BALLYFARNON WINS NAPIER STEEPLECHASE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18786, 15 June 1929, Page 10

BALLYFARNON WINS NAPIER STEEPLECHASE.

(Special to the “Star.") NAPIER, June 14. The Napier Park meeting was opened to-day in fine, bright weather. The track was decidedly greasy, and there were several falls on the flat, Araby breaking a leg and being destroyed. The day was a mild benefit for the Greene Brothers, who provided the first four winners, George Greene with Abisogne and 11. S. Greene with Crishna, Mouri Rangi and Ballyfarnon.

In the Moteo Hack Hurdles, Kaiti, Fine Acre and Tresham were fairly well backed, with the winner at double figures. Araby fell on the flat and broke a leg. Coming to the first fence at the stands, Kaiti, Grand National and Purseproud, in line, led Wilmore ana, and then, well back, came My strum, Kingly and Tresham. Kaiti and Grand National showed the way down the baric to Purseproud and Wilmoresna, with Abisogne moving up Kaiti was done with half a mile from home, and Grand National, Abisogne and Wilmoreana jumped the last fence together. Abisogne drew away on the flat to win by five lengths from Grand National, who beat Wilmoreana by a neck. Then at intervals came Fine Acre, Kaiti and Tresham. Abisogne won well. Grand National and Wilmoreana ran fair races. Kaiti, who hit the second last fence hard, gave a good display for a novice. Tresham’s failure can be overlooked.

In the Petone Hack Steeplechase, Royal Elm was a good favourite, with the winner, Crishna, at a satisfactory price, and Bonrayon, who finished second, paying big figures to win. Alaric led down the back from Mardarine, Ponjola, Royal Elm, Lieutenant Bill and Crishna. Lieutenant Bill ran off at the second of the stand double. Mandarine fell six furlongs from home, when Ponjola and Alaric led Royal Elm, Crishna, Bonrayon and Aurora Borealis. Alaric almost fell two fences from home, and Crishna jumped to the front at the last fence, from Ponjola, Royal Elm and Alaric. Bonrayon ran away to the inside rails, but finished well and ran Crishna to a length. Royal Elm was four lengths away third, with Ponjola and Aurora Borealis well up, and then after a gap coming Alaric Crishna looks a likely sort for better races later on. Bonrayon almost sprang a surprise win of Mr T. E Whelch. Royal Elm, Alaric and Aurora Borealis should scon do better. In the Meanee Hack Handicap, Sylvan Dell, Tourist and Glyn Dhu carried the bulk of the money, with Mouri Rangi at a long price to score Glyn Dhu whipped round at the bat rier rise, from which Bold Front, Sylvan Dell and Mouri Rangi showed out first. Mouri Rangi, Bold Front, Town Section and Last Mark led across the top, Sylvan Dell falling and interfeiing with Tourist. Mouri Rangi and Mangaharei turned for home first, just ahead of Last Mark. Mouri Rangi, although tiring, beat the more tired Mangaharei home by two lengths, with Bold Front half a length aw'ay third, just in front of Last Mark. Night Witch and Acervate were next. The fall spoiled the race, and Last Mark and Tourist tvere decidedly unlucky. The Napier Steeplechase saw Ballyfarnon the first favourite to come to the aid of backers. The order for two miles was Ballyfarnon, Woden. Frisco Jack, Sometime and Bendower. Frisco Jack displaced Woden, and Bendower went up fourth, with a round to go.Bendower kept up his run and followed Ballyfarnon over the last fence, with Frisco jack up with him. Ballyfarnon cantered home six lengths ahead of Bendower, with Frisco Jack a length away. Woden was twenty lengths away fourth. Sometime was pulled up, broken down, two fences from home. There was no pace on at any stage and Ballyfarnon was not extended. Frisco Jack gave a great display of jumping, but could not stay. Bendower finished on well. In the Ahuriri Hurdles Home Made wound up favourite with good support for Novar and Beaumont. Peshwa, Beaumont, Jen and Home Made were the leaders for six furlongs, with Nukumai and Perle de Leon well back last. Beamnont lost his place down the back, and racing across the top Jen, Peshwa,/ and Home Made were well clear of Beaumont and Novar. Home Made raced away going to the last fence, where Novar had run up second. Home Made came on to win easily by five lengths from Novar; with Peshwa three lengths back, a head in front of Beaumont. Jen was right up next, and Perle de Leon and Nukumai a dead heat for last. Home Made handled the greasy ground better than Novar. Peshwa and Beaumont went good races. Nukumai and Perle de L;on had a good solid gallop in the rear. In the Stewards’ Stakes, King’s Jest Royal Damon and Queen’s Choice were well backed, with Merry Damon at. a great price. Royal Damon led into the back straight from King's Jest, Road Hog and Queen’s Choice. Road Hog led at the six furlongs from Royal Damon, Iluikai, Queen’s Choice, King’s Jest, Clavers and Shrewd. Shrewd rushed up and at the half mile showed the way then with Iluilcai to Road Hog, Royal Damon and Queen’s Choice, with King’s Jest and Clavers next, and Merry Damon commencing his run from a long way'’ back. Iluikai and Shrewd- led to the turn from Queen’s Choice, King’s Jest, Royal Damon, Road Hog, Clavers and Merry Damon. Queen’s Choice and King’s Jest had charge less than a furlong from home, but Merry Damon w'as putting in great work on the outside, and ran out a good winner by half a length from Queen’s Choice, who beat King’s Jest by three-quarters of a length. Shrewd was fourth, and then came Royal Damon, Road Hog and Clavers, with Vesperus a bad last Merry Damon put up a first class performance to score. Queen’s Choice and King's Jest ran solid races, and King’s Jest was unlucky in the running. Royal Damon should be well suited by the seven furlongs to-morrow. Shrewd ran a solid race.

In the Settlers Hack Handicap Balloon and Patutahi were the favourites in a good betting race. Merry Mason, Highland and Calluna were very slow away, and Le Champ began best from Rich Harvest, Balloon, Kaotune and Red Lane. Le Champ and Kuril Harvest led across the top from Balloon, Red Lane, Delude and Ironci, and the order was much the same at the turn, with Vinella also prominent Balloon ran to the front half way down the straight, coming on to win well by two lengths from Ironic, with Vinella a head away third. Rich Harvest was fourth and then came Le Champ, Sandburr, Red Lane, Merry Mason and Nahi Balloon won well, but Ironic and Vinella went solid races, and Rich Harvest is a likely improver. The northerner. Merry Mason, showed pace after being left.