HAWKE'S BAY STEEPLES WON BY MASTER MERIUT

Chronicle (Levin), 24 June 1946, Page 6

HAWKE'S BAY STEEPLES WON BY MASTER MERIUT

sincing hills and da v1nc1 score

Interesting racing was witnessed on "the first day of the Hawke's Bay Jockey (Jlnh's Winter meeting at Hastings on Saturday, and "backers were well on the niark, three win favourites heing sucfcessful, while they also filled minor places' in foui* other events. The leature event, the Hawke's Bay Steeplechase, resulted in a popular win for the top-weight, Master Memit, who thrilled the crowd with his rpectacular jiunping. The weather was overcast and there was a very large attendance. The track provided excellent winter going. The totalisator investments amounted to £60,123, against £57,199 10s last year, an increase of £2923 10s. Matapan FinlShes Well. Stagiug a solid finishing effort from the. last fence, Matapan just got up to beat Trucpr on tlic post in the' Hastings Ilaek Hurdles. Tracer appeared to be unluoky not to win as he was liampered in tiie ruu home by the riderlcss Sandy Cape. Darag was the early | paeemaker, but Tracer took eharge passing the half-rnile and was followed into the straight by Cauda Lux, Matapan, Mary Jo and Orientai Lady. The ! Jeader juinped the last hurdle well elcar, j but was uuable to hold olf Matapan \s | challenge over the closing stages. ! Mary Jo was a moderate third after ' having every chauee. Orientai Lady j was a promising fourth, followed by j Cauda Lux, ilink and Cuisinier. Sandy j Caj'c lost his rider at the ilrat hurdle. An Overdue Win. | A placegetter in his four previous ' sturts, the Awapuni- trained Newel Post I opened his wiuning aceount by seoring | very easily in the Hastiugs Maiden, | after being coulidently handled by M. I Andrews. Gold Wuteli was quiekly in | front and led past the half-mile from Fleetwood, Fighting -X ell, Newel Post, Sir Warrior and Loqueudi. Rounding the turn, Newel Post closely followed i Gold Watch and Fleetwood, with Sir Warrior, Loqueudi aud Flying Pigeon headiug the others. Oncc straightened up Newel Post quiekly strode to the front, aud was not troubled in the run to the judge to win easily from Fleetwood, who held on to beat Loqueudi for seeoud. Flying Pigeon finished strongly to be almost in line for fourth, uhead of Sir Warrior, Foxspear ' ahd Gold Watch. Pavourite Fails. The favourite Shepherd's Mato let his supporters down badly in the Whakatu Hurdles, fading right out over the last half-mile to finisli at the rear of the iield. Shepherd's Mate soon took up the paceniakirig, but was theu joined by Gold Money Song, the two leaders setting a merry pace to show the wav past the stands the lirst time from Hasten, lluuto aud Iligh Morale, the rear being brought up by Norse. Going along the baek Gold Money Song went into a elear lead from Shepherd's Mate, with lluuto, iiiLproving his posiI tion, High Morale and Biue Titlc. Raci ing to the turn Hunto joined the lead- | er, and then followed High Morale and | Blue Title, with Shepherd's Mate drop piug baek. lluuto cleured the last hurdle brilliantly aud eauie away to J win unextended from. Blue Title, who ; iinislied solidly over the last bit to get : up and beat Gold Money Song on the ; post for second. High Morale xvas uext, ! followed by Norse, Hasten aud Shep- , herd 's Mate. A Keen Finish. ' The Winter llaudicap provided a I splendid raee, lionours being with the | wiuuer, Singing llills, who eanie from tliirteeuth at the nome turn with a devustating run to eut down the leaders in the last few strides. Findon, who was twico as well backed as anything eise, failed to seeure an opening at a eruelal stage und he did Well to linish j a elosc third. Frencli Count and Lowry I Bay led out of Lhe straight from I Leighon 's Glorv, Findon and Caru- | forth, but going along the baek I Leighon 's Glory moved up to Lowry ( Bay, with Frencli Count, Findon, I)ark Morning and Carnforth closely following. There was littlo change running to the turn und as they straightened up | for hoine Leighon 's Glory forged to the front, with Findon, Caprouella a*d Bark Morning all challenging, and yiitging llills beginning to tliread his way lln'ough the mlddie of the field. Leighon 's Glory appeared all over the wiuuer at tlie distance, but yinging llills, sustaiuiug his run, got up on the post to beat the Trentham mare by a narrow margin. Findon was a clear tliird from Capronella, with Lowry Bay, yiiver Bod, United A'ations and Cinna Bay close up. The Favourite Easily. Giving a masterly display of fencing, the odds-on favourite Master - Meruit Irnd tlie liawke 's Bay yteeplechase won a lojigi way from home. liiugscarf went out to make the eariy pace, and was lipllowed tlie lirst time rouud by Authoress, Kilmanagh, Master Meruit and Opaltown, Xsanook having run ofl" at the third fence. Commencing the iiual eireuit Authoress went iuto the lead closely followed by Master Meruit, who was gaining ground at every fence, .Kilmanagh, Abbey Lu and Opaltown. Bevcn furlongs from home Master Meruit jumped his way to the front and soon drew clear of Abbey Lu, making up ground, Authoress and Kilmanagh. :Makiug a faulty jump at the obstacle on the turn Abbey Lu nearly lost liis rider, who made a good recovery, but this settled his ckances of .overhauling tlie favourite, wlio rau home an easy wiuner. Kilmanagh, after makiug a couple of faulty jumps, battled on for third, well clear of Opaltown aud Flylite. Blanket Atones. Revealing his best fonn, Blanket Iinislied solidly to score an attraetive Avin iu the Rotopai Hack Handicap. The earlv leaders were Waterloo Bridge, Foxada. Battle Cliief, yiiver Crest and Tomahawk, Avitli Griffin and Court Judge most prominent of tlie others. Waterloo Bridge and Foxada carried the field along at a strOng pace aud were well clear passing the half-mile from yiiver Crest, Tomahawk, Battle Ohief and Griffin. Approaehiilg tliej tuni, Tomahawk went aftet the Jead■ors, witli Grifiin and Blanket also be- ' ginjiing to niake a forward uiove. Oijce

straighteued up Griffih forged to the front, but Blanket unwound a '"strong run on the outside. and eame away, over the final stages to. win by a good margin. Griffin. was a clear second from Waterloo Bridge, who was closely attended by Tomahawk, Big Wonder and V assilikos.-' ■ ' % , A Briillant Victory. Backed down to favouritism, Da VTinci^gave a liigh.class.perforniance by winning the Heretaunga Handicap decisively. Beginniug smartly Tribal Night was soon in front, and showed the way past the half-mile to .Bkyhawk, Bay Eobe Da Vinci, Wayside, Ramicourt and Grey Donne. Tliere was no change in the order .as they raced to the turn, but once in line for the judge Da Vinci quiekly threw out a challenge, and finishing gamely soon took the measure.of the leaders., Wayside outstayed Tribal Night for .second, and they were followed ,by- Poutntau, High Ideal, Air Aee and Bay Robe. Concludlng . Event. The surprisingly well-back'ed Indian Bky brought oft'a coup by getting up in the last few strides to win the Clifton Handicap from Mr'. Yaliant who appeared to have the- ra'ce well in hand at the distance. In the early stages the most prominent were Highland Yiew, Mr. Valiant, Ernbrae, Indian Sky and Brince Wanaka. Approaehiilg the turn Mr. Yaliant rau past ' Highland Yiew, and they were atteuded by Indian Bky, Ernbrae and Brince Wanaka. Inside the last furlong Mr. Yaliant was clear, but Indian Bky, finishing solidly under pressure, got his measure on tlie post. Brince Wanaka was a creditable third, closely followed by Highform, Ernbrae, Kauri (^uCeu and Tifox. Results: — HABTINGB- HACK HURDLEB, £300; • " about 1 J iniles. 3-3 MATAPAN, 9.8 (R. Drinkwater) .' .. I 0-6 Tracer, 9.0 (N. Lyncli) .. .. .. 2 1-2 Marv Jo, 10.11 fC. Bowry) .. 3 Also': 5-8 Rink, 4-5 Bandy Gape, 2-1 Patu Ra, 10-10 Guisinier, S-4 Cauda Lux, 9-y Orientai Lady, 7-7 Plain Boy, 11-11 Darag, 12-12 King 's County. llalf a liead; two and a-lialf lcngths. Orientai Lady fourth. Time, oiuiua. (Winner, trained by R. Drinkwatcr, Blenheim.) HABTINGB MAIDEN, £200 furlongs 2-2 NEWEL POBT, 8.10 (M. Andrews) ' . . . . 1 1-1 Eloetwood, 8,3 (W. Mudford), bracketed Flying Pigeon ...... 2 9-8 Loqueudi, 8.10 (L. Clutterbuck) 3 Also: 7-19 Bir Wllrrior, (i-7 El.Roitan, 3-3 Foxspear, 11-11 Bparkling Lady. 5-4 Baby Fox * braeketed Gold Watch, 13-14' Cook Btrait, 12-12 Fighting Nel-I, 10-9 Mary Lee, 14-13 Becalm braeketed Count Bian, 4-5 Desert Fox, 8-0 Perfect Peace braeketed Lang Byne. Two and'a-half lengths; half a ucck. Flying Pigebn fourth. Time 1.18 2-5. (Winner trained by J. J. Waller, Awapuni). WHAKATU HURDLEB, £500; about 1^ miles. 3-3 HUNTG, 10.13" (W. Bkifiington) 1 2-2 Blue Title, 10.0 (W. Carter) .. 2 0-0' Gold Money iBong^.iehSk {>Mi i Andrews) . . . - ; .. 3 Also: 1-1 Bliepherd's Mate, 7-7 Hasten, 4-5 High Morale, 5-4 Norse. Five lengths; half .a head. High 'Morale fourth. Time, 3.24 3-5. ( Winner trained by J. H. Corbett, Paeroa.) WINTER HANDICAP, .£750; l j miles. 7-5 B1NGING HILLB, 7.7 . (C. Mackie};-. ' bracketed Cliarles Edward) . r 1 13-15' Leighon 's Glory, 7.1L (W. Johnson) 2 1-1 Findon, 9.9 (I. Galvin) 3 AisO-' 3"^ Platform, 4-0 Indian Bport, 6-4 Capronella, 2-2 Dileas; 8-11 LoKry Bay, 9-9 French Count, 5-7 Bilver Rod, 14-14 Cinna Bay, 11-10 Paganini, 15-13 Carnforth, 16-16 Burma, 12-8 United Nations braeketed Dark Morning, 10-12 Alcyone bracketed Montosorrie. Half a iength; ueck. ■ Capronella fourth. Time,% 2.12 -2-5. (Winner trained bv W. J. Quinlivan, Hastings.) HAWKE 'B BAY BTEEPLECHABE, £1000; about 3 miles. 1-1 MABTER MERUIT, 11.9 (A. Midwood) I 3-3 Abbey Lu, 9.2 (W. Ensor) ... 2 2-2 Kilmanagh, 9.8 (C. Carroll) .. 3 Also: 4-4 Authoress, 8-9 Ringscarf, 5-5 Nanook, 7-8 Flylite, 6-6 Greek Effort, 9-9 Opaltown. Bix lengths; two and a-lialf lengths. Opaltown fourth. Tiuic, 6.18. (Winner trained by "W. D. Young, Hastings.) ROTOPAI HACK HANDICAP, £400; II- miles. 1-2 BLANKET, 9.7 (W. J. Broughton) ............ 1 3-4 Griffin," 9.5 (P. Atkins) 2 6-6 Waterloo Bridge, 8.0 (I. Gal- - vin) 3 Also: 2-1 Tomahawk, 7-7 Te Wanaka, 5-3 Blue Moon, 4-5 Couft Judge, 8-8 Bilver Crest, 13-11 Yassilikos, 9-9 Big Wondcr, 10-10 Battle Cliief, 11-12 Foxada, 12-13 Laurium. Three lengths; two lengths. Tomahawk fourth. Time, 2.14 1-5. (Winner trained bv G. W. New, Awapuni.) HERETAUNGA HANDICAP, £500; 7 furlongs. 1-1 DA YINCI, 9.S (W. J. Brougli) ton) , .... 7 ... 1 . 1 6-7 Wayside, '8.0 (11. Pearce) bracketeid Bkyliawlc .. .. 2 3-3 . Tribal Niglit, 9.1 , (A. Midwood) 3 Also: .2-2 Raniicourt, "9-8 Poutatau, 5-5 Lady Cliips,. 4-4 Bay Robe, 10-1.0 Carev, 14-14, Flying Hawk, S-9 Piccolo bracketed Glenfalloch, 12-11 Crainqnd Bay bracketed Indian Gold, 13-13 High Ideal, 11-12 Grey Donne bracketed Palissy, 7-6. Ajj. Ace bracketed Big ^ron'ey, 15-15 Berojiuri bracketed. LutanISt. . ; .Lengtli; n'eck. Lady Chips fourth. Time, 1.31 3-5. (Winner trained by J. M. Canieron, Hastings.) CLIFTON -HACK HANDICAP, £300; 7 furlongs^ t 2-3 INDIAN BKY, 9.0 (J. Campbell) .. .. .. .. 1 7-S Mr. Yalient, S.7 (C. Bowry) ., 2 l-l Prinee Wanaka, 9.0 (W. J. Broughton) ■.. .'. . . .. 3 AIi4o: 6--7 Eoyal Duce, 5-5 Our Jock, 9-10 Kauri.' " Queen, 4-4 Ernbrae, 3-2 Tifox, 10-9 Bilver Ball, 13-13 Komo, 8-6 Walk Olf liTaeketed Midshipinan, 11,-12 Miss Pomphdour btaeketed Highform,

. ( 12-11 Ulatis bracketed Highland Yie,w. j Short neck; tliree-quarters of a lengtlp .Highform fourth. Time, 1.32. (Winner trained by J. A. Hennali, | Hastings.)