NAPIER PARK MEETING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19275, 13 March 1926, Page 15

NAPIER PARK MEETING.

OREUM SECURES THE CUP. GREAT FINISH IN WELTER. [BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] NAPIER, Friday. The Napier Park Racing Club's meeting was opened to-day in hot and windy weather. The track, although hard, was not as bad as it might have been if it had not been well watered. There was some particularly fine racing, some of tho horses representing the highest class. Royal Heather was a very hot favourite for the Omarunui Hurdles, but after he a,nd Suspicion had raced in front of Toa, Taua nearly all the way. Suspicion stayed on too well for the favourito, who was also beaten by tho fast-finishing Lark Hall. Toa Taua looked to have a great chance at the last fence, but was stopped in the run in. He should be well suited by the shorter distance of the hurdle race to-morrow. Royal Heather is a little small for hurdle races and needs some more experience, but he is a useful galloper. Jeanette and Plain Sailing led Manutai, Hypnotic and Break o' Day to the turn in the Esk Hack Handicap, and then Jeanette beat Plai i Sailing home by a head. Blue Jay, who began slowly, was running on in third place, three lengths away, just ahead of Break o' Day, Manutai, Hypnotic and My Hobby. The last-named, Butterscotch and Minstrel Boy were all -mlucky in the running, but Jeanette won nicely. She is a very useful three-year-old filly, by Romeo from Dixieland, owned by Mr. F. Hall. Rapine, looking a trifle burly, and Star Stranger, bracketed, carried somewhat more than Oreum in the Napier Cup with a good price going about anything else. Oreum went out to win all the way, being followed by Malatour, All Marimba, Archeen and Rapine. Oreum was four lengths clear six furlongs from home, but was given a breather across the top, wher-i Malatour and All Marimba closed on her. In the run in, however, Oreum won, hard held, by a little over a length from Malatour, , with All Marimba half a length away, third. Kapmo was a close fourth and Archeen a.nd Do Luxe next. The winner sot a torrid pace, as the time, 2m 5 l-ss, showed, and she was too good for the heavy-weights, although Rapine did exceptionally well to get so close with his 10st. Star Stranger. , however, was settled by the pace m the early stages. He was ridden by an apprentice, R. Reed being on Rapine. Malatour and All Marimba both went great races, All Marimba being a little unlucky in the straight. Joy King, although inclined to be on his toes at tho barrier, got out well ill the Sapling Stakes, and pulled through in fino style, going away at the end to win by a length from an outsider in Comedic. Joy King and Inner Harbour, followed by Comedic and Rascal, were the only ones in it from tho barrier rise. Comedic ran surprisingly well, being too good for Rascal, a very useful looking gelding by Absurd, from Marty, carrying tho Ormond colours, and having his first run in public. Tuahine and Tiega were the. only ones backed in tho Welter Handicap. Road Hog led across the top from Haurangi, Tiega, Tuahine, Good Sport and Gaze. Morose led into tho straight, from Haurangi, Imitation, Tuahine, Crown Gem and Tiega, and then the field bunched, Tiega, Tuahine and Crown Gem passing the post locked together. The judge awarded a double deadheat. Gaze was a close fourth, with Road Hog and Imitation next. Imitation, who was slow away, and Gaze, were unlucky in the running. Ballymoy 11., all things considered, was a liberal-priced favourite in tlae Hack Scurry, and jumping out smartly, gave nothing else a chance, and won pulling up by a length from Hillation. who defeated Bennance by a head. Jen, Hinekapua and Essential were next., Bennance was very unlucky in the running, and should have been second. . Shirley and Kaiti carried three-quarters of tho money in the Flying Handicap, which was reduced to five runners. Shirley and Kaiti wero soon out in front, and Shirley beat Kaiti home comfortably by a length, with Nine of Spades and Huikai 10 lengths away. Mimetic, who was withdrawn, injured himself slightly on tho track on Thursday morning. „ Gauntlet, Othon and Perle De Leon were the only ones backed in the concluding event. Carniola led Perle De Leon, Othon and Gauntlet to the turn, where Othon and Perle D* Leon came away, and in a desperate finish, Othon won by inches from Perle De Leon, with Carniola three lengths away third, and Gauntlet well back. Othon had matters made easy for him by receiving a lucky run at the turn. RESULTS OF THE RACING. [BY TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.] NAPIER, Friday. The Napier Park Autumn Meeting opened in beatiful weather. There was a good attendance, and the totalisator handled £15,354, against £17,977 on the first day last year, a decrease of £2623. Results:— OMARUNUI HURDLES, li miles.—3 Suspicion (A. Tricklebank). 1; 6 Lark Hal], 2; I Royal Heather, 3. Also started: 4 Askan, S Toa Taua. 2 Rippling, 7 Blue Star, 8 Mosthenes. Won by half a length, a neck between second and third. Time, 3m 14 8-ss. ESK HACK HANDICAP. 6 fur.—3 Jeanette (J .Barry). 1; 2 Plain Sailing. 2; 7 Blue Jay. 3. Also started: 1 My Hobby, 4 Hypnotic, 5 Minstrel Boy, 4 Manutai, 5 Butterscotch, 8 Break o' Day. 6 The Strand, 10 Pe3hwa, 9 Coot, 11 Polyastra. Won by a neck, three lengths between second and third. Time, lm 13 4-ss. NAPIER CUP. 11 miles.—2 Oreum (J. Barry), 1; 4 Malatour, 2; 5 All Marimba, 3. Also started: 1 Rapine. 1 Star Stranger, 3 Archeen. 6 Little River, 7 De Luxe, Won by a length and a-half, a length between second and third. Time, 2m 5 l-ss. SAPLING STAKES, 5 fur.-l Joy King (R. Reed), 1: 6 Comedic, 2; 3 Rascal. 3. Also started: 2 Inner Harbour, 5 Hymill, 4 Eloquent, 8 Loveband, 7 Marchaway. Won by a good length, half a length between second and third. Time, lm 1 l-ss. WELTER HANDICAP. 7 fur.—l Tuahine (R. Reed), 2 Tiega (L. G. Morris), and 9 Crown Gem (L. Daly), dead heat. Also started: 4 Good Sport, 8 Gaze. 6 Haurangi, 3 Imitation, 7 Road Hog, 6 Morose. Time, lm 295. MAIEEN SCURRY, 5 fur.—l Ballymoy II (W. Ryan), 1; 8 Hillation, 2; 2 Bennance, 3. Also started: 10 Mountain Star. 3 Pact. 7 Pati, 4 Jen, 11 Houri, 5 Gurnion, 12 Hinekapua, 6 Wainpo, 9 Essential, Won by a good length, a neck between second and third. Time, lm 2 4-ss. FLYING HANDICAP, 6 fur.—l Shirley (J. Barry), 1: 2 Kaiti. 2; 4 Nine of Spades 3. Also started: 3 Huikai, 6Megan. Won by half a length, six lengths between second and third. Time, lm 13 l-ss. REDCLIFFE HACK WELTER, 1 mile.— o Othon (M. McCarten), 1; 3 Perle De Leon, 2; 4 Carnioia, 3. Also started: 1 Gauntlet, 5 Killoch, 6 Calluna, 8 Merekara, 7 Martnna Won by a nose, four lengths between second and third. Time, lm 41 2-os. MANFRED'S VAGARIES. CAN HE BE REFORMED? The vagaries of the Derby winner Manfred at the starting-post forms the subject of much comment at the hands of the various critics in Melbourne. In the course of a reference to the colt " Cardigan, of the Australasian, remarks that, though he may walk to the post Quite composedly, the mental " kink" develops when the order to line up is given and the barrier is sighted. McCalman, the trainer of. Manfred, states that in the Btable the colt is. extremely .easy to handle and is quite devoid o't*i"kniess there. " Cardigan" writes:— Needless to nay, Mr. Chafiey and McCalmar are puzzled lo know what to do for the best with Manfred. They are certainly not going to remain inactive, but, a" I wrote last vear after Ills refusal to go off with the field iv. the Caulfinbl Guineas, it is in my opinion simply a mutter of the humour Manfred is in whether he will leave the mark. He might jump out three or four times m succession, but the trouble will be never removed, and there will alwava he a doubt about his starting, The devil is in him and is something that cannot be explained." forthcoming meetings. FRANKLIN RACING CLUB. The weights for events to Via run at the Franklin Racing Club's meeting, which in fixed to take place on the 27111 inst,, will bo declared bv Mr. F. J. MoMftnemin next Thursday. Acceptances for the same e!o»e at 5 p.m. on the day following, WHANGAREI AND WAI PAPA KAURI RACING CLUBS. Tho combined meeting to be held at Ken* sington Park on Thursday and Saturday, April 22 and 25, by the Whangarei and Waipnpakauri Racing Clubs, will rerve to give the sport another bits lift in that quarter, and with £2780 offered in prizemoney there is every reason to anticipate that horaeownera will respond in a fitting manner to tho call for entries. The programmes for which each club i 3 responsible are well balanced, and the leading event in each instance carries the good stake of £3OO. From the programme, which will be found published in full in another column, it will be* seen that nominations for all events close on Fridav, March 26. at 5 p.m.. and the same may be lodged either with the secretary. Mr. L. G. Hill. Whangarei. or with Mrl F. Sinclair Yates. Auckland. AVONDALE JOCKEY CLUB. Nominations for all events to be run at tho Avondale Jockey Clubs' Autumn meeting close on Friday next, at 5 p.m., with the secretary, Mr. A. J. Farquhar. Final payments for the All-Age Stakes foil due on the name date.