SILVERMINE’S WIN IS IMPRESSIVE.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 63, 16 March 1931, Page 12

SILVERMINE’S WIN IS IMPRESSIVE.

| IDEAL CONDITIONS FOR j WELLINGTON MEETING. (Special to the “ Star.”) WELLINGTON. March 14. The conditions were ideal for the opening day of the Wellington Racing Club’s meeting and the Trentham course was in great order. The attendance, however, did not look so large as usual, and the totalisator figures showed a heavy shrinkage, the total being £36,712 10s, compared with £52.295 10s on the corresponding day last year. There was some high-class racing, topped off with several exciting finishes. Easy Win for Air Laddie. Scratchings were numerous for the Rimu High Weight Handicap, Tunbridge. Mountain Heath, Goblin Market. Ouinopal and Elicit being withdrawn. This left five runners, including a bracket, Air Laddie (£703 10s) being a little better fancied than Mister Gamp (£667 10s). It was good picking, as they had the finish to themselves. Ilymgreat was smartest out, but Pat’s Boy soon took charge, having a lead of three lengths after going a furlong, while at the seven-furlong post he had increased this advantage to five lengths. Money Mint was second at this stage, with Air Laddie and Mister Gamp handy. _ The field closed up at the far turn, Air Laddie and Mister Gamp being together, two lengths behind the leader. They ran like this to the straight, where Pat’s Boy was going well. A little further on, however, he was in trouble, the two favourites running past him. They were on terms a furlong from the post, but Ellis was sitting still on Air Laddie, who beat Mister Gamp easily by a short length. Pat’s Boy was three lengths away, with Money Mint close up, just in front of Hymgreat. The winner had useful winning form to his credit at Woodville. He is an attractive galloper, with prospects of winning races in much better company. Mister Gamp ran a sound race and should be in great order for coming engagements, including early hurdle events. Lady Pam’s Narrow Win. Ladv Pam (£1762 10s) was a raging favourite for the New Zealand St Leger, Rosshire (£sll 10s), Ball Dress (£4ss 10s) and King March (£323) being best backed of the others. Pewa set out to make the pace, Ball Dress, Rosshire and Jayson following him past the stand. Lady Pam being last, with Appledore and Chief Link just in front of her. Pewa was showing the way to Jayson and Ball Dress at the mile post, with Rosshire heading the others. Lady Pam then started to move up and at the five-furlong post she was in close attendance on Pewa, while Ball Dress was handy, with King March moving into fourth place. Lady Pam led Pewa round the home turn, where King March headed Ball Dress in third place. Lady Pam was first into the straight. A little further on King March threw out a strong challenge. He was on terms with Lady Pam nearly a furlong from the post, but the favourite hung on to beat King March by a short half head. The pair drew right away from the field in the run home, Pewa being six lengths away third. Ball D/ess was fourth, followed by Appledore, who was running on at the end. Lady Pam only struggled home, but she would have been very unlucky had she lost, as she was handled very confidently after reaching the straight. King March registered a solid performance. Pewa also went well and looks a useful prospect. Ball Dress seemed to lose her place along the back, but she was not seriously inconvenienced. The distance found her out. A Speedy Juvenile. Two youngsters from Takanini, Auckland, disputed favouritism for the Plunket Nursery Handicap, High Comedy (£842) just heading Bronze Eagle (£785), while after this pair came Oratorian (£541 10s). It was great picking, as these three led the field home. Bronze Eagle, Fair Weather and Hampden were among the early leaders. Bronze Eagle was out clear long before the straight was reached, and streaking right away, he won with ridiculous ease by five or six lengths. Fair Weather and Hampden were still well placed as they raced on to the course proper, where High Comedy, View Hulloa, Psychologist, Curie, Solvent and Oratorian were also showing up. Hampden was in trouble a furlong from the post, and a little further on High Comedy and View Hulloa were at the head of the next bunch. Then Oratorian put in his claim and he got up on the post to make a dead heat with High Comedy for second, with View Hulloa a neck away. Then came Curie and Fair Weather, followed by Psychologist and Cricket Bat, with Richborough, Solvent and Golden Wings next. The win was the easiest seen in a two-year-old handicap for a long time. Bronze Eagle, has had only two races and after this effort he looks a great prospect for future events. High Comedy ran a solid race. Oratorian was staying on in fine style and looks like a making a good horse over a journey. Solvent was fairly well placed all through, but never looked a possible winner. Cricket Bat, from wide out, was a long way back in the early stages, but finished strongly. Silvermine Always Prominent. Havering was the only scratching for the Thompson Handicap, leaving a field of sixteen. Despite her failure at Franklin, Eaglet was made a hot favourite, with £ll7B 10s, while Paganelli £565 10s and Laughing Prince £514 were best backed of the others, with Arrow Lad £415 fourth choice. Arrow Lad was first to show out, but Refresher headed him at the end of a furlong, with Pakitere, Silvermine, Arrow Lad and Paganelli next. Pakitere joined Refresher in

the le'ad at the five furlong post, and a little further on Pakitere drew clear, opening out a gap of three lengths round the turn. Silvermine, Arrow Lad, Paganelli, Monaloff, Eaglet, Royal Parade, Historic and Laughing Prince were all in close attendance at this stage, Vertigern, Full Feather and Black Duke being at the tail of the field. Pakitere led to the straight, with Silvermine, Paganelli, Arrow Lad and Laughing Prince heading the others. Pakitere and Paganelli then retired, and at the distance Laughing Prince, Silvermine and Arrow Lad were showing the way. Laughing Prince drew out a hundred yards from the post but the weight stopped him at the end, and Silvermine came on again to beat him on the post by a head. Arrow Lad, staying on well, was a length away third. Mount Boa came with a rattle to get fourth, just in front of Historic, with Eaglet close up, also finishing well, after being badly placed at the entrance to the straight. Silvermine’s finishing effort was very impressive. Laughing Prince ran a great race under his big weight, while Arrow Lad was always, in the picture, running the mile out solidly. Mount Boa will be hard to beat over a longer journey before long. Historic was prominent all the way. Eaglet was never quite close enough to the leaders to have a chance. Pakitere showed great speed and is worth keeping in mind. Black Duke, after being one of the rear division to the straight, finished with a brilliant run. Paganelli went well for six furlongs and then retired. Karapoti Still Winning.

Nightmarch, Paganelli and Merry Cry were the scratchings for the North Island Challenge Stakes. Karapoti £l9lß 10s was a hot favourite, with Lady Quex £784 and Hunting Cry £5Ol 10s best backed of the others. Aspian and Hunting Cry were smartest out, but Karapoti drew clear at the end of a furlong, followed by Lady Quex, with Aspian and Lord Argosy next, then Hunting Cry and Toxuema. With three furlongs gone Karapoti was two lengths in front of Lady Quex, while Aspian and Lord Argosy were next, with Hunting Cry starting to move up. Karapoti was just in front of Lady Quex at the entrance to the straight, and when fairly headed for home Hunting Cry joined Aspian and Lord Argosy, three lengths Karapoti was half a length in front of Lady Quex a furlong from the post. The two leaders then commenced to go away from the others. Gray sat still on the favourite till the last fifty yards, and then had to draw the whip to enable the three-year-old to hold his half length advantage. Hunting Cry was five lengths away. The*! came Toxuema, who finished strongly to beat Aspian, with Gay Court and Esteem close up, Lord Argosy being last. Karapoti left no doubt as to his good class, though with a less experienced rider he might have lost. Lady Quex also ran a great race, staying out the seven furlongs well. Toxuema did well, it being his first race after a spell. Lord Argosy, after giving slight trouble at the barrier, showed speed for five furlongs, after which he was beaten. Two On End. Chief Joy (£1051) was a strong first choice in the Silverstream Handicap, while Shatter (£594) and Playground (£517) were best backed of the remainder. Chief Joy, Simba and Shatter were prominent early, with Parysia, SaltpOt, Dermod and Spear Lad handy. Simba and Dermod were showing the. way at the end of three furlongs, well clear of Chief Joy, Saltpot, Spear Lad, Hawkshaw and Playground. A little further on Simba drew clear, and at the home turn, he was two lengths in front of Dermod and Chief Joy, with Saltpot, Hawkshaw and Playground heading the others. Simba was out with a good lead when the straight was reached and he stalled off first Hawkshaw and then Chief Joy, beating Chief Joy decisively by a. length. Hawksfiaw was over two lengths away, just clear of Playground, after whom came Shatter, Spear Lad, Dermod, Joie de Val and Saltpot. The winner was successful at Dannevirke earlier in the week and looks like going on to good form. Chief Joy ran a sound race under a big weight, and is a very smart three-year-old. Hawkshaw, another of the same age, was going well when the straight was reached, but failed at the end. Shatter began well but lost his place, only to come on again at the finish. The Viscount and Appeal never threatened danger, while Sailor’s Love got off badly. Favourite Wins. Paganelli, Hunting Day, Blue Paper, Malayan and Mandy were scratched for the Railway Handicap, leaving a field of twelve. Cadland (£1476 10s) was a hot favourite, with Autopay (£740) and Havering (£539) next best backed. There was some delay at the start, several of the candidates contributing to the trouble. Arikinui, Autopay and Royal Routine were smartest out, and they showed the way to the course proper, where Cadland and Havering were going well in the next bunch. Autopay took charge below the distance, but a little further on Cadland challenged, while Havering moved up on the rails. Cadland had the measure of Autopay a hundred yards from the post and won by nearly a length. Havering finished on well, a similar distance away. Then came True Shaft and Limerick, both running on strongly, with Arikinui, Tenterden and Royal Routine next. Arikinui and Royal Routine failed to stay. Cadland’s win was very impressive and showed him up as a good and improving sprinter. Autopay ran a solid race and only failed in the last bit. Havering was going particulary well over the final furlong. True Shaft, coming from wide out, was giving away a fair start over the final furlong and finished well. Limerick, after being last in the early stages, was travelling on in great style over the last two furlongs. On this form it looks only a matter of keeping him sound to win more races. A Smart Hack.

In a field of nineteen for the Tinakori Handicap, Pythia (£9OO 10s) and Hot Tea (£BB6 10s) disputed favour-* itism, with Tea Queen (£648) and Kozan (£537 10s) also solidly backed. Kozan and Pythia led out early and were showing the way racing for the course proper, where Tea Queen, Winsome Hind, Leisure and Hot Tea were

also prominent. Kozan and Pythia were showing the way at the false rail, but Pythia then drew clear. Tea Queen and Glenrossie finished with a great rattle and a fine finish saw Pythia win by half a length from Tea Queen, who beat Glenrossie by a head. Kozan was close up fourth, with Tobaccoland, Winsome Hind, Leisure, Hunting Call and Hot Tea not far away. The winner, who hails from G. W. New’s Awapuni stable, is a smart three-year-old filly. She has won several hack races this season, and will go on to further successes in open company. Tea Queen, trained at Trentham, is a likely sort to win soon. Kozan can go fast but he lid not quite see- the journey out. Winsome Hind ran a good race, after appearing to meet trouble coming to the course proper.