Today’s Turf News

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 689, 14 June 1929, Page 11

Today’s Turf News

NAPIER RACES ABISOGNE’S MILD SURPRISE HACK STEEPLES TO CRISHNA

(Special to THE SUN) GREEN MEADOWS. Today. For the opening day of the Napier Park Racing Club’s winter meeting Tho gding was on the soft side, but there was a fair attendance. Racing began in bright sunshine. Araby fell during the running of the Moteo Hack Hurdles and broke a leg, having to be destroyed. Results: MOTEO HACK HURDLES Of £150; 1} miles 6 ABISOGNE. 9.2 . . . . 1 7 GRAND NATIONAL, 9.S 2 S—WILMOREANA, 9.0 3 Scr.: Aurora Borealis. Won by six lengths, a neck between second and third. Time, 2.52 3-5. Kaiti was only a slightly better favourite than Fine Acre and Tresham. Kaiti, Purseproud and Grand National (in line), led for over a mile, with Asibsogno several lengths back and Fine Acre moving up from last, while Tresham was well back. Kaiti retired with over two furlongs to go and left Grand National in charge, but Abisogno finished best and won easily by six lengths, while Grand National had to be ridden out to beat Wilmoreana by a neck. Fine Acre was a poor fourth, but was impossibly placed early. Both Tresham and Kaiti should do better soon. Araby fell on the flat and appeared to break a leg.

PETANE HACK STEEPLECHASE Of £150; 2 miles S—CRISHNA. 9.2 1 9—BON RAYON. 9.0 2 I—ROYAL ELM. 9.10 3 Sev.: Woden. Won by a neck, four lengths between second and third. Time, •1.26. Most money came for Royal Elm in tho Petane Hack Steeplechase. He was the leader for a while, but when the field settled down Ponjola and Alaric took charge and led till three furlongs from home, with Crishna in behind them. Alaric hit the fence two furlongs from home very hard. I and Crishna was in charge at the next : jump, coming on to win by a length from Bonayron, who finished fast, Royal Elm was four lengths away third and Ponjola and Aurora Borealis were close up. Mandarine fell and Lieutenant Bill ran off.

MEEANEE HACK HANDICAP Of £125; 6 furlongs 6 MOURI RANG I, 9.0 .. 1 S—MANGAHAERE, 10.3 2 j 7 BOLD FRONT. 9.10 3 j All started. Won by two lengths, half a length between second and third. Time. j 4.19 2-5. Backers of the favourite, Sylvan Dell, j in tho Meaxiee Hack Handicap, got a I poor run for their money, as the Lord j Quex mare fell after going a couple j of furlongs. Barry, the rider, appeared to escape unhurt. Glyn Dhu was left badly at the start, and Mouri Rangi led into the straight from Mangaheri, with Last Mark coming Mouri Rangi -finished on best, and won by two lengths from Mangaharei, with Bold Front, finishing fast in third place. Last Mark and Night Witch were next. NAPIER STEEPLECHASE Of £250: 3 miles 1 BALLYFARNON. 10.2 1 4—BENDOWER, 9.0 2 2—FRISCO JACK, 9.12 3 All started. Won by six lengths, a length between second and third. Time, 6.39 3-5. (Later results will be found in the Stop Press as they come to hand.) PRIORY PARK SOLD BUTCHER’S HORSE TURNS OUT NEAR CHAMPION TO GO TO JAPAN British Official Wireless Reed. 11 a.m, RUGBY, Thursday. Mr. J. B. Joel has sold his seven-year-old horse Priory Parle, which will go to Japan. The career of Priory Park has been one of the romances of the turf. He was bred from mediocre stock by Mr. Howard,. a butcher of Chichester, who trained him and. entered him for the Derby. Priory Park failed in the Derby, and later was bought by Mr. Joel. For Mr. Joel he has achieved remarkable successes, winning the Bincolnshlre Handicap. Stewards’ Cup at Goodwood, City and Suburban Handicap, and the Royal Hunt Cup at Ascot. In 1927 Priory Park (by Rocksavage—Chatham II.) won two races and £3,340 in stakes, and lie won two races also last season and stakemoney to the value of £3,715 Altogether Priory Park has won about £IO,OOO.

AUCKLAND TROTS

EPSOM ACTIVITIES SOUND DISPLAYS TODAY Alexandra Park presented a busy scene this forenoon when. under excellent weather conditions and on a drying track, candidates for the Auckland fixture were given sound essays. I S 'w s serious questions, after its speeding- • up process at Otahuhu yesterday. Torpedo Muon and Warplane, however, i w ere given strong work without the straps, both pacers moving along in ; bold style. Rose Bingen (A. Julian) and Great 1 Ball in (J. Cookie) were associated in a mile and a-half bout in which both showed it good turn of speed. The . trotter made one mistake, otherwise • her effort was a pleasing one. Nothing at the trotting gait showed to better advantage than Napland, who j was given a sound two-mile work-out ( by IT. Kinnimont. The Petereta geld- ; ing never attempted to put a foot j wrong and made many friends by his resolute style. Great credit is due t A. Richardson for the tip-top condition of the trotter. Strong work, with a dash over the j final half-mile, was apportioned a lie j Abbey, and unlioppled the Gold Bell j gelding moved attractively. Old Rockaway. looking a real picture, was geared up and without being asked for his best, put up a pleasing performance. W. Nightingale has the Van Coronado gelding in excellent shape. # m Joe Gee was behind Tradesman in a two-mile essay, and the old trotter gave a finished exhibition. He was tackled by several pacers at various stages of the journey, but took them all on in faultless fashion. He has never looked better at any part of his career. Mountain Hell stepped briskly over a couple of circuits and H. Mitchell has the Blue Mountain King representative ready for the races. Anseline infused great dash into her task over a two-mile course, and there is no doubt the Nut Ansel mare has brightened up considerably since last seen in public. J. McKendrick had the warpaint on Dillon Huon, and the chestnut bowled along at a good clip. He was inJined to loaf on the journey, but inder pressure finished strongly.

Polly’s Picture, looking none the worse for her Hastings trip, was quite at home in a solid work-out over a mile and a-half. Polly will be in the picture if started on the second day of the meeting. Sam Roe, who has had many successes with Goldman, held the reins behind H. Medley’s pacer, who was sent over 12 furlongs. The son of Gold Bell showed at times an inclination to tangle, but got to the end of the journey in creditable time. Gold Jacket, shining like a new coin, was worked free-legged and put a lot of devil into his work. L. INfcMahon has the Gold Bell gelding read” to go a merry mile. Horizon was on his best behaviour for S. Roe, who drove the big pacer over a mile and a-quarter, which was accomplished in a resolute manner. On his day Horizon is one that will be troublesome in his class. PACING MARE INJURED

MEDUSA’S CAREER ENDED While working at Epsom this morning in company with Jewel Pointer (L. Lava), the promising pacing mare Medusa, driven by A. Julian, in attempting to jump a soft patch, fell heavily pn her head. receiving severe injuries. Driver Julian, who has had more than his share of spills this season, escaped with a severe shaking. THE mare was unable to move for -I some time after the spill, and although eventually lifted to her feet by many willing hands, had no con-

trol of lier legs. A veterinary surgeon j was sent for, but when “Abaydos” I left the scene he had not arrived. Experts present, however, were of the opinion that the mare’s spine was badly injured, and there would be a doubt of her being saved even for breeding purposes. Medusa was a valuable mare by Man o’ War from Miss Rolfe, and although only a four-year-old had ' shown high-class ability on the racing track. Only started twice last season. Medusa won the second time out, and early this year opened her j account with a double at Whangarei. This was followed up by a fine effort at Claudelands, where from a 4.44 j two-mile mark the Man o’ War mare won after a great set-to with ExploI sion, in 4.36 4-5. , At the Otahuhu summer fixture, ! Medusa ran second in a tw<.-mile race i to field Dial, registering 4.3. 3-5. and later at Hamilton finished third to Tony Victor and Oold Dial in the mile dash, registering 2.14 1-5. Medusa was formerly owned by Mr. R. T. Reid, of Hamilton, who when appointed stipendiary steward, sold the mare to Messrs. Montgomery and Julian. After her last public appearance a Southern enthusiast was negotiating for the daughter of Man o’ War, but four figures failed to secure her.—“Abaydos.”