SPORTING GOSSIP.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11762, 28 July 1916, Page 5

SPORTING GOSSIP.

(By

FTXTH'nTCS. July 27—Brackenfield Hunt. August 12, 16, IS —Metropolitan Iroiuus Club. . August 15, 17. 19— Canterbury Jockey Club

! Tho Brackcnfield Hunt Race Club held its first race meoung on the Ambericy course yoaterday. By the 11 i > the dub's uilo does not seem <l uuo comet. I have never heard or tuc BiacKonheld iiunt Race Club rog'stored, but the Brackeiiiicld liui.t was recuguised by the Racing Commission, bviuig granted a totalizator permit, in alternate seasons, witli tlie Christchurch iuuit. 'Jhis, howevej ,'s a minor matter. The club was enstincti.v unlortunate in connection witli its initial meeting. Heavy ram rell during tho week preceding the hxtuie, au pans of Aortn Canterbury experiencing a downpour. . 'iherc was 110 cassation in Christchurch up to » ednesday night when there were seveial heavy showers. Tlie outlook in tne city yesterday morning was tar from promising, and as a result the special train from Christchurch was poorly patronised, while, for the same reason, there was a falling off in the number who made the trip by motor-car. As it turned out, the optimists who braved the elements were amply rewarded. i>y the time the course was reached tncsun was shining and the day's sport was got through under ideal conditions. I.l'ie rain had improved tlie course, which provided excellent going. Sportsmen from all parts of North Canterbury were present in strong force and the meeting passed off very well. A noticeable improvement in the arrangements was the exclusion of motor-cars from the centre of the course, where in former years, at meetings of tho Amberley Steeplechase Club, they lined the inside rail, three and four deep, all along the straight. As a result of the change, visitors had an unimpeded view o» the' racing, without the r.ecessitv of going into the middle of the course The programme consisted of seven events, including two steeplechases and one hurdle race, but the jumping events attracted small fields, and *t was left to tho races on the flat to provide most of the interest. The permit, however, was granted in tlie interests of hunting and from this point of view the meeting did not fulfil its proper function, as only one event was provided for hunters.' Taken all round, however. it was an enjoyable fixture. Speculation was dull, as was to be expected with such a small attendance, the totalisator being £2910 10s, compared with £437.5 10s at the Amlierley Steeplechase meeting last year.

There were, four staiters for the Hack Hurdle Handicap, and Trireme, on the strength of his iorm at Timara a week earlier, was made a 'slightly better favourite than Cnst Iron. These two had the race to themselves all the way, and at no stage was there much letween them. Trireme, on tho insid;, had a slight advantage at the last hurdle, but a little further on, at the entrance? to the straight, Cast Iron crossed him,_ leaving Trireme to come on the outside and in a hard finish Cast Iron won by a bare lengthy The Judicial Committee held an inquiry into the incident. There seemed to be little dispute over tho fact that a cross occurred. It was urged by IS. Redmond, the rider of Cast Iron, that his mount, slipped at the last hurdle, and that this was responsible for the trouble. The committee decided that a cross having taken place, Trireme wa~> entitled to the race, out Cast Iron was placed second, which seemed a sound vorciirt, as the third horse was quite a furlong away, and under no circumstances could he have had a chance. Subsequently the committee in~pccted tho ground near the last hurdle, and as a result decided to fino Redmond £5 for careless riding. It was a popular opinion that the rider named escaped very luckily from the incident. Cast Iron ran one of his us ml plodding races, the slow pace suiting him woll. Trirtue did not jump particularly well, running about at several of the obstacles. "With two wii s to liis crdit, however, he has prnved a use-, ful horse over and with more experience he should do better, though he may never be at home in the best company. Arrogation gave a very poor show of jumping as she bu< ked over most of the obstacles, showing'no fondness for the game. It dees" not look, at present,, as i f * she woukl ever be in the same class as i.er brother, Dnvlisht Pill. Tito other comoeHtor, All Serene, did net shapo at all well and ian off '•ix furloner.- from home. He is a three-year-old by All Reel from Melforl's dam, but is decidedly moderate at present.

Five hunters lined up for the Brackenfield Plati Steeplecha~e. Mr G. L. Steftd's Hawke's B?y purchase, San Pan, was a little better favourite than Waipiraoan while Maw-on was also well backed. The whole of the competitors raced in elo e order for over a mile, whe l Leap Year dropped hack, leaving the other ton'- to go on in company, headed, by Kingswpy. Half a mile from home Sam Pan to in trouble, but the content was continued between three to the stra : ght, where Kinsxsway was in trouble. A ding dons fini.h ended in Mawson beating "Waiparapara by a length. The winner wu-. responsible for an attractivo performance. He jumped better than at Timaru, and stayed' on well. Though still a novice he shaped, as if he would develop into a useful hor.se over fences. The Hawke's Bay mare, Waiparapara, is not endowed with great pace, but she is a fine fencer, ana she may have to bo reckoned with in hunters' event-; at Riccarton. Kings way, who is always seen to advantage at Amberlov, ran well for over two miles, jump rtcr well all through, but failed to see the journey out. Sam Pan appeared to be sore, anil at no stage did he .really look like a winner. Leap Year, a cobby hunter, withjittlo pice, jumped well till nean the finish, when he came d'own, doubtless because he was tired.

The Kowai Handicap, a five furlong sprint, attracted a fi?ld cf eight, Yes being a little hotter backed than Malvolia. Tho South Canterbury horse, Yes, who cnrr'ed a 71b penalty for a win at home a week earlier, was always one of the leaders, and ho came -on "in tho straight-, winning easily from Malvolia, who only beat Kins: Star by a neck. The three placed horses were in front practically all the way. King Star was little fancied, but r;in a surprisingly good race, and he may pick up a stake before long. Yes has improved a Rood deal lately, and looks like earning di-traction in much better company next season, as he can ran ter up a lot of pace. Malvolia showed fair speed, hut scarcely began as fast was expected. Afton Loch ran well for three furlong:, but doe? not look readv for a hard race. Mel ford was going on strongly at the end. The disappointing Kaminohe was fancied by hi\ connections, but he let them down badly. He hr.s proved a very expensive property to h s present oniier.

Tn a field of eight, Sir Hamilton was a solid favourite _ for tho Welter Handicap. Golden Prince being a good so on.i choice. Golden Prince set cut to win ail the way a:.d Listed till tj? straight wa; reached, ivhcn lie <•. ,:s tackled by Sir Hamilton, who won with nothing to spare. The winner was badly placed in the early stages and appeared to bp under pressure half a mile from home, but he finished on well. Golden Prince is :i three-year-old gelding by Monsohikoii" —Scotch Device, hi' Wallace—Strange Device, by

RACING AKD TRGTMG NOTES,

Escutcheon—Excelsior, by Gang Forward. He was bred by Mr llorvey Patterson and raced in' his interests four times as a two-year-old, without success. He is now owned by Mr J. G. M'Donald, a popular North Canterbury sportsman, for whom he should win races later on, as he has a fair turn of speed. Franganui, who gained third place, owed his position to the fact that he ortstnyed the others. St Curio and Counterpoint went well for seven furlongs,, but then dropped out. Cannie Soot, after losing a lot of ground at the start, showed a groat burst of speed, but failed to stay, finishing a loiiij way in tho rear, along with Martial, who seems a hopeless proposition, on his recent displays. Pcratchings were numerous for the Farmers' Hack Race, for which there were six staffers. They did not look n classy lot t'ud Riga was made a warm favourite. He began fairly weli but never had a chance with Varnish, who was jn front all the way. Tho winner is a three-year-old gelding by Varco --Prudish, by Treadmill—Powder and Patches, by Phaethon—Burlesque, who traces back, throueh Nonsense and No Name, to Flora M'Tvor, tho ancestress of many good performers. Varnish showed considerable promise when first tried by W. H. Thomson, but did nol tram on He is, however, a tiseful sort-, who might win big races if lie kept sound. The well-bred mare, iiojiny Dream, finished third, but there was no merit in tlie performance. She did not look in racing condition and T understand she is not long out of the paddock.

There were four starters for the Steenlechase, Mawson, Kingsway and Casoshot being evenlv backed in that order. Caseshot blundered and lost his rider half-wav through, but that was the only mishap. Kingsway was in front practically all the way. Mawson stood on the mark, and must have given the others a start of fifty yards. He made up most of it in a mile and a quarter, and for the r<yt of the journey raced inst behind Kingsway, who won by half a length. Mawson appeared very sore when he went out, and his jumpinc was decidedly below his earlier exhibition. Kingsway, on the other hand, fenced in his best style, and to this he owed his success. The • victory was very popular. The ancient Phaethon gokJ'/ns: has been quite an institution at Amhorley meetings for several years, and with his owner, Mr Norman M'Lean, at the front with the Expeditionary Forces, there was additional cause for rejoicing over tho win.

The lamest field of the day went out for the Waipara Hack Hand'cap, there being eleven competitors. Yes wound up a little better backed than Sir Tarka. Yes was in front practically from- the start, and he won with a bit to spare. He was, however, a trifle lucky, as Sir Tarka got off badly and d el not get an opening till nearing tho straight, when he put in a great run, which landed, him in second place. He is in good form just row, aud should win a decent race before long. Prenez Garde, who has quietened down a lot, showed pace, but failed to stay. Samiel was fancied in some quarters, but a bad start settled his chance. There was a collision between Dunuro and Melford while the preliminaries were in progress. Dunuro's jockey war thrown, and received some cuts on tho face, but he was able to take part in ibo race. Melford was decidedly lame : however, as a result of the. mishap, and returned to tho enclosure, his backers losing their money without a run.

The Amberley, course has been considerably improved lately, the inside rail having been continued all the way round, further improvements are at E resent in hand, and at_ the Amberley ,acing Club's meeting in September now starting places will be for races run over five furlongs, sis furlongs, one mile and one mile and a quarter, giving the competitors a goofl straight run before they have to negotiate a bend'.

In the Hack Hurdle Handicap at the Brackenfield Hunt meeting yesterday. Cast Iron and Trireme cleared right away from the other two competitors. Trireme did not, jump well, but he was still going well at the home turn, when Oast Iron crossed 'him. The Judicial Committee was satisfied that 'a cross took place, but, acting under power given by the Rules of Racing, placed Cast Iron second, awarding the race to Trireme. It was alleged' that Cast Iron slipped at the last hurdle and that this was responsible for the cross. After an examinat : on of tho ground the committee fined E. Redmond, the rider of Cast Iron, £5 for careless riding.

The Smith Canterbury gelding, Yes, won a double at the Brackenfield Hunt meeting yesterday. Ho was successful a week ago nt the South Canterbury Hunt fixture, 'and about two month" ae;o won a race at Oama'ru, so

that he has four victories on end to his cred'it. He n a greatly improved gelding, who is likely to win in mucii better company next season.

The victory gained by lxingsway in the Hack Steeplechase at the Brackenfield Hunt meeting yesterday was extremely popular. He has been a consistent performer on the Amberle.v coui"o for several years past, but on tbi's occasion his owner, Mr G. N. M'Lean, was not pre.-ent to witness the success of his favourite, as he is at tho front with the Expeditionary Forces.

While the horses were doing their preliminaries prior to the start of the. W'lipnrn Hack Handicap at the Brackenfield Hunt mooting yesterday, Melford collided with Dunnre, who lost his rider and galloped round' to the back of tho course. On b?inp; caupht he was found to be uninjured and_he_ fulfilled bis engagement, though Irs rider, F. Holmes, was cut .about tho face. Mel ford, however, was found to have hurt his near hind lee; in the collision, and he returned to the enclosure, talcing no nart in the race, though his backers lost their money, the horse being officially a starter under the rules of racing.

Acceptances for the Grand National Rte-colechase, Grand National Jlurdlo Hnndican and Winter Cup, nnd nominations for miior event 1 ; nt the Canterbury -Tockev Club's meeting, will close to-night, at nine o'clock.