NOTES ON THE SPORT

Evening Post, Volume XCVIII, Issue 39, 15 August 1919, Page 10

NOTES ON THE SPORT

(11 TILEBBAPH.—SPECIAL TO THE FOIL) . CHRISTCHURCH, 14th August. The Canterbury Jockey Club was again favoured with glorious spring weather for the second day of the Grand National Meeting, and there was a good attendance. The course wa» in capital; order,' the fields were more even in size than on the opening day, but the racing-was a trifle disappointing, ■' * ■ '. :: MOOBABBE; SCORES. ;

The fifteen competitors for the. WoolEton Handicap represented just.useful hack..class, _. Backers ; went solujly for.; the two top weights/Mooriboo winding up a slightly better favourite than Post Haste. ; The' race' was not particularly exciting. Sands Off and Sweet Smile showed a great burst of speed, and led to the distance, where they both, began; to tire, and> a little further on they were passed by Moorabbe, who had always teen handy. Striding, away she won' very decisively. Her'perforance was aft attractive one and augurs well for her prospects this season. Bonnetter came oh with, a good run from the distance, and easily beat all the others. She is a four-year-old by Boniform, from the Australian-bred mare Brayton, and looks a. promising sort. Stray ..Shot began slowly, but she was going on in brilliant style at the end. She looks to pay her way this season. Post Haste finished well, but he must be proving expensive to his admirers. Sweet Smile ran a decent race, > and should be worth following in a sprint at one of the early meetings. As a youngster she was very erratic, but she has quietened down. Hands Off showed a lot of pace, but he does not stay well. HUNT OLUB CUP. The Hunt Club Cup attracted a field of eight. Graftella and Lawsuit,' both trained at Wingatui, we^e the popular fancies. .' The race was responsible for a good exhibition of jumping as, with the 1 exception of Six Cylinder who fell six furlongs from home, the field completed the-course without a mistake. Backers were well on the spot, as the two favourites were in front all the way.' Lawsuit | was the actual leader for six furlongs, but at the stand double Graftella outjumped him, and ran to the front. Bor the balance of the journey Graftella held his place in the lead, and, although Lawsuit got up within a length of him, Graftella appeared to have a bit in .-reserve. Lawsuit jumped slowly, losing ground at every fence, but when ho becomes more proficient in that department he should win good races over country, as he has a nice turn of pace. Marvelite had shown fine form in hunters'' hurdles races;. and though this, was his first, effort over country ho gave a fine ■ exhibition, of. fencing. The best performance - from a jumping point ,of view, however, was that' of Graftella, who stood off at all the obstacles and cleared them, in ..very, attractive style. He is a brother to. the Grand National ■■ Steeplechase winner. Lochella, and earlier in their 'carer he was considered the better of the pair. Unfortunately, he is not a, sound horse, bub for which he might have been taking on much higher game by now. Provided he becomes sound, he should win good races over country next winter. BLACK MOUNTAIN IN FRONT. . A fair field of nine contested the Sum-, mer Handicap, and as in the earlier hack event, backers pinned their faith to the top weights, Pretty Bobby carrying a few pounds more than Tamaroa. It was not a. particularly exciting race. Black Mountain waited on Tamaroa and All Serene till they reached the straight, when ho ran to the front and, stalling off. a challenge from Pretty Bobby, ho won by a little over a length. Glcnshine was in the rear in the early stages, but he finished with a great rattle over the last furlong, and got up into third place. Tamaroa and All Serene were next, both stopping- a bit at tho end. Sisyphus was never prominent, while Fabisco ran a shocking race, finishing last. The winner shaped well on the first day, when he wits running on in third place at the end of seven furloiigs. In to-day's race, with a smaller field, ho got out nicely,' and always looked like- playing his part. ' LIONSKXN WINS. AUGUST HANDICAP.. The withdrawal of Robekah and Form .Up left a field of a dozen for the August

Handicap, but apart from Parisian Diamond and Kilboyne they could not be considered a good lot. Parisian Diamond wound up a little better favourite than Cerberus, while Kilboyne and Lionskin were the only others backed with any confidence. The race did not provide much excitement. Lionfikin and. Cerberus jumped out-in front, with Bedshire handy, and nothing ever got near these three. Lionskin appeared to hold Cerberus comfortably from the time, they reached the straight, and she won with a bit in hand. It was a useful performance, and Lionskin looks like winning some decent stakes this season. Cerberus was stopping at theend, but ha is certain to pay his way in sprint races, though I do not fancy his chance over more than six furlongs in good company. Redshire ran a surprisingly good race in view of the fact that he had done very little work for some time prior to the meeting, and the race should improve him. Hiero again showed up prominently iiist behind the placed lot, while Bellshire, who was next, was finishing very fast. Parisian Diamond never threatened danger, while Kilboyne shaped very badly, being one of the, first beaten and coming nome with only one behind him. SIR SOLO'S G-KAND NATIONAL AT LAST. ' The field for the Grand National' Hurdles Handicap numbered ten, Tigerland being the only course scratching. Omahu wound lip a little better favourite than Paraoa, while Rewi Poto was in only slightly less demand, followed by Cynic. It was a good race for about two miles, at which point there were five horses in close order, but over the last bit the usual thing happened, the. field stringing out badly. Sir Solo ran to the front soon after the start, and he \ was joined at this point by Jeannot. A little further on this pair went on in company, opening out a gap of several lengths, but a mile from home Jeannot had dropped back a bit and he was in trouble at the six furlong post. Then Paraoa, . Signature, Art, and Cynic closed on Sir Solo, and there seemed a prospect of a fine finish. Racing for the hurdle at the half-mile Cynic and Art made their effort together. Cynic had a slight advantage when they reached the obstacle, and he jumped outwards, bumping Art, who lost his rider. Prom the time the straight was reached there were only two in it, and though Paraoa's name was being loudly proclaimed Sir Solo finished on in resolute fashion, winning with a little in hand by two lengths. Paraoa ran a solid race, jumping well, and finishing on strongly. Signature was third, and though, he was stopping at the end it was not a bad effort. He was always one of the front lot. Cynic jumped better than would have been thought possible after his wretched schooling displays. He was going exceptionally well half a mile from home, where he looked a likely winner, but he failed to. stay. Omahu stopped very badly over the last part of the journey, and his performance must have been a great disappointment to his admirers. Master Moutoa was outpaced in the early stages, but kept going and was catching somo of his tired opponents at the finish. Jeannot was some • distance further back, the length of the journey beating him. Multive fell at the last hurdle, but he was well beaten at the time. Art was unlucky, as he was going well when he. met with his mishap, and he might have assisted to make an • interesting finish. Rewi Poto fell a mile and aquarter from home. He was one of the leaders at the time, but it was much too early to estimate how he would have fared. The winner put up a very attractive performance. He jumped every obstacle straight and fast, and he stayed on well;. His success was very popular, loud cheers greeting him on his return to weigh in. Doubtless many of the crowd recalled the fact that it was the "fourth successive year .which he had taken part in the race, and that he; had been placed on the three previous occasions., t . • _ ( . I'^EAUpMt STEEPLES TO GANG ■;■'. "..- :'■■:--. - -Aw A.-;-. ■■ ■

The six competitors for tha Beaufort I Steeplechase did not provide much excitement. Manawapango, Gang Awa'. and Waimai divided favouritism, with veiy little between them. Morecambe fell at the first fence, but the other five gave a fine exhibition o£ jumping. This was about the only pleasing feature of the contest, however, as the race was a, procession, with Gang Awa' in front all the way. Striding along freely and never making the semblance of a mistake, he won very easily. Manawapango was iii second place most of the way,' but he failed to stay; and he does not look quite such a good proposition now that he has been tried out against decent opposition. Waimai went off in leisurely fashion, and was soon a long way behind the leading pair. It was not till six furlongs from . home that ,he went after them in earnest, and the task was altogether too severe. SPREYDON HURDLES. The eight competitors' for the Spreydon Hurdle Handicap represented only moderate hack class, and they failed to provide much of a contest. Reformation was out. in front at the end of two furlongs, and from that point he never let any of his opponents come near him. He gave a brilliant exhibition of jumping, and stayed on much better than many people believed him capable of. Though the opposition was not very strong it was a very attractive performance. His owner, Mr. F. Armstrong, was very jubilant. o-ver the result, as the gelding had done a good bit of raci ing over hurdles; and this was hie first success. FORM UP WINS FINAL EVENT. The day's racing was brought to _a. close with the Islington Handicap, which attracted a field of eight, including some smart milers. Form Up and Elocution were the popular fancies. Form Up was one of the front lot all the way; He" dropped back a few lengths at the home turn, but once fairly in the straight ho came through to the rails and won with ridiculous ease. All Over just beat Hisingham after a great battle for second place, with Kilkee close up finishing on well. Elocution was one of the pacemakers to the. straight. The rest of the field tailed off early. The performance of Form Up wa6 very attractive, and disposed of the theory that a mile was too far for him. He was unlucky in the Winter Cup, meeting with interference, as did Parisian Diamond and Hiero. This was the snbject of an inquiry early to-day, but. no action was taken, there being no evidence as to the cause of the trouble or anything to show that it was wilful..