NORTH TARANAKI HUNT

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12538, 30 August 1926, Page 9

NORTH TARANAKI HUNT

A MISERABLE DAY SEVERAL HORSES SCRATCHED. (By Telegraph.—Special to "Times. - ”) NEW PLYMOUTH, August 28. The annual meeting of the North Taranaki Hunt Club was held at New Plymouth to-day, in anything but favourable weather. Rain commenced just after midnight, and till after daybreak there was any amount of moisture to help tho spring grass before tho meeting commenced. It cleared up temporarily, but prior to the second race it came on again, and just teemed down. It did so till the fourth race, when it lifted again. From then it rained on and off for the rest of the day. As was to be expected in such circumstances, tlio track was heavy, and by the time the last race was decided the course was very much cut up. The scratching pen was freely used during the day, and what looked previously to be good betting events had next to no attraction for the wagering public. The totalisator, of course, suffered, and for the day the machine handled .£12,032, as compared with £17,502 12 months back. The big jumping event was won by Lupineel, the Hawera winner. All things considered, it was a poor race, the finish saving it from mediocrity. Killocli scored in the open six, defeating a hot favourite in Willow Wai, who failed to struggle home. RATAPIKO WINS EASILY Fair Abbey and Young Thurnham were evenly supported for the Hunters' Hurdles. Roaming, Pikimai, and Fair Abbey made tho early running from Young Thurnham, with Frizzier tailed off. Frizzier moved up third down the back, being in behind Koaming and Ratapiko. Ratapiko took command on the turn and, jumping the last fence, went on to win comfortably by a length. Pikimai finished better than Roaming, and took second honours by two lengths. Fair Abbey was a very poor fourth. Young Thurnham broke down after going seven furlongs. Royal Mint and Resinous carried all the money in the Scurry. There were numerous changes in the leadership over the first three furlongs, Takini, Turkish Fire and Midnight Camp having a turn in front. Resinous ran past the leaders, and he had as his attendants Turkish Fire, Anolo, and Takini. Resinous was first into the home stretch, where Royal Mint and Anolo threw out challenges. In a gopd finish Royal Mint came with a rattle to win by half a length from Anolo, who was a length and a half m front of Resinous. Jazz Baby was fourth, and Whakapai next. The field for the Hunters' Steeplechase was considerably reduced by scratchinge, only seven of the 15 runners going to the post. Suweileh was the favourite. The race was « laughable one. Aotea Roa went out at the first of the double and caused Atene to run off. The latter was brought back, and jumped the second portion of the fence, but at the next obstacle refused point blank. Suweileh was at this stage a fence in front of Sea Comet, Rayo, and Parekura, with Spacia a furlong back. Suweileh hit the fence. in the straight, landed all right, but his legs Bhot from under him and he unseated his rider. This left Sea Comet in front from Rayo and Parekura. Rayo took the lead three furlongs from home, and won easily by seven lengths. Parekura beat Sea Comet by two lengths after coming over on the latter a hundred yards from home. Spacia got round, but that was all. KLLOCH MAKES GOOD Hipo, Merry Jest, and Gaillard were taken out of the Stratford Handicap, and the remaining member of the George stable was the most liked. The favourite began best and led Shut Eye and Killoch past the five-furlong post. Willow Wai was still there on the turn, where Shut Eye and Bonogne were on terms, with Killoch, Crossfire and Quillfire handy. Enare was last. Willow Wai had a nice lead a furlong from home, but he could not sustain a determined challenge from Killoch, who won by half a length. Shut Eye was three lengths away, third, with Enare and Crossfire next. From an acceptance of 10 only five contested the Hunt Cup Steeplechase. There was good speculation, Sansalino, Gilgai, and Lupineel all having their admirers. Roller went off with a big lead, but ran off at the second of the double. This let the others pass him, Gilgai and Tarakete being the leaders from Sansalino and Lupineel, both of whom were a long way back. Roller was made to j urap the fence, but he ducked off, and was three furlongs back, last. Gilgai and Tarakete took fence for fence down the back, and this spelt disaster for Tarakete, who fell heavily with 10 furlongs to go. Gilgai led past the stand the second time from Lupineel, with Sansalino, who was 20 lengths back. Roller was also 6till in the race, but when he ran off at the double again his rider called it "a day" and threw in the towel Sansalino refused at the fence going out of tho straight, where Gilgai was displaced by Lupineel. The latter had a good lead half a mile from the finish, but Gilgai came again, for the pair raced stride for 6trid© to the lftßt fence, where they took off together. Once over Lupineel had most in reserve, and came home with an advantage of two lengths. Sansalino was third, just a mattev of thre© furlongs away. HEAVY SCRATCHINGS Of 14 acceptors there were only six to run in the Waihi Handicap. Wenday, a stablemate of Fair Abbey's, found most support on tho machine. To Rarer© and Puawhato jumped out in front, but the latter soon lost iiis position, and pasing tho six Bisox was showing tho way to Tawehi, To Karo re and Wenday. To* Karere ran to the front on tho far bend, whore Puawhato joined him, and this pair led into the straight from Bisox and Closefire. In a good finish Closefire had the best of it, -winning by a neck from Puawhato, who was a long head to tho better of To Karere. Bisox was fourth, closo up, followed by Wenday. Seven wont to tlie post in the Hunters’ Flat Race, Fair Abbey again being the favourite. liatapiko and Fair Abbey led early from Sea View and Koaming. Down the back Ratupiko wont out, and he led round the turn and into the straight. Ho was never troubled, winning, hard held, by two lengths. Koaming ran up to the rest rounding the bend, and ne beat Roclie for second honours by a neck. Sea View was fourth, and Fair Abbey fifth. UftENUI HACK Soven defections left fivo in the TJrenui Hack, which was made the heaviest betting race of the day, Pop Off being installed a hot favourite, with Vivo and Lucornal well backed. Pop Off hit the front from the barrier rise and led all the way to win comfortably by four lengths from Mint Leaf, who was well Raced throughout. Flying Shot was fivo engths further back, a neck in front of Lucernal.