TE RAPA RACES

Waikato Times, Volume 194, Issue 22354, 22 May 1944, Page 4

TE RAPA RACES

COLONEL VAALS WINS SIR KINGMAN SCORES Ideal weather conditions obtained at Te Rapa on Saturday when large crowds were attracted to the big winter meeting of the Waikato Racing Club. The going was dead but in good winter order and racing of a high order was witnessed throughout the day. Abbey Lu and Surpeen staged a spectacular finish in the Te Rapa Steeplechase and the finish of the Hamilton Hurdles was also an exciting one, Emdale finishing on to win narrowly from Gold Cape, who but for blundering at the last fence, would no doubt have carried the dcy. Following are details of the racing:— STEWARDS’ HANDICAP, of £450; 7 fur.—J. Colonel Vaals, J. Paltridge’s ch g, b Vaals—Norval Tea, 4 years, 7.0 (Toki). 1; 4—5 Bonny Pay, 8.0 (S. Green), 2; 3—4 Sir Dingle, 7.0 (Wiggins), 3. Also started: 5—6 Fortune’s Smile, 2—2 Lady Pay, 7—7 Golden Survey. 16—16 Sporting Gift, 15—15 Peter Douglas. 6—3 Betterman. 12—12 Jovial Lass, 14—14 Taku Kara, 13—13 Gentry, 10—13 Sir Reynard, 9—9 Prince Baffles, B—B Tiger Tan, 11—10 Hunting Camp, 17—17 Loch Acre. Winner trained by A. C. Jones, Te Rapa. Two lengths each way. Time 1.29 ‘4-5. SEDDON HACK HURDLES, of £300; l?* miles.—l—l Sir Ringman, Dr. W C. Ring’s br g, by Ringmasier—Severe, 4 years, 9.13 (Ritchie), 1; B—9 Bright Fox, 9.0 (Collett). 2; 4—3 Boxsen, 9.10 (Coon), | 3. Also started: 3—4 Borak. 2—2 Spring Day, f —6 Expellant, 10—10 Maori Song. B—7 Dingy Di, 14—15 Vafer Flame, 12—12 Surpai. 7—B Kcuraeka, 11—11 Purveyor. 15 —13 Imperial Eagle coupled with Landfall. 16—17 Whetuwhenua. 13—14 Willow Wood. 5—5 Verus, 17—16 Pmocchio. Winner trained by H. E. Gray, Takanini. Six lengths, three lengths. Time 3.15. HOROTIU HACK, of £300; 1>' 4 miles.— 2—3 Harris Tweed. S. McGreal’s b g. by Posterity—Fabric, 4 yrs, 8.11 (Markwick), 1; 5—5 Gold Stand, 8.4 (W'ggins), 2; 4—4 Grev Salute, 8.13 (S. Green), 3. Also started: B—lo Bournemouth, 9—B Kadina. 11— 9 Marinoto, 3—2 Corsac, 6—6 Bronze Night, 7—7 Boystown. 15—14 Rich Blood, I—l Ballvneetv, 10—11 Funny Fox, 16—16 Myain, 13—15 Foxbum, 14—12 Lady's Pal, 12— 13 Fencourt.. Winner trained by owmer, Pukekohe. Length and a half, head. Time 2.13 4-5. COMMENT ON RUNNING (By “Martlao”) The hack. Colonel Vaals, gave an outstanding performance to win the Stewards’ Handicap. Slow to begin from No. 1 position, he was chopped back early atad in the middle stages had to make a run on the outside of the field to get to within reasonable striking distance of the leaders, but once in the straight he gradually gathered in the opposition and won, toing away, on the post. Characteristically. the speedy Hunting Camp shot to the front at the outset to open up an early break on Peter Douglas, Bonny Pay. Lady Pay and Sir Dingle. Racing across the top, Hunting Camp looked to be in an unbeatable position—fully 20 lengths out in front—and here his nearest attendants were Peter Douglao. Bonny Pay, Lady Pay and Taku Kara. He was still clear as they straightened up and here Sir Dingle had moved into fourth followed by Fortune’s Smile and Colonel Vaals, who was then making anotner run on the outer. Hunting Camp had ‘shot his bolt” half-way down and in a good finish Colonel Vaals won going away by two lengths from Bonny Pay, with a similar distance to Sir Dingle. Frince Baffles came home well for fourth in front of Taku Kara, Hunting Camp, Golden Survey and Betterman. Sir Ringman was a pronounced favourite for the Seddon Hack Hurdles and he won attractively although he was fully extended to beat the improving Bright Fox, whose exhibition was a happy augury fer jumping honours in the near future. Bright Fox ran wide at the turn into the straight the first time and but for this and a jump he risked in front of the stands he would no doubt have troubled the winner to a greater extent than he did. Bright Fox took up the early running from Verus and Vafer Flame and he led past the stands from Verus. Dinky Di, Imperial Eagle and Maori Sona. Sir Ringman moved through to follow Bright Fox along the back and at the three furlongs this pair was followed by Foxsen. with a gap to Spring Day who was heading the others. Sir Ringman was shading Bright Fox as they straightened up and he went on to take a six lengths verdict over Bright Fox, with Foxsen three lengths away. Kouraeka was fourth, followed by Purveyor, Borak, Vafer Flame and Spring Day. The consistent Harris Tweed won the concluding event very convincingly from Gold Stand, who came home very soldily from near the middle of the field at the turn. Harris Tweed followed Foxbum until half-way down and when asked for a final effort drew out to win comfortably by a length and a half from Gold Stand with Grey Salute only a head away. Boystown weakened into fourth and was followed by Bronze Night, Bournemouth and the disappointing Ballyneety. Funny Fox lost her rider. RIDER SUSPENDED F. Meynell, the rider or Full Hand in the President’s Handicap, was suspended for a month Tor insolence to the starteT prior to the start or tile chier llat event at Te Rapa on Saturday. TOTALISATOR UP MACHINES HANDLE £73,551 Travel restrictions had little effect on the attendance at the Waikato Racing Club’s winter meeting at Te Rapa on Saturday and totalisator figures showed a slight increase on those of last season. Investments on the opening event were comparatively restricted, being les than half those on the following two races. The heaviest wagering was on the concluding event, the mile and a quarter hack, on which £13,414 was invested. £11,739 10s was wagered on the President’s Handicap and £9,739 10s on the Te Rapa Steeplechase. The following table shows the amounts invested on the various races

Totals <O,OOI <o,uy i While Saturday's figures are a record for a winter meeting at Te Rapa, they fall considerably short of the provincial record put un at the November meeting last year when £103,778 10s was wagered.

compared with the corresponding events last year:— Race This Year Last Year First .. 3,582 5,573 Second .. 7,497 1/2 7,195 Third .. 7,499 8.657 Fourth .. 11,73914 12.834 Fifth .. 9.739 1 2 8,886 Sixth .. 10.365 >/ 2 11,466 Seventh .. 9.71314 8.342 Eighth .. 13,414 10,164 Totals £73,551 £73,097