GOOD SPORT AT HUNT MEETING.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18189, 23 June 1927, Page 2

GOOD SPORT AT HUNT MEETING.

(Special to the “ Star. ) NAPIER, June 22. The Hawke’s Bay Hunt Club’s race meeting was held to-day. The weather was fine until just before the last race, when rain fell. The weather had been very wet for the three days prior to the meeting, however, and the track was soft. There was a fair attendance

but totalisator betting lacked life, and the figures for the day showed a lulling off of £4401 from last year’s total. The racing was very good and the fields included quite a number of outside horses, many of whom were not seen out at Napier Park. Backers were

somewhat astray in their attempts to pick the winners, though the second dividend in the first race was the only one which could be called large.

Punters started off by making Ara- • taura a hot favourite for the Hunters’ i Hurdle Handicap, and on Napier Park ! form he looked a good l->et. Alaric and ■ The Curragh, two visitors, were the j next two backed. Alaric pulled up ! lame and The Curragh lost his rider. j The soft going hampered the favourite, j who jumped badly, and at the ha!'.- j distance Calluna took command. In ; the hands of A. M Donald, Calluna j jumped proficiently and with plenty ot j confidence, and he is just the stamp to , make a really good hurdler and per- j haps a steeplechaser as well. Oak ! Rose, the outsider of the party, made | a good run in the straight and just , beat A rata ura for second money, paying a big dividend. Peshwa, Peneus and Pcrlc de I.eon were sorted out as the best three in the Aplev Hack Hurdle Handicap, but though three “ P's ’ filled the places, backers did not pick the right pea, for Pcrle de Leon won rather easily from Peshwa. who beat Peneus just as easily. Perlc de Leon looks like making good as a hurdler. High Heather, Break o’ Day and Arrow Bov were backed in that order for the Hack Scurry, but the trio failed badly. Inner Harbour, always in a prominent position, drew out at the finish and won by a length. There was a great finish for second place, four ot them crossing the line in a bunch. Coot, who had been hemmed in and was coming fast, seemed to just about get the position. The numbers were at first hoisted with her in a place. Subsequently the numbers were pulled down and ’ altered, Eloquent being placed second and Coot third. The finish was so close that only the judge could decide.

Lupineel. Banjuke and Woden were the elect of backers in the Hunt Club Steeplechase. Falls were numerous llandv, Potana. Fairfield and Scornful coming down, while Roman and Merry Singer ran off. Banjuke and \\ oden were near the front all the way, with Lupineel well up, but the first-named two went away in the last half-mile. Thev jumped the last fence together and fought out a good finish Banjuke winning by a neck from Woden, with Lupineel ten lengths away third. Nothing would go down with backers in the Kawere Handicap but the Aucklander, Hoariri, while Iluikai and Royal Diadem were second and third fancies. Iloariri led all the war. with Iluikai next. Hoariri won very easily, with Iluikai second and llipo third. The Soutra Hunters’ Flat Handicap, for gentlemen riders, found backers on the spot once again. Ramblin Kid, with Mr J. Morris in the saddle, was backed down to a short price. Toko being second and Arataura third fancy The favourite won very easily from Arum Ora. Toko, who was not too well handled, finished third. There was a steadv demand tor Ko mantle tickets for the last race, Grand National being second in demand, and Bov third. The picking was good. Romantic romping home from Boy, with Grand National third.