EASY SUCCESSES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23042, 20 May 1938, Page 9

EASY SUCCESSES

! COURTYARD'S HURDLES ASTAIRE BEATS THERMIDOR SHIRRED RIBBON'S LAST RACE [MY TKLKGKAI'H—OWN CORRESPONDENT] CHRISTCHURCH, Thursday Iho Levels Hurdles was won convincingly by the win favourite, Courtyard. Disaster came early to two of the candidates. Sunny Comet did not survive the first fence and Grampian, when in the lead with Scrap, struck the second fence and dislodged his rider. Scrap remained in charge until Courtyard displaced him in the back stretch, and the latter led into the straight irom The Surgeon, Haulbowline, Scrap and Superex. The Surgeon made a determined effort to get up, but Courtyard was not seriousj.v troubled. Haulbowline luing on to beat Superex for third, with Last Post, Sir Uosenor and Fireguard next. Cocksure was confidently supported to win the Claremont Handicap, but alter being well placed just behind the leaders early in the run home, he failed to carry on. Cocksure was first to show out, but at the end of two furlongs Mazainarch went to the front and led into the straight from Silver Slipper, Great Memory,- Cocksure, Flame Queen, Astaire and Lockit, all racing iji close order. Mazainarch did not last much longer, and Therm idor appeared to have the race in hand until Astaire flashed up on the outside. In a hard finish Astaire gained a head verdict, with Silver Slipper a fair third, a length in front of Lockit, with Cocksure, Flame Queen and Great Memory next.

Acuity, favourite for the Opihi Tj-ot, broke up early and took 110 serious part in the race, while the hackmarkers, Privateer and Sylvie's Bt?st, did not move off, owing to the barriers failing. Devotion was the early leader, but Guncase soon went to the front and, spread-eagling* the field, he had a ridiculously easy win. He was followed by Devotion, who secured an easy second placing from Aldershot, who beat , Truman by half a length. Scenic Gem, Itegal and Mongolian were nexifci, - -• , Failure of Favourites Willie. "Win was sent out a, staunch favourite for the Tiinaru Cup, but he was never in a likely position and, as at Ashburton, the issue was left to the light-weight division. I'ehnet was the early leader from Mungatoon, Royal Gallant, Wild Career and Studley Royal, but going into the' far straight Royal Gallant assumed charge and carried on from Pelmet, Mungatoon, Studley Royal, Wild Career, Rebel Lad, Willie Win and Silver Ring. Mungatoon gradually worked his way forward and he had a useful lead on entering the straight from Royal Gallant, Last Refrain, Silver Ring, Rebel Lad and Wild Career. The rest was easy for Mungatoon, who won without any pressure from Last Refrain. Davolo was a fair third, getting up on the post to beat Rebel Lad. Silver Ring. Wild Career, Studley Royal and Willie Win followed, with Royal Gallant last.

Mungatoon was easing up at the post. Last Refrain improved on his Ashburton form and the same could be said of Davolo and Silver Ring, but, while Silver Ring was stopping. Davolo was finishing on solidly. He was last away—and was always well back in the running. Rebel Lad looked likely turning for home, but, like Wild Career, he failed, to stay. The chief disappointments were Willie Win and Studley Royal. The former made a move up to the leaders approaching the home turn, but he was not again prominent. Studley Royal was handily placed on the rails close to the leaders for the first half of the journey, but he was hopelessly out of calculations before reaching the straight. Although the field for the Craigmore Hack Steeplechase was not strong, the race was interesting. Flashlight was installed a short-priced favourite, in spite of this being his first race over country and he justified his position in the betting by an impressive win. Sunward only surrendered his place in the lead to Flashlight on entering the straight. The former was followed most of the journey by Uncle Jim, who made a faulty jump three furlongs from home. Flashlight then ran up .to Sunward; Ito "be in front at the last fence. Flashlight always had his rival in difficulties iand won with something in hand. Uncle .Jim struggled on for third money, with a' big ga> to Tomcat, who just beat Nightbound;: i ' Lady LeigH Just Fails

Happy Night and Lady Leigh disputed favouritisms in the Kingsdown Handicap, hut while the former failed after being slowly away, Lady Leigh gaVe a solid performance to lead from the start , to within a few strides of the f>ost. She was followed into , the /straight by Potent, Phalanx, Shirred Ribbon, Merry March and Emmeline jGirl and was still well clear 100 yards from the post, but Shirred • Ribbon gradually wore her down and beat her 'rather comfortably. Emmeline Girl was a ,close ..third, - with a gap to Rabble, who got up on the post to beat Potent, Ardmayle and Merry-March, who were almost-in line. This was Shirred Ribbon's first win in the South tsland and it was her last race, as it was decided to have her returned to Hawke's Bay after the meeting to go to the stud. Lady Leigh made a game attempt to hold on, but the distance was just beyond lier. • , • • The Beaoonsfield Trot resulted in a mild surprise. Taruna led early from Happy Loeandh, .Tambo, Oasis, Labourman and Royal Crescent and- was still in front cnterihg the straight from Oasis, Token, Labourman and La liberie Wood. Labourman worked his way to the leaders and won narrowly from Laurene Wood, with Token a good third, in front of Taruna and Oasis. Grey Honour was the shortest-priced favourite of the day in the Seadown Handicap, but he again met with a narrow defeat. He was first to show out, but soon gave way to Arrowrose and Nightcalm, who led into the straight from Silver Sail, Grey Honour and Viking. Arrowrose, Nightcalm and Grey Honour were practically abreast 100 yards from tbo post, where Arrowrose weakened. The other pair had a thrilling struggle, Nightcalm squeezing home by half a head. Arrowrose hung on for

third, three lengths in front of Golden Chest, with Eodour and Sih'er Sail next. RIDERS FOR TE RAPA ' ADDITIONAL ENGAGEMENTS { Additional riding engagements have been announced as follows fo'r the opening of the Waikato Racing Club's meeting to-morrow: — » . J. H. Mcßae. —Celtic Lad, All Irish. H. Gihner. —Spearford. C. L. Abbey Lass. P. Jarvis. —Donegal.''. N. Vaughan.—Dragon Moth, Tradesman, Arawa Rose, Prince Rangi, Silver Glow. R. W. McTavish.—Aero King. H. Long.—Cheval de Volee.