CHEVIOT REFLECTIONS

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 78, 1 April 1936, Page 15

CHEVIOT REFLECTIONS

TWO-YEAR-OLD IMPRESSES

(Special to the "Evening Post.")

CHRISTCHURCH, March 31. On an average, the racing at Cheviot on Saturday was excellent. Hidden Charm captured the major honours when he won the Cheviot Cup from Cadiz and Oversight. The winner was always well placed, and he stayed on well in his first attempt over two miles. Oversight had every chance, but was not good enough. Cadiz was the unlucky one. He received all the worst of the running, and covered a deal of extra ground, to come from well back in the short straight. Among the beaten division the trotter, King's Guard, and Mystery Yet, were the most impressive. The former never put a foot wrong, and had he received an opening in the final quarter he must have been in the money. Mystery Yet, from 72 yards, began slowly, with the result that he gave the leaders almost 100 yards start, a handicap which he made up quickly but found beyond him. His turn.will come later. After an absence of almost three years, On Parade staged a promising return to win the MacKenzie Handicap from 24 yards in 2min 48 l-ssec— no mean performance. He was always on the outside, but came away to score well. Boltaire and Glonetta filled the places, and each was responsible for a fair effort. Sunny Jack, the favourite, appeared to have the race won when he went to a tangle a furlong from home. Golden Miller, who was sold at a high figure before the races, was never very prominent. St. Helena was successful m two of the three events for maiden pacers, out on neither occasion was she greatly impressive. She has a fair turn of speed, but there is a suggestion that she is not as solid as could be wished. Perhaps the most taking performance in any of these events was the display given by the two-year-old Becky Direct to finish third in the Mina Handicap. She was always on the outside of the small track, and finished full of running without being knocked about. This is one of the best of her age. Other youngsters in Effle Parrish and Royal Grattan, especially, the later, who had none the best of the running, shaped encouragingly m this In his few races to date Bandit has lived up to his name, being most erratic, but he took a turn for the better to go away in a reasonable manner to win the , Spotswood Handicap after being well handled by M. Holmes. This race, a four-horse event, did not show the highly,priced Royal Doulton in very favourable light. She had every ° Ridden by C. McKendry, Southern Smile was always going like a winner in the Bollard Memorial Handicap, and although she beat weak opposition, her effort, spoke of better things to. come. Pauline Dillon put a break, on the field in the early stages, and the brakes on herself at the end of three furlongs, where she broke and refused to go any further. Boltaire also closed up when tackled at the bottom of the There were two races for trotters at Cheviot, but the horses which competed in these have a long way to go before they come under that heading. Highrate won the firsthand he would have left" a fair impression if he had not started again later, when he lost what little caste he had gained. In winning the second trotters race Moerangi paid the best price of the day, otherwise he would not have been mentioned. . ■ ~ . The track was not as fast as it has been in the past, and, in the circumstances, Graham Directs 2mm 10 4-5 sec in an exhibition mile was outstanding. When defeated at the recent Timaru Meeting he was palpably short of work, but he is now again nearing his best.