AT RICHMOND

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 97, 29 April 1929, Page 9

AT RICHMOND

MISS MERCIA'S SURPRISE

MAUI'S SMART VICTORY

(By Telegraph from "Vedette.")

The weather on Saturday for the conclusion of the Nelson Club's Meeting at Richmond was up to that of the first day, but the track was still heavy. The racing was good for the class of horses, some of the finishes being particularly close. The attendance consequent on the local half-holiday was considerably improved, the totalisator returns being £11,821, making the total £20,033, compared with £17,942 last year. T. Webster, for undue use of the whip on Borsalene at the start of the Redwood Memorial Handicap, was fined £2. A feature of the meeting was the success of the Westport trainer, T. L. Bennett, who won all four'trotting events with Lock Bank and Denver Hinds.

There were some desperately close finishes on the second day of the meeting, and one very close one on the first day. The judge's platings did not command general satisfaction, bul the margins were so close that no one but the official was in a position actually to decide. At the same time, one or two looked open to doubt, one on the first day and one on the second day. TRIAL STAKES. Catuna and Make Up carried practically all the money. Dancing Star led to the turn from Catuna, Make Up, and Araemo. Catuna and Make Up ran to the- front in the straight and Make Up, finishing the stronger, won by a long head. Araemo was five lengths away, two lengths in front of Dancing Star. Make Up, improved by his race on the first day, stuck on well. Catuna also improved and although there was not much merit in this event, they may both' do better later on. Araemo could not handle the heavy ground on the turn. Dancing Star failed to stay.MATAI TROT HANDICAP. Denver Hinds, backed down to odds-on, scored just as impressively as on the first day. Hardiness, Waipuki, George the Fourth, and Star Cluster turned for home in a bunch just ahead of the favourite, lint once clear in the straight Denver Hinds came through to win easily by a length and a half from Waipuki, with George the Fourth three lengths away and Star Cluster and Belle o' Mine next. The race was easy for Denver Hinds, who won again with something to spare. REDWOOD MEMORIAL HANDICAP. Black Mint and Rabbi were solidly backed, with Miss Mercia at double figures. After some delay at the barrier due to the stubbornness of Borsalene, the field left to a good line. There was some scrambling as they turned out of the Mtraight, and Rabbi almost came over. Kilbronsyth was then in charge from Borsalene, Rameses, Miss Mercia, Goosestep, and Black Mint. Miss Mercia took charge seven furlongs from home and led to the half-mile from Kilbronsyth and Rameses. with Borsalene, Goosestep, and Black Mint next. Kilbronsyth lost his place going to the turn, and Rabbi moved up into third place behind Miss Mercia and Rameses. Rabbi went in pursuit of Miss Mercia in the straight, and although he finished well, he failed by a bare head to reach her. Black Mint was two and .1 half lengths away, then coming Borsalcne, _(.Joosestep, and Kilbronsyth. .->l:.:* liicrcia stayed out the nine furlongs particularly well, but Rabbi was unlucky and it looked as if he should have won. Black Mint finished on well. Borsalene, after being very mulish at the barrier, ran a useful race. Goosestep ran up to first day form. Kilbronsyth and Rameses were both disappointing. TAHUNA HACK HANDICAP. Smithereens. Masher, Dainty Ways, and Tallow were all well backed. Smithereens, Shining Star, Fallow, and Dainty Ways

led for the first furlong, and then Fallowwas'temporarily'in charge, but gave way to Smithereens and Shining Star approaching the turn, with Fallow, Masher, and Dainty Ways handy. A great race home saw Double Mint come from the rear of the field to beat Shining Star by a short head, with Smithereens half a length away. Dainty Ways was a good fourth, and Fallow next. Double Mint and Shining Star both showed striking improvement. on first day form, particularly Shining Star. Smithereens carried his 9.8 well, being out forcing the pace with the leaders all the way. Dainty Ways was unlucky, and ,Fallow ran below first day form. Masher ajjain raced badly. FLYING HANDICAP. Maui, Ronaki, and Arch Arrow were all fairly well backed, with some measure of support for all the others. Last Crust, Nasstnri, and Ronaki began best, and Last Cfost and Nasstori led to the turn from First Acre, Ronaki, Spode, and Arch Arrow. Nasstori was the first to turn for home, but was under pressure, and Ronaki and Spode headed her. Then Maui came fast on the outside to win easily by three lengths from Ronaki, who beat Spode by a neck. Nasstori and Last Crust were next. Maui stayed on too well for the opposition and scored easily. Ronaki also plugged along -A-ell, and Spode ran a decent race. Nasstori had every chance and did not finish at all generously. First Acre looked very bright but very big, and ran prominently so long as his condition permitted. WAKATU TROT HANDICAP. Lock Bank was backed down to odds-on. He was in front at the end of three furlongs and thereafter the race was a procession, . the only interest being in the tussle between Kodie and Waipuki for second place, Kodie prevailing by a neck with Lock Bank three lengths in front of the pair. Nellie Parson was fourth. Allthorpe tangled at the start. STOKE HACK HANDICAP. Arrow Boy was a very hot favourite, with Dainty Ways, the winner, at a good price. Dainty Ways was cut back at the start, and Dancing Star, Dermod, Arrow Boy, and The Dove began smartly. Dancing Star led to the turn from The Dove, Dermod, Royal Flower, and Arrow Boy. Dancing Star was beaten when the straight was entered, and Dainty Ways ranged up on the inside,', coming on to beat The Dove by three-quarters of a length. Dermod was half a length away, and then came Arrow Boy and Royal Flower. \ Dainty Wa3-s, having her second outing on the day, registered a fair performance to come from well in the rear> and win. She beat an erstwhile stablomate in The Dove. Dermod was not too lucky, and Arrow Boy ran his usual poor second day race. GLEN MEMORIAL HANDICAP. Ronaki was a short-priced favourite. Lady Gay, Ronaki, and Smithereens began best, and Kiriana tailed off 50 yards behind the field over the first half-mile. Lucklaine led Smithereens, Lady Gay, Ronaki, and Modern in close order across the top, where. Kiriana commenced to bridge the gap. He was up with the field two furlongs from home, where Ronaki and Smithereens were doing best. Kiriana finished on very well, but just failed by a short, head to beat Ronaki. Smithereens was two lengths away, and Modern and Lady Gay next. Ronaki was lucky to beat Kiriana, who gave him anything up to 50 yards start less than five furlongs from home, ran round the field at the turn, and then was going the better at the end. Ronaki and Smithereens were both having thenfourth race at the meeting, and neither was out of a place. Modern shaped fairly well considering her short preparation, but Lady (Jay failed badly. Results:—. Trial Stakes, of SO sovs;.six furlongs; special weights:—2 Make Up," 1; 1 Catuna, 2; 4 Araemo, '3. Also started: 3 Dancing Star. Time, lmln 21 l-ssec. Maital Trot (harness), of 100 sots; one mile arid a quarter.—l Denver Hinds, 48yds behind, : 1; 2 Waipuki, scr, 2; C George the Fourth, 24yds behind, 3. Also started: Belle o' Mine, Hardiness, scr;. Chancellor Wilkes, Lady Bee, 12yds behind; Star Cluster, 24yds behind; Radlola, 36yds behind. Time, 3mln 0 2-ssec. REDWOOD MEMORIAL HANDICAP, of 20.0 soys; one mile and a distance. 7 Miss Mercia, 7.0 ....... 1 2 Rabbi, 8.4 :.. 2 1 Black Mint, 5.13 3 Also started: Rameses 8.10,. Kilbronsyth, Borsalene 7.5; Gooscstep, Twink, 7.0. Time, 2mln 1 3-ssec. , Tahuna Hack Handicap, of 100 soys; seven furlongs.—s Double Mint, 7.1, 1; ; 6 Shining Star, 8.5, 2; 1 Smithereens, 9.8, 3. Also started: Tallow 7.5, Dainty Ways, Masher, 8.2; Catuna, Wreath of Myrtle, 7.1. Time, Imin 33sec. . . . , Flying Handicap, of 140 soys; six furlongs.— 1 Maui, 7.11, 1; 2 Ronaki, 8.9, 2; 7 Spode, 7.0, 3. Also started: First Acre 9.3, Arch Arrow 8.9, Last Crust 7.13, Nasstori 7.0. Time, Imin 19 4-ssec.. ■. , . Wakatu Trot (harness), of .100 soys; one mile and a half.—l Lock Bank, 24yds behind, 1; 2 Kodie, 24yds behind, 2; 3 Waipuki, scr, 3. Also started: Bell o'. Mine,'Allthorpe, Hardiness, scr; Lady Bee, 24yds behind; Georgo the Fourth, Nellie Parson, 48yds behind. Time, '3min 17sec. '

Stoke Hack Handicap, of 100 soys; live furlongs—4 Dainty Ways, 7.5, 1; 3 The Dore, 7.2, 2; 2 Dermbd, 8.11, 3. , Also started: Arrow Boy, 8.11; Dancing Star, Royal' Flower, 7.0. ■ Time, lmin 5 2-ssec. • :

Glen Memorial Handicap, of 140 soys; one mile.—l. Ronald,. 9.3, 1; 2 -Kiriana, 7.7, 2; 4 Smithereens, 8.3, 3. Also started: Modern, Lady-Gay,- 8.3; Lucklaine, 7.7. Time lmiu 48sec. ■ ; . ; ■