THE HANDICAP RACE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20990, 29 September 1931, Page 7

THE HANDICAP RACE.

MUDLARKS FILL PLACES.

GRAND TEA SCORES EASILY.

TRUE BLOOD RUNS SECOND. BY ARCHER. Three good mudlarks, Grund Ten, True Blood and Flying Prince, filled Ihe places in the Plumploii Handicap, and Grand Ten came away at the distance to score very decisively at fairly pood odds. Maori Boy. whom H. Gray rudo 3lb. overweight, was sent out favourite, and there was a Iso strong support for Malahat and Little Doubt, but they nil performed below expectations. A good start saw Flying Prince and Grand Tea run to the lead quickly from Little Standfast, Wild Country. Maori Eoy. and True Blood, and eo they raced out of the straight Near the seven-furlongs post Standfast ran up to Flying Prince, and they carried on the running along the back from Maori Boy and Grand Tea, who were together, followed by Wild Country, Malalia t, True Blood and Te Hoia, who made a forward move aftir passing the ois furlongs. The pace had been slow up to this stage and it quickened a little when Te Hoia ran up fourth nearing tho half-mile, whero the field was in close order.

Plying Prince held just a slight advantage from Standfast rounding the turn, where Grund Tea, Te Iloia, Maori Boy and Little Doubt were right up and the others in a bunch. Once into the straight Grand Ten, Maori Boy and Te Hoia challenged and Grand Tea came right away at the distance to win by three lengths fiom True Blood, who made a good run over the last furlong. Flying Prince was four lengths away third and Te Hoia wa3 fourth. Next, to cross the line were Malahat, Maori Boy, Little Doubt and Standfast. The winner has always been ot home m heavy going and he was right in his element on this occasion, when tie scored very decisively. Strangely enough, he has run some of his best races at A von dale, where be has scored several successes. J rile Jplood displayed a glimpse of his old dash at the finish, when ho mado u determined effort over the lai.t furlong. Flyiug J nnco ran his best race for some time and i.e -rtoia also shaped fairly well, after being asked to go up rather quickly along tho back. It was thought that the conditions would suit Maori Boy, who revels in heavy going, but he was evidently feeling tho effects of his hard race on Saturday, aud / ail ® d finish with any dash after being handy to tho turn. Malahat, who was sore, ran just a fair race, but Standfast again faded out in the straight. Little Doubt failed to reproduce his first day's form and Wild Country found the class far too strong. TAURUA WINS MILE HACK. PROTOMINT VERY UNLUCKY. Well ridden by H. Gray. Taurua won the New Lynn Handicap nicely from Speedmint aud Protomint, but lie was lucky to beat the favourite, Protomint, who appeared to bo a good thing beaten. 1 rotomint was backing out just as the tapes were released and lost a good deal oi ground. Jn addition, he received a severe check when he ran up handy near the threefurlongs post, and it was not surprising when ho weakened at tho end after being in front inside the distance. The 6'art was not a good one, 1 rotommt being out of line, while Running Over and Tambourine also lost ground. Tare ha was quickly in front, and ho showed the way along the back to Taurua. Speednnnt, Catch 'Em, and Landmark. The order was practically the same across the top, and Tarcha led into the straight from laurua, Speedmint, Landmark, Catch 'Liu and 1 rotomint. Below the distance Protomint came through on the rail*, and looked like winning, but. tired, and Taurua came on to win by a length and a-half from Speedmint. who defeated Protomint by a neck. .Landmark was fourth, succeeded by Tambourine, Tarcha and Catch 'Em. , , „ Although lie appeared lucky to beat J rotomint. the winner's performance was solid, and lie is an improving horso who might win a good race over a middle distance this eeasou. Speedmint made a good showing and Tambourine ran a solid race after getting away badly.

THE TWO-YEAR-OLD EVENT.

TANKARD WINS DECISIVELY.

T'nc Wellington-owned coll Tankard, recently purchased at a good figure by Mr. C. B. O'Donnell. made a successful debut in winning the Nursery Handicap, for which he was a good 6econd favourite to Broken Rule, There was some surprise when the judge hoisted Broken Rule's number its second, but several minutes afterwards awarded second to Merry Way. who certainly appeared fo fill the position. Broken Kule and Pink Page were smartest to begin. Broken Rule aiul Rippling Wafers making play across the top from Tankard and Merry Way. Broken Rule nnd Rippling Waters were the leaders into the straight from Tankard, Closing Time and Merry Way, and the order was practically the same to (lie distance. Tankard then put in his claim and won very easily by two and u-hulf lengths from Merry Way. who finished on to beat Broken Rule by half a length. Closing Time was fourth, followed by Splutter, Clow Light and Rippling Waters. Tankard won handsomely and should not be long in winning again. Meiry Way was running on after going out w:de in the straight, and should improve with a little racing. Broken Rule ran another solid race and Closing Time shaped very creditably. Rippling Waters displayed plenty of speed bill tired badly in the last furlong. NASSOCK'S HURDLES WIN. CLAREMORE FALLS EARLY. Only five started iu the Grey Lynn Hurdles and the nice was lobbed of a, lot of interest when the hot favourite Clpremore i'ell at tl:o third fence, where he was up in the lead with Russet Moor. The class was not very etrong and once the fnvourito tell the ray was easy for Nassoek. who was enabled to gain lu's first success over hurdles. Russet Moor made play early from Clnrent ore. but Nassock war, in the lead before poiu" a mile and he was not afterwards headed to win by six length* from Russet Moor, who defeated Kamehmneha by a furlong. Hnoco baulked at the fence by tne six furlongs post, so that the placed horses were the only ones to finish. There, was no particular merit in poek's win. but now that he has broken the ice for a victory over hurdles he may continue to show improvement in his nest few etarts Claremore was going really welt u-lten >lO fell, but T'noco wis not showing „ great deal of dash at (lie time lit! refused. NOTES FROM EVERYWHERE. TRACK AND STADLE GOSSIP. The Riccuiton light-weight A. H. Last wood is coining to F.l!er?lic 1o rine nt the ~rd Racing Club's Spring Meeting:, for which he has several engagements. F Til lev, the trainer of the Avondale Cuineas winner, and L. G. Morris, the rider, have previously been associated with a winner of the three-year-old classic, . lmvin been successful with Laughing Pnnco in 1927. The three-year-old Peter Jackson was allowed to forfeit his engagements at the Avondale meeting, but lie has been working usefully since his arrival at Ellerslie and will be a competitor at the Auckland Racing Club's Spring Meeting. The Mitchelson Cup candidate Scatown is expected to reach Ellerslie this morning. Sen town was successful in the raco last, year and with every likelihood of the going being distinctly to his liking on Saturday lie may again make a bold bul for honours this year. Some of the' visiting horses who have been quartered at Avondale will be lia " 9 - ferred to Ellerslie for the. Auckland .Racing Club's Spring Meeting. One of the traineis who is moving his horses is tr. Jones, who has a team of five, comprising Lady 1 am. Spear Lad, Actaeon, Hula nut and t osy, It, was the in lent ion of J, Brown to give Chief .Link a race in tho Nlhotupu llfliyllcap at Avondale yesterday, but, when it became certain that the going would be heavy he decided against running his charge, bhu.t Link did not do too well for a day or two after his arrival, but he is now doing be e and will, probably have Ins first start this season on Saturday. The Avondale Guineas winner. View Halloo, was passed in at 050 guineas when submitted at auction at the Trentham yearling nales in 1920 and was subsequently purchased privately by Mr. R. Grace. Up jo the present View Halloo has contested only six races, but his two wine and a third have been worth £520 and he should increase this sum considerably as the season progresses.