RIOTOUS'S THIRD WIN

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 131, 6 June 1939, Page 13

RIOTOUS'S THIRD WIN

WANGANUI STEEPLES

MIGHT AT LONGISH PRICE

Although heavy rain set in half-way through the afternoon, the concluding day of the Wanganui Jockey Club's Winter Meeting at Wanganui yesterday was favoured to this extent that it kept fine in the district during the morning, which encouraged a large attendance for the holiday. When the rain came it was heavy and continual, which thinned the crowd during the closing events and also slowed up the betting. The rain that soaked Wellington in the early hours of the morning was experienced only as far north as Foxton, but occasional light showers gave threat of the downpour that was to follow in the afternoon.

The racing was good in spite of the < weather, and form was again a reliable j guide to most of the results. The ■ Wanganui Steeplechase was won for the third time by the Birkdale gelding , Riotous, who still carries the colours j of his trainer, L. Knapp, and Student < Prince beat the open hurdlers in the < June Hurdles. The Trentham stable- < mates, Might and Dungarvan, filled < the dividend places in the Empire Handicap, as Homily and Entail had done < in the corresponding event the first ] day, but Might's success was a general ; surprise and he .paid over a score. - Amigo justified his favouritism in the ] open sprint. . 1 The three-year-olds continued their good record of performance in the flat : events, Selkirk and Windsor Chief . taking the sequence registered on the ; opening day to seven, and then Amigo ; adding another success for horses of i the age. Eight out of the ten flat races at the meeting thus went to ; The' last event was run only about : a quarter of an hour after schedule, but darkness was falling and the dividends were paid, out in twilight and rain. ! 1 HER FIRST SUCCESS. Lady Callaghan, who has at times [ given promise as a jumper, opened her winning account in the Hack and. ; Hunters' Steeplechase, a race in which she ran third last year when having , her first race. She was at the rear • for over a mile, but then moved for- • ward and took charge three fences from home, after which she opened ■ a gap that the others were unable to : close. She jumped well all the way, except that she reached for the first : fence. '~ •, , ] This mare is a ■ six-year-old black ■ daughter of Callaghan, who got a number of useful jumpers, including ; the Great Northern Steeplechase and Grand National Hurdles winner Calla- : rftart,~and she is out of a mare by Lord Lupin, a son of Lupin, which brings : in further proved jumping strains. She is trained -at Marton by her; owner. Mr. N. Williamson. : Glenvane was in front part ot the way, but he did not care to hold that position, and when Lady Callaghan slipped the field three furlongs from home he was left with a formidable task to pull her back and was quite • unable to achieves this result. He ; saved a lot of ground by jumping very close to the wings, but lost his place ■ among the leaders with a ■ mistake at ; the third last fence. - , In the hack hurdles recently at . Manawatu Glenvane beat Lady cai- : laghan, but a stone wprse terms yes- ; terday saw him succumbing to the "^Master Hector, whose jumping was . riot always too sound, was a moderate , third and Redolent, fencing indmer- ; ently' at times, faded over the closing section. Ruadina, when m front, crashed' at the third obstacle, horse and rider escaping injury. Raparahara •completed the course well back, but his jumping for a round was an mv ■ provement on his recent Awapuni showing. MARKED IMPROVEMENT. Selkirk showed marked improvement on recent efforts in winning the CastleclifE Handicap, for, though he scored only by a neck, he did so most attractively after having to overcome the disadvantages of a slow start and then disappointment when angling for an opening in the straight. This was Selkirk's first real touch of the promise that he has given in his private work. It was with the most facile ease that he raced into a gap behind 'the three leaders, Master Solway, Snigger, and Eurotas, who were in line, when rounding the turn, and then, after failing to find a gap on the inner or between Master Sol-way-and Snigger in the straight, he was steadied and taken to the outer, finally winning well and going right away. Selkirk is a three-year-old bay colt by Defoe out of the Gay Lad—Gar- - garon mare Gilgot, a branch of the Juliet family that has produced such horses as Francolin, Tea Chat, Wakatipu (a good winner in South Africa), Maioha, Seatown, Pink Coat, and others. Bred by Mr. E. N. Cunningham, of Lower Hutt, he was purchased for only 65 guineas as a yearling by Dawning Light's owner, Mr. W. J. Carson, now of Palmerston North, who is racing him in partnership with Mr. J. W. Travis, of Feilding. He is now trained at Feilding by C. Pilcher. | Snigger ran her usual honest race, | but she had to go back to a minor j place once again. Master Solway, always one of the leaders,, went his best race yet to be cut narrowly out of second dividend. The best of the others were Eurotas (who had every chance), Peach King, Gitana Lass, and Lady Baron. The favourite, Young Charles, was facing about at the start. While the horses were at the post waiting for the totalisator to close, W, Ellis, who was on Phil, was taken sick, and he was replaced by W. Jenkins. Phil did not begin well and was never prominent. STUDENT PRINCE AGAIN. The first day's hack form proved superior to the open form in the June Hurdles, Student Prince scoring comfortably from Lustral, with the rest | well beaten. Student Prince ran right j up to. his Saturday's form, but Lustral improved a deal with the benefit of that race, when he was only a fair fifth after tailing the field nearly all j the way. I Student Prince was slow away and last for the first half-mile, but going through the straight he improved his position with a fast run, and along the back he'ran into third place be- j hind Lustral and Small Boy, none of j the others appearing capable of going up to the leaders. He joined) Lustral in front after the second last fence, and after the pair of them had gone over a fallen panel of the final fence together he drew away to win by a couple of lengths. Student Prince is developing into a really good jumper, and he is a welcome recruit to the game in a lean I year. On his latest showings he is a horse who might even take one of the bigger events before the season j concludes, particularly as he acts well j in heavy ground. Lustral, with a change of riders, i made a much better showing, but he! is a horse like that. His jumping was j safe, but he is susceptible to further improvement in the accuracy of his fencing, as he does not always measure his distance too well. On this occasion he was one of the leaders throughout and jumped away from Small Boy at the third last fence. Erebus, pulling hard, was finally •reefed in behind the field .after the first six furlongs, and, raced this way. he came on better over the last halfmile to. secure third money. Silver Sight had every chance, but finally tired into, fourth. . Small Boy again spoiled his chance with his fencing, and Disturbed was,not as sound as in

the Century Hurdles. Airam and Journet both ran poorly, well astern and never improving. WINDSOR CHIEF NARROWLY. Windsor Chief was overdue for the win that came to him in the Balgownie Hack Handicap, and, because of the heavy support for Rehearsal, more than twice-as well backed as anything else, he was at a very acceptable price for a second favourite. Windsor Chief ran his race very much as he did on the first day, when he beat everything except Verey [Lights. Improving fast from the halfjmile, he joined Aurora's Star in the van entering the straight, and, hard ridden, he kept his head just in front of the filly over the last furlong. Under pressure he is inclined to mix his stride, but though he did not have the best control of his legs in yesterday's finish he did not begin to climb, as he did on the first day.

This was Windsor Chiefs third success to date, and he is a horse who should later on have no trouble in making the grade to open class. He is a three-year-old bay gelding by Captain Bunsby from the Limond —Molleen Oge mare Crubeen. hence he is a full-brother to Auto Sweep and a half-brother to Cottesmore and Windsoreen, and he races in the colours of his breeder-trainer, Mr. L. Butler, of Inglewood.

Aurora's Star improved on her first day's form. She raced away from the field at the three furlongs, but Windsor Chief went after her and, though she stuck on gamely, she could not stall off tais challenger, whom she was closing on again in the last fifty yards. Happy Heels, among the early leaders, lost his place at the half-mile, but he came on strongly again near the finish to be an easy third. Rehearsal was chopped back to last at the halfmile, and though he ran on solidly over the final bit the nearest he could get was fourth. Sunbeam and Vadanoe, the leaders along the back, both tired. | Lucullus Boy was badly away, and; after making up much of the lost ground, he dropped out again before the closing stage. Windsor Chief was the seventh three-year-old flat winner in seven such] races at the meeting, a unique performance. CAPABLE HANDLING. Riotous won his third Wanganui Steeplechase ,when he stayed on too well for his opposition in this year's coritest. His first two successes were achieved back in 1934 and 1935 when he was five and six years old respectively. He also started in the race last year,! but "he was then only fourth. Three other horses have succeeded twice in the race, but Riotous is the first to have taken the honour on three occasions.^

Riotous was the best-ridden horse in the race, and credit for the victory goes in large measure to his pilot. P. Burgess, who does not now often take rides over the country. Burgess did not mind that he was last most of the way, so long as the leaders did not tear away. Even at the second last fence he was only fourth of the five horses remaining in, but he had still not been asked for an effort. Burgess then for the first time made -, call on him. and so well did he respond that he was just behind the" leader, Lord Hereford', for the final fence, and completely outstayed the first-day winner in the run to the post. Riotous, who is now ten years old, has never looked better than he does this winter. He has thickened out into a very robust horse, and he could not have failed to attract the attention of those who watched the horses as they walked round on the track in front of the stands waiting, for the start. This was his second important win this winter, as recently he also scored in the Te Rapa Steeplechase. He was not entered for>. the' Great Northern, but will now probably go on to take his place in the Wellington and Grand National Steeplechases. Lord Hereford was always near the front and he had charge from the beginning of the last round, but he was outstayed by .Riotous. Lord Hereford and Riotous both jumped well all the way. except that the former reached for the hencoop near the five furlongs the last time. ..''.* Lactose made up ground fast from the half-mile, then pecked badly at the second last fence when m second place, which cost him several lengths and probably second place, as he got back within half a length of Lord Hereford at the post, though the latter was easing up. . Sporting Song, pulling hard out in front early, weakened over the. last three furlongs. Till the last round 1 j jumped soundly, but then began to risk his fences. Silk Sox tried several times to pass Sporting Song and for a short space he succeeded in taking the lead. Then he tired very badly, and he collapsed an exhausted horse at the final fence. Count Willonyx was still a prospect when he crashed three fences from home, a fence at which Sporting Song nearly lost his rider. STABLEMATES IN DIVIDENDS. Might was a surprise victor of the Empire Handicap, and his much betterbacked stablemate Dungarvan paid the other dividend. It could hardly be termed a good race for the T.. R. George stable, however, as the betting indicated that it was the wrong leg that came home. Quite a number of times this season a well-fancied horse from this establishment has gone under to another practically unbacked horse from the stable. Might was definitely unlucky on the first day, when he was in trouble on the fence nearly all the way and then finished handy. The ram that had commenced to fall two races previous|ly helped him, but it was also m fav!our of Dungarvan. Might drew No. 5 and was always within range of the front, though eight or nine places back in the first call. Going past the five furlongs he followed Dungarvan in a move to the leaders, and on the turn he passed round the outer of Bungarvan to take) third place behind Lord Moutoa and Granvale Once in the straight he was taken to the van and kept going to score by a couple of lengths. This was Might's second win since his resumption, and there is evidently life in the old horse yet, who. was pensioned off twelve months ago but was doing so well in the paddock that he was returned to training. He is now rising ten years old but looks better than he has for two or three 1 Might's rider, H. Challinder, was enjoying his first success in the Dominion, whither he came from South Australia about six weeks ago. Challinder held only a B licence in that State, but he was one of the most successful horsemen round the provincial meetings there. He has ridden Might three times now and has got good races out of him on each occasion. Dungarvan was handicapped by I drawing No. 14 marble, and in working early to a good position he had to use up a deal of his reserve, which usually tells on a topweight. However, he still improved his position along the back till he was third, and after following Might into the straight he wore down the leaders for second. On this showing his turn should be near at hand. Happy-Landing was in the bunch j I following the leaders to the straight land then came on for third. Aussie Raj who lost a forward position in the i middle stages, again finished very | I solidly into fourth berth. Sergia.was i also running on for a change. , ! Royal Minstrel, who shared the early j lead with Lord Moutoa, was never i further back than fifth, so he had every apparent chance. The favourite. Fox- i love, did not have the best of runs i after being hemmed in from the start, on the rail. Prince Rangi, Lord Mou- ■ toa and Granvale went fair races, and ■ Entail came from near the rear to beat several horses home. None of the ■ others made any worthwhile showing. As on the first day, stablemates filled ' the two first places in the main flat i event. However. Homily and Entail , were a bracketed pair, whereas Might i and Dungarvan race in different inter-

ests. Might was one of the outsiders, No. 13 in the betting as well as carrying that saddle, and he paid over a score. AMIGO TAKES SPRINT. Amigo' confirmed his first day's promise by romping home an easy winned of the Belmont Handicap. He has not altogether lived up to his two-year-old form during the season, but this was 'something like his old briljliance. Two of his three wins during ; the term have been sprints on the Wanganui track, and his time yesterday is particularly good considering the conditions. Amigo was favoured with an excellent run throughout the race. Early he followed Footloose, Rhodesian. and Hunting Blood, but the last-named was off the track and let him up on the turn. With an exceptionally brilliant burst he then dashed up round the outer to join Rhodesian in front en- | tering the straight and from that point he drew right away. Solaria, who has been racing consistently lately, was again in second money. He followed the winner most of the way, but was left literally standing when the three-year-old raced up to the leaders. In the straight, however, he finished too well for the pacemakers. . , Corato was unlucky in being badly away, losing anything up to a dozen lengths, and his chance looked completely hopeless. Yet he came through with brilliance comparable with that of the winner in the straight, and he finished up only half a length behind Solaria. With an even start he would have troubled Amigo, despite the apparent ease of the latteVs victory. Rhodesian tired into fourth, and the best of the others were Deficit and Footloose, who 'had every chance. Hunting Blood was hanging and tired. Besides Corato, Life Guard and Lowenberg were also left. Aureus again ran poorly. AN EXCITING FINISH. Liberal's Mint recorded his second win in five starts to date when he just hung on to secure the.verdict in an exciting finish for the Farewell Hack Handicap. He was one of the leaders all the way, and after assuming charge from Golden Pam and Amoroso entering the straight he stuck on gallantly to hold off all challengers by a neck. Liberal's Mint won at his first start at Stratford a couple of months ago, and he was also second to Native Song on Saturday. He is a four-year-old black gelding by the Catmint horse Mintleaf from the Guianforte mare Liberal Lady, who belongs to an old Taranaki family that ha°s not had any success for decades. He carries the colours of Mr. J. Cole, of Motonui, near Waitara, for whom he is trained by H. Dulieu, and as he is bred to handle winter tracks he might not be long in scoring again. There was a real set-to for the other dividend, and Amoroso battled on courageously to keep Pretty Lass, Dawn Star, and Haile Selassie out by short heads. Amoroso was always one of the three leaders, but the other three came from well back.

The favourite, Native Song, was handy to the straight, but then stopped under his extra weight on the wet track. Golden Pam, who was actual leader for half a mile, also faded. Sang Bleu ran a likely race wide out till the turn, but the extra ground this big horse covered settled his chance.