A GOOD INNINGS

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 40, 16 August 1944, Page 8

A GOOD INNINGS

VISITORS AT RICCARTON

After enjoying quite a good innings at the Christchurch Hunt Meeting, Awapuni-traincd horses took a big share of the prize-money at the Grand National fixture on the two succeeding Saturdays. At the earlier gathering they annexed £1205, and added a further £2645 at the National, making the substantial aggregate of £3850 for the trip. Kanui Te Pai, who followed up his second in the Grand National Steeples by winning the' Lincoln Steeples on the later day, credited his ovyner with £ 1075. The next best contributor was Monmouth, who scored on both days. among the hack hurdlers, the two efforts producing £560, or £35 more than Authoress secured when she won the Sydenham Hurdles. Kaitoa's success in the Woolston Hack Handicap brought in £280, and £he balance was supplied in place-money by Borak and Lightfair. • ,^ • Modest Return. —Prior to the opening of the Grand National Meeting the Invercargill trainer W. E, Hazlett appeared -to be in for a good innings, but his only return was by Spanish Main, winner of the Enfleld Steeples 011 the opening day. Noko failed and Anglo-French had to be kept in his box through developing a cold Spanish Main was brought north by L. Knapp to compete at Hawera, but with 11.3 does not appear to hold very bright prospects. Incidentally, Spanish Main has been repeatedly described as a mare, and was'so given in the race book at Riccarton, but is a gelding. Bold Showing.—Arabian Night, who closed his hack career auspiciously at the Dunedin Meeting with three successes in heavy going, ran. a great race for second in the. Islington Handicap on the second day at Riccarton. A brother to Alaric and half-brother to Nereus, he promises to develop into a 'useful handicapper. Splendid Order.—Two of the bestconditioned horses at. the National Meeting were Kanui Te Pai and, Monmouth, and they ran accordingly. A shade unlucky to be beaten in the Grand National Steeples, Kanui Te Pai scored with 11.7 in the Lincoln Steeples, and Monmouth won among the hack hurdlers each day. It was by sheer courage'that Kanui Te Pai wore down Timber Topper, who had an advantage 0f.33J1b. In future. Monmouth. will have to do his ( racing in the higher grade, but he should go still further.

Juveniles.—A parade of two-year-olds was held on the second day at Riccarton; they had a run over a couple of furlongs or so. In the first division Racilla, a filly by Tiderace from the Chief Ruler mare Coronilla, was first home from Campsie (Battle Song —Goy) and Competitor (Foxbridge— Lalla Quex), and in the second Eudora (Fdxbridge—Mayfair) won from Montezuma (Battle Song—Praise) and Superlative (Chats worth—Exaggeration). Although' beaten into fourth in her heat, Princess Anne (Coronach— La Bru) rather impressed.

Retainers.—Mr. M. J. Moodabee, of Auckland, who has a number of horses in H. Dulieu's stable at Awapuni, will have first dall on W. J. Broughton's services this season, and the Trentham horseman A. J. T. Stokes has been retained by ,Mr. C. E. Robertson, who supervises the racing of a number of horses on1 behalf of overseas owners.

Brilliant.—The Golden Eagle—•Amyril gelding Pensacola produced a brilliant turn of speed to run to the front in! the Woolston. Hack Handicap at Riccarton, • but was stopping over the final pinch and was beaten into fourth. A good-looking type, he should win races when he becomes more solid.

Likely Southerner. —Bred''1 by the Wingatui trainer W. McEwan, although he carries the colours of Mr. J. W. Ensor, Albino should win races on the southern circuit. He is by Te Monanui from Arden's Beauty, and is the only one of that mare's progeny to have raced. Arden's Beauty won races, but did not approach the heights of her dam,'Mu'rihiku, who was a classy sprinter in her day. Back to Form.—After finishing eighth in the Winter Cup, Foxleap improved to run second to Kevin in the Islington Handicap on the second day ■at Riccarton. A big handicap should come her way in the south in the near future,

Jumping- Blood.—For a brief period in the Sydenham Hurdles on the second day at ■ the National Meeting The Vulture showed pace and jumping ability. He has not had much racing, it being his first appearance in public since the 1940-41 term, but he is bred on sound lines, being by Valkyrian from the Day Comet mare Silent Flight. Although eight years of age, there may be still hope for him.