SPORTING

Greymouth Evening Star, 9 March 1928, Page 11

SPORTING

AUSTRALIAN RACING TRIVALVE WINS PLATE (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) MELBOURNE, March S. The weather was fine and cool for the Flemington races, and the attendance was satisfactory. The going was excellent. Johnny Cake was always in front in the Autumn Hurdles, and won comfortably. His rider, Butler, won the race in previous seasons on Glugo and Dalcross. In the C. M. Lloyd Stakes, Gothic was sgcond early in the race, but took charge at the two furlongs, and won brilliantly. This is rider Pike’s third success in the race. His owner, Sol Green, scored previously with Comedy King and Gladsome. Mollison was prominent throughout, and won the Ascot'Vale Stakes nicely. This is his fifth successive win. He cost 600 guineas, and has won appriximately £6,700 in stakes. Nawallah was second last early in the Autumn Handicap, but finishing fast, won narrowly. He was ridden by J. Daniels, and trained by Fred Fourshams, who 'thus scored his second win of the afternoon.

Trivalve was not extended to win the Governor’s Plate, in which Pilliewinkie gave an improving display. Trivalve has recorded seven wins two seconds and three thirds, and has won £26,579 in stakes. The imported mare Gallantry was second last at the half mile of the River Handicap, but finished fast, and won comfortably. She is owned by Sol Green, and trained by the former New Zealander, Lou Robertson. Results:— Autumn Hurdles —Johnny Cake 10.2 1, Mooler 7.9 2, Blinoy 10.6 3. Eight started. Won by five lengths; four lengths. Fiscus fell. Time —a course record.

C. M. Lloyd Stakes—Gothic (J. Pike) 8.12, 1; Amounis (H. Cairns) 8.12, 2; Avant Courier (J. Daniels) 8.6, 3. Five started: Won by a length; two lengths. Quintus was fourth. Time 1.37 J. The last four furlongs were run in 462. Ascot Vale Stakes’ —Mollison 9.3, 1; The Gay Mutineer 8.7, 2; Merab 8.10, 3. Nine started. Won by half a length; two lengths. Mystic Peak was fourth. Time 1.122 —a race record. Autumn Handicap—Nawallah 7.8, 1; Knave of Hearts 6.11, 2; Valorem 8.4, 3. Six started. Stralia was fourth. Won by a head; three-quarters of a length. Time 2.485. Governor’s Plate—Trivalve (R. Lewis) 8.2, Pilliewinkie (A. Wilson) 9.0, 2; Sjiearset (H. Jones) 9.0, 3. The only starters. Won by a length; four lengths. Time 2.355. The last six furlongs were run in 1.132, and the last mile in 1.405.

River Handicap—Gallantry 7.0, 1; Kallons 7.9, 2; .Klang 7.4, 3. Seven started. Won by two lengths; two and a-half lengths. Cromwell was fourth. Time 2.45 —a race record.

RICCARTON NOTES.

(Special to “Star.”)

CHRISTCHURCH, March 8. There is little chance of Agrion. being seen under silk again this season. The Derby winner has been sent to his owner’s station at Teviotdale, where he will be spelled and used lightly at the stud. Should his damaged foot become perfectly sound, another effort may be made to train Agrion late next season.

G. J. Pine has a useful team engaged at the Wellington meeting, comprising Don Jose, Amourelle, Fail’ Exchange and Silver Coot. All of them are well, especially the last named, who has come on a lot since last sporting silk. In all his recent track efforts Rapier has shaped so well as to demonstrate that he is again right at the top of his form. According to present intentions he will be started in the Thompson Handicap, and that outing should just about tune him up for the Trentham Gold Cup. Rapier and Lancer go north in charge of H. Nurse. Mr. Greenwood’s colours will be carried at Trentham by Eulalie, Shalimar and Phillippic, all of whom are in nice order. Though the first-named did not show to advantage in her last trip to Trentham, that can be accounted for, and she can be depended on to make matters interesting in the Railway Handicap. Footfall is getting through light tasks again, which suggests that he may be got ready for the C.J.C. Autumn Meeting. That brilliant sprinter, Money Order, continues to live up to his reputation. In company with Satrap, and probably Amor, he will be taken to Trentham by T. H. Gillett. Now that both Agrion and Martarma are out of commission, Satrap looks to have a fair chance of attaining St. Leger honours.

The Cutts’ Brothers have a useful team engaged at Trentham, which will probably comprise Wild Work, Quarter Deck, Sudden Storm, Swoopalong and Prickles.

There is every probability of Riccarton stables being well represented at the Westport meeting, as amongst the horses being kept going for that fixture are Moorland, The Harp, Killoch, Arowmir, Lady Mid, St. Nicholas and No Response.

Rascal has almost thrown off the soreness that troubled him before the Banks Peninsula Meeting, and now that the tracks have all the sting out of them, There is every chance of hife training on.

When Sayonara broke a fetlock bone last June, it was generally anticipated that the last had been seen of him on the race tracks. In the interim he has made such a good recovery as to suggest that he may shortly be put into work again for winter racing.

ADDINGTON NOTES. (Special to “Star.”) CHRISTCHURCH, March 8. On his return from Auckland, the Australian-bred pacer, Concliff, was decidedlj r lame, which may account for his disappointing showing in the North. He has now been blistered and turned out for a lengthy spell. That promising pacer, Direct Wave, who got on the winning list at Blenheim, is back at New Brighton and is being kept going for forthcoming meetings. D. Withers has several horses working to fulfil engagements at the New Brighton meeting, but Great Bingen is having an easy time. The latter will not be required to do much before the Easter meeting comes round, which may mark his last public appearance. Berenice, the half-sister to Onyx, is

in foal to Matchlight and has finished her racing career. Included in J. N. Clarke’s team at New Brighton is a three-year-old brother to Great Bingen, who will race as Baron Bingen. He is very like Mr. McKenzie’s champion, and can hardly fail to make good when his time comes to race.

On his return from the West Coast meetings, Orphan was thrown out of work and is now running in the paddock.

NOTES AND COMMENTS. (By “Register”) GALLOPING FIXTURES. March 9, 10. —Napier Park R.C. March 10. —Franklin R.C. March 15. —Waimate R.C. ' March 15, 17 —Wellington R.C. March 17. —Opunake R.C. March 24, 26. —Westport J.C. TROTTING FIXTURES March 8, 10 —Timaru T.C. Mar. 15, 17. —New Brighton T.C. GALLOPING. The handicaps for* the Westport J.C. Meeting will be declared on March 12. Nominations fan.’ the Kumara R.C. Meeting are due on March 20. The North Island horse, Tip Tree, has arrived in Greymouth, and has been taken for future training by Messrs Donnellan and Shannahan. Tip Tree is a compactly built, but small, five-year-old gelding by Tree LucerneKathleen Mavourneen. He has done a considerable amount of travelling and looks light in condition, and is being hacked about at present in the hope of building him up for coming engagements.

The Nelson Jockey Club’s programme for the meeting to be held on May 3 and 5 at Richmond Park was approved at yesterday’s meeting of the District Committee of the Greymouth Jockey Club. 2000 sovs. will be distributed in stakes. The Nelson Cup of 1£ miles carries a stake of 275 sovs and Cup, while the Redwood Memorial of 1 mile and a distance on the second day is worth 200 sovs. There are four trots, two of lg- miles and the other two of lg miles, each worth 100 sovs. D. Campbell has Battle Colours looking in good trim ‘after his recent spell, and he is moving along freely in his work, while Polydectes has also done well since going to Riccarton. This pair may race prominently at Waimate.

W. M‘Donald will take the ex-North Island hurdler, Koauau to Waimate for the hurdle race next week. He has built up a lot lately, and he looks a better horse as the result of his recent racing. So far, Star God,, the three-year-old brother to Star Stranger, has not shown form that would warrant him being classed anywhere near his relative, but in the High-weight on the third day of the Wellington Summer Meeting in January he ran third to First Sight. The form was not particularly good, but First Sight is useful, and in the running Star God was not over-lucky. It might be lermeti « promise of better things, and he may be able to get on to the winning list at Trentham next week.

Perle de Leon should be in great order for jumping races early in the season, judging by the way he galloped af Dannevirke last week. He finished sixth in the Dannevirke Cup, and third in the principal event the second day. This pace should stand him in good stead when he has to race against the jumpers. He figures in the Napier Cup to-day. At the last Grand National Meeting he won the Jumpers’ Flat, but fell in the Grand National Hurdle Race. On the last day of the meeting he fineshed second to Aberfeldy in the Sydenham Hurdles. Just previously he had finished third to Nukumai and Wharncliffe in the Winter Hurdles at Trentham.’ With the benefit of this experience and the advantage of superior racing condition he is likely to be in demand for hurdle races at any time. It was suggested at one time that he and Gaze would go to race in Australia pver obstacles, but nothing has been heard of it lately. TROTTING. ’

The acceptances for the New Brighton T. C. Meeting close on Monday. Speaking of the recent Greymouth and Inangahua Meetings, a northern writer states :—The question of rough driving in races has become a very general topic of conversation in trotting circles of late, and there was evidence of it at the Greymouth and Inangahua Meetings last week. It is impossible for a stipendiary steward, or any other official, to detect every offence that is committed, but Mr T. H. Davey, who was in charge last week, had questions to ask a number of drivers after they had returned to the bird cage, and as a result two well-known drivers were administered severe cautions. Inconsistent running, too, was another feature, and horses that had run poorly on the Saturday showed greatly improved form two days later. The public were evidently prepared for the improved showings, if the totalisator investments can be taken as a guide. The reference to totalisator investments is another way of inferring that little escapes the public eye. On the first day Haerenga 'Pai carried £B7. He did not appear to have the best of passages. Several times Tomkinson pulled him out, evidently to come on' the outside of his field, but shortly after he was noticed back on the rails. The public no doubt realised that Haerenga Pai may have been unlucky. On the second day he carried £362 and won. On the first day Writer carried £l42g and finished third. That the public anticipated he would improve was indicated by the second day’s investments, which jumped to £49Bg. While this indicates good judgment, the public are very much astray on some of their pickings. On the first day, Avonwood was sent out sixth favourite, carrying £761., in the Rush Handicap, in which he met with a lot of interference and finished well back. This form indicated nothing beyond that Avonwood may have been unlucky. On the second day the public went hot and strong for him in the Waratah Handicap (saddle), in which ho carried £457£, an increase of practically six times the first day’s investments. Unfortunately for his backers, Avonwood jigged and broke, and was so far back when a furlong had been covered as to make his task hopeless. Totalisator investments are a guide to public opinion, but public opinion is frequently more inconsistent at times than that of many horses. West Coasters will follow with keen interest the progress of V. Alborn’s i brilliant 4-year-old Vesuvius. In the Manawatu Cup, Vesuvius finished second to Shadowland in 4.39 l-ssec or 2 4-ssec better than his handicap. He

followed this up by winning the mile and a-quarter off 2.55 in 2.53 4-5 sec, and was going very easily at the finish. AH going well, Vesuvius should reach top company next season, and the big striding son of Matchlight looks like becoming a fine advertisement for his sire. W. J. Tomkinson has a very fine two-year-old by Nelson Bingen from Sympathy. He paces without much effort, and is a well-grown youngster. He is engaged in the Sapling Stakes at Ashburton.