NOTES ON THE RACING.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1634, 28 December 1912, Page 13

NOTES ON THE RACING.

(By Tolesraph.—Speolal Oorrtepondent.) Palmerston N., Decembor 27. Thoro was a good average attendance at Awapuni for the second day and the intense heat was tempered by a cool breeze, liverything went oif well. Gladiole won tho Stakes from end to end, but tho othor ovents were all well contested. Fashion Plate, with Oliver in the saddlo, was slightly more preferred than Queen o' Scots in the opening event, and the publio rightly judged tho situation, for after getting a nioo run on tho fence tho whole way, tho Feilding mare came out in tho straight, and won nicely from Top Note. Queen o' Scots again, finished very, fast, but could not do better than run third. A. seoond-class handicap, over ono mile and a quarter, should bo well within her compass. Papainarama found tho distance too far, and Master Laddo was the last to finish. Sleacombe and Leolanter were withdrawn from the hurdles, leaving four runners outside of Fiingot, who is a poor jumper. ' Each hoi'6e carried ton times their worth on the machine. Aema made play to the turn where Fiingot, who had lost a lot of ground at every fence, collapsed. Approaching tho last fenco Whimper, who had been riddon a nice nuiet race, came through to the head of affairs and, taking the last fence cleanly, won very comfortably. Gold Bird fell at the last fenoe. Eocene-waa the only absentee from tho Highden Handicap, leaving seven runners. The betting was very even, but tho lightweight; Passadena, upset all calculations by easily accounting for tho opposition. Lady Volga was tho first to jump out, but Heather soon ran to the front, and appeared to be going comfortably, in front when they entered the straight. Then, however,. Passadena, who had .been lying handy in second position, challonged, and after a . good ra-ce, sho won comfortably over tho final pinch. Daybreak, who showed a.lot of paoe in tho first part, was third, .and then came Lady Volga and Lady Louisa, with the others well baok.

A great siurpriso took place in the big handicap, when the little-fancied Sea Queen,camo with a rare rattle in the straight,, and -won by a good length, after a very pretty race. The winner got out well, ana jumped across the inside horses, closing them up, but not much harm was done. Vladinoy took charge passing the stand, and Byron also kept a forward position tSI well round the turn. Down the back Allegory was in third position, but, rounding the bend, Obligant moved up to Vladinoy, and Semaphore also came fast, but fell .away at the bottom of the straight. Obligant was in front half-way down the running,, but Sea Queen, on the outside, and Byron, on the rails, both challenged. Ridden right out, the locallyl owned rnaro won by a length. Byron was a similar distance away, and then came Vladinoy and Seatondale. ■ Tho Highden bracket—Ermengarde and Adolicia—made a good favourite in the Stakes, but Gladiole jumped into her stride quickest,. and the field was never 'able to reach her. Ermengardo was soon in second position, with Peronilla third, but the latter got a very bad run, and ■ was twice stopped. This . spoilt her chance's. Styx ran into third position across the bottom, but he' could not reach Ermengarde, who was a neck to tho good at the finish. Ogier was prominent across the bottom, but he failed to finish on. Adelicia ran' very'badly, "and. so did Vibration, the pair nover being dangerous. Lucerne, who was ridden by W. Price, was made a good favourite in the Hack Welter Handicap. She went a bit short in the preliminary, but this did not prevent her. from jumping, out well, and she was leading for a couple of furlongs when Sir Daniel raced to the front, with Ngakau and Lady Nolan next. Across tho bottom,. Manitau moved up, and, at the straight entrance, she was lucky enough to get up on the' rails., Inside the distance she appeared to be winning easily, but Sir Daniel finished on well, and Manitau was only a head in front at the post. St. Bees, Lady Nolan, and Sir Donald wore in a line. • It was freely reported to-day that Blue Lake had had a very bad run in the Fitzherbert. Handicap, and, on this account she was mads favourite in tho Awapnni l Handicap:-"Reid (on the favourite) was very active at the barrier, and succeeded in getting her,, out well; At the end of a furlong she : was in and, waiting on Eocene-and Seaweed till tho straight entrance, she then camexo, and won cleverly by a couple of lengths. Hermia got away badly, but finished a good fourth. Thon came Manakau, on tho outside, finishing fast., Pinwai was left at the post. I Bonny Boy (Oliver) had the biggest following in the Open Welter Handicap, with Kina next in demand. The favtiurite. jumped .away ■ first, but was soon chopped back to last, and never got to the leaders again. Kina took charge early, and was'not again headed. ' An. outsider (Montreal) finished second, with Ceylon third.. Bracken was just behind tho last-named.