AT RICCARTON

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 42, 18 August 1930, Page 6

AT RICCARTON

FINAL DAY OF GRAND NATIONAL MEETING NOTES ON THE RACING (By Telegraph.) (Special to "The Evening Post") CHRISTCHTJRCH, 16th August. The Canterbury Jockey Club's Grand National Meeting -was concluded to-day in cold -weather, while there was a threat of rain late in the day. The wins of Aurora Borcalis and Carinthia were popular and impressive. The totalisalor investments were £42,724. compared with £53,057 on the corresponding day last year, the total for the meeting being £120,834 10s, against £158,626 10s last year. LONGBEACH HANDICAP. The scratching of Charmeuse and Golden Pennant left a field of fifteen for the Longbeach Handicap, more than half of them being three-year-olds. Hunting Call was a raging favourite, carrying about twice as much as Blue Paper, who was easily second fancy. Sleipner, on the outside, seemed disinclined to join the field, but he began with his customary brilliancy, and soon was able to cross over to the rails, being several lengths in front when the course proper was reached. Blue Paper, Pharaoh, and Noteworthy were others prominent at this stage. Sleipner still held his place at the distance, but Noteworthy had his measure at this stage, and went on to win very decisively. Sleipner stuck on well, and was a long way in front of Pharaoh, who, in turn, beat Mountain Call and Gustavo by a good margin. Noteworthy, though he has never quite lived up to expectations, is a speedy hack, and only has to train on to win some more races this season. Sleipner is exceptionally brilliant, and will get his share1 of sprint events later on. Pharaoh (a novice by Shambles from Palestrina) created a good impression. Hunting Call never looked dangerous. AYLESBURY STEEPLECHASE. The seven acceptors lined up for the Aylesbury Steeplechase. Form pointed to Tractarian and Taramoa, the former winding up a pronounced favourite. It was. an interesting race all the way, winding up with a good finish. Diana's Lad went out early, refusing at the Kennels Double. French Fleet was going well in the early stages, but came to grief at Cutts's, when trying to jump With Tractarian, a very fast and safe conveyance. Over the next mile Tractarian, Diamond Jack, and Taramoa provided an interesting struggle. Kaikahu was some distance behind them, and well beaten when he fell at the top of the straight, but the other three never looked like making a mistake. Tractarian and Diamond Jack were in front over the last half-mile, but Taramoa, more patiently handled, wore them down in the run home from the final fence, while Tractarian stayed on a little too well for Diamond Jack. The winner is a brother to Paris, a. hurdle winner at'the meeting, and is a useful steeplechaser, though never likely to reach top class. STYX HURDLES. The scratching of Paris and After Ten left eight starters for the Styx Hurdles. Gay Fashion was a little better backed than Membo, these two monopolising the heavy betting. Star Stranger 11. and Zippor set a solid pace, and Zippor was going particularly well when he drew, put firs

furlongs from home. Gay Fashion, after beginning well, blundered badly at Cutts's hurdle: but gradually made up her leeway, and she followed Zippor to the straight, followed by West Dome, who had been even later in making a forward move. Gay Fashion led West Dome over the last hurdle, where Zippor had started to drop back. The race was then all over, Gay Fashion beating Membo without any trouble by no more than a length when the post was reached. Gay Fashion has not been very Ions; at hurdle racing, but she is a very promising sort, likely to pay her way handsomely at Southern meetings this season. West Domo gave further evidence of being a very useful customer, as he was taking on a much harder task than the hunting class in which he started the winter's jumping. Membo was a disappointment. He had a new rider, and his jumping was not nearly up to his form.'of the second day. Zippor improved on his earlier showing, but still cannot rank as a good hurdler., HEATHCOTE HANDICAP. Town Major, ridden by H. Gray, was a hot favourite for the. Heatheote Handicap in a good pool, with Rational 11. and Black Duke also heavily backed. It was a disastrous. race for backers, as none of the fancied candidates returned a dividend. The race provided very little interest. Rascal and Starshooter were smartest out of the barrier, and they stayed there all the way, Rascal beating his stablemate comfortably by two lengths. Rational LI., who went off slowly, soon made up his lost ground, but the effort settled him, and he did well to get within half a length of Starshooter at the finish. Town Major had every chance, as he jumped away just behind the leading pair, but he never looked like improving his position. Black Duke and Evening were fairly well placed at the end of three furlongs, but failed to improve. Topere had his chance settled by failing to begin well. Full Feather, as usual, tailed the field early, and not being in a gal. loping mood, never made up any ground. Rascal- was one of the outsiders of the field. He has rim some good races during the last few, months, but this was the best field he/has beaten .. ■• REDOLIFTS HANDICAP.

'High Gear was'a pronounced favourite for the Redcliffs Handicap, for which Thurso was scratched, leaving a field of fourteen. The favourite did not begin quite so-smartly; as some of the others, and though he ran a good race he was beaten into third place. Portray and Desert Song were smartest out, followed by Ex Dono and Hounslow. The last-named was done with before the straight was reached, but the- other three were still showing the. wiiy. when fairly in line for home. Then -Ex-Donb cracked. There was nothing to choose between Portray and' Desert Song a furlong from the post, but Desert §grig.gradually wore his rival down;' whining ' comfortably. High : Gear put.in & .good run: over, the Jast two furlongs, but-though-he finished a close third, he never gave, the impression over the last hundred yards that: lie would beat the Pair in front of him. At the same time, High Gear is .worth keeping in mind. Rapina finished on with a great run to get fourth place, and, with average luck, will soon be a winner. The win of Desert Song was well deserved, as he had raced very consistently, for two seconds earlier in the week/ He is a useful four-year-old, likely tostay, :,::.; ,

I SEI.WYN HANDICAP. _The irieiSting was concluded with the fcelwyn Handicap. Town Major, having had a race earlier in. the day, was scratched, leaving a field of.ten, with Havering a solid favourite, while Nancy Lee and Kanelagh also.came.in for good support. -The . favourite : was unfortunate at the start/as he and Smithereens failed to begin smartly,.; The Haider shot out at the rise of the barrier, and very soon had a long lead,-reminiscent of Subdivision's performance in the same race last year. J.he Raider did not see the journey out He.was well clear entering the ■ might, but he was in trouble when the distance was reached. Ranelagh then took charge and never 'afterwards 3 was he in serious danger. Nancy Lee and Blimp, who had been prominent all the way, both fcmshed on well. Eanelagh beat Nancy .Le e by a short length. Blimp was two lengths further back, just in front of lew and^Havermg. The last-named put up a _good performance to finish so close. S B t«a¥r yery consistently in the second half of-last season, making steady S n,the time- This was the best field., he .had, beaten; bnt ho has not yet ,reached;Ji,K- irnit:,;!Nahcy ■ Lee again showed herself ;td be a : very solid galloper butwas unaMe?to;,sgive away the weight to the improving : Kiccarton Mir-year-old Kesults:—■.■:■ ■./■■,':■' . ; . . in^fß^B^ H4ndi°al)' of 25° sots; six furlongs.—4 Noteworthy, 8,1 (H. WiErinsl i. 7.2, 8 ii Joison 7.0, car. 7.1, 12 Anneal 7 0 InT "y two lengths, four lengths between scc-%LXX-2.rjrtlne Call was ioarmAylesbury. Steeplechase. Handicap, of 250 in 7™ two; n '»e3 anSa half.—2 Taramoa. 10.12 <G. Dempster), 1; l Tractarian; 11.4 2T Diamond Jack, 9.13, 3. . Also started- 3 Diana's Lad 10.9 (fell), 3 Kaikahu 10.5 (fell) 5 French Fleet 9.11 (fell), 6 Akbar 9.0, car! 9.3, Won by one length and a half. Akbar was fourth. Time, smln 27 4-ssec. Sydenhara Hurdle Handicap, of 500 sots- two miles.t—l, Cartnthia,. 11.9 (F. Thompson), 1; 6 Nukumal,. 11.0, 2; 8 Mister Gamp, 111 3 Also.startea: 2 Mangani 10.13 (fell), 7 Tro'ilus 9.4, s : .Pangolln;fl.4y;:4 Paris 9.0. Won by half a length; thrfe lengths between second and third. .Paris; was .fourth: Time, 3min 46 4-ssßte--- ■■ .:;':>>; : :..-:*.:'--..-\-: ;■■. ■ ; Styx; Hurdle HaHdicap;l ■of 250 s'ova; onco round anfl a distarice.-il Gay Fashion, 9.4 (A. E.. Ellis), 1; 4 West. Dome; 10.9, 2; 7 Zippor 10;9, 3. Also*started: 2 Membo 10.2, 5 Deluge 9.2, p Alrfflrce-j8.2,; car. 9.3, 8 Exide 9.0, 3 Star-Strgnger-11^9.0.^ ■- \Von:':,bj. one length and a half, six 'lengths between .second and third Deluga TOSjfou^tb.;: Smin 1 l-ssec. HNCOMTiSTEECTxitiSE HANDICAP, of 500 sol's..;.:;?: About three miles. 2 Aurora Borealis, 11.13 (W. J. Bowdon) 1 7;Snowfall, 9.12 (V. Langford) 2 1 Corneroff, 9.7 (A. M'Donald) 3 Also started: 4 Kapuna 10.0, 6 Hadiac 10.5, 3 Omeo 10.4, 5 Matu 10.0, 8 Charlatan 9.0 and Wharhcliffa .9.0 (bracketed), 9 Airtight 9.0 car. 9.3, 10 Talyes.9.o, Won by: two lengths, four lengths between second, and. third. Eapuna was fourth and Matu fifth. The" rest fell. Time, 6min 3sec. Heathcote Handicap, of 300 sots; one mile. 9 Bascal, 7.9 (C. Eastwood), 1; 6 Starshooter, 7.7, 2; 2 "Rational 11., 7.12, 3. Also started: 3 Black Duke 9.1, 5 Full Feather 8.8, 1 Town Major 8.8, 7 lioyal Game 7.13, 8 Tourist 7.7, car. 7.4, 4 Topero 7.0, car. 7.7, 10 Evening 7.0. Won. by two lengths, half a length between second and third. Town Major was fourth. Time, lmin'42sec. Kedcliffs Handicap, of 250 sots ; seTen furlongs.—3 Desert Song, 8.2 (J. Barry), 1; 4 Portray, 8.3, 2; 1 High Gear, 8.3, car. 8.4, 3. Also started: 13 Toawal 8.11, 2 AdTentus 8.6, 10 Hounslow 8.5, 7 Potoaform 8.0, 11 Ex Dono 8.0, 9 Hurly Burly 7.11, 6 Compris 7.5, 8 Dumblane 7.5, 5 Bulolo 7.5, 12 Rapina 7.0, 14 Fairness 7.0. Won by half a length, tho same between second and third. Bapina was fourth. Time, lmin 29sec.

Selwyn Handicap, of 300 soys; seven furlongs.—3 Eanelagh, 7.5 (C. Saxon), 1: 2 Nancy Lee, 8.10, 2; 6 Blimp, 7.5, car. 7.0%, 3. Also started: 1 Havering 9.3, 4 Terl 7.12, 8 The Raider 7.3, 7. Semper Paratus 7.0, car. 72% 0 Haze, 7.0, car, 7.4%, 5-Smithereens 7.0, 10 Arch Arrow 7.0. Won by three-quarters of a length, two lengths between second and third Teri was fourth. Time, lmin 28 3-ssec.