RACING

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 10812, 31 January 1921, Page 7

RACING

FIXTURES. Feb. 2 and 3 —Taranaki J.C. Autumn. Feb. 3 and s—Gisborne R.C. Sumner. Feb. 9 and 10—Egmont K.C. Summer. Feb. 9 and 12—Dunedin J. C. Autumn. NOTES AND COMMENTS. (By “Carbine.”) There will be racing at New Plymouth on Wednesday and Thursday. The Gisborne summer meeting is 6et down for Thursday and Saturday of this week." Geperal entries for the V.R.C. autumn meeting close to-morrow. Dunedin acceptances close to-morrow. Trentham will be represented at the Taranaki Cup meeting by 80-Peep, Militaire, Solfancllo, Blackmail, and Vindictive. all from H. Telford’s stable. Small dividends were the order of the day on Saturday, and those horses the punters felt disposed to invest on yielded but poor returns. Fields were not big at Pahiatua on Saturday, but the meeting was a great success, and ail who made the trip were well satisfied with the outing and the sport. The club serves a big country district. and provides an excellent annual outing for .people living as far out as the Fast Coast. It is among the clubs that need better treatment in the way of totalisator permits, and it is to be hoped that it will no longer bo left to battle alone- with only one day a year on which to race. Koval Gift, who won the Pahiatua Maiden is a five-year-old gelding bv Sing Rufus from Keepsake. He failed to run into a place in any of his starts lasit season. but early this season he ran second to Better Luck in a race for gentlemen riders at Waipawa. . Bcretchings reduced the field for the Pahiatua Handicap to six, and of these Idle Talk was made a short-priced favqurite. and Borland also was -well in the -market. Both were supported on Trentham running. and they ran first and second. Miss Barrett is doing well in small handicaps with the Kilbroney mare, and she turned her out in .excellent condition on Saturday. Tre C.J.C. struck wet weather for its one-day fixture oh Saturday, bat in the ciroumetancee a good meeting resulted. Wellington returned by ; yesterday ' morning’s ferry - steamer. Prince Hal and Princess Pat. which had run. well at Trentham, were taken down from here for the racing at Riccarrtor. on Saturday, but neither scored. Princess Pat ran a poor third in the Middle Park Plate, in which there were only three starters, but Prince. Hal did better and got second to Clean Sweep in the Craven Plate. Princess Pat has been galloping well on the tracks of late, and just before the Wellington meeting registered one of the best four furlongs.- of the morning- She ran well in Che "Nursery Handicap here, but was extraordinarily lucky to get the decision over Sleeping Beauty. ‘Prince Hal ran a - good race behind Bonnie Heather and Voluble in the Douro Cup, and Saturday’s second to Clean Sweep reads well. The spare-looking son of Marble Areh does not show" up very often, but when he runs a good face not many finish in front of him. It is understood by local breeders that Warplane will go to the stud very soon, and will stand at Mr J. F. Buchanan s Kinlock stud, where Martian haa done so well. It is obvious that the stud is the place for the well-bred bay, who undoubtedly is a great racehorse, but will not stand a hard" preparation. If retired while he has youth and vigour no Ills side fie will have a great chance to make a big name for himself. The chipf trouble with New Zealand studmasters is that they choose as sires horses that have passed their prime—horses that have been well used-.up on the racing track. In this respect Warplane has not been overdone. Dumper, who has been in Frank Higgott’s charge for some time, Ig to be spelled on account of soreness. He was sent back on Wednesday to the owner, Mr C. F. Vallance. Nat Williams, the well-known trainer, was seized with a sudden illness while at the Foxton meeting. He sought medical advice, and was informed that ho was suffering from ptomaine poisoning. For a time the genial Nat had a bai time, but has noyy recovered.

C.J.G. MEETING

ROYAL STAG WINS THE MIDSUMMER. CLEAN SWEEP SCORES. (Special to **Tims».'*) CHRISTCHURCH, January 80. Seldom has a. race meeting been held at Riccarton under more adverse conditions ihflJt those prevailing on Saturday. Torrential rain set in early and continued with such force that even the most seasoned racegoers quite abandoned all idea of the meeting being held. The committee met at 10 o’clock and in the hope that the weather would clear about noon determined to go on with the fixture. It was an unfortunate decision, for the rain continued till three parts through the afternoon and conditions were more like winter than midsummer. Naturally the attendance was seriously affected, not half the usual number of patrons being present. There was a corresponding decrease in toe totalisator investments, which fell greatly short of last years total—,£2o,ol6, against .£23,591. Under the adverse oircuipstancfss the fields kept up well, but it waa quite evident that many of the competitors could not handle the going, which cut up badly as racing proceeded. In nearly every event the jockeys were allowed to take shelter after doing their preliminaries, but despite toe mate of toe track there were no mishaps. . STRAYBHOT GOOD IN THE MUD. Seven jumpers lined up for the Hereby Handicap, and Glen-tanner. for some vague reason, being installed a staunch favourite. He ran a wretched rape, jailing off from the start. When half toe journey had been covered he made up a little of hig leeway, hut never Ipoked to have winning prospects. Strayshot gort to business smartly and soon opened up a big lead. She turned into toe home straight with a - dozen lengths lead off. Whipcord,'but though toe latter struggled on gamely under pressure he had no chance with the greatly improved daughter of Glenapp. Neither KingStar nor Endure could handle the going, and so far the latter has quite failed to reproduce his North Island form. Warform and Manawapango could not go the pace from the start. FAVOURITE SCORES. The Chokebore representative, Counterstroke, had a strong cpll in the hotting on toe Trial Stakes* which attracted fifteen moderates. Fabrinad® and Bonny Mac set such a strong pace from th® start that at the end of five furlongs only the favourite had a chance of overhauling them. Nearing home the pace Commenced to tell on the leading pair pnd when Counterstroke came along with a wdll-eustained effort the result wag soon plaoed beyond doubt. The winner |s a useful three-year-old son of Antagonist apd Countermine, who can hardly fail to do Sir Geo. Clifford further good gervioe. ' He has more than the average turn of speed and is improving in. stamina. A great finish between Bonny Mac. which hails from Timaru, and Fabrinade ended in favour of the former by u neck. Included in the field was one of Mr J. F. Buchanan's recent importations in Motor Fatrol, the handsome to roc-year-old and son of Clygad and Maud. It was his first public effort, but he was. altogether too green at the bairrwv to give etiy indication of his true form. WINNING HIT SCORES EASILY. Of tlic original eight acceptors for the old-established Middle Park Plate only Winning Hit, Petunia, and Princess Pat wont to the post. »The first-named made

many friends by the resolute, manner in which he did his preliminary, and he wound up an odds-on favourite. Jumping out. smartly he had Petunia’s measure a long way from home, and clearing right, away over the last furlong beat Mr Greenwood’s representative by a dozen lengths. Winning Hit is a neatly turned son of Autumnus and Winning Way, who can hardly fail to win further races before the season closes. It was quite evident that Princess Pat could not handle the going, for she tailed off from the start, quite failing to reproduce her Trentham form. Altogether it was a disappointing race, but under any circumstances the result would probably have been the same. POOR FIELD FOR BIG STAKES. Four, was the number in the Midsummer Handicap, and they were anything but a high class lot. Both Royal Stag and Warlike went very scratchily in their preliminaries; in fact, the latter was so sore that it seemed unfair to start him. Royal Stag had the company of Marc Anthony for about a mile, at which stage the letter faded out. This made matters- very easy for Royal Stag, who. though sore, evidently relished the Beit going. Warlove made a game effort i f too home straight, but had no chance wjth the, winner, while Warlike could cot raiße a gallop, being beaten for third money by such a moderate as Marc An'thony. There have been many poor contests in the history of the Midsummer Handicap, but few that compared with Saturday’s race. TATAU TATAU’S FIRST WIN. Half a dozen useful two-year-olds lined up for the Lyttelton Plate, for which that charming filly Palestrina was installed favourite on the strength bf her excellent, track efforts. Just before the start Tatou Tatau unshipped ter riderl and galloped nearly half a mile before being captured. She is a rather wayward filly, but knows how to gallop. After being in a handy position from the start she drew right -away over the concluding stages, and won in a hollow style bv three lengths from Palestrina. Tatau Tatau is owned" by Sip James Carroll, who was present to see the fillie’s “access. It was a’ very popular win for Sir James is highly respected by oil classes of racegoers. By next season Tatau Tatau promisee to take a high rank amongst the- best of the' Dominion’® three-year-olds, and is just the sort to develop into an Oaks winner. Palestrina ran a game race under heir big weight, but Kilfane quite failed to reproduce his spring form. CLEAN SWEEP AGAIN. A smart lot of sprinters went -out. to contest tho Craven Plate, the English bred Counter Abtaok being installed a better favourite than Royal Mae and' Prince Hal. After being well placed in the early stages Counter Afctaok faded out badly under pressure, and it is evident that he is a moody galloper. Two furlongs from home it looked as if Royal Mac and Prince Hal would fight out the issue. When challenged at the distance by Clean Sweep neither had’ an effort left and the -big Advance gelding drew right away from them. For a horse that has done so little_ work the winner registered an attractive performance. There was some interference between Prince Hal and Royal Mac. only for which the latter may have got aecond money. The race is bound to do -him a lot of Rood in view of his Dunedin engagements.AN IMPROVING MARE. There was not a great deal of interest taken in five Halsweli Handicap, which attracted a" field of seven moderates. The Ashburton trained pair, Dutch Courage and Footlight, who were coupled, had a strong call in toe betting over Orange Mart. The last-named was fractious at the poet and was one of the last to get going. Dutch Courage, on the other hand, raced in front practically all the way and' had plenty in reserve. to stall off the final challenges of Orange Mart and Filigree who passed the post on terms. Though there was not a great deal of merit in Dutch Courage’s performance it showed that she is improving in stamina. Better plaoed in the early stages Orange Mart may have been hard to dispose of, but she is at least an uncertain customer. FAVOURITE. WINS NARROWLY. Notwithstanding his poor form dt Trentham. backers went strongly for Will Oakland in the Post Handicap, which was started half an hour after the advertised time. Taking charge in the home straight he appeared to be winning -easily till Foo Chow came strong with a’ determined challenge. In the best finish of the afternoon Will Oakland just lasted long enough to get the. verdict by a neck. Evidently his exertions at Wellington • improved • the Finland gelding, and he will be worth keeping m mind for Dunedin. Foo Chow added- yet another to his long sequence of placed performances, and no one would begrudge Mr Steve Barrett a win.

DETAILB OF RACINS

FBS PRESS ASSOCIATION. CHRISTCHURCH, January 29. Details of the racing follow; — HORNBY HANDICAP, . Of 300 so vs; one- mile and a halfStrayshot, IQ : V Whipcord, 9-11 2 • Glentanner, 1048 3 Also started—King Star 11.3, Endure HA, Manawapango 11, Warform 9.13. Wqn bv three lengths. Time, 2min 49sec. TRIAL STAKES, Of 300 so vs; eix furlongs. Counterstroke I Bonnie Mac -2 ' Fabrinade 3" Also started—Adopted, Starlike, Rip. pingill, Happy Captain, Chinatown, Sana Souci, Loch Weir, Motor Patrol, Hora tius, Volkovo, Pussyfoot. Won by five lengths. Time; lmin 83aec. MIDDLE PARK PLATE, Qf 500 so vs; "six furlongs (special weights). Winning Hit j 1 Petunia 2 Princess Pat j 3 The only starters. Won easily by a dozen lengths. Time, lmin 16 3=ssec. MIDSUMMER HANDICAP, Royal Stag, 8.13 1 Warlove, 8.7 2 Marc Anthony, 6.7 3 Also started—Warlike 8.11. Won easily by a length. Time, 2min 42 3-sseo.. LYTTELTON PLATE, Of 300 eove; five furlongs. Tatau Tatau, 6.13 1 Palestrina, S.l 2 Humbolcjt, 7.7 3 Also started —Kilfane 8.11, Cornrako 7.10, Dame Fortune 7.7. Won easily byfive lengths. Time, lmin 3 l-seec. CRAVEN PLATE, Of 500 sovs; seven furlongs. Clean. Sweep, 9.7 1 Prince Hal, 7.5 ~.t 2 Royal Mac, 7.13 3 Also started—Onslaught 9.12, Counter Attack 8.3, Carmine 7.10, Algidus 7.2, Link Up 6.13, Koeaian 6.7, Tantalus 6.7, Jazz 6.7, Greekson 6.7. Won by two lengths. Time, lmin 32. 4-ssec. HALSWELL HANDICAP, Of 300 sovs; one mile'and a furlong. Dutch Courage, 8.11 1 Filigree, 8.2 .. t Orange Mart, 7)7 -j----+Dead heat. Also started —Bondage 8.11, Reproachful 7.3, Fabieoo 7, Footlights 7 (bracketed with winner). Won by three lengths Time, 2min 1 l-ssec. POST HANDICAP. Of 300 sovs; one mile. Will Oakland, 8.11 1 Foo Chow, 7.13 2 Caverocfc, 7.10 ....'. 3 Also started—Tiranga 8.5, Braid 5.3, Comment 7.7, Ahika . Tantallqs. Greekson 6.7, Timepiece 6-7. Won by half a length- Tipte. 45 l-ssec. 1