SPORTING,

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18630, 28 July 1930, Page 11

SPORTING,

SOUTH CANTERBURY HUNT MEETING. RADIAC AND NGAHUE CHIEF WINNERS. Conditions could hardly have been improved upon on Saturday for the annual race meeting of the South Canterbury Hunt Club. The course was in fine order for a jumping meeting, and the weather was of a favourable character. A nor’-wester was in evidence for an hour or two during the afternoon, but the day was bright and fine, and there was a large attendance of the public. Many of those present had responded to invitations issued by the Club to farmers and their families, in recognition of permission I given to the Hunt to cross farms during the hunting season. The card was featured by jumping events—three steeplechases and a hurdle race—and provided some excellent sport. The South Canterbury Steeplechase was won by the Dunedin gelding Radiac. who was prepared for the race at Wash dyke by his owner, and gave a nice exhibition under a weight much lighter than he was receiving a couple of months ago. The Teschemaker Hunt Cup Steeplechase was marked by a striking performance by the Southland gelding Ngahue, who fenced brilliantly and outclassed his opponents. The popular Pareora Steeplechase went to Tractarian, whose two most formidable opponents came to grief two fences from home. Town Major added to his successes by a convincing win in the Claremont Handicap, and must rank as about the most improved galloper of recent months. Sweet Refrain was the most impressive performer in the hack class, and now looks as if she will fulfil the promise she gave when trained at Washdyke earlier in her career. The hurdle race produced an exciting finish, in which Exide was unlucky, and there was a stirring contest between the place-getters in the saddle trot. The totalisator turnover for the ' day was £10,643, against £9687 for last ! year’s meeting. There were no inquiries or protests, and the organisa- ! tion of the fixture worked smoothly and efficiently throughout. A radio gramophone supplied music, and at intervals gave portions of the description of the play in the Rugby Test match, which was followed with very great interest. The Club is unlikely to receive any great financial assistance from the meeting, but it had the satisfaction of giving members and the public a day’s good sport. At the conclusion of the Teschemaker Steeplechase the cups for the Pareora Steeplechase and the Teschemaker Memorial Steeplechase, were presented by the wife of the Master of the Hunt (Mr C. L. Orbell). The Master complimented Mr J. A. Gow, owner of Tractarian, winner of the Pareora Steeplechase, stating that the exhibition given by the winning horse and rider was a very fine one. Mr Gow accepted the Orbell Cup amidst cheers, and said that he hoped to be able to perform as well at next meeting. Mr G. C. Bain received the Teschemaker Memorial Cup from Mrs Orbell, on behalf of the owner of Ngahue (Mr J. Morton). The Master said that the Cup had been presented by one of the finest sportsmen South Canterbury had ever known, and the standard of jumping set by Ngahue made it one of the best performances he had ever seen. The riding of A. E. Ellis also was good to witness. Cheers were given for the winner and for the rider, the ceremony concluding with hearty cheers for the Master and his wife. The Racing. Membo 753, Hard Prince 420, and Exide 313 were in most demand in the Hadlow Hurdles, on which there was a satisfactory pool. Membo led to the first hurdle from Fairness and Hard Prince, but at the second obstacle Hard Prince jumped into the lead from Membo, Gay Fashion and Fairness. Membo and Gay Fashion took charge turning into the back, and they soon opened up a gap from Hard Prince. At the far turn the order was Gay Fashion, Membo, Exide, the last-named being about five lengths behind the other pair. Gay Fashion led to the home turn from Exide and Membo, and at the last hurdle the three were close together. Exide looked a safe winner with a furlong to go, and was still in front two strides from the post, but Gay Fashion came again and snatched victory on the wire by a neck. Membo battled on gamely after being apparently beaten at the top, and was only threequarters of a length away. Gold Mint was about ten lengths back, with Hard Prince, who stopped badly before a mile was covered, next. Gay Fashion was steered by G. Robb, an apprentice in E. J. Ellis’s stable, who was having his second ride in public. Exide appeared to be a trifle unlucky~to lose.

Barrington 495, Marco Polo 440, and Tractarian 431 disputed favouritism in the Pareora Steeplechase, which drew a field of a dozen. Barrington took charge from West Dome and Tractarian, and at the first fence, when Indicator refused, the order was Barrington, West Dome, Tractarian, Te Haunui, Deportment, Marco Polo in a bunch. At the brush at the top of the straight, West Dome was leading from Tractarian, Te Haunui, Deportment, Marco Polo, and Barrington. Tractarian and Deportment led over the stand double, where Marco Polo screwed badly, Te Haunui had two lives, and Peterline fell. Bladon had refused at the previous obstacle, and when the back was reached the field was reduced to Deportment, Tractarian, Barrington, West Dome, Te Haunui, Marco Polo and Willow Glen. Tim Balboa was being pulled up. Deportment and Tractarian contested the lead along the back, with Barrington handy. There was a prospect of a good race at the top, but Deportment fell at the second last fence, and Barrington, who had rapped the fence, tripped over his jockey and unshipped his rider. This left Tractarian to run to the last jump with a good lead from West Dome, and the Wingatui gelding won easily by a dozen leiigths from the Southlander. Willow Glen was about 20 lengths away, followed by Marco Polo and Te Haunui. Tractarian is trained by G. Fielding.

Rangatahi, who had developed a splint, dropped out of the South Canterbury Steeplechase, leaving a field of five which included two Grand National candidates in Radiate and Valves. Valves 685 and Radiate 544, carried most of the money. Diamond Jack, Valves, Radiate and French Fleet were in the air together at the first fence, and at the stand double French Fleet and Diamond Jack were just ahead of Valves and Radiac. Running up the back the leaders were French Fleet and Diamond Jack, but at the top Radiac took charge and livened up the pace from French Fleet, Diamond Jack and Radiate. At the double the second time Radiac was carrying on from French Fleet, Radiate, Diamond Jack and Valves, and they ran round the lower bend in that order with not much between them. The order was the same at the six furlongs, where Radiate hit a fence and dropped back to last. Radiac rounded the far turn clear of French Fleet and Diamond Jack, and increased his advantage at the top. He ran to the last fence with jthe race in hand with a stand-up, and

came on to win easily by three lengths from French Fleet, who beat Diamond Jack by half a dozen lengths. Valves was five lengths further back. Radiac jumped well throughout, and under his light impost won decisively. Radiate and Valves ran disappointingly. Valves was said to have ricked himself in the race, and Radiate knocked his doubtful knee, but even prior to that was not shaping like a winner. The Riccarton ’chaser will probably require a spell. The rush for H. Gray sent Night Effort out favourite for the Levels Hack, but the betting was close, the top figures being Night Effort 600, Sweet Refrain 550, Fair Money 349. Sweet Refrain was first to show from Rapina and Valuator, but Homecoming and Memories soon rushed to the front, Rapina being sent to the rear division. Homecoming and Memories had a good break on Valuator, Sweet Refrain and Rosewood at the top, but at the home turn Sweet Refrain shot up between the two leaders and soon established a lead of a couple of lengths. The Thurnham mare was not troubled thereafter, and won by three lengths from Royal Limond, who took second berth a furlong from home and lasted long enough to stall off a challenge from Rapina by half a length. Homecoming was fourth, two lengths further back. Night Effort was always at the tail of the field, but Rapina was unlucky. Prince Chimes and Sonoma Star were the only withdrawals from the Washdyke Trot, the last light harness event of the trotting season. Derry Pointer was made a pronounced favourite, carrying almost twice as much money as the second choice Cranleigh. Cranleigh was quickest to move of the limit division from Mary Locanda, Tiny Bingen and Happy Lass. At the stand the leaders were Cranleigh, Real Girl, Mary Locanda, Happy Lass and Dan Logan, Tiny Bingen having broken and lost her place. Real Girl, Cranleigh, Happy Lass, Mary Locanda, Norwester and Otaio Rose were bunched at the six furlongs, but at the top Real Girl had dropped back, leaving Cranleigh, Happy Lass, Dan Logan, Red Shiner and Otaio Rose at the head of affairs. Cranleigh led into the straight from Happy Lass, with Derry Pointer threading her way through, and Danny Boy moving up from the rear. Derry Pointer looked to have caught Cranleigh half way down the straight, where Danny Boy also joined in. A great struggle between the three resulted in favour of Cranleigh by a head from Danny Boy, who came home on the rails and defeated Derry Pointer by a neck. Otaio Rose, Red Shiner and Happy Lass were together, several lengths further back. The backmarker, John Noble, would have had to establish a saddle record to win. There were only five starters for the Teschemaker Cup, two of the eight acceptors having raced earlier in the day, and Ngahue 892 and Wairio 576 carried nearly all the money. Ngahue ran to the front at the first jump, and showed the way over the stand double to Faloose, Kulrange and Wairio. Going along the back Ngahue was three lengths ahead of Faloose, who was twice that distance ahead of Wairio. Kulrange was losing ground at the fences. There was no change until the brush at the top of the straight was reached, when Faloose fell, leaving Ngahue to lead over the double the second time by twenty lengths from Wairio, who was ten lengths in front of Scion. Ngahue lost a little ground at the jump near the seven furlongs, but soon regained his advantage, and at the top he was going strongly a dozen lengths ahead of Wairio, who was tiring but was still a good way ahead of Scion. Ngahue cleared the final brush with a lot to spare from Scion, who had overtaken Wairio, and won by nearly fifty yards from the New Zealand and Auckland Cup winner. Wairio was half a dozen lengths further back, with Kulrange some distance away. A. E. Ellis rode Ngahue, who showed marked improvement on his Waimate form. He hails from Riverton, and is the most promising recruit from the hunting field this season.

The Waimate winner Commenter was made an odds-on chance in the Hunters’ Plate, carrying almost half the pool. This is the longest flat event decided at Washdyke during the season. Star Stranger 11. and Blue Ray were quickest to move, and Blue Ray led past the stand from Star Stranger 11., West Dome, Commenter and Gold Mint. Star Stranger 11. took charge again at the seven furlongs from Commenter, West Dome, Blue Ray and Gold Mint. Star Stranger 11. and Commenter were together at the far turn, two lengths ahead of -Gold Mint and West Dome, but Star Stranger 11. was beaten a bit further on, and at the top Gold Mint and Commenter were clear of West Dome, with Fresh Breeze moving up. Gold Mint, Commenter, West Dome and Fresh Breeze were all in the picture in the straight, and a great finish between Fresh Breeze and West Dome resulted in a verdict for Fresh Breeze by a neck. Commenter was three or four lengths away, two lengths in advance of All Comment, who just beat Gold Mint. Fresh Breeze had not had much racing lately, but many of F. Claridge’s horses run best when looking lusty. He was, however, lucky to beat West Dome, whose saddled slipped back in the straight and greatly hampered A. E. Ellis at the finish. There was a fine field of eleven in the Claremont Handicap, but Town Major, with Gray up, was made an odds-on chance, with Taboo a good deal better backed than any of the others. The three stable mates —Beau Geste, Royal Mint and Haze—showed out after the start, and at the end of two furlongs Haze and Beau Geste were just in front of Taboo, First Raid and Town Major. At the top Haze, Royal Mint and Town Major were piloting Taboo, First Raid and a bunch. Town Major was taken to the front at the entrance to the straight, where Oriflamb was in second place, and won comfortably by two lengths from Sweet Refrain, who put in an appearance in the straight and beat Taboo for second money by a neck. Evening was two lengths away, then came First Raid, Oriflamb and Topere. This win regained Gray his lead of four points over A. E. Ellis, and his grip on the riders’ premiership should now be secure. Town Major has won four races in his last five starts, and was second on the other occasion. Results were as follows:

HADLOW HACK HURDLES, Of 110 sovs; 1* miles. 4—Con. White’s b m Gay Fashion (Gay Lad-Lady Talbot), 4yrs, 9.0 (G. Robb) 1 3—G. Feilding’s b g Exide, aged, 9.3 (W. Cooper) 2 I—D. E. Jones’s br g Membo, syrs, 9.12 (A. S. Ellis) 3 Also ran—2 Hard Prince 9.10 (D. O’Connor), 5 Gold Mint 9. (L. Evans), 6 Fairness 9.2 (G. Dempster). Won by a neck, threequarters of a length between second and third. Gold Mint was fourth. Time—2min 51sec.

PAREORA HUNTERS’ STEEPLECHASE, of 120 sovs: 2 miles. 3—J. A. Gow’s br g Tractarian (Tractor-Dusky), 6yrs, 10.3 (W. Cooper) 1 5—J. A. Pear’s b g West Dome, syrs, 9.11 (F. Langford) 2 7—T. V. Cooney’s blk g Willow Glen, syrs, 9.11 (T. Silva) 3 Also ran—l Barrington 11.3 (A. E. Ellis) lost rider, 4 Deportment 10.5 (J. Kerr) fell, 2 Marco Polo 10.0 (I. Til‘son), 6 Bladon car. 9.12 i (W. Scobie)

ran off, 8 Te Haunui car. 9.1 li (M. Bailey) and Indicator 9.9 (H. Anderton) ran off (coupled), 9 Peterline car. 9.11 (J. Callaghan) lost rider, 10 Tim Balboa car. 9.9* (J. Walker) pulled up. Won by twelve lengths, twenty lengths between second and third. Marco Polo was fourth. Time—4min 10 4-ssec. SOUTH CANTERBURY STEEPLECHASE, of 200 sovs; 2b miles. 3 F. J. Conn’s blk g Radiac (Ab-surd-Cintra), aged, 9.0 (H. Anderton) 1 4 W. McCarthy’s b g French Fleet, 6yrs, car. 9.2 (E. Mackie) 2 5 F. C. Pratt’s br g Diamond Jack, aged, 9.0 (Owner) 3 Also ran—2 Radiate 11.8 (A. E. Ellis), 1 Valves 9.6 (E. Shaw). Won by three lengths, six lengths between second and third. Valves was fourth Time —smin 26 l-ssec. LEVELS HACK HANDICAP, Of 90 sovs; 6 furlongs. 2J. Brand’s ch m Sweet Refrain (Thurnham-Refrain), 4yrs, 9.12 (M. Kirwan) 1 5—J. M. Samson’s br g Royal Limond 3yrs, 9.6 (F. Thompson) 2 3 H. Nurse’s b f Rapina, 3yrs, 9.4 (D. O’Connor) 3 Also ran—4 Fair Money 10.11 (A. E. Ellis), 6 Valuator 10.1 (R. Coveny), 1 Night Effort 9.8 (H. Gray), 9 Homecoming 9.0 (J. W. Jennings), 7 Rosewood 9.0 (B. H. Brodie), 10 Memories car. 9.1 (A. S. Ellis), 8 Dry Area 9.0 (W. Hogan). Won by three lengths, half a length between second and third. Homecoming was fourth. Time —lmin 18 l-ssec. WASHDYKE TROT (saddle), Of 100 sovs (3.40); 11 miles. 2—S. A. Edwards’s b g Cranleigh (Travis Axworthy - Gwenleigh), 3yrs, scr (Owner) 1 9—D. F. Glanville’s b g Danny Boy, 6yrs, 36 (G. Caddy) 2 I —r. w. Franks’s br m Derry Pointer, 4yrs, 36 (M. Holmes) 3 Also ran—ll Accumulator scr. 10 Mary Locanda scr, 4 Real Girl scr, 3 Happy Lass 12, 13 Dan Logan 24, 7 Norwester 24, 5 Tiny Bingen 24, 6 Otaio Rose 36, 8 Red Shiner 36, 12 John Noble 180. Won by a head, a neck between second and third. Ota\o Rose was fourth. Times—3.3s 1-5, 3.32 2-5, 3.32 3-5. TESCHEMAKER HUNT CUP, Of 150 sovs; 2* miles. 1— J. Morton’s b g Ngahue (NgatapaMiss Chatswood), aged, 9.12 (A. E. Ellis) 1 4F. C. Pratt’s b g Scion, aged, 9.8 (Owner) 2 2 Burn and Smith’s blk g Wairio, 6yrs, 10.5 (D. O’Connor) 3 Also ran—3 Kulrange 9.6 (I. Tilson), 5 Faloose car. 9.10* (J. Callaghan) fell. Won by fifty yards, six lengths between second and third. Kulrange was fourth. Time —smin 36 4-ssec. hunters’ handicap (flat), Of 100 sovs; 1* miles. 2—F. P. Claridge’s b g Fresh Breeze (Boniform-Sailor’s Hope) 11.6 (D. O’Connor) 1 2—J. A. Pears’s b g West Dome, syrs, 11.1 (A. E. Ellis) 2 I—E. McGowan’s blk m Commenter, 4yrs, 11.5 (H. Anderton) 3 Also ran—s Gold Mint 11.8 (L. Evans), 7 Bonatic 11.2 (1. Tilson), 6 Star Stranger 11. 10.13 (W. Scobie), 4 All Comment 10.10 (F. Thompson), 8 Blue Ray 10.7 (E. Shaw). Won by a neck, four lengths between second and third. All Comment was fourth. Time —2min 47 3-ssec. CLAREMONT HANDICAP, Of 100 sovs; 1 mile. 1— J. Beattie’s blk g Town Major (Prince Willonyx-Barcarole) syrs, 10.9 (H. Gray) 1 4—j. Bland’s Sweet Refrain, 4yrs, 9.0 (M. Kirwan) 2 2L. Kelcher’s ch g Taboo, aged, 10.13 (A. E. Ellis) 3 Also ran—lo Beau Geste car. 10.2 (G. Barr), 5 First Raid 9.9 (J. T. Humphries), 6 Topere car. 9.6 (W. Pascoe), 3 Evening 9.5 (B. H. Brodie), 7 Haze 9.5 (J. W. Jennings), 8 Royal Mint 9.2 (D. O’Connor), 9 Carinthia 9.2 (F. Thompson), 11 Oriflamb 9.0 (L. d’Egannah). Won by two lengths, a neck between second and third. Evening was fourth. Time —lmin 46 3-ssec. J. Kerr sustained a broken collarbone when Deportment fell in the Pareora Steeplechase on Saturday. During the interval between the Levels Handicap and the Washdyke Trot on Saturday, half-a-dozen Wash-dyke-trained rising two-year-olds were given a run down the straight with the colours up, to get them accustomed to raceday conditions. The youngsters, who will rank as two-year-old from Friday next, were: Songbox and Hunting Go (by Hunting Song), Thesnor (by Thespian), Last Links (by Last Dart), Lord Argosy (by Argosy), and Tray Lava (by Tea Tray). The first four are trained by E. J. Ellis, and the other pair by F. Trilford. Lord Argosy is one of the Irish colts sent out by Mr J. M. Samson. Valves, who ran greatly below expectations in the South Canterbury Steeplechase, had to receive veterinary attendance yesterday. It is believed that he ricked a muscle at one of the jumps in the race, and will have to be given an easy time for a few days.