N.Z. METROPOLITAN TROTTING CLUB.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1514, 1 May 1919, Page 33

N.Z. METROPOLITAN TROTTING CLUB.

EASTER MEETING. REVIEW OF THE RACING. (From Our Christchurch Correspondent.) The trotting carnival was opened at Addington on Saturday, April 19, under perfect conditions. Visitors from all parts of the Dominion were present in strong force, and the attendance was larger than at any previous Easter gathering. The track was particularly fast, so much so in fact that the placed horses in almost every event had to better their records considerably to get the money. Mr. Norman has shown to better advantage in getting his fields away, but even so his work was well accomplished. Speculation was fairly brisk, Mr. Macdougall’s staff handling £37,409, as compared with £38,160 last year, when the fixture only extended over one day. Backers made an inauspicious start for the week’s racing by installing Pieter Timmerman and Mushroom favourites for the Introductory Handicap. The latter refused to leave the mark, an example followed by Arcadian, while several others soon went to breaks. Pieter Timmerman flattered his supporters for a mile, for though Te Kuiti was heading him at that stage the pair had such a big break on their field as to sug-

gest them having the finish to themselves. Under pressure, Pieter Timmerman quite failed to respond, and it was left to Patard to chase Te Kuiti home. Hard ridden by A. Pringle, the former made up a good deal of his leeway, but was still seven lengths to the bad when the post was reached. Te Kuiti was ridden a nice race by his trainer, J. Armstrong, who has worked a big improvement in the veteran son of Blackwood and Stella. Pieter Timmerman’s showing was disappointing, while Rita Rose, another well fancied candidate, would do nothing right. Jessie Dillon and Imperial Junior set such a solid pace in the early stages of the Fendalton Handicap as to somewhat disorganise the opposition. Melisande and Rothcliff, the two favourites, got into trouble at the start, while Partner was slow to strike a gait. As was only to be expected, neither Jessie Dillon nor Imperial Junior could maintain their efforts, and three furlongs from home Lady Superior had them well beaten. Coming along with a great burst of speed over the last half mile, Partner almost got to the leader in the home straight, only to spoil an excellent chance by leaving his feet. Only for this he would probably have won, and his performance stamps him as one of the best green horses seen out at Addington this season. Melisande lost several seconds in the first furlong. Subsequently he raced into third position, but could not sustain his effort over the last two fur-

longs. Lady Superior was driven a well-judged race by F. Holmes, and rewarded her supporters with a dividend of over a-quarter of a century. Only for an unfortunate mishap that spoilt the chances of Mintson and Cora Dillon, the Easter Handicap would have produced a great finish. Nancy Stair set a very strong pace all through the first two circuits, so strong in fact as to have her thus early beaten. Then Cora Dillon cleared right away, and two furlongs from home it looked any odds on her prevailing. With heads well in line for home, however, she commenced to tire, and was at once challenged by Mintson and Willie Lincoln. A hundred yards from the post Cora Dillon broke under pressure, and in doing so closed in on Mintson, who was endeavouring to get up on the rails. This stopped the pair, and made matters very easy for Willie Lincoln, who may still have won under any circumstances. Trix Pointer and John Dillon were both well up, but Erin’s Queen, though showing as much speed as any of the others, could not be induced to make the best use of it. At one stage of the journey Agathos looked to have excellent prospects, only to go to a break, while Nancy Stair showed that a solid two miles is as yet beyond her capabilities. The Autumn Handicap was a rather disappointing race. At the end of half a mile Lady Patricia looked a likely winner, but when half the journey had been covered she drop-

ped right out as the result of a bad break. Billy Parole ran a great race till collared by Reta Peter two furlongs from home, when he compounded, and over the concluding stages there were only two in it, Reta Peter and Red Heather. The former gave a fine exhibition of trotting all through, and well deserved her win. She was driven by A. G. Wilson, who has effected considerable improvement in the Petereta mare since taking charge of her. Imperial Crown and Billy Parole both faded out under pressure, while Beeswing and Bon Patch failed to get going. Silver Nut, a four-year-old son of Wildwood Junior and Ginger Nut, was supported for the Welkin Handicap as if the issue was beyond doubt. After Auriferous had set a solid pace over the first mile he was in trouble, and beat a hasty retreat. This left the favourite well clear of his field, and though McDermott appeared to get busy on him over the last furlong to keep clear of Granger, it was a very easy win. Nor is this to be wondered at seeing that Silver Nut improved on his handicap time by well over four seconds. Little Granger ran one of his very best races by covering the two miles in 4min. 38 sec., but Peter Mac was in trouble a long way from home. Acushla Machree set a very solid pace all through the first stages of the Improvers’ Handicap, with Pax and Bundong handy. As usual, the Prince Imperial mare was in trouble

when the winning post was still a long way distant, and, like the most of her family, she is not at home over two miles. With her defection, Silver Quick rushed to the front and two furlongs from home Dean Dillon was the only one holding a chance with her. Once it came to business, Silver Quick could not go on under pressure, and Dean Dillon cleared right out from her over the last furlong. This is easily the best race Dean Dillon has to his credit, and from the manner in which he accomplished it, further successes should come his way. Birdwood, a wellfancied candidate, would not go on with the business from the start, while Pax again demonstrated that two miles is too far for him. Altogether it was a disappointing race, which is not to be wondered at seeing that the winner went six seconds better than his handicap time. On her earlier running Nancy Stair looked to have the best of credentials for the Flying Handicap. She cleared right out in the early stages, while Sympathy refused to take part in the proceedings. Even when the winning post was only half a mile distant Nancy Stair appeared to have excellent prospects. Then Sashwood came along with a run that soon had the leader in difficulties. Once into the home straight the Oamaru representative drew right away and won with consummate ease by two lengths from Hectorata. Amongst the unplaced division Frank Tracey was the only one to race up to form.

SECOND DAY. EMBRACER WINS CHAMPION STAKES. HANNAH M. ANNEXES PRESIDENT’S HANDICAP. The weather was perfect for the second day of the meeting, and the attendance was well up to the standard of previous years. Despite Monday’s rainfall the track was in splendid order and every race was run at a particularly fast clip. The sum of £37,273 was passed through the totalisator, making a total of £74,682 for the meeting. Dragoon Junior was elected a good favourite for the Harvest Handicap, but he ran a disappointing race. With half the distance covered only Colonel Havelock was heading him and under pressure he failed to go on with the business. Racing along the back for the last time Colonel Havelock had a commanding lead, which he maintained to the finish, winning comfortably by four lengths, pulling up. Granger was backed down to a very short price for the April Handicap, and he justified expectations by winning comfortably in 4min. 39 2-ssec. Irvingwood showed a bold front for over a mile, when he was well beaten. Then Granger had only Peter Mac to deal with, and in the run home Granger had matters all his own way.

There were only four starters for the Champion Stakes, but it created a lot of interest. Embracer was installed a better favourite than All Bell, but with a mile gone his prospects did not look any too good. Two furlongs from the post Queen Pirate and All Bell were doing their best in front, with Embracer handy. Once into line for home Embracer had the leader’s measure and won with a lot in reserve by two lengths. Embracer is a full brother to Albert Cling, who, last season, acted as run-ner-up to Queen Chimes in the Champion Stakes and subsequently won the New Zealand Derby Stakes. He is a decidedly common looking gelding, but is a rare stayer. High Admiral, who was sore, was slow to begin and could not go the solid pace set by All Bell and Queen Pirate over the early stages. This marked the fifth occasion this season Queen Pirate has finished second without registering a win. Acushla Machree showed a rare turn of speed in the early stages of the Halswell Handicap, but she was in difficulties when the final circuit was entered on. Half a mile from home Red Prince, Bundong. Pax and Joan of Arc. all appeared to have winning prospects. After Red Prince had flattered his supporters he faded out in the run to the post, giving place to Bundong, who scored comfortably in the smart time of 2min. 49 l-ssec. Pax struggled on into second place, registering his best effort to date, but Proud Spring was well beaten half a mile from home. On the strength of her excellent display on Saturday, Reta Peter found most favour with backers for the Trotters’ Handicap. She did not commence any too smartly, while Beeswing refused to strike a gait. Getting to business very smartly, Truganini was showing the way from Lady Patricia, Gay Wilkes and Tmperial Crown over the early stages. With a round gone Lady Patricia drew away, and trotting very solidly looked a probable winner till the last round was entered. Then Whispering Willie, who had been driven a nice race by B. Jarden, put in his claim. Racing past Lady Patricia at the turn into the straight he won with a lot in reserve in the improved time of 4min. 38 2-ssec. Lady Patricia raced very solidly all through and gave her best showing to date, while Red Heather was putting in good work over the concluding stages. Erin’s Queen and Sashwood monopolised the betting in the President’s Handicap, but neither could go the pace set in the early stages by Bundura and Vice-Admiral. Half a mile from home Hannah M. raced up to the leaders, with Vice-Admiral, Irvar and Bundura in pursuit. Though she was stopping over the last furlong, Hannah M. stayed on well enough to win by a neck from Vice-Admiral, who ran his best race to date. Irvar stayed on better than in any of his former races, and registered the fastest time of any of the competitors. The two most fancied candidates, Erin’s- Queen and Sashwood, never looked to have winning prospects, the former’s display being very disappointing.

There was more than average interest taken in the result of the High Class Handicap from the fact of such a great pacer as Author Dillon being in the field. Jarden’s champion ran a splendid race, but his task was altogether too formidable. After Stockade had set a solid pace from Chid, Cora Dillon and General Link, the field closed up when the last circuit was entered. Chid looked a winner when two furlongs had to be covered, but in the run to the post Cora Dillon wore him down, winning nicely in the smart time of 2min. 48 4-ssec. The victor was all the better for her first day’s race, and stayed on much better than Chid. Though beaten into third place, the honours of the race were all with Author Dillon, who, despite an interrupted passage, covered the ten furlongs in 2min. 45 4-ssec. There were only five starters for the Oxford Handicap, and as two of their number in Lord Minto and Huon Patch were called off for anticipating their bells, the race lacked interest. Tamarisk began very smartly, and, reeling off the first half mile at a Imin. 6sec. gait, had Rorke’s Drift and Silver Quick doing their best two furlongs from home. In the run to the post, Rorke’s Drift put in a fine effort, but he was still a length to the bad when the post was reached.