SPORTING

Evening Star, Issue 19020, 15 August 1925, Page 12

SPORTING

METROPOLITAN TROTS.

INTERESTING RACING.

[Special to the ‘Star,’]

CHRISTCHURCH, August 14. Though bleak and threatening, the afternoon kept fine for tho second day of the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club’s August Meeting till after tho sixth race, when rain set in. The track turned out in better order than was anticipated, and was further benefited by the use of several graders, by which means most of the surface mud was scraped off. Some of tho events did not attract big fields, but the racing was more interesting than that of Wednesday., most of the finishes being in doubt till nearing the judge’s box. Although it was quite evident that a big portion of the early visitors had taken their departure, the attendance was well up to the standard of previous years. Speculation was lifeless all through the afternoon, and only £43,495 was handled by the totalisator staff, compared with £53,358 on the corresponding day of last year. The Improvers’ Handicap, 1m sf, with which the proceedings opened, produced a wretched contest. Escapade drew right away from her field in the first circuit, and b the stand was fully a dozen lengths clear of Merry Peter, Lottie Direct, Queen Ida, and tlerbilwyn. Drawing still further away in the back straight, Escapade gave nothing else a look in, winning, under a good hold, by fifteen lengths from Merry Peter, who was half that distance in front of Burnie. For a novice at the business Escapade’s showing stamps her as one of the best green trotters seen out here for a long time. She is trained by her breeder (Mr W. J. Morland), being by Nelson Bingen from the Trotting Cup wirinor Country Belle. None of the favorites—Huegood, Queen Ida, and Marvin Drift—never threatened danger. Merry Peter went one of his usual old races in getting second place, and Burnie quite reproduced His first day’s form. Betting was evenly distributed in the Dash Handcap, Im. for, though King Dillon wound up favorite, there was very solid backing also for P,akoti, Ben O’Hau. and Darknite. For once Pakoti jumped out smartly, but before reaching the stand King Dillon had her measure, and ho made play along the back well clear of Darknite, Hue Coronado, and Pakoti. After being first into line for home, King Dillon finished up full of running four lengths in advance of Darknite. Ben O’Hau, after being badly placed in the early stages, put in such good work over the last two furlongs as to land him within a length of Darknite. who was stopping over the last bit, and just about repeated Ins performance of Wednesday. King Dillon has been a very profitable investment to his owner and trainer, Mr J. Messervey. Pakoti went a wretched race after having every chance, and she is evidently not so good with the colors up as in private. Twelve high-class performers went out to contest the King George Handicap, 2m, the favorite selections in an even betting pool being Glonelg, Brutus, Bell Harold, Dalnahinq, and Hypo. When the signal was given Dalnahine and Dolly Dillon were not ready, the chances of both being extinguished, while Bell Harold also lost a lot of ground. Glenelg was an early pacemaker, and at the stand he was going nicely in front of Hypo, Vilo, Whispering Willie, and Brutus. Much the same order was maintained along the back, except that Whispering Willie lost his place and Logan Lou came into prominence. Entering the concluding circuit, Glenelg was still pacing .along steadily in front from Hypo, Vilo, Brutus, and Logan Lou. Half a mile from home Logan Lou put in a great run, which landed her into second place. Under pressure she gradually closed on Glenelg, but was still over a length to the bad as the post was reached. This marked Glenelg’s first victory for some time, and the solid manner in which he finished should remove any doubts as to his stamina. Logan Lou went a great race, as did Logan Chief, who, after having all the worst of tho running, finished up a creditable fourth. After showing a torrent of speed in the early stages, Vilo faded out badly, while Brutus quite failed to justify the solid manner in which he was backed.

Speculation was well distributed in the Belgium Handicap, 2ra, the favorite selections being Pearl Coronado, Bruce, Shine Soon, Succession, and Buz Buz. When tho big field was despatched Hacktborne, Blue Star, and Shine Soon misbehaved, the first-named pair taking practically no part in the contest. Starting off brilliantly, Bruce had raced to tho front at tho stand, where he had as his immediate attendants Succession, Transport, and Pearl Coronado. With half the journey gone, j Pearl Coronado was at the head of [ affairs, while Bruce dropped out in ’’favor of Succession and Transport. The leader held her position til! heads were in line for homo, when Succession and Transport passed her. Without being called on for a serious effort, Succession scored nicely by two lengths from Transport, who was a similar distance in front of Pearl Coronado. Neither Bruce nor Pearl Coronado was driven to the best advantage, the former, after being in the lead early, being one of the last to finish. After getting badly away, Shine Soon put up a fine race. Succession is one of the most improved horses seen out for some time, and is a genuine stayer

With A. Hendricksen in the sulky, Billy Sea _ was backed with confidence for the Lincoln Handicap, 2m, but he ran a most disappointing race. When the half-dozen starters had settled to work they were well spaced out round the track, Tcneriffe having as her attendants Florrie Bingen, Fight Ever, Partner, Billy Sea, and Prince Pointer. This order remained unchanged all through the first mile, and it was not till well into the concluding circuit that Prince Pointer effected a change by drawing away from Billy Sea and working his way into fourth place. As they straightened up for the run home Florrie Bingen and Fight Ever raced past Teneriffe, and Prince Pointer put in a great effort. Sticking to her task very gamely, Florrie Bingen scored a popular win by a length from tho faster-finishing P.rinco Pointer close up. In third place came the Australianbred Fight Ever, who was making his first appearance. He is a nice-actiouod pacer—one that cannot fail to win good races when quite seasoned. Billy Sea did not show much pace in the early stages, and was well beaten. Florrie Bingen is a beautifully made maro by Nelson Bingen from Harold Dillon mare. She was well handled by her trainer, J. Shaw. A nice field of fifteen trotters went out to contest tho Avon Handicap, 2m, and on the strength of his first day’s easy win Lazarus was installed a favorite, with plenty of backing also for Young Blake, Rostrevor, Nighborn, and Audominion. Followers of the favorite got a poor run. as just after the start he ran into Clonmel', (Kellis being thrown out of his Audominion and Little Logan liad done their best in ' front for a mile Young Blake raced past them, and all through the concluding circuit he had Proud Ata, Bingenotte, and Rostrevor as his nearest attendants. Trotting in rare style, Young Blake kept Proud Ata, Mangoutu, and Rostrevor in check, scoring by a couple of lengths without being thoroughly extended. Tho winner went a much better race than ,u his earlier effort, and on returning to the enclosure was subjected to mu.-s,

demonstration. Mangoutu and Proud Ata both wont solid races, while Audominion, after losing his position before a mile had been covered, was travelling as well ns anything over the last quarter. An inquiry was hold into Young Blake’s running, but no further action was taken.

All the heavy investments in the Canterbury Handicap, 2m, were for Roicolo, Talero, and Harold Bunvood, and they fully justified expectations by fighting out the finish. Oaknut, Rebel, and Peter King made such good use of their handicaps as to make the task of the back look almost hopeless when half tho 'journey had? been covered. It was libt. fill well intdjthe concluding circuit ‘ that the leaders started to come back, and three furlongs from home Peter King was in charge from Eoicole, Harold Bunvood. Rebel, and Talero under pressure. Peter King faded out at the distance. Then Roicole_ looked a winner, but in a desperate finish both Talero and Harold Bunvood headed him in the last; few strides, tho verdict going to Talero by a neck from Harold Bunvood, with Roicolo half a length hack. It was a. remarkable performance on Talcro’s part, for three furlongs from home he got badly pocketed when trying to get through on tho rails. This cost him several lengths and necessitated his being pulled out. Roicole raced on outside nearly all tho way, and he must have covered many lengths more than some of the other competitors. A particularly speedy lot of sprinters lined up for the Speedway t Handicap, IJm, and, despite tho magnitude of his task. Great Bingen was in much better demand than Bonny Logan, Loganwood, and Downcast. For a. circuit Paul Du fault and Bonny Logan were out forcing the pace, while Jack Potts and Downcast had lost ground. Going along the back for the last time Bonny Logan was in charge from Paul Dufaiilt and Loganwood, with Great Bingen ranking up his leeway in rare style. After being first into tho home stretch Bonny Logan faded out, in a spirited finish Loganwood prevailed by a, length from Delavan Quest, with Downcast a similar distance off, followed by Bonny Logan and Great Bingen. NEPIA AND THE LEAGUE. Tho Hawke’s Bay Rugby TJnon decided at a meeting last night officially to refute the suggestion of the possibility of Nepia, the All Black fullback, joining the League code and accepting engagement with the Hull Club. It was pointed out that Nepia himself had bad no conununeaton on tho sub-, joct from the League people

BASEBALL. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. NEW YORK, August 13. Latest baseball results:— NATIONAL LEAGUE. New York beat Pittsburg, 4-1. Chicago beat St. Louis, t>s.

TEAM PERCENTAGES. Won. Lost. P.G. Pittsburg G-i 40 610 Now York 60 46 565 Cincinnati 56 4H 533 Brooklyn 50 51 405 St. Louis 52 65 491 Philadelphia 48 55 459 Chicago 49 60 444 Boston 44 64 409

AMERICAN LEAGUE. St. Louis beat Philadelphia, 5-4 (first game). Washington beat Cleveland, 5-4 (first game). Cleveland beat Washington, 2-0 (second game).

CRICKET IN ENGLAND. rEXTITITTxO TATE. LONDON, August. 13. .M. W. Tate, the howler, took port in n. partnership of 198, scoring a. brilliant century in eighty minutes. He hit one 6, one 5. and .seventeen 4’s, Thirtyseven of the. first 59 were knoeke.r] off three overs. He gave a chance in the slips before be had seorod. A keen raeo is taking place among the howlers for the capture of the two hundredth wicket. Parker lias 182 and Tate and Root 181 each. Next 51-0 iiPDonakl (156) and Macaulay (155). The weather ’is assisting the howlers.— A. and N.Z. Cable./ DAVIS CUP. .JAPAN v. SLAIN. NEW YORK. August 13. In the second match .Manoel Alonso defeated Z. Shimidr.u. 7-5, 0-0. 3-0., 0-3. —A. and N.Z. Cable.

TEAM PERCENTAGES. Won. Lost. P.C. Philadelphia tw 35 oru Washington (57 ;w 039 Chicago r.s 51 556 Detroit At 5-1 495 St. Louis ... 53 51 155 Cleveland ... .51 62 130 JS’ow York 4G (to 430 Boston 33 75 306 —A. a.nd N.Z. Cable.