NAPIER PARK FINALS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXV, Issue 161, 24 June 1935, Page 2

NAPIER PARK FINALS

Curie Springs a Surprise

LAST RACE TO UNEXPECTED

The Napier Park Racing Club conc'.ided its winter meeting nt the Greenmeadows course on Saturday. The totalisator handled £5356’ 10/for the day, as compared with £5754 for the same day last year. The total for the meeting was £9241, as compared with £0996 10/- for the winter meeting last year The concluding results on Saturday were :— WINTER OATS HANDICAP. Of £100; 7 furlongs. 6 CURIE, Mr W. McKinnon’s b. g. (iyrs, by Arausio —Hymarty 9.6 (J. L. Cotton) I 4 Cold Mission, Mr G. A. Downe's b. m. 4yis, 8.9 (R, Savage) .... 2 5 Good Hunting, Mr C. L. Ferguson’s ch. g. syrs 9.3 (W. Broughton) 3 (Wmiior trained by owner, Green uicudow s.)

Also started: 7 Speed 8.13, 1 Koya Bengal 8,1, 2 Sunny Sky 8.0, 3 Buuuoi. 8.0, 9 Mercian I’lince 8.0, 8 Haiuiu« 8.6. Hatuuiu was the first to break the line, closely tollowed by Royal Bouga., Good Hunting uud Gold Mission, witn the ultimate winner, Curie, well biicn. In the next two furlongs Royal Bengal hud taken the lead over Good Hunting, while Curie had improved his position to run into third position, aud Huluniu had dropped back to the rear. Good Huuting led into the straight from Royal Bengal uud Curie, uud ut this stuge Sunny Sky mude her first appearance near the leading division, but her effort was short-lived and wide out. With heads turned for home the order was Good Hunting, Curie, Gold Mission, Royal Beugui aud Sunny Sky. With the pressure applied Curie stayed on best to win by a length. For second place a desperate fight resulted for Gold Mission to just beat Good Hunting. Mercian Prince was fourth. Time. 1.30.

NEWSTEAD HACK HANDICAP Of £7O; 1 mile.

3 UNEXPECTED, Mr W. n. Brady’s b. g. 4yrs, by Malapert —Jeanette 8.12 (B. H. Morris) J 1 Passion Flower, Mr O. Nelson’s b. f. 3yrs 10.1 (P. Atkins) .... 2 6 Joy Stick, Mrs H. M. Preston’s ch. g. syrs, 8.0 (8. Auderson) .. 3

Also started: 2 Father's Choice 8.7, 4 Royal Dash 8.2, 7 Trackman 8.0, 5 Treasure Hunt 8.0.

When the horses were first seen the running order was Father’s Choice, Joy Stick, Royal Dash, Treasure Hunt and Passion Flower, while Unexpected was further back. Racing right down the back stretch the order was practically the same, but Passion Flower and Unexpected were gradually making up leeway. Joy Stick headed Father’s Choice just before entering the straight, and the latter unaccountably began to drift right out of the picture. In the home turn Joy Stick led over Royal Dash, Passion Flower, and Unexpected. Then began one. of the best finishes of the meeting. Joy Stick, Passion Flower and Unexpected were locked together, and in a real thriller Unexpected won by a short head from Passion Flower, with Joy Stick half a head away third, but many thought that Joy Stick was second. Trackman was fourth. Time. 1.44 2-5.

NOTES ON THE RUNNING

(By “The Barb.”) The opening event was robbed of a great deal of interest through the falling of the three best backed horses, Lady Spy, Million and Arctic Star, at the hurdle opposite the stand. The winner. Tahoma, led all the way to win most comfortably, but those that finished behind him were of rather poor quality. Kaola jumped perhaps the best of those remaining on their feet, but the improvement in his running was negligible, as the time for the winner was three seconds slower than Arctic Star ’a on the first day. Journet was third and he is the most likely of the finishers to go on to show better form, as he is only in the making and, what is more, has been up only a short time. Mercian Lass may improve, but the running of Treasure Hunt was not encouraging.

Collision made amends for recent disappointments by accounting for the Greenmeadows Hack Handicap, but his margin was not great. Still, he ran n game race, as he was conceding Silver Song a big start when the run to the winning post began. Perhaps the recent schooling has done this horse good, but, as he has let his party down on more than one occasion, it is not safe to say that he has yet mended his manners. Silver Song ran more in

keeping with her track work than she did al Hastings and it was only VV.-J. King’s ill fortune to catch Collision in galloping mood. Royal Feast was made favourite, but never at any stage did he appear likely to beat Silver Song and at the finish lie was over three lengths away from the winner. Contact ran a very poor race and is now to be spelled until the spring. Queen’s Pride ran as expected, as the race the first day was too much for a three-year-old filly and it was a little surprising to see her facing the starter this time. Windward stripped very much on the big side and is still in need of a race or two. Thane again ran a decent race while his condition lasted and these two races should do him a deal of good. * * -:t The Ladies’ Handicap saw an accident just averted when the horses swung out of the straight, mid had the offender been a professional rider possibly a twelve-months holiday would have been meted out. Ties See has al lust broken his duck for this .season. On his first day’s race he looked a good tiling ami it was surprising to see that lie was not made a warm favourite. He was kept a long way out of it in the early stages, but fortunately the pace was not fust and, getting n clear run through on the rails, he, won very easily, gaining a very popular vie- I lory, as the Todd family tire all real sports. Gold Cure endeavoured to carry his 11.13 in front all the nay and at the finish was well beaten. The Grasper j was ridden a perfectly well judged I race, but found the ten furlongs beyond his staying powers. Had the distance been a mile, as at Hastings, he probably would have won. The horses that finished out of a place are going to find it difficult to earn a crust this winter. * * * The Steeplechase was an interesting contest. Due to her fair second on Thursday Anemometer was second in the betting order. This was only hei second race over country after very little schooling, so her winning effort suggests that she will win a decent stake one day, as she is a genuine slayer, even 2i miles being hardly far enough for her. This was another win lor Mr. Todd. Returning to scale E. Deslandes was greeted with loud applause. This horseman is one of the most obliging of all on the training tracks. Morning after morning at Hastings he is to be seen riding the bud mannered horses or schooling the novices, but his reward when it comes to race-days hardly justifies his energy in between. Hence the cheering when “Honk” rode his mount first past the post. Dozie ran another fine race, and inside nine days she has contested four steeplechases for two firsts and two seconds, a line record for a young mare. On Saturday she had 10.13 and to be beaten by a head only in a fine finish was no disgrace. Royal Songster is a bold juniper and, as stated before, should not be long before winning a minor steeplechase. Perhaps, however, while he is at the minimum it would be better to allow him to go out in front and make the others go faster, as his jumping under these conditions would be a bigger asset to him. Kanunoke made a much better showing than the first day, when he never flattered his supporters and finished last. It was unfortunate that he should run off when going so well, as it appeared likely he would be one of the hardest to beat. Petrarch had to be pulled up on account of the stirrups breaking, but he was only going so-so at the time and I do not think he would have done any better than on Thursday last. Taura Lad again helped to make the pace, but, as at Hastings and on the 1 first day hit one obstacle hard and then retired.

The Trial Plate saw trainer Gordon Tricklebank of Waipukurau complete the hat trick as the two previous winners, Tres Sec and Anemometer, are from his stable. But this time “Trick” produced one for himself, as Celerrimus races in his own nomination. This mare has been racing for some time, but this is the first time she has saluted the judge. She may now go on to win more races, but it must be admitted that the field behind her contained no ‘ ‘ Carbines. ’ ’ Sybil Song had again to be content with second place. She was made a very warm favourite, carrying more investments than any horse of the meeting, but on form Celerrimus should have been first choice. Sybil Hong had Celerrimus flat out and her turn should not be long in coining. Morning Quest made play for close on half a mile, but was easily headed off by the first two placed horses over the business stage of the race. Okanagan was fourth, but it is very doubtful if she will accompany trainer F. W. Davis back to Woodville and the paddock may be her address until such time as she fills out.

Owner-trainer "W. McKinnon received a fine dividend from Curie in the Winter Oats, as speculators were awaiting the day when a more fashionable jockey might be on top. J. L. Cotton, who works in McKinnon’s stable, was legged up on the Arausio gelding and “Wee Willie” got in flrat to collect the plums. Curie was well handled by Cotton, who after the first furlong had his mount well placed all the way and, running over no unnecessary ground, won by a length. Gold Mission found the 91bs. rise in the handicap just a little too much and only managed to defeat Good Hunting by a head for second money, though she had easily accounted for him on Thursday. Royal Bengal was made the public favourite, but after flattering his supporters for about five furlongs gracefully retired. Sunny Sky ran a Very disappointing race, as it was considered that seven furlongs would suit her much better than the six over which she was second on Thursday. Boudoir ran a little better and will not be long before getting on the winning list again. Speed ran just as expected, no good. A V’g improvement was seen of going. A big Improvement was seen in the show put up by Mercian Prince, who can be ticked off as a likely sort next time stepped out in a mile race. Hatuma is not racing up to promise, but in the birdcage bis condition did not gain him any extra friends, as he appeared to be tucked up a little. * * * The last race of the meeting, tho Newstead Hack Handicap, saw the best finish of the meeting, Passion Flower

was made a decided favourite, bui speculators had evidently not stoppci to consider the hard race the first day when this rather delicate three-year-olc filly, carrying 9.12, was pushed out tc the last inch. The winner, Unexpected is nowhere near her class. In the bird cage Passion Flower looked anything but right for the task of carrying 10.1, so that her stirring finish leaves no doubt as to her ganieness. Unexpected got there by a short head, but Bert Morris was largely responsible for this victory. As on the first day on Queen’s Pride he rode a very strong finish to get his mount home first. Joy Stick again ran a fine race and it appeared from the Press stand that he was second and not Passion Flower. However, there is hardly a race meeting at Greenmeadows that some placing is not questioned, the angle from either stand sufficiently accounting differences from the judge’s placings. Trackman showed improvement to weigh in fourth and should soon get on the winning list in some minor event. Royal Dash showed a little dash until the straight entrance and then was lost sight of. The biggest disappointment of the day was the poor showing put up by the second favourite, Father’s Choice. The first day, over once round, he ran a splendid second to Royal Banquet, beating Unexpected hollow, so that in this mile race his chance appeared rosy. He was well away on the release of the tapes and was in the lead right to the entrance of the straight when he shut up like a knife. He appeared fit and well in the birdcage, but al) could not have been right with him and this form can be forgotten.