NOTES ON THE RUNNING.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 225, 23 September 1929, Page 12

NOTES ON THE RUNNING.

dutch money in the boom. meprisant wins first start. (Bj Telegraph.—Spec'al to " Star.') CHRISTCHURCH. Saturday. The threc-vear-old filly Dutch Money was a hot favourite for the Longbeach Handicap, the opening event, and her backers were always on good terms with themselves. She was well placed fiom the rise of the barrier, following the two leaders to the straight, after which she always had the result in safe keeping. She is a very smart galloper, Mho showed attractive form last season, and she shows promise of being a good winner during the next few months. She has a Dunedin Guineas engagement next mouth, and she should be equal to running out a solid mile. Dutch Money is by Paper Money from Dutch Clock, a Nassau mare, who is a half-sister to Count Cavour's dam, so she is bred on stout lines.

Punchestown ran a creditable race in the Longbeach Handicap, as he was one of the pacemakers from the rise of the barrier, and he stuck on well to beat all but Dutch Money. This was- !"s third appearance in public, and he should be a winner before long, as he is wellendowed with pace. Punchestown is a well-grown five-year-old by Thurnham from Diomia, tlie clam of'the steeplechaser Charlatan, and like his relative he is destined for a jumping career. Thurnham sired a number of good jumper-;, and Punchestown looks an ideal horao for that business.

Mf.prisant vw"* hiving his first race when he won the Trial Plate, and lie showed evidence that he lacked experience, as he failed to jump out smartly, and even when on the journey lie ran very green. As a result he was not near the leaders in the early stages, but once he reached the straight he put in some great work. He cut the opposition down in brilliant style over the final furlong, and won in the last stride. It was an attractive performance, which should do him a iot of good as an education for his next • effort, which may be the- Dunedin Guineas. Meprisnnt is by Paladin from Disdainful, so he is a. three-year-old brother to Quaecee, who ran socmd in this raw list year, and a little later ■ended what promised to be a bright career by breaking a leg. Meprisant anil Chide ar« from sisters. and n> both .ire by Paladin they, arc brothers in blood. Meprisant is thus bred on successful lines. He has shown on the Eiccarton trades that he cm gallop, and before the end of this season he should be running good races in open company, while there is no reason why lie should fail as a stayer. Desert Song,must rank as an unlucky three-yoajr-old. He has started three times this season, and has been second on each occasion. Leader beat him twico at Rimirton last month, and he had a similar experience "hen Meprisant got li)) in the lust stride to boat him in the Trial Plate at Ashburton to-dr.y. Desert Song is a smart gullopcr. and a game linisher, so his winning turn may not be delayed much longer.

Bell Bird, who filled third place in the Trial Plate, is a speedy three yearold filly from tho South Canterbury stable, which shelters First Raid. This was Bell Bird's first race, and she should pay her way before long. She is by the brilliant Song Bird, who has left a few useful gallopers. Straightcourse, who met with some support in the Trial Plate, was never prominent. He belied his name by running about in the early stages, but with more race experience lie will improve, as he is a useful galloper. Chide was backed with great confidence in the Ashburton Handicap, and he pulled through his first engagement of the season In good style. He and Prickles drew out at the entrance to the straight, and made an exhibition of the opposition over tho last furlong. Half-way up the straight it looked as if there would be a good finish, but when Chide was shaken up he soon put the issue beyond doubt. Ho is a lazy customer, end when young Eastwood ceased riding ho stopped quickly, but he had sufficient advantage to win by a. good neck. Had he been ridden right out there would have been a good margin, and the performance must have been quite pleasing to his Cup admirers. Although beaten decisively by Chide, the performance of Prickles in the Ashburton Handicap was quite a good one, and she should win before the season is Uiuch further advanced.

Hoylake was prominent for seven furlongs in the Ashburton Handicap, but he failed badly at the finish. He is not ready for a hard mile and a-quarter yet, and his trainer may have a difficult task to get him through a severe Clip preparation, as there is a fear that his knees will cause trouble when the tracks become hard.

The performance of Sea Raid in winning the Fairflcld Hack was very attractive. She was not near tho front in the early stages, but she ran up to the leaders on reaching tho straight, after which she always looked a winner. Last season Sea Raid showed great speed, and now she looks as if she would stay at least a mile and a-quarter. On appearances she should be out of hack company before long, and she may win good open races later on.

Sweet Refrain ran a. solid race in the Fairflcld Hack Handicap. Her speed has never been questioned, but she battled on to the end of a mile in good style. Kate Kelly was staying on well in the Fairfield Hack, and she may develop into a useful winner for the Southland owner, Mr. W. T. Hazlett, for whom she is trained at Riccarton bv E. Scoullar.

Comiquo began slowly in the Fairfleld Hack, but she moved up at the lionie turn. It was a short-lived effort, however, as she failed to como on in the straight. Wrigley had every chance in the Fairfield Hack. After jumping out slowly he worked his way into a decent position at the entrance to the. straight, but the finishing run was missing. He will need to improve on this form to do much winning.

Count Cavour was seen in a new role at .Ashburton, where ho ran a very creditable race among the sprinters in the Farewell Handicap. The veteran Solferino gelding is far from being a spent force.