AUTUMN HANDICAP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21143, 29 March 1932, Page 11

AUTUMN HANDICAP.

VICTORY FOR TOP-WEIGHT. ANTIQUE'S FINE PERFORMANCE. taneriri in second place. BY ARCHER. An exceptionally good performance went lo the credit of Antique in winning the Autumn Handicap. Carrying 9.8, he was set a severe task on the heavy track, but he responded in the style of a good racehorse at the finish and just got up lo win from Taneriri. On a dry track Antique would probably have been favourite, but it was thought that the conditions would not be in his, favour and he was only fourth fancy at a good price, the favourites being Speed mint. Great Star and Awaken. With the exception of Royal Doulton and Alloy, who appeared to hang, the field got away well and Great Star was quickly in the lead to make play past the stands from Jalldy Karo, with King's Knave, Catoma and Pegaway almost abreast next, and then Prince Val, Taneriri and Awaken. Great Star and Jalldy Karo were together in the lead alons the back, with Prince Val running up on the outside and Speedmint, King's Knave, Catoma, Pegawny, Taneriri, Awaken, Royal Artist and Antique following in close order.

Just after passing the six furlongs post Speedmint made a move on the outside and soon after joined the leaders. Great Star was then, steadied slightly and when the field passed the half-mile post Speedmint and Prince Val were together in the lead from Jalldy Karo. Great Star. Royal Artist. King's Knave, Pegaway and Catoma. with Antique still' well back. Nearing the turn Royal Artist made a sharp run through and then Antique went up with a fine dash on the outside of the field. Rounding the turn Speedmint, Royal Artist, Catoma, Awaken and Antique were almost abreast in the lead and Taneriri was just in behind on the outside, with Great Star handy on the rails.

As soon as they straightened up Taneriri dashed past tho leaders and. Antique soon afterwards headed the others, for his rider to go over near the rails. Taneriri was clear at the distance, but Antique then made a great effort on the fence. Stride by stride Antique overtook Taneriri and at the end lie got up to beat him by a head. Great Star was two lengths away third and Awaken was a good fourth. Next to cross the line were King's Knave. Catoma. Limeen, Royal Artist, Speedmint and Pegaway. Antique registered a slashing performance and he finished brilliantly over the last furlong after making a great dash on the outside at the turn. There were four horses abreast inside him when he straightened up and his effort under the circumstances was a striking one. Taneriri revelled in the going and just failed to see it out after being clear at the distance. Great Star was responsible for a good effort and Awaken again made a solid showing. Speedmint failed at the end after being taken to the lead too soon and Koyal Artist also tired at the finish after running up fast to the leaders at the turn. Catoma ran a respectable race and King's Knave was by no means disgraced, in spite of the fact that the state of the track was probably not entirely to his liking, Prince Yal went well for about a mile and a-quarter and may soon return to form now tliat the tracks are becoming easier.

GOOD ST. LEGER RACE. PETER JACKSON JUST WINS. Backed down to odds-on for the Great Northern St. Leger, Peter Jackson duly scored, but he did not have much to spare and his supporters received a. thrill when Gibraltar gave him a great contest all the way down the straight. A good start saw Gibraltar and Peter Jackson first away but Flower was in front in a furlong, when she settled down to make the pace a couple of lengths ahead of Peter Jackson and Psychologist, who were together, another two lengths ahead of View Halloo and Gibraltar, who were also together. So they raced until about five furlongs from home, when Psychologist began to lose ground. Near the half-mile Gibraltar made a sharp dash on the outside and looked like going past the leader near the three-furlongs post, where Peter Jackson slipped through on the rails. Peter Jackson just led Gibraltar and Flower as they rounded the turn and once they straightened up Gibraltar drew almost level. Peter Jackson and Gibraltar were out near the middle of the track at the distance and the former rolled out on to Gibraltar when Morris drew his whip. However, they straightened up again quickly and Peter Jackson stayed on solidly to score by a neck. View Halloo was five lengths away third and Flower was fourth, with Psychologist a long way back. Gibraltar gave Peter Jackson a hard race in the straight, but the better stayer prevailed at the end. View Halloo was well beaten and the others gave no trouble when the pace wag put right on. Sectional times for the race were an follows:—Six furlongs. 1.22; seven furlongs. 1.35 3-si; mile, 1.48 4-5: nine furlongs, 2.2; mile and a-quarter, 2.1f. 2-5; mile and threequarters, 3.9 4-5. The last half mile was run in 53 2-ss. THE HURDLES CONTEST. STANDFAST SCORES NICELY. Patutahi and Standfast were the fax-ourites in a fine betting race in the St. Heliers Hurdles and they filled the dividend place.* in reverse order. Standfast scoring nicely at the finish. The field went fast to the first fence, where Kinsel and Principal, fell. Full Measure then ran to the front, but he also fell at the second fence, leaving Ruffles to lead past the stands from Biform, Kairun, Standfast, Neil and St. Ames. Turning into the back stretch Ruffles went back quicklv and St. Ames then ran up to the lead. St. Ames just led Biform over the fence near the six-furlong post, with Neil several lengths away in front of Ruffles, Cargen. Standfast and Patutahi. Passing the half-mile St. Ames still held a, slight lead from Biform, while Patutahi had run up third, and the closest of the others were Cargen. Standfast and Neil. Patutahi closed on St. Ames at the second to last fence and they came into the fitraipfbt jlißt ahead of Cargen. Biforin anrl Standfast. As they jumped the last fence Standfast drew almost level with the leaders and he went on to win comfortably by a. neck from Patutahi. St. Ames v?as five lengths away third, with Biform right up fourth. Then followed Cargen, Neil, Dominican. Cat-i-mes, Ruffles and Kairun Standfast was patiently ridden and had no serious difficulty in overtaking the leaders when asked for a final effort. Patutahi run another good race and may have been more difficult to beat if his rider had not asked him to make an effort so ear y bt. Ames and Biform both made creditable showings, but Cargen did not run on eo well 'as expected. Ruffles over-reached and stripped one of his forelegs, which was probably the reason why he went back so quickly. UPSET IN LAST RACE. OUTSIDERS PAY DIVIDENDS. Two outsiders, Imperial Prince and Cruachan fought out a great finish in the Islington Handicap and winning honours went to Imperial Prime, who returned a double-figure dividend. Sunny Sky, Fm and Pomp were the favourites in the heaviest betting race of the day. but they all faded away at the finish after being prominent in the early running. Pnrrm Imperial Prince moved first, but, I omp and Fiji soon ran to the front to lead nW the back from Chief Jewel. Imperial Prince, Sunny Sky, King's Archer. Lucky Mire and Maori Boy. Pomp and Fiji were it ill the leaders at the half-mile, with Sunny Sky Chief Jewel. King's Archer and Imperial Prince following in close order and Crunch aii running up fast on the outside. Cruachan was in command inst before reaching the turn and led into the straight from Sunny Sky, Imperial Prince, Llanore nnd Pomp. Over the last furlong Cruachan and Imperial Prince had a great set-to and Imperial Prince gained the verdict by half a head. Llanore was a length and a-half wav third nnd Autumn Sun was fourth. Next to finish were Sunny Sky, Cynthia N.. Maori Boy and Lucky Alice Imperial Prince was suited by the goiru and confirmed his Paeroa form. Cruachan w"s asked to make his run too early and would have won if lie had been mote patiently ridden. Llanore finished on gamely nnrlA.uturnn Sun was closer at the finish than at anv other stage. Sunny Sky tired at the finish and King's Archer was never prominent after receiving a bump at the half-mile-