KUKUNUI'S CUP AT SATURDAY’S RACE MEETING

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 13, Issue 79, 27 April 1949, Page 5

KUKUNUI'S CUP AT SATURDAY’S RACE MEETING

Officials of the Whakatane Racing Club have every reason to feel satisfied with their first race meeting, on Saturday. True, the district could have mustered a bigger crowd but, all things considered, the meeting drew a splendid attendance and as a result of the day’s sport the Club should be established firmly. Gate takings were £l4O and the equalisator handled over £I,OOO. Though there was a bit of rough horseflesh amongst the starters, the general standard was fair and the racing good. Mr J. H. Evans had the weights well figured and most events produced reasonably close finishes.

M R. Park’s Kukunui, locally owned, won the big event of the day for the silver cup donated by Mrs Dunderdale and presented by her to the owner straight after the race, followed home by Trieste and Dumbo, which the knowing ones had been inclined to favour.

Results in detail:—

MAIDEN HANDICAP, 6 furlongs: Mr G. Haslam’s ADONIS 8.3 (K. Rangi) 1; Mr P. Speechley’s RUAINA 8.0 (B. J. Peters) 2; Mr F. Bunn’s QUETZAL 8.3 (C. Evans) 3. Also started: Ginger Boy, On Trial 8.3, Awatapu, Jovial Night 8.0. On Trial led to the first bend, followed by Adonis, Quetzal and Ruaina. Coming into the straight the four horses were running in a bunch, but On Trial faded out of the picture as Adonis drew away to win by two lengths from Ruaina with Quetzal a similar distance away from the second horse. Time, lmin 18 l-ssec.

HURDLE RACE, lb miles: Mr Wilson’s TIGHT LINE 10.0 (Young) 1; Messrs Price and Corcoran’s QUINATION 9.7 (Henry) 2; Mr H. Tapsell’s REGAL DON 10.8 (Steel) 3. Also started: Rua Hess 3.9, Surveyor General, Red, Midnight Matinee 9.7,

First time past the stand Quination had a slight edge on Tight Line and Regal Don as they took the first hurdle, with the rest of the field close up in a bunch. Red struck the second hurdle heavily, throwing his rider Baty, but neither rider nor horse was hurt. Thereafter the three leaders fought it out grimly, with Regal Don’s weight getting the' better of him towards the finish. Tight Line, striding easily, led Quination past the judge with 2|- lengths to spare and Regal Don another three lengths back losing ground. Time. 2.49.

SCURRY, 5 furlongs: Mr E. Webber’s ST. OMER, 9.3 (W. R. Scott) 1; Mrs L. Davis’s FEUDAL QUEEN, 9.0 (Leo Davis) 2; Mr A. Thompson’s HEATHER MAC, 9.0 (Redfern) 3. Also started: Two Spots, Goldie, Raepata, Golden Arrow, Surveyor’s Pride, Banana, Section Leader, Golden Boy, Ginger Boy 9.3, Everest County, Kahuwera, Black Gold 9.0. St. • Omer, - skilfully piloted by Scott, got a jump on the rest of the field from the start and made the pace on the inside running to win by two lengths going easily past the post ahead of Feudal Qufeen with Heather Mac another 3 lengths back. Time, 1.5. WHAKATANE CUP, 1J miles: Mr R. Park’s br g KUKUNUI (Valette— Kukuriri) 8.2 (Matherson) 1; Mr R. Hewisham’s bay m TRIESTE (Triune—Panthiest) 8.0 (Evans) 2; Mr G. Cobb’s br g DUMBO (Jay—Valeris) 8.7 (Scott) 3. Also started: •Mr F. H. Bunn’s Royal Silver 8.7 and Mr P. Speechley’s Ruaina 8.0. First time past the stand, Trieste led Kukunui, Ruaina, with Dumbo going easily in fourth place. Along the back Dumbo gathered up Ruaina, going on to challenge the leaders as they went behind the hill. First out into the straight was Trieste, leading Kukunui by a head with Dumbo a clear two lengths back. Kukunui went away comfortably to open up a twcwdength lead, and Dumbo failed to close the gap to Trieste. Time, 2.8 2-5. HIGHWEIGHT HANDICAP, 1 mile: Mr Wilson’s TIGHT LINE 10.7 (Young 1; Mr H. Tapsell’s REGAL DON 10.3 (C. Steel) 2; Mr G. Haslam’s ADONIS 10.0 (Henry) 3. Also started: V. 8., On Trial, Stardust, Gayleon 10.0 Tight Line took the lead at the start and was chased hotly along the back by Adonis, with Regal Don coming fast at the home turn. Tight Line went on to win easily, . with Regal Don beating Adonis for second place by half a length. Time, FLYING HANDICAP, 6 furlongs: Mr R. Park’s KUKUNUI 8.7 (Evans) 1; Mr E. Webber’s ST. OMER 8.3 (Scott) 2. Only starters.

Though St. Omer got away well, Kukunui had it all sewn up at the home turn and went on to win by a good three lengths. Time, 1.17 1-5.

SETTLERS’ HANDICAP, 7 furlongs: Messrs Price and Corcoran’s QUINATION 9.7 (R. Henry) 1; Mr K. Sullivan’s SURVEYOR GENERAL 9.7 (R. C. Parger) 2; Mr A. Thompson’s HEATHER MAC 9.7 (E. Leach) 3. Also started: Feudal Queen, Section Leader, Raepata, Two Spots, Goldie, 9.7. Quination showed at the start, and led along the back from Surveyor General and Feudal Queen, with Heather Mac heading the bunch. Turning for home, Feudal Queen was fading as the three placed horses battled up the straight. Won by 3 lengths, a neck between second and third. Time, 1.31. FAREWELL HANDICAP, 7 furlongs: Mr F. H. Bunn’s ROYAL SILVER 8.7' (Rangi) l; Mr T. Melrose’s RUA HESS 8.0 (B. Peters). Only starters. Though Rua Hess showed well at the start, the race was over at the half-way mark, and Royal Silver won easily. Time, 1.29 4-5.