SMOKE SCREEN'S FEAT

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 155, 29 December 1938, Page 13

SMOKE SCREEN'S FEAT

NEW MILE RECORD

SEVERAL SURPRISE WINS

(By Telegraph.) (Special from "Early Bird.")

AUCKLAND, December 28

The feature of the second day of the Auckland Racing Club's Summer Meeting was the breaking of the New Zealand mile record by Smoke Screen in the King's Plate. The previous best figures, lmin 36sec, were held jointly by Courtcraft and Oratory, but today Smoke Screen clipped 2-ssec off the time. " Several surprises were scored, and backers generally experienced a bad run. The Summer Handicap saw the three-year-old Royevrus lead all the wayand just hang on long enough to secure the decision in a blanket finish. Palustre returned to the winning list in the open sprint, and two further little-fancied winners to win were Very Glad and Miss Appellant. A SURPRISE. There was a surprise in the opening event, the Fergusson Handicap, Very Glad winning at a price approaching a score. The favourite, Good Passage, went a fine race, and it was the weight that beat her at the finish. Baliilavar ran up to form and only failed in a tight finish to concede Very Glad 301b. Spinning Wheel was fpurth and Melvanur and Coronation next. ;; OUTSTAYED FIELD. Stansted-came home very strongly to win the Ponsonby Hurdles. He went to the front at the third fence from home, and Tutor, Hopalong, and .Chikara followed him into the straight. Stansted went pn to score comfortably from Tutor and Chikara, with Hopalong fourth. Next were Makoi and Small Boy, with the rest at. good intervals. Stansted is proving a very solid jumper, but Tutor might have bothered him but for a poor jump- at the second to last-fence. Ngakaru ran himself out early, and Sirrom, Centaurus, and Little Briton fell. The lastnamed might have taken part in the finish. Shy pulled up after clearing the second hurdle; A DOMINION RECORD. A stirring finish in the King's Plate saw the Dominion mile record of lmin 36sec registered in this race by Courtcraft twelve months ago and equalled later at Trentham by Oratory go overboard, when Smoke Screen narrowlydefeated Stretto. Te Hero was the first to show out, and he reeled off the first several furlongs in 13sec, 24sec, 35 1-5 sec, 47 l-ssec, and 59sec. He was just clear at the. home turn from Smoke Screen, Golden Sheila, Stretto, Gay Son, and Beaupartir, with a slight gap back to Hot Box arid Courtcraft. At the distance Smoke Screen and Stretto got together and settled down to a stern duel. They seemed to be level just short of the post, but . Smoke Screen'was actually doing it the, better in-the last few strides and obtained a half-head decision. Gay Son managed to. get through on the rails, and he was closing on the leading pair fast until he was hampered slightly. Beaupartir also came home strongly, and he was less than a length behind' Gay Son. There was a gap back to Te. Hero and Courtcraft, while Goldeii Sheila and.Hot; Box-were the last two. It ■Wtas a fine contest; and the'honours were with the winner, although Stretto ran a fine race. Gay Son came home very strongly, and he might have been a shade unlucky. Beaupartir ran nicely, and Te Hero revealed all his old pace. Courtcraft was closer at the finish, than at any. part, bi£it he is not back to, his best: yet. A BLANKET FINISH. The finish of the Summer Handicap was a terrific one, the narrowest of margins separating the first halfdozen horses with the three-year-old Royevrus getting the decision and paying a solid dividend. The winner was in front all the way, Paddy the Rip joining him crossing the tdp. They were three lengths clear at the home turn from Trench Fight, Dark Shadow, Jack Tar, Homily, Valamito, Gay Rose, and Jonathan.. The field then closed on the leading pair, but they just held on long enough to defeat Homily and Mazir, while Valamito and Gay Rose were handy, and Jonathan, Dark Shadow, and Trench Fight followed. The form of the three-year-olds Royevrus and Homily was very good, and the latter had to cover some extra ground. Paddy the Rip hung on well for a first attempt over the distance, but the best effort of the lot was undoubtedly that of Mazir, for he was tailed off most of the way and came with a great rush on the rails to be fourth within a neck of the winner. A COMFORTABLE WIN. Kqnneta won the Criterion Handicap impressively, and proved too good for Beau Repaire, who was a shortpriced favourite. Valerian and Konneta led the way to the home turn from Submission, Beau Repaire, and Lutanist. Konneta went away and won convincingly, Beau Repaire being as easily a second over Gay Movie and Submission. Millament, Lutanist, and Karatoki were next. Beau Repaire was not seen to the best advantage, and he will improve, as will Fils de Vaals, who was cut off last early. NEVER IN DOUBT. Miss. Appellant won the .Waitemata Handicap in fine style and paid over a score. She went to the front passing the seven furlongs and was never caught, although Inquisitor came with a. most determined effort, this pair being clear of Master Appellant and Devon, with Loombination, Bonstar Gay Mimic,, Manawahae, and Fores; Acre doing jbest of the others. The favourite, Bronze Trail, was up handy at the turn,but could not come on, and £ Nuipapa was never able to get out of the ruck. ' ' r PALUSTRE TAKES SPRINT. T Palustre won the Electric Handicap R at good odds. She trailed Royal Bachelor to the turn, where Llangollen, £ Galilee, Marie's Acre, and Valimeen 3 . were all handy. The leader was quickly 3. "done with, and Palustre went to . the 8. front and threw off all challenges to 1( win well, although Llangollen made a gallant effort, and Mon Acre also gave a fine display. Royal Bachelor, Marie's Acre (who had every chance), Tooley Street, and Golden Blonde did best of the others. IN LAST STRIDE. S De Friend collared Fidelis in the last *j few strides of the Plunket Handicap, CJ while Dictate was right up third, the si trio staging a fine finish. Oriental Jr Bay was a good fourth and High Tea £ next. The winner scored very well, B and Fidelis may improve. fi]