POVERTY BAY TURF CLUB.

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

POVERTY BAY TURF CLUB.

SUMMER MEETING. GLEFT WINS TURANGA STAKES. The Poverty Bay Turf Club had nothing to cavil at in regard to the climatic conditions which prevailed for their summer meeting, and racing patrons turned out in strong force to witness the good sport promised, the attendance at the Makaraka racecourse being of a gratifying character when racing was commenced for the day. The fact of the Gisborne R.C.’s summer fixture having been held two days’ previously lent ditional interest to the Poverty Bay Turf Club’s carnival, enthusiasts having a reliable guide in gauging the form of the contestants The track was in ideal condition for racing, whilei the well-kept grounds earned deserving appreciation from visitors.- The fields were well up to the average', but in two cases the number ..of starters was responsible for only one dividend being returned, viz., the Hurdle Handicap, in which a quartette of candidates faced the starter, and the Stewards’ Handicap, in which the field was limited to a trio. Backers were fairly successful in their calculations, favourites occupying first place on three occasions, running second four times, and third once, thus returning dividends in no less than seven races. Some first-rate finishes were provided, Mr. J. L. Henrys’ handicapping being the subject of much eulogistic comment. Mr. R. B. Lusk occupied the judge’s box, and his decisions were given with his customary promptness and accuracy, while Mr. R. E. Harley despatched the fields in a satisfactory manner. Mr. D. R. De Costa, the Club’s capable secretary, was untiring in his energies, and the smoothness and enjoyment associated with the day’s proceedings was largely due to his excellent management .

The totalisator staff experienced a busy time, no less a sum than £20,516 being handled, as against £17,106 for the 1917 summer gathering, being an increase of £3,410.

Of the thirteen carded for the Cook Handicap, Orawia and Woodrow were the only withdrawals. Vermillion was entrusted with favouritism, Actifid, Black Lace and Platoon being others to receive wide support. Taleteller, who threw her rider, L. Manson, heavily, prior to the start, necessitating another horseman in Dillamore being substituted, was left when the barrier flew up. The favourite quickly assumed command, and P. Brady had no difficulty in maintaining leading position throughout, being closely attended by Actifid, who was two lengths behind Vermillion when the post was reached. A good race ensued for third honours between Lady Kilworth and Black Lace, the latter finishing strongly and defeating her rival by half-a-length.

Of the four contestants who came out for the Handicap Hurdles, Kohinahina was made a warm favourite, with Con better backed than Zeus. The latter pair made the early running, W. McKinnon riding a patient race on Kohinahina, who moved up in the run to the straight entrance, and displacing the leaders had matters all his own way, winning without being extended by a couple, of lengths. Zeus was in advance of Con negotiating the last fence, but the latter outpaced the Martian gelding on the flat, and secured second place by a length. A field of six weighed out for the Telephone Kilworth and Karema being the defections. Gazique was elected a staunch favourite, with Sheila and Carlatour both solidly supported. The favourite was badly placed at the start, from which Sheila was quickest to find her feet, and was never headed, winning comfortably by a length from Gazique, who finished very strongly, cutting Carlatour out of second place in the last stride. The withdrawals of Blaekall and Multive reduced the field for the Turaaga Stakes Handicap to seven, the Avondale and Great Northern Guineas winner, Vagabond, being preferred by backers to Cleft, despite the latter’s convincing victory in the Gisborne Cup a couple of days before. As the field passed the Stewards’ stand Multifual had charge from Trials, . with Ladogeur, Pursefiller, Cleft, Vagabond, Hythread and Cynic facing in that order. With half the distance covered, Cleft assumed command, with Pursefiller, Multifual and Ladogeur as his’ nearest 7 - attendants. Cleft showed .the t way- into the straight, followed by Ladogeur and Pursefiller, the favourite- being nr the rear of the field. The last-named, however, put in a phenomenal run

in the race to the judge’s box, passing all his opponents with the exception of Cleft, who prevailed by a length, Ladogeur being a couple of lengths away third. War March was installed favourite for the Maiden Scurry, with Marenga, Multiplane, High Degree and Shoo Fly next best supported of the other eleven runners. Marenga, on whom A. J. McFlynn had the mount, got away from the barrier smartly, and never giving his opponents a chance, won comfortably by a length from the favourite, a length after whom came Sabine. Another hot favourite in Multive, who was specially reserved for the event,, went under in the Welter Handicap, in which the defections of Sarah Grand, Pursefiller and Master Iney left a field of nine to go to the post. Gluciaa acted as pacemaker over the first half of the journey, but was then displaced in the lead by Mystic, wh > later gave place to Hylami, who was first to reach the straight, with Multive the head of the others. A good race to the post saw Hylami defeat the favourite by a length, Zeus, who was making his second appearance, after contesting the hurdle race earlier in the day, being a length away third. The fact of Gazique being produced in the Stewards’ Handicap, accounted for the small" field of three taking their places at the barrier. The speedy sprinter was a hot favourite, but he was beaten off the mark by both Sheila and Otara, who made the running up to the distance, where McFlynn brought Gazique along with a nicely timed run, and gained the verdict by half a length from Sheila, Otara being three lengths away last. A septette of starters were saddled up for the Farewell Handicap, Sarah Grand being the popular fancy, with Vermillion, Tavistock, and Colonnade all well backed. The lastnamed made an effort to win from end to end, but Vermillion had her measure once the straight was entered, and never leaving the issue in doubt came on to win by a couple of lengths from Mr. F. T. Hall’s representative, a similar distance after whom came Sarah Grand. The results were: — COOK HANDICAP, of 150sovs. Six furlongs. 1 — G. M. Spencer’s blk f Vermillion, 3yrs., All Red—Rose Shield, 8.11 (P. Brady) 1 2— A. B. Newman’s br f Actifid, 7.9 (H. Watson) 2 3— W. S. Davidson’s br m Black Lace, 7.12 (A. Reed) 3 Also started: 4 Platoon 7.11 and 41b. over (L. Hewitt), 5 Gold Shot 8.2 (J. Brady), 6 Hylami 7.11 and 4141 b. over (E. Manson), 7 Lady Kilworth 7.12 (R. Manson), 8 Te Araroa 7.9 and 51b. allowance (J. Gordon), 9 Waiaka 7.5 and 31b. over (R. Reed), 10 Formline 7.0 and 41b. over (W. McKay), 11 Taleteller 7.2 (Dillamore). Won by two lengths, half a length between second and third. Time, lmin. 15 4-ssec. HURDLE HANDICAP, of 150sovs. One mile and a-half. 1— F. J. Lysnar’s gr g Kohinahina, syrs., 10.2 (W. McKinnon) .... 1 2 — P. Matu’s b g Con, 10.7 (Mulcahy) 2 3 — D. McLeod’s b g Zeus, car. 9.4 (R. Thompson) 3 Also started. Nicomar 9.10 (Lorrigan). Won by two lengths. Time, 2min. 49 3-ssec. TELEPHONE HANDICAP, of 150SOVS. Five furlongs. 2 — A. B. Williams’ b m Sheila, 4yrs., Multifid —Erin, 8.0 (R. Reed) . . 1 1— C. J. Bennett’s b g Gazique, 10.3 (A. McFlinn) 2 3 — R. Kerehoma’s bi' m Carlatour, 7.13 (J. Dwyer) 3 Also started: 4 Lady Gazeley car. 6.13 (Dillamore), 5 Pao 6.7 (J. Gordon), 6 Rewanga 7.12 (Watson). Won by a length, a nose separating second and third. Time, lmin. 1 4-ssec. TURANGA STAKES HANDICAP, of 300sovs. One mile and a-quarter. 2 — F. J. Lysnar’s b g Cleft, syrs., by Multifid—Cricium, 8.5 (F. C. Porter) 1 1— K. S. Williams’ Vagabond, 8.9 (R. Reed) 2 4 — L. McKenzie’s b g Ladogeur, 8.13 (A. Reed) 3 Also started: 2 Pursefiller 7.6 (H. Watson), 3 Trials 8.10 (W. McKay), 5 Multifual 9.0 (P. Brady), 6 Cynic 8.10 (McFlinn), 7 Hythread 7.5 (Dillamore). Won by a length, three-quarters of a length between second and third. Time, 2mm. lOsec. MAIDEN SCURRY, of 150sovs. Four and a-half furlongs. 2 — F. T. Hall’s br g Marenga, aged, by Multifid —Sarilla, 8.0 (A. J. McFlinn) 1 I—A. B. Williams’ b c War March, 8.0 (R. Reed) 2 6 —S. Liddell’s b m Sabine (A. Reed) 3 Also started: 3 Multiplane 8.0 (Porter), 4 High Degree 8.0 (H. Watson), 5 Shoo Fly car. 8.2% (L. Hewitt), 7 Pavilion 8.0 (S. Howard), 8 Puanga 8.0 (P. Brady), 9 Ngawini 8.0 (R. Manson), 10 Bay Ethel car. '8.4% (E. Manson), 11 Broadway 8.0 (J. Dwyer), 12 Miss Zona 8.0 (J. Brady). Won by a length, a similar distance between second and third. Time, 55 4-ssec. WELTER HANDICAP, of 150sovs. One mile. 4—Lawry and Fraser’s b g Hylami,: syrs., bv Hymettus—Humming Bird, B.l* (R. Manson) . . . . 1 I—W.1 —W. Arnott’s b g Multive, 8.5 (F. ' C.‘ Porter). ..... A . .2 . ~.„S—D. McLeod's b g Zeus, 8.12 (J. Gordon) 3 Also started: 2 Blackall 8.13 (H. Watson), 3 Glucian car. 8.3% (P. Brady),

5 Castalia 8.6 (R. Reed), 6 Mania 7.11 (J. Dwyer), 9 Multiplane car. 7.9% (E. Manson), 10 Torchlight car. 7.11 (A. Reed). Won by a length, the same distance between second and third. Time, lmin. 42 l-ssec. STEWARDS’ HANDICAP, of 20 Oso vs. Six furlongs. 1 — C. J. Bennett’s b g Gazique, syrs., by Gazeley—Pauleen, 9.10 (A. McFlinn) 1 2— A. B. Williams’ b m Sheila, car. 7.12 (R. Reed) .. 2 3 — Hon. W. D. S. MacDonald’s ch g Otara, 8.7 (H. Watson) 3 The only starters. Won by half a length, three lengths between second and third. Time, lmin. 14 2-ssec. FAREWELL HANDICAP, of 150sovs. Six and a-half furlongs. 2—G. M. Spencer’s blk f Vermillion, 3yrs., oy All Red—Rose Shield, car. 6.9 (J. Hockley) 1 4 — F. T. Hall’s br m Colonnade, car. 7.7 (R. Reed) 2 I—P.1 —P. P. Neagle’s b m Sarah Grand, 8.8 (P. Brady) 3 Also started: 3 Tavistock 7.8 (E. Manson), 5 Downham 7.6 (H. Watson), 6 Lord Ainslie 7.1 (W. Dillamore), 7 Black Lace car. 6.9 (J. Gordon). Won by two lengths, a similar distance between second and third. Time, lmin. 21 l-ssec.