MASTERTON MEETING

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11163, 20 March 1922, Page 8

MASTERTON MEETING

BITTERS WINS AUTUMN HANDICAP flying goes to askaki. MERRY DAY WINS A DOUBLE. (Special to "Times. s ’) Further evidence of the money shortage was furnished by the Masterton Racing Club’s autumn meeting on Saturday. The totalisator investments were very light and totalled only .£11,777. This showed a. of .-C4S&9 in comparison, with the autumn meeting held, a year ago. The gathering was very well managed by the secretarial staff and the outing proved thoroughly enjoyable Favourites had a great innings, five of them -winning. Dividends were small, except that Day (on her second appearance! and Bitters returned good prices. The chief event of the day, the A.utamn Handicap, was spoiled through several of the runners, including the two favourites, having their clmiicee ruined at the start. Bitters was one of those who got away well and he won very easily. The principal sprint handicap fell to Askari, who scored decisively from Mountain March, who was not well backed. Merry Day won a double at the meeting, . winning the Trial Stakes and the Stewards' Handicap.

FAVOURITE’S EASY WIN. Racing commenced with the ' Trial Stakes, from which Gresia and Merrimas were scratched. Merrv Day was sent out a warm favourite. After some delay at the post a good start was effected. Sagacity was the first to show out, but Te Kuri soon went to the front. Merry Day kept close handy and at the turn for home was in behind the leaders. At the bottom of rhe straight the .favourite, came away and won with the greatest of ease by three lengths from Te Kuri, who just cut Conflict out of second money Hellenice was fourth AN EASY WIN. Kilreid and Matareka were the favourites for the • Teleia’ione Handicap. Jackaroo was early in the lead, and at the home turn was attended- by Kilreid. The pair lpd into the straight, : where Kilreid went ahead and won- as he liked, passing the post' several lengths ahead of Jackaroo. Basso was a couple of lengths back third and Maropa was fourth. Jackaroo went out poorly backed and paid nearly twice as much for second as the winner did for first.

ASKARI BEATS THE SPRINTERS. Chimera was backed like a certainty for the Flying. Handicap, but in the end had no chance. Askari shot to the front when the barrier went up, but, soon was displaced by. Mountain March and Canyon. The pair carried on the .running to the home turn, where Mountain March was going particularly well. Canyon failed in the run home, and Askari ran to the front below* the distance and wae never troubled to win by three lengths from Mountain March, who finished a length ahead of Martian Miss. Chimera was fourth. t WRETCHED START IN BIG i . handicap.' Kilgour was sent out favourite for the Autumn Handicap, and. next in demand was the bracket, Vagabond and Snub. The start was wretched, and only Matatua, Sir Wai, and -Bitters bad any chance from the beginning. Kilgour and Snub -were badly left, and vagabond gave the leaders about a 6ix lengths' break. Sir Wai led for most of , the journey, with Bitter* and. Matatua; bandy. Five furlongs from home Bitters went to the front and stayed there to win in a canter from Matatua, who finished just ahead of Sir Wai. A long way back came Kilgour, closely foiiowi ed by Vagabond. STILL ANOTHER FAVOURITE SCORES. - Peneus was backed down to a very short price for the Juvenile Handicap, and at no etage of the race did the Boniform. gelding look like ’getting beaten. Wairarapa went out with the lead, but Peneus soon ranged alongside, andj the pair hit the straight together. Peneus was not troubled to win by three length*, .but there was a great finish for second -place, and Waetea got the verdict. Bonnie Nurse was placed) third, and Mehthe fourth.

BIRKENELLA BEATS SMALL FIELD. Sir Roseberry and Native Call were withdrawn from the Welter, and Birkenella wan sent out favourite. The early leader was Misty Wave, but Blue Hall soon took charge and led to where, Birkenella . took charge and won very comfortably by a length and a half from Blue Hall. Miaty Wave was third. Merrimas was in the rear nearly all the way.

BIG DIVIDEND IN STEWARDS' HANDICAP.

VaM’kov iwae H*he VxnMy wijthdimwal from the Stewards' , Handicap. Bettors staked on Little River and Probate, an<t Merry Day, winner of the Trial, was the outside** of tho field. There was 'ft

long delay at the barrier, and when the tapes were released Probate took charge. Merry Day began badly, but ran past the field when half the journey had been covered. She led a hunched field into the straight, and won easily by three lengths. Little River and ‘Alatatua finished together, and the judge placed Matatua second. Probate was fourth. POOR DIVIDEND IN FINAL EVENT. The meeting concluded with the Dash Handicap. The withdrawals included Doueement and Matareka, and tho starters numbered seven. Of these, Ambition was installed favourite, and Melting Moment and Jackaroo carried fair support. Jackaroo was prominent in the early stages, and (later Gold Pan showed out. The favourite always was handy, and in the straight he took charge and won nicely from Satin, who finished well. JackaToo was third. The winner gave a very poor return, and the second dividend was better than the first. , DETAILS OF THE RACING

PEE PRESS ASSOCIATION. TRIAL STAKES, Of 100 sovs; six furlongs. Merry Day, 8.5 (L. Morris) 1 Te Kuri, 8.8 2 Conflict, 8.5 --•-•••■ 3 „ Also started—Sagacity 9, Whakatere 9 Hellenice 8.5. Won by three lengths. Time, lmin 17 2-ssec.

TELEPHONE HANDICAP, Of 100 sovsj six furlongs. Kilreid, 8.6 (H. Were) 1 Jackaroo, 8.9 * » Basso, 6.10 Also started—Edendale 8.11, Matareka 7.12, Rebuff 7.7, Satin 7, Maropa 6.10, Red Band 6.7. Won by three lengths. Time, lmin 15 3-ssec.

FLYING HANDICAP, Of 130 sovs; six furlongs. Askari, 7.13 (Barry) 1 Mountain March, 7.5 2 Martian Miss, 7.7 ,3 , Also started—Chimera 10.3, Backsheesh 8.13, Canyon 8.1. Won by three lengths. Time, lmin 15 3-ssec.

AUTUMN HANDICAP, Of 230 sovs; one mile and a quarter. Bitters, 7.7 (Stewart) 1 Matatua, 7.3 2 Sir Wai, 6.12 3 Also started —Vagabond 9, Snub 7.2, Kilgour 8.3. Won by five lengths Time, 2min 9 4-ssec.

JUVENILE HANDICAP, Of 110 sovs; five furlongs. Peneus, 9.6 (H. Were) 1 Waetea, 7.7 . 2 Bonnie Nurse, 6.12 3 Also started—Wairarapa 8.4, Kilroe 8.3, Stream (bracked with Waetea) 6.12, Mentlie 6.12, Lady Dulcine 6.12. Won by three lengths. Time, lmin 2 2-ssec.

MASTERTON* WELTER, Of 100 sovs; seven furlongs. Birkenella 10.9 (L. Morris) ... 1 Blue Hall, 9.6 .2 Misty Wave, 9.7 3 Also started—Merrimas 9. ~ Won by n length and a half. Time, lmin 31 2-ssec. STEWARDS’ HANDICAP, Of 130 sovs; seven furlongs. ■ Merry Day, 6.7 (E. S. Garrett) 1 Matatua, 7.13 2 Little River, 9.6 3 ’ Also started—Probate 8.13, Edendale 7.7. Won by three lengths. Time, lmin 29 4 " 5SeC ' - DASH HANDICAP, Of 100 soys; five furlongs. , Ambitious, 7.12 (Gilmore) 1 Satin, 7.4 2 Jackaroo, 9.5 3 Also started —Melting Moments 7.12, Gold Pan 6.12. Merrimas 6.12, Lady Pan 6.7. Won by three-quarters of a length. Time, lmin 2sec.