NOTES ON THE RACING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21409, 10 August 1931, Page 11

NOTES ON THE RACING

(From Oub Special Reporter.) CHRISTCHURCH, August 8. The Metropolitan Trotting Club’s meeting was opened in fine but very cold weather. The track was firm and fairly fast. The attendance was on the small side during the early part of the day, but it improved considerably. The totalisator returns were much better than was generally anticipated. In the principal event nothing seemed anxious to make the pace, and it looked the poorest race ever seen on the course for the big money; The coupled pair, Great Way and Stand By, started a good favourite for the introductory handicap. Nelson Ata and Stanley T. broke at the start, and Repute was joined by Genilight half a mile from home and the latter won well by five lengths. Repute stopped and Boneta beat her for second money. Nelson Boy, Lady Fan, Great Way, and Fifa were fairly close up Stand By broke when handy to the leaders after going about six furlongs. Boneta and Fifa broke early in the race. ■ Location and Goldworthy broke at the start of the Advance Handicap. Herod went to the front six furlongs from home and turned into the straight just in front of Priceless and Bracken. A good finish saw priceless beat Bracken by g neck, with Herod a head away. Aristotle was a bad - fourth. The only ones backed in the August Handicap were Regal Voyage, Neeoro, and Dundas Boy. From a spectacular point of view the race proved disappointing by the field running in single file for the best part of the journey. Erin’s Fortune dwelt at the start, and Pluto, Neeoro, Regal Voyage, Glenrossie* Dundas Boy, and Mountain Dell was the order for the first mile and a-half, with Logan Chief next. Neeoro and Regal Voyage went up to Pluto three furlongs from home. Regal Voyage came on and won by a length and a-half from Glenrossie. who .beat - Neeoro by three lengths. Dundas Boy, Pluto, Mountain Dell, and Logan Chief were next.

Black Lion started a good favourite for the Trial Handicap, but never got really dangerous. The coupled pair, Brentlight and Somerby, were nest in demand. Somerby, Tactless, and Ayrmont Chimes were the pacemakers in front of Holly Bank and John Jinks. Netta Oro was fairly handy half a mile from home and going well. John Jinks led into the straight, but Ayrmont Chimes wore him down and won by two lengths. Netta Oro, who suffered interference when Holly Bank broke half a furlong from home, finished third, five lengths away, and Brentlight, Our George, Holly Bank, Black Lion, and Tactless were next. Festival broke up at the start. Netta Oro would have been a lot closer with a better run.

Sir Voyage, with Quickfire and All Peters, were the early pacemakers in the Stewards’ Handicap, and with six furlongs to go Stanley T» got handy. Half a mile from home Stanley T. went to the front an,d Sir Voyage skipped. Stanley T. led into the straight and won all out by half a length from Quickfire, who beat Sir Voyage by a length. The placed lot had the finish all to themselves. Stanley T.. who does his work without toe weights or boots of any kind, went his last half in Imin 7 3-ssec. In contrast to his first race, Stanley T. began well and never made the semblance of a mistake. Meteor was backed as a good bet for the Queen Mary Handicap, and should have won. He was well placed early, but lost his position, and in the last half mile had- to cover a lot of ground on (the outside. Major Lind was early in charge, and then Nelso De Oro helped the speed in a close-running field. Satin King showed a lot of pace by running up to the leaders, and was in charge coming to the home turn. Here Warplane came round the field, with Meteor, half a furlong from home. Meteor looked like the winner, but he faded, and Warplane, finishing strongly, beat him by over a length, with Dillon Logan half a length away. Peter Pirate was) close up fourth, with Satin King, St. George, and Major Lind in a bunch. Tarndale was near the leaders all the way, but was wide out. Satin King went a good race, and may do better at the meeting, and so should Meteor and St. George. Satin King went better than 4min 23sec from post to post. The leaders ran the last half in Imin sscc.

Sunchild dwelt and Sunfish stopped at the start of the Selwyn Handicap. Roicolo, Colonial Boy, Wild Voyage, Acre. Vecto, and Sodium was the order passing the stand The same bunch was disputing leadership down the back, with Colonial Boy heading a bunched field. Roicole led to the straight, but, in the run home. Sodium got up and won by a head from Steel All, who came very fast on the outside and beat Harvest Child by half a length for second place; , Roicole was close up, followed by a pack of horses. Sunchild was boxed on the rails, without the chance of an opening. Delightful was a good favourite for the International Handicap. Final M’Kinney and Royal Comrade dwelt at the start. Avonwood, Dilnon, Pageant. Great Logan, Rollo, Loch Moigh. and Tom Thumb was the order starting the fana quarter. The leadership was unchanged down the back, where Loch Moigh broke Once in the straight Great Logan came on.and-won by a short length from Tom Thumb. Rollo was two lengths *away, and then came Pageant, Delightful, and Avonwood. Delightful was slow at the start, and Pageant and Rollo got badly placed on the rails over the final quarter.