C.J.C. METROPOLITAN MEETING

Evening Star, Issue 18118, 7 November 1922, Page 5

C.J.C. METROPOLITAN MEETING

SEVERAL OUTSIDERS SCORE. METROPOLITAN TO MARQUETEUR, [SraCIAL TO THS ‘Stah.’] ; CHRISTCHURCH, November 6. Racing was continued 1 at Riccurfcon today under nice conditions.. There whs a b'g shrinkage in the attendance, which hardly came up to the average of previous ream. The truck waa. slower than ou Saturday. but the racing was full of interest. ’ Gloaming and Scion have both gone amiss. The former's defection from the Stead Memorial Cup should leave Winning Hit with a rare chance. _ Three North Islanders in Sir Fanciful, Rowan, and Black Art monopolised the betting in the Middleton Hurdles, the best fancied of the Southern division being St. Easel. Clearing right out from his held, at the end of a furlong Black Art almost spoilt his chance at the six-funong post, where he took off too close, and 1 stopped to almost a walk. Then the two favorites —Rowan and Sir Fanciful went on with, the argument, and they were almost on terms as the home stretch was entered. On settling to business again, Black Art gradually made up bis leeway. Just after crossing the last jump he had Sir Fanciful's measure, and, .though hard ridden, scored in nice stylo by two lengths from the favorite. ' Londonderry toppled over at. Cutis's, and Lord Usk could not go with bis field. 1 Though raised 181 b for her Stewards Handicap win, Glentruin was made a strong order for the Criterion Handicap, and she ; aguin justified her backing. In the early stages Rational and Lovesign set a reiy solid pace, with Glentruin, Songbird. and Royal Mac always within striking distance. Going round the top turn. Rational . was given a breather, and Anomaly (who had been very _ slow to begin) could be seen making up his ground in great style. Before reaching’the distance poet 'Rational and Royal .Mac were both being ridden to keep their positions. No sooner had Glentruin settled their pretentions than Anomaly carao along with a fine effort on the outside of his field. This was a game effort, for though all through the early stages ho was quite half a. dozen lengths behind the Stewards’ Handicap winner, only a neck separated them as the post was reached. " Martian Miss was another putting in good work at the finish, after being very slow to jump, out. But Songbird and Royal Mao had everything in their favor, and failed to go on. Though eleven two-year-olds lined up for the Irwell Handicap, only Tukia was seriously considered by backers, the 'Welcome Stakes winner carrying- about qnoihird of tbe investments on the machine. Jumping out smartly, Tukia and Raazle Dazzle were in charge practically from the start, wliilo several of the others could not go the pace set. by this pair. As they reached the outer stand, Razzle Dazzle closed 1 in on Tukia, and stopped her. Oivlescombo, after being none too well placed in l -the early stages, finished on very gamely, and) she will bo all the better with her experience. OP the unplaced division, Avonlea and Parody gave most promise. After the race on inquiry was held into the riding of Razzle Dazzle.- Tukia’s iockev stated that he was interfered with by Razzle Dazzle at Die entrance to the straight. After -hearing a good- deal of evidence no action was taken-. From the iuilookers’ point of view it seemed as if the second bump that Tukia gob nearing the winning post was just as serious as the previous one. The withdrawal of Veil and Kahikitea from the Derby left a field) of five to dispute possession of the Blue Ribbon. In the betting it was a good match between King's Trumpeter and Enthusiasm., both of whom look particularly well. In the early stages nothing would 1 force the pace, so that it was slow before the half-mile post was reached. Then Many Kittle’s rider decided to have a turn at pacemakimr, and at the seven-furlong post he_was four or five lengths out from Enthusiasm and King’s Trumpeter. All rounded tbe top turn, and till well into the -home straight Many Kittle was going very freely in front, well out from Enthusiasm and King’s Trumpeter, the latter all the while reefing for his head. -At the distance they settled to actual work, and at once Enthusiasm made Many Kittle look cheap; Drawing right away, she won by a length and a-halr in most impressive style. Though it is quite probable that the oest horse on the day got the verdict. King’s Trumpeter’s rider might have made better use of his mount.

On her fine finishing effort in the Stewards’ Stakes Limelight looked a good proposition for the Hagley Handicap, and she was naturally made a good l favorite in what looked like an indifferent field. She did not jump out well, and was never in the picture, evidently having gone off. At different stages Matata, Santiago, Boadicea, and Danger Zore all looked to have winning chances. When it came to business over the last furlong Boadicea drew away and, had a length's advantage of Bumptious as the post was reached. It was a surprise win, the winner’s backers getting the best dividend of the meeting. Alany of the New Zealand Cup horses made their reappearance in-. the Metropolitan Handicap, but none of them found 'such favor as Bonnie Winkie. After giving a good deal of trouble at the start they got off id excellent line, the first to show out being Roseday and Cupidon. Once info the back stretch Muraahi raced to the front with Roseday, Bonnie Winkie, and Cupidon- always going nicely just behind him. There waa not a great deal of change in the order as they straightened up for the run home, except that Marqueteur could be seen making up hia ground ini great style. At the distance joat Alarqueteur closed on Bonnie Winkie and Cupidon, white Roseday was already holding out signals of distress. Finishing on an altogether different horse to his Cup effort, Marqueteur defeated the favorite by a neck, with Cupidon a head away. It was a peculiarly run race, quite out of keeping with the Cup form. Marqueteur and Cupidon both improved greatly; on their Saturday's showings, while Foo Chow and Muraahi gave indiffprent displays. Alany of the starters in the Randolph Handicap were in strong demand, Eighteenpenco winding up actual favorite. She, witn Santonio, Martis, and Happy Warrior, had every chance in the early stages, Once it came to business TJleaborg appeared on the scene and scored 1 comfortably from Wartune. This marked Mr KembalTs first win at the meeting, and, like that of Alarqueteur, it waa unexpected. Eighteenpence, Joy Ride, and Martis ■ faded right out after going two furlongs. Tinthanga fell, but inquiry as to the cause found that it was accidental.

Maibha looked the best of the lot that ■xent out to contest the Epsom High-1 weight Handicap. Jazz was one of the fastest to begin, and _ho was well out in front when they straightened up for the run home. Then Deucalion, Some Kid, and Maioha were all left with fighting chances. After looking like a, beaten horse Jazz struggled' along, and just managed to win by a length from Deucalion and Some Kid, both of whom finished very well. Maloha’s form, shojiH not lie senovsly ooneddered 1 . Details of events run after your report closed yesterday:— Hagley Handicap, 650eovs. 9f.—Boadicea (7.0) 1, Bumptious (7.11) 2, Danger Rone (8.9) 5. Scratched: Quarrelsome. Won by a head. Time, Imin SSsec. METROPOLITANS HANDICAP, 1.600 sova; second 300, third 150. 1-jm. F. Lesley's ch g Marquoteur. by King Mark—By By, aged, 8,10 (R. S. Bagby) ••• •- 1 H. H. Fisher's Bonnie • Winkie, 8.15 (C. Emerson) ... -• 2 O. D. Greenwood’s Oupidon, 8.9 (G. Young) ... ••• 5 Also started.,: Muraafai 7,0, Trespass 8.8 and Bonnetter, 8.5 (bracketed), Foo Chow 8.13, Kilgour 7.5, Gasbag 9.6, Boseday 7.11, Bonnie Heather 7.13, Silent King 7.2, Royal Star 8.7. There was a long delay at the post, owing to the general fractiousness of the ■field, which did not get away until about twenty minutes after they started to line up. A good start was finally effected. Roeeday, Bonnie Heather, Royal Star, and Gasbag were smartest out. Rose-day led out of the straight from Gasbag, Bonnie

Heather, and Royal Star, and a little later Silent King and Cupidon joined the lead; ers, and once in the back stretch Muraabi led from Roseday, Silent King, Cupidon, and Royal' Star. Muraahi continued in charge from Roseday and Royal Star until reasoning the straight. Royal Star and Murnaln led when heads wore straightened for home, and approaching the distance. Royal Star had taken command j but it waa short-lived, as Marquoteur, Cupidon, and Bonnie' Winkle then put in a claim. A groat finish between the three last-named ensued, and Marqueteur got there by a good head from Bonnie Winkio, whilst Cupidon was . a short head away. Bonnie Heather was about 1 two lengths away, fourth, followed In close order by Royal Star, Trespass, Gasbag, and Kilgoiir. Time, 2min 36soc. Randolph Handicap, 350sovs. 6f.— Uleaboy (7,11) 1, Happy Warrior (7.0) 2, Osterman (7.0) 3. Fourteen others. Half a length. Time, Imin 15soc. Wartune finished second, but- dropped a leadbag and was disqualified for failing to draw weight. Epsom High-weight Handicap, 500sovs. Im.—.Jazz (8.0) 1, Deucalion (9.9) 2, Some Kid (10.1) 3. Three lengths. Time, Imin 41fsec. JOCKEY’S LICENSE SUSPENDED, At a meeting ol stewards after the Metropolitan Handicap the license of A. H. Wilson, rider of Roseday, was suspended till the end of November for disobedience at the starting-post. SCION’S BURST OF SPEED. NO EXAMINATION AT ALL. [Special to the ‘ Stah.’] CHRISTCHURCH, November 7. Tho ’Press’ to-day prints the following;—Owing to a misapprehension us to time and place, a statement appeared- yesterday to the effect that the chief stipendiary steward examined tho saddle and trappings of the rider of Scion, winner of ■tho-New Zealand Cup, on Saturday, to satisfy himself that no improper means had been employed to produce tho burst, ■of speed with which the ; horse finished. As a matter of fact, the incident occurred at Auckland some time ago, and while the stipendiary steward acted in perfect good faith bis 'investigation did not imply in any way that, tho .rider bad been guilty of any impropriety. STRAY THOUGHTS BY “ THE ADMIRAL” That Glentruin is a high-class mare _is demonstrated by the fact that, despite being, awarded an extra. 191 b for the Handicap win and having an extra furlong to go, she was again successful in the. Criterion Handicap. The, public must have been impressed by the run she put in on Saturday, for she was made first choice with backers in yesterday’s event. Reading between the lines of the report, supplied by our special correspondent loads me to conclude that Mr \V. T. Hazlelt was lucky to escape 'disqualification with Razzle Dazzle in the Irwell Handicap. If Tukia really sustained two severe bumps) towards the close of the, race, the result must have been to stop the winning chance of the Absurd filly. Tho Derby waa seemingly a, false-run race. Nothing would make the pace in the early stages, the tactics which just suited Enthusiasm. Air. A. B. Williams must have regretted the absence of his second 1 string, Rapine. Good judges blame Roy Reed for not making better use of King’s Trumpeter. The first halfmile took 67|seo. _ The race was the slowest but one since Bon Reve’s 2min 42-jjseo in 1912, as the subsequent figures show:

1913, Cherubini, 2tnin 35isoc. 1914, Balboa, 2min 35;sec. 1915, Desert Gold, 2min 35,-see. 1916, The Toff, 2min 54isec. 1917, Est-land, i2rain 59|sec. 1918, Gloaming, 2min 37|scc. 1919, Rossini, 2min 46|gec. 1920, Duo, 2min 36seo. 1921, Winning Hit, 2min 34ssec. 1922, Enthusiasm, 2min 42isec. Tho Hagley Handicap is chiefly conspicuous from the fact that the winner Boadicea, paid a dividend in the vicinity of half a century. She was seventeenth in the order of betting in a field of nineteen.-; - ■■ ■

Although the Metropolitan produced a sterling finish between the placed horses— Alarqueteur winning by a head, with Oupidon only a neck away from Bonnie Winkie —the time (2.56) was anything but fast; as a matter of fact it was the slowest Metropolitan 'since' 1912, when Bobrikoff and Goldflnde-r dead-heated. The record for tho race -Is Kvigour's -2.34 last year. “ Artie ” Wilson's esupension till the cud of November will, of course, mean that ha will be deprived of -a mount at the Winton Alee ling, where the Wilson stable are -usually strongly -represented. It was Bonnie Winkle's first start at the meeting, and his being installed a solid favorite was no doubt intended as a compliment both to tho Great Autumn _ Handicap winner and to Emerson’s riding, Sympathy would be felt with that popular sportsman, Air G. Pulton, in being deprived of second money in the Randolph Handicap and a good dividend, owing to the rider's inability to draw _ weight, consequent on the saddle slipping and Die lead bag falling off when -nearing the winning post. Emerson is in great form this season, and promises to have a big lead over other riders. Yesterday he was on Glentruin (winner), Bourne Winkie (second), and Jazz (winner). It was quite unexpected to find Charley’s mount practically the outsider of the race, as in the case of Jazz. One reads with regret that Gloaming is amiss and will not bo a participant on Saturday in the Stead Gold Oup, the only race in which he was engaged at the meeting. Since his great duels with Beauford at the recent A.J.C, Aleeling Mr Greenwood’s champion has been regarded, even by the non-sporting public, as a sort of dominion asset. His absence will probably mean that soma intending patrons will not visit Riccarton on the concluding day of the Canterbury Aleet-ing.