TURF

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXII, Issue 11452, 28 February 1931, Page 10

TURF

THE WAIAPU FIXTURE. NOTES ON THURSDAY’S MEETING'. % ■ i Small fields but' close finishes vvas the order of affairs at the Waiapu Racing Club’s annual hack meeting at Matifi racecourse on Thursday. ,H. S. Greene and J. White each trained two. winners, and other successful mentors were J. W. Price, W. Turnl/qll, A. G. Dixon and J. McNeil.

Riding honors were fairly well distributed J. Walsh (two winners and three seconds) and C. Davis (two wins and a like number of seconds) being the liiost successful. C. Strutton had one win and two seconds, P. Atkins one win and one second, J. Nixon one win arid A. G. Murray also one win.

Stitch has. not taken long to open his winning account and Ins victory in the Maiden Scurry was the easiest of the day, nothing else having i a. chance with the Tkreadnecdlo two-year-old. As at Tolaga, lie was very smart out of the barrier, and was never beaded, simply cantering home over ■ the last furlong from Star of Gold. The runner-up won a race later in the day which .makes Stitch’s form all the better, lie looks every inch a galloper and gives the impression that a distance will not be. beyond liiin. 1 Undoubtedly Mr. Big-, ncll’s gelding is 011 cof the most promising sorts seen out at local .meetings for a considerable time. Star of Gold showed improved form on Thursday and rail a sterling race, in the To Puni Memorial; though she had no chance against Stitch in her earlier outing. Thu Hunting Song three-year-old was always lying handy in the Memorial and unfolded a great finishing run in the straight, the last pace earlier notwithstanding. it was only a three-horse field, but the winner paid easily the gest dividend of the day. Incidentally this is only the second member of her sex to win races for her sire. A bbeydulo continues to improve and now finishes on very solidly, in his races, a direct contrast to his performances in previous efforts. Ho was' last in the To Puni Memorial into the straight, but came away in good style on the outside to run Star of Gold to a short neck. Climatic, the other starter,, - made a fast pace right into the straight but had nothing in reserve to stave off the challenges by the other two runners. Talioma, who won the Wairoa Cup from a fair field last month, made his first appearance in H. S. Greene’s colors in the AYaiapu Stakes on Thursday. He was installed one of the hottest favorites of the day, but never looked like being in the picture and finished well behind in tho field of four. He had a solid impost, but his form was a long way below what he lias displayed earlier this year. Autumn Sun is realising all the promise he showed last season and his win in the AA'uiapu Stakes was his fourth in succession and, incidentally, liia first beyond eight furlongs. He won in very decisive fashion, and though Tama AYaiata rail him to a neck he did not appear to bo exteuded- AA'lien he returned to the enclosure he had not turned a hair. He is only a four-year-old and his form locally indicates that (letter things are in store for him. The runner-up, Tama Waiaiu. made a fine effort and appeared to head Autumn Sun for a couple of strides, blit when Davis moved on Mr. AY. AA'ilson's gelding it was all over. 1 Royal X une, a five-year-old brother to that solid performer. Royal Soug-

>ter, created a good impression in the Counties Handicap, though lie finished well back in last• place. He had been in work, however, for only live weeks and carried plenty of condition. Had. he been tried out- in a shorter race instead of the mile and a distance event lie would have made his presence felt, for he went splendidly while his condition lasted. Master Damon set the pace from the jump out, but Royal Tune foot-, ed it almost on terms with the leader for about seven furlongs and then faded right out. Royal Tune- is a fine looking gelding and should reach the winning list when a little more seasoned. Master Damon won the Counties Handicap from end to end. J. Nixon was responsible for a good display of horsemanship in taking the lead and setting the pace to suit his mount, who hung on well over the last stages to score narrowly from Cyncona. The Polydamon gelding is a remarkably smart beginner and this attribute always allows him to get a position oil the rails early in a race. Cyncona made a remarkably improved showing as compared with his efforts at Tolaga and, being a long way back in the early stages,- cumo with a great finishing run on the outside to miss victory narrowly after appearing to have a groat chance with a few yards to go. Kimbe. was unlucky to secure only a minor placing at the meeting, for hg ran two good races. In the Flying he should have been second, but his jockey was vault unawares allowing. Charmaliiio to capture second money by half a head. Coming out again in the Farewell, Kimbo bad all the worst of the. start, giving the field -a break of at least three lengths. He was up with the field at the turn into the straight, but could not muster up enough sting to go on with it. Manifesto won nicely in the Fare-

well- ami ran a vastly different race from Iris previous effort over a furlong further. On his first appearance the Lackliajii gelding was comparatively neglected in the betting, but when lie won he was at ‘under evens’ in the largest betting race of the day. • * • Mr. F. Collin had a* stroke of bad jluek iu euituectioii Aviiji Homnvai, who"was accepted for and would have been one of the best favored division in tho Maiden Scurry. Eu route to the course near Tokomai'u Bay, IToiiovai freed himself from the fastenings which held him in the horse box and attempted to jump oift, sustaining some very bad cuts about tho legs diid body. It was impossible for him to race on Thursday and it will be some considerable time before lie is again seen out.