RACING REVIEWED

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1452, 21 February 1918, Page 20

RACING REVIEWED

EGMONT RACING CLUB. AUTUMN MEETING. OPENING DAY. CHORTLE SCORES IN THE CUP. (From Our Wanganui Correspondent.) Perfect weather conditions prevailed for the opening day of the Egmont Racing Club’s meeting on Wednesday, and there was a record attendance, despite the absence ot railway facilities, the gate receipts showing an increase of £5O on the figures of the corresponding day last year The course and grounds were in excellent order, and provided a first-class testimonial for the club s custodian, Mr. Alf. Morse. The birdcage enclosure had been considerably enlarged since the club’s last meeting, and this is a decided improvement to the grounds. The sport provided was of a high-class order, and was thoroughly enjoyed by the club s patrons,, the excellent management gaining favourable comments from visiting sportsmen. The secretary, Mr. V. B. Stratton, and his assistants, carried out their duties in a most creditable manner, while the stewards one and all worked hard to ensure the comfort of visitors. Mr. H. Coyle was heartily congratulated on the excellent way in which he had adjusted the handicaps, as proved by the splendid racing. Mr. W. H. Hartgill, the judge, and Mr. C. O’Connor, the starter, were in their best form, and gave every satisfaction by the way in which they carried out their duties. Mr. J. McMahon, stipendiary steward, was present, but the only matter to engage the attention of the Judicial Committee was a protest that the rider of the winner of the Ladies’ Purse was not entitled to hold a gentleman rider’s certificate. After an inquiry the protest was dismissed, and the deposit forfeited. Speculation throughout the day was very brisk, the sum of £29,033 being invested, as compared with £23,010 10s. last year, an increase of £6022 10s. Over £5OOO was invested on the Cup, a record in the club’s history for one race.

Racing opened with the Ohawe Hurdles, for which nine went to the post, Portland Lady being entrusted with most money. Collector looked very well and was next in demand, Mattock also being well backed. The winner turned up in Arlington, the Signalman gelding being handy all the way to the leader, Otter, and catching the latter after getting over the last hurdle won by half a length. Impediment was the popular pick for the Flying Handicap, and the Demosthenes filly had the race in hand practically from the start, getting home nicely from Madam Ristori, with Nystad, which was last two furlongs from home, but finished very fast, third. Turangapito gave some trouble at the start, and when the barrier went up did not begin too well, but was close up at the finish.

Munition carried most money on the Mere Mere Hack, but began badly or otherwise might have won. Staccato was first into the straight, but in the run home Piano put in a fine effort, and after a splendid struggle got the verdict by a neck, Rawakore a simliar distance behind Staccato. The winner is a nice-looking three-year-old by Hymettus, and was well handled by L. Morris. The defection of Impediment and Paraoa left a field of six to contest the Egmont Cup, the public favouring Nobleman’s chance, and he carried over £l5OO. Chortle was also strongly backed, and so also was Wishful. The favourite and Wishful looked to be going to fight out the finish as they raced round the bend and intp the straight locked together, with Dingle next and Chortle last. At the distance Chortle saw an opening and darted through, quickly reaching the leaders, and going on to win by two lengths from Dingle, with Wishful a length away, third. Then came White Blaze, Nobleman having dropped back last in the final pinch. The winner received an ovation on returning to scale. There were 14 starters in the Ladies’ Purse, a favourite being found in Winning Shot, Jiu Jitsu and Trombone being the best backed of the others. Jiu Jitsu got home after a punishing finish, with Trombone and Self Alliance in the places. The Egmont Stakes was contested by three only, and they were backed in the order in which they finished, Finmark scoring comfortably from Demos, with Acre a fair third. Fin-

mark carried 7.7, and cut out the six furlongs in lmin. 13 2-ssec. If he starts in the Jackson Stakes on Thursday, in which he will have no penalty, he will keep the crack three-year-olds very busy. Robur was backed for a lot of money on the machine, and was a very hot order elsewhere for the Waipapa Hack Handicap. The good thing duly came off, Deeley landing his mount home an easy winner from Signorella, White Ranger filling third place. It is said the commission agents were hit hard over Robur’s win. Hushman paid a false price in the Whereroa Welter, in which he was sent out the biggest outsider in a field of twelve, Glorify carrying most money, Cheddar and Zola also being well supported. Hushman took the lead early, and was never afterwards headed, winning decisively from Revocation and the favourite. Astor was close up, fourth. The results were: — OHAWE HURDLES, of 175sovs. One . mile and three-quarters. 4 — j; S. Adams’ ch g Arlington, aged, 11.1 (Henderson) 1 9— L, Pepperill’s Otter, 10.4 (Lam- .* boss) " — 5 — G. Penfold’s Parawanui, 16.8 (F. Flynn) . . :. 3 Also started: 6 Styrax 11.12 (Traill), 1 Portland Lady 11.12 (H. Burt),.2 Collector 10.8 (S. Reid), 3 Mattock 10.2 (A. McDonald), 7 Deeside 9.7 (A. Ward), 8 Polthogue 9.0 (Croot). Won by threequarters of a length, with six lengths between second and third. Time, 3min. 15sec. FLYING HANDICAP, of 250sovs. Six furlongs. 1— E. H. Baracq’s ch f Impediment, ■. 3yrs„ 8.10 (R. Reed) 1 6 — E. George’s Madam Ristori, 7.5 inc. 31b. over (C. Brown) 2 4— J. Goring Johnston’s Nystad, 8.3 (Clarke) 3 Also started: 8 Avon Park 7.10 (Lambess), 3 Gaycium 7.8 inc. lib. over (H. Young), 2 Turangapito 7.3 (McCarten), 5 Bon D’Or 6.7 (A. Tinker), 7 Coropett 6.7 (L. Morris). Won by a length, a half a length between second and third. Coropett was fourth. Time, lmin. 14 2— MERE MERE HACK HANDICAP, of 120sovs. Five furlongs. 6—J. McKean’s br f Piano, 3yrs., 7.2 (L. Morris) 1 5 — R. E. Laurent’s Staccato, 7.2 (C. Reed) 2 3 — W. Raleigh’s Rawakore, 7.12 (Johnson) 3 Also started: 2 Pergola 8.5 (C. Price), I Munition 7.13 (B. Morris), 4 Turpinite 7.5 inc. lib. over (Clark), 9 Silver Webb 7.3 (H. Watson), 7 Nemaline 7.0 (McCarten), 11 Lake Eel 7.0 (Cook), 13 Gloam 7.0 (McDonell), 8 Kaimanawanui 7.0 (Ayres), 12 Jane Douglas 7.0 (Tinker), 10 Miss Ora 7.5 inc. 51b. over (C. Brown). Won by a neck, with a similar distance between second and third. Turpinite was fourth. Time, lmin. 2 2-ssec. EGMONT CUP, of 600sovs. One mile and a-half. 2 — A. B. Williams’ br g Chortle, aged, 9.5 (S. Reid) 1 5— F. Seiwood’s Dingle, 7.7 (G, Clarke) 2 3 — G. L. Stead’s Wishful, 8.12 (H. Gray) 3 Also started: 1 Nobleman 8.10 (H. Young), 4 White Blaze 6.7 (L. Morris), 6 Henry Clay 6.7 (F. Johnson). Won by two lengths, a length between second and third. White Blaze was fourth. Time, 2min. 34 2-ssec. LADIES’ PURSE, of lOOsovs. Weight, 10.7. Eight and ,a-half furlongs. 2 — Mrs. J. Cleaver’s b m Jiu Jitsu, 4yrs. (Mr. E. Cleaver) 1 3— McDonald Bros.’ Trombone (Mr. Anstis) 2 10— A. J. Davey’s Self Alliance (Owner) 3 Also started: 9 Lupinite (R. Gaisford), II Anitra (J. Gaisford), 4 Trench Wheel (Fowler), 1 Winning Shot (Clout), 14 Kemra (E. Short), 12 Gourmand, 31b. over (J. Nicholls), 8 Cordon (Marchant), 5 Gaekwar (E. Watson), 6 Reparation (J. Crook), 13 The Ranch (J. Curtain), 7 Warmth (Desmond). Won by a length, with half a length between second and third. Warmth was fourth. Time, lmin. 52 2-ssec. EGMONT STAKES, of 500sovs. Six furlongs. 1 — T. H. Lowry’s ch c Finmark, 2yrs., 8.3 inc. 101 b. penalty (R. Reed) 1 2— E. Short’s Demos, 7.0 (L. Morris) 2 3 — W. Duncan’s Acre, 8.12 (C. Price) 3 Only starters. Won by half a length, a length and a-half separating second and third. Time, lmin. 13 2-ssec. WAIPAPA HACK HANDICAP, of 120sovs. Seven furlongs. I—J1 —J- Harle’s b m Robur, 4yrs., 8.10 (Deeley) 1 6— Cullinane and O’Reilly’s Signorella, 8.0 (H. Young) 2 11— D. King’s White Ranger, 7.5 (Watson) . 3 Also started: 3 Movement 9.13 (O’Shea), 4 Matty 8.9 (W. Young), 5 Cora Ora 8.6 (H. Gray), 2 ’Cello 8.6 (McCarten), 8 Clavis 8.1 (D. Anderson), 9 Marqueteur 8.1 (R. Reed), 10 Compel 7.3 (L. Morris), 7 Royal Park 7.5 inc. 21b. over (C. Brown), 13 Perfect Day 7.2 inc. 21b. over (Johnson), 12 Tirangi 7.3% inc. 3%1b. over (B. Morris). Won by two lengths, with White Ranger close up third, and Movement fourth. Time, lmin. 29 2-ssec. WHAREROA WELTER HANDICAP, of 200sovs. Seven furlongs. 12— Clout Bros.’ br g Hushman, syrs., 9.3 (Nodder) 1 3—J. Casserley’s Revocation, 8.11 (Clarke) 2 I—R. A. McKenzie’s Glorify, 9.0 inc. 11b. over (Hatch) 3 Also started: 7 Glenroy 9.7 (Deeley), 6 Volo 9.7 (S. Reid), 8 Paddington Green 9.0 (W. Young), 2 Cheddar 9.0 (Gray), 5 George 8.12 (H. Young), 10 Colorado 8.11 (A. McDonald), 11 Astor 8.6 (O’Shea), 4 Zola 8.2 (W. Price), 9 Arrowfleld 8.0 (C. Price). Won by threequarters of a length, with half a length between second and third. Astor was fourth. Time, lmin. 29sec,