Canterbury Chat

NZ Truth, Issue 913, 26 May 1923, Page 11

Canterbury Chat

(By "THE TOFF."). Beautiful weather favored the opening of the Ashburton County Racing club's autumn meeting, but the recent rains left the track a trifle holding:. Cerberus registered an easy viotory m the First Hurdle Handicap. With half the' journey covered he had only Apex to beat, and catching him at the turn forborne he always held him safe. Manawaponga was favorite, but finished last. There was only meagre support accorded Lord Nagar. and he ran as backed. Mandrake raced m the interests of his new owner, Mr. H. Mnuntney. Ho was at the tail of the field a mile from home, but finished well, filling third berth. Roniform Is jmnplng stralghter than ho did, and Woodrow needs jumping experience. He was going well m third place along the back, but a, faulty Jump half a mile from the judge ruined his chance. Red Wink was backed down to nearly even money for the First Hack Welter, and was lucky to win, as Brown Wlllio opened out from the rails and let Red Wink through. '" The Autumn Handicap at Ashburton proved an easy victory for Palestrlna, who, taking^ charge a furlong from home, wont oh to win as she liked from Ardour. When the field had settled down Boadicea was m front with Mantua and Some Kid alongside of her. with Castellan and Wnrhavon next then Prince Feroux and Palestrlna, with Ardour last. With three furlongs covered Boadicea dropped back, leaving Mantua, Some Kid> and Warhaven In charge from Castellan, but rounding the home turn Palestrlna and Ardour made their efforts, and mowing down the field In convincing stylo, the pair silenced the opposition a long way from the judge. Palestrlna was full of running as the line was crossed, and beat Ardour by a length. Next came Warhaven. Boadicea was decisively beaten and Castellan failed to run up to expectations. Palestrina's good price was attributed to the idea that the mare was short of work. She was a class above anything m the race, and the way she won looked as Jf she could have beaten them with one leg tied up. Finora was the medium of substantial backing for the Lagmhor Plato, and after being chopped back a little at the start she hit the front before a furlong was covered and from then on the issue was never m doubt. GoUlspinner, wMo was the only candidate credited with any chance of defeating Finora, was never m the picture. Wink, Monsieur Boutnde, Distant Shot, Barmaid and Guncase were the prime fancies for the Longbeach Handicap. After Pickaninny and Distant Shot haa\ made the running Wink wore them down and won very easily from Distant Shot, who though stopping badly at the finish managed to just beat Kil fane Sor socond money. Monsieur Boutade began badly and was last when the field had gone a furlong. Will Oakland was thought the best of good things for the Grove Farm Handicap, but after trailing the leaders to the homo turn he endeavored to hlr the front. At the distance he hart his head In front, but when it c«m« to business Mythology xtmply smothered him. Will Oakland stopped very bndly m the last fifty yerd-s, which enabled Kllbarry to beat him for second money. Bonny Mao sprung 1 a tend <n on tl)*» eve of the Ashburtun fixture, and is nt present m hospital. Tho state of the track wn? again*: The Reaver. Ho was one of Uk> <piici;est to begin, but near! rift the Judgo >>«-• fell back to fourth place.

Fabrlnade was backed as if he could not get beaten m the Fairfteld Welter. He was early In front, with Bon Spec keeping him up to the bit. Before the home stretch was reached Bon Spec commenced to stop. Rounding the turn for home Etta came through, and m a ding-dong finish Etta beat Fabrinade by a length. During the running of the First Hack Walter Handicap at Ashburton Solferymple stumbled and broke his back and had to be destroyed. Despite the fact that three veterinary surgeons figured on the official card none were present. In their absence the police took charge of the case, and It was to the horse's disadvantage that whoever was entrusted with the deed was either out of practice or a bad shot. Sir George Clifford has sold Counterstroke to Mr. J. Pankhurst, of Southland. This fellow is a good weight-, carrier, his one trouble being his knees. On the Southland tracks he should, perform well up to seven furlongs m welter company. Clean Sweep was awarded the post of honor In the betting for the Second Hurdles at Ashburton. He jumped In accordance with his private reputation and won easily. He has only to go on the right way to play an important part In some of the big hurdle events this season. Apex got away badly, and his effort to get near the leaders proved fatal to his backers when the pressure was applied towards the finish. Red Gown Jumped m a slovenly fashion. She will have to improve before being eligible to be ticketed as a winner over the battens. In a good betting race Distant Shot found most favor m the Second Hack Welter. # After Brown Willie bad led for fifty yards Dancing Days hit the front and went on to win m convincing style. Distant Shot was under pressure a furlong from home, but finished gamely and got within a neck of the winner. On M her first day's showing Palestrlna was supported with utmost confidence In the Ashburton Cup, but Ardour, with O. Voight m the saddle, beat her pointless. Boadlcea and Warhaven set out to make the pace, but before reaching the home turn they were hard at It. Urgency then flattered his supporters, but he, too, cried enough at the distance. Ardour came round the bunch entering the straight, and staying on well won comfortably. Palestrlna was always handy, afid pushing her way through In the "straight, threatened danger, but was; finally beaten into second place. Castellan was third. Some Kid was prominent .for a mile, but that was the end of him. Wink Justified the confidence reposed m her by annexing the Juvenile Handicap, thus registering two wins for as many starts at the meeting. Finora was the pacemaker to the distance, where Wink made a determined effort and got to a length <and a half of the winner. Kflblmie got chopped back at the start and then finished fourth. Hlnemaru and Hillock gave a lot of trouble at the start of the Wlnchmore Welter and finally the field was sent away without them. Fabrlnade and Counter Attack showed the way for six furlongs, where the favorite, Kilbarry, appeared on the scene, with Prince Ferbuz m hot pursuit. Over the last fifty yards / Kilbarry had his opponents beaten, finally winning by a longth and a half from Prince Ferouz, Ktlfane was sent out a good favorite m the Moreton Hack Handicap, but she got out badly and was never m the picture. Plcanlnny was m front all the way. Monsieur Boutade is learning to begin better, and should soon win a race. Barmaid got knocked back to last when she had gone a couple of furlongs and that was the end of her.