Sunshower’s Success In Select Company.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18985, 3 February 1930, Page 14

Sunshower’s Success In Select Company.

FORBURY PARK TROTTING CLUB HOLDS SUCCESSFUL SUMMER MEETING.

The summer meeting of the Forbury Park Trotting Club was concluded on Saturday. The weather was fine and there was a large attendance. There was some capital sport, fast times being recorded in several events. The totajisator handled £37,829, compared with £32,923 on the corresponding day last year, making a total for the meeting of £62,189, against £54,512 last year.

White Satin was a hot favourite for the Waverley Handicap, but had nothing to spare at the finish with Fifa. Hydro went out fast, but broke up in the first furlong, and Gardenella took charge with Ette Bells, Robert Todd and Patty Bingen next. White Satin lost a lot of ground through a slow beginning. Although Robert Todd was not trotting too steadily, he did not actually go to a break, and had taken charge with a round to go. Gardenella was in second place and the favourite had got third place, Fifa being next. Along the back both White Satin and Fifa caught up to the leader, and Robert Todd and White Satin came into the straight almost in line, with Fifa next. In the run to the post, ’White Satin drew away and beat Fifa by a length, Robert Todd being three lengths away third, with Gardenella and Ambition next. Robert Todd is gradually improving, and R. Townley may win a race with the fast but erratic trotter. Gardenella did not stay too well and Hawkesbury's Pride trotted worse than on the first day. Ambition was responsible for another solid performance. t

Cushla d’Or, who was a hot favourite for the mile saddle event, quickly put her backers out of their chance of victory by mixing her gait in the first fifty yards. Marinca went away with a strong lead, and had Rita M’Kinney and Sunchild following, the trio being well clear of the others. Along the back Warepa raced forward and Sunchild dropped back. Marinca came into the straight with a good lead from Rita M Kinney, Sunchild being next and Erin’s Fortune, who did not seem to settle down early, was next. Rita M’Kinney easily beat Marinca in the run home. Erin’s Fortune w T as third and Sunchild next. It was a fast-run race, which probably accounted for the field being so strung out at the finish. Roddy did not seem to be able to muster up much speed, and Warepa was done with at half the distance. Return Voyage is racing badly at present, and Krina, who was well backed, misbehaved at the barrier. Bing Boy went away right, but the speed was too fast for him.

The Gore Handicap produced the best race and the closest finish for the meeting, and Wrackeen in winning in 3miti 21 4-ssec, established a track record for the course. Cushla d’Or made a fine beginning and was not long before she raced up to Kinney Dillon and Blue Glen. Going along the back Kinney Dillon went to the front and both Morning Sun and Lily Harold improved their positions. With a round to go Kinney Dillon still had charge with Cushla d’Or, Wild Nita, Shady Spot and Morning Sun racing in that order. Along the back Lily Harold raced into second place behind Kinney Dillon. with Wild Nita and Shady Spot next. Wild Nita and Lily Harold came into the straight almost in line, with Morning Sun and Shady Spot next. Once in line for'home Wrackeen came ver3* fast, and in a great finish, won by a head from Wild Nita, who was a similar distance in front of Shady Spot, who was hemmed in and could not get clear. A neck away fourth came Morning Sun, just in front of Lily Harold. Golden Dillon and Haydock did not begin right, and Blue Glen, after going well for half the distance, stopped quickly. Kinney Dillon was prominent till a quarter of a mile from home, but Kreisler was never near the leaders at any stage. Lily Harold went a fine race, and so did the first day’s winner. Morning Sun. There was another fine contest for the Metropolitan Handicap, in which R. B. Berry’s pacer, Sunshower, and Jean M’Elwyn were best backed. Roi l’Or was second choice, and Linkman was third in demand. Sunshower went out smartest and was never headed throughout the jurney. Talent followed her until the last round, when he was displaced by Athalone, and Jean M’Elwyn was third. Along the back the order was unchanged, but rounding the turn Jean M’Elwyn went into second place; Athalone was third and Roi l’Or and Bonny Logan were next The stable mates fought out the finish, Sunshower getting the verdict by a couple of lengths from Jean M’Elwyn, with Athalone next, followed by Bonny Logan, King Pointer and Roi l’Oi. Athalone was responsible for another fine race, being always with the leaders, but .Talent was done with with five furlongs to go. Billy Sea found the company too select, and Maiwhariti ■would not pace steadily. Glideaway paced soundly throughout, although she never got close to the leaders. Linkman was evidently feeling the effects of his first day's racing, as he put little dash into his work. King Pointer

did not go steadily all the way, but paced better than on the first day. Quality made a slow beginning and never got near the leaders, and Roi I’Or covered far too much ground to have any chance at the finish. St George, Dice and Lydia were backed in that order for the Stewards* Handicap, but St George made a bad beginning and never got near the lead ers, and Dice, after racing well for a mile, was finished with and dropped back. Bricklayer was earliest away and led Captain Wrack, Jessie Huon, Drake and Luath for the first half-mile. With a round to go Captain Wrack had command, but before the back stretch was reached John Noble put in a run and went into second place, w r ith Jessie Huon following. John Noble went on to win easily, and pay a big dividend. Lydia paced fast over the last half-mile and got second place, with Le Thorpe next. John Noble appeared to win with ease. Luath stopped badly over the last quarter of a mile, and Jessie Huon stopped before that point. Pink Sugar looked to have a chance going out of the straight, but she tangled in her gait and lost ground. Mille de Oro went away badly and never threatened dan ger.

There was a fine finish for the Crescent Handicap between the first three trotters. All Peters, Writer and Commander Bingen finishing close together. The field all moved off well, but Nelson Afca broke up soon after the start and wotfld not settle down to trot again during the race. Commander Bingen went away with the lead, with All Peters and Nelson Boy next, the three being well clear of the field. With a round to go Nelson Boy went into second place, and Writer was racing fourth, but a long way back. Writer improved his position along the back, where Nelson Boy stopped and All Peters raced up to Commander Bingen. All Peters headed Commander Bingen in the straight, and Writer came very fast in the last quarter of a mile. All Peters won by about three quarters of a length, and Writer beat Commander Bingen by a head for second place. Some distance back came Bonny Spec, who trotted a very solid race. She was followed by Dipnoi, who also went much steadier than usual. Bingen Star did not go so well as on the first day. and Lenwood went unsteadily. Swiftbine showed some speed, but he did not stay, and Lee Todd is not improving. Commander Bingen trotted a fine race all the way. There were only six starters for the Royal Handicap, and Shady Spot was made favourite. Mac de Oro led out from Shady Spot, with Nelson M’Elwyn, Kreisler and Liberator next. Erin’s Fortune went away badly. Mac de Oro kept command till a round to go, when Shady Spot took charge and went on to win easily from Nelson M’Elwyn, with Liberal next. Some distance back came Erin’s Fortune, Kreisler and Mac de Oro being some distance away. Kreisler did not go as well as on the first day and Mac de Oro did not stay. Liberal had the outside running for some distance, but he had no chance with the winner. It looked as though Erin’s Fortune may have kept the leader busy had she made a good beginning. Although there were five scratchings for the Au Revoir Handicap thirteen went to the post and, as usual, it was a big betting race. Arikitoa, who had been beaten by Sunshower over the same distance on the first day, was made favourite with Logan Hanlon and Talent next in support. It was a ' capital contest and produced a good finish, Great Logan winning by a neck from Talent, with the consistent Athlone in third place. Arikitoa failed to go away well and Fight Ever, who seems to have lost all his dash, also made a bad beginning. Great Logan was practically in charge oil the way, and lasted just long enough to get the stake*. Talent, who had started in a two mile event earlier in the day, paced a much better race than over the longer distance. Final M’Kinney and Golden Bubbles went no better than on the first day and Lady Cello, on her form at the meeting, has evidently trained off. Logan Hanlon was prominent till the straight was reached, and the Otago Central representative stopped. Billyh Sea failed to show up at any stage of the race.