EXCELLENT RACING

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11656, 22 October 1923, Page 6

EXCELLENT RACING

ON GOOD GOING. BIG DIVIDENDS BARE. In fine weather and before a good crowd of people the Wellington Racing Club’s spring meeting was opened at Trent'hani on Saturday. The course was in excellent order for racing, though it was a trifle dead. Light rain fell toward the end of the day, and affected the track somewhat for the last two events. Large fields contested most of the events, and many of the best horses in the country were seen out. There is no place in New Zealand where the racing is better than it is at Trentham, and l on Saturday the standard was maintained. WELL-BACKED HORSES WIN. A notable fact is the success of wellbacked horses. The only long price during the day was that paid by Sir Rosebery in the Hurdles. The Wairarapa gelding was not neglected on the machine, but there was such solid backing for several others in the race that he returned double figures. In every other case the winner was either first or second favourite. This is remarkable for Trentham, where big dividends are common, NICE TWO-YEAR-OLDS. Considerable interest was taken in tho parade of two-year-olds before the T.iiia Handicap. The “gentlemen” of the parade were Inferno and Tanadees, and on his looks Inferno was sent out a heavily hawked favourite. He is a well-grown bay colt by Solferino from the All Red mare Ayah, .and races in the colours of his breeder, Mr W. Hume. He is trained at Fordell by F. Tilley, in whose hands he is sure to win more races. He has sine and strength, and bore evidence of having been well built up. Tanadees is Mr W. Jorgenson’s imported Roseworthy gelding. On looks he should turn out good, but he ran very green, and his rider had a. job to keep him straight. In the race Inferno proved much too good for the others, and won easily from Vo]tore, who had made a good impression at Avondale. Inferno was ridden by M. McOarten, whose first mount it was since his return from Australia earlier in the week. NOT NOW A CUP TRIAL.

A few years back tho Wainui Handicap used to be looked unon as a New Zealand Cup trial, but this is not tho oaso to-day. There were two New Zealand Oup candidate® in the field, Scion and Helen Rufus. Scion did not look ready to back, hut was in great heairt and oonditixon. Helen Rufus has never struck one as a cup probability, and her running on Saturday did not remove the impression that she has little chance in good company over two miles. Tlie once-promising Lietowel and Aeriform made nearly all the running, but when asked to fight it out at the last half-furlong Listowel gave way. . Perhaps if he had not been called on to make the pace with a smart lightweight, and had not been sent to tho front at the bottom of the straight, lie would have kept off the challengers, who wore him down half a furlong from the winning post. Ardour won well from Suggestion, who is above the ordinary hut needed a race. MERITORIOUS PERFORMANCES IN BIG HANDICAP. A lot of good handioappers paraded for the W.R.C. Handicap, from which there was not a single course withdrawal. It was not a thoroughly seasoned field, and among the best conditioned were Surveyor and Kilbird. The early favourites maintained their hold on public favour, and the machine showed that Bonetter was coupled with Insurrection and Vagabond, the bracket being made favourite. Mark Time did best of tho favourites, winning well from Surveyor, while Bonetter was fourth and Kilbird sixth. Surveyor ran a great race under 9.2, and hi& performance will make bettors think of him when the Champion Plato is being run this afternoon, though there is no ohance of his being sent out favourite. He got a beautiful run all through. Bagbv rode a great race on him, getting him out well and having him on the rails behind tho pacemaker, Quest, all the way. Mark Time was well up most of tho way, but covered some extra ground. He was handy to the leaders at the home turn, entered tho straight full of running, and soon had charge. Ho is in the New Zealand Cup, and will have to put up a penalty. Tho unlucky hoTse of the race was Pilliwinkie, who .would have won had ho been able to make his run earlier. The performances of the three placed horses were meritorious. THE SUPERIORITY OF KILLOOHRA.

Tho Wellesley Stakes saw Killochra establish his superiority over his opponents. The result was no surprise and those who 'backed the winner laid the machine big odds. Motley had a good following and her supporters received a hotter price than those who hacked the winner. Motley had every chance to beat Killochra had she been good 'enough, but tho Woodville gelding's ; "..tout ICilbroney blood stood to him I when ho was called on for an effort, and a reminder from Bagby induced him to draw out and win by a length. So 'far Killochra lias an unbeaten record. He lias started three times and on each occasion has won. His first start was on tho second day of the 'Wanganui meeting, when ho scored very easily Going on to Avondale lie defeated the best that F. Davis’s stable could produce. These were the performances that made him go to the post yesterday regarded as the certainty of the day. In the race he did r<rt give his supporters a moment’s i anxiety. Killochra was bred at Waikanae by Mr lan Duncan and is from the English mare Puttee, who traces back to Galiopin. Puttee is the dam j of other smart performers in Bonny

Sox and Drfcfielcy. In Killochra the Wairarapa (.wncr 3 Mr A. McDonald, has a racehorse who should carry his colours with marked success if he trains on. PREVIOUS WINNERS OF STAKES. Previous winners of the Stakes were: 1898 — Capt. Russell. Tigress, S. Lindsay, 1899 — Sir G. Clifford', Glenogle, T. Tay--199o—Capt.0—Capt. Russell, Heiress, W. Whi1901— G iC G. Stead, Menschikoff, L. H. Hewitt, 49soc. 1902 O. G. Stead, Orloff, L H. Hewitt, 48 2-osec. 1993—Sir G. Clifford, Treadmill, J. McCiusky, 49 2-ssec. 1904 —G. G. Stead, Silkworm, L. H. Hewitt, 49 2-ssec. 1995—G. G. Steed, Munjeet, I/. H. Hewitt, 48 3-ssec. *l9os—Sir G. Clifford, Kirrimuir, V. Cotton, 52 4r-sscc. 19061 —Hon. Ormond, Eona, D. Bifioo, 49 1 ssee. 1907 G. Clifford, Fleetfoot, F. B. Jone«s, 52<ec. 1908 — TV. E Bidwill, Provocation, S. Reid, 40 l-ssec. 1909 Hon. Ormond, Formby, F. D. Jones, 51 O-visec. ' , 1910— G. Greenwood, Peirene, H. Gray, 49 3-ssec. 1911 — Mr Highden, Ermengarde, A. Olliver, 50 l-ssec. 1912 J. B. Reid, Mowibray, F. E. Jones, 54 2-osec. 1913 Hon. Onnond, Hymettius, W. Ryan, 50^sec. 1914 — G. X>. Eeatson, Astorias, A. Olliver, 48 2-ssec. 1915 R. A. Adams, Rockbound, R. Reed, 48sec. 1916 H. Gaisford, Crowliurst R. Reed, 48 3-ssec. 1917 W. and V. Casey, Informal, R. Manscn, 48sec. 1918 — J. G. Johnston, Ermine, R. Reed, 49 4-Ssec. 1919 G. Clifford, Moorfowl, H. Young, 48$oc. 1920 W. G. Stead, Mermin, H. Gray, 47 1 scoc 1921 A. B. Williams, Epitaph, A. Reed, SOsec. 1922 Ft R. Davis, Lncullus, A. Reed, 61S-soec. THE BRILLIANCE OF LADYFINGERS.

By winning the Shorts Handicap after her run-a way victory at Masterton a week Laayfmgers made it clear that she is a very smart sprinter. She was always in the picture in her race and nothing trouMed' her in the run along the straight except Tukia.. However, Lady fingers kept the Fordell filly at bay and had a length advantage when the judge was reached. Tukia would hare been much harder to beat had she begun better, but her defeat is a compliment to Ladyfingers, as anything F. Tilley fancies from his stable always takes a lot of heating. It is interesting to note that Kakawai, the dam of Ladyfingers, traces back to Traduoer and Sharkie. LESS MONEY THROUGH THE TOTE The sum of £4o, 888 10s was registered by the totalisalor. as against £49— 369 10s on the opening day of the last spring meeting.