NIGHTMARCH'S FORM

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21110, 18 February 1932, Page 7

NIGHTMARCH'S FORM

AUSTRALIAN TRIP LIKELY. SYDNEY CUP AS MISSION. SUCCESS OF CRICKET BAT. [FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT. ] CHRIST CHURCH Monday. In scoring a brilliant win in (he James Hazlett Gold Cup in Dunedin on Saturday Bat inflicted his second defeat on Nightmarch under weight-for-age conditions. The race was run at a fast pace and for this Cricket Bat who took charge at the end of a couple of furlongs, was largely responsible. The time. 1.2G 4-5, equalled the course record, established in 192:? by Listening Post, also ridden by A. E. Ellis. There is no doubt about Cricket Bat's ability, which has not been displayed to full advantage by reason of his preparation being several limes interrupted by ailments and accidents. He is now right at the top of his form and it ia uufortunate for his owner and the Canterbury Jockey Club that ho was not left in the Middle Park Plate. However, he will contest the Midsummer Handicap and will again be ridden by Ellis. Nightniarch drew No. I at the barrier, but, as Ruling Light was next to hin:. he became fractious and the etarter sent him to the outside of the line. Ho got away smartly and was never further away than third, while he followed Cricket Bat into the straight. He made one promising move up to the latter inside the distance, but it was of little avail. Ho was then called upon to resist a determined chullenge by Gay Crest, and the pair had a gruelling set-to, but Nightmarch, showing all his previous fighting spirit, held off his rival to beat him by half a length. He is now almost certain to be taken to Sydney and to contest the Sydney Cup. Gay Crest missed the jump-out, prohablv owing to feeling the effects of tlio soreness which prevented his appearance in the Dunedin Cup, and at the end of three furlongs he was well in the rear of the field. He did not improvo his position until the halfmile. and then put in a fast run to be in fourth place turning for home. His finishing effort therefore was full of merit and a different result may have been recorded if the race had been run over a longer journey. Compris was made plenty of use of and was up near the front to the straight entrance, so that it was no surprise to find him missing at the finish. He was ridden more like a sprinter fhan a stayer. It is likely that a trip to Sydney for the autumn meetings will bo undertaken with Compris. It was intended to nominate him for the Sydney Cup and Doncaster Handicnn, but the closing date was missed. Ho will now be nominated for other distance races and for weight-for-age events. He has been allotted 0.13 in the Midsummer Handicap at Riccarlon on Saturday, but is a. doubtful starter under that burden. _ In thin rnce a year ago he ran third with 7.3 to Lady Pam, 5.9. and Jalouw 7.6.

ROTORUA SCRATrHINGS.

CASE OF SIR MONO.

PROTEST LODGED WITH CLUB

The action of the stewards of the Rotorua Racing Club in cancelling scratchings for the six races on the first day's programme, which was postponed until Monday, forms the subject of a protest that has been lodged with the club by Mr. E. H. Cucksey, In forwarding the protest Mr. Cuckscy wrote as follows : ■ "On the ground that it seems open to question whether Sir Mond's withdrawal on Saturday from the Mokoia Handicap at your fixture should not have barred him from competition. I. as the owner, of Flying Prince, which ran second to Sir Mond when the race was decided on Monday, desire to protest against Sir Mond being entitled to rank as the winner and trust that some more definite understanding regarding scratchings will he the outcome of the objection raised in this case. You. of course, realise that three horses, including Flying Prince, had already gone out to contest the Mokoia Handicap on Saturdayprior to the day's racing being postponed." In the meantime the Mokcia Handicap stake-money has to lie impounded until the objection is determined.

TURF IN AUSTRALIA. MOONEE VALLEY MEETING. MOVIE STAR WINS HANDICAP. (Received February 17, 11.5 p.m.) MELBOURNE, Feb. 17. At the Moonea Valley races to-day the Moreland Handicap resulted:—Movie Star (N.Z.). H. Stanbridge's ch g, 8.3 (A. Reed), 1; Gold Digger, 7.4 (Little). 2: Sir Grocuius, 8.8 (King). 3. Ten started. Won by two lengths. Time, 1m 31s. CANTERBURY JOCKEY CLUB. SATURDAY'S ACCEPTANCES. [BY TEI.EUTt APTT. —FTtESS ASSOCIATION. ] CHRISTCHURCH. Wednesday. Acceptances for the Canterbury Jockey Club's Summer Meeting to be held atRiccarlon on Saturday are as follows;

RACING FIXTURES. February 18, 20—Wanganui Jockey Club. February 20, 22—Waikato Racing Club. Febiuary 20—Clifden Racing Club. February 20—Canterbury Jockey Club. February 24, 25—Woodvilio District Jockey Club. February 21. 25 Racing; Club. February 23—Waiapu Racing Club. February 27, 29—Te Aroha Jockey Club.

HORNBY HANDICAP, Of XI20; 9 fur. Bt. 1H. et. lb. First Raid . . 9 10 Pixie Gold . . 9 0 Tarnccpna . . . 9 9 Night Recital 9 0 Babel . . . . . 9 8 Elude 9 0 (ountermarch . 9 6 Nig!)leap . . . a 0 Tarquinius . . 9 2 TRIAL STAKES, Of £120; three-year-olds 8.0, four-yen r-nlds and upwards 8.5, marcs allowed ill lb.; 7 fur. Execution Metal Bird Muff Resort 'IV a. Card en X ighlguard The Viscount Yerden Night Flyer Adult Gasranee I ceni Taunton MIDDLE PARK PLATE, Of £2 50; for two and three-year olds ; t wo-year-olds ' 7.9, three-year-olds 9.0, Willi penalties ; Hid allowances. Monast ic IVliee .! m porta lira Oralorious Hilary Bera t o .Silver nine Fleeting 'Hani 0 MIDSUMMER HANDICAP. Of £2.">0; li miles. . et. lb. Bt. lb. Cricket Bat . 8 II) Ramo 7 6 niaek Duke . fi 0 Shatter . . . . 7 5 Don Jose . . 7 ]0 Locksley . . . 7 0 Ranelagh . . . 7 0 Riri 7 0 Martian Chief . 7 H Azalea . . . . 7 0 Desert Sons . 7 7 LYTTELTON PLATE, Of X120; 5 fur. Bt. lb. el. lb. Oratorious . . 8 9 fi rampian . , „ 7 7 Night Wind . . 7 7 Ooldsiead . . . 7 7 Star Raider . 7 7 Fine Weather 7 i Silver Sight , 7 7 Pacify . . . . 7 4 Topthorn . . . 7 7 Silver Scorn . 7 i CRAVEN PLATE, Of £170; 7 fur. et. IU st. lb. Spoon .... . 9 2 Assemble . . . 7 3 Gesture . . . . 8 13 Princess Argosy 7 0 Charmeuse . . ft 9 (Grecian Prince 7 0 Dunraven . . . 7 9 Winsome Hind 7 0 Wiso Choice . 7 8 HALSWELL HANDICAP, Of XI20; 6 fur. «t. lb. et. lb. Sol wit . . . . 8 8 Ma Belle Polly 7 7 Pukitere . . . 8 5 Craigavon . . . 7 5 Weatherly . . . 7 13 Crash 7 3 Royal Amphora 7 13 HikIi Tor . . . 7 0 The Quorn . . . 7 13 Tea Carden . 7 0 Niggerhead . . 7 11 Balraizie . . . 7 0 Red Royal . . 7 11 Oylena . . . . 7 0 Sailor's Love . 7 11 Feursomo . . . 7 0 Lochlnggan . . 7 10 POST HANDICAP, Of £120; 1 mile. «t. lb. •t. lb. Meprisant . . . 9 13 Minerval . . . 7 12 Ranelagh . . . 8 12 Juniper . . . . 7 11 Ball Dress . . 8 10 Taku Tama . . 7 9 Adelphi . . . . 8 8 First Raid . . 7 8 Kakura . . . . 8 5 Shortly .... 7 7 Rational II. . . 7 i:) The Viscount . 7 7