CONCLUDING DAY,

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1468, 13 June 1918, Page 17

CONCLUDING DAY,

VOLO WINS HUIA HANDICAP. The weather continued fine for the concluding day of the meeting, and the attendance was again large, those present being treated to a highly enjoyable afternoon’s sport. Several very close finishes were witnessed, and the racing was full of incident. Altogether the meeting was easily the most successful winter fixture held by the club, and was carried through without the slightest hitch, for which fact the officials are entitled to no small meed of praise. During the concluding day no less than £19,820 was handled by the totalisator staff, as compared with £15,019, an increase of £4BOl, the total amount handled on the two days being over £40,000, as against £34,586 for the 1917 winter gathering. Proceedings commenced with the Telegraph Handicap, in which the whole of the 14 carded took their places in the field. Piano was installed favourite, with Galore, Birkenetta and Gold Problem next fancied in that order. The race resulted in the complete downfall of the favourites' the first four to finish being the

extreme outsiders. The start was a moderate one, Galore and Whakatina faring worst. Birkenetta was first to break the line, and carried on the running from Gold Problem and Idle Talk. The last-named was on terms with Birkenetta at the bend into the straight, the latter fading out of the contest in the run to the judge’s box. War Scot joined in the finish, but C. Reed kept Idle Talk going nicely, and landed the daughter of Kilbroney home a winner by a length and ahalf from War Scot, a length after whom came Rajput. Whakatina did well to get up into fourth position after being served badly at the start. The winner, who is by Kilbroney— Rumour, formerly raced in the interests of the Highden establishment, but is now owned by Mr. H. Barrett, in whose colours she won for the first time. Jem was the only defection from the Te Roto Hack and Hunters’ Steeplechase, in which there were nine runners, favouritism being accorded Foeman, with Gaekwar . and Arlington most preferred of the others. Foeman went to the front from the start, being accompanied by Dasher Boy, the pair being followed closely by Arlington, Waioture and Expedition, this being the order as they raced past the stand. Expedition took charge going along the back, Arlington and Gaekwar .being most handy of the other contestants. Arlington steadily gained on the leader, and had a slight advantage of Expedition as the pair turned for home. A good race up the straight saw Arlington prevail by half a length from Expedition, while Gaekwar finished third, and Waioture fourth. The

event was robbed of considerable interest as the result of Gwynne, Chattanooga, Ormesby and Foeman coming to grief. Arlington returned his supporters a good dividend, and when more seasoned over the big country should take a hand in the settlement of steeplechases run over a longer course as at present he lacks stamina. The good field of 20 paraded for the Huia Handicap, the only absentee being Lady General. Ladogeur was preferred by backers to Volo, who won both the principal handicaps at Wanganui last month in tradesmanlike style. Next in order of favouritism came Lady Louisa, Orleans, Ohiwia, Trials and Bagdad, the race being an excellent betting one. Volo was first into his stride, and piloted the way out of the straight, with Trials, Bairnsdale, Orleans and Wishful best placed of the other contestants. Volo maintained his lead along the back of the course, and turned for home with a couple of lengths advantage from Orleans. Though the latter made a big effort to overhaul the son of Husbandman in the straight, he had no chance of getting on terms with the speedy Taranaki representative, who credited Mr. F. Selwopd with his third consecutive win in big handicaps, Orleans being a length away second, and Lady Louisa third, Moutoa Queen being fourth. Volo has been one of the most successful horses racing this season, and his three most recent performances entitle him to the distinction of being one of the best handicap horses in the North Island. Fourteen candidates were saddled up for the Stewards’ Handicap, the absentees being Wapping, Cross Words and Rora. When speculation ceased on the machine it was seen that Moutoa Camp, Woodlark, Retard

and Black Hill were the principal choices of backers, who supported the quartette in the order named. Utuwai was quickest to leave the mark, followed by Retard and Quinn’s Post. When the bend for home was reached Utuwai still had command, with Quinn’s Post and Idyllic racing on terms next. As they raced up the straight Idyllic drew level with Utuwai and the pair fought out an exciting duel for supremacy, honours going to the former by a head. Sabine, who finished with a great burst of speed, was a couple of lengths away third, and Quinn’s Post fourth. Of the 14 carded for the Railway Handicap Revocation and Ayah were the only withdrawals. Inah was elected a strong favourite, Lady Black, Lady General and Rude being most in request of the others. Merrie Poto was the smartest to begin, being at tended by Inah as they raced along the back and across the top, the pair being still in the lead entering the straight. Merrie Poto made a big effort to sustain his run to the finish, but he was in trouble at the distance, Rude taking command and winning comfortably by over a length from Movement, Merrie Poto being less than a length away third. Lady Black was fourth. The Ohau Welter Handicap attracted a field of 14 starters, including Utuwai, who two races earlier in the day had acted as runner-up to Idyllic. Wapping was made a strong first choice, while good support was accorded Sardinia, Cross Words, Lord Nelson and Manu. When the tapes lifted Papanui immediately shot to the front, attended by Manu and Utuwai, the trio showing the way to the

straight entrance, where Wapping, Kahumangu and Sardinia commenced to put in their claims. Inside the distance Kahumangu came through the field with a great burst of pace, and secured a length and a-half victory from the favourite, Wapping, who was ridden by the Veteran, R. Hatch. Both Utuwai and Sardinia faded out of the contest when under pressure. The little-fancied Justification was third, and Blue Gown fourth. The meeting was concluded with the running of the Final Hack Scurry, in which 14 were, saddled up with a view of breaking their maiden status, the event being restricted to horses that had never won a race. The event naturally gave backers a difficult task insofar as making their selections was concerned, form having to a large extent to be waived in favour of hearsay. Eventually a favourite was found in Toddy, with Talitha next in demand, Ahi Ka and War Scot also being accorded good support, first day’s observations being principally the basis upon which the prospects of these four horses were gauged by the public. Ahi Ka got away with a “flier,” and the son of Campfire was never headed, winning by several lengths from War Scot, with Orizon a length and a-half away third. The results were: — TELEGRAPH HANDICAP of lOOsovs. Five furlongs. 12—H. Barrett’s b f Idle Talk, by Kilbroney — Rumour, 3yrs, 6.12 (C. Reed) 1 14—N. Rasmussen’s b g War Scot, 6.12 (McEwan) 2 10 —J. McDonnell’s br g Rajput, 8.5 (C. Price) 3 Also started: 2 Galore 9.7 (Pritchard), 3 Birkenetta 8.2 (W. Bell), 5 Flying Gowrie 8.1 (A. Reed), 1 Piano 7.13 (L. Morris), 6 Melita 7.13 (Anderson), 4 Gold Problem 7.12 (R. Reed), 8 Humorist 7.8 (C. Brown), 9 Trickery 7.3 (L. Manson), 11 Whakatina 7.1 (Styles), 7

Livland 7.0 (Corlett), 13 Blighty 6.12 (R. Bagby). Won by a length and a-half, with a length separating second and third. Time, Imin 5 3-ssec. TE ROTO HACK AND HUNTERS’ STEEPLECHASE of 150sovs. About two miles. 3—J. Ayres’ ch g Arlington, aged, by Signalman — Nell Gwynne, 11.12 (L. Traill) 1 6 —Miss M. Brewer’s b g Expedition, 10.3 (Deerey) 2 2—L. H. Collinson’s br g Gaekwar, 10.1 (Bowden) 3 Also started: 1 Foeman 11.0, 8 Dasher Boy 9.11, 4 Waioture 9.11, 5 Ormesby 9.11, 9 Gwynne 9.7, 7 Chattanooga 9.7. Chattanooga, Foeman and Gwynne fell. Won easily by half a length. Time, smin 5 3-ssec. HUIA HANDICAP of 300sovs. One mile and 55 yards. I—F. Sellwood’s b g Volo, by Husbandman—Beautiful Star, 4yrs, 9.8 (C. Price) 1 5 — S. W. Tatham’s br g Orleans, 8.0 (W. McEwan) 2 ' 2—Mrs. R. Buckman’s b m Lady Louisa, 7.9 (F. Corlett) 3 Also started: 4 Trials 9.4 (Hatch), 3 Ladogeur 8.11 (Watson), 16 Wishful 8.5 (Stockley), 3 Gold Soult 8.1 (H. Young), 12 Moutoa Queen 7.6 (M. McCarten), 17 Battle Song 7.6 (C. Browne), 6 Ohiwia 7.2 (L. Morris), 7 Bagdad 7.2 (Berry), 10 Kiltess 7.0 (C. Reed), 15 Antwerp 6.12 (W. Manner), 19 Bronk Delaval 6.10 (E. Reed), 9 Detroit 6.9 (L. Manson), 11 Torchlight 6.7 (McLean), 20 Bairnsdale 6.7 (R. Styles), 13 Merrie Gain 6.7 (Bagby), 18 Fore 6.7 (Raynor), 14 Flying Camp 6.7 (Stratton). Won by a length. Time, Imin 50sec. STEWARDS’ HACK HANDICAP of lOOsovs. Seven furlongs. 6— A. A. Cameron’s br m Idyllic, 4yrs, by Hymettus—ldee, 7.7 (F. Corlett) ’ i 7— W. McKegg’s b g Utuwai, 7.7 (L. Morris) ... 2 11—G. Liddle’s b f Sabine, 6.12 (C. Reed) 3 Also started: 4 Black Hill 3.8 (Nodder). 8 Mill Queen 8.7 (T. Young). 3 Retard 8.7 (R. Reed), 10 Quinn’s Post 8.0 (H. Young), 2 Woodlark 7.13 (L.

Berry), 5 Primato 7.13 (Bagby), 1 Moutoa Camp 7.12 (McCarten), 12 Pomeroy 7.4 (McEwan), 13 Lady Daylesford 7.0 (Proctor), 13 Evening Glow 7.0 «'E. Reed). Won by a head. Time, Imin 32 2-ssec. RAILWAY HANDICAP of 150sovs. Six furlongs. 4 — W. Duncan’s br g Rude, 3yrs, bv Cyrus—Cheeky, 7.3 (McCarten) 1 5— P. Johnson’s blk m Movement, 6.10 (Bagby) 2 B—L. S. Nichol’s br g Merrie Poto, 6.9 (L. Morris) 3 Also started: 7,Sweet Corn 9.7 (Watson), 12 Form Up 9.1 (Nodder), 3 Lady General 8.6 (R. Reed), 1 Inah 8.5 (C. Price), 2 Lady Black 7.9 (Corlett), 11 Astor 7.9 (C. Browne). 9 Rawakore 7.4 (Johnson), 6 Coropet 6.7 (P. Raynor), 10 Waimatao 9.12 (W. Price). Won by half a length. Time, Imin 18 l-ssec. OHAU HACK WELTER HANDICAP of lOOsovs. One mile. B—H.8 —H. Brooker’s b g Kahumangu, 6 yrs, by Papakura—Anser Anser, 9.7 (W. Brooker) 1 I — W. Simpson’s ch g Wapping, 9.11 (R. Hatch) 2 ll— Davis and Till’s b f Justification, 8.0 (T. Young) 3 Also started: 13 Hylatus 9.11 (Bowden), 2 Sardinia 9.11 (A. Reed), 4 Lord Nelson 9.2 (W. Bell), 10 Blue Gown 8.9 (T. Pritchard), 3 Cross Words 8.8 (R. Reed), 6 Utuwai 8.6 (C. Carmont), 7 - Rienzi 8.3, 9 Half Blue 8.0, 12 Papanui 8.0, 14 Occasion 8.0. Won by a length and a-half. Time, Imin 48sec. FINAL HACK SCURRY of lOOsovs. Weight, 8.7. Five furlongs. 3— E. Nash’s b g Ahika, 4yrs, by Campfire—Louie (R. Reed) .... 1 4 — N. Rasmussen’s b g War Scot (W. McEwan) 2 6—Messrs. O’Neill’s br g Orizon (W. Price) 3 Also started: 5 Skedaddle (A. Recd), 11 Paparess (C. Carmont), 13 Aratika (W. Davis), 8 Sir Musketry (C. Price), 7 Rora (R. Manson), 10 Career (A Thorner), 1 Toddy (H. Young), 14 Lepanto (T. Young), 9 Vigolo (B. Morris), 2 Talitha (H. Watson), 10 Moneymoon (Nodder). Won by three lengths, a length and a-half between second and third. Time Imin 1 2-ssec.