attracted only four . starters. Nincompoop, Moorland, Economist, and Finora were fancied in that order. In an exceptionally even betting race Finora set out to win from end to end. Economist and Moorland followed her for two furlongs when Moorland dropped back to last iinoda was still well clear at the entrace to the straight, where Economist made his effort. He caught Finora a little further on, and after a great struggle for nearly a furlong, Economist drew away and won by a length. Moorland was three lengths away, while two lengths further back came Nincompoop, this pair racing disappointingly. ' Economist won very attractively, like his stablemate, Thorndale, who won earlier in the day. He was successful at Motukarara a few weeks ago. He is a horse of useful class, and with average luck he will add considerably to his winning records before the end of the season. Results: — Mount Harding Hack Handicap, of 100 soys; one mile.-3 Thorndale 10.1. 1; Hfi™, 9 2 2; 5 Saxette, 9.2, 3. Also started: His Majesty 10.11, Coch-y-bondbu 10.5, Clarenson 9.2, Tarn Glen 9.0. Time, lmin 45sec. Springfield Trial Plate Handicap, of 80 sots; weight-for-age; six furlongs.—4 Moratorium, 1; 3 Chivalry, 2; 1 All Colours; 3. Also started: Royal Colours, The Atom, Bloodshed, Kilbox, Master Glance, Master Clarence, Sells. Time, lmin 15sec. , Drayton Trot Handicap (harness), of 90 soys; one and a quarter miles. —2 Genuine, scr, 1; 7 Daisy Pointer, 30yds bud, 2; 3 Logan Lily, scr, 3 Also started: Direct Wave, Little Kcwple, Brent Fire (coupled with Genuine), Poldena, Princess Thorpe, Bagpipes, Holly Pointer (coupled with Logan Lily), Great Actress, Tetrachord. Carnival, Noble Dillon, Bell Loburn, scr; Betty's Boy, Wakataua, Fair Dillon, Cornage, 24yds bhd; Bower, 84yds bhd; Ayr. Honour Bright, 96yds bhd. METHVEN CUP, of 165 soys; one mile and a quarter. 2 John Bradbury, 7.9 J 1 Margaret Birney, 7.13 - 3 Kilris, 7.0 A Also started: 4 Red Wink 9.0. Time, 2min 9secv. • , Electric Hack Handicap, of 80 sots; six furlongs.—2 Precious, 9.0, 1; 3 Gold Mint, 83, 2; 1 Solrose, 9.0, 3. Time, lmin loscc. Viewmont Handicap, of 90 soys; seven furlongs.—l Gold Brick, 8.10, 1; 2 Coch-y-uondhu, 8.4, 2; 3 Will Oakland, 8.13, 3. Also started: 4 Tarn Glen, 7.11. Time, lmin 29sec. Farmers' Trot .Handicap, of 100 soys; six furlongs.—3 Logan Lily, scr, 1; 2 Daisy Pointer, 48yds bhd, 2; 1 Loburn, scr, 3. Also started: Direct Wave, Fair Logan, Thorpe, Panto, Bagpipes, Molly Pointer, Tetrachord, Cam Val, Dillon Bell, Somerton, scr; Kempton, 12yds bhd; Betty's Boy,: Whakataua, Bay | Nut, 24yds bhd; Bower Dillon, Bon Elect, 60yds bhd; My Sonny, 84yds bhd; St. Bridget, 96yds bhd; Huon Denver, 108 yds bhd; Killlnchy. 120 yds bhd. Time, 3min 66 2-ssec. Mount Hutt Handicap, of 100 soys; six furlongs.—Economist, 8.9, 1; Finora, 7.11, 2; Moorland, 9.3, 3. Also started: Nincompoop. Time, lmin Msec.