RACING AND TROTTING.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12718, 13 August 1919, Page 2

RACING AND TROTTING.

(By “ ARGUS.”) FIXTURES 4 August 3, 13. I.;— Metropolitan Trotting Club August 12, H- 10—Canterbury Jockey Club. August 23—Te Awu.mutu Trotting Club, August 27—EgmontAVa-nganui Hunt Club. September, 3, 4—Marton Jockey Club. September 18, 13 —Ashburton County Racing Club. nominations. August 7—Egmoht-Wanganui Hunt Club. August S—To Awamutu Trotting Club. August, 15—Marton Jockey Club. August 27—New Zealand Trotting Cup. September I—Ashburton County Racing Club. HANDICAPS. August 12—Te Awa-mutu Trotting Club. August 16—Egmont-Wnngamii Hunt Club. August 2i —Marton Jockey Club. September 6—Ashburton Count? Racing Club. September S—New Zealand Trotting Cup. ACCEPTANCES. August 6 Canterbury Jockey Club. August 15—Te Awamutu Trolling Club. August 20—Egmont-Wanganui Hunt Club. August 26—Marton Jockoy Club. September 10—Ashburton County Racing Club. September 24—New Zealand Trotting Cup. The proverbial good fortune of the Canterbury Jockey Club was again in evidence yesterday, when the Grand National meeting was opened in ideal weather. If any proof had been required of the groat popularity of this fixture, it was provided by the large crowd which was attracted to Ricoarton yesterday. The opinion had been freely expressed that the railway restrictions would seriously affect the attendance, but there did not appear to be a marked falling-off in this respect. There seemed, to be fewer outside patrons than usual, but (here was a greatgathering in the inside enclosure. Visitors were present from all parts, especially from southern districts, showing plainly that the enthusiasts had. found other means of travel to take the place of the restricted train, service. His Excellency the GovernorGeneral was among those present, while Sir Joseph Ward, the Hon T. M. Wilford, Sir James Carroll and Dr Newman were among the visiting members of Parliament. The course was a trifle dead, as a result of recent rain, but the going was excellent, especially for the jumping .events. The tota.lisator investments amounted to £55,832 10s, compared with £60,401 tm the first day of last year’s fixture, which extended over only two days. The racing, taken all round, was full of interest- Sonic of the minor events attracted small fields, but most of them provided good contests.

Proceedings opened with the Tally-ho Steeplechase, for which there were only four competitors, a very disappointing response on the part of the hunting enthusiasts. Apart from the small field, it was a. poor race, two of the competitors having no chance from a very early stage. Toofan refused at the Kennels double, the first obstacle on the journey, and though he was afterwards got over, he repeated the performance at Cutts’s, when he was pulled up. Six Cylinder showed no pace, and he was a long way in the rear when he lost his rider in the straight the first time round. In the meantime. The Grand and Sandowu had been streaking away in company, but The Grand drew out from Ins mate in the straight and eventually won very easily. His success was due as much as anything to superior horsemanship. Sandown went over a lot of ground and altogether was handled m a very inartisticmanner.

Tliere were eight competitors for the Trial Hurdle Handicap, five of them being candidates for the Grand National Hurdle Handicap on the second day. "Wild Pilgrim went out at the first obstacle. He rapped it hard, and though his rider looked like getting back to the saddle, a. bump from another horse completed bis discomfiture. Tip Up and Signature made the early running, but Tip Up only lasted about a mile, when h© retired. _ Before this stage Reformation had joined the leaders, and lie was going well at the home turn. Then Master Moutoa appeared on the scene, and over the last part of the journey ho never looked in danger of defeat. It was an attractive performance, sugfestive of a good career over hurdles, ‘araoa was a long way back in the early stages, but b© finished very .strongly, and I am quite prepared to see him reverse places in th© Grand National Hurdle Handicap, when be will meet Master Moutoa on a stone better terms, apart from which the longer journey may be another factor in Paraoa’s favour. Reformation faded out at the end, and he is still very deficient in stamina.

lVe con tested the Jumpers’ r lat Handicap. Cynic being a. staunch favourite. It was not at all a good race. Gany A wa, and Jeannot showed the way to the straight, and then collapsed, finishing in the rear. Cynic was never far behind the leaders, 'and running to the front when heads were turned for home, ho won as he liked from Art and Sir Solo. There was no surprise about Cynic’s performance as m ij 011 . the flat was better than could be claimed for tho opposition. He would be a great hurdle proposition it he could jump, but his schooling ef--9 j have been very bad, and with ten obstacles to negotiate Art and Sir Solo will set him a vcrv different task tomorrow. _ Neither of the latter pair lost any admirers for the big hurdle race as a result of yesterday’s race.

The Grand National Steeplechase, the principal race of the meeting, was responsible for as fine an exhibition of .lumping as has been seen over the Riccarton country for many years. There were two late scratching?. Coalition being amiss, while Manawapango was reserved for an easier task later in the ! aaj. Uie held was thus reduced to ten, I of whom Polthogue and Wairnai fell, I while Morecambe was pulled up about ! six furlongs from home. Polthogue did j not last long enough to earn meritori- I ous reference. Wammi, on the other i hand, only came to grief at the second ; ast fence, up to which point he had been responsible for a particularly showy exhibition of jumping, but he wag m trouble some time before he fell. Morecambe also fenced well, even after he commenced to tire. The other seven competitors completed the course without a mistake, and they provided a rare trea h which was thoroughly appreciated by the crowd. The winner, Hochella, was out helping to force tho pace all the way. For nearly two miles Morecambe kept him company, after which Ltochella went on by himself. More than onco during the last round the field closed on him, but the southern gelding drew away each time with-out-apparent effort, and over the last five furlongs he never looked in danger j of defeat. He eventually won by a ' dozen lengths, his victory being one of J the easiest that have been associated with the race in recent years. Master Lupin was always in a handy position in the front division, and over the last mile he heat the others very decisively. It wa.s a, good performance for a horse who has had very little experience over country and who has done very little work since he has been at Ricoarton. Master Strowan gave one of his customary exhibitions of quick jumping, but he failed over the last part of the journey, a fact for -which his interrupted preparation may have been responsible. Bon. Rove ran a fine race for most of the journey. He was just beaten for third place, and he might have been much closer but for breaking down. I Merry Lad was outpaced in the carlv j stages, but he kept going, and finished i in front of Vascular, who was up with i the front lot most of the way, though ! he failed at the end. Dardanelles was 1 last, a position he occupied throughout ; the whole journey. Lochella, tho win- i ner, is only a beginner at steeplechas-1 mg, it being his third effort over coun- ! try, hut he is an exceptionally promising novice. He gave a perfect display of jumping, taking all his fences with a myiimnra of effort, and his performance was full of merit. The time for I

uoiomoo btxeet. the race, 7min lOsec, was a record, the previous best being Jficlair’s 7mia 10 2-ssec in 1907. Seven useful-looking hunters took part in the Hunters' Flurdle Handicap. Sonny was entrusted with the confidence of backers, but, as on his only previous effort in a jumping race, he let them down, falling at the second last hurdle. l*p to that stage he was going well, but be was several lengths behind lied Cent. The latter was in charge practically all the wa, and he would probably have won even had Sonny stood up. The performance of Red Cent was an attractive one. He had a had reputation as a jumper, but he fenced in fine style up te the last obstacle, where he blundered. When trained at, Kiccarron lied Cent, was a great disappointment, as he invariably failed at the end of short races on the fiat. For some rime past he has been trained by his owner, and he now gives promise, of a successful career over hurdles.

The Enfield Steeplechase was a disappointing affair- There were only four compel iters, and they failed to provide much excitement, the only attractive! feature about, the race being that they all got round safely. Manawapango was in front .ail the way and he won with ndiculomt ease from San Sebastian. 'the winner gave a great and brilliant, exhibition of jumping. He lias won three out of his last four starts over fences, and promises to develop into a. good class performer later on. San Sebastian fenced safely, hut failed te show the pace ou the flat that was expected. U was his first experience over difficult country, however, and the race should do him good-

The "Winter Gup field was One of the best of recent- years, but it was a disappointing race in some respects. There was an exciting finish between the first and second pair, who were wide apart, and only the judge could say for certain that Garique had beaten Gold Kip by a head. The performance of Garique was a good one, as he carried his Weight well, and finished very resolutely . Fifty yards from the post it looked as if Gold Kip would win, but he did not quite sustain his run to the end. Rcbckah and Cerberus acted up to their reputation as speedy sprinters, but neither got anv rest on the journey, with the result that they were stopping over the last bit. Hiero was prominent, all the way, and stayed on better than any of the others. Kilboyne was in a good position till they reached the straight, wdiere he appeared to have excellent prospects, but lie failed to run on at the end, and Form Up just "headed him off. All Over and Parisian Diamond were both showing up at the entrance to the straight, but they faded out a.t the finish. I never saw Battle Array or Samiel, bnt Kilkee put in a surprisingly good nm, after getting off badly.

The concluding ©rent, the Avonhead Handicap, attracted a field of twenty. Tama-a-ron was a strong favourite, with Braokenfield second choice. The race was nm in a very bad light, and it was quite impossible to follow its progress-. "What I did see was that the favourite, on the rails, began best, but Brackonfield soon ran past him, opening up a gap of several lengths, while Tama-a-roa was well clear or the next lot. There were no changes to the finish. Brackenfield winning easily, while Tama-a-roa had no trouble m bolding second place. Black Mountain finished fast, just beating Imaribbon for third money. I caught sight of Glensbine going well in the straight, but I could not pick up any of the others. The race was run far too late for the safety of the riders or the pleasure of the public.

Lochella, who won the Grand National Steeplechase yesterday, was making his third appearance in a cross-country event. He won a. hack steeplechase at Trentham last month and a fortnight later finished third at tho Christchurch Hunt Club’s meeting, after running off at the last fence, when he had a big lead. Though a novice over country, however, he had done n fair amount of racing this winter, having competed in several hack hurdle events at North Island meetings. Ho had done a lot of good work at Riccarton during the last few weeks, and he looked the fittest horse in yesterday's field, his condition reflecting great credit on the Wingatui_ trainer. C. Christie, who had not previously turned out the winner of an important jumping event. It is interesting, however, to recall the fact that his uncle, Mr D. L. Christie, who was a keen all-round sportsman, won the Grand National Steeplechase in 1882 with Katerfelto. -who was ridden by the late W. Clifford. one of the greatest of New Zealand horsemen.