AUTUMN MEETING.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1560, 18 March 1920, Page 9

AUTUMN MEETING.

IMARIBBON WINS THE CUP

(From Our Christchurch Correspondent)

The Marlborough Racing Club’s autumn meeting opened on Wednesday, March 10, in perfect weather and the attendance reached record proportions. Though the appointments were incomplete, any defect in this respect caused little inconvenience, and by next season the course should be one of the best in the Dominion. The going was firm, though rather uneven in places, and with usage it is bound to improve. Business at the totaiisator was of a brisk nature, the sum of £14,775, representing an increase of £3937 on the amount handled on the corresponding day last year, being handled.

Numerous withdrawals from the Maiden Hack Race left but a quintet to do battle for the opening event. Nelson form pointed to Pahaka and Jean Gluten having most to say in its decision, and they had the finish to themselves. Jumping out very smartly, Jean Gluten was in front throughout, and she won easily by three lengths from Pahaka. Evidently the racing she had at Richmond sharpened the daughter of Gluten up and enabled her to see out the last furlong. Pahaka had every chance, but was not good enough even in such second-rate company. Of the others, Guinea Gold, a stable companion of Pahaka, and Atilla gave the best showings in what was a decidedly poor class. A North Island visitor in Meritorious was better backed than Rothmoor for the First Trot, / the other starters being neglected. Meritorious showed a bold front for half a mile and then faded right out, leaving Repington well in front. Six furlongs from home Rothmoor drew clear, and from this out had matters all his own way, winning, easing up, by four lengths. Turi Hiwi was slow to commence, but was putting in good work all through the last three furlongs.

Black Night showed out in the early stages of the Opawa Welter Hack Handicap, but he died right out at the end of half a mile. This left Pitch Dark and Maymorn in front, with Dick, who had been slower than usual to begin, well back, last. It was a race between Pitch Dark and Maymorn from the home turn, and under pressure the former drew away comfortably for a length’s win. There were only three starters for the Marlborough Cup, and it was an unsatisfactory race. Imaribbon was made a good favourite, and after indulging Esperance with the lead for most of the journey she won practically without an effort. Esperance quite failed to repeat her Nelson form, while Matty was troubled by the length of the journey. Damien had a big call in the betting for the Dash Handicap, but she ran one of her worst races. Dwelling at the post she held fifth position all through the early stages, and failed to improve on it. Zephland started briskly, and with a furlong gone was right out in front from a bunched field, which included War Tax, Galore and Tinukohe. In the run home Zephland appeared to be winning very easily. A furlong from the post he was asked a question, and just answered it well enough to win by a head from the faster-finish-ing Galore and War Tax. Damien ran a bad race, and is evidently a moody customer. My Lass looked like winning the Second Handicap Trot almost from end to end. Though penalised 48yds. for her Nelson win she cut down the leading division to such good effect that at the end of a mile only Jimmy Richmond had a chance with her. This pair fought a good finish all along the home straight, and after changing positions twice Jimmy Richmond got the verdict by half a head. Sweet Kathleen could not sustain her early effort, and the others did not seem anxious over the concluding stages. Matatua was sent out favourite for the Flying Handicap, but though favoured with a good position in the

early stages he took no part in the finish. With half a mile gone Sweet Memory shot right away, with Matatua heading the others. From this out Sweet Memory cleared away from her field, and won as she liked by four lengths, galloping easily. Pariform, though dying at the finish, had enough in reserve to defeat Spangle by a length. Galore was made a good favourite for the Ward Hack Handicap, and justified expectations by winning easily. Barleycorn and Prince Mark were prominent at the home turn, but neither could gather up the All Black mare, who had a lot in reserve as the post was reached. Maymorn showed speed in the early stages, but could not sustain her effort. The results were: — MAIDEN HACK RACE of SOsovs. Six furlongs.

2—Jean Gluten (Rayner) 1 I—Pahaka (Olsen) 2 1 — Guinea Gold (Bell) 3 Also started: 3 Samarai, 4 Attila. Won from end to end. Time, Imin. 16sec. FIRST HANDICAP TROT of 65sovs. One mile and a-half. 2— Rothmoor, scr. (Emms) 1 7—Repington. 12yds (Berkett) 2 s—Turo Hewi, 72yds (Skill) ■. . 3 Won easily by six lengths. Time, 3min. 52sec. OPAWA WELTER of 80sovs. Seven furlongs. 2—Pitch Dark. 7.13 (R. Reed) 1 I—Maymorn, 8.7 (E. Reed) ........ 2 4—Zela, 8.5 (Rayner) 3 Also started: 2 Dick 8.0, 3 Black Night 7.0. Won by a length. . Tim, Imin. 45 4-5 sec. MARLBOROUGH CUP of 200sovs. One mile and a-quarter. 1 — Imaribbon, .8,10 (Bell) . 1 2 — Matty, 7.7 (Morris) 2 3— Esperance, 7.1 (McMormack) .... 3

The only starters. Won all the way. Time, 2min. 14 4-5 sec. DASH HACK HANDICAP of 70sovs. Five furlongs. 2— Zephland, 8.2 (R. Reed) 1 s—Galore,5 —Galore, 8.7 (McCormack) 2 4 — War Tax, 7.5 (Olsen) 3 Also started: 1 Damien 8.13, 6 Eron Boy 7.5, 3 Russet 7.5, 8 Tonukohe, 7 Liveland 6.13. Won by a head. Time, Imin. 1 4-5 sec. SECOND TROT HANDICAP of 65sovs. One mile and a-half. 3— Jimmie Richmond, 120yds (Barraclough) 1 2 — My Lass 24yds (Fleming) 2 5— Sweet Kathleen, scr. (Atwood) .. 3 Also started: 4 War Lord 36yds, 7 Lady Lyons 48yds, 1 Coalfield 84yds, 6 Brandon 84yds. Won by half a head. Time, 3min. 33 4— FLYING HANDICAP of llOsovs. Five furlongs. 3 — Sweet Memory, 9.1 (T. Pritchard) 1 2—Pariform, 6.11 (McCormack) .... 2 6— Spangle, 7.8 (Carmont) 3 Also started: 4 Rawakore 8.13, 1 Matatua 8.11, 5 Trentham Rose 8.4,. 7 Chudic 7.11, 8 Prince Delaware 6.13. Won by several lengths. Time, Imin. Isec. WARD HACK HANDICAP of SOsovs. Six furlongs. 1— Galore, 9.2 (T. Pritchard) 1 2— Barleycorn, 5.7 (Bell) 2 5— Maymorn, 8.4 (Reed) 3 Also started: 3 Red Signal 9.7, 8 Restful 7.13, 7 Russet 7.10, 6 Frisco Rose 7.9, 10 Prince Mark 7.7, 9' Black Knight 7.7, 4 Emigre 7.0. Won by two lengths. Time, Imin. 15sec.