CHAMPION HANDICAP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20760, 31 December 1930, Page 13

CHAMPION HANDICAP.

MACHINE GUN'S NARROW WIN

WRACKLER IN SECOND PLACE.

HAROLD LOGAN UNLUCKY

The Champion Handicap produced a thrilling finish. Machine Gun staying on in the straight to narrowly beat Wrackler. It was a great betting race ond Harold Logan was favourite, with Wrackler and Carmel also heavily backed, the winner being a well-backed fifth choico Sunshowcr went out fast and just led Logan's Pride at the end of the first furlong, whers M'jun'uin Dell broke mid interfered with Harold Logan and Carmel. Running past the stands Logan's Pride and Jewel Pointer went up on the outside of Sunshower. while Machine Gun, Nelson Tasker. Wrackler and Harold Logan were following in close older.

Logan's Pride and Jewel Pointer headed Snnshower turning into the back stretch, where Machine Gun. Nelson Tasker and Wrackler were up handy. The leaders bunched at the top and Jewel Pointer came into the straight juat. in front of Machine Gun. Nelson Tasker. Wrackler and Logan's Pride. Onco into the straight Machine Gun headed Jewel Pointer, and. stalling off a challenge from Wrackler, won by a long neck. Jewel Pointer was half-a-length away third and Harold Logan another threeparts of a length back fourth.' Next to finish were Nelson Tnsker. Gold Jacket and Native Prince. Machine Gun was always well placed and finished on splendidly when asked for a final effort. Wrackler registered a solid performance. but did not finish with quite as much dash as expected after being up handy early. Jewel Pointer was made a lot, of use of, and. more patiently handled, would have been very difficult to bent. Harold Logan wns the unlucky horse of the race, as he lost, a good many lengths when Mountain Dell broke.

THE EPSOM HANDICAP.

MAXEGIN'S FINE TROTTING

The American-bred trotter Maxegin. who was unlucky on the first day. was responeiblo for a fine exhibition of trotting in the Epsom Handicap, to win handsomely from Ukulele Lady. Speculation was brisk, and in a good pool Ukulele Lady had a slight call over Maxegin Native Star broke up at the start and Tonic went awny pacing, losing a lot of ground before he commenced to trot. Ukulele Lady and Maxegin soon ran to the lend from Mutu. Akenehi. Peter McKinney. Etta Cole and Gold Sovereign. With a lap to go Maxegin was iust leading Ukulele Lady, with Teter McKinney, Akenehi and Gold Sovereign well up. Maxegin continued to trot well in front over the last lap, and he ran home a winner by a length and aquarter from Ukulele Lady, who defeated Mutu l\v tlire*- lengths Peter McKinney was fourth, and then followed Akenehi. Gold Sovereign and John Mauritius. The winner settled to his work quickly and gave a faultless display. Once lie reached the front he never looked like being beaten, although Ukulele Lady always kept him going and prevented his task from being Iln easy one. Mutu. Akenehi and Peter McKinney all made respectable showings, but the backmarkers were never dangerous.

TONY VICTOR IMPROVES

A COMFORTABLE VICTORY.

Tony Victor was installed n good favourite over Hal Chimes for the Dominion Handicap and he duly scored, flashing round the field with a brilliant run at the home turn and winning easily. Hal Chimes was a trifle slow to begin. Country King and Warspite were eoon together in the lead, closely followed by Purser. Gang Awa' and Brutus, with Tony Victor and Hal Chimes next. This order was maintained until about two furlongs from home, when Tony Victor made a brilliant dash on the outside to be first into the straight from Country King. Gang Awa', Warspite and Purser. Nothing had a chance with Tony Victor in the run home and be romped in by three lengths from Country King, who beat Purser by two lengths. Warspite was fourth, succeeded by Hal Chimes and Gang Awa . The winner showed marked improvement upon his first day's running when ho went i.38 1-5 to finish third. On this occasion he stepped 4.31 2-5 and did it very comfortably. Country King paced solidly all the way and also displayed improvement. Purser was a shade unlucky when the field bunched in the last round, otherwise ho might have been second.

LAST RACE TO ENAWAH.

OUTSIDER FINISHES SECOND.

Enawnh unlucky on the first day, was made a better favourite than Belle Axworthy for the Ranfurly Handicap, and she justified the support by winning handsomely from Queen Elizabeth, nn outsider, who cut Proud Dillon out of second place in the last stride.

Gang Awa' was quickly in front from Nella Dillon, Proud Dillon. Country King, Joy Bird and Enawa i. The order was much the same alon the back, where Enawah went up fourth and Queen Elizabeth also improved her position Proud Dillon made a sharp run with two furlongs to go and showed the way into the straight to Enawah, Gang Awa', Queen Elizabeth and Nella Dillon. Once they streightened up Enawah made an efTort and she won decisively by two lengths from Queen Elizabeth, who defeated Proud Dillon by a head. Gang Awa.' was fourth, with Joy Bird and Nella Dillon next.

Enawah begun better than usual and had too much speed for the others at the finish. Queen Elizabeth came home fairly well but Proud Dillon tired badly over the last 100 yards after having every chance. Belle Axworthy broko up alter going ft furlong and Sir Guy was never in the picture.

trotting derby winner.

AMERICAN ANCESTRY.

Red Shadow, winner of the Great Northern Trotting Derby, was bred by J. Bryce, the colt being by the American sire Travis Axworthy from Our Aggie, a mare brought to New Zealand by Bryce in 1913. Our Aggie was by an American horse. Savoy, her dam being Miss Louie, also bred in America, but raced on the Continent under another name Our Aggie wis bred in Belfast, Ireland, and raced in Scotland. Bed Shadow showed rare promise early as a two-ycul-old and was purchased by Messrs. Deyell and Neale for .£ISOO. Bryce had l.ho colt ready for the Sapling Stakes last June, but he went off colour after lenving home for Ashburton and failed to gam a place in the classic. Red Shadow was not ioiig in revealing his true value this season, and he attracted special attention at t'orliury Park recently by winning three events in succession. He registered smart performances by running 10 furlongs in •>.45 3-5 and 12 furlongs in 3.20 4-5, but these efforts were surpassed when he won the Derby on a grass track in 3.'20 2-5, which was only a fraction outside the track record. 3.20 1-5. established by Benefice on Saturday. After the race Bryce stated that the colt was always going nicely, and at no time did lie feel uneasy about the result, although he recognised that Arethusa was going to be hard to beat. " Along the back 1 cave (he colt a breather, and when the filly did not go away from me 1 felt more confident of the result." he said. " Red Shadow responded splendidly in the straight and won on his merits."

M. Holmes said that. Arethusa was going nicely until left in the lead, when she slackened. Arethusa would not do her best out in front and had anything kept her going into the straight he thought she would have won. However, the winner was a fine colt and proved himself a racehorse.