ASHHURST – POHANGINA RACING CLUB.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1498, 9 January 1919, Page 11

ASHHURST - POHANGINA RACING CLUB.

ANNUAL MEETING.

CLASSIFICATION WINS CUP.

The postponed meeting of the Ash-hurst-Pohangina Racing Club, took place at Ashhurst on December 30, 'the weather being -fine, though a strong wind was in evidence, and the attendance well up to expectations. The racing. proved of a high standard, some excellent ■ finishes being witnessed, the favourites accounting for

five of the eight events, and running second on one occasion. Mr. Angus Keith had charge of the starting lever and despatched the fields in a manner that gave general satisfaction. Mr. J. H. Perrett occupied the judge’s box, and gave his decisions promptly, his placings leaving no room for doubt. In one case his decision was questioned by dissatisfied backers of Bronk Delaval, when that horse was defeated by Comment by a narrow margin in the Raumai Welter Handicap, it being maintained by a section of the public that Bronk Delaval had won, Mr. Keith being subjected to prolonged hooting. The finish was of so close a nature that Mr. Perrett from his position of vantage was most qualified to separate the pair, and there is no question that his verdict, though challenged, was correct. The meeting must be accorded a pronounced success, and highly pleasing to the energetic officials of the club, who, despite the unavoidable alteration in the date of the fixture, displayed worthy co-operation and perseverance in maintaining public interest in the meeting, their efforts being fully rewarded. The secretary, Mr. A. W. Trass, was most attentive to patrons, while his capable management of the meeting was. a material factor towards the success achieved. The totalisator investments showed a substantial increase, the sum of £18,859 being handled as compared with £13,946 for the 1917 meeting, an increase of £4913.

Whiro was made a firm favourite for the Hack Hurdles, Kurapai most in demand of the four horses that cam e out to oppose him. Whiro did

not delay long in getting to the front, and though his jumping of several of the obstacles caused his supporters some anxiety his fine turn of speed enabled him to keep at the head of the field, the Advance gelding eventually winning comfortably by three lengths from First Line, with Kurapai a poor third. Warmth came to grief at the third fence. A quintette also came out for the next event, the Pohangina Handicap, for which Jean Laddo was installed favourite, Crowhurst and Comment both being heavily supported. Astor shot out smartly when the barrier lifted, with The Speaker and Comment as his nearest attendants. Astor still • had charge when the turn for home had been negotiated, but in the run to the post B. Morris brought Jean Laddo along with a resolute run, and catching the fast-tiring Astor quickly had his measure, the daughter of Sir Laddo —Jeanne D’Arc going on to win by half a length from Comment, who defeated Crowhurst by a couple of lengths for second place. The topweight, Gold Problem, was made a better favourite than Red Signal for the Flying Hack Handicap, in which there were a septette of runners, Vladieau and Beloved also coming in for strong support. The favourite immediately went to the front from the barrier rise, but Vladieau soon displaced him in the lead, only to give way to Beloved, while Red Signal put in a good run racing across to the straight entrance, which he negotiated on terms with Gold Problem, the pair being in the lead at this stage. A great tussle for supremacy ensued, Beloved gaining the verdict from Red Signal by a head, Gold Problem being third. There were only five runners for the Ashhurst Cup, Classification being most in demand with backers, with Multaine and Orleans next best fancied. The public’s judgment proved well founded, for the trio named finished in the order in which they were supported on the machine. Kiltess got away with her customary smartness, and led past the stand from Alteration, Orleans, Classification and Multaine. Kiltess was still in front as the field swept along the back

stretch, but Alteration headed her before the straight was entered, and was in the van as the field commenced the run to the judge’s box, with Multaine and Classification most prominent of the others. Alteration failed badly under pressure, Classification running to the front before the distance was reached, and stalling off a challenge from Multaine defeated the latter by a couple of lengths. Orleans was third and Alteration fourth.

The Komako Welter Hack Handicap produced a field of seven starters, Idle Talk being a slightly better favourite than Ahika. Quinn’s Post set the pace over th e first half mile, followed by Transmission and the favourite, the latter pair taking command as the straight was entered. A sterling contest between Idle Talk and Transmission ended in a head victory for the former, Mystified being a length away, third, and Ahika fourth.

Twelve of the 30 acceptors for the Maiden Stakes were missing when the starters’ numbers were framed, and a favourite was found in Volito, who had the services of R. Reed, Pot Pourri, Borealis and Samarang all coming in for spirited support. The last-named was quickest away, the favourite getting away badly, and the daughter of the defunct Ghoorka made th e pace a cracker, eventually winning very easily by three lengths from Wonder, with Borealis third.

Half a dozen started in the Raumai Welter, Bronk Delaval being favourite, with Comment, Kiltess and Hastie most in request of the others. Kiltess was the early leader, but with a third

of the journey gone Comment assumed control and piloted the field into the straight, where Bronk Delaval and Hastie put in their respective claims. Bronk Delaval was in front as the stand was reached, but he faltered in the final pinch, Comment worrying him out of the verdict by a head. Hastie was third and Kiltess fourth.

The curtain was rung down with the running of the Manawatu Gorge Handicap, in which there were six contestants. The Ashhurst Cup winner, Classification, who as a result of his victory had to carry a 101 b. penalty, was made a warm favourite, the Gravitation gelding being considered unbeatable in the event in question. Namur and Mystified both were accorded fair support. War Scot was responsible for the pace in the early stages, but Classification put in a splendid run entering the straight, and thereafter the issue was never in doubt, for making light of his substantial impost he won comfortably by a length from War Scot, half a length after whom came Namur. Mystified was fourth. The results were: — HACK HURDLES of 120sovs. One mile and a-half. 1— E. Short’s blk g Whiro, by Advance — Sou’-wester mare, 9.10 (Davis) 1 3 —A. M. Wright’s blk g First Line, syrs, 9.3 (Proctor) 2 2— A. D. Scott’s br g Kurapai, aged, 10.1 (McSweeney) 3 Also started: 4 Warmth 9.3 (T. Young), 5 Rising Tide 9.3 (Lorrigan). Won by three lengths. Warmth fell. Time, 2min 50sec. POHANGINA HANDICAP of 150sovs. ' Six furlongs. 1— S. W. Tatham’s b m Jean Laddo, by Sir Laddo — Jeanne d’Arc, aged, 7.8 (B. Morris) 1 3 — W. Hume’s br m Comment, 6yrs, 8.1 (C. Price) 2 2 — W. H. Gaisford’s ch h Crowhurst, 4yrs, 8.0 (H. Young) •••■. 3 Also started: 4 Astor 8.1 (R. Reed), 5 The Speaker 6.7 (Brickman). Won by half a length." Time, Imin 15sec. FLYING HACK HANDICAP of lOOsovs. Six furlongs. 4— G. Penfold’s ch m Beloved, by Gazeley — Hinemahure, 3yrs, 7.7 (A. Reed) 1 2—H. W. Brown’s br m Red Signal, syrs, 7.7 (Corlett) . 2

I—E. J. Nash’s ch g Gold Problem, aged, 8.2 (R. Reed) 3 Also started: 3 Vladieau 8.1 (B. Morris), 6 Pomeroy 8.1 (C. Price), 7 Orateur 7.7 (Brickman), 5 March On 7.7 (Bagby). . ■ Won by a head. Time, Imin 15 2-5 sec. ASHHURST CUP (Open) of 200sovs. One mile and a-quarter. 1— R. J. Sexton’s br g Classification, by Gravitation — Hoity Toity, aged, 7.1 (R. Reed) 1 2— —W. R.- Kemball’s br m Multaine, 6yrs, 7.13 (McEwan) 2 3— -S. W. Tatham’s br g Orleans, aged, 8.9 (C. Price) 3 Also started: 4 Kiltess 7.9 (Corlett), 5 Altercation 7.2 (Bagby). Won easily. Time, 2min 12sec. KOMAKO WELTER HACK of lOOsovs. Seven furlongs. 1— H. Barrett’s b m Idle Talk, by Kilbroney — Rumour, 4yrs, 7.11, 51b allow. (H. Adams) 1 5 —J. Walker’s br m Transmission, syrs, 8.1 (B. Morris) 2 4— S. V. Rodney’s br m Mystified, aged, 8.2 (H. Young) 3 Also started: 3 Quinn’s Post 8.9 (W. Bell), 2 Ahika 9.3 (R. Reed), 7 La Pucelie (C. Price), 6 Khatmandu 7.9 (C. Reed). Won by a head. Time, Imin 31 1-5 sec. MAIDEN STAKES of SOsovs. Five furlongs. 4— Hastie and Simpson’s hr m Samarang, by Ghoorka —Lady Officer, syrs, 8.7 (J. Kaan) 1 5 — G. Penfold’s b m Wonder, 8.7 (C. Price) 2 3—F. Waller’s br. g Borealis, 8.7 (H. Young) 3 Also started: 1 Volito (R. Reed), 11 Jingleform (R. Eager), 7 Glentour (W. Bell), 6 Rene Rose (Bagby), 9 Queen Carnival (B. Morris), 8 Sunburst (C. Reed), 2 Pot Pourri (A. Reed), 12 Gatha (L. Manson), 10 Rora (L. Nodder). Won easily. Time, Imin 3sec. RAUMAI WELTER of llOsovs. Seven furlongs. 2 — W. Hume’s br m Comment, by Provocation—Wailethe, 6yrs, 9.0 (C. Price) 1

I—A. Attwood’s b h Bronk Delaval, 8.7 (H. Young) - • 2 4— E. Short’s b g Hastie, 8.6 (Davis) 3 Also started: 3 Kiltess 8.7 (A. Reed), 5 Altercation 8.0 (B. Morris), 6 Bairnsdale 7.13 (R. Eager). Won by a head. Time, Imin 30 1-5 sec. MANAWATU GORGE HANDICAP of llOsovs. One mile. 1— R. J. Sexton’s br g Classification, by Gravitation — Hoity Toity, aged, 9.10 (C. Price) ......... . 1 4—N. Rasmussen’s b g War Scot, 7.9 (R. Reed) .•■ 2 2 — A. S. Havill’s b m Namur, 8.3 (F. Corlett) •• • 3 Also started: 3 Mystified 7.10 (H. Young), 6 Pomeroy 7.10 (Proctor), 5 Railand 7.7 (Adams). Won by a length, half a length between second and third. Time, Imin 4.4 4-ssec.