NOTES ON THE RACING

Evening Star, Issue 19443, 29 December 1926, Page 4

NOTES ON THE RACING

[By St. Claib.] r A’ very pleasant _ afternoon’s racing was spoiled by rain coding on just prior to the sixth race, and this also affected the club’s turnover to the extent of about £2,000. Though the fields were smaller than they should be for this meeting, the racing was interesting, and the finishes much better than on Monday. Mr M'lvor’s starting was good throughout the meeting, and until the rain commenced the going was good gnd improving all the while. MILBURN HURDLES. All started in the Milburn Hurdles, and Radiac was made a good deal better favorite than Adjutor, with Kaikanu and Guncase the best hacked of the others. .Kapuna took charge from Kaikahu and Radiac after going a quarter of a mile, and this was the order till approaching the last where Kapuna was just in front of Kaikahu, Radiac, and Adjutor. In the run to the post Kapuna maintained his advantage, and won by a length from Bonomel, who was lucky to get through on the rails and just beat Radiac by a head, with Kaikahu a short neck off fourth, Adjuster fifth. Investments, £1,493. Radiac was hotter backed than on Monday, and was always closer to the leaders, hut Kapuna, to whom he was giving 241 b; kept tho pace on all the way, and just lasted long enough to heat Bonomel by a short length. Tho latter finished very fast on the rails, and ran his best race since he won the Otago Hurdles here two seasons ago. Kaikahu was with Kapuna until three furlongs from home, where he struck a iiurdle very hard, and lost a couple of engths, otherwise he might have won. PERNHILL HANDICAP. Gold Mint was again made a first favorite in the Fernhi)! Hack Handicap, carrying a few more pounds than Solrose, with Battle Colors nearly as well backed, and Roman Archer the best of the others. Equerry at once showed out, and led Jolly Glad and Gold Mint into the back stretch. Passing the five-furlong post Equerry was well clear from Gold Mint and Solrose. The latter ran into second place turning for home, and, catching the Invercargill horse inside the distance post, beat him

homo by just over a length. Gold Mint was three lengths away third, followed by Battle Colors and Obligio. Investments, £2,376. Apparently the public were not yet convinced that Gold Mint is not a good one, for they made him favorite in the Fernhill Handicap, and again the nearest he could get was third. Solrose was ridden a waiting race, and did not challenge Equerry, who had led from the barrier rise, until a mile had been covered, and then she beat him home nicely. Roman Archer caught the tapes and carried them throughout the race. JUVENILE HANDICAP.

Stringbow was withdrawn from the Juvenile Handicap, and Jericho was made a good favorite, with the bracketed pair, Money Peer and Money Mine, Arrowy, and Zelanian the only others solidly backed. After a false start, Tembroney was not in line when the barrier rose, and Money Mine and Money Peer, with Don Jose, were the first out, but Money Mine got quickly knocked back, and Don Jose and Money Peer carried on the running from Jericho and Traction to the entrance to the straight. Then Money Peer dropped out, and Jericho and Traction tackled Don Jose at the distance post. In a good race home Jericho beat Don Jose by a length, with Arrowy, who finished fast, lour lengths off third, just in front of Money Peer, and Tractoin was next. Investments, £2,5275, Jericho showed that the race on Monday did her a lot of good, for she waited on Don Jose until after half a mile had been covered and then outstayed her home. Money Mine, who dead-heated on Monday, got knocked back soon after the start, but apparently there was no inquiry into what caused it. Arrowy again finished fast, but left his run too late. Traction looked dangerous at the home turn, hut did not go on with it, over the last furlong. The starter’s explanation of Tembroney being left was that when he looked down the course she was not in sight, and he presumed he had the full field, hut afterwards _ discovered that she was directly behind a trap which was on the course and hidden from view just when he looked. ST. ANDREW’S HANDICAP. In the St. Andrew’s Handicap Full Swing and Arrowmir were withdrawn, and Geranial was sent out a slightly better favorite than Corn Money, with Vaward also well backed. Dismantle was first out, and led Corn Money and Gerauial, with Vaward tailing off the field, all along the back and to the home turn, where they closed on Dismantle, but she drew away again at the distance post, and stayed on to win by a length from Corn Money, with Ravenna half a 'length off third, and Vaward close up fourth. Investments, £2,5255. The field for the St. Andrew’s Handicap was reduced to a one-dividend one by the withdrawal of two starters, and also, as on the opening day, a leniently-treated mare made a onehorse race of it. Dismantle, who, by the way, is the best performer of the Tractors, having won the open mile handicap at Winton on the second day in fast time, was handicapped on the minimum, and jumping out smartly she gave nothing else a chance. The surprising part of the betting on this race was that G.eranial should be sent out favorite and Dismantle and Ravenna the two outsiders. Corn Money ran a good race, but as at Tiniani just failed to have sufficient of a kick left to help him win at the finish. Vaward did not begin as well as on Monday, and had too much leeway to make up. GRAND STAND HANDICAP,

Arpent was withdrawn from tho Grand Stand Handicap, and Booster (with Emerson up) was made a warm favorite, with Countersign and Lava the best backed of the others. Countersign got chopped out at the start, from which Dancing Days and Lava were first away, and at the far turn were leading Arrawmir and Sweet Melody, with Countersign ten lengths away. Lava and Dancing Days were still in front at the home turn, where Booster began to move tip on the rails and Countersign on the outside. Opposite the stand the favorite got through, and was in front for a few strides, but could not stall off a wonderful run by Countersign, who won by a length. Arrowmir was third, and Dancing Days struggled on in fourth place. Investments, £2,958. Tho run put in by Countersign oyer the last two furlongs was a very fine effort, for she turned into the straight at least ten lengths behind tho leaders. She stuck to iler task very gamely, and just got up in time to beat Booster by a narrow margin. The pace set by Lava and Dancing Days over the early stages was very hot, and they held on until a furlong from the post, where Booster first got through, only to he cut down by Countersign. The latter’s win was a popular one. TAIHOA HANDICAP.

Rain commenced just prior to the running of the Taihoa Handicap, lor which the leniently-treated Martis was sent out a hot favorite. French Belle and Lady Dilatory were next in demand. The favorite, who started from the rails, was first cut, and led Credit and Spean Bridge to the home turn, whore Overhaul moved up. Martis was well clear when heads were turned for home, and he stayed on to win comfortably by nearly two lengths from Overhaul, who beat French Belle by half a length. Spean Bridge was close up next. Investments, £2,702). Martis, who was only raised 71b in weight for his easy win on Monday, won again just as easily. Ho was in front all tno way, and behind him Overhaul, French Belle, and Spean Bridge fought out a great finish for second honors, Overhaul prevailing by a narrow margin. ALLANTON HANDICAP. In the Allanton Hack Handicap Monoxide and Coastguard were withdrawn, and Pink Note w-as made a good favorite, with King Sol also solidly backed, and Queen Balboa, Full Swing, and Bilbo next in order. King Sol and Bilbo were tho first out, and led Queen Balboa along the back. Pink Note and Roseday being slow to move. Bilbo led King Sol along the back, with Queen Balboa, Courtly Rose, and Bloom next. King Sol led Full Swing into the straight, with Bilbo and Queen Balboa on their quarters. King Sol was challenged at the distance post by Queen Balboa and Bilbo, and in a good finish Queen Balboa won by a length from Bilbo, with King Sol a similar distance off third. Courtly Bose, Full Swing, and Pink Note were nest, investments, £2,458.

Queen Balboa came at the right end of the, journey, and beat another Southlander in Bilbo, who had been responsible for the pace most of the way.' Pink Note, who was a good favorite,,, ran bady was slow to go away, and never showed any brilliancy until halfway down the straight. The going by this tijne ,was troa»

cherous, and no doubt was against the top-weights. King Sol finished close up. Roseday was given a run, and, though he showed none of his old brilliancy, ho pulled up sound. FAREWELL HANDICAP. Sweet Melody and Bloom were withdrawn from the Farewell Handicap, for which Arpent was made a slightly better favorite than John Bradbury and Bugle Note, with Receipt and Miss Winkie also well hacked. Arpent led out from Hurdy Gurdy and Receipt. Hurdy Gurdy and Receipt led along the back and to the far turn from Arpent and Gold Brick, with Bugle Note and Miss Winkie next. Receipt took charge racing up the hill, and led Hurdy Gurdy into the straight, with Miss Winkie and Bugle Note next. At the distance post Receipt appeared'to have the race in hand, but Miss Winkie and John Bradbury put in great challenges, and, in. a spirited finish, Miss Winkie won by a long neck from John Bradbury, with Receipt a similar distance off third, followed by Bugle Note, Gold Brick, and Hurdy Gurdy. Investments, £3,3215. The well-backed division—Arpent, John Bradbury, Bugle Note, and Receipt—all had to strike their colors to Miss Winkie in the last stages of the Farewell Handicap. This maro is now owned by Mr R. M'Donald, the Mosgiel trainer, and ho has her very well. Arpent was beaten a long way from home, and Receipt, who looked like a winner a few strides from the post, stopped very suddenly, and John Bradbury, who got away slowly, finished fast and beat her for second money.