OPENING DAY AT DANNEVIRKE

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 100, 30 April 1938, Page 22

OPENING DAY AT DANNEVIRKE

WEATHER SERIOUSLY AFFECTS INVESTMENTS

(By "Binocular.")

With heavy rain setting in overnight there appeared to be a grave possibility of the Dannevirke Racing Club's Annual Meeting being postponed, but towards daybreak the weather improved and conditions were quite favourable when the fixture was entered upon, although the track, as was only to be expected, was soft and the horses cut into it as the day advanced. Unfortunately, the attendance of patrons suffered and the totalisator showed a decline of approximately 25 per cent, compared with the first day last year, when the meeting was alstr held on the Woodville course.

Producing something approaching his old form, and being at home in the heavy going, Passion Fruit brought off a mild surprise in the Dannevirke Handicap when he secured an opening on the rails turning for home and beat Conveyer, who had raced on the out-side-of three horses throughout and was then finishing on at the post. Arctic King, who had been entrusted with almost a third of the totalisator investments, promised to be the winner three furlongs from home, but the fact that his rider had moved a little prematurely left the Great Autumn Handicap winner without his customary finishing run.

. A number of minor matters engaged the attention of the judicial committee during the* course of the day, and two jockeys, C. G. Goulsbro' and G. R. Tattersall, were both ■ cautioned, the former for boring over on Meamea when riding Boldstep in the Tahoraite Handicap, and his fellow-horseman for interference with White Lady when piloting Great Legion in the Juvenile Handicap. ■ IN HOLLOW FASHION. Despite being a little slow to begin, Iddo ran forward to take up a handy position within the initial half-mile in the Mangatera\Hurdles, and, after Power Chief lost charge through being slow to take the fence seven furlongs from home, he went into the lead and stayed there to the close, drawing away over the last 150 yards to win I very easily from Hirangi and Taumau, both of whom moved forward going along the back on the final circuit. The winner, who is a six-year-old gelding by Tractor from the King Soujt mare Belgian Queen, carries the colours of Mr. W. J. Wood, who had a good performer in Chopin to represent him on the Turf a few seasons ago. Iddo, like Chopin, is proving to be a consistent place-getter.

The start was a somewhat ragged I one and Tres Sec and Fair Day both got away baSly. On the other hand, Master Hector arid Power Chief, who had been drawn close in, jumped out smartly, and the former flew the first fence in great style only to run off turning 4nto: the straight, the effort

having burst the bellyband.' Power Chief fenced slowly, but displayed pace on the flat, and he should make good with experience. Southern Blood made a faulty jump along the back on the final round when holding a good position and he could not make up the leeway thereafter. Lustral finished strongly over the last half-mile to get up, and beat Power Chief and Padnos on the post, and this Trentham representative should make good in the game. Fair Day, a commanding-looking chestnut by Cape Horn from the Kilbroney mare Fairone, was never in the hunt after his slow get-away. FINISHES STRONGLY. With the services of C. G. Goulsbro' in the saddle, Heay Bridge (formerly Fitz-James) was installed favourite for the Rakaiatai Maiden Stakes, and he carried his backers through quite comfortably to signal his first start in public in his new name. Reay Bridge is a fourryear-old by Master Colossus from an East Coast mare called Likely who was by Signalman out of the Strowan mare Ladylike, a winner of upwards of a score of races about 30" years ago. The manner in which he drew away in the final furlong mdi-

cates that Reay Bridge will win over longer distances later on. Brilliant Acre attempted to lead from start to finish, but he weakened slightly in the run home and failed to hold off Rcay Bridge's challenge. Royal Tinge, on the other hand, finished very solidly after being required to start from the outside position to take third place, a half-head in front of Tom Tom, who failed to foot it with her opponents in the first two furlongs, and had to make up a lot of ground in. the run home. Hastings' West showea plenty of speed over half a mile; but did not appreciate the conditions and dropped back at the top of the straight. Red Cockade, a big type of a three-year-old by Robespierre from Queen's Diadem, a sister to Queen's Pride, failed to foot it with the others, but he js a likely sort to make good over a, longer distance. A NEW LEASE OF LIFE. Although the defection of Might and Lady Siegfried left only six runners to contest the Dannevirke Handicap, the principal event of the afternoon was productive of an enthusiastic reception to' a surprise winner, Passion Fruit staging a return to form to carry off the honours. The Lord Quex gelding, who comes from that fruiful matron Los Vegas, who was one of the Flaxmere mares, originally carried the colours of Mr. O. Nelson, who also bred and raced his younger full-sister, Passion Flower, but he was acquired some little time ago by Mr. L. C. Breakwell, of Dannevirke when considered practically a hopeless proposition because of unsoundness. Since then he has won four races. "■

Sergia, Mister Quex, and Conveyer took up ; the running passing through the straight and the trio were practically on terms throughout the running, Conveyer being required to cover a tremendous amount of extra ground. Arctic King filled his customary place at the rear of the field, but his rider moved a trifle soon to be handy to the leaders as they turned for home, Passion Fruit being on. the inner. With Conveyer wide out on the track as they straightened out, Passion Fruit came through on the rails to secure the advantage, and, hard ridden, he

drew away to win by three lengths from Conveyer, with Arctic King a short length back. The runner-up was the unlucky competitor, but Arctic King might have been much more troublesome had his run been delayed. Sergia and Mister Quex showed pace for a mile, but they then cried "quits." A SMART YOUNGSTER. Despite being badly drawn at the barrier, Great Legion began sufficiently w«ll to range up to White Lady within the first furlong in the Makirikiri Juvenile Handicap, and the Australianbred gelding went into the lead crossing the top. Keeping to the rails, he secured a break on the field as they straightened out, and, kept up to his work, he held off the fast-finishing FootlooseHo turn the tables on his Feilding victor by two and a half lengths, with Brazil, who came from well back, a similar distance away. The winner, who is by Fernkloof from the Heroic mare Cool Courage, a member of the same family as Solution, Kilboy, Miss Delaval, etc., was bought at the Sydney Sales for 70 guineas by T. R. George, who passed him on to his present owner, the Awapuni trainer G. W. New.

Hunter's Eve, who had won at her preceding start at Tauherenikau and on the same course at New Year., was never able to reach the front, and she then failed to handle the turn, although she held on to fill fourth place, Brazil finishing the stronger to beat her for the minor stake-money. White Lady, who was next to finish, showed early brilliance, but possibly the going was against her, and the Aus-tralian-bred Lady Melfort should also improve. The good-looking Coronation was never in the firing line, but finished fairly well to be eighth . CONSISTENCY REWARDED. An overdue win came to Earl Colossus in the Akitio Handicap when the Colossus gelding finished very resolutely to win nicely by two lengths from the fast-finishing Lady Montana, who was indifferently placed as the field turned for home. Although he did most of his racing-in-the colours of Mr. H. S. George, of Levin, Earl Colossus raced in the interest of Mr. W. Capper, of Levin, for a time. However, he reverted to his breeder at the expiration of the lease, and it was in Mr. Gsorge's colours that he won. i Treadwell, the dam of the winner, traces back to the famed Juliet through the same branch of the family as that to which Martini-Henry. Ammon Ra, etc., belong but Earl Colossus has fallen far short of his august relatives.

Lady Montana, who had won a I double in the mud at Tauherenikau, ran another honest race, being somewhat unlucky in losing ground at a critical stage. Ilias, who was making her first appearance since the Wellington March Meeting, made a bold bid for the honours, but weakened over the final furlong. The well-bred Perfect Idea, who is a full-sister to La Moderne and Gay Ballerina, was hav-j ing only her second race for the sea- j son, but she finished strongly and should improve. Both Gaiwind and Doctor Defoe, who followed her home,! | had every chance, and Hunting Mint | was a complete disappointment. A CLOSE FINISH. A keen struggle for supremacy saw Mcamea and Boldstcp fight out the finish of the Tahoraite Hack Handicap, the former holding on to secure the

verdict by a short head from the favourite; Both horses were well back approaching the straight entrance and then turned wide out on the track to come through together and fight it out. Meamea, who was the first foal of the Arausiomare Hine Wehi, a daughter of Te Aupaki (the dam of Toxeuma), has been enjoying an excellent season, having won five races this season, the last two in succession.

Ilion and Conversion showed early speed to take up the running from Rowana, Sardius, and Gay Molly, but Sardius joined Ilion crossing the top only to immediately retire once the" straight was reached. • Conversion and Gay Molly came through on the rails but weakened, and it was not till inside the distance that Meamea and Boldstep put in their claims. Okawa also finished strongly to take third place three lengths back and ahead of Conversion and Son and Heir. Noisy Night failed to produce his customary speed, but Happy Landing, who was making his first appearance after a lengthy spell, ran a highly creditable race for a fresh horse. ANOTHER FOR PUROTO. Nicely placed throughout the running in the Oringi Hack Handicap, Puroto was taken to the front at the straight entrance to win by a short length from Naughty Marietta, who was in'the rear of the strung-out field five furlongs from home. Since linking up with the stable which housed her younger brother, Martara, during the height of his career in the Dominion Puroto has produced improved form. She registered her first success in a distance event at Feildmg at Easter, and the manner in which she stayed on at her second successful effort points to her maintaining the Inheritance and Warehi filled the role of pacemakers for the major portion of the journey, but they were finished with at the top of the straight, although Warehi battled on to take fifth place, and Lord Quick also found the distance and going too much lor him. Mahutai ran quite a fair-race, but Entheos, who looked a trifle burly., was never dangerous. Naughty Marietta was'undoubtedly the unlucky runner, for she had to come round her field on the turn.