Racing and Trotting

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16943, 18 January 1923, Page 2

Racing and Trotting

Notes by

“Argus.”

The Canterbury Jockey Club will take forfeits for the Middle Park Plate and nominations for other events at the summer meeting up till eight o'clock to-morrow night. ■With nearly thirty Riccarton horses due to race at the Trentham meeting, the local tracks present a deserted appearance at present, and there will be very little stir until the end of next week, when most of the tourists will be home again. The ploughed track at Riccarton was heavy this morning, as a result of the recent rain. The outside of the trial grass wes open and provided good going, though it was very dead. R. J. Mason’s team for Trentham consists of Cupidon, Pluto. Vespucci, Tressayr, VatcLamo and Veil. They were all in capital fettle when they left Ricoarton. R. W. King left for Trentham on Wednesday night with Deucalion. Red Gown, and Pi'tliewinkie. who only require average luck to get some money on the trip. S- Triiford has gone to Trentham with Songbird. The Kilbroney four-year-old is very well and he looks certain to show up prominently in his races. K. Macdonald has taken Madam Chiron., Petunia and Proliliman to Trentham, where they will compete in hack events. F. D. Jones will leave to-night for Trentham. with Glentmin, Murihaupo and The Reaver. The last-named pair are to race on Saturday, but G-lentruin may be reserved for the Waterloo Stakes, on the last day of the meeting, when she will meet a select field of opponents over six furlongs at weight-for-age. with penalties. J. B. Pearson, with Martis and Eighteen pence under his care, will leave to-night for Trentham, where these speedy sprinters will compete in hack event#. Roadioea will not fulfil her Trentham engagements. She has made a good recovery from the mishap that prevented her from racmg during the holidays, but she will be reserved for southern fixtures. She was responsible for a usefnl gallop over a mile and a quarter this morning. The Wellington Cup bears an exceptionally open appearance, and judging from early indications it is not easy to predict how the order- or mvoTjntism will read when the totalizator closes. So far as the Telegraph Handicap is concerned, however, it seems pretty certain that Tamotete will start favourite. The trotting trainer, G. S. Smith, has been laid up for about a week on account of an accident to his left hand, which he cut rather severely. It is improving fast, and though he i 3 still under medical treatment, he is able again to work his horses. A number of Canterbury sportsmen who were present at the Manawatu Trotting Club’s meeting on Wednesday, hay® gone on to Hastings, to attend the clearing sale of the late Mr B. Shadbolt’s trotting stock, which will be held to-morrow. OTAUTAU RACES. (Special to the “ Star.”) INVERCARGILL, January 17. The weather was fine for the first race at Otautau. Then rain commenced to fail and continued until shortly before the last event, accompanied by thunder and lightning. Theiv was a slight decrease in the totalizator returns compared with last year, and they were the smallest since the in auguration of the club under machine conditions. In the Brown Stakes the public passed Self a for Solvency, Rigel and Boughleen Dhoun. There was on.»y one in it. From a good start the < ross-country horseman. A. M’Mullan got Solfa away well and humouring lnm in every way, the hitherto faint 1 carted descendant of Solferino was never headed. He won easily from the neglected Maytime, while Boughleen Dhoun stayed better than the favourite. Solvency, for third berth Ridden without whip or spur, the winner ran a good race for his tactful .looker. Railway Chimes. Strathlora and Royal Scot (the favourite) were putting up a great battle in the Baysw ater Saddle Trot three furlongs from home, when the last-named toppled over, his rider. -T. Walsh, escaping un hurt. The three year-old. Railway Chimes, was outpaced over the last furlong by Strathlora (by Young M’Kinney—Otapiri). who has been displaying useful form of late. The back-marker. Golden Nut, was putting up a fine showing when he nearly came down, after covering two furlongs and thus lost his chance The times were —Smin 42s<?c. 3min 47sec. 3mm 44see. Twinkle was a warm first selection for the Otautau Cup, Tin Soldier and \ ice Grand also attracting good followings. Calibration and Sartolite led the field in company to the straight, where Twinkle made rather a fainthearted effort but could not sustain ir. Sartolite. who represented the Riveion owner trainer. J. Thistleton, fought out a good finish and won by a good half-length. He was well ridden by the old-time horseman. E. Cox. Cali hration was hard pressed to stall off Twijjkle bv a length. Janus was and then Tin Soldier. Ya the Ringway Hack Handicap Soldier’s Pride. Naomi and Frenchman monopolised the attention 6f the pub lie. but the winner turned up from an unexpected quarter in the aged gelding Coastguard. hv Soldiers’ Chorus— Sickashore. who easilv beat Naoii"'. The winner races in the name of Mr T. B. Al’Tntvre. his breeder, who used to own Duller. Coastguard gallop* a- if he would stay commended a larger following than Master Hamilton and f'ar.na in the Otautau Steeplechase Early in tlm race Herbert missed n 'Vit 1 - a mile to go Cnzna feil ni the log 1:. Monomer© and Silverspire also coming down. Palenma led almost throughout and won by a dozen Ungthe from Pawerewere, who had

Master Hamilton beaten for second lilac© when the latter carried away the wing of the last fence. He had to be taken back to finish third, a furlong away. The riders of the fallen horse 4 ? were unhurt. Jumping out well in the Flying Handicap from Glensponse. In the Pink led throughout by several lengths. The favourite, Francois©. stood behind tb© dthers at the post, starting fiat footed, and could not make up leeway on fche slippery track. With the sting out of the ground, In the Pink galloped well. Baldowa, by Balboa—Redowa. never left the Strafhmora Hack Handicap in doubt from the distance, the outsider. Border Knight, attending her through cut. Palish, who had very few supporters. filled third place. Salerno, the second selection, failed in the wet. going, as also did Morse Signal. Th s winner, who was beaten by half s head in the Win ton Stakes in November, by Laughing Eyes, is developing into * a smart hack sprinter. D*spite the feet that Sati Salvador bad been galloping well on the train ing tracks. Calibration was better fancied for the Waikouro Welter Han dicaD. Calibration swung into the straight well clear of Martial Dance, hut in the run home S"n Salvador travelled fast and heat the favourite by two lengths. Martial Dance, wlo v*as a costly yearling but who hitherto lias proved a disappointing racehorse, *;an close up third. Evidently he is improving and he may win a minor ey©nt in the near future. Marching Order ran well for six furlongs and then i e tired. MANAWATU TROTS. A SUCCESSFUL FIXTURE. The annual fixture of the Manawatu Trotting Club was held on the Awapuni Racecourse yesterday. It looked early in the morning as though there would be no racing, as heavy rain set in. However, about eleven o’clock it stopped and the rest of the day was very fine and warm. The previous rains had made the- track somewhat heavy and the long grass did not tend toward*j last times, yin addition to these drawbacks. thi^fTrack was very uneven, especially the back, and this made it bad for harness racing. There was a capital attendance and there is no doubt that the sport has now got a firm hold in the district. With all the appointments of a first class race- track at the club’s disposul. the general management- worked along smoothly, with the exception of the starting and the attention to punctuality. The committee and stewards generally let the time for starting the races drift from the first race, so that at the end nearly an hour had been lost. The starter did not assist towards a, better state of affairs in this direction, as fie made no attempt to get the horses in line till long after the totalizator had closed and then he wasted further time by allowing a lot of riders and drivers to practically take charge of affairs at the start. This important department of racing will have to receive attention if the club wishes to retain public support. A local horse in Herbilwin. owned by Mr W. A. Price, was made favourite for the Linton Handicap, a mile and t half race for trotters, in harness. The favourite is a oualitv looking four-year-old by Nelson Bingen from an American mare. Miss Spear. He caused a slight diversion by rearing up and delaying th<* start. Eventually he went away with the field, but he urns slow to move. He has a girod turn of speed but needs a lot more education After a slow beginning Peter Dean gradually caught up the field and finally won easily. He is by Petereta from Ivy Doan, the dam of Dean Dillon., Pitaroa and Granger, The winner is solid in his work and the somewhat heavy track seemed to suit him. Fairbairn. who also raced well at Wellington last week, trotted a sound race but had not enough speed to lioli the winner in check. Nelson Bell went a fair race. He did not seem to relish the going but was trotting well at the end of the con test. In a large field Tvv Audubon was made favourite and she never looked like being beaten after the first bundled yards. The winner is a four-year-old mare by Great Audubon from Ivy Dean, so that the first two winners are from the same dam. Ivy Audubon is owned by Mr J. R. Corrigan, and is trained «t Hawera. She won with ridiculous ease and could have gone a great deal faster. Florrie Bingen, who got second, is p useful sort, but she is not likely to rrake much more improvement. Holly Boy. who was some distance away third, was far from racing condition and under the circumstances paced a good race. Olive Bell failed to go away at the start. Daphne Wildwood, a four-year-told mare by Wildwood Junior,i who is locally trained, was made favourite for the Stewards’ Handicap, of two miles, in harness, but when the order was given to go she reared up and absolutely refused to start. Aero Maid also broke and swerved across the wide course. There was a fair race for half the distance, when Cute Lad, who had been pacing just behind the leaders, went to the front and just beat the back market. Coal Light. Cute Lad won in Wellington and the stoft going was to his liking. He is a useful sort, who finds no difficulty with two mile races. Coal Light (Coal King—Arc. Light) went very slowly for the first mile and then her driver gave the mare little assistance. Had she put on the pace earlier in the last mile she could not have been beaten. Coal Light is more than useful and is improving. She has been unlucky in getting a good deal of place money without winning. Rothschild Excelsior is anything but sound and is on the down grade. Nipper, who is well known in Christchurch, has not improved since he went fp Auckland. Oakhamptton is not a good pacer at present and he f-annot go a hundred yards without making a break. After the success of Taraire in tho New Zealand Gold Cup at Wellington. Mr Morten’s horse was made favourite lor the chief event, but he did not begin a.s well as some of the others, rnd at the end tof half a mile he had

dropped a long wayback. The first division, however, went a slow first trile and enabled Taraire to catch them The effort settled the little Four Chimes horse and he was well beaten al the end. Coal Light, despite a go over two miles in the previous race, was well backed and justified her support by outstaying the field and winning handsomely*. The winner is possessed of great stamina. Ramaroa paced a really good race. He had never the best of the running but in the straight he came home determinedly and outstayed Taraire. Young Dillon broke down badly in the race. Dolly Dillon went really well up till ,i quarter of a mile from home, when she was done. Pitaroa went out well and had every chance but he was beaten at the bottom of the straight. Harry Audubon cannot stay Azelzion, who just won the mile and a quarter event, is by Logan Pointer— Thelma, and was purchased by Mr G. Craw at Mr W. Kerr's clearing sale. Azelzion looked likely to develop into a high-class colt, but he has not made the improvement that, was expected. Blair Audubon raced better than at Wellington, but at present he is not as good as reported. He is only a four-year-old, however, and he may improve. Nipper did not seem capable of handling the track, but in any CBs<? he appears to have lost a lot of the dash that he put into his training worn when at Addington. Peter Dean gave further evidence of his ability to trot on all sorts of course?}, ns after being penalised 36yds for his earlier win lie got homo easily in the two mile harness race for trotters. He was, however, very favourably re-handicapped, judged on his racing at Wellington last Saturday. In the President’s Handicap, of two miles, at Wellington, lie was beaten by lour lengths by Pete Peter. In this race Peter Dean broke more than once, but he did smin Isec for the journey. He was one of the few placed horses that uas not penalised and so he won the Linton Handicap, of a mile and a- half, in 3min 52sec. In the Palmerston North Handicap Peter Dean was handicapped at Smin 4sec, and despite his previous form he was penalised only 36yds, so he was actually handicapped on omin Isec. or the exact time he accompli shed at Wellington, and there was the further fact that since then ho had won a race. Fairbairn was unlucky in meeting the* winner so favourably treated by the handicapper. Mr Roe’s mare is not a good one, but she is one of the solid., useful sort. Grace Grattan, who was reported to he a good one at the Wellington meeting, needs a lot more racing before she is solid enough to win a race. There wore a good many scratch in gs for the President’s Handicap. oF a mile and a quarter, which was won comfortably by Taraire, who gathered up his field in rare style. I thought the little Four Chimes horse was unlucky to be beaten in the Cup. He was turned the wrong way when the start was made and then went away badly, losing qujte a hundred yards. He was raced to his field too fast and had no reserve for the final effort. Had he began smartly he would probably have won. Queen Chimes is racing well again and is showing what might be expected of her. judged on her three-year-oid form. Dolly Dillon, too, has been improved by her racing. RACE RESULTS. OTAUTAU RACING CLUB. INVERCARGILL January 7. OTAUTAU CUP, of 1G7.) sovs; one mil-3 and a quarter—Sartolite. 7st 81b iE. Cox), 1- Calibration, 7st 131 b, 2; Twinkle, 7st 131 b, 3. Palamon 9st 121 b, Vice Grand Sst 6lb. Tin Soldier Sst 61b Gleushine 7st 21b and Janus 7st also started. Won by half a. length, a length between second and third. Time—2min 9 3-ssec. RINGWAY HACK HANDICAP, of 30 8ov3; seven furlongs—Coastguard. 7st, 71b (O Voight), 1; Naomi. Set 41b, 2; Soldier's Pride, Sst 121 b, 3. Frenchman Sst 71b and Tunic Sst 41b also started. Won by five lengths, on© length between second and third. Time—lmin 30sec. FLYING HANDICAP of 100 sovs; six furlongs—ln the Pink, Sst 51b (G. Fisher), 1; Glensponse, 7st 121 b, 2; Francaise, 9st, 3. The only starters. Won by four lengths. Time—lmin losec. OTAUTAU STEEPLECHASE, of 150 sovs two miles and three-quarters—Palencia, 9st 1-Olb (A. E. Ellis). 1; Pawerewere. list. 21b. 2: Master Hamilton, list Gib. 3. Silverspire list, (fell), Casma lOst. 21b (fell). Her hert 9st (baulked) and Monomore 9st (felU also started. Won oy twelve lengths, a furlong between second and third. Time--STRATHMORE HACK HANDICAP, of 80 sovs; Fix furlongs—Baldowa, Sst 41b (O. Voight), 1 ; Border Knight. 7st 71b. n -r Pallah. Sst 4lb. 3. ’Morse Signal 9et. 31b. Salerno Set. 91b, Moulin Rouge Bst 41b, Sunlit 7st 121 b also started. WAIKOURO WELTER HANDICAP, of 95 sovs: one mile—Sail Salvador, Bst 91b r &- M’Lellan), 1; Calibration. Pat 131 b 2; Mar tial Dance. 7et 7lb. 3. Tliistlecrown !?st 181 b. Twinkle Sst 131 b. Marching Order Sst 91 b and Rugby 7st 7lb also started. Won !\v two lengths, a length between second and third Time—lmin 44scc. MANAWATU TROTTING CLUB. PALMERSTON NORTH, January 7. MANAWATU TROTTING CUP (in harness), of 300 sovs; two miles—Coal Light, 24yda bhd (,J. Lynch), 1; Ramaroa, 24yds, 2; Taraire, 98yds, 3. Our Patch scr, Young Dillon 12yds bhd. Promenade 60yds (coupled with winner). Harry Audubon 36yds. Jimmy Richmond 60yds. Waitepopo 48yds. Dolly Dillon 72yds and Pitaroa 96yds also started. Won by two lengths, four lengths between second and third. Times—4min SOsec, 4min 50 4-ssec, 4min 43sec. Taraire was favourLONGBURN HANDICAP (in harness), of 90 sovs; one mile and a half—Daphne Wildwood. 24yds bhd (Hughes), 1; Indicator, scr, 2; Saddel Bahr, scr, 3. Daisy Dillon scr, Clive Bell scr. Bonfire scr, Oakhampton scr and Bell Moor 36yds bhd also started. Won by four length?, six lengths between second and third. Times—3min 43 *2-ssec, 3rain 46 l-ssec, Amin 46 3-ssee. Bell Moor was favourite. AWAPUNI HANDICAP (in harness), of 125 sovs; one mile and a quarter—Az&laion, scr (Gre6n), 1; Blair Audubon, scr, *2; Nipper, scr 3. The Infant, scr, Lizzie Franz scr and Macushla- scr also started. Won by a head, four lengths between second and third. Times—3min 4 2-ssec, 3min 4 2-6 sec, Smin "see. Nipper was favourite PALMERSTON NOBIjx HANDICAP (in harness), of 125 so”? -. two miles—Peter Dean. 48yds hhd, including penalty (W. Smith). 1; Fairbairn, ecr, *2; Grace Grattan, 12yds bhd. 3. Nelson Bell scr, Ned Dillon scr, Mat Patch 12yds bhd. Meritorious 36yds, Fairton 36yds and Plunder 36yds also started. Won b/ three lengths, fifteen lengths between second and third. Times—omin 0 3-Ssec. Smin 5 4-ssee, smin 7 2-ssec. PRESIDENT’S HANDICAP (tn harness), of 150 sovs; one mile and a quarter— Taraire, 48yds bhd (J. Bryce), 1; Queen Chimes, 36yds. 2; Dolly Dillon, 36yds, 3. Miss Havoc 12yds. Harry Audubon 12y.de, Ramaroa 36yds, Promenade 48yds. Waitepopo 48yds. Nelson Derby 48yds, Napper 48yds and Pitaroa 72yds also started. Won by six lengths, a head between second and third. Times—2min 52 2-ssec. 2min 58 2-sseo. 2tnin 52 2-ssec. Earry Audubon was favourite.