RACING AT RICCARTON

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 113, 9 November 1933, Page 8

RACING AT RICCARTON

NIGHTLY'S CANTERBURY CUP

DERBY EFFORT CONFIRMED

(Special from "Ranuatira.")

CHRISTCHURCH, This D;iy

After Monday's Derby doubts wore expressed in some quarters whether Nightly was a'better three-year-old than Red Manfred, but such doubts were completely laid at rest yesterday in the Canterbury Cup, run over tho Derby distance, and item ot principal importance on this year's- thirdday programme of the Canterbury Jockey Club's Metropolitan Meeting. The track had completely recovered from Monday's rain, arid Nightly was again proved best stayer among the three-year-olds.

The race was run at a middling pace early, -with Red Manfred, pulling bis rider out of the saddle, adopting' the role of pacemaker, two lengths in front of Southdown (rail) and Nightly, and Paliintua bringing up the rear three or four lengths behind. The first half-mile took 55 3-ssec, There was very little improvement in the1 pace for the next half-mile, Nightly moving ahead d£ Southdown, and l?alantua reducing the gap back to her. Red Manfred was still pulling double otit in front. ' This half was covered in 53 2-ssec. It was coining to the four-furlong post that the pace was cracked on. Nightly had then run up almost to. terms« with Red Manfred; who Was allowed his head at last, and Palantua was on Southdown's quarters. Red Manfred just led Nightly into the straight, but once in line for home. Nightly drew past the leader easily, and he ran on like a real staying colt to score decisively by two lengths from Palantua, who deprived Red Manfred of second- place by a short head right on the" post. Southdown brought up the rear another three- lengths back. This half was traversed in 47 3-osec, making the tune. for the full distance 2min 36 3-ssec. Tho time for the first lpile was Imin 49sec, and for the lkst mile lmin 41sec. The Derby winner covered himself with new laurels, and with three wins already to his credit he must be accorded pride of "place among the horses racing at the meeting. He is a:big bay colt, and he looks every bit the class he now most clearly possesses. Yesterday's race was his at every stage, and nothing was more pleasing about his performance than the ability he showed to sprint as well as anything at the finish. Perhaps. he-*vill be the next Night- Raid champion to follow in the footsteps of Nightmarch and Phar Lap. He has now won six races, all this season, and £1295 in stakes. Palantua, the Cup winner, showed herself of weight-for-age class. She beat two good colts at the scale, and her merit' was not in the least dimmed by her having failed to defeat such a class colt as the winner. She produced her Cup brilliance at the-finish, but this was no ordinary handicap field. Red Manfred was definitely shown not to be a true stayer, an attribute about him- that was doubted before he stepped out in his first race this season. He is brilliant and may get a distance successfully, but not among the best class. His pulling tactics did not assist him,_ but they did not mean his defeat. He is at least courageous, in spite of his luck of true stamina, and he still fights when beaten, even though he docs not possess the best equipment. Southdown was in trouble ;is soon as the pace "was cracked on. Probably, how.ever;- he-was- feeling, the ■ effects :of jbis two hard races in the Cup and Derby: • It. was the first time the Canterbury Cup. bad been run over 1!& miles. Originally it was ; a three-mile race, but this distance was reduced to Vk miles in 1870. In 1900 and 1901, also in 1928, the .distance was 1% miles, and'last year, when Silver Scorn and Fast Passage were the only -two runners, it was 1% miles. The change-to the present distance now looks a very wise,move, as the excellent turnover, of £2335 "on the race should serve,to etiow. '-■:'.■