THE AUTUMN HANDICAP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20863, 4 May 1931, Page 7

THE AUTUMN HANDICAP.

TANERIRI JUST SUCCEEDS. FIRST DAY WIN REPEATED. GRAND TE:A RUNS SECOND. Four defections reduced the field for {lie Auturun Handicap to five, but the small field wan compensated for by nil oxciting finish, in which Tnneriri repeated his first day's success to just win from Grand Tea. It was a fairly good betting race and Taneriri wound up abort a £2OO better favourite than Grand Tea.

A good start was effected and Gay Idea was first to show out from Tnneriri. Passing the stands Gay Idea and Maori Boy were together in the lead from Grand lea and Tnneriri, who were nlso together, with Envoy last. Grand Tea went out wide turning out of the straight and laueiiri then slipped up on the inside of him. At the five furlongs post Gay Idea and Maori Boy were .=t• 11 together in the lend, with Tnneriri and Grand Tea abreast next and Envoy last. Near the four furlongs post Envoy went up on the outside and at the turn Gay Idea, Maori Boy and Envoy wore the leaders, with laneriri and Grand Tea coining oil the outsido. As soon as they straightened up.Tnneriri and Grand Tea ran to the lenders and they had a great tussle, from which laneiili emerged triumphant by a bead. Envoy was three lengths away third and Gay Idea was fourth, Maori Boy being last. Tnneriri was ridden a perfect race by H. Gray and this just pulled him through. Grand Tea went very wide round the turns and only for poing so wide entering the straight might have won. Gny Idea made a fair showing and so did Envoy. Maori Boy was prominent to the home turn and then faded out quickly. THE HUATANGATA HANDICAP. ALPINA BEATS BRONZE TRAY. Bronze Tray and Alpina were best backed for the Ruatangata Handicap and they filled the dividend places in reverse order. They left to an uneven start, from which De Aka and Wishbone were first to show out, l)e Aka made the running along the back from Automne and Alpina. Running across the top Alpina joined Do Aka in the lead and they were first round the bend from Bronze Tray, who challenged on the rails. Alpino stayed on well in the run home to win by half a length from Bronze Tray, who beat Frothhlower by a neck. Paper Dart was fourth and Fniry Belle was fifth.

Alpina was always going like a winner and scored handsomely. Bronze Tray did not get away well and then ran a good race. He wag tiring badly at the end and just stalled off Frotihblower, who came home well.

LAST RACE TO LUCY ROSE, FORM WORKS OUT VERY WELL. Form worked out well in the Kia Ora Handicap when Lucy Rose, Totrarchate and King Willonyx again filled tho places in the same order' as in the Waipu Mandicap on the first day. Ridden by H. Gray, Tetrarchate waa the favourite, but he had a very slight call over Lucy Rose. The first to become prominent were Alpina, Grand Spirit and Good Boy and they raced past the stands abreast in the lead. Alpina drew out slightly turning into the back and at the five furlongs she just led Grand Spirit and King Willonyx. With another furlong covered Lucy Rose moved up on the outside and joined Alpina iti the lead at the top. Alpina and Lucy Rose were tho lenders entering the straight from King Willonyx, who shot through on the rails once they were in line for the post. It then appeared as if King Willonyx might win, but Lucy Rose stayed on well and stalled oil the fast-finishing Tetrarchate by a head. King Willonyx was a length and a-hnlf away third and Alpina was fourth. Lucy Roso was a better mare for her race on tho first day and went up to the lead without an effort three furlongs from home. She came out fairly wide round the home turn, otherwise she might have won a trifle more easily. Tetrarchate, who was ridden in behind, came with a fine rattle when asked for a final effort and just failed to get up.

Lucy Rose - was (lie third horse at the meeting (o win two races, the others being Taneriri and Vandyke.

SURPRISE IN JUNIOR STAKES. CATC'H'EM'S FIRST VICTORY. An outsider, Catch 'Em, was responsible for a surprise in winning at double-figure odds in tho Junior Stakes, for which Praetor, Silene and Merry Lu were the favourites. Blue Grey and Silene were smartest to begin, Silene leading for a furlong, when Praetor, Merry Lu and Wild Country also became prominent. Merry Lu ran to the front at the top and she was the leader into tho straight, with Wild Country and Golden Sceptre right up on the outside and Praetor next. Once into the straight Catch 'Em came fast on the cuitsido and won by half-a-length from Golden Sceptre, who just beat the fastfinishing Fairy Belle by a short head. Praetor was fourth and Wild Country was fifth.

The winner lias been a long time striking form, but he is now on the improve and may His form was nothing out of the way, beoaise those he defeated were a weak lot. Praetor was checked when attempting to get through at the foot of the straight, otherwise be might have been closer. Goldm Sceptre and Fairy Belle_ both rail fair races, but the others were well beaten.

FAVOURITES FILL PLAGES. VANDYKE AGAIN SUCCESSFUL. Vandyke, who was at odds-on. Gold Lily and Diamond Maid were the favourites for the Onerhlii Hack Handicap and they filled tho placets in tho order in which they were backed. Welcome Home and Escalus were first to begin from nil uneven start, in which Diamond Maid and King Peg lost some lengths. Welcome Home led early to give way fit tho end of two furlongs to Diamond Maid. Diamond Maid showed the way across the top, but she was ioined- near tfio turn by Vandyke. Thtj leaders ran out sljghtly at the ben 1 and Gold Lily ran through on the rails to draw level at the foot of the straight. Momentarily, it appeared as if Gold Lily might win, but Vandyke had no difficulty in beatiig her by tbree-partn of a length. Diamond Maid was a length away third and Escalus was fourth. Vandyke gave a lot of trouble at the post and unseated It. Gray when he went through tli" barrier once. When they were let go he did not receive any the best of it, but class stood to him and he carried his bis weight to a very comfortable victory. Gold Lily ran another solid race and Diamond Maid shaped well considering that she got away so badly. RACING FIXTURES. May (>, 7—Egmont Racing Club. May 8, 9—Marlborough Racing Club. May 9—Franklin Racing Club. May 13, 14—Southland Racing Club. May 14, I(>—Wanganui Jockey Club. May 22, 23 Masterton Racing Club. May 23 —Aahburton County Racing Club. May 23, 25—Te Kuiti Racing Club. May 27—Opunake Racing Club. June 3, G, B—Auckland Racing Club.