NOTES ON THE RACING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21267, 23 February 1931, Page 12

NOTES ON THE RACING.

(Special to Daily Times.)

CHRISTCHURCH, February 21. The Canterbury Jockey Club’s midsummer meeting was/held .in fine weatheiy and the attendance proved fairly large, despite a good deal of counter attractions. The going was firm, although not particularly fast, owing to the inside being watered prior to the meeting. . The card provided some good racing. Favourites did not get a very good spin during the day, and more than the usual interference took place. Raineses failed to stay on in the Hornby Handicap, in which the well-fancied Quinopal scored nicely. Taku Tama won the Trial Stakes, but Appeal got badly left at the start, and was unlucky to miss a win. Lord Argosy, the stylish-looking colt, imported by Mr J. M. Samson, captured the Middle Park Plate after a good battle with Coroner, a well-grown two-year-old, by Shambles —Coronata. Both first and second are open to improvement. Fair Weather ran an indiffeernt race, and, although haying the worst of the weights, was generally expected to make a better show. The Midsummer Handicap was run right to suit the top-weight, as they took Imin 7 2-ssec to run the first five furlongs, Imin 21sec to run six, and then came a smart sprint over a final halfmile in 48 2-ssec. The riders of the light-weights made no attempt to head off the top-weight until it was too late. Solvent was too good for the opposition in the Lyttelton Plate. Spoon had to put up a hard fight to beat Staghunter in the Craven Plate. Charmeuse and First Raid both suffered interference, but an inquiry did not locate the source of the trouble. Hot Tea was prominent all the way in the' Halswell Handicap, and Miss Mercia practically won from end to end in the Post Handicap. During the day Mr lan E. Duncan, Mr W. H. Ward, and Mr W. Stone were each fined £5 for failure to notify that a joint interest existed between them in the ownership of Tray Bond and Weatherly. The full field on the card went to the post for the Hornby Handicap. Ramesea started favourite, with Quinopal second in a fairly even betting race. There was no pace on in the early stages, and then Rameses took charge, with Semper Paratus, Miss Mercia, and Quinopal handy in a close field, except High Speed, who had dropped back last. Rameses and Punchestown led Quinopal and Thorndale into the straight. Inside the distance Quinopal took charge and won by over a length from Semper Paratus, who stalled off Giggleswick and beat her half a length. Aberfeldy, Rameses, and Thorndale were next. > Miss Mercia dropped out at the finish,' Appeal was unlucky in the Trial Stakes after he got left half a dozen lengths and then got up to finish third. Taku Tama, Invictus, Pixie Gold, and Jason’s Quest were smartest out. Invictus got sent hack early. Taku Tama, Pixie Gold, Coll, and Sleipner were the early leaders in a - close field. Taku Tama was still in charge round the top, and won comfortbaly from Solwit, but they' were both fortunate in finishing in front of Appeal. Lady Pam was struck out of the Middle Park Plate. Fair Weather started a good favourite. They jumped out in line, and Fair Weather was fastest away, with Coroner next. Coming to the straight Coroner was in charge from Lord Argosy and Fair Weather under pressure. As they turned for home Coroner and Lord Argosy came on together, and in a hard finish the English colt won by half a head. Fair Weather, who was three lengths awhy, did not shape up to expectations, but ran under a 141 b penalty, while Lord Argosy had a good pull in the weights. A gallop over half a mile between Nightmarch and True Shaft attracted a lot of attention.

Lady Pam started a solid favourite for the Midsummer Handicap. Hoylako refused to leave the post at the rise of the barrier. Jaloux had taken charge before reaching the back, and was joined by Lady Pam. There was no pace on when racing along the back stretch, and several of the field were pulling double, particularly Back Duke, who was running last. Lady Pam and Jaloux continued to show the way round the far turn, where Topero had joined the leaders, but went back again. The leadership was unchanged coming round the top, where Don Jose had dropped back last with Black Duke, Lady Pam and Jaloux led to the false

rail, and then the former came away from him and won by two lengths. Compris came with a late run and finished a neck away third. Don Jose was a fair fourth about two lengths away, and then came Glenrowan, Night Parade, and Night Effort. There was some interference when the back division came up to the false rail and made a somewhat belated effort. Black Duke suffered interference when attempting to come through on the rails, and Glenrowan also sop crowded when inside the distance. The slow pace set by Lady Pam and Jaloux suited the former, who sprinted home from the distance. The light-weights did anything but make use of the handicap, and were content to travel at the pace set by the top-weighty Solvent was made an odds-on chance in the Lyttelton Plate, and outside of Last March and Type the others were not fancied. At the rise of the barrier Type, Last March, Solvent, and Ma Belle Polly led the others to the straight. _ Last March was in charge inside the distance from Type, Solvent, and Ma Belle Polly. Solvent was then sent to the front and, comnig on, won by two lengths from Last March, who beat Ma Belle Polly a length. Type was next, well clear of Azalia and Dodge. . Assemble was the only one taken out or the Craven Plate. Charmeuse started favourite, but made a poor show in the race. Great Star and Sapient led to the far turn from Spoon, the others close up. Staghunter was handy to the leaders coming round the top, and Charmeuse and First Raid, getting a bad run, had dropped back last at the home turn. Great Star, Staghunter, and Coomassie led into the straight, with Spoon next. Spoon got to Great Star and Staghunter at the distance. A good finish home saw Spoon beat Staghunter fi head. Great Star was a short length away third, and then three lengths away came Charmeuse and Coomassie. _ , Hot Tea, Totolomai, Bon Rose,' and Shatter were the early leaders in the Halswell Handicap. Hot Tea_ led into the straight, and, stalling off Jendio, beat him half a length. Tray Bond was half a length away third, and then came Shatter, Some Acre, and Countermarch. Miss Mercie soon took charge in the Post Handicap and, getting a good break, lasted longh enough to beat Meprisaiit by one length and a-half. First Raid was half a length away, and then came Minerval and Assemble together.