SPORTING.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 23 September 1924, Page 3

SPORTING.

MOVEMENTS OF BALLYMENA

BY CABLE--CEESS ASSOCIATION-COPYRIGHT SYDNEY, Sept. 22. In view of his win on Saturday the hope is expressed that Mr Knight might revoiie his decision to send Ballymena, hack to New Zealand before fulfilling its Randwick soring meeting engagements. Mr Knight, -however, to-dav stated that Ballymena would leave for home on Friday unless the unexpected happened, and he had no reason to expect it would, meaning that unless the Jockey Club Committee reopened the Royal Despatch case. It is understood that Mr Knight’s action is a protest against the disqualification of F. D. Jones and M. MeCarten, in both of "whom he expresses his utmost confidence.

Nigger Minstrel’s injury consists of a slightly sprained ligament on the off foreleg. Since given walking exercise he appeared quite sound, to-day, arid it is anticipated that any slight daihage will quickly disappear under the treatment the horse is receiving: M'indbag has been scratched for all Randwick engagements, arid also for the Melbourne Cup and the Derby.

OTAKI RACES

THE CONCLUDING DAY

(by TELFGKAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION.) OTAKI, Sept. 22. For the second day of the Otaki meeting the weather was dull, the course heavy and the’attendance fair. Results:—

Puketoi Hurdles, 1-1 miles. —Bonibrook 1, Waimatoa 2, Goldpiece 3. Also started: Alabama. A good start saiv Waimatoa in the. lead, which it kept for over a mile. Then Bonibrooik went to the front, was never headed, and won by four lengths. , Twentv lengths separated second arid third. Alabama was well back. Time, 2.54. Manuao Trial Plate, 5 furlongs.— Miss Hupana 1, Lipsol 2, Moritoa Lady 3. Scratched: Peach Brandy, Kyla. From the start Miss Hupana led the field, was never headed, and won by a head, a length' between second and third. Time 1.5.

Otaki Hack Handicap, 7 furlongs.— Clarinda 1, Kalakaua 2, Star Ranger 3. All started. Kalintlia led the field till Clarinda went to the front at the back. A good race saw the placed horses separated by half a length. Op a uas fourth. Time, 1.31 4-5. Tailioa Hack Handicap, 1 mile and a furlorig.—Correspondent 1, Kilfaire 2, Bitters 3. Alb started. Correspondent and Nukumai led the field, with .Helen Rufus next. At the hack Bitters moved up. There was a good race hetiveen the placed horses, necks separating them. Nukumai was fourth. Time, 1.563-5.

Pukekaraka Hack Handicap,, six furlongs.—lmperial Spark 1, Salamis' 2, Bonnie Gold £. Scratched: Alabama. From the start Purseproud led, hut at the back Imperial Spark joined up, and in the race home with Salamis won by a length, a neck between second and third. Lady Gav was fourth. T'.me, 1.16 1-5.

. Rekireki Handicap, six furlongs.— Rose of Athens 1, Last Crust 2, Ihapotoa 3. AIL started. Lady Fingers and Last Crust led till the" bend, when Ihapotoa joined them,'followed by Rose of Athens. A good race, Won by a length, a neck between second and third. Time, 1.15 3-5. Rahui Welter Handicap, 7 furlongs. —Bonena 1, Glument 2, Koauau 3. All started. From the start Idanoe led, but once in the straight the placed horses fought a good finhh, U-m-.ua winning by half a length, a length, between second and third. Opa was fourth. Time, 1.30 3-5/ Wairegamai Welter Handicap, seven furlongs.—Happy Days 1, Hyrax 2, Cleasanta 3. All started. From the start Cle-asaiita and -Counter Attack led, bufc Happy Days came through nicely and. Avon by’ a neck, half a length hetAA-een second and third. Time, 1.30 1-5.

AVONDALE MEETING

AUCKLAND,-Sept;'22. The Avondale spring meeting concluded to-day in fine Aveather. The course Avas in excellent order and the going was good. The totalisator handled £51,190 10s, compared with £44,249 10s on the concluding day at the last spring meeting. The total for the meeting Avas £106,54.0, an increase of £5401. Results : Kingsland Hurdles, one. and threequarter miles.—Landhird (Kaa-n) 1, Prince Rufus 2, Miss Melva, 3. Also started: Miss Mickey, Peter Amans, Karaimu, General Rose, Te Tahi, Totara Jack, Hushman, Husker. Landbird made all the running and Avon by one and a-hali lengths, the third horse tAA'O' lengths aAvay. Time, 3.19. Nursery Handicap, five furlongs.— Automne (Nixon) I, Lady Ca\’endisii 2, King Lu 3. Also started: Mimetic, Gold Autumn, Father O’Flynn, Day Bell, Welbeck Abbey, Gold Acre, Romantic, Predominate, Adavale, Air Queen, Decollete. Automne Avas soon in front, stalled off a challenge bv Lady Cavendish in the straight, and Avon by three-quarters of a length, one and a-half lengths betAveen second and third. . Time, 1.3 4-5. Avondale Guineas.—Tuahine (Reed) 1, Master Boon 2, Lady Kewa 3, Dazzling Light 4. Also started : Subjection, Prince Lupin, Sandstar, Soil o’ Mine, The Banker, Motley, Voltore, Exactly, Phoenix Park, Glengariff, Muscari, Ilka, Chairman. Subjection ,led into the straight from Chairman, Motley and Tuahine. The last-named finished Avell to Aviu by a head, the third liorse a head further aivav. Time, 1.44.

Plumpton Handicap, one mile and a furlong.—lllumination (Wiggins) 1. Landslide 2, Ruapapa 3, Polonett 4. Also started: Arch Salute, Zircon, Broadwood, Pelham, Matinee, J)a>guard. Landslide attempted to win from end to end, but Illumination came well in Ihe straight and won by a length, the third horse half a length away. Time, 1.55. Mount Albert Hack Welter, six furlongs.—Rafa (Gray) 1, Princess Ronnie 2, General Pryde 3. Also started. Highflown, Lady Hill, Praiseworthy, Drawbridge, Mis® Vera, Sleepy Sol, Monday, Parodist, .Lucky Lu, Qumsilia, Winkie’s Wheel, Tall Timber, Kitty Barlowe, Ring the Bell, Best Boy, Gold Fern, Too Late, Cherry Ripe. The winner led throughout and won by one and a-lialf lengths, half a length between second and third. Time, 1.16. President’s Handicap, six furlongs. Finelli (Dulieu) 1, Master O’Rorke 2, Royail Blood 3. Also started: Soliform, King Merv. Miss Egypt, Lucius, Jolly Princess, Prince Abbey, Archibald, Dan Quin, Gala Day, Town Bank, Kuhio. Abbey Bell. The winner led throughout and won by a. netx, a. head between second and third. Time, 1.15. New Lynn Hack Handicap, one mile and a furlong.—Steel Bar (Man.-son) 1, Tactician '2, Tresillia.ii 3. Also started : Lapidary, T'e Kuri, Barometer, Potoanui, John Dix, Dorinda, Knight-

hood. Lady Kerman, Appreciation, Passionate, , Roseante, Transform. Roseante • led to the straight, where Steel Bar came through and won by a head, the third horse the same distance aAvay. Time, 1.55 2-5. Nihotapu Welter, one mile and a furlong.—Bright Day (Gray) 1, Gold. Rain 2, Peter Maxwell 3. Also stained: L’Amour, Prettyman, Doleful Ditty, Prince Abbey, Aerofortis, Smoke Concert, Many Colours, Golden Glass, Gold Jacket, Prince Charleroi, Poteen. In a great finish Bright Day Avon by a. head, the third horse a head away. Time, 1.55 4-5.

NOTES AND COMMENTS. (By Maecenas.) But for getting a slight attack of kidney., trouble Merry Jest may have been a runner at the Wanganui and Avondale meetings. That once brilliant mar© Sißer Link Avill be one of the consorts of the much-boomed importation Chief Ruler. If Royal DRorce makes the improvement one would expect he will be saddled up for that important Aveight-for-age race the Champion Plate at the spring meeting of the Wellington Racing Club.

Starter J. Vincent will manipulate the barrier at the annual meeting of the Foxton Racing Club. One hears a lot about certain race tracks being in a poor condition, but it is most noticeable that horses trained on these same tracks win their share of races.

In his races at New Plymouth and Wanganui Sunshot produced a great finishing run, and since joining E. Murtagh’s team he has galloped most generously..

That useful performer Many Kittle is not too sound and at present is causing his trainer trouble. 9 While the race tracks of the North Island are in a soft condition at present, those of the jßouth are more concrete like than is usually the case in spring.

Little Limelight is. getting through great work on the Riecarton tracks, and on a recent morning she ran a mile under 1.43.

. Footfall (Autumnus —Warstep). looks like turning out a fair three-year-old. He finished remarkably well in his race at Ashburton.

Unless the North Island contains better staying three-year-olds than those seen in action so far, it certainly looks as if the long distance classics (Derbies and St. Legers) may again go South, this season. The Australian-bred Tresham was produced on the opening day at Ashburton, and after running a good race Avds just beaten for a place. This son of Tressady should be ready for the Dunedin Guineas.

The jumpers of the South Island are a particularly poor lot, and any good hack hurdler from this island Avould reap a rich harvest in. the south

Many were looking forward to the 2000 guineas youngster Mimetic to win the Avondale Stakes, hut personally I fancy the autumn may slioav promising galloper at his best. What a consistent mare Gold Light is, and it is hard to remember her running a poor race. Although the field Gold Light beat in the Avondale Cup Avas not a high-class one, it was a fair performance.

Although the race is still about eight weeks off and the acceptances have just closed, Aeroh is a decided favourite for the richly endowed Trotting Cup. The grey filly Rehutai is furnishing nicely, and trainer J. Fryer had her well •'forward for the Wanganui meeting, where, but for running wide at tlie home turn, Rehutai may have Avon. On her shoivings at the Marton and Wanganui meetings Lady Bentinck, like practically all the progeny of Absurd, will he more brilliant than solid.

Prior to leaving Riecarton for Wanganui Barn Owl Avas responsible for a number of fast trials and track watchers thought her a certainty, but the North Island hacks Aver© too good. Although oAvners Avere anxious to giA r e their two-year-olds a race at Wanganui meeting, some were not keen on the youngsters competing in siioh numbers. There Avere 18 runners—too many for a small course like that at Wanganui.

As Songbird was very robust on the opening day at Ashburton, many looked for his .defeat the second day. The assumption that the race would do Songbird harm was ill-founded, for, jumping out like a. two-year-old, Songbird won .well, and oil his races at Ashburton he looks like being at his best within the next few weeks. If one can rely on the cabled report of the Hdl Stakes, run on Saturday last, it would appear that Gloaming was again unlucky to meet defeat. Considering the few occasions on which the son of The Welkin has met defeat he has certainly encountered a good deal of bad luck. Taking the official time of Saturday’s race as a guide, Gloaming must be as good as ever. Although New Zealand does not take up much space on the globe, climatic conditions vary considerably. As an instance of this it may be mentioned that the race tracks of the North Island are much on the soft side, but those in the South Island are just the reverse, no rain of consequence having fallen there for over a month At the Ashburton meeting Kilfane rail seven furlongs in 1.262-5, and The Harp six furlongs in 1.12. As Nigger Minstrel thrives on racing, liis performance in winning the Hosehill Guineas on his first appearance augurs well for his three-ye*r-old prospects, and despite the win of Heroic over Gloaming, one can rest assured that Desert Gold’s brother will keep him doing his best in the Australian Jockey Club’s Derby.

What a great galloper Songbird is! At the Ashburton meeting he looked like a prize bull when he went ont to contest the Spring Handicap, and was also heavily bandaged in front, but it was only over the last ten yards that The Harp wore Songbird down If he stands a good preparation Songbird will make liis‘presence felt later. When Ballymena defeated Rapine at weight-for-age when they met at Trentham in the. autumn many made excuses for Rapine, and inferred that Ballymena’s win was something of a “fluke.” After Ranine had badly beaten David and others a few weeks later his admirers were more than ever satisfied that Martian’s son was much better than Ballymena, but personally I never subscribed to tliat view. Ballyemna’s performance on Saturday was that of a champion.