MENDIP IS FIRST HOME AT LAST

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 637, 13 April 1929, Page 10

MENDIP IS FIRST HOME AT LAST

MASTERTON CUP WIN / I 3 i BONOGNE’S SPRINT (Special to THE SUN) MASTERTON, Friday. | For hours prior to the opening of < the Masterton autumn meeting to-day 1 rain fell, so the course was heavy. Further rain fell occasionally during the day and the track was cut up toward th© finis'll. The attendance was good and the totalisator showed a £2,000 increase, registering £13,170. High-Weight Handicap Betters wanted nothing but Elicit in the High-Weight Handicap, and he certainly looked the part, being a picture of fitness. Novar and Starboard Light were both moderately supported. When the field settled down Starboard Light, pulling like a train, had gone to the front. He led all along the back straight from Lady Gay and Elicit, and with half a mile to go was going so well it was evident the others were going to have their work cut out to catch him. Starboard Light did not stop once he entered the straight, but went away and beat Elicit home by six lengths, while Lady Gay, who was third, was another six lengths away. Mountain Crag was next, with Novar following. The race beggars description, as Starboard Light made an exhibition of the field. Novice Stakes Another favourite failed when Glare went under in the Novice Stakes. Glendhu, who was almost the outsider of the field, led all the way from Tane and eventually won by over a length. Tane was about a length clear of Glare, with Golden Flower right up fourth and Gambler fifth. Glare could not go in the early part 4» of the race, but finished over everything. Juvenile Handicap Hunting Call went reasonably close to bringing off a big surprise in the Juvenile Handicap. Oral, who was favourite, led at the start, but Hunting Call rushed to the front and led into the straight and to the distance, where he was in trouble, and Oral, more seasoned, outstayed him and won by three-quarters of a length, while Ex Dono was two and a-half lengths away third, and Retract, Push and Ben Hur next. There were only 40 tickets on Hunting Call, who is by Hunting Song out of Sanguinary, and is a nice mover. Oral began from a wide position at the barrier, and won well. Lawn Handicap Even wagering characterised the totalisator operations on the Lawn Handicap. Billion and Red Fuchsia were the favourites, a little better backed than Royal Black and Aurora Borealis. Skyrider went to the front as soon as the field was released and led all the way, but at the finish had to be ridden right out to beat Royal Black, who ran a great race and is better now than ever. Aurora Borealis was a moderate third and Billion fourth. Red Fuchsia and Mothplane ran badly, Masterton Cup One of the best races ever seen on the course was the Masterton Cup. Atholspear and Ti Tree were the only withdrawals, leaving 11 to go to the post. Of these Mendip, £469, was favourite, with The Swell, £357, and Stanchion, £244, be'st fancied of the remainder. Tcheka and The Swell were the first to show out in the rusli for positions, but along the back Joy Bird had command and she piloted Mendip (who had moved up first), Tcheka, Stanchion, Teri and The Swell to far turn. Joy Bird still had charge as the field swung into the straight, and Mendip and Tcheka were handy, with Stanchion next and Tresham running round the field. Mendip gradually forged to the front and went slightly away from the others to win by a little over a length from the big outsider, Spearmiss, with Tcheka only a neck away third. Rameses was almost in line fourth, and Locarno and Black Mint next.

Mendip won on his merits, but Tcheka was a shade unfortunate in the running and Black Mint finished well

I from the back. Tresham covered j more ground than anything else in the [ race. Flying Handicap Bonogne and Quantum were in big request for the Flying Handicap, while neither Borsalene nor Kilmezzo was neglected. Kilmezzo and Veronese were prominent early in the race, while Quantum and Borsalene were handy. Bonogne was pne of the last to get into his stride, but once under way he ran past the opposition and was very handy to the leaders as they turned | into the straight. Coming out wide : on the good going Bonogne soon took j charge and had the race in hand, but j Quantum also finished well and at the post Bonogne had pnly a short neck j to spare from the Trentham-trained ; gelding. Veronese was a fair third, a length and a-half away, and evidently f is returning to form. Kilmezzo broke down and finished fourth. Behind those mentioned were Last Crust, Ladykiller and Borsalene. The winner paid a short price, but it was good money. The race was run in a heavy rainstorm. Grandstand Handicap Big money came for Full Mark in the Grandstand Handicap, and there was no shortage of suport for Ladyspear and Australis. Australis led to the straight from Shortly, with First Ruler handy and Lady spear drifting back from a handy position. First Ruler asserted hinvelf in the straight and won by about a length from Bissac, who had to do his best to keep Footpad off. Full Mark, who was fourth, was travelling very fast at the : finish and was unlucky to be beaten. < Australis was fifth. [ Lansdowne Handicap The Lansdowne Handicap was a good betting race, Roi de Val, Brown Sugar. Moutoa Wonder, Waterspear, Arrow Boy and Monetize all having followings. Silver Tray and St. Melba carried the field along to the straight, where Brown Sugar soon became prominent and looked like winning till 'Roi de Val appeared with a late run and beat her by a head. Arrow Boy camo from last at the home turn and finishing wide out was third. two 11 lengths away. Silver Tray, Moutoa Wonder and Monetize were next. Brown Sugar ran, very solidly, but Roi de Val got the last run. Moutoa Wonder floundered somewhat early in the race and Arrow Boy -was unlucky not to have been closer at the finish. Later results are:— Juvenile Handicap, of £130; 5 furlongs and 110 yards.—l Oral, 5.4 (B. H. 1; 9 Hunting Call, 7.3 (T. Metcalf), 2, o Ex Dono, 9.2 (R. J. Mackie), 3. Also: 5 Royal Flier, 8.10; 2 Retract, 8.0; 7 Tobaccoland, 7.13; 6 Push, 7.13: 4. Ben Hur, 7.8; 13 Half Acre, 7.5; 10 Great Lady, 7.8; 11 Castle Island, 7.5; 12 Mahora, 7.2; 8 San Quex, 7.0. Won by three-quarters of a length, with the third horse two and a-half lengths away. Time, 1.8 1-5. Lawn Handicap, of £130; 1 mile. —6 Skyrider, 7.0 (K. Voitre), 1; 3 Royal Black, 8.9 (K. Robinson), 2; 4 Aurora Borealis, 713 (T. Webster), 3. Also: 2 Red Fuchsia, 8.8; 1 Billion, 8.6; 5 Mothplane, 7.13. Won by a head, with three lengths between second and third. Time, 1.43. . MASTERTON CUP Of £250; 14 miles I—MENDIP, 8.2 (A. E. Ellis) 1 [ 11 —SPEARM1SS, 7.0 (E. Burgess) . . 2 [ S —TCHECKA, 7.6 (L. Daly) 3 Also: 9 Tresham, 8.10; 2 The Swell. 8.5; 10 Teri, 8.2; 6 Black Mint, 8.0; 3 Stanchion, 7.11; 7 Joy Boy, 7.11; 8 Locarno, 7.9; 4 Rameses, 7.2. Won by one and ahalf lengths, with a head separating second and third. Time, 2.9 4-5. , FLYING HANDICAP Of £150; 6 furlongs 1 BONOGNE, 8.1 (T. Metcalf) .. .. 1 2 2—QUANTUM, 8.2 (A. Fratus) .... 2 J S—VERONESE, 7.13 <E. Dunn) .... 3 a Also: 6 Tiega, 8.3: 3 Kilmezzo, 7.10; 4 i Borsalene, 7.11; 8 Raukura, 7.0; 9 Last Crust, 7.0; 7 Lady Killer, 7.3. Won by . a neck, a length and a-half separating j second and third, Grandstand Handicap, of £130: 7 fur--1 longs.—6 First Ruler, 8.2 (C. Broughe ton), 1; 4 Bissac, 8.3 tR. J. Mackie), 2; 7 Footpad. 8.2 (B. H. Morris), 3. Also: 1 Full Mark, 8.12; 2 Lady Spear, 8.7; 3 _ Australis, 8.2; 8 Shortly, 8.0; 5 Royal Opera, 8.0: 9 Battle Torque, 8.0. Won t by a length, a neck separating second and third. Time, 1.31 1-5.

Landsdowne Handicap, of £120; 6 furlongs.—l Roi de Val, 8.8 (B. H. Morris), 1: 2 Brown Sugar, 9.0 (H. Young), 2: 6 Arrow Boy, 8.0 (J. Ward), 3. Also: 4 Waterspear, 8.11; 8 Imitation, 8.9; 3 Moutoa Wonder, 8.5; 7 St. Melba, 7.12; 9 Silver Tray. 7.10; 4 Monetize, 7.8. Won by a head, with two lengths between second and third. Time, 1.16 4-5.