ON THE TURF

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 136, 10 June 1937, Page 4

ON THE TURF

By

“KESTREL"

UNUSUAL DOUBLE

CENTURY AND STEEPLES VERSATILE CLARION CALL NOTIUM AND PUKEKO WIN WANGANUI'S SUCCESSFUL MEETING Asserting his superiority over his opponents in the Wanganui Steeplechase yesterday, Clarion Call, winner of the Century Hurdles on the opening day of the Wanganui Jockey Club’s winter meeting, completed an unusual double and demonstrated his versatility as a jumper. It i» only in the last few years that tnese two events have been decided on different days, as for many years it tvas the main jumping "double” on tne opening day of tne meeting. Clarion Call revelled in the task ol catching the pacemaker Brigadore over the concluding live furlongs, ran past the leader and then carried him along at »uch a pace tnat Brigadore "sola out" at the penultimate xence. This left Clarion Call so far in rront that it was only a question of his standing up for nis backers to collect what proved to be a good dividend. The crowd was one ol tne largest ever seen at a Wanganui race meeting, and appeared to be a trifle greater than mat whicn attended the .Kings Birthday meeting last year. Judging by the sale ol race cards, which gives a reliable indication, tne attendance must have been in tne vicinity 01 lu.UUb. Tne toiansator handled £21,944, as against X2U,604 10s for the holiday last year, making the aggregate for the meeting £34,760, compared with £33,U3< 10s last year, an increase oi 1172 b 10s. The weather proved just as fine as the first day was wretched, me bright sunshine no aoubt influencing many to attend, and the racing uiey saw was fully m keeping with me weatner conditions, though nnisnes were not always as interesting as on tne opening tvy. 'ihe rolled out well, ihougn a trine soft still, and tne going was much better man on me opening day, the open sprint, lor instance, being run m two seconds better time than on Saturday.

Car-parking lacilities were fully tested, practically all the available space being occupied, ihe experience gained by the club on tnis occasion ma, however, guide me responsible committee in tne direction oi making more comprehensive arrangements for the depark Jig ol cars, as wen as in tne provision ol better entrances and exits.

The day passed without untoward incident, ihougn the leading nurdle horseman, A. ucnkms, who nad steered Clarion Call and Koyai Banquet to victory in the oig jumping double tne first aay, came to griei wnen Hunting Queen tippeu uut in the June Hurdles. He nau a heavy tall ana was taxen to tne Wanganui Public Hospital, where it was ascertained that he had sunerea a fractured shoulder blade and an injury to one leg. in the Wanganui Steeplechase, Brigadore tell within a quarter ol a mile of the finish, but his rider was not seriously injured.

With the first day's form to guide them, investors nau a better day, two of the winners being favourites, anu in four other races me favourite returned a dividend lor second place. Ethiop was the only winner to oe as little fancied as fifth favourite, but his dividend was not quite as big as that returned by the uristol Cup winner, Brazen King, who was thuu in request in a large pool. in keeping with the spirit which prompted the institution ol sucn a race as the Bristol Hack Cup, ihe Held was tne largest at the meeting, and the finish was contested by two high-class three-year-olds, wormy oi being elevated, as they were, by the handicapper to the top of the list. Dictate was a warm labourite, probably because he had L. G. Morris in the saddle, for his performances in the South Island scarcely warranted his being twice as well backed as Brazen King, who had been rather unlucky on the opening day. Tnese two came away from the Held over the last three furlongs, Brazen King assuming the lead and holding Oil Dictates most determined anu longsustained challenge to win by a heau. As the winner was ridden oy B. H. Morris, the spectacle of two brothers lighting out a finish was provided anu was much appreciated oy the crowd. Chat came from a long way back to Hll third place, and High 'lest was a close fourth. with the well-backed F lying Cniet next.

Following the return of the Bristol Hack cup contestants io the birdcage the presentation ol the handsome gold cup. donated by Mr John Donald, was maue by Mr C. G. Russell, president of the Wanganui Jockey Club. Mr Russell congratulated the donor on his generosity and said that the 'club was most fortunate in tne support it h;|. received in this direction m the past. The trophy and the handsome stake had attracted a splendid icld and a line finish had been provided. He also congratulated Mr Lou tie on having sucn a good horse as Brazen King to carry his colours, and concluded by handing over the cup to Mr Lourie, who also accepted the trainer’s trophy on behalf of C. S. Pilcher, ol Feilding, trainer of Brazen King. Cheers for the connections of the winner and also for the donor concluded the function. Royal Banquet was better backed than Clarion Cail in the Wanganui Steeplechase, but failed to repeat Windsor Lad’s feat of last year in winning the two big steeplechases. Riotous again secured third money but like Royal Banquet he was a long way behind the winner. Brigadore •would most likeiy have been second but for tipping out.

Ethiop, winner of the hack hurdle race the first day, proved able to beat th** open hurdles held with 9.9 on his back. He was ridden by F. McHugh, who was also able to get the mount on Clarion Call when Jenkins was injured through Hunting Queen’s fall. John Charles again had to be content with second place. Beau Gallante essayed to win from end to end but failed over the final stages. Fukeko, who has been "knocking at

the door’’ since his Otaki win, scored convincingly in the Connolly Handicap, in which Gold Mission and Tiger Gain filled the minor placings. The Turakina-owned Croydon won the Hack and'Hunters’ Steeplechase, decisively defeating the hot favourite, Sporting Song. Notium, a halfbrother to Peacemaker, a good performer in Australia, won the open sprint comfortably from Taitoru and Winsome Lu, and in the final event the New Plymouth-trained Te Huia downed Colleen Gain and the locallyowned Parakino. Croydon Beats Favourite. Sporting Song carried twice as much as Croydon in the Hack and Hunters’ Steeplechase, but Croydon beat the favourite nicely. Croydon led at the first fence from Platter, Battleground and Sporting Song, Royal Fire’s rider having a “life” but scrambled back into the saddle. Over the double brush at the I end of a mile Croydon led Platter,! Sporting Song and Battleground, Royal Fire running up close at the fences down the back. Half a mile I from home Croydon led Platter and Sporting Song by a couple of lengths, with the other pair ten lengths back, but when Sporting Song ran up to the leader Croydon drew away again. Once over the final obstacle Croydon came on to win by four lengths from Sporting Song, with Platter only a couple of lengths back. After a gap came Battleground, with Royal Fire eight lengths back. Favourite Wins Sprint. Notium was an even-money favourite for the Belmont Handicap and duly won from the second favourite, Taitoru. Notium led Fulojoy, Collodion and Taitoru out from the tapes, Solaria being badly left. Fulojoy ran to the front within a furlong, Notium, Taitoru and Collodion following, but Notium then resumed the lead from Fulojoy, Collodion and Taitoru, with a gap back to Winsome Lu, and thus they turned for home. Notium came on to win by two lengths from Taitoru, with Winsome Lu only a neck away. Collodion dropped out of it in the last fifty yards to finish fourth, just ahead of Tonnerre and Fulojoy. Ethiop Completes Double. John Charles was at a short price for the June Hurdles but had to strike his colours to Ethiop, who was only fifth in request. Beau Gallante assumed the lead from the jump-out, piloting John Charles, Contact, Ethiop, Hunting Queen, and. Journet, with a gap back to Red Manfred and Ruaform. Passing the stands Beau Gallante’s lead had been reduced from eight lengths to four, and Ethiop and Journet were ahead of John Charles, Hunting Queen and Contact. Running down the back Beau Gallante went out again to a five lengths lead from Ethiop, Journet and John Charles, Hunting Queen coming to grief at the hurdle by the five furlong peg and throwing her rider heavily. Ethiop set out to bridge the gap and caught Beau Gallante at the straight entrance, with John Charles and Journet closing up. Once over the last hurdle Ethiop ran on for an easy win by four lengths from John Charles, who beat Beau Gallante by two lengths for second place. Red Manfred was fourth and then came Journet and Ruaform. Trophy to Brazen King. The Bristol Hack Cup field attracted spirited betting, Dictate being much better backed than Flying Chief and Brazen King, but at the finish Brazen King and Dictate were out clear. Getting awav to a good start the field soon commenced to string out. Dictate, Taro, Airing and Flying Chief being prominent, and then Taro led out of the straight from Airing, Dictate, Flying Chief, High Test and Brazen King, with a gap back to Ngatirahiri, Rotoma and Myriam. Running down the back stretch Flying Chief led Dictate and Brazen King at the five, Airing dropping back and being replaced by Rotoma and High Test. Then Dictate and Brazen King commenced to draw out from High Test and Flying Chief, Rotoma, Airing, Mhiam and Chat, the last-named moving up fast. Once in line for the judge Brazen King had Dictate’s measure, but the topweight responded gallantly, going under by a head only. Three lengths back came Chat, clear of High Test, Flying Chief. Rotoma, Myriam, Ngatirahiri and Airing in that order. Clarion Call’s Steeples. Five paraded for the Wanganui Steeplechase, in which Royal Banquet carried £3O more than Clarion Call, but the latter completed the Century Hurdles-Steeplechase double. Clarion Call and Royal Banquet led over the initial obstacle from Brigadore, who dashed to the front attei going a mile. Down the back tne second time Brigadore was six lengths in front of Clarion Call, with Royal Banquet eight lengths back. Over the double brush the last, time Brigadore was five lengths ahead of Clarion Call, with another gap of seven lengths back to Royal Banquet. Riotous and Rioghail were well back. Half a mile from home Clarion Call ran past Brigadore and the pair came across the top twelve lengths ahead of Royal Banquet, but Brigadore came to grief at the second last fence. Clarion Call was left with the last fence to clear for an easy win, and this he hooked badly but still remained well clear, winning by 200 yards from Royal Banquet, who finished eight lengths ahead of Riotous. Rioghail* was a fair way back. Connolly to Topweight. International and Mandamus were preferred to the ultimate winner, Pukeko, in the Connolly Handicap, with anything else at a good price. Sir Nigel and Gold Mission were first to hit the front, but Gold Mission led out of the straight from Sir Nigel, Davistock, Tiger Gain, Le Grand, Corowa, Pukeko, Mandamus and International. The leaders were bunched at the five furlongs, where Gold Mission, Sir Nigel and Mandamus were racing abreast, followed closely by Tiger Gain. Pukeko, Corowa and International. Tiger Ga*r» got through on the rails at the three

furlongs, but Gold Mission and Mandamus were still in front of Tiger Gain and Sir Nigel at the straight entrance, with Pukeko making a fast move in the straight to come on and win by half a length from Gold Mission. Half a length back was Tiger Gain, clear of Mandamus, Le Grand, International, Master Norval and Corowa. Another from Taranaki. Te Huia carried nearly £lOOO in the concluding event, the Farewell Hack Handicap, and duly scored the second Taranaki win of the day. When the tapes went up People’s Idol, Parakino, Te Huia, Colleen Gain and Dawning Light were prominent, but Colleen Gain was then taken into the lead, followed acros the top by Helios, Te Huia, Parakino, People’s Idol, Dawning Light and Sporting Gift. Colleen Gain led into the straight ahead of Te Huia, The Sandwichman, Sporting Gift and Fleeting Arrow. Over the final stages Te Huia and Colleen Gain drew out and then Parakino came with a rush, Te Huia getting the verdict by half a length from Colleen Gain, with Parakino half a length back. There was a gap to Helios, Sporting Gift, Koura Rua, Race Call and Dawning Light. Details of results:— HACK AND HUNTERS’ STEEPLES (Of £200; about two miles.) 2 Croydon (Mr C. Varley) ch.g., aged, by Warplane—Advance mare, 9.12, T. Tito J I—Sporting Song (Mrs G. M. Bennett), 11.5, L. Dulieu .. .2 3 Platter (Mr F. W. Davis), 9.3, D. W. Bush .......... J Also: 5 Battleground 9.11 (A. Lord), 4 Royal Fire 9.0 (P. Button). Four lengths; two lengths. Time, 4.0 2-5. (Winner trained by L. J. F. Jarvis, Marton Junction). BELMONT HANDICAP (Of £200; six furlongs.) 1— NOTIUM (Messrs E. L. Abbott and H. B. Gibson) ch.g., 3i>, by Lysander —Makepiece, 8.12, B. H. Morris 1 2 TAITORU (Mr E. G. Baylis), 9.7, S. Edwards 2 4 WINSOME LU (Miss F. Barry) 8.0, G. R. Tattersall 3 Also: Tonnerre 8.5 (K. James), 7 Solaria 8.2 (C. P. Sheild), 5 Collodion 8.1 (R. W. Savage), 6 Hunting Lodge 8.0 (S. Wilson), 8 Fulojoy 8.0 (D. Lamb). Two lengths; neck. Time, 1.15. (Winner trained by J. Brown, Hawera). JUNE HURDLES (Of £300; 1; miles.) 5 (Mr A. T. Gat re 11), b.g., syrs, by Nigger Minstrel —Cora Ora, 9.9, F. McHugh . 1 I—JOHN CHARLES (Mr N. E. Loisel), 9.12, A. Lord . 2 6 BEAU GALLANTE (Mr R. C. Penman), 9.12, E. Burgess . 3 Also: 7 Ruaform 10.4 (A. McDonald), 3 Journet 10.0 (N. C. Trillo), 2 Red Manfred 9.12 (P. Button), 4 Hunting Queen 9.8 (A. Jenkins), fell; 8 Contact 9.6 <P. Burgess). Four lengths; two lengths. Time, 3.12 4-5. (Winner trained by L. F. J. Jarvis, Marton Junction). BRISTOL HACK CUP (Of £300; one mile and a distance.) 3 BRAZEN KING (Mr D. Lourie), b.c., 3rs, by Brazen — Booralie, 9.6, B. H. Morris ... 1 1— DICTATE (Mr M. O’Brien), 9.8, L. G. Morris 2 10—CHAT (Mr R. H. W. Holden), 8.0, G. R. Tattersall 3 Also: 5 Myriam 9.5 (S. Wilson), 6 Airing 9.4 (k. Cnote), 4 Rotoma 8.13 (T. Tito), 2 Flying Chief 8.13 (A. Caffyn), 8 Taro 8.13 (P. Burgess), 11 High Test 8.12 (C. P. Sheild), 7 Spender 8.12 (F. Bentley), 14 Hunting Maid 8.12 (R. W. Savage), 9 Erebus 8.11 (R. J. Flower) and Kara 8.2 (L. Monkley), bracketed; 16 Lady Siegfried 8.9 (D. Lamb), 13 The Sanuwichman 8.5 (Fl. E. Coveny), 15 Ngatirahiri 8.2 (S. Edwards), 12 Maananui 8.2 (J. W. Chandler), 17 Cloudy Bay 8.0 (J. McCauley). Mead; three lengths. Time, 1.57 1-5. (Winner trained by C. Pilcher, Feilding). WANGANUI STEEPLECHASE (Of £500; three miles.) 2 CLARION CALL (Mr G. R. Grace) b.g., 6yrs, by Hunting Song—Saxon Saint, 11.5, I l '. McHugh 1 1 ROY Al, BANQUET (Mr J. McRae), 10.8, N. C. Trillo 2 3 RIOTOUS (Mr L. Knapp), 10.7, P. Burgess 3 Alsc: 4 Brigadore 9.4 (B. Sullivan), fell; u Rioghail 9.0 <T. Tito). A furlong; eight lengths. Time, 5.57. (Winner trained by L. G. Morris, Marton). CONNOLLY HANDICAP (Of £3OO ; if miles.) 4 PUKEKO (Mr B. Burgess), bk.g., 6yrs, by Arausio— Deflection, 8.9, D. Lamb 1 4- GOLD MISSION (G. A. Downs) 8.4, R. W. Savage 2 6- TIGER GAIN (W. Henderson), 8.7, C. P. Sheild 3 Also: 1 International 7.10 (A. Caffyn), 2 Mandamus 7.8 (N. Cavaney), 4 Le Grand 7.8 (G. R. Tattersall), 8 Davistock 7.2 (S. Edwards), 10 Corowa 7.2 (S. Hawkes), 11 Master Norval 7.3 (F. Latham), 9. Round Score 7.11 (S. Wilson), 7 Sir Nigel 7.7 (K. Chote), 11. Windscreen 7.7 (L. Monkley). Half a length each way. Time, 2.10. (Winner (rained by owner, Masterton), FAREWELL HACK HANDICAP (Of £150; five furlongs.) I—Te Huia (Messrs R. G. and S. Topless), blk.g., 4yrs, by Royal Divorce—Ribbonwork, 8.4, R. W. Savage 1 5 Colleen Gain (Mr M. J. Lane), 8.2, N. Cavaney —2 3—Parakino (Messrs J. J. Lissette and H. S. Macey), 8.0, S. Edwards 3 Also: 2 Dawning Light 8.8 (P. Burgess), 6 The Sandwichman 8.5, 4 Race Call 8.3 (C. P. Sheild), 12 Koura Rua 8.0 (A. W. Sinton), 7 People's Idol 8.0 (B. H. Morris), 8 Sporting Gift B.o* (G. R. Tattersall), 10 Fleeting Arrow 8.0 (W. Doyle), 9 Helios 8.0 (S. Wilson), 11 Fair Isle 8.0 (K. Chote). Long neck; four lengths. Time, Imin. 2 3-ssec. (Winner trained by H. Dulieu, New Plymouth >.