MAKARAKA RACES

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19469, 30 October 1937, Page 15

MAKARAKA RACES

BIG RACE TO DE FRIEND SCURRY TO RED HUNTING GOOD ATTENDANCE "the biggest field at to-day's races at Mafcaraka faced the starter in the Maiden Scurry, the Winner in this eveht turning up in Red Hunting. ■file attendance was good and the weather propitious. diving more than 2st. in weight to Hutttette, Peter Beckford, top weight in the Flying Handicap, had his work cut out to beat the lightweight mare. I Huritette took command after a furlong, and though challenged by Peter BeCkford in the straight, finished on with great determination, the big horse only Winning, by a short nose after a tehSe struggle. Mata Hari, whb was accorded pride of place on the machine, ran Well, but could not stay with Huntette and Peter Beckford, while Golden filbnde did not look dangerous at any stage of the rac§. After the first three races on today's programme the totalisator investments showed an improvement of £440 on last year's spring meeting figures, an aggregate of £2019 10s. having been wagered to this stage. MAKARAKA HANDICAP, of £110; Second horse, £2O; third, £10; one mile. 1-43 E FRIEND, E. Fitzgerald's b.g., syrs., Defoe —Jeanette, 9.2 t-N. R. McKenzie) .. .. 1 2—LEGATEE, H. H. and N. Smith's br.h., syrs., 8.5 <W. J. Broughton) 2 HUNTER, H. K. Swan's b.c, 4yrs., 8.5 (T. Dornan) .. 3 Also started.—3 Pennycomequick, 8.3, 71b allow. (J. Kellett). The big race of the programme proved a sweet thing for De Friend, top weight and favourite, who got up in front at the start and whose only rival was Legatee. The race was contested by only four runners, Golden Blonde being withdrawn. De Friend, th 6 other half of the Fitzgerald bracket, was well supported by the bettors and most of the other money ort the race went on Legatee, though Pennycomequick was not entirely neglected. Right at the start De Friend, from the inside position, got an advantage oil the others, Pennycomequick lying j second after a few strides, and Gay Hiihter third, Legatee starting slowly and having perhaps three lengths to pifck up when he began to improve along the back stretch. Gay Hunter wis the first to show signs of strain and dropped back as Legatee came on, Pennycomequick soon being distanced likewise. De Friend was going comfortably out in front all-the time arid handling the going without difficulty. When Legatee ranged up to his flank he opened out a bit more pace, but without being bustled kept the leiding position, Legatee and the topweight having things almost entirely to themselves after the first three fdrlongs. . , ~ . . . Rounding the turn into the straight, Legatee was half a length back from D€ Friend and under the whip, came up alongside for a turn. The topweight regained his advantage, however, without having the stick laid on him and won by a good half length undistressed. Gay Hunter proved a shade better than Pennycomequick a«d finished third four lengths back. Time, lmin. 46 3-ssec. MAICEN SCURRY, of £75; second horse, £10; third, £5; 'weight Bst; ■\ for horses that have never won a race; five furlongs. I—Rfed Hunting \ "' I— Kitchenette * . 11—Syncopate 6 Also Started.-Bold Step, Whakao, Quilp, Kala Moti, Day Nurse, Defray Mendelssohn, Flying Comedy, SUnny Lass, Gold Ballad, Firelock, Emblazon. ____________