MERRY DAMON WINS WELL

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 108, 9 May 1930, Page 6

MERRY DAMON WINS WELL

(By Telegraph.)' From "Vedette." . .. The jumping season was. ushered, in at Hiiwera yesterday by the - Egmont Racing Club, in dull 'but pleasant -weather. -. The 'tract was firm -rather than otherwise, but .provided'really good going. -There-was a good attendance, with a rathet. !ai;ger percentage.oE visitors than usual.. .Th'e.tolalisator.returns were £18,017,- compared with ,£17,933 ,10s last year.,.- ; . ■ .' . -..- .-, The Egmont Steeplechase was'a very interesting race, the field beingl practically bunched until Birkdeek and .Maunga lost 'their rider's, with : about ,six furlongs to gy.' . Ponjbla gave a masterly- display of iencing, and probably could have won by a -much greater margin"if it Had been desired: He redeemed. j all Ms -promise of dast season, and- may -bring Hawkes Bay further into the limelight. "The' Tientliam representative! -Multi,*"i°un a ' really good lacis " .■•■■■ ■-_■■ ..Merry Damon won ..theJ:principal flat race like a high-class galloper, smothering the opposition, at the finish as.'i£ he had 7 "stone and uoit f1.7.. ... » ,-.. ' ; Te Atiawa- sprang a big. surprise by ' carrying' off the open.'sprint paying a long ■price." ■'.■'_'"'. ' .'.'..'".." ~.'„'...:'...■., ; :C- Robinson, 'rider of Aurora Borealis ,ia the Egmont Steeplechase, was suspended for a month for careless riding. ; 'TELEGRAPH HACK HANDICAP. .'..■ I -First- Division. ■■ ■■• •Goldlike and Tahoma were the favourites in- a moderate, betting race, A straggling start saw Valstreet, Anbridge, and GalaJnine left, and Blue Peter soon opened up a good break from Patearoa and Mangahaeri, with Tahoina, Ben Hur,"and Goldlike following. So they raced to the straight. When in. line for home Blue Paper tired, and Patearoa closed on him. Over the last. 50 yards Goldlike .dashed up bnthe outside to win by a head from Blue Paper, who beat Patearoaby. a Ishort head. Annoyer was Well back fourth,, arid Ben .Hur, Tahoma, and Mangahaefi riesti •■-'-Goldlike" must have" been1 'eight'lengths behind Blue Paper with! three furlongs to gq," -and i was still well' back-at the: turn. Over the :last; furlong- he: mowed' d6wn the opposition. Blue Paper showed.'plenty of. epeed, but failed to stay, and just stalled off Patearoa.; Annoyer, ; finished on.Mangahaeri was disappointing, but; looked i burly, aid the race should improve him. Tahoma drew a bad position at jthe barrier, but ran a,fair race. ■•"■','• ..■ -... TONGAHOE HURDLES. -Glenstar' was backed to '_ ashort price, Whenuanui beating him home at' double figures.''" - Whisogne antf ■ Glenstar' led to the first fence from Royal- Acre;, Calithe, and'Tiega. Whisogne: and-Glenstar led down the straight from Royal ■ Acre, Calithe., Vivo, Whenuanui, and Horomea. Royal Acre lost his place at the halfmile, where Wlienuanui moved up with Horomea. " Whisogne, Whenuanui, and Glenstar turned for home just ahead of "Vivo,. Horomea,.Calithe, and,. Royal Acre. Glenstar held off Whisogne, but Whenua-liiii'-finished to 6 Syell;-and beat him by a head.-. RbyaV Acre, finisliirig6sn; again, was haU a length away third, with Vivo fourth, aod..Cajithe said;Horomea-inest:; :.' -.Wheriuanui showed a good deal'of. pace, and dashed up in good-style. While he ran out the distance well, .Glenstar did not jump too well, but Whisogne took him just into the fences. Without Whisogne in the race he might have won. Royal Acre was the unlucky, runner, and but f°r striking trouble at the half-mile he: would have been hard to beat! Vivo, Galithe, and ■Horomea ran fair races." Tiega jumped badly, and: pulled up/lameF Jtelegraphhack handi:c|ap. ' ] { ....; '".■'. . Second. Diyisioa.,..,. . .■• . ' A good price was on- oiler against anything.but Royal Finance,• W.ho was.a solid favourite.-. Ngawhine showed out first, but Win Acre soon rushed to the front, to lead down, the back from' Calapat and Royal Finance, with Brilliant' Light, Ngawhine, Potoleer, Lucretia, ,Cr ; own,rLink, and. Statuary following. -/Win--Acre . led round to the straight, from Jioya.l Finance and Calapat, with Brilliant; tight and Potoleer :and.Paikq showing up, '"Brilliant Light came through on the rails in the straight, and Royal -Knahce-on. the outside: Brilliant Light came on to beat Royal Finance-decisively by three-quarters of a.length, with Paiko-a' length and a quarter away third. Win Acre Was fourth, and Statuary, Potoleer; and'Gueress next. . Brilliant Light was always nicely rplaced, going comfortably behind the ; -leading hunch ... He smothered the leaders.-,. : Royal Finah'ce'.had to come round, at the turn, but it made no difference.; Paiko"-,was unluckj'.in ;the.. straight) "but for,. which he might have been 'secdnd. "Win Acre; showed■ some: s'ace.;. Btatriarjr1 cap- be expected to do better soon, and may be worth a thought to-morrow.' ■'-Lii'eretia-3T& hot begin well from, the outside;, and' lost her chance..:; i.. --~.■... .:'..-'.: ■: :. .■:■■-■ ": ":.; . '■ '■■"- HACK/SfEEPLECH^SE; r. Diana's Lad, Democratic, Waitaunaha, and Double Soult were fairly evenly backed. Break o 5 Day" did" not survive the first fence, and Maidos'led down" the^straight Waitaunaha" drew out clear froiii Diann.'s Lad, and Democratic.--- Waitaunaha took the lead about a mile from home from Maidos and-'Double Sbult,' .with Diana's Lad and Democratic moving up. Maidos fell at the fence six furlongs from home. W..' 'taunaha drew out clear from Diana's Lad. and Democratic, with Dpuble, Soult going-back. Waitaunaha was not"trbiibled to" win by. five lengths from' Diana's Lad, with Democratic..'ls: lengths, awajy.-.• well ahead of Double Soult. ...•.• ..." Waitaunaha, who looked a 'very' much improved horse, made no race of it. Diana's Lad-gave an , excellent.-. display, but had no chance with the winner, while 11.4 heat Democratic. Double Soult dropped back very suddenly, but pulled up- not in the;, least' distressed. He may do "better at.Wanganui. . ... EGMONT STEEPLECHASE. Airtight and Ponjola carried half the money,, invested between them. Airtight led over a- round . from Ponjola,1. Maunga, inroj'a' Borealis, Brigadier Bill, Birkbeck, and Matu, with little between them, Ponjola: outjumping^ the others. There was some trouble going into the back straight with a. round to go, up to wliich point the field had raced in close order, all going well.,- Birkbeck received the worst of. the scrimmaging and: Ponjola went out clear frqm. Airtight and Aurora Borealis, then coming Maunga, Birkbeck, Brigadier..Bill, and MatuV At the fence about sis'.fur-longs-from home Birkbeek blundered and unseated A. M'Dbnald, ihterferin,; with Maunga, who also lost" his rider. This left Ponjola out clear from Airtight, Brigadier Bill, Aurora Borealis, • and ' Matu. Brigadier Bill dropped out at the sod wall and .'Matu, .Aurora Borealis, and Airltight .follpwcd Ponjola over the last fence. Matu kept up his run, but Ponjola held him off to win by a length and a half. Airtight was a bead away third, with Aurora .Bor-calis two lengths back fourth, and Brigadier Bill 100 yards back. " jfoujolii pulled hard but onfcjuinpcd the field, and gave a faultless display. Matu finished on in his usual style, and the race will-do hirti much good. Airtight, was troubled by Ponjola's ability, at his fences and lost ground. Probably hfi found ths class too::strong. ■ Brigadier 88l showed his customary aversion to the sod wall on this' v'b'ursß, losing lengths there • each round. Birkbedr" extricated himself cleverly from the 'scrim'.mrigG- with a round to' go, -but he blundered "lutcr" wiien Tieing seiifc-alofig to make up his-lost-' grbiijiil. Ma'rtii'ga1. looked Well aud-wcutoiit "tiijt'oim-li no: fault of his-own. Aurora Bdrealis "did not like some of'the brush fenccsbutJiuished on well.

FLYING HANDICAP. Benzora, Kidgemount, and Lady Quex were the favourites, but Te Atiawa rolled home at odds of over a quarter ot a century. Te Atiawa shot out first from Bopwood. Havering, Benzora, Melissa, Gold Dawn, ;aud Just So, with Town Bird and Ridgemount slow away. Hopwood and Te Atiawa Jed across the top from Melissa, Benzora, and Paleta, with Gold Dawn, Lady Quex, and Havering next, la Atiawa, Hopwood, Melissa, and Paleta were the first to turn for home. Te Atiawa. beat off Melissa to win by a long head. Havering, finishing on, was a length and a half away third, with Atholspear fourth and Just So, Lady Quex, Paleta, Kuanui, Chopin, and Hopweod following in close order. Te Atiawa began very smartly and she outpaced the opposition all the way, finishing, just too well for Melissa, who put in a-good effort and was finishing strongly. Havering came from well back to finish third, and he will have to be considered from now on. Atholspear was_ also rattling on in great style at the finish, and Just. Sc ran a really good race. Lady Qu'esf was not too lucky with her 9st 81b. Benzora had every chance but failed miserably. Paleta showed plenty of pace for five furlongs, but was not knocked about at the: finish. Ruanui was always in the middle of the field. Hopwood was going well for five furlongs and he will be all the-better for the race. M'RAE HANDICAP. Merry ■ Damon, Mountain Heath, and The Swell were solidly backed in that order...The Swell led down the straight from Monsogne, Llanore, Merry Damon, Manly, Mountain Heath, and Yoma, all bunched. Monsogne drew out clear turning into,the back straight from Mountain Heath and Llanorc, with The Swell, Merry Damon, Manly, and Yoma next. There was little .'change until approaching the turn,1 ■ where Yoma and Orazone rushed vp1 behind Monsogne, Mountain Heath, and Manly. Mountain Heath weakened a furlong from home and Manly strode to the,front, but over the last bit Merry Damon swooped down to win going away by a length and a quarter from Manly, who beat The Swell by a neck. Yoma was fourth, and Mountain Heath, Llanore, and. Hipo next. Merry Damon, despite his 9st. 71b, came with an electric rush at the finish to beat the , opposition pointless. Manly ran a really good race, and The Swell might have done better but for pulling very hard in the early part. Yoma ran a failrace, but Mountain Heath had every chance and finished weakly. Orazone ran up at the turn but did not come on. Llanore and Hipo ran only fair races. TAWHITI HACK HANDICAP. Latakia was a pronounced favourite, anything else -being at a reasonable price. Werata,.- Merry Melody, Tentcall, Latakia, Best Friend, and Auctioneer were the, leaders out of the straight, and going down the back Tentcall led Werata and Merry Melody, with Best Friend, Auctioneer, Latakia, Mount Shannon, and Joyspear next in order. Joyspear moved up racing for the turn, where the leaders ran wide and Merry Melody came through. He took charge a furlong from home, and there was a good battle for second. Merry Melody won by half a length with Joyspear and Tentcall a dead heat for second. Werata was right up fourth, followed by 'Auctioneer, Latakia, and Mount Shannon. Merry Melody had a great run on the rails and this stood to him, while Joyspear was rather unlucky. Tentcall went a good race. Werata ran a fine race with his 9st. Best Friend carried 12%1b overweight and was not by any means disgraced. Auctioneer and Latakia both ran useful races. The winner is a half-brother to Merry Damon. .KequHs::W^ , , . . . TsießrSpK" Hack Handicap, of 125 "soys; six furlongs. (First division).—l : Goldlike, S.G (H. Gray),,-!.; 3\Blue Paper, 8.8 (T. Green), 2; 4 Patea'rba/-7.10 . (H.N.> Wiggins), 8. Alsostarted : 2 Talioma, S.ll (B. H. Morris); 7 Calaminc, 8.6, carried 8.3 (M. J. Pine); 9 Mangahaeri, 8.3. (J. Barry); 5 Ben Hur, 8.1, carried 7.12 (E. Burgess); 6 Valstreet, 7.10, carried 7.7 (J. Chandler) ; 12 Potency, 7.6, carried 8.0 (L. George) ; 10 Anbrldge, 7.2, carried 7.0 (H. Stockley); 8 Adventus, 7.0 (K. Voltre); 14 Little Doubt, 7.0, carried 7.1 1/.; (W. Broughton); 15 Bon Eve, 7.0 (S. Gerrand) ; II Annoyer, 7.0, carried 7.3 V» (J. W. Day) ; 13 Coalbag,. :7.0, carried 7.3 (T. Metcalf). Time, 1m1n.';155ec........ -. ... .... . ■ Tongahoo Hurdles Handicap, of ISO soys; one mile and a half.—B Whenuanui; 10.3 (J. Smith), 1; 1 GlehstaV. 10.5 (F. Foster), 2; 3 Royal Acre, 9.12 (L. Dulieu), 3. Also started: G Vivo, 9.13 (A. Jenkins) ; 7 Horomea, 9.11 (H. Dulieu) ; 4 Tiega, 3.2 (C. Strattou); 2 Whisogne 9.0 (H. Mills); 5 Calithe, 9.0, carried 9.2 (A. M'Donald). Time, 2min 45sed. Telegraph' Hack Handicap, ot 125 soys; six furlongs; (Second division) .—3 Brilliant Light, 8.6 (B. H. Morris), .1; 1 Royal Finance, 8.1 (H. Gray), 2; 6 Paiko, 7.7, carried 7.2 (S. Gerrand), 3. Also started: 2 Callapat.,. 8.9, carried ■ 8.4 (K. Grylls); 6 Lackham, S.G (K. Voitre).; s.:Stationary, 8.4 (T. Webster); 4 Lucretia, 7ilO (H. N. Wiggins); 12 Potoleer, 7.2; carried .i 7.3% (J. W. Day); 8 Crown Link 7.0 (R. Drinkwater); 10 Gowanlea, 7.0, carried 7.3 (G. Sandilands) ;■ 14 Abbey Land, 7 0 (J." Chandler); 15 Blforte, 7.0 (Sullivan); 13 Ngawhlne. 7.0 (M. J. Pine); 11 Win Acre, 7.0, carried 7.2^ (T. Metcalf); 9 Gueress, 7.0 (W. Broughton). Time, lmin 15sec. Hack Steeplechase, of 200 soys; about two miles:^-3 Waitaunaha, 9.11 (H. Dulieu), 1; 1 Diana's Lad, 10.2• (A. Jenkins), 2; 2 Democratic, 11.4 (A. M'Donald), 3. Also started: 5 Matdos, 10.0 (J. Smith) ; 7 Break o' Day, 9.7 (L. J. Jarvis); 4 Double Soult, 9.5 (D. O'Connor); 6 Kowbatu, 9.0 (M. Moran). Time, 4mln> 57sec. ' EGMONT STEEPLECHASE, of 350 soys, second 50 soys, third 20 soys; about two miles and a half. 2 O. Nelson's br g Ponjola, by Taunaha — Lady Millicent, aged, 9.2 (A. Tricklebank) 1 G F. F. • Newman's b g Matu; aged, 10.3 (A. Jenkins) '. 2 1 J...Fryer's eh s Airtight, aged, 9.10 (H. .Dulieu) 3 Also started: 5 Brigadier Bill, 11.0 (L. J. Jnrvis); 7 Ma\mga, 9.11. (A. Griffith); 4 Birkbeck, 9.6 : (F. M'Donald); 3 Aurora Borealls, 9.5 (C. Robinson). Time, smin 17scc. Flying' Handicap, of 200 soys; sis furlongs.— 13 To Atiawa, 7.0 (M, J. Pine), 1; S Melissa, 7.0 (K. Voltre), 2; 11 Havering, 8.7 (W. Pascoe), .3. Also started: 3 Lady. Quox, 9.8 (L. George); 1 Benzora, 8.6 (H. Gray) ;10 Ruariui, 8.3 (B. H. Morris); 5 Paleta, 8.2 (J. Barry) ; 2 Ridgemount, 8.2 (T. Green) ; 4 Atholspear, 7.12 (T. Webster) ; 6 Just So, 7.10, carried 7.5 (H. Stockley): 15 Vatnre 7.0 (K. Roesby); 7 Chopin, 7.0 (S. Gorrand) ; 9 Hopwood, 7.0, carried 7.5 (H. N. WiKglns); 14 Town Bird. 7.0 (J. Chandler); 12 Gold Dawn, 7.0- (W. Broughton). Time, lmlu 14sec. • M'Rae. Handicap, of 250 soys; one milo and a quarter.—l Merry Damon, 9.7 (T. Green), 1; 7 Manly, 7.2, carried 7.1 (W. Broughtou),'2; 3 The Swell, 8.5 (B. H. Morris), 3. Also started: 8 Orazono, 7.8, 'carried 7.3 (H. Stockley) ; 6 Yoma, 7.5, carried 7.3 (J. W. Day); 2 Mountain Heath, 7.8 (T. Webster); 4 Llanore, 7.0 (M. J. Pine); 5 Hipo, 7.0 (K. Voitre) ; 9 Monsogne, 7.0 (R. Drinkwater). Time,. 2min .7 % sec. " Tawhiti Hack Handicap, of 100 soys; second 25 soys? third 10 soys; eight furlongs and a half.-r-5 Merry Melody, 7.0 (W. Broughton), 1; 1 Joy Spear,. 7.G (H. N. Wiggins), and 7 Tentcall, 7.0, carried 7.1 (M. J. Pine), dead heat.for second place. . Also started: 2 Werata, 9.0 (G. Kidgway); 8 Auctioneer, 8.0 (W. Home); 1 Latakia, 7.13, carried 8,1 (11. Gray); 3 Jlaaher, 7.10 (K. Voitre) ;11 Mount Shannon, 7.0 (S. Gerrand); 10 Corwen, 7.0, carried 7.3y 3 (J. W. Day); 14 Monoie, 7.0 (G. Sandilands); 12 Rossferry, 7.0, carried 7.2% (T. Metcalf) ; 13 Remora, 7.0 (T. Webster): 6 Best Friend 7.0, carried 7.13 1/- (T. Green); 9 Crenna Town, 7.0 (R. Drinkwater). Time, lmin 48sec.