CONCLUDING DAY.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1478, 22 August 1918, Page 13

CONCLUDING DAY.

MATCHLIGHT WINS NATIONAL CUP. There was a record crowd for an August meeting on Friday, when the meeting of the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club was brought to a successful conclusion. Benefited by the first day’s racing, the track was in perfect order, and the sport was again of a high standard. The new starter, Mr. W. Norman, was again successful in most of his despatches, and it certainly looks as if his moving up starts have come to stay so far as Addington is concerned. As on the opening day, speculation was particularly brisk, for though a good deal of money was shut out, the total reached £53,366, as against £43,961 last year, making a total for the meeting of £92,144, compared with £72,269 last year, an increase of £19,875. As on the first day, Pringle’s mount, Succory, was Thade favourite for the opening event, the visitor being entrusted with twice as much money as any of the other starters. ColonelHavelock started smartly, and after shaking off the attentions of Te Kuiti, Peter McMillan and Succory scored nicely in the improved time of 4min 55 4-ssec. The favourite hardly raced up to expectations, but only for a break nearing the post would have beaten Mushroom for second money. A speedy field of 14 pacers contested the Federal Handicap, for which the Oakhampton bracket, Xavier and Calton, found more favour than Locanda Dillon. For once public opinion was quite astray. Proud Spring set such a solid pace for three-parts of the journey that his defeat looked highly improbable. It was only in the last few strides that Makomako got to the leader, and in a spirited finish gained the verdict by a neck. This was the winner’s first appearance for a long time on the local tracks, as he has been unsound, and even now he does not look like standing much hard racing. Proud Spring ran a great race for a green horse, but none of the favourites were ever in the hunt. The big event of the day, the National Cup, did not produce nearly such an exciting contest as anticipated. J. Bryce started Sherwood, Mintson and Matchlight, the bracket naturally being backed down to a very short price. After Willie Lincoln and Cora Dillon had taken a hand at pacemaking for a mile, Bryce hurried Matchlight to the front, and from this out the issue was never in doubt. Willie Lincoln struggled on with his accustomed gameness, but could not make the least impression on the winner. Of the back-mark division Author Dillon was the only one to race up to expectations. Several of the 14 starters in the Canterbury Handicap came in for solid support, Nihilist, who has lately joined A. Fleming’s stable, being actual favourite. He waited on Xavier, Hannah M. and Miss Audrey till well into the concluding round. Then, by a well-sus-tained effort, he took charge, apparently having the result in safe keeping two furlongs from the post. A break when nearing the post momentarily endangered his chance, but, - settling down again smartly, he retrieved his place, winning from the consistent Hannah M. by a length. Silver Shoe ran through a beaten field for third money, but the Wellington representative, Mahinga, who had a strong following, could not go the pace. A very popular win was that scored by Imperial Crown in the Addington Handicap, although he was little fancied by backers. Commencing very smartly, Imperial Crown lost his place to Bon Ami half way through the concluding round, but soon regained it. Sticking to his task better than in any of his recent efforts the Rothschild horse defeated Bon Ami, a warm favourite, by a length. The American-bred stallion El Carbine showed a fine style of getting over the ground, and only for a couple of breaks would have been troublesome. A staunch favourite in Erin’s Queen gave her backers a fine run for their money in the Islington Handicap, only to succomb in the last few strides to Hectorata. Over the concluding stages the pair drew right away from their field, and both were under pressure all through the last furlong. Lady Haldane showed improved form in getting third place, but the solid pace maintained from the start found her wanting over the last half mile. Amongst the unplaced division Nancy Stair and Rorke’s Drift gave the best showings. Trix Pointer was backed for the Lightning Handicap as if the issue was beyond doubt. During the early stages of the journey her backers could not have been on the best of terms with themselves for she was making no impression on Tamarisk or General Link. With heads in line for the post, however, she came with a great effort, and quickly having the measure of the leaders, won decisively in the smart time of 2min 15sec. Two favoured candidatea, in Antonio and Strategy failed to strike a gait at the start of the Farewell Handicap, thereby effectually settling their chances. Cora Dillon, Pitaroa and Huon Patch carried on the running for three-parts of the journey, when Lord Minto put in an appearance. Quickly settling the chances of the leading division he scored in brilliant style in the remarkable time of 2min 11 3-ssec. The results were:— MIDWINTER HANDICAP (Saddle) of 150sovs. Two miles. 4 —C. Davey’s ch g Colonel Havelock, aged, by Havelock, 12sec (H. Gaskill) ■ • 1 9—W. Mould’s Mushroom, 7sec (E. Berry) 2 I—S.1 —S. Chambers’ Succory, 12sec (A. Pringle) • , 3 Also started: 10 Truganini scratch, 2 Syrie 7sec, 7 Sol 7sec, 3 Billy Parole 7sec, 11 Craibwood 9sec, 6 Hiroki 13sec, 8 Te Kuiti 13sec, 5 Peter McMillan 13sec. -

Won by three lengths, two lengths between second and third. Billy Parole was fourth. Time, 4min 55 4-ssec. FEDERAL HANDICAP (Harness) of 200sovs. One mile and a-quarter. 6— H. W. Kitchingham’s b h Makomako, 6yrs, by Harold Dillon— Tui, 7sec (H. Gaskill) . 1 8 — P. Delargey’s Proud Spring, 6sec (J. Brankin) 2 3 —M. Edwards’ Vice-Admiral, 4sec (Owner) 3 Also started: 10 Agnes Chief 9sec, 9 Bank Note ssec, 2 Locanda Dillon ssec, 7 Silver Quick ssec, 12 Louie Drift 6sec, 13 Crown Prince 7sec, 4 Chao» 7sec, 11 Seychelles 7sec, 1 Xavier 7sec and Calton Bsec (bracketed), 5 Great Britain Bsec. Won by a neck, a length separating second and third. Silver Quick was fourth. Time, 2min 54 2-ssec. NATIONAL CUP HANDICAP (Harness) of 500sovs. Two miles. 1 — J. Bryce and Cross Bros.’ b h Matchlight, aged, by Four Chimes —King Harold mare, 13 sec (J. Bryce) 1 2 — A. Allen’s Willie Lincoln, 14sec (A. Fleming) 2 3 — A. R. Farrell’s Cora Dillon, 14sec (E. McDermott) 3 Also started: 9 Author Dillon 4sec (B Jarden), 1 Sherwood 7sec (Holmes) and Mintson 13sec (R. Dunn) bracketed with Matchlight, 6 Agathos 9sec (A. Hendricksen), 7 Oinako 9sec (R. W. Franks), 4 Moneymaker lOsec (A. Pringle), 5 Frandocia llsec (W. Smith), 8 Sungod llsec (F. Holmes, junr.). Won easily by two lengths, six lengths between second and third. Author Dillon was fourth. Time, 4min 33 4-ssec. CANTERBURY HANDICAP (Saddle) of 200sovs. Two miles. I—A.1 —A. J. Cruickshank’s ch g Nihilist, aged, by Four Chimes—Woodroof, 2sec (A. Fleming) 1 9— M. Moran’s Hannah M., ssec (J. Brankin) 2 7 — G. Reed’s Silver Shoe, 4sec (O. Reed) 3 Also started: 12 Dillon Eddy scratch, 6 Rorke’s Drift scratch, 10 Miss Havoc scratch, 8 Acushla Machree Isec, 3 Mahinga Isec, 5 Beewood 2sec and Xavier 4sec (bracketed), 4 Maud Wilkes 4sec, 2 Schnapps ssec, 11 Miss Audrey 6sec, 13 Our Chum 6sec. Won by half a length, the third horse being about 15 lengths away. Schnapps was fourth. Time, 4min 41 3-5 sec. ADDINGTON HANDICAP (Harness) of 200sovs. Two miles. 9 — N. L. Price’s b h Imperial Crown, aged, by Rothschild —Imperious mare, 14sec (Owner) 1 I—W.1 —W. Rochfort’s Bon Ami, 13sec (A. Pringle) 2 10— Houston and' Wilson’s Galician, llsec (M. Edwardg) 3 Also started: 8 Electrocute ssec, 6 Whispering Willie ssec, 2 Red Heather ssec and Reta Peter 14sec (bracketed), 11 Paul Huon 6sec, 12 Commander Bell 9sec, 6 Lady Patricia llsec, 3 King Capitalist 13sec, 7 Treasure Seeker 14 sec, 4 El Carbine 14sec. Won by a length, eight lengths between second and third. El Carbine was fourth. Time, 4min 47 l-ssec. ISLINGTON HANDICAP (Harness) of 250sovs. Two miles. 5 — C. Hazlett’s ch g Hectorata, aged, by Sir Hector — Hinerata, 7sec (J. Bryce) 1 I—J.1 —J. D. Parker’s Erin’s Queen, 7sec (A. Fleming) 2 3 — J. R. Corrigan’s Lady Haldane, 7sec (A. Pringle) 3 Also started: 6 Norah Creina ssec, 4 Nancy Stair ssec, 14 Trooper Dillon 6 sec, 12 Prince Akwood 6sec, 13 Dillon Eddy 6sec, 8 Rorke’s Drift 6sec, 11 Bridgewood 7sec, 7 Sympathy 7sec, 10 Pax 7sec, 9 Colenut 7sec, 2 Legacy 7sec. Won by a head, 12 lengths between second and third. Nancy Stair was fourth. Time, 4min 38 4-ssec. LIGHTNING HANDICAP (Harness) of 200sovs. One mile. 1 — W. H. Norton’s b m Trix Pointer, syrs, by Demonio —Bally Pointer, 6sec (F. Holmes) 1 2 — j. Brankin’s General Link, 6sec (Owner) 2 4 — A R. Edgerton and W. Pollock’s Tamarisk, 7sec (Hendricksen) 3 Also started: 7 Our Thorpe scratch, 6 John Dillon 3sec, 3 Chid 3sec and Beckom ssec (bracketed), 5 Brown’s Nugget ssec, 8 Frank Tracey 6sec. Won by a length, a head between second and third. Beckom was fourth. Time, 2min 15sec. FAREWELL HANDICAP (Saddle) of of 200sovs. One mile. 6— P. McNeill’s blk g Lord Minto, syrs, by Lord Chancellor —Princess Minto, Isec (Butterfield) 1 7 — A. R. Farrell’s Cora Dillon, 4sec (E. McDermott) 2 8— E. H. Cucksey’s Huon Patch, 3sec (B. Jarden) 3 Also started: 10 St. Kevin scratch, 1 Mintson scratch and Antonio ssec (bracketed), 3 Stanley’s Child 3sec, 5 Dunspey 3sec, 4 Pitaroa 4sec, 2 Strategy 4sec, 9 Lord Dillon ssec. Won by four lengths, a length between second and third. St. Kevin was fourth. Time, 2min 11 3-ssec.

An average of sixteen horses per race competed at the C.J.C. Grand National meeting. The tote people had abnormal business to handle, and £127,615 went through the machines on the 16 races, giving an average of nearly £BOOO per race. A * ❖ * Whilst returning from the Invercargill course the other morning Clynelish was run into by a motor car on the East Road and had a leg broken, necessitating his destruction. iHe was in H. G. Coker’s stable at the time of his death, and promised to develop into a useful stayer during the ensuing season.