RACE GOSSIP.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1588, 4 November 1912, Page 6

RACE GOSSIP.

IDEAL DAY AND GOOD SPORT. THE OTP STRUGGLE. (By TeleEiaiih.-Speoial ''.Correspondent.! Christchurch, November 2. • Ideal weather conditions prevailed for the opening day of the Canterbury Jockey Club's Spring carnival. The attendance was' very largo—equal to the best on record—and some 'high-class racing ■ was witnessed. The finishes, in the two principal events wero' very close indeed, the New Zealand Cup being won by half a head, while the Stewards' Handicap produced a'dead-heat. These ' finishes, of course, were'a triumph for'the club's hahdicappor, Mr.'J. E. Henrys. All ten acceptors started in'the Spring, Hurdles, and no fewer than seven of the runners represented the North Island, The Peilding-trained 1 Fashion Plate (Handsome Jack—Rongotea), who had been a winner over hurdles at Marlon and Wanganui, and on tho flat at Masterton, was made a big favourite. Bracken,' who was reported to have shaped well in private, was in front until reaching Cutts's, but he lost a lot ■of ground' by running down fences,' and he dropped'right outat'Cutts's, where Mercedo led from Fashion Plate. The favourite, however, ..got to the front entering the' straight, and had on difficulty in scouring victory. Golden Loop came fast on the-rails at the..finish, and ciit Bollin out of second place. Gold Bird lliade-the poorest showing of the northerners, 'being- in ' the rear throughout. The good going accounted for the fast time put up by tlie'winner, which horse was ridden by Wallace Young, a member of the wellknown family, who recently returned froni Sydney. ■ •

Half-a'-dozen ' withdrawals from the Spring Plate reduced the field, to ten. The scratchings included the Cup favourite (Allegory), and the Hawlte's Bay-owned vHinemanu, who, unfortunately 'for her oww- ■, struck:herself in a final gallop on Thursday. . Carolus'and Quarantine were talking up a-couple of lengths .behind .when,the barrier.went,up, and they were in their stride before the others got properly going. Quarantine was soon steadied, dropping hack behind Lady Narcia and Ladrone, but Carol us carried on the running, and. was still leading when heads were turned for .home. The ICaramu re- , pressntative, Peary, however, ■ took : his measure at the distance, and his victory was -proclaimed, a hundred yards from home., At this point Quarantine~on the outside and Potoa on the rails challenged, and a pretty race resulted, half a length separating the three placed horses at the The winner, who was making his first public appearance, is a well-grown colt, first product of Pair Haven (Pilgrim's Progress—Elusive), who never raced. Potoa, brother to Wauchopo, Takituma,. and other, performers, is a member of. W. C. Ring's Auckland stable. Carolus, who finished fourth; is a half-brother to. Pilgrim's Way. Ladrono did the best of the North Island contingent, neither Phroso nor Imagination showing up prominently at any part of the race. Emerson rode the winner with great confidence. Autumnus, Medallist,. Bracken, and Anna, Carlovna were withdrawn from the Kiccarton Welter Handicap. C. Jenkins weighed-out to ride. North East, but F. Cress was substituted oh account of tho former rider's illness. The colours of the Wellington-owned pair—Merry Frank and Ceylon—showed up prominently at the start. After shaking off Kilts, Ceylon had charge, but fras being ridden hard a hundred 'yards from home, where Bon Ton came through, and scored comfortably from Sandstream, who put in a long, late run, and looks like returning to liis previous best form. North East got no nearer than fourth, while Beacon and Seatondale never showed out of the ruck. Mira lost his rider (W. Ryan) at the turn, but the, jockey fortunately escaped with .nothing worse than a shaking. '

All tho acceptors for the Cup'went to the post. Sir (Jeorge Clifford's representative, Masterpiece, who hdd been responsible for excellent track wort, was the best backed. The light-weights—Has-kayne, Odessa, and Obligant—set a solid pace, Masterpiece; and Mr. Greenwood's pair (Allegory and Vice-Admiral) being, well back when the field passed the stand with half a milo gone. At half-way Obligant was running second to Haskayne, Soldiers' Chorus being well up. Before reaching the six-furlongs post, Vice-Ad-miral had passed Allegory, but gave way to Masterpiece/before tho straight was reached. When the heads were turned for home the leaders gave way to the favourite, who appeared to have 1 tho race in safe keeping at the distance. • A hundred yards from liome, however, Midnight Sun threw out a'strong'challenge, which made the favourite's n'tler draw the whip, but Midnight Sun finished generously, aud segured the verdict by a half a head. ' Sir George Clifford has never yet won a New Zealand Cup, but his representative went very close to-day. By this victory M'dnight Sun repeated the performance of his full-brother, Noctuiform, who won tho race after competing at tho A.J.C. meeting in 1905. Mr. E. J. Watt returned from Sydney on Wednesday last, and was present to see his horse win.-, It may be remarked that the track-watchers would not have Midnight Sun. who was allowed to pay a false price. Mr. E. J. Watt won the race two years ago with Bridge, while Luke Wilson won the-'same race on Downfall three years ago. The Wairarapaowned Sinapis, who was quietly fancied by her connections, filled third place, and then came Soldiers' Chorus, who had held a fair position throughout. Haskayne and Odessa were fifth and sixth. Vice-Admiral beat all the, top-weights. Undecided,- the Wellington favourite, and Bronze were the last to finish. It. was a great betting race, the investments reaching JE10,578, which is a.record, The race was not without incident. The general . opinion was that Masterpiece,l who covered a lot of ground, was unlucky not to win. Soldiers' Chorus was pulling double . half-waj* down tho straight, and then tired, probably on account of not 'hnving been trained over a distance. Goldfinder was nearly down at the five furlong post, and his_ rider was lucky to keep the saddle. Sinapis was last passing the stand the first time round, and, under the circumstances, did remarkably well to annex third place. Bronze also - got . a tad run.' Allegory Tan in, and out, and was apparently too much for Deeley.' Vice-Admiral ran well for a milp 'and a half, and should rfin a race at the meeting. The Auckland representative, floinitto, was another that did not get the best of passages. t r ndecid'?d pulled vei'v hard, but was "stone cold" entering'the straight, and dieil mvav to nothing. It is reported that Midnight Sun was supported bv his connections to win the rnco a few days before the Wellington meeting at Tronthain. He ran last, in tho race, won by Bracon. Tho favourite for the Welcome Stnkfes— Nightwatc,h. the representative of' Sir Geo. Clifford's .stable—was left at. the and took ii" nart in the race. . The Willing ton-owned Teronilla (a- winner at Tientharal and Tatterley Mnnfcr. of the Heating* Stikw) w«re srnutMt cm tMir

legs, and were never headed, the former winning with a length' to spare in fnst time. She was bred at the AVnikanae stud, and is a full-sister to Perom eal, also ownod by Mr. W. Nidd, and trained by F. Higgott at Otaki. The (runnor-un in the Avondale Stales) filled third 1 place. The penalty incurred by his win in the Wellesley Stakes. stopped Mowbray, whose . stable' companion, Salzburg (a half-brother to lngoda) was also among the unplaced division, The winner is. a particularly smart animal, and is tho first of tho pro-. Kcny of Achilles to win a race of such importance. The good-looking BonnV Helen Ifflouiform—Helen Portland) finished immediately behind tho placed horw!?, and Mr. Greenwood's Histarictte (AchiUos —Chinwag) was also well up at the finish. Considering her form at Trentham, the winner was allowed to pay a false price.

'L'wo North leland-owned candidates engaged in the Liuwogd Handicap Were withdrawn. Black Lupin (a winner at the Otaki, Masterton, and Wellington meetings) had contracted a cold, and Hinomanu, who showed good form at the Hastings and Napier Park meetings, struck herself in a final, gallop on Tlrursdaj\ and was .withdrawn. The Hastingstrained Warlight and Courtly, a member of Frank Higgott's team, were prominent to tho turn, where the colours of Messrs. • Stead and Greenwood, were also showing up. At the finish the veteran owner-trainer, T. Sheenan, scored with Hesione (ii granddaughter of tho Anteros mare -Psycho, who produced Burlington and a lot of winners). Pleasure Seeker finished just in front of Teviotdale and. Oxenhopc. Bootle was the only withdrawal from the Stewards' Handicap, thus leaving twenty-three runners. It was the. first event decided from the new six-furlongs start. Piriwai and Pilgrim's Way...wero prominent at the start, bat, coming';to the course proper, Bon Reve was putting in ii claim. - He looked all over ft winner at the distance, biit the lißht-woighted Star'dancer • (Martian—Stepdaftcer) gradually crept up, and managed to -make a deadheat of it. W; Young rode Bon Reve and also rode Bon Ton earlier in the day. These two colts promise to play an important part in the Derby- Stai'dancer is owned by Mr. C. G. Dalgety, chairman of the club, and his prominence in such a valuable stake was popular with the club.

',Tlib majority of the people present left before' tlie decision of-the last race, which could well be deleted from tho programme. ..