Night Lad’s First Win As A Three-Year-Old.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18939, 9 December 1929, Page 14

Night Lad’s First Win As A Three-Year-Old.

LARGE FIELDS PROVIDE INTERESTING SPORT AT ASHBURTON RACES.

The summer meeting of the Ashburton County Racing Club was held on Saturday. The weather was warm but a strong nor'-wester made the conditions unpleasant. There was a large attendance, including a strong contigent of Christchurch patrons. The meeting was a great success in every way. Owners gave it liberal support, the fields being much larger than usual, and the racing was very interesting, there being several axciting finishes. The management was excellent and the club's reputation for punctuality was well maintained, the concluding event on the programme being disposed of in excellent time The totalisator investments for the day were £9965, compared with £6636 10s last year. Racing opened with the Winchmore Handicap, a high weight event for jumping riders*. Punchestown was a good deal better backed than Master Clarence, while after another gap Phastar and Audience were evenly fancied. Fair Exchange was badly left, while Gaslight and Gay Crest were slow to begin. Audience was smartest out, with Phastar and Royal Limond handy. Then Royal Heritage moved up fast, taking charge after going a little over a furlong, while a little further on The Waif and Royal Limond were his nearest attendants, with Audience next. Then Garvary moved up, and he joined Royal Heritage in the lead at the home turn, where Punchestown and Master Clarence were handy. Punchestown took charge at the entrance to the straight, but soon collapsed. Master Clarence then shot to the front and the race was all over, as he ran home an easy winner by three lengths. Audience was at the head of the bunch a furlong from the post, and she gained second place by over a length from Phastar, who beat Gay Crest by a length, with Garvary and Fair Exchange at the head of the others. The performance of Master Clarence was impressive, and he should get some more money during the holidays. Fair Exchange ran a good race, after losing a lot of, ground at the start. As a result of an inquiry, D. Hall, the rider of -Royal Heritage, was suspended for a month for crossing Audience after going about a furlong. The nineteen acceptors lined up for the Melrose Trot. Lydia was a hot favourite, carrying more than twice as much money as the Mussolini-Regal Voyage bracket, which was easily second fancy. Reaper was smartest out, but Author Franz headed him after going about a furlong, while a little further on Great d’Oro took charge. Great d’ Oro, Eiffelton Lass and Mussolini were together in the lead passing the stand, with Oinadora, Mister Pointer, Author Franz, Grace Huon, Reaper and Mignonne following in a bunch, while Real Huon was moving up from the back. Oinadora met trouble at the mile post and lost her driver, while Mignonne broke, interfering with Real Huon. At this stage Mussolini was in charge, with Eiffelton Lass, Regal Voyage, Great d’ Oro and Mister Pointer handy. Regal Voyage took second place half a mile from home, but the field raced without further change to the straight, where Mussolini collapsed, leaving Regal Voyage an the lead. Mister Pointer finished fast, but Regal Voyage beat him by about half a length. Eiffelton Lass was four lengths away, while Great d’Oro and Lydia headed the others. The winner pacer a sound race all the way. but had nothing to spare at the finish. Lydia ran a good race, after going off badly, but it was not an attractive Derby trial. In a field of seven for the Tinwald Handicap, Night Lad and Chickwheat disputed favouritism, the former having a call of three tickets when the machine was balanced. Sea Raid led Gold Brick and Buoyant from the barker, Quarterdeck being slowest to move. Buoyant drew clear at the end of a furlong, and at the mile post he was two lengths in front of Gold Brick, with Chickwheat a length further back, while Malmsey and Quarterdeck were last. Passing the seven furlong post Gold Brick was joined by Chickwheat in second place, Buoyant having a lead of three lengths. The fjeld closed up at the home turn, and racing round the turn Night Lad made a forward move. Once in the straight, Night Lad went after Buoyant, and gradually wearing him down Night Lad won by a short head. Quarterdeck was three lengths away, followed by Sea Raid, while Chickwheat, Malmsey and Gold Brick followed in that order. The winner was a good performer as a two-year-old, but this was bis first success this season. He should get some more money shortly. Buoy-

ant ran a sound race and stayed on well under pressure. Malmsey was too sore to show her best form on the hard ground. Chickwheat was going well to the straight, and then collapsed in disappointing fashion. Five scratchings left a field of eleven for the Lagmhor Plate. The two-year-old Sleipner was a warm favourite, while after a long gap Sapient and Straightcourse disputed second position. The start was rather uneven. Quinopal was smartest out, followed by Sleipner and Straightcourse, and these three had the race to themselves all the way. Sleipner showed a great burst of speed, which carried him to the front after going a furlong. He was well clear when the straight was reached, but stopped badly in the run home. Straightcourse put in a strong run at the entrance to the straight and beat Quinopal easily by three lengths. Sleipner was two lengths away, with Compris a similar distance further back, while Colonel Quex and Whatnot headed the others. The winner is a smart galloper when caught at his best, but some of his form is moderate. No excuses can be made for Sleipner. He has great speed, but lacks stamina. Haze, Miss Nightraid and Fair Exchange -were scratched for the Moreton Hack Handicap, leaving a field of thirteen. Dutch Money was a pronounced favourite, with The Viscount, Te Awhina and Rane}»gh following at short intervals. Te Awhina was last to leave the mark, with Tane and Dutch Money just in front of her. Thurso, Ranelagh, Solomon and Discordia were smartest to begin, and at the end of a furlong Thurso and Discordia were showing the way to the other pair, with Night Dew also handy. Tane, Dutch Money and The Viscount joined in at the home turn, and at the entrance to the straight The Viscount was up with the leaders. Dutch Money then retired. Thurso, Discordia, and The Viscount were showing the way when fairly in the straight, with Ranelagh next, while Te Awhina was moving up fast. Ranelagh and Te Awhina were in charge inside the distance and in a good finish Te Awhina won by a neck. Marsham, coming with a fast run, was three lengths away, with The Viscount next, while Thurso and Tane headed the others. The performance of the winner was a good one, after being last to leave the barrier. There were five scratchings for £he Selma Trot Handicap, and in a field of twenty-five, the Sea Mist-Wrackeen bracket was slightly better backed than Royal Iroquois, with Millie de Oro and the Glenville-Eiffelton Lass bracket also in request. Royal Iroquois and Last Pointer were first out and at the end of two furlongs they had Some Guy, Sea Mist and Millie de Oro as their nearest attendants. Royal Iroquois dropped back after going five furlongs, Last Pointer being left in front, with Millie de Oro next, while Royal Iroquois, Some Guy and Sea Miss were handy. A little further on Millie de Oro drew clear, and at the entrance to the straight she had a good lead from Sea Mist, with Sodium moving up. Millie de Oro held her place without trouble, and won by half a dozen lengths. Sea Mist stopped at the end, Sodium beating her by a half a length. Royal Iroquois was fourth, with Rough Voyage, Lady Zora, Some Guy and Last Poin-. ter heading the others. The winner is a four-year-old by Rey de Oro and she looks like winning more races, i The Wakanui Handicap, the concluding event of the day, attracted a field of ten, Erin-go-Bragh being the only scratching. Bonrose was a pronounced favourite, while after a gap Solgele was a littje better fancied than Buoyant. There was some delay at the start, but they went off in a good line, though Gold Mint was slow to move. Solgele, Nasstori and Decoy Bird were first to show out, but at the end of two furlongs Arrowmir had taken charge from Solgele and Decoy Bird, while Nasstori had dropped back. Bonrose then moved up and she was just behind the three leaders at the home turn. When fairly in the straight Arrowmir, Solgele, Decoy Bird and Bonrose were practically in line. Arrowmir then dropped out, but the other three came on together. Solgele was beaten twenty yards from the post, and Decoy Bird beat Bonrose by a neck, Solgele being a length away. Proud Knight, who finished on well, was two lengths further back, with Buoyant and Arikiwai next. The winner is a speedy galloper, but unreliable. On this occasion he raced very generously. It was his third start since he resumed work after a spell - . Bonrose ran a good race, and Solgele hung on well at the finish. Nasstori was galloped on, one of her legs being severely cut!