GREAT CUP FINISH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20989, 28 September 1931, Page 5

GREAT CUP FINISH.

OUTSIDER OF FIELD SCORES. LITTLE DOUBTS TRIUMPH. FIRST RUN FOR NEW OWNER. BY ARCHER. A wonderful finish in the Avondale Cup saw Little Doubt, the rank outsider of the field, get up on the outside to win narrowly from Maori Bay, who was at good odd 3 for second. Little Doubt looked like making a good handicap horse when he won a double at Te Rapa in June, but hi 3 form in the meantime has been disappointing and it was not altogether surprising that he was allowed to return a dividend of over two score. Until Saturday Little Doubt had done all his racing in the ownership of Mr. A. O. Casey, but last Thursday his trainer, E. George, secured him on lease and the gelding therefore won at his first start in his new interests. The field left to a perfect start and when they had gone a furlong Standfast was in command from Spear Lad. Little Doubt, Maori Boy, Flying Prince. Te Hoia, Malahat, Historic and Cessation. Standfast carried on the running along the hack from Maori Boy. Spear Lad, Autumn Sun, Little "Doubt, Flying Prince, Malahat, Te Hoia and Historic, who were in with Cessation, Air Laddie and Valroe next. Running across the top Te Hoia went up third and Air Laddie also made a forward move, while Little Doubt and Malahat we.e also improving. Maori Boy Just Beaten. Maori Boy took charge near the turn and he was first into the straight from Te Hoia, Autumn Sun, Standfast, Air Laddie. Little Doubt, Spear Lad ar.d Cessation. Maori Boy was still the leader at the distance, where Malahat. on the inside, and Valroe, on the outside challenged. These horses were having a great tussle inside the distance when Little Doubt came fast on tne outside. Little Doubt sustained his run in great style and got up to win by a head from Maori Boy. alroe was a neck away third and Malahat was almost in line fourth. Nest to finish were Gay Cockade, laneriri. Te Hoia. Air Laddie. Historic, True Blood and Flying Prince. Little Doubt was well handled by his. apprentice rider Stockley. The winner storm was far above any he has shown recently and apparently he has just come to his best again. Maori Boy ran surprisingly good race and went under only in the last lew strides. Valroe, who pulled up lame, registered a good performance and just weakened near the end after making a fine run from the half-mile. Malahat looked likely at the distance and battled on well, although he also weakened in the last fifty yards. Two Riders Questioned.

Taneriri. the favourite, was closer at the finish than at any other stage and he might have done better if Gray had not let him get so far back early, as he was going strongly at the end. _ Historic was never dangerous but ran a fair race and should be an improved horse tor the run. Te Hoia and Standfast showed up prominently to the turn and then beat a retreat. Te Hoia might have shown to more advantage if he had not been asked to run to the leaders so far from home. After the race the stipendiary steward, Mr. A. P. Wilson, questioned H. Gray, rider of Taneriri, and L. G. Morris, rider of Historic, about the handling of their mounts. Gray stated that he was struck in the eye by a piece of dirt and this^ was why Taneriri got so far back early, while Morris explained that Cessation came back on Historic and caused him to drift. The following sectional times were supplied by the honorary timekeeper, Mr. E. [ S. Kohn:—Two furlongs, 26 3-.55; four fur- ! longs, 54 I-03; five furlongs, 1.8; seven | furlongs, 1.37; and the full distance 2.15 2-5. I The last six furlongs occupied 1.21 1-5, and I the last three furlongs 38 2-ss. j MARECHAL'S FIRST VICTORY. HEREMIA FINISHES SECOND. Scratchings redtned the field for the Maiden Plate to twenty-three and this dispensed with the necessity for two divisions, which had been provided for if the runners exceeded twenty-eight. Heremia and Great Emblem were fhe favourites and they ran good races, only to be beaten by Marechal, who was sixth fancy at a good price. Great Emblem and United were first to move, but Marechal soon ran to the front, while Whakapara and Actaeon also became prominent. United and Marechal were the leaders across ihe top and they came into the straight about two lengths clear of Great Emblem and Loterie, with Actaeon, Lady Musk, Kingsway, Heremia Tarporley following. Marechal had United beaten at the distance and came away to win by two and a-half lengths from Heremia, who came through on the rails. Great Fmblem was half-a-length away third and Tarporley was fourth. Then followed United, Granado, Don't Lap, Kingsway and Lady Musk. Marechal won wen and is an improved horse who should score again very soon. Heremia came home strongly after bejng none too well placed early and Great Emblem was always in the picture. United just failed near ihe end and will do better later on. Other likely improvers are Tarporley, Granado and Whakapara. AVONDALE STAKES CONTEST. TE WAIPU WINS NARROWLY. The Tea Trader-Lady Whirlwind bracket and Bell Topper were the favourites for the Avondale Stakes, but they failed to realise expectations ar.d it was left to Te Waipu, who was fourth fancy in the betting, to win narrowly from Broken Rule. Broken Rule >vas first out from No. 1 and at the end of a furlong she was the leader from Posy, Rulanut, Sastrngi and Whirl along. With two furloncs covered Tea Trader ran up into a handy position and at the turn Broken Rule, Tea Trader, Posy and Foreign Money were almost abreast ahead of Te Waipu, Sastrugi and Rulanut. Broken Rule ran out very wide round the bend and carried Tea Trader, Posy and Foreign Money out with her. Te Waipu and Rulanut then came up on tne rails and Sastrugi also made an effort. Te Waipu was in front inside the distance and she stalled off Broken Rule, who came again on the outside, by half-a-length. Rulanut was three-parts of a length away third and Sea Ruler was right up fourth. Sastrugi was a close fifth, followed by BelUopner, Foreign Money. Timorous and Miss lan!ey. The winner is a small but neat filly aria ph e is the first of Musketoon 3 progeny to win. She registered a nice performance, but appeared lucky to beat Broken Rule, n-bo finished very strongly after lesmg the lead as a result of running very w.cle Rulanut. who carried bllb. over-weight, and Sastrugi both ran fine races from outside post positions and would have hcen mure troublesome if Uiey had been better drawn. Sea Ruler and Bell topper both finished on well after beginning slowly and they should both he improved for the race. Te Waipu, who is trained at Avondale b., J W Cathro. is the first youngster trained in the Auckland metropolitan area to win the race 6ince Lady Lois won in Stransely enough, she was ridden by hj,. Manson. whose brother, L. Manson, was successful on Lady Lois. LAST RACE TO PURIRI PARK. PEW A IN SECOND PLACE. , J Fryer's apprentice. H. E. Stockley. scored his third win for the day when he steered Puriri Park to victory in the Henderson Handicap Speculation was brisk pnd Royal Artist was a good favourite over Pewa and Puriri Parle. Sir Mond and Votimond were quickly prominent from Benrie, G-rand Tea. and Puriri Park, and Volimond led across the ton from Tetrarebate. Puriri Park. Grand Tea Royal Artist and Pewa. Near the three-furlongs post. Cruachan. moved up fast nnd at the turn he was 311st iii behind Volimond, while Puriri Park and Pewa were handy, and Lucy Rose, who was last at the five-furlongs post, was next. Lucy Rose I, i n front well below the distance and was still in command at the distance, where Cruachan was disputing the issue with her. and Puriri Park <-. nd Pewa were also challenging. In a great finish Putin Park won by three-narts of a length from Pewa. who defeated Cruachan by a neck Rose was right UP fourth, ahead of Grand Ten Royal Artist both finished well, but it looked as if Lucy Rose should h a ve won. She was hustled from last to first in a couple of furlongs and was asked to make her run far too soon. Grand Tea shaped very respectably and should soon be back to form, but Roynl Artist showed no particular dash, and was probably unsuited by the conditions. TROTTING FIXTURES. October 3—Methven Trotting Club. October 10—Waikato Trotting Club. October 10—New Brighton Trotting Club. October 24. 26—Auckland Trotting Club.