NEW ZEALAND CUP

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2921, 6 November 1916, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND CUP

4 WON BY ARDENVHOR SIMONIDES WINS WELCOME STAKES STEWARDS' HANDICAP WON BY BIMETER By Telegraph—Special Reporter. Christchurch, November i. Tho Canterbury Jockey Club's Metropolitan Meeting opened to-day in dull, showery weather. There was a largo attendance of tho public. Tho totalisator handled J/17,489 Wis., as against .049,401 lor the same day last year. The going was very fast, and sotno good racing was witnessed. All tho acceptors went out for Uio Spring Hurdles. Banian stripped well, and was a better favourite than .Crib. At tho start he led' otf with Bore, and the pair jumped well together. Crib was harnly going down the back, but fell at the mile post, and Rongahere, who was moving up, got into this fonce, spoiling his chance. Banian was going very easily alongside Boro entering tho straight, and jumping tho last fence the better lie ran in* a comfortable winner. Rongahero finished well, and caught the tiring Bore. Gladful was a poor fourth, and tho aged Clemency was tailed off last.

There was plenty of excitement in the Spring Plate. - Eirst of all Splendant shied at tho crowd on tho fence while doing his preliminary,' and slipped his shoulder. Ho was brought back, and took no part. Next, Moidant, who was' greatly fancied, broke down while racing prominently, and had to be pulled up. Week End and Beltane were ahead till the straight was entered, where Itevalenta and Bunting moved up. Tho Highden mare soon compounded, but Bunting wont on and won, pulling up. Beltane beat Week End by a head, and then came Devotion, Revalenta, and Ivilbrogan.- Moidant was shot afterwards, as it was found that his leg was broken. The Linwood Handicap saw the downfall of a good favourite in Ascalaphus, who did not get too good a run. Tho field was bunched, during the greater part of the journey, but at the distance Trials and Glorify shot out, and the former, finishing the best, won well. Gallupin was close up third, and then came the favourite and Ardmore in a lino.

The way was now cleared for tho star item of the day. It was a well Tconditioued field that paraded in the birdcage, but Toki was obviously lame, and Multiply was walking a bit short in. front. Ringform stripped the fittest of the teld, while Ardenvhor and Mullingar also looked well, as did Merry Roe. The local horse, Snub, was favourite, with Marc Antony second choice. Merry Roe. was sour at the barrier, and refused to join the field. Mr. Wood got them off well, with tho exception of Toki, who lost several lengths. Passing tho stand the first time, Ladify and Rose Pink led Snub and Ringform, with the others bunched. Rounding Cutts's, Ladify went out by herself, and with six furlongs gone she was six lengths clear of the field. Down rthe back Ringform got a bad run, and Rose Pink fell back. Snub, Indigo, and Settler were prominent rounding tne bottom, but entering the straight the littlefancied Ardenvhor rushed to the front. Indigo tried to go with him, but was soon done with. A furlong from home the race was over, and it was a question of second place for Snub, Mullingar, or John Barleycorn. The trio fought out a great finish, and Snub got second place by a head. Mullingar was the same distance in front, of John Barleycorn. Then came Multiply, llorke's Drift, and Fiery Cross in a line, Sedd-el-Bahr being next. Marc Antony arid Ringform were together, aiid then came Merry Roe, In"digo, Settler, Rose Pink, Ladify, and Toki. Tho winner got a mixed reception, but the applause drowned tho hooting, li. Young rodo the winner a well-judged race. Ringform got a very bad run, and will do better. ere tho meeting closes, while tho race will improve John Barleycorn.

The Welcome Stakes was .next. The withdrawals were Mount Joy, Gamecock, and Lord Kenilworth. In the birdcage Simonides attracted a lot of favourable

comment. Estlaud, Vagabond, and Ample also stripped well. Hymestra is a beautiful-looking colt, but ho is not nearly ready. Simonides did a splendid preliminary, Estliuid and Biplane also moving well. The Demosthenes colt bracketed with Lingerie was a hot fav-

ourite. After a beautiful start Simonides on tho infiido quickly took charge, and was first into tho course proper.. He tried to run out, but a few cuts across

ho nose soon straightened him up, and ie ran home a very easy winner from

Biplane, who just beat Estland. Kilrea, Ample, Lingerie, Vagabond, and Hymestra wero the next to finish.

Tho Apprentices' Handicap was won by Bellshire, who was in charge throughout. Ho was ■ doing his best at tho

iinislt to stall off Battle Eve, and Thorncs. Tho last-named was slow to find her feet or she might have reversed positions with Hie winner. Mount Victoria

uid Recorder were prominent to the ;urn, but the distance found them want-

ing. The Stewards' Handicap was a great race, and resulted in a line finish between the first half-dozen. The betting

was very wide, all the prominent horses being well backed. At the barrier Hyttus and Sweet Tipperary were frac-

tious, but a good dispatch was effected. When the Held camo into line the colours of Koesian, Clynelisli, Egypt, Bi-

meter, anil Daytime were prominent, with the others bunched. Over the last part Eimeter slot out, and Multiplication came from behind, while. Panmuro was shut in oo the fcnco. A good finish resulted in favour of Bimeter by a bare

Jtixigth, with Multiplication a neck in front of Panmure. Then came Chakwana, Margerine, aid Daytime in a line with Egypt, Chortle, Cherry Blossom, Killena, Clynelish, and Meltchikoff right iin. The winner stripped well, and he aud Egypt made many friends by the way they moved in the preliminary. Tor the Biccarton Welter Ladogeur was a slightly better favourite than Gold Sou It and it«wi Poto. The two lastnamed had bad luclc at the start, and got badly left. Comely and Martel led into the straight, where the top weights appeared, and Rewi Poto won easily m the run home. Slogan just beat Gold vSoult for second place. Ladogeur was troubled by the distance.