SPORTING

Greymouth Evening Star, 28 March 1930, Page 11

SPORTING

MANAWATU R.C. CONCLUDED. [PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.] PALMERSTON NORTH, March 27. Fine weather continued for the concluding day of the Manawatu R.C. Autumn Meeting, the conditions being similar to those of the first day, and tho attendance an average one. The totalisator for the day took £25,343, an increase of £3974, and for the meeting £51,358, an increase of £8237. Concluding results were as follow: — Twenty-sixth Manawatu Stakes, six furlongs.—(4) Cimabue 9.10 (B. H. Morris) 1, (5) Toxeuma 2.. (1) Paganelli 3. Also .started—(2/ Ceremony, (3) Lady Pam and (6) Lineage. ' Won by half a head; a head. Lineage was fourth. Time 1.12 2-5. This is a race record. Cloverlea Nursery Handicap, 5 furlongs—(4) Green Linnet 8.2 (J. Barry) 1, (2) Autopay 2, (3) Isa 3. Also started—(6) Tripping, (8) Arajean, (11) Sporting Chance, (5) Ball Dress, (1) Chief Joy, (7) Whelk, (12) Masterton, (13) Terra Firma, (16) Outward Bound (9) Tar Baby, (10) Trojan Melody, (17) Sunstead, (14) Joie de Vai, (15) Sea Scout. Half a head each way. Sporting Chance was fourth. Time 1.2. Adderstone Handicap, 9 furlongs—(s) Belle Star 8.9 (T. Green) 1, (1) Royal Opera and (2) Tunbridge a dead heat 2, Also started —(10) Kilorell, (3) Skyrider, (7) Latakia, (9) Airforce, (11) Marcia, (4) General Gas, Pedestal, (8) Mothplane, (14) Gipsy Fate, (13) Myola, (15) Spearform, (12) Mt. Shannon and (16) Adventus. Won by a long neck; a dead heat for second. Pedestal was fourth. Time 1.54|. 1 Telegraph Handicap, 6 furlongs.—(4) Richfield 8.2 (C. Goulsbro) 1, (3) Royal Duke 2, (6) Dobbin 3. Also ran — (1) Benzora, (5) Ridgemount, (8) Malayan, (7) Melissa and (2) Equitant. Won bv three-quarters of a length; a neck. Benzora was fourth. Time 1.13 2-5. ••

CANTERBURY NOTES. [SPECIAL TO “STAR.”] CHRISTCHURCH, March 27. All local horses that raced at Oamaru are back at headquarters again, and most of them are being spelled. Lord Thomond for once reproduced his track form in public when he spread-eagled the big field in the Woodhey Hack Handicap at Awapuni, and'in doing so rewarded his local supporters with a useful dividend. He can muster up a torrent of speed and further success can hardly fail to come his way.. The Chokebore trained filly Wild Dress put up her best race to date when she defeated everything except Ben Hur in the Autumn Plate at Awapuni. There was considerable merit in her performance as she was forced to cover a lot of extra ground. She is on the improve and may be worth while keeping in mind for engagements at Riccarton next month.

When awify from home at the Oamaru meeting the local sportsman Mr F. Buchanan, had the misfortune to have his residence burnt down. His win with Gay Sonnet should come as some compensation. The injury Gala Day sustained at Waimate. quite spoilt his chance in the Hurdle Race at Oamaru. After his first day’s effort there he was decidedly lame and is now turned out for a short spell.

A good sized contingent of Riccarton horses-will journey to Westport for next month’s meeting. Amongst them may be Haze, Mime, Kentish Lady, Waihemo, Gold Mint, and Arrowmir.' F. Christmas has nominated Red Heckle and Flair for the leading events at the Auckland Autumn Meeting, so it is undecided whether the pair will do their Easter racing at Riccarton or Ellerslie. No doubt treatment accorded them by the handicapper will be the deciding factor. Big fields figure in all events at the Cheviot Trotting Club’s meeting on Saturday, and there is every prospect of a record gathering. Two back markers in St. George and Lily Bingen should race well in the Cheviot Cup, while Molly Audubon and Great Dillon are likely candidates in the trotters’ races. Others that may be expected 'to show improved form in their several engagements are Glitter, Checkers, Prince Chimes, and Dorie.

ADDINGTON TRACK WORK. [SPECIAL TO “STAR.”] CHRISTCHURCH, March 27. N. L. Price was over from Sockburn, including the trotters Reta Mac, New Metford and Boneta this morning. Reta Mac is a promising Petereta mare imported from Australia some little time ago. In a two mile effort with Boneta this morning, she trotted without a mistake and showed plenty of dash toward the close of her essay. Boneta was worked in the saddle, giving a pleasing display. New-Metford was in one of his best moods and settled down to trot pleasingly over'a short course.' Jolly Pet and Muriel de Oro provided some fireworks towards the of a ten furlong spin. The latter’s turn cannot be far off.

Accumulator went away three secons in front of Omaha, Logan Chief and Bonny Logan at the mile and a quarter. There was no pace on at any stage of the journey. The pacers, winding up ahead of Accumulator, gave a solid exhibition. E. C. McDermott did not send Zenith against the watch when he dispatched him over a mile and a-half, but the grey pacer came his last half in 1.8 after being allowed to dawdle for a mile. Zenith is very fit, and will have to be considered in one of the fast sprints at Easter. In addition to Zenith, McDermott worked the smart Festival over a mile and a-half, and a 2.19 clip was reached toward the close of the piece. Festival shapes like a good deal above the average.

Cyonc, Pro Rata, and Admiral Bingen left ten furlongs behind in orthodox style. Pro Rata is a good deal better than he has yet shown in public, and should carry his sire Drusus into further prominence before long. Cushla d’Or showed all her usual brilliance in a sprint essay. J. J. Konriei'ley had Wangadale and Welcome Guy out doing useful work. Wangadale shapes like a real speed artist and the first time he is taken to the races something slippery can be expected from the Australian gelding. Welcome Guy is a good-looking three-year-old colt by Real Guy, claiming an engagement in the Sires Produce Stakes.

Anon shaped better than a companion in a mile and a-half brush. She accomplished the mile in 2.18 3-5, and

wound up the full journey in 3.29. Easter will be her time. Kanieri is expected to ring on a dividend at Cheviot to-morrow. Esbine is a fair sort of trotter, and the mile and a-half in the saddle at Cheviot looks his race. Venarc ran away with the Kaikoura Cup, but in Lily Bingen and St. George, the Harold Direct gelding should meet more than his match in the Cheviot Cup. Tahoe is reported to hold the confidence of his party. Checkers, Mr G. McMillan’s Worthy Bond two-year-old, out of Fancy Pointer is expected to try the older horses in the Mina Handicap at Cheviot. He is very promising and is engaged in the Sapling Stakes. George Rey is a three-year-old whose track work has been good, and he will score shortly. F. G. Holmes holds the reins. Dilfashion and Molly Audubon should go well in the trotters’ -two miles at Cheviot. ’ Lady Bee is useful on a country circuit and will be hard to beat at Cheviot. Future and Bingen Wilkes are due for a nod, and they are both well placed at Cheviot.

REEFTON JOCKEY CLUB. [OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] REEFTON, March 28. The monthly meeting was held last night, Mr E. W. Spencer (president) in the chair. Vote of sympathy with the relatives of the late Hon. H. L. Michel (Hokitika), Mr F. G. Hawken (Kaiapoi), and J. J. O’Malley (Cronadun) were passed, members standingin silence. The request of the Westport Jockey Club for the use of the starting machine was granted. Leave of absence was granted to Mr A. J. Chettle during his illness. Two nominations were received for membership. An application was read from the Inangahua Trotting Club asking, for the renewal of the existing lease for a further period. It was resolved with one dissentient, that whilst the committee was willing to enter a fresh agreement they would not renew the lease in its present form. The secretary was instructed to write suggesting a conference betweenHhe two clubs with a view to making an amicable arrangement. LIVERPOOL CUP. LONDON, March 27. The Liverpool Cup resulted: — Alight 1 Larking 2 Regain .. •• • • 3 Sixteen started. Won by half a length. “TOTE” IN BRITAIN. LONDON, March 27. A feature of the Linconshire Handicap race meeting was that a poor reception was accorded to the totalisator.

TRACK AND STABLE NOTES. The only winner at eAwapuni on Wednesday to gain a place yesterday was The Swell who filled third berth in the Tamatete Handicap. Golden Shadow and Pahu paid dividends on both days.

Red Comet, one of the local trotting candidates at the Westport Racing Club’s meeting is going well, and if rightly treated, should figure prominently at the meeting. Backers sorted them out a bit better at Awapuni yesterday than on Wednesday, but not much as Just an Idea was the only favourite to win, while Merry Damon and Head Serang returned second dividends. Royal Opera shared a second dividend with Tunbridge. One second favourite, four fourth and two fifth favourites accounted for the other races.

Dorie, who fell at Greymouth this month, may have his chance in the Mackenzie Handicap to-morrow at Cheviot, 'but will find Prince Chimes and . Jolly Maid hard propositions. At Awapuni yesterday, B. H. Morri's recorded his third win for the meeting. A. E. Ellis, who rode two winners on' the first day, piloted two seconds and a dead-heat second yesterday. Ravine is reported to be doing well at Reefton and at Westport he may add to the successes he has already had this season, three win’s and three other placings in eight races. Checkers, a candidate for the N.Z. Sapling Stakes, will not lack support to-morrow in the Mina Handicap at Cheviot, and the same may be said of Esbine in the Domett and Mackenzie Handicaps. Including yesterday’s racing, the jockeys who have ridden 30 winners and more this season are as follow: — Hector Gray 48, H. Goldfinch 4G, B. H. Morris 44, E. A. Keesing 43, H. N. Wiggins 36, A. E. Ellis 35, R. Coveny, R. McTavish and L. J. Ellis 30. During the week there has been no actual alteration of position on the ladder, except that the leads established by H. Gray, who has gone to Sydney, and H. Goldfinch, who is injured, have been reduced considerably. Fair Go, trained by Lloyd at Westport, will sport silk in the Trial Handicap at Patterson Park on Saturday, April 12. The same trainer has Deluge looking a vastly improved candidate for the Scanlon Handicap of seven furlongs. The four-year-old Valkyrian gelding is also nominated for the five furlongs event on the first day at Westport.

The leading sires of winners this season are Chief Ruler, 59 wins, 118 placings, stakes winnings - £16,255; Paper Money 48 wins, 140 placings, stakes £10,660; and Day Comet, 31 wins, 96 placings, stakes £10,394. E. Kingan has Ardfinnan in good order for the Scanlon Handicap on the first day at Westport and hopes to make a better showing with his charge than in the five races Ardfinnan has contested unsuccessfully this season. K. Voitre, who had both arms broken at New Plymouth, may be able to ride again at Easter as his arms are now out of splints. Star Stranger’s success in the Trentham Gold Cup includes defunct Martian amongst the sires of winners of upwards of £3OOO this season. Transfers have been registered of: Beatrice Locanda, from J. J. Jarden,

Greymouth, to H. Lipsham, Westport; Cabin Girl, from W. Taylor, Rolleston, to D. R. Gibbens, Greymouth; Mawhera Girl, from R. G. Cooper, Greymouth, to Mrs C. O’Brien, Methven.

On actual time Great Ando is the best of the eight on the limit for the Cheviot Trotting Cup to-morrow, but Lily Bingen, who at Timaru, won over a mile and a-half on a slow track in 3.29 1-5, is on 4.48 in a 4.52 class, and on the face of it she must be hard. St. George, bracketed with Prince Chimes,

and Warrenore, who raced well at Greymouth, should be hard to dispose of. The sale of two horses was effected at Ellerslie yesterday (telegraphed our Auckland correspondent) when Hyde Park and the two-year-old Our Comet (by Day Comet —Lady Hili) were purchased by Mr A. Rhodes, well known as the trainer of Glendowie, when that horse was at the height of his fame two years ago. Hyde Park was acquired for 650 guineas, but the amount involved in tho purchase of Our Comet has not been disclosed. Unless there is some hitch in the shipping arrangements, Mr Rhodes will leave for Sydney with Illis purchasers by the Maunganui today, and may eventually take them on to Melbourne. F. Christmas intends to take Flair and Red Heckle to Auckland for Easter, which means that he prefers to abide by the run of luck he has had at Ellerslie in the past, rather than keep Red Heckle in the Great Easter Handicap. The Warline gelding will have to be reckoned with in the North, while Flair, who was somewhat unlucky at the Wellington meeting, may also win more laurels for her Greymouth owner.

MANAWATU MARGINS. Correctly spotting first, second and third horses is the judge’s job, and frequently it is very difficult. It is yet more difficult, until the photographs are developed, to estimate the margins between placed horses. If, as should be, the judge at Awapuni during the meeting which ended yesterday gave particulars in regard to the distances between the placed horses he either had a very strenuous time of it, or his focus was narrow. Apart from the hurdle races, Fernden’s clear out in the Stonyhurst to win by two lengths, and Ben Hur’s one and a-half lengths’ victory in tlie Autumn Plate, the leading horses are credited with having been within one length in thirteen of the sixteen races on- the two days. Two wins were described as being by a nose, two by half-heads, two half-necks, one long neck, one neck, a half-length, and two by threequarters of a length. Distances between second and third horses are equally curtailed from the usual, the assessments including a dead heat, two half-heads, three heads, a halfneck and two necks. All this sounds nice, but unless the judge has been pulling legs by talking heads, the Manawatu Racing Club must have been easily the most thrilling meeting of the season. If others than the man in the box circulated the margins it would seem that excitement must have interfered with cool observation and calculation, even allowing that tight finishes were the order for the meeting.