CLARION CALL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 133, 7 June 1937, Page 4

CLARION CALL

CENTURY HURDLES WIN ROYAL BANQUET SCORES IN STEEPLECHASE .WANGANUI WINTER MEETING OPENS IN RAIN Running into the lead with a mile still to be covered, Clarion Call won the Century Hurdles on Saturday in taking style and stamped himself as one of the leading hurdlers in commission. The conditions under which he won were such as to invest his performance with even greater merit, for the day, the opening day of the Wanganui Jockey Club’s winter meeting, was bitterly cold, a biting wind blowing, and the track was on the soft side after constant rain following the breaking of a fine spell enjoyed by the district for the best part of a fortnight. Under the circumstances the attendance was really good, for the outlook in the morning was for showery weather, and before racing commenced the cold wind had deterred a large number of local residents from braving the elements. The visiting contingent, however, was again a large one, and no doubt they accounted for the increased totalisator turnover. £12,822 being handled, as against £12,403 for the corresponding day last year, when the meeting commenced on June 20. The small increase of £419 would, therefore, certainly have been twenty times greater had the weather been fine. Further, heavy showers of rain, with bursts of hail at times drove even the hardiest hackers to shelter. It is a long time since such execrable conditions have obtained for a Wanganui meeting at r.ny season.

In ipite of ail discomforts the racing proved enjoyable and the finishes were such that, interest was maintained throughout. In no instance was the winning margin greater than a length, and the set-to between Taiioru and International in the Empire Handicap had even the hardooiled racegoer on his toes. Owing to the wet weather the Queen Alexandra Mounted Rifles Band was unable to play the usual programme of music from the raised dais on the lawn in front of the grandstand, but they played from the lower tier of the stand itself. As is now customary at Wanganui meetings, the National Anthem was played immediately prior to the running of the concluding event. It was surprising to find Clarion Cal not quite as well backed as Journet in the Century Hurdles, in which get no closer than fourth, whereas Clarion Call gave a splendid display, took the lead when Sporting Song parted company with his rider, and eventually held off a strong challenge by John Charles to win handily. Brigadore finished very fast into third place, just in front of Journet, with the remaining two starters beaten off. Royal Banquet was favourite for the Grandstand Steeplechase and the only wanner selected straight-out by the public. He gave a fine display of jumping, holding off Riotous every lime the latter challenged him, and when interfered with two furlongs from home after he had made his only mistake, he responded gamely to wrest the lead off Sporting Song and win by a length. Sporting Song ran a good race for his second attempt of the day. Riotous was a very tired horse when he bored over on the favourite under punishment. The Empire Handicap was perhaps the most interesting of the day, for the dividends were returned by two Taranaki candidates in Taitoru and International, ridden by apprentices S. Edwards and A. Caffyn respectively, and they staged a great duel over the final stages. The result was the same as that which obtained in a similar duel at the summer meeting, Taitoru beating International by the narrowest of margins. The favourte, Friesland, was never at home in .he going and was beaten out of the minor place money by the second favourite Pukeko.

The Waver ley-trained Gold Mission won the open sprint, the Winter Oats, downing the well-backed topweight Ben Braggie. Ethiop won the hack hurdle race, beating another Marton candidate in Hunting Queen. Rotoma, who had shown good form at Foxton, was allowed to pay a generous price in the Borough Hack Handicap when the Gainscourt filly defeated Airing, but the range in the betting was a wide one and even the favourite, the unlucky Flying Chief, would have returned a good dividend. Because of the Bristol Hack Cup race on Wednesday, the field for the Balgownie Hack Handicap presented the usual problem for investors, who proved unable to select the eventual winner. Spender taking the honours at a price not far short of a score. He was followed home by Myriam, second in request, but still a profitable investment for her supporters.

The favourite, Mahaanui, was fourth, just behind Eara. The judicial committee were called together on one occasion during the day, and after finding W. J. Bowden, rider of Riotous, guilty of a breach of Rule 289, suspended from rid ing for one month. The parking area at the racecourse, which had been extended to cope with nearly three times the usual number of cars, did not receive such a comprehensive test as may be expected on Wednesday, when the King’s Birthday programme will be decided on the general holiday. The rain and cold weather on Saturday deterred many motorists from attending, but the enclosures were well filled and arrangements for lining up the cars for a speedy getaway proved adequate. However, an improvement in the direction of entrance and exit gates hight meet with the approval of patrons without causing undue congestion on the streets leading from the course. ■ Ethiop Beats Hunting Queen ! In an event betting race for the ; Purua Hack Hurdles, Hunting Queen carried £27 more than Red Manfred, with Ethiop, the eventual winner, entrusted with £5 10s less. Kentucky Song and Hunting Queen led Ethiop at the first fence, but Hunting Queen assumed the lead coming past the stands, with Red Manfred, wide out, ahead of Kentucky Song. Ethiop and Petrarch. Red Manfred had joined Hunting Queen six furlongs from home, but Ethiop moved up and joined that pair crossing the top. leading into the straight with Hunting Queen, just ahead of Petrarch, Red Manfred dropping back. Petrarch fell at the last fence, j slightly interfering with Red Manfred, and in a hard finish Ethiop won by a neck from Hunting Queen, with Red Manfred fifteen lengths back. Kentucky Song was four lengths away. Gold Mission Gets There. Ben Braggie was preferred to Notium and Gold Mission in the Winter Oats, but Gold Mission beat the favourite. Solaria and Notium were slow to move out and Ben Braggie led out from Gold Mission and Tonnerre. The last-named went up into the lead with Ben Braggie after a furlong, and the pair were followed across the top and into the straight at a twolengths intervals by Gold Mission and Notium. Once straightened up for the run to the judge Gold Mission took charge and held off Ben Braggie by a neck. Two lengths back was Notium, with Tonnerre and Hunting Lodge after a gap. Clarion Call’s Hurdles. Clarion Call, winner of the Century Hurdles, carried £5O less than Journet, with the eventual second horse, John Charles, fifth in order. Contact and John Charles led Clarion Call and Sporting Song out of the straight, with Brigadore, RuafG»m and Journet next, but at the second fence Contact was well clear of John Charles, with another gap of three lengths to Clarion Call, Sporting Song and Ruaform. The end of a circuit found Sporting Song in charge from John Charles, Clarion Call, Contact and Brigadore, but Sporting Song lost his rider when landing over the fence in front of the judge's box, and Clarion Call assumed the lead from John Charles and Brigadore, with Journet moving up closer. Running across the top and into the straight Clarion Call and John Charles were together, with Journet and Brigadore close up. but Clarion Call held off John Charles to win by half a length. Brigadore finished on well into third place, a length and ahalf way, and after a gap of six lengths came Journet. Ruaform was next and Contact down the straight.

Spender Springs a Surprise. In spite of a heavy shower just before the preliminary for the Balgownie Hack, there was a good pool, in which Maahanui, Myriam and Parakino were best backed, with the eventual winner, Spender at a good double-figure price. Getting away to a good start, Parakino led Myriam, Lady Siegfried, Eara, Spender, Galteemore and Maahanui out of the straight, but Eara took the lead off Parakino at the six furlongs, with The Sandwichman, Myriam, Lady Siegfried, Galteemore, Spender and Maahanui next. Spender made a forward move from the half-mile and followed Eara across the top, actually heading the marc into the straight. where Myriam. Maahanui and The Sandwichmai. were nearest of the others. Over the final stages Spender did best to hold off a late challenge by Myriam by half a length, A length back was Eara. just aheau of Maahanui, and then came Lay Siegfried, Brazen King, Naughty Marietta and Corowa. The Cross-Country Event. Royal Banquet was favourite for the Grandstand Steeplechase and duly won, being followed home by Sporting Song, who was saddled up again after his Century Hurdles outing. At the first fence Bonnie Rolox, Royal Banquet and Riotous were in the van, but over the double brush the first time Royal Banquet led Bonnie Rollox and Riotous, Battleground tossing his rider. At the end of a mile Bonnie Rollox was done with, dropping right back, and over the double brush the second time Royal Banquet and Riotous were still in the van, followed at a six lengths intervals by Sporting Song and Platter. Royal Banquet was two lengths ahead of Riotous down the back, Sporting Song moving up to the pair, with Platter also close up. At the penultimate jump Royal Banquet made a mistake and Riotous headed him, appearing to cross over so quickly that he favourite was nearly over the inside rail, and the pair were passed by Sporting Song. Royal Banquet was soon into his stride again, however, and he and Sporting Song rose at the last fence together. In a great finish Royal Banquet drew out to win by a length from Sporting Song, with Riotous ten lengths back. Platter was fourth and Rioghail tailed the field.