PARK RACES

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIII, Issue 71, 6 March 1933, Page 2

PARK RACES

SPEED TAKES AHURIRI CUP BRAMBLETORN THE PRINCE OF WALES. TOTE FIGURES UP. The Napier Park Racing Club’s autumn meeting was concluded at Greenmeadows on Saturday in beautiful weather. There was a splendid attendance of the public, who were treated to an excellent day’s sport. The course was again in firstclass order, and good times were recorded in several of the events. As in the case of the first day the fields in a number of the races were well brought together, the close finishes reflecting upon the judgment of the handicapper, Mr H. Coyle. The judical committee were called together on two occasions, the first being after the running of the Prince of Wales Handicap, which was won by Brambletorn ridden by J. Leach, to inquire into his inconsistent form when compared with his performance in the Napier Cup on the first day when ho was unplaced. After hearing the statements of the owner, trainer, rider and other evidence, the committee accepted the explanations, no action being taken. In the Ahuriri Cup Handicap an inquiry was held into the running of Princess Bell, ridden by Percy Atkins, whose explanation was accepted after lengthy evidence was heard, no action being taken. Keith Voitre was the most successful rider, having three winning mounts, J. Leach being next with two, while Roy Reed and 8. Anderson had one each.

It was pleasing to note that on neither day did a mishap occur to spoil the sport. The arrangements for the meeting were splendidly carried out by the secretary, Mr J. E. Gleadow, and his officials, while the decisions of the judge, Mr W. P. Russell, gave every satisfaction. Mr J. D. Donovan was in his usual good form at the starting barrier. Musical selections by the Napier Citizens’ Band, under Lieut. C. W. McConnell, was much appreciated. The totalisator handled £7502 for the day as against £6834 for the same day last year, making a total of £12,218 for the meeting, being an increase of £487 over the autumn meeting of last year. Results:— PRINCE OF WALES HANDICAP Of 100 sovs.; one mile and distance-. 3 3 Mr J. Allison’s b g Brambletorn, 6yrs, by The Ace —Brambletyre, 9.0 (J. Leach) 1 6-6 Mr W. C. Griffiths br g White Fang, aged, 7.7 (W. H. Gomm) 2 1-1 Mr W. J. Wood’s bg Chopin, age 3, 8.12, (K. Voitre) .. .. 3

Also started: 4-4 Shrewd 8.1, 2-2 Vaister 7.11, 6-6 'White Fang 7.7, 7-7 Royal Parade 7.4, 5-5 Lyrical 7.0. From a good despatch Royal Parade was best away, leading from White Fang, Valsicr and Lyrical. Racing down the back, Royal Parade remained well clear of Lyrical, who moved up into second position. Across the top, Brambletorn ran into second position, being followed by Shrewd, Vahier and Chopin. Coming to the home turn, Chopin got up well on the outer near Whito Fang. At this stage Royal Parada dropped back for Brambletorn to take up the running from White Fang and Lyrical, with Chopin going fast on the outside. Brambletorn asserted his authority from then on to win by two lengths, with White Fang lasting long enough to beat Chopin by a head. Vaisier was fourth and Shrewd was fifth after receiving two checks in the straight. Time, 1 min. 55 secs. TRIAL HANDICAP Of 60 sovs; 6 furlongs. 2- Mr W. M. Bennett’s bg Takakua 4yrs., by Royal Divorce—Outlet, 8.10 (K. Voitre) 1 1- Mr F. Bcnsen’s gr g Grand Sport 3yrs., 7.10 (P. Atkins) .. .. 2 5-4 Mr R. Gregory’s b f Royal Dash, 3yrs., 7.13 (G. Jones .. .. 3 Also started: 3-3 Joy Stick 8.5, 6-6 Mercian Queen 8.0, 4-5 Bradman 8.0, 5-4 Lalla Qucx 7.8, 7-7 Royal Shift 7.8, 8-9 Gold Pebble 7.7, 9-8 Royal Highness 7.7, 10-10 Dusky Crown 7.7. When the field was sent away Mercian Queen took the lead from‘Grand Sport, Bradman and Royal Shift. Across the top there was little change in the running, but on reaching the home turn, Royal Shift was running next to Grand Sport from Takakua and Joystick. Once into the straight Takakua challenged Grand Sport, and niter a great duel prevailed by a short head. Royal Dash finished two lengths away for third. Joy Stick was close up for fourth. Time, 1 min. 40 3-5 secs. AHURIRI CUP HANDICAP. Of 121 sovs.; 1 mile3- Mr C. Haldane’s b g Speed, 3 yrs., by Diacquenod—Rapide, 8.7 (8. Anderson) 1 2- Mr T. H. Lowry’s ch g Courtyard, 3yrs., 8.9 (K. Voitre) .... 2 8-8 Mr W. Wilson’s br g Gainsfid, 4yrs, 7.5 (W. J. McDowell) .. 3 Also started: 1-1 Grand Lahu 9.13, 5-5 Princess Bell 8.7, 6-6 Tiger Gain 8.4, 7-7 Sabatini 8.1, 9-11 Gold Ruler 7.6, 4-4 High Grader 7.5, 9 10 Wedding Bells 7.3, 9-9 Sunstcad 7.0. From the rise of the tapes Speed immediately took the running from Courtyard, Gainsfid and Princess Bell. Passing the six furlong post, Sunstcad had gone up to join Speed, with Courtyard lying close behind from Gainsfid,.

Princess Bell and Gold Ruler. As the field ran aerfts the top there was little change except that High Grader had gone up. At this stage Grand Lahu broke down to drop out of the race. Speed and Sunstcad were still the leaders when the field entered the straight. Courtyard then made a run, and Sunstead at this stage was unable to sustain his sp<W<l. Gainsfid was next to look dangerous, but was unable to get up with the leaders, Speed prevailing in a great finish by a short half-length from Courtyard, Gainsfid being only a head further away. Sabatini was almost level for fourth, finishing from Gold Ruler and High Grader. Time, Imin. 40 3-ssecs.

ST. PATRICK’S HANDICAP. Of 90 sovs.; 7 furlongs. 1-2 Mr P. F. Wall’s ch g Souchong, syrs., by Arausio—Suratura, 9.9 (R. Reed) 1 3-1 Mr V. H. Colello’s b m Cuticle, 6yrs., 8.0 (J. Barry) 2 2r3 Mr R. Gregory’s ch m Lady Spy, aged, 8.5 (G. Jones) 3 Also started: 4-4 False Scent 7.9, 7-7 Head Serang 7.7, 5-6 Anemometer 7.7, 8-8 Rory Mor 7.7, 6-5 Little Wonder 7.7. Souchong made the most of a good start to take up the running from False Scent, Lady Spy, Little Wonder, Anemometer and Cuticle. Racing across the top, Lady Spy joined the leader and to the home turn took charge, when Souchong again assumed the lead to head the field as it entered the straight from Lady Spy, Little Wonder, Anemometer and Cuticle. Great excitement prevailed among the spectators as the field raced for the pobt. A short distance away they were almost in line, with Souchong and Lady Spy showing great rivalry. A desperate challenge was thrown out by Cuticle. The three were separated by heads only, Souchong being the first to catch the judge’s eye from Lady Spy and Cuticle. False Scent was fourth. Time, Imin. 27secs. NOTES ON THE MEETING. The Napier Club should come out of the meeting well on the right side of the ledger, as all receipts showed an increase on last season’s figures.

The racing was very interesting, and the finishes in practically all the events were the best seen for years. Seemingly inconsistent running on the part of some of the performers was in evidence. Three enquiries were held and the majority of racing folk fully expected at least two others that were not convened.

It was most unfortunate that the Racing Conference appointed one stipendiary steward for the first day and another for Saturday. Had the same paid steward been present on both days, then no doubt further questions would have been asked. It is understood the Napier Club is voicing its disapproval to the Ccnference of appointing different stipendiaries for the two days. Had Mr. Sandilands, who acted on Saturday, been present on Thursday it is very doubtful if he would have instituted enquiries into the running of Brambletorn after his win on Saturday for inconsistent running. On the first day the Ace gelding. as reported in the “Tribune,” was making heavy weather of his 9st. 21b. all the way, mainly owing to the fast pace set by Tiger Gain. On this account Brambletorn was made to carry his weight from the word go and in his endeavour to keep anything like a position never became really balanced, running on his wrong foot as it were. The second day the pace was not clapped on until later in the race, thus allowing Brambletorn to get balanced and occupy a favourable position without being bustled. No doubt Mr. Sandilands, under the circumstances, did his duty and, after hearing the explanation of the trainer, D. Moroney, the owner, Mr. J. Allison, and the jockey, Leach, it was fully accepted.

The stipendiary also questioned trainer J. M. Cameron as to the improved running of Grand Sport and here, too, the explanation was accepted and once again no query would have been raised in this direction had Mr. Sandilands been present on Thursdav.

Jockey Percy Atkins was twice on the mat to explain his handling of Princess Bell. On Saturday the action seemed to bo justified, as Atkins did not appear to ride one of his best races. At the same time, it is to be mentioned that the filly’s .immediate connections supported her to win on each occasion.

It is only reasonable to imagine that Mr. C. Haldane would have welcomed an enquiry into the running of Speed, as it would have cleared the air and so put a stop to the unkind remarks that were being passed by all and sundry in the paddock and lawns. Here, again, matters might have been different had Mr. Sandilands been present to see Speed race the first day. In the Redclyffe Hack, one mile, on Thursday, Speed drew No. 1 ami was first out from the barrier and after going about three furlongs with the lend gradually fell back to finish a long way behind the winner and second to last,. This race -was run in 1-41 4-5 and, had Speed’s time been taken, it would have read somewhere about 1.44 In the Hack Cup on Saturday, in the same field —with the addition of Courtyard, the winner of the hack six on the first day—Speed again drew No. 1 and, again getting away first, was never headed or looked like being beaten, doing the distance in 1.40 2-5, an almost impossible improvement on the face of things. An explanation is to be found in the fact that when Speed was sent out the first day his party were not all sure that the three-year-old would see out a mile and so instructed Jockey Anderson to hop away well and, after running a couple of furlongs, to drop in behind the leaders. Anderson carried out those instructions, with the. result that his mount got into all sorts of trouble and it wus on account of this buffeting that Speed finished so far back. The second day, when he won the Hack Cup, instructions were altered, with the result that Anderson again getting away well from No. 1 position, was able to keep well to the front throughout and, securing a clear run home, was able to stave off all challenges. At the same limo it would have been much more satisfactory to the investing public, and probably to the owner also, had these facta been elicited at » formal enquiry

Souchong’s form also seemed very inconsistent. The first day, with 9.11 he went to the front after the field took up the running and led to within a furlong of the post, when he retired beaten to all intents and purposes, and the general verdict among racing folk was that the weight and seven furlongs had proved too much for the sprinter. The second day, with a drop of only 21b in weight, Souchong was again produced and ran practically the same race except that when he was expected again to cry enough he came on like a racehorse to carry 9.9 first past the post in good style. Here again the owner would no doubt have welcomed an enquiry, and had Mr Sandilands been present on Thursday he would probably have asked for some explanation.

The starting on a whole was not quite up to 'he usual standard. This was, to some extent at any rate, due to poor hotsemanship. but from whatever cause, some of the events were robbed of interest on account of the unevenness of the despatches. • • « The sooner the Naper Club rectify the the barrier at the mile post the better for all concerned, or otherwise cut out the mile races altogether. The way it is at present the inside three horses look like having at least a five lengths’ advantage over the outside horses. The finishes in nearly all the races were exceptionally close, speaking well for the handicapping. However, Mr Coyle would take some explaining away his handicapping of iSpeed for the second day. Both days this horse was engaged in mile hack events. The first day he failed, as referred to previously, and lor that failure was dropped no less than 61b. This colt has met and beaten Princess Bell about seven times this season until the first day at Napier, when she was second and Speed nowhere. Yet when the handicaps came out for the Hack Cup the two were set ao meet on equal terms. Both are three-year-olds and Speed has won seven races and the filly only two. So it does not take a wizard to see that the Princess was rather cruelly treated and the running proved it, too, as Speed won and Gray’s charge was somewhere down the track.

There was a good deal of grumbling among patrons on both days, and in some cases there seemed some reason for it. Racing at the present time is having a most difficult tusk to survive, and every precaution is needed to maintain its popularity. Visiting trainers and owners, too came to the writer, and though their complaints may have been pinpricks, they existed.

Sp ce does not permit of comment on the running of the races, which must be held over till to-morrow.