DESERT SONG WINS.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 230, 28 September 1931, Page 9

DESERT SONG WINS.

Wet Day for Geraldine Races. The Geraldine Racing Club was decidedly unfortunate in the weather that was experienced on Saturday for the second day of its meeting. There was a heavy fall of rain in the morning and frequent showers during the day that made the conditions very unpleasant, though the rain was intermittent, with patches of sunshine. The course became very heavy, resulting in the scratching of a number of horses, v/hose trainers realised that it was useless starting them on a track that would not suit them. In spite of this, however, the size of the fields was well maintained, but the racing was not so exciting as on the first day, due to the inability of some competitors to act on the .soft ground. Desert Song led practically all the way in the chief event, the President’s Handicap, and repeated his success of last year in the same race. The totalisator investments were £7417, compared with £10,218 10s on the corresponding day last year, making a total for the meeting of £14,623 10s, against £19,007 last year. With fine weather on Saturday the. meeting would have been a great financial success, as there was a large attendance. Amorist (£137 10s) and Quinopal (£119) were best backed in the Hurdle Handicap, with Paquito (£62 10s) third fancy. Amorist streaked out in front, opening up a gap of several lengths. Carinthia was second for a furlong, but then dropped back behind Quinopal and Rameses. Along the back Quinopal was in second place, with Rameses and Paquito next. Amorist was in trouble at the home turn, Quinopal going on in front. Paquito took second place in the straight but Quinopal beat him comfortably by four lengths. Amorist was four lengths away, while eight lengths further back Gourmet, Rameses and Carinthia were separated by necks. The winner enhanced the good opinion formed on the first day and looks a great hurdle prospect. Paquito jumped well throughout and he should be good later in the season. Amorist disappointed by stopping very quickly Carinthia is not at his best. Grecian Prince Improves. Jason's Quest (£152) and Grecian Prince (£124 10s) were the popular picks in the Wainui Hack Handicap, with Irish Chieftain (£66) third fancy. Irish Chieftain got out badly. Grecian Prince was first away, followed by Metal Bird and Earthquake, but Metal Bird soon lost his place, the order at the end of two furlongs being Grecian Prince, Royal Sceptre, Earthquake' Some Good, while Jason’s Quest joined in at the home turn, where Earthquake retired. A little further back Irish Chieftain and Silver Salver were moving up. Grecian Prince was well clear of Royal Sceptre, Some Good and Jason’s Quest at the entrance to the straight, but the last named pair soon dropped out. Grecian Prince went on to win by a length. Royal Sceptre tired in the last hundred yards, and a good finish saw Irish Chieftain gain second place by a head from Silver Salver, who was running on strongly and beat Royal Sceptre by a head. Sailor’s Love. Jason's Quest and Metal Bird, several lengths away, headed the others. Grecian Prince gave distinct evidence of improving. He ran the journey out well and he may go on to better class. Irish Chieftain gave a highly creditable display, atfer getting off badly, and he should be a winner very soon. Silver Salver, a Half brother to Young Lochinvar and Jock o’ Hazeldean, was travelling fast at the finish, but may never get beyond moderate class. Some Good and Jason’s Quest were well placed nearing the straight, but they faded out in disappointing fashion. Both are capable of better deeds. Gunfire Unlucky. Gunfire (£204) was a strong favourite for the Domain Trot Handicap, with Aimworthy (£144) and Dollar King (£104) best backed among the others. Dollar King took charge from Aimworthy at the end of a furlong, while Gunfire lost a lot of ground through breaking at the start. Murisco joined Dollar King in the lead at the end of half a mile, Happy Lass, Aimworhy and Linella being close up. Murisco dropped back a little further on, but there was no other change going to the back. Dollar King then broke and at the five furlong post Happy Lass was in front, with Linella, Great d’Oro, Dollar King, Aimworthy, Rokena and Gunfire in close attendance. Gunfire put in a good run round the turn. Happy Lass was beaten at the entrance to the straight. Gunfire and Linella going on in front. Linella then drew out and won by two lengths from Aimworthy, while two lengths further back Great d'Oro beat the tiring Gunfire by half a length. The winner has run several good races lately, without earning more than place money, a third and a fourth on Thursday being evidence of her consistency. Aimworthy went better than on the first day of the meeting, but he is no more than useful. Gunfire was unlucky at the start, and it looked as if he would have won ha d he gone off right. Desert Song Strikes Form. Compris, Rascal, Rational 11. and Topere were scratched for the President’s Handicap and in a field of nine Mount Boa (£226), Martian Chief (£171) and Desert Song (£166 10s) were best backed. Desert Song led Dulen out of the straight, where Dulen took charge, followed by Desert Song, Hounslow and Martian Chief, with Night Maid last and Black Duke just in front of her. Dulen and Hounslow dropped back going into

the back stretch and at the six furlong post Desert Song was showing the way to Ranelagh, Dulen and Mount Boa, while Hounslow was several lengths

away, just in front of Black Duke and Night Maid. At the half-mile post Desert Song had Ranelagh, Mount Boa and Martian Chief as his nearest attendants, but at the home turn Ranelagh retired. Mount Boa, on the outside, and Martian Chief, on the rails, challenged Desert Song in the straight. Desert Song stayed on well to beat Mount Boa by half a length. Martian Chief, who stopped a bit at the finish, was two lengths away, closely followed by Night Maid and Black Duke, both of whom finished strongly. The winner repeated his success of last year in the same race. He is just coming on and is likely to show improved form this season. Mount Boa is nearly ready and may win any time now. Martian Chief ran a sound race, but the distance beat him, in the heavy going. Night Maid had conditions to suit her and so did Black Duke, whose turn is nearly due. Ranelagh let his admirers down once more and he is proving expensive. Consistency Rewarded. Arrowmir (£174 10s), Rascal (£161) and Rational 11. (£140) were best backed in the Stewards’ Handicap. Limited, Sleipner and Rascal jumped out best, but Arrowmir was in front before a furlong had been covered with Limited,

Sleipner and Rascal heading the others. A furlong further on Arrowmir was showing the way to Sleipner, On Top and Limited, but on reaching the straight the last named pair were in trouble, Arrowmir having Sleipner as his nearest attendant, with Rational 11. and Master Anomaly next, followed by Rascal. In the run home Arrowmin held his place and beat Sleipner by two lengths, while two lengths away came Rascal, who finished fast and beat Rational 11. by a head, with Master Anomaly a head further back. Arrowmir deserved his win, after his consistent form in his two previous starts. R. Ellis has him in great order at present. Sleipner registered a useful performance and he will win again shortly. Rascal went well, after failing to go out quite so fast as usual. Limited could not act in the heavy ground. On Top again proved troublesome at the barrier ancl was slow away. A Winner At Last. In spite of many expensive failures, Logan Fraser (£180) was favourite for th e Winchester Trot Handicap, with Aimworthy (£l5O 10s) and Gunfire (£143 10s), best backed of the others. Gunfire again broke at the start and never recovered. Logan Fraser drew clear early, leading past the stand, with Happy Lass, Rokena, Snowy Huon, Aim worthy and Greateaux next. There was no change at the end of half a mile, where Ron and Liberty Hall were others profminent. A furlong further on Snowy Huon took second place and he followed Logan Fraser round the turn, with Aimworthy handy. Logan Fraser held his place and beat Snowy Huon by half a.length, with Aimworthy a length away, while two lengths further back came Fleet Arrow, who put in a great run along the straight. Logan Fraser has a great private reputation, but this was the first time he had produced his form in a race. He will win more stakes if he will show his real speed in public. Snowy Huon paced soundly all the way. Aimworthy would have given the winner more trouble had he gone kindly over the final furlong. Fleet Arrow gave further evidence of usefulness and he may add to his record before long. A "Speedy Sprinter. Seven scratchings reduced the field for the Gladstone Handicap by half. Gold Pit (£323), Night Recital (£217 10s) and Weatherly (£188) were backed

in that order. Gold Pit jumped out smartly and soon had a lead of three lengths from Night Recital, with Weatherly and Red Royal next. When two furlongs had been covered Gold Pit was four lengths in front of Weatherly with Night Recital handy, while Red Royal and Revision were next. Night Recital took second place at the entrance to the straight, but though he finished well, Gold Pit beat him easily by a length. Weatherly was four lengths away, while six lengths further back Revision l>eat Red Royal for fourth place. Gold Pit gave evidence of her liking for soft ground when racing at Trentham in July. She is a speedy three-year-old, liable to make a Jot of improvement. Night Recital ran a sound race but never looked like overhauling the winner. Outside this pair it was not a good field. Easy for Topere. Scratchings were again numerous in the Farewell Handicap, only sir of the eleven acceptors lining up. Topere (£376), Inevitable (£313 10s) and Ravine (£270) were best backed in a good betting race. Inevitable began smartly, having Topere and First Raid as his nearest attendants for over a furlong, when Ravine and Assemble displaced them. Assemble did not last long and at the end of half-a-mile Inevitable, Semper Paratus and Ravine were in line, with the other three together, a few lengths away. Inevitable was in trouble at the home turn. Semper Paratus then headed Ravine and led to the straight. Topere moved up a little at this stage and was going so easily that the race appeared to be all over. Topere’s rider was content to wait till inside the distance and when given his head, the Arrowsmith gelding ran to the front in a few strides, to win with ridiculous ease by two lengths. Ravine was three lengths behind Semper Paratus, just beating First Raid, who finished strongly. Topere has run his best races on soft tracks, and with conditions made for him he went like a good horse. He is very well and likely to score again soon. Semper Paratus stuck on well and he may pick up a stake later. Ra vine ran a fair race, but Inevitable collapsed in disappointing fashion a long way from home. Assemble did not race up to expectations and First Raid is not at his best at present.