CERNE ABBAS AGAIN

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 75, 31 March 1937, Page 15

CERNE ABBAS AGAIN

CLASSIC DOUBLE

AUCKLAND RECEIPTS DOWN

(Special from "Early Bird.")

AUCKLAND, March 30,

Close finishes featured the conclusion of the Auckland Racing Club's Autumn Meeting at Ellerslie today. The ' weather was sunny, and the attendance 'of 8500 was 10,000 below that of the second day last year, which was Eas- ■ ter Monday. The track was slow. Totalisator investments were £30,779, compared with £53,832 last year. The figures for the meeting were £85,766, against £102,291 a year ago, a decrease of £16,525. L. Clifford was fined £10 on a charge of breaking his engagements on the first day to ride Mr. A. E. Pearce's horses' Thangilamba and Sacqone. NARROWEST OF MARGINS. Valamito, handy throughout, duly won the Nelson Handicap, but only by the narrowest of margins over Grand City and Valmint, while Jack Tar was not more than half a length.away. Valmint and Very Glad carried on the early running, but the former then dropped back a few places at the halfmile, coming again at the distance. Grand City ran his best race, and Jack Tar, off the course making the home turn, again went splendidly. Black Musk looked likely at the home bend and then failed, as did Besiege. The winner is still improving and should do well next season. SUCCESS REPEATED. Royal Bachelor repeated his performance of the first day. in winning the Victoria Handicap at odds-on. His effort was most impressive, for he was in front practically throughout, Barricade and then Saccone going with him. Wildflower came home strongly without having any chance with the winner. She was last early and she again ran wide coming into the straight, so that her effort in attempting to concede Royal Bachelor 161b was really good. Saccone showed a lot of pace and she should be a nice three-year-old. Dragon Moth ran badly, being tailed off nearly all the way. FIRST OVER BATTENS. Sand-drift went close to being in :ront throughout the St. Helier's Hurdles, but Windsor Lad and Killadar never let him get away. .Three furlongs from home Windsor Lad began o tire and Killadar ran up to Sanddrift at the last fence, a spirited duel resulting in Killadars winning by a neck. This was the victor's initial success 6ver obstacles and it should not be his last. Windsor Lad will derive considerable benefit from the race and he is already in nice order for the coming cross-country season. GOOD THREE-YEAR-OLD. Once again the three-year-old Gay Talkie proved himself a good horse by the manner in which he won the Nolan Handicap from the moderately-fancied Day Wind. He was never further back than fifth, and turning for home he was out a bit from the rails, with Tooley Street, Knight of Australia, Kelly, and Day Wind ahead of him. At the distance he forged to the front, and he did not experience much difficulty in holding off Day Wind and Kelly. The former lost a little ground at the three furlongs, so he could be accounted rather unlucky. Kelly produced another fine effort', and Flood Tide, second to last at the five furlongs, actually finished fourth, ahead of Tooley Street, Master Brierly,Knight of Australia, and Scotland. Tooley Street shot to the front at the end of half a mile, but he was not allowed to get far away. Nevertheless his good showing revealed possibilities ■ over a middle distance. Scotland had every chance, and, he failed rather badly under conditions that might have been expected to suit him. LIKE A CHAMPION. Tudor won the Autumn Steeplechase like a champion, giving a brilliant exhibition of jumping. He led from start to finish. Billy Boy, Valpeen, and. Forest Glow joined him at the double, but he quickly left them again. Forest Glow tried to make a race of it with Tudor over the last four fences, but was unable to hold the favourite. Irish Comet just cut Billy Boy out of third money, the latter not being quite forward enough. ' AN EXCITING FINISH. The Great Northern1 St. Leger provided a ding-dong battle over the last furlong, where Rulette (the pacemaker), Mandamus, and-Cerne Abbas were in line. Then Mandamus and Cerne Abbas drew out, and'in'a great duel the latter won by half a head. Rulette also hung on solidly. It was an exciting finish. There was no pace on early, and both Mandamus and Cerne Abbas were pulling very hard. The time was the slowest since 1922. RECENT FORM CONFIRMED. Whirling confirmed his recent form by winning the Huia Handicap convincingly. Tray Bit and Galilee led the field to the home turn, where Royal Dance, Laughing Lass, and Whirling were right up. The last-named got to the front inside the distance and scored nicely from Prince Acre, Royal Dance, Johnny Walls, Laughing Lass, Tray Bit, and Galilee, who were all well bunched. Whirling is racing solidly and his win made the stable's third for the meeting. Prince . Acre was a bit unlucky, for he.met with a check in the first furlong, Laughing Lass and Adalene also being affected. ANOTHER CLOSE FINISH. Gay Rose and Respectful, finishing strongly in the centre of the course, got the advantage over Te Hai, King Neptune, and Horowhenua when the latter trio were fighting it put near the rails. The winner was placed at the tail of the first bunch, and she then moved up on the outside to maintain her run. Respectful followed her closely. Gay Rose is back to her best form and her effort under the circumstances was highly creditable. Triune obtained a good position early and (hen retired at the end of five furlongs. Horowhenua was closer at the finish than at any part of the contest. RESULTS IN DETAIL. Results were:— Nelson Handicap, £300; 1 mile.—3 Valamito, 8.3 (C. G. Goulsbro'), 1; 10 Grand City, 7.8, car. 7.9 (P. Fearn), 2; 4 Valmint, 9.0 (Murray), 3. Also started: 5 Valspear 8.11, 2 Besiege 8.7, car. . 8.2,' 7 Black Musk 8.6, 8 Tutor 8.6, 1 Jack Tar 8.2, 11. Ringshot 7.12, car. 7.13, 15 Trouvaille 7.12, Tail Light 7.12, 12 Missal 7.8, car. 7.6, 14 Backblock 7.7, car. 7.2, 13 Very Glad 7.7, car. 7.8, 9 Te Broney 7.7. Half a head; half a head. Time, lmin 42 2-ssec. Victoria Handicap, £350; 6 furlongs. —1 Royal Bachelor, 8.6 (Broughton), 1; - 3 Wildflower, 9.8 (Morris), 2; 6 Saccone. 7.7 (Long), 3.- Also started: 5. Nuclei 8.10, 2 Dragon Moth 8.2, 4 Barricade 7.10. Two lengths; three-quarters of a length: Time, lmin 16 3-ssec. 'St. Helier's Hurdle Race, £300; 13 miles.—3 Killadar, 9.8 (Day), 1; 2 Sanddrift, 9.13 (Fergus), 2; 1 Windsor Lad, 10.8 (Muir), 3. Also started: 5 Digitalis 9.0, 4 Celtic Lad 9.0, car. 9.1. Neck; six lengths. Time, 3min 18 2-ssec. H. O. NOLAN HANDICAP, £650; li miles. 1 Gay Talkie, 7.13 (Long) 1 10 Day Wind. 7.7 (Tremain) 2 4 Kelly, 7.13 (McTavish) 3 Also started: 3 Flood Tide 9.13, 2 Scotland 8.9, 5 Master Brierly 8.9, 6 Knight of Australia 8.0, 7 Tooley Street 8.0, 8 Legatee 7.7, 9 Loombination 7.7. . Half a length; neck. Time, 2min 36 2-ssec. Autumn Steeplechase, £350; 3 miles. —1 Tudor, 11.5 (Mcßae), 1; 2 Forest Glow, 9.9 (McDowell), 2; 3 Irish Comet, 9.4, car. 9.8 (Muir), 3. Also started: 5 Billy Boy 10.11, 4 Valpeen 10.10. Four lengths; eight lengths. Time, 6min 1 2-ssec. GREAT NORTHERN ST. LEGER STAKES, £500; 1} miles. 1 Cerne Abbas, 8.7 (Broughton) ... 1 2 Mandamus,, 8.10 (Morris) 2 3 Rulette, 8.7. (C. G. Goulsbro') .... 3 Also started: 4 Raepata 8.10. Half a head; neck. Time, 3min 12 sec. .. •

Huia Handicap, £450; 6 furlongs.—l Whirling, 8.7 (Broughion), 1; 4 Prince Acre, 7.7, car. 7.7J (Home), 2; 5 Royal Dance, 8.4, car. 8.4J (Cavaney), 3. Also started: 3 Laughing Lass 8.7, 8 Tray Bit 8.6, 6 Adalene 8.2, 2 Galilee 7.13, 9 Sweet Rose 7.12, 7 Johnny Walls 7.7, car. 7.8, 10 Anion 7.7, car. 7.8, 11 Sebrof 7.7. Neck; head. Time, lrnin ..14sec.

Islington Handicap, £350; 1 mile. — 5 G)ay Rose, 8.3 (Home), 1; 7 Respectful,' 8.7 (C. G. Goulsbro'), 2; 6 Te Hai, 8.7 (Manson), 3. Also started: 3 Triune 9.4, 8 Lagoon 9.2, 2 King Neptune 8.10, 11 Horowhenua 8.10, car. 8.11, 1 Parquet . 8.7, 10 Versant 8.6, 4 High Tea .8.6, 9j Tradesman 8.0, 12 King Tut 8.0. Half ',a length; neck. Time, lmin 40 3-ssec.