PONJOLA IN FORM.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20596, 21 June 1930, Page 11

PONJOLA IN FORM.

DISPLAY. OF FAST JUMPING. HANDY'S EARLY ADVANTAGE. MATU FALLS AT OBSTACLE. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] NAPIER, Friday. Ponjola made amends for his Auckland failure by winning the Hawke's Bay Steeplechase after a first-class display of fast jumping. Ho was a short-pricod favourite, with Matu and Red Bank also in some demand. Handy gave a great display out in front from the start, boing anything up to 10 lengths clear of Red Bank for a couple of rounds, then coming Ponjola and Brigadier Bill, clear of Matu, with Kowhatu last. Red Bank lost his place with a round to go, and Brigadier Bill and Ponjola wore well tip with Handy. Fi'ie furlongs from homo Red Bank and Matu woro on terms three lengths away. Matu blundered and fell at tho nod wall, and Handy, after weakening, raced on again with Ponjola over tho last two fences, with Red Bank and Brigadier Bill some distance back. Ponjola drew away in tho run home to beat Handy by three lengths, with Red Bank a length away. Brigadior Bill and Kowhatu finished at long intervals. Ponjola stayed. on too well for Handy, coming away over the last furlong. He gavo a good display of jumping, but in that department was outsliono by Handy, whose showing was brilliant. What waß more, ho camo on again when apparently well beaten and raced Ponjola etrido for stride over tho last two fences. Rod Bank did not jump at all well and was anything but happy at the brush fences. Brigadier Bill again displayed his soft streak, for ho collapsed without, a etrugglo two furlongs from home. Kowhatu blundered his way round. Matu hit tho sod wall hard, clouting Jenkins out of tho saddlo and finally tho horse tripped and fell some lengths from the next obstacle. Ho was being pushed at the time £o make up considerable leeway. His display was not impressive. FAVOURITE RUNS OFF. ZIPPOR'S GOOD FINISH. There was plenty of incident in tho opening evont, tho Woodlands Steeplcchaso, tho favourito running ofl at the last fenco when looking all over a winner. Tho stablemates Hilcullus and Timo Pouru paid tho dividends, which wcro both very substantial, for they carried only 11 and 12 tickets respectively. The leading bunch were Timi Pouru, Coverofl, Wyford, Sir Moment, Master Arch and Kovno to the sod wall, where Wyford and Sir Moment went out of action. Flying Swift was last at this stage. Hilcullus, Timi Pouru, Kovno and Winnagan were left in front with six furlongs to go, with Flying Swift moving up and CovorofT and Master Arch beaten. Winnagan fell two fences from home and Flying Swift was up with Timi Pouru ot tho last fenco, but ran oti. Hilcullus staged on to beat Timi Pouru by half a length, with Master Arch six lengths aV> Both Air Force and High Society wore belter backed than Zippor of the five runners in tho Whakatu Hurdles. Purseful showed tho way to Zippor, with H;g l Society, Air Forco and Whakauo following for a mile and a-nuarter. Zippor and Air Force closed on Purseful at the second Inst fenco and Zippor was well clear at the last, coming on to win by. six lengths from Purseful, who beat off Air Forco by hall a length. High Society was a poor fourth Zippor is not an accomplished fencer yet, for ho screwH over the obstacles, though he was much too good for this field. 1 'i«cful gave a fair display for a novice, but Air Forco vrnn disappointing and flowed little determination. Whakaue and High Somnty need more experience over fences. DUEL IN FINAL EVENT, NARROW WIN FOR BOLD FRONT. The concluding event, the Herotaungft Handicap, was a peculiar race, for alter Chopin had been left standing at tho start and Bold Front had been cut back to a bad last at the half-mile, thoy fought out a desperate finish with only a noso between them, Bold Front being tho winner. Both roturned good prices. Aston, Paiko and Goldon Shadow showed out first from Queen's Choice and Llyn TTiiu. At the half mile Aston, Llyn Dhu and Bernera wcro showing the way to Golden Shadow, Paiko and Queens Choice, with Chopin running up fast and Bold Front last. There was little between Aston, Bernera, Llyn Dhu. Chopin, Golden Shadow and Paiko as they turned for home, but Chopin gradually forged ahead over the last 100 yds. Ho was tackled by Bold Front. A desperate tusßle saw Bold Iront scoro by a nose. Moutoa Treasury was two lengths back third with Aston fourth, in line with Paiko. . Bold Front showed his stamina and had a track to suit him. At tho same time, Chopin's effort was striking, for lie had to go all out for 5J furlongs after being left. Undoubtedly ho Bhould have worn Moutoa Treasury struck trouble in tho middle stages . and ran a creditable raco. Aston looked too burly, but Llyn Dhu and Paiko had every chance. BEST FRIEND NOT TROUBLED. FAVOURITE'S EASY WIN. The position of H. Gray as tho rider of Best Friend in the Winter Handicap was sufficient to ensure his favouritism, and tho price was short. At no stage should his backers have been anxious for ho was always on tho bit and won as lib liked. Whakaari wa3 first out from Best Friend. Royal Court and Advcntus, but at the furlong post Tahoma rushed into tho load from Whakaari and Grattus. Whakaari, Tahoma and Grattus led to tho turn from Best Friend and Adventus. Best Friend camo through a furlong from homo to win very easily by two lengths. Adventus got up to beat Whakaari by half a head for second, with Tahoma and Mothplano right up fourth, and Grattus and Courageous next. Best Friond was always well placed and scored in a manner suggesting several victories to follow. Adventus finished woll, but Whakaari should have hecn second, for he whs badly ridden. Tahoma and Grattus ran good races. Mothplano and Courageous finished well from some distance back. EVENING HERO'S VICTORY. WINLOCK BEATEN IN FINISH. Winlock was oven odds on favourito for tho Kidnappers Hack Handicap, but another double figure winner camo homo in Evening Hero, after tho favourito had carried him past tho centre of tho courso. Lady Lucerne and Royal Songster jumped out first, but Winlock was also smartly away and this trio showed the way down Iho back to King Manu, Brown Sugar and liystridc. Brown Sugar and Evening Hero raced up round tho top and at (ho turn Winlock and Brown Sugar just led Royal Songster, Evening Hero and King Manu. Evening Hero raced up on tho outsido as they straightened up, and Winlock bored out from tho rails and met him. Winlock carried Evening Hero right out, but tho latter finished on too well and beat her by half-a-lcngth. King Manu was a length away third, with Hystrido fourth. Wedding Bells, Royal Songster, and Barracouta wero next. ARROWHEAD NOT PLACED. PLEASING EFFORT BY LORDLIKE. Arrowhead was seized on as tho best proposition in tho Hastings Handicap, but failed, to obtain a placo, Lordliko standing up to vigorous handling and comina away to win easily at good odds. Taranto was holding Lordliko os thoy turned for home, but Lordliko, under tho whip, forged ahead to win convincingly at the finish by a length and a-half from Taranto, who beat Keen by a head. Potoaform was right up fourth and Arrowhead, Brown Sugar and Shortly woro next. Lordlike responded well to onorgctic handling and it was a pleasing effort. Ho should soon score again. Taranto will bo improved by the raco, and Keen should soon do hotter. Shortly will be none the worse for his outing. Highland Mystery dislocated a fetlock in tho running and was destroyed.