SPORTING

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIII, Issue 45, 23 February 1942, Page 8

SPORTING

GOLD BRIDGE'S CUP

TUATARA TAKES SPRINT

(By "Binocular.")

Although heavy rain fell during the early hours of Friday morning, the weather cleared for the Woodville Jockey Club's Autumn Meeting at Ashhurst on Saturday. The track was in splendid order and a large crowd was present. The totalisator handled £15,650 10s. as against £20,128 10s at Woodville last year, when the wm-and-place system operated. The Woodville Cup was productive of a big surprise when two lightweights, Gold Bridge and Maestro, both beat the Ashhurst Cup winner, Talenta. Actually, Gold Bridge carried 1241b overweight, and it was magnificent riding on the part of W. J. Stevens that enabled the Acre gelding to come through along the rail to win going away from Maestro, who was a half neck in front of Talenta, with Diana Tetrix a head away. It was a sharp improvement on the part of Diana Tetrix, who was in the firing line throughout on this occasion. Red Cat was handily placed on the turn, but could not go on with it, whereas Gay Fox and Young Charles came from some distance back in the closing stages. It required a'sustained effort on the part of Tuatara to win the Ruahine Handicap, for,, one of the slowest to begin, he had to make his run on the turn to work within striking distance of the pacemakers, Cheerful Lady and Pay Roll, and then carry on over the final pinch. . Night Eruption was ahead of the winner turning for home, and although the topweight came home well she could not quite bridge the gap, although she gathered up Cheerful Lady just short of the post. Happy Ending also came home in great style, but Pay Roll again stopped after being in the van to the entrance. Poutatau, after being the early pacemaker, retired in the straight and was last to finish. FULLY-MERITED WIN. After making the pace for the major portion of the journey in the Oringi Hurdles,. Colincamps gave way to Glaciate rounding the turn, but he recovered the lost advantage at the last fence and then worried his opponent out of the verdict by a short neck. Colincamps, who did not commence his run till later, was third, but some five or six lengths back, with Vengeance, Colibri, and Indian Sun practically in line. There was some bumping on the turn going away from home, and Colibri and Cartoonist suffered. PROMISE FULFILLED. Registrar, who had shown promise in a division of the Maiden Stakes at Woodville in December, won the Maiden Plate in good style, although he had to be kept going to hold off Leisurely, who was, unlucky in that she had to come round her field. Blue Lagoon showed early speed to lead into the straight, but weakened into third, some five lengths back, with Underbank, Parish Queen, and Pakitararua together. PIKO PIKO EASILY. A very warm order for the Sapling Stakes, being under two-to-one on, Piko Piko carried his army of backers through quite successfully. Solver was the first to show out, but Piko Piko quickly ran past to turn for home ahead of Dashup and Solver, with Sir Bradbury making up ground. The last-named threw out a brief challenge after straightening up, but Piko Piko held him off quite comfortably, with Dashup a good third. Solver and Tawhainui were next. OPENS HER ACCOUNT. Favourite for the second division of the Maiden Plate, Crispin was badly left, and although he ran up on the turn he ruined his chance by running wide. Te Pourdhe and Lady Virginia were in the van from Ara as they straightened up for home, and over the final furlong Lady Virginia drew away to win quite comfortably from Ara, who finished a shade too well for the stable's other candidate, Te Pourohe. Kinariki and Skipper Gay were next. A HOLLOW VICTORY. Sterling Lad, who had run two splendid races at Otaki a week previously, won the County Hack Handicap very decisively. Dungloe began smartly, but was almost immediately joined by Sterling Lad, with Matalite also ranging up. The last-named pair took over from Dungloe, but Sterling Lad was in sole charge at the straight entrance, and he went on to an easy victory from Dungloe, with Whackie, who met with a check going down the back, finishing solidly in third place. Matalite weakened into fourth, with Theatre, who did not display his customary early brilliance, alongside. » TRIPLE CROWN THE LAST. ffhe field in the Kumeroa Hack. Handicap was hurried along in the early stages by Lady Derby and Crucible, But these speedsters all weakened. Ringless, who had been well back early, was able to steadily improve her position to be handy at the straight entrance, but Triple Crown, who had been better favoured, had a little too much in reserve, and drew clear over the final pinch. Crucible was three lengths back, with Olein, who had been in front with two 'furlongs to go, next. There was a gap to Myarion and Taane Pango. DETAILED RESULTS. Tha results were:— Oringi Hurdle Handicap, £120; V/ 2 miles. —3 Colincamps, 10.5 (J. Hayes), 1; 2 Glaciate, car. 9.9 (W. Taylor), 2; 1 Cartoonist, 10.9 (W. Stevens); 3. All started. Half a length; eight. Time, 2min 47 l-ssee. (Winner trained by L. A. Pine, Awapuni.) Jlaidon JPlate, £100; weight, 8.11; 0 furlongs.—First division: 2 Registrar (R. J. Atkins), 1; 1 Leisurely (U. Bedstone), 2; 9 Blue Lagoon (R. Ireland), 3. Scr.: Sylva Lass. Short neck; five lengths. Time, Imin 16 3-ssec. (Winner trained hy W. Morrison, Otaki.) Woodville Cup Handicap, £250; 1% miles. —8 Gold Bridge, 7.12y 3 (W. Stevens). 1; 10 Maestro, T.O (I. Galvin), 2; 1 Talenta, 8.9 (D. Redstone), 8. Scr: Night Eruption. Half a length; half a neck. Time, 2min 9 l-ssec. (Winner trained by C. J. Thomson, Awapuni.) Sapling Stakes, £120; for two-year-olds; 5 furlongs.—l Piko Piko, 8.7 (B. Morris), 1; 7 Sir Bradbury, 7.12 (C. Bowry). 2; 2 Dashup, 8.1 (W. Aitken), 3. Scr: (foronace. Three lengths; one and a half. Time, lrain Isec. (Winner trained by B. H. Morris, Greenmeadows.)

Ruahine Handicap, £ 150; 0 furlongs.—3 Tuatara, car. 8.0 (P. Carroll), I; 2 Night Eruption, car. 8.7 (W. Reid). 2; 5 Cheerful Lady. car. 8.2 (13. Lewis). 3. Scr: Parlato. Neck; head. Time, Imin 14see, (Winner trained by D. Marks, Fordell.) Maiden Plate, filOO; vfeight, 8.11 ; 0 furlongs.—Second division: 2 Lady Virginia (P. Burgess). 1: 6 Ara (N, Vaughan). 2; 4 Te Pourohe (D. Redstone), 3. All started. Four lengths; three. Kinariki was fourth. Time, Imin 15 2-ssee. (Winner (rained by ,(. J. Waller, Awapuni.)

County Hack Handicap, £120: (j furlongs. —2 Sterling Lad, 7.11 (D. Redstone), 1; 3 Dimgloe, !).O (P. Burgess). 2: 4 Whackle. car. 7.9 (C. Bowry), 3. Scr: .lay Luxe. Four lengths: two. Time. Imin 15sec. (Winner trained by Mrs. A. W, McDonald. Awapuni.) Kumeroa Hack Handicap, £130: 9 furlongs. •—3 Triple Crown, car. 7.7 (W. Reid), 1: 6 Ringless. 7.7 (N. Vaujrlian). 2; 5 Crucible, car* I.Wi (W. Altken). 3. Scr.: Duality. Queen Cardine, Poutu, Greek Idol. Length and a half; three. Olein -was fourth. Time. Imin 54sec. (Winner trained by V. E. Bryant, Foxton.)-