THE RACING WORLD

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 57, 1 December 1926, Page 15

THE RACING WORLD

FEUDING SPRING MEETING CUP WON BY DIOGENES STAKES TO GRAND KNIGHT ORCHID WINS FLYING HANDICAP. (By Telegraph—From “The Watcher.”) , Feilding, November 30. - The spring meeting of the Feilding Jockey Club was held to-day in threatening weather. The race track, as the result of recent heavy ram, was soft in patches and heavy in others, especially on the home turn. Under these conditions favourites fared very badly, failing to win a single event. Diogenes won the Feilding Cup in decisive style from Merry Day and Kilfaire, and in the Feilding Stakes there was a brilliant contest won by Grand Knight from the bracketed pair Limited and Tamatete. Orchid won the open sprint from Epistle and Royal Damon. Trentham horses ran well, as Gauntlet also won a race, making three from headquarters, while Diogenes is Wellington-owned, although trained at Awapuni.

The judicial stewards met after the Trial Plate, and as a result of the sitting R. Reed, rider of Molto, was susp nded for a fortnight for interference with Powhiri. B. H. Morris, rider of the latter, was severely censured for giving unsatisfactory evidence. In this race two horses fell. Takaroa came down on the home turn, where there was a 'patch of bad ground, and Limosa fell over him. D. V atts, rider of Limosa, badly strained his neck muscles, while J. S. Potter, on Takaroa, hurt a shoulder. Both boys received atvvntion and rode subsequently, Potter riding a winner, but they are to be examined again to-night. There was a substantial decrease m the totalisator returns, as compared with the first day last year, the figures being £20,736, as against £28,463, a decrease of £7727. The failure of tlie favourites was a substantial contributing lactor, but another important influence was that the first day last year was a .Saturday. After the race for the Cup, Mr. H. P. F. Blundell, owner of Diogenes, received Mr. W. Duncan’s handsome trophy from Mrs. Duncan, Mr. B. N. Sandilands president of the club, making complimentary reference to the horse •and his connections.

WAITUNA HURDLES. With Enare out of the hurdles backers went solidly for Nukumai, the best backed of the others being Carawock, Koauau, and Little River. The eventual winner, Gauntlet, went out at double figures. Little River, Sir Pam, Roman, and Carawock were prominent in the early part f r ® m Gauntlet, Koauau, and Nukumai. Entering on the last circuit Little River was clear of Carawock, Gauntlet, Koauau and Nukumai. Gauntlet went up to Little River at the five furlongs, where the latter had shot his bolt, Gauntlet leading for home from Koauau, Carawock, and Nukumai. Gauntlet was over the last hurdle first and had no in making the most of his 441 b. advantage from Nukumai, who disposed of Carawock and Koauau as comfortably as lie himself was beaten. Considering that Carawock does not like soft ground lie ran a very fair race. It was his fifth successive third placing. Gauntlet largely owed his victory to excellent fencing, showing decided improvement on his jumping at Levin. | , TRIAL PLATE. Resinous was a firm favourite for the Aorangi Trial Plate from General Wai and Powhiri, while there was support for Molto. Resinous got out well, but appeared unable to handle the going, falling back early. However, he finished on in the straight fairly well The start was not a good one, Molto being on the move, so obviously, in fact, that Reed checked her slightly until he saw that it was a start. Consequently she gained an advantage from which she should have won if good enough. Her early attendants were Eka, Kalos, and Powhiri Kalos went to the lead half-way, but they bunched on the' turn, where General Wai became noticeable. Molto and Kalos led Powhiri and Eka into the straight from General Wai The last-named forged up on the rails and beat Molto by a head Kalos hung on into third place He is a nice-looking three-vear-old gelding by Boniform from Black Lake, and in Mr Vallance’s colours. This was his first start and onlv 2S ti-kets were on his chance Powhiri was a good fourth after meeting with interference in the straight. Takaroa fell and Limosa fell over him.

FEILDING CUP. Glenross was a solid favourite for the Feilding Cup, in which Civilitv, f’eneus. Penman, Roaa Hog, and Othon declined their engagements. The connections of Glengariff were verv confident, and he was second choice, with Indian Sage and Euphonium next in order Merry Day delayed the start and when the field was let go Indian Sage, Kilfaire, Glenross, Joy Bird, and Glengariff showed out from the bunch. Indian Sage led out ot the straight from Kilfaire, Glengariff, Joy Bird, Glenross. and Diogenes. Down the back Joy Bird hit the front from Indian Sage, Glengariff, Kilfaire, Modern, Diogenes and Glenross. Novar moved up on the home turn where Joy Bird gave way to Diogenes, with Indian Sage, Glengariff and Kilfaire right up. At this stage Merry Day, who had whipped in, commenced her well-known run. Diogenes led into the straight from Glengariff, Indian Sage, Kilfaire, and Joy Bird, and was clea- at the distance, going on to win comfortably by a length from Merrv Day, who finished all over Kilfaire in the straight. Joy Bird and Glengariff were well up, but there was a gap to the bunch, where Glenross, Novar, and Euphonium were showing out. Diogenes won very decisively Glenross pulled very hard in the early stages, and was fighting for his head for a mile, when he fell back beaten. Euphonium was never in the picture, being one of the last to get awav. India.!) Sage had every chance, and so did Glengariff and Kilfaire. Joy Bird ran a verv creditable race. KOWHAI HANDICAP. The numerous scratchings in the Kowliai Hack Handicap obviated a division of the field. Elysianor was a good favourite ’from Lady Anstrutlier and Great Day. Great Day and Elysianor were first out from the start, in which Lady Anstrutlier, Partaga, and Lad o’ Mine got left. Great Day, Elysianor, Rnukura, Vivo, Rising Star, and Fiery Comet was the order to the turn, where Elvsianor went up to the lead and turned for home from Rising Star, with Great Day next, and Alloway coming verv fast. Alloway joined the leaders at the distance, and although be ran verv green he beat Rising Star com for tabtv, with Elvsianor weakening in third place. Vivo, Fierv Comet, Petal. • and Great Day headed the bunch. The

winner, who won a maiden race on the same course in September, is still very green, but under punishment he nnng on very gamely. Fiery Comet is a likely sort to improve. FEILDING STAKES. Scratchings in the classic event, including Lysander, reduced the held to seven, Tamatete and Limited being bracketed. Lady Cavendish was £lBO better backed than the bracket, with Glentruin third choice. When the field was let go Glentruin got chopped back to last, Lady Cavendish, 1 amatete, and Limited running abreast from Oscillation, The Thorn, Grand Knight, and Glentruin. At halfway the leaders were well clear, but on the turn Grand Knight began to close up followed by Glentruin. So well and so fast was Grand Knight coming that it was obvious he was going to take a band in the finish. Limited and Tamatete bad shaken of! Lady Cavendish as they straightened up, but Grand Knight then challenged, with Glentruin and The Thorn handy. There was a great race home. Grand Knight wearing down Limited to win by half a length, with Tamatete the same distance away. Right up were The Thorn, Ladv Cavendish, and Glentruin. The last-named was undoubtedly unlucky, although it is impossible to detract from Grand Knight s splendid performance. The pace ? the leaders in the first half killed them at the finish. Nothing ran a bad race, and Oscillation, who is a two-year-old half-brother, by Day Comet, to Suggestion, is liable to show up in his own class soon.

FLYING HANDICAP. Merry Jest was a slightly better favourite for the Flying Handicap than Orchid and First Acre, both of whom carried the same amount of money. Epistle was the best backed of the others. Orchid began best, with Epistle and Royal Damon, and they ran thus to the turn from the bunch, which was headed by Merry Jest and First Acre. Orchid allowed Royal Damon to head him on the turn, but once in line Orchid came away, and was easing up at the finish, while Epistle and Lady Bentinck were all out. The last-named wao an extreme outsider. First Acre and Jest appeared to have every chance. Royal Damon ran a good race. Bonogue was very prominent on the turn, but went right back in the straight Nine of Spades was in the rear for the most part, but finished up sixth.

FITZROY HANDICAP. . Jazz Baby was a good favourite for the hack sprint, with Plain Sailing, Addlepate, Bank Note and Royal Elm very evenly backed. Plain Sailing led all the way from No. 1 and was never seriously challenged. Spode, Bank Note, Volplane, and Jazz Baby were hex nearest attendants to the straight, where Volplane beat the others, with Sea Star coming well into third place. Addlepate, Jazz Baby and Horomea were the best of the'beaten lot. The last named will not be long before he is ill bis best form.

KIWITEA HANDICAP. . Monaghan was a solid favourite for the concluding event from Bennannee and The Lamb- There was a long delay at the start, chiefly owing to Panther, and the field went off to a poor dispatch, of which Ihe Lamb and Santonio got all the best Beaumont and Alart'c were their attendants for the first half, when Beaumont went back, Santonio being head-