Wellington Has a Record Meeting

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 492, 23 October 1928, Page 10

Wellington Has a Record Meeting

RAPIER WINS HARCOURT CUP GOSHAWKS CONSISTENCY (Special to THE SUN) WELLINGTON, Monday. The Wellington spring races were concluded in beautiful weather to-day. There was a great attendance and a big increase in the totalisator turnover. The course was in excellent condition again, and the racing was first-class. The totalisator handled £ 118,636 for the two days, against £105,271 last year, an increase of £13,365. Surprises were frequent, and one result which caught the public napping was Rapier’s win in the Harcourt Cup, the Christchurch horse paying a double figure dividend. Goshawk won the Pearce Handicap in good style from an outsider in Teri, and in a wonderful finish Arrow Lad just defeated Reremoana and Lysander in the open sprint. Second Hurdles Polyphemus was the elect of bettors in the Second Hurdle Handicap, but Vexatious and Carinthia were almost as well backed. Disaster commenced early Ballyfarnon and Ripdale falling at the first hurdle, Ballyfarnon very heavily. Beaumont and Askari were the leaders along the back, with Carinthia, Vexatious and Pantler next, and Polyphemus moving up. The favourites had every chance nearing home, but Beaumont went right away and won easily by three lengths lr Askari, with Vexatious another two lengths away, and Carinthia, Polyphemus, Lady Gay and Sir Moment following. Trial Stakes Weight of big money sent Black Jet out favourite for the Trial Stakes, in which Last mark and Kaha also were well backed. Sir Spear jumped to the front at the start and led along the back from Zippor, Roi de Val, Stanchion and Pari, while Chief Singer got away badly. There was little change in thfe order to the straight, but soon after turning for home Sir Spear gave way to Zippor, who had no difficulty in keeping off by a length Stanchion, 'who finished fairly well \mder' pressure, but had little to spare from Rabbi, who was only a head away third. Last Mark finished well in fourth place, and after him came Roi do Val, Sir Spear, Jet Black and Kaha. Tararua Handicap Mondip carried very heavy backing in the Tararua Handicap, and Historic, Tanugra and King’s Jest were among the others well backed. Mend ip was first out. but Rory Mor soon got to the front and led along the back from Mendip, Royal Lineage, Moorgas, Shining Armour. Tanugra and Historic. Rory Mor and Historic held command at the straight entrance, where Moorgas showed jap prominently. Then Historic came on the scene and with a final run got up to win by a head from Mendip, who was a neck in front of Rory Mor. while Moorgas was a very close fourth, and Spearmiss, Courageous, Shining Star and Tanagra followed at short intervals. Roseneath Handicap Francolin and Admiral Drake were solidly backed in the Roseneath Handicap, for which a field of 16 went to the post. Her Serang was badly left at the start, and Clever did not get away well, while Admiral Drake and Francolin were not among the first to gain positions. Pass Book shot to the front and led on to the course proper, where nothing was going better than Equitant, who was coming through the field splendidly. Then Admiral Drake got through on the rails and added excitement to the finish, but Pass Book stuck on to win by a length from Equitant, with Admiral Drake only half a length away. Duellona was fourth and Francolin, Emotion, Crash and Royal Line next. Pearce Handicap Backers of Goshawk were never really uneasy in the Handicap. He was favourite and was nicely placed, going well the whole way. Pangolin and Teri made the early ! running. with Goshawk in behind them, and Blimp and Staghunter next, j Tori took charge crossing the top, 1 with Pangolin. Benzora and Goshawk j handy, and Mask well back. Teri was first to turn for home, but Gos- I hawk came at him strongly and beat hint to the post by three-quarters of a length, Benzora a similar distance a y third. Mandune was fourth, and Kilperon, Mask, Shining Armour. Vigi- - R ce » Solrose, Pangolin and Panther following. , goshawk's was a nice performance, out Teri surprised and paid a big price for second. Solrose had every

chance and was not good enough. Mask had to come front too far back. Harcourt Cup Star Stranger touched a short price in the Harcourt Cup, in which the slow early running was made by Beacon Light and Rapier, followed by Star Stranger and Laflglting Prince. Black Mint was rushed to the front along the back and led to the straight from Rapier, Laughing Prince and Star Stranger. Laughing Prince and Rapier had a great battle for first, Rapier winning by a neck, with Star Stranger fourth. The result was a bad one for bettors. Rapier being at a long price, but there was no fluke about his victory. He battled out every inch of the finish with Laughing Price, and eventually won by superior determination. Commendation ran a very poor race, and Beacon Light went to pieces in the straight and finished at the tail of the field. Star Stranger had every chance and was fairly beaten. Laughing Prince ran right up to expectations. Nainai Handicap In the Nainai Handicap Clielone, was a good favourite. Helotis led on to the course proper, followed by Joy King and Lysander, but in the last two furlongs a great race ensued, in which Arrow Lad got home by a head from Reremoana, who beat Lysander by half a head, with Booster fourth. Both winner and runner-up were at fair prices on the machine owing to the strong following claimed by Chelone. Reremoana finished in great style and «. stride past the post was in front. Lysander -an his best race for some time, and Booster went fairly well. The early leaders, Chelone and Helotis, failed to stay. Ruahine Handicap The end of the meeting came with the Ruahine Handicap, upon which there was* a good pool, with anything paying a fair price. Veronese led the field on to the course proper, and just behind him were Arrow Boy and Callanmore, with Tcheka handy. Callanmore finished far too well for Veronese, who was under pressure at the distance, and won by a length, while in the last stride Tcheka got up in time to dead-heat with Veronese for second. Arrow Boy was fourth, with Bourse, Desert Lad and Freezeout next. Following are the results: Second Hurdle Handicap, of £300; 1J miles.—s Beaumont, 9.5 (A. G. Campbell), 1; 4 Askari, 9.5 (C. Robinson), 2; 2 Vexatious (J. Blanche), 3. Also: 10 Gamecock, 10.9: 7 Ballyfarnon, 10.7; 1 Polyphemus, 10.2; 9 Sir Moment, 9.5; 3 Carinthia, 9.5; 6 Lady Gay, 9.6; 11 Ripdale, 9.0; S Pantler, 9.0. Won by four lengths, with two lengths between. second and third. Time, 2.46. Ballyfarnon and Ripdale fell. Spring Trial Stakes, of £260; 7 fur.—4 Zippor, 5.4 (B. H. Morris), 1; 7 Stanchion, 7.11 (C. Broughton), 2; 9 Rabbi, 8.0 (A. Fratus), 3. Also: 14 Abbotsford, 8.4; 10 Catuna r 5.4; 12 Battle Torque, 5.2; 13 Fair One, 5.2; 11 Pari, S.O; 5 Sir Spear, 8.0; 1 Jet Black, 7.11; 3 Kaha, 7.11; 2 Last Mark, 7.11; 6 Roi de Val, 7.11; S Chief Singer, 7.9; 15 Grey witch, 7.9. Won by a length and a-quarter, with half a length between second and third. Time, 1.292. Tararua Handicap, of £260; 1 mile.—2 Historic, 5.9 (B. If. Morris), lfl Mendip, 9.0 (T. Metcalf), 2; 13 Rory Mor, 7.0 (A. Fratus), 3. Also: 5 Royal Lineage, 8.6; o Tanagra. 8.5; S Rotowhero. S.l; 10 Moorgas, 7.13; 11 Shining Star, 7.11; 6 Billion, 7.10; 12 Spearmiss, 7.10; 9 Imarosebud, 7.5; 7 Courageous, 7.4; 4 King’s Jest, 7.0; 14 Volplane, 7.0. Won by a head, a neck separating second and third. Time, 1.415. Roseneath Handicap, of £400; for 2-year-olds; 5 fur.—s Pass Book, 7.7 (T. Webster), 1; 6 Equitant, 7.5 (R. G. Stratton), 2; 2 Admiral Drake, 5.9 (R. J. Mackie), 3. Also: 1 Francolin, 5.7; 4 Head Serang, 5.5; 7 Royal Line, 7.12; 14 General Assembly, 7.12;'8 Crash, 7.12, and Push, 7.8 (bracketed); 11 Emotion, 7.8; 10 In- • surgent, 7.5; 13 Tobaccoland, 7.7; 15 Lady Rene, 7.7; 3 Clever, 7.4; 12 Duellona, 7.3; 9 Cossack Chief, 7.3; 16 Courtlike, 7.3. | Won by two lengths, with a neck between second and third. Time, 1.15. Pearce Handicap, of £500; 1 mile.—l i Goshawk, 8.6 (J. Barry), 1; 13 Teri, 7.0 ; (J. Gunn), 2; 3 Benzora, 5.2 (R. Reed), 3. Also: 7 Mandane, 8.7; 15 Kilperon, 7.0; 2 Mask, 9.0; Shining Armour, 7.2; 5 Staghunter, 7.4; S Royal Game, 7.12; 6 Blimp, 7.3; 10 Panther, 7.3; 9 Vigilance, 7.0; 11 Talisker, 7.0; 4 Solrose, 7.0; 12 Pangolin, 7.0. Won by three-quarters of a length, with a similar distance between second and third. Time, 1.401. Harcourt Cup, of £1,000; weight-for-age; II miles.—s Rapier, 9.4 (J. Campbell), 1; 2 Laughing Prince, 9.0 <L. G. Morris), 2; 1 Star Stranger, 9.4 (R. Reed), 3. Also: 3 Commendation, 9.4; 6 Black Mint, 9.4. 4 Beacon Light, 9.4. Won by a long neck, with two lengths between second and third. Time, 2.9 3-5. Nainai Handicap, of £400; 6 fur.—4 Arrow Lad, 8.4 (A. Fratus), 1; 5 Reremoana, 9.10 (R. S. Eagby), 2; 5 Lysander, 7.9 (T. Green), 3. Also: 3 Booster, 5.4; 11 Keddar, 7.1; 7 ITelotis, 7.7; 13 Kilbronsyth, 7.0: 9 Joy King. 5.12; 2 The Hawk, S.S; S Partaga, 8.4: 12 Dobbin, 7.7; 1 Chelone, 7.5; 10 Royal Duke, 7.0. Won by a head, with a long head between second and third. Time, 1.135. Ruahine Handicap, of £260; 6 fur.—2 Callanmore, S.lO <T. Green), 1; 1 Veronese, 5.3 (B. H. Morris), and 7 Tcheka, 7.7, dead-heat for second place. Also: 11 Desert Lad, 9.0; 5 Millais, 5.7; 6 Lucky Light, S.l; 3 Arrow Boy, S.O; 8 Freeze Out. 7.10; 9 Mark Mint, 7.9; 10 Dermod, 7.5; 4 The Dove, 7.2; 12 Bourne, 7.0; 12 Vaucluse, 7.0. Won by a length and a-quarter. Arrow Boy was fourth. Time, 1.14*.