AT NAPIER PARK

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 61, 14 March 1927, Page 7

AT NAPIER PARK

OPEN SPRINT PROVIDES MILD SENSATION IMPROVED WEATHER CONDITIONS When Ngawati was knocked right back by Decoy Bird less than a furlong from , home in the- St. Patrick's Handicap at Napier Park on Saturday, and Decoy Bird ■won, an objection was next to a certainty. The owner of Ngawati and the stewards took immediate action,"and the'officials are to be commended in their finding. Mimetic, on the inside, and Ngawati were joined by Decoy Bird, who was bracketed on the totalisator with Mimetic, about 170 yards from home. " Decoy Bird went over 1 and sent Ngawati right back, and Mimetic. appeared to shift out just a trifle to complete the squeeze. As both Decoy Bird and Mimetic are owned by Mr. A. B. Williams ' and they finished first and second respectively with Ngawati third, a length and three-quarters of a length being the margins, it was decided under Rule 2, Part xxv., to place Ngawati first. Decoy Bird second, and Mimetic third. The ■ rule reads: "A horse may be disqualified for a race if such horse, .or any horse belonging to the same owner, cross another horse unless two lengths clear .... or jostle another horse. . . ." While beyond any shadow of doubt Decoy Bird robbed Ngawati of his chance of victory, Mimetic played an almost negligible part in the matter, but his disqualification comes in under the section "or any horse belonging to the same owner." Two very satisfactory features were that the stewards took_ action on the evidence of their own eyesight; and, secondly, that the unfortunate apprentice, M. Gilmore, was not made a scapegoat. Sufficient it was for him to lose his first winning ride, for he is a promising lad. The big Humbug gelding, Decoy Bird, is a man's mount at any time Although, the weather was fine and the crowd very fair, the totalisator returns . slumped-to £13,309, compared with £19----.561 last year. The falling-off for the meeting was £10,879, or nearly a third of Jast year s turnover. The racing was interesting, despite the fact ;that the course was decidedly slippery and treacherous in places. The hot sun and wind improved it as the day wore ' Z n a B, ackers °£ favourites had more re-bntt-a, the defeats of Hathor, Rouex and Master Damon, and the disqualification of iJecoy : Bird being body blows. There was no second dividend in Decoy Bird's race. The Awapuni apprentice, T. Green, still carries all before him, and rode seven winners at the meeting, including Ngawati. OMAHU HURDLES. Arataura, concerning whose jumping ability great reports were circulated was a good favourite, with Many Colours and iialakaua fairly well backed. Arataura led down the straight we]l clear of Kalakaua and Many Colours, with the otherpan-, tailed off. Arataura and Kalakaua were well clear of Many Colours down the back, and Many Colours and Kalakaua ojew. out going to the last fence, where Many Colours showed put 'temporarily Kalakaua stuck on, however, and beat Many Colours by a short length. Arataura was ten lengths away third. The others were beaten off. Kalakaua paid a great price considering nis irst day's display. Many Colours improved, but had no chance with the winner, being outstayed. Arataura jumped well but the distance found him out. TELEGRAPH HACK HANDICAP. Hathor was backed down to odds on. Hathor was soon in front from Break o' Day, Grand National, and Eloquent. Break o' Day went, up and headed Hathor st $h(; turn, with- Unreasonable,

qiieflt and Grand National drew out in the last bit, Grand National holding off Eloquent ■ with ease and-beating her by half a length. Purseproud was two lengths away third, with Break o' Day and Hathor next.. - ■ . ' Grand National finished very well, <and won rather impressively. Eloquent, whose connections have waited patiently ■' for a long time, ran a much improved race, but had to be.content with second place. Purseproud did very well to get up into third place considering he' was left several lengths. Break o' Day petered out. Hathor ran an inexplicably bad race, and possibly her first day's effort got to the bottom of her* after a hurried preparation. In addition she slipped about in the bad ground. M'VAY MEMORIAL HANDICAP. Queen's Choice was a pronounced favourite. Penman went out with the lead, and down the back was well clear of Queen's Choice and Oreum together, with Merry Day tailing off. There was little change to the turn, where Oreum ran up second and Merry Day joined the band. Penman and Queen's Choice fought out a bumping finish all the way down the straight; Queen's Choice beating Penman by a head. Merry Day was two lengths away with Oreum close up. Queen's Choice stayed on really well, and battled out the finish with Penman in a style that showed' he is not devoid of courage. Merry Day came with a great rattle to the turn, but failed to finish on. Oreum was tried in behind, but the ground was all against her. On a firm track she will do better. KUAO HANDICAP. Polydectes and Marsurd carried the bulk of the money. Marsurd and Brampton on the rails began best from Polydectes and Hygrade. Marsurd ran wide at the turn, where she was followed by Polydectes, Brampton, and King Quex. Brampton came through on the inside, where the going was heavy, and Marsurd and Polydectes made their efforts in the centre. In the end Marsurd beat Polydectes by half a length, with Hygrade three lengths away third. King Quex and Brampton were next. Marsurd stayed on better than on the first day, although she carried 61b overweight. She was kept out in the better going, and Polydectes followed her. Had Brampton not stuck'to the soft patch near the rails probably he would have won. King Quer ran a fair race. HIGHW£IGHT HANDICAP. Roues was favourite, but there were a number of others, fairly well backed. Royal Diadem, Rouex, and Bennanee began best and Calluna was slow away. Bennanee took charge going past the seven furlong post from Royal Diadem, Haurangi, Mountain Top, Westerner, and Kouex. Perle de Leon moved up in the back straight, and crossing ; the top Mountain Top took charge from Bonnanee, Perlo de Leon, Haurangi, Koyal Diadem, and Westerner.- Mountain Top lost her place at the turn, where Royal Diadem came away with Perle de Leon and Serenade in attendance. Royal Diadem came on to win easily by three lengths from Serenade, with Bennanee and Mountain Top heads away. Perle de Leon and Haurangi were next. Koyal Diadem is now racing quite solidly, and scored in this ovnnt very easily. Ho was always well placed. Serenade ran his best race for some time,, and 100 yards from home he'looked a possibility. Bennanee ran a great race under his weight, and waa not overlucky in running. Mountain Top was not well handled, and has suffered at the meeting by poor horsemanship. Perle de Leon showed a flash of form, but Rouex was a complete disappointment, being in trouble all the way. TRIAL HACK HANDICAP. Master Damon, Wilfred, and Hymgreat wero fairly evenly backed.' Hymgreat and .Perle. de, Rouge began best, but at tho end of a furlong Hymgreat was followed by Hinekatorangi. Perlo do Rouge, Heather Blend, and Wilfred. There was little change at the turn, except that Master Damon had ran up to the leaders. Hymgreat stayed on to beat , Heather Blend by four lengths, with Martona three lengths further away. P,erle de Rouge was fourth, followed by Wilfred and Master Damon. . ' ' Hymgreat beat this poor field rather comfortably, but his rider took no chances. Heather Blend ran a fair race, Master Damon did a vory cramped preliminary, and it did not ■ appear good business to back him. Martona was not overlucky. ST. PATRICK'S HANDICAP. The Mimetic-Decoy Bird bracket was slightly better backed than Ngawati. Gold Box and Decoy Bird were slow away, and the other four raced in line for a furlong. Then Mimetic and Plain Sailing showed the way to Standard and Ngawati, with Decoy Bird and Gold Box next. 'At the turn Mimetic and Plain Sailing showed the way to Ngawati and Decoy Bird. Decoy Bird ranged up with Mimetic and Ngawati at the distance, going right over and sending Ngawati back. Decoy Bird then went on and beat Mimetic by a length with Ngawati three-quarters of a length away third. Gold Box and Plain Sailing were next. Decoy Bird ran a really good race, but he proved a handful for his apprentice rider in the. straight, and badly interfered with Ngawati. It is doubtful if Ngawati would have won, but it is possible. Ngawati and Mimetic both went well. It was Mimetic's last race, and he is to be used from now on as a station sire. Gold Box went a surprisingly good race. Plain Sailing apparently is not,right. STEWARDS' HACK HANDICAP. Addlepate was always in keen demand for some reason, but Lovcband wound up a slightly better favourite. Break o' Day began best from Coot, Addlepate, and Hinekapua, with the favourite slow to got on her legs. ' Break o' Day showed the way across the top ,to Coot, Addlepate, .Polyastra, Hinekapua, and Sandburr. The last-named and Loveband improved their positions racing to the turn, where the leaders were in about the same orders Addlepate strode to the front in ' the straight to win by four lengths from Sandburr, who finished well. Coot was a length away third, and Alareria and Loveband next. Addlepate showed all tho improvement the betting indicated, and raced a good deal-better than on the first day. Sandburr is a useful galloper, who is due for a win at any time. Coot ran a fair race. Atareria was beaten a furlong from home, up to which 2>oint he wns a possibility. He looks in need of still more racing. Loveband was a big disappointment, and could not go at all in the early stages. Results:— Omahu Hurdles or 150 sovu: one mile and a half.—2 Kalakaua, 10.0 (M. H. Nlcoll), 1; 3 Many Colours; 10.9, 2; 1 Arataura, 0.3, 3. Also started: 4 Handy 9.5, 5 Good Mark 9.0.' Time, 2min 48 l-5.-,ec\ Telegraph Handicap, of 150 soys; six furlongs.—2 (irand National, B.D (T. Green). 1; 5 Eloquent, 7.3, "; 4 Purse Proud, 7.10, 3. Also started: 1 Hathor 8.11, 3 Break o' Day 8.4, 6 Unreasonable 7.(». Time, Imin 17 1-Hsec. M'VAY MEMORIAL HANDICAP', of 250 soys; one milo and a distance. 1 C. Haldane's eh g Queen's Choice, 3yrs, 5.3 (T. Green> .'.....•. 1 3 P. P. Neagle's b g Penman, 4yrs, 8.3 2 4 Lionel Clare's br m Merry Day, aged, B.S 3 Also started: 1 Oreum 9.0. Time, lmln 59 Kuao Handicap, of IDO soys; for two-year-olds. Five furlongs.—2 Marsurd, 7.13, (K. Heed), .1; 1 Polydectes, 8.4, 2; 5 Hygrade, 7.8V 2 , 3. Also started: 4 King Quex 7.7, 3 Brampton 7.0, C Nalu 7.5. Time, lmln 3 3-5 sec. High-weight Handicap, of 175 soys; about one mile and 120 yards.—s Koyal Diadem, 9.0 (S>. Anderson), 1; 7 Serenade, 8.0, 2; 3 Bennanee, 9.5, 3. Also, started: 2 Perle do Leon 9.1, 1 Rouex 8.12, G Mountain Ton 8.(1 .Haurangi 8.3, 4 Colluna S.O, 8 Westerner S.O. Time, Imin 50 2-ssec. Trial Handicap, of 150 soys • six furlongs — 3 Hymgreat, 8.7 (L. G. Morris), i; 4-Heather. Blend, 8.7, 2; 7 Martona, 8.7,-3. Also started: Master Damon 9.0, .5 Perlo de Rouge 8.10, i V'o f oea 8-8 ' 9 cla™rs B.T, 8 Dama 8.7, carried 8.814, 6 Hinekatorangi 8.7. Time lmln 1( 3-sscc. : St. Patrick's Handicap, of 200 soys; six furlongs.—2 NKawatl, 7.5 (T. Green) 1" 1 Decoy Bird, 7.0. 2; 1 Mimetic, 5.5. 3.' Also started: Plain Sailing 7.0, -Standard 7.5, (fold Box 7.8. Time, Imin 15 2-r.sec. longs.—2 Addlepate (T. Green)', I:'»'Sandburr, 8.0 i: ,? C00t...7.7, 3...A150 started: li Break i; 2y- S:lo.i 4 Atatprlii 5.7, 1 Lovelxind 8.(1,: