Radiate Wins Another Steeplechase At Ashburton.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19109, 30 June 1930, Page 12

Radiate Wins Another Steeplechase At Ashburton.

PUNCHESTOWN SHOWS IMPROVED FORM AND GIVES EVIDENCE OF STAYING.

r | MTE WINTER MEETING of the Ashburton County Racing Club was held on Saturday in pLeasant conditions, the sun being strongly in evidence throughout the whole of the afternoon. The course was in capital order and provided first class going. Good fields contested most of the events and there was some keen sport, head finishes being the rule. Though it was a successful fixture, from a racing point of view, it was not so satisfactory financially. The attendance was smaller than usual, the visit of the British football team at Tiinaru proving a very strong counter attraction. As was to be expected, the absence of many patrons was reflected in the totalisator figures, the investments for the day being £7OOB, a big drop from the £11,781 10s handled at the corresponding meeting last year The meeting was well managed in all departments and provided a pleasant outing.

Racing opened -with the Hinds Hurdle Handicap, for which the eight acceptors lined up. Lancer was a pronounced favourite, while Heisler was a little better fancied than Troilus for second position. Heisler took charge at the start and led Royal Land to the first hurdle, where Royal Land fell while Zeuxis ran off at the second flight. Pangolin then took second place, but a faulty jump near the six furlong post settled* his chance. Heisler continued in the lead and five ftirlongs from home he had Oriflamb and Lancer in close attendance Gay Fashion lost his rider at the next hurdle, where Lancer also a couple of lengths through a bad jump. Lancer soon recovered and he was just behind Heis ler and Oriflamb at the home turn Lancer and Heisler jumped the last hurdle together, Lancer going on to win easily by two lengths. Oriflamb was two lengths further back, with Troilus fourth. Lancer was benefited by his racing at South Canterbury and now looks like going on to bettei things. Heisler. never a good stayer failed at the end. Troilus raced much below the previous week’s form. Pangolin was done with at the end of half the journey. There were no scratchings for the Moreton Hack Handicap and in a field of eleven Fortalice carried more than twice as much as Giggleswick, with Sweet Refrain a good third fancy. The start was not happy, several horses getting out slowly. Valuator soon showed in front, with Tariff, Fortalice and Kentish Lady handy, while Giggleswick headed the others. Giggleswick moved up to the front division at the home turn and when the straight was reached he and Fortalice were showing the way, while Sweet Refrain had joined in the next bunch, with Garvary moving up from the back Giggleswick had a slight advantage a furlong from the post and hung on long enough to beat Fortalice by a short head. Garvary was three lengths away, a neck in front of Sweet Refrain. The win ner is a three-year-old in H. Nurse’s Riccarton stable He has not had much racing, but he shapes like being very useful, as he has a lot of speed. Fortalice ran a sound race and so did Sweet Refrain, who was not one of the lucky ones in the early stages. Garvary put up a smart performance, after a slow jump out. Valuator, Kentish Lad}’ and Tariff all faded out badly at the finish.

gradually overhauled Punchestown who hung on long enough to win by » bare head Quarterdeck was Hire* lengths away, with Royal Mint fourth The win of Punchestown was popula T as he is locally owned He is a five vear-old half-brother to Charlatan, and this was his best performance. Toa wai and Haze faded out disappointing ly The pace was slow for the first half, and this may have assisted the winner. Radiate’s Narrow Win. In a field of nine for the Dromore Steeplechase, Radiate was a warm favourite, with Tunamoe and Waino the only others seriously fancied. Tunamoe and Diamond Jack led the second fence, where the latter fell. Tunamoe going on from Gala Day and French Fleet. These three were it* close order at the stand, with Wairio and Radiate not far away. Gala Day ran down the first fence of the double and was responsible for French Fleet falling. Wairio then went to the front, having Gala Day, Tunamoe and Radiate in close attendance. The next fence brought a great chance, as Wairio fell, while Gala Day and Radiate made faulty jumps, Tunamoe going on m front. Radiate headed Gala Day hall a mile from home and was just behind Tunamoe at the last fence. Tunamoe looked like holding his place in the run home, but Radiate came with a rush over the last hundred yards and won by a length Parader, who pleaded along all the way, was ten lengths back, with Gala Day ten lengths furthe. away. None of the others finished. Bladon baulked and Kulrange ran off early in the contest. F. Langford, the rider of French Fleet, escaped from a nasty fall with some bruises. Gal) Day jumped patchily and Radiate alsu fenced below his best form. Wairio was going well when he fell. Although there were only four runners for the Maronan Handicap, the race provided plenty of excitement. Rascal was favourite, but First Raid and Subdivision both came in for heavy support. The quartette raced in line for more than a furlong, when Subdivision drew clear, with Rascal, First Raid and Revision following in that order. Rascal and First Raid ranged alongside Subdivision at the entrance to the straight, and a little further on Subdivision retired. The two leaders then settled down to a great struggle, which ended in Rascal beating First Raid by a head. Subdivision was five lengths away third, well clear of Revision. The winner is just coming back to form and he will do still better on a softer track than he encountered in this race.

Mary Locanda and Silverwood were scratched for the Lyndhurst Trot, leaving a field of sixteen Lily Bingen was a warm favourite, with George Rey easily second choice. Kate Logan and Otaio Rose led out. with Hakari and Lily Bingen next These four continued in front at the mile post, and a little further on Kensitas, Kautoma and Danny Boy also joined in. There was not much change to the home turn, where Kate Logan was in trouble Otaio Rose had Kautoma. Lily Binge* and Kensitas as her nearest attendants at the entrance to the straight. Kau toma then moved up to Otaio Rose, and they fought out a great finish. Kautoma winning by a short head. Kensitas was three lengths away, a neck in front of Lily Bingen, with Danny Boy next, followed by George Rey, who finished fast. The winner has been racing consistently for some time, as has Otaio Rose, who has a lot of speed. Lily Bingen had every chance, but failed over the final furlong Punchestown in Form,

Great d’Oro was the only scratching for tlje Winchmore Trot Handicap leaving a field of twenty-one. Real Girl, a four-j-ear-old Real Guy mare, in O. E. Hooper’s stable, was a hot favourite, carrying a long way more than twice as much money as Author Franz, who just headed Derry Pointer for second fancy The two-year-old. Rawhitiroa. a half-brother to Kohara. broke up at the start, while Logan Eraser and Zane also failed to go off Lady Zora led out from Symmetry, with Princess Thea. Autowin, Real Girl, Brixton and Author Witlings* handy. Brixton and Author Willings took charge at the mile post, but Author Willings broke three furlongs further on. Real Girl then shot to the front, while at the half-mile post Glenville had taken second place These two were well clear of Derrv Pointer at the entrance to the straight but a furlong from home Real Girl commenced to tire. Derry Pointer and Otaio Rose were putting in great work at this stage. Glenville hung on to win by a length from Deny Pointer, who beat Real Girl by a length. Otaio Rose was close up. with Cranleigh, Princess Thea and Eiffelton Lass next. The winner deserved her success, as she had raced consistently of late, without much luck. Real Girl has plenty of speed and' will improve. Author Franz was not prominent at any stage.

The eight acceptors lined up for the Mayfield Handicap. It was a good bet ting race, Royal Mint carrying a few tickets more than Evening or Toawai, while Punchestown also came in for strong support. Haze was smartest out. but Toawai sOon headed him, with Evening handy. Punchestown took fourth place after going a furlong and two furlongs further on he headed Evening. They ran without further change to the home turn. Punchestown* joined Toawai and Haze at the en trance to the straight, and a litt 1 e further on the last-named pair retired Punchestown then went on in front, with Evening in hot pursuit. Evening