A HOLIDAY CROWD

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11657, 23 October 1923, Page 7

A HOLIDAY CROWD

WITNESSES GREAT RACING

FINE CONTEST FOR CHAMPION PEATE.

A big holiday crowd was present at Trenthani yesterday for the second day of the Wellington Racing Club’s spring meeting. A high wind blew from the (north, but there was no rain, though jon several occasions a downpour j threatened. The course was in good ! order, hut was not fast. HOW FAVOURITES FARED. Well-backed horses again flattered the confidence reposed in them, five of the winners being first or second favourite on the machine. None of the dividends reached double figures, and the best prices were returned by Refrigeration, who won the last event, and Bonnv Rill, runner-up to Sir Fanciful in the Hurdles. A WHISPER THAT GREW I/OUD. The day opened with the decisive victory of tlie Auckland-owned Pelham, who won the Trial from end to end. Pelham opened at a long price, but it gradually became known that he had worked well in company with Surveyor, and when the machine closed he was second favourite. Once the . field was fairly on its journey, the issue was I hardly in doubt, the son of Tbumham [winning very comfortably. FORM WORKS OUT. First day form worked out nicely in the next two races, which were annexed by Alaric and Sir Fanciful. Carrying top-weight, Alaric was tried over a mile, and proved that he was entitled to all the handicapper gave him by winning without much trouble from the imported Auckland. Sir Fanciful improved on his first day’s showing in the hurdles by winning well from Bonny Rill, who was one of the outsiders of the field, and was paying over a quarter of a century to win. THE TWO-YEAR-OLDS. The two-year-olds were seen out again in the Roseneath Handicap. The race looked a good thing for Motley on her form behind Killochra, and this turned out to be the case. The Absurd filly won easily. Tanadees improved on his previous showing, and Fool’s Paradise was in the picture all the way. Tanadees is improving with experience, and .will come good. NEW ZEALAND CUP CANDIDATE’S GOOD SHOWING. Bettors had difficulty in picking the Pearce Handicap in one. Ardour wound up favourite, but Pilliewinkie and Kilbird had big backing. It was a great race all the way, and the issue was absolutely in doubt as the field swung into the straight. Kilbird worked his way to the front when well down the running, and was soon being called as the winner, but the Trentham straight is a long one, and a well-sus-tained run by Pilliewinkie landed him a winner. Pilliewmkie did well to win as he came right from the back, and over the last bit made a job of the field. His suooess involves a penalty for the New Zealand Cup, but that will not prevent him from coming into considerable favour. SURVEYOR COMES BACK. The race of the day was the Champion Plate, which saw the downfall of Razzia Dazzle and Thespian by Surveyor. The race was made to order for Surveyor. B-agby had him behind the leaders on the rails all the way round, and in the straight ho forged ahead and won in great style by throe lengths from Resale Dazzle, who just struggled ahead of Rqjien. Thespian ran badly and finished absolutely last. Surveyor may have been suited by the slow pace along the back, hut he would have won in any case, and it is a pleasure to record the striking success of a good horse, who, as was well said by one prominent owner, has proved that it is not impossible to come backMr Paterson deserves credit for sticking to a horse that was supposed to have broken down, and his trainer should he complimented on the manner in which he has kept him on his feet. Surveyor was ridden a nice race by HS. Bagby, who handled him well ill the big handicap on Saturday. TWO NARROW VICTORIES. The running of the Nainai and Ruahine Handicaps brought the day’s sport to a conclusion, and in each a close finish was witnessed. Hipo wore Mireusonta down in the former to score a head, victory, and in the latter Refrigeration just beat Soliform.

WELL-KNOWN RIDER INJURED. Just after the field for the Roseneath Handicap had done its preliminary, Lamorack endeavoured to get off the course. He rushed at a trestle over near the mile post, but instead of rising to jump it crashed through it and thiew his rider, A. J. McFlinn, w’ho had a collarbone broken. Lamorack was scratched from the race and the money invested on his chance was returned. AN INQUIRY. Orislina fell during the running of the Roseneath Handicap, and at an inquiry it wns found that he galloped on the heels of Peut-Etre and that the occurrence was purely aocidorct.nl.