REPEAT SUCCESSES

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 118, 22 May 1939, Page 15

REPEAT SUCCESSES

SOUTH CANTERBURY

MUNGATOON AND NIGHTCALM

(Special to the "Evening Post.")

CHRISTCHURCH, May 20

s Though the weather was fine for the s second day of the South Canterbury s Jockey Club's Winter Meeting, a southerly buster made the conditions unpleasant for the concluding events, i c when the light was bad. The investe ments were down slightly on the two - days. ' s BETTER FORM. Metal Bird, who had run off at the s first obstacle on the previous day, "_ showed good form in the Pukaki B Hurdles. He was one of the leaders - all the. way. Game Hunter went with s him early, but was supplanted by * Colonel French after half a mile. Rej collection then moved up to join Metal D Bird at the home turn. They came i. together to the last hurdle, where Ret collection failed to rise, leaving Metal f Bird to win easily from Pink Robe, t who had been handy all the way. Colonel French hung on to be third, s followed by Fireguard, who will be a better later on. I IMPROVED EFFORT. * As on the first day, Phenomenal, ' from the outside, soon drew clear in : the Southburn Hack Handicap, but 1 On Call, Don Roy, Treasurer, and Lady Sincere were handy. Don Roy retired " after three furlongs. Treasurer wore T Phenomenal down in the staight, winning decisively. "Astral Flash came from the back to beat Lady Sincere for third, followed by Flame Queen j and On Call, who tired. Triple Cone i again failed to begin well. Treasurer . improved on his form of the first day, r when he was slow away. [ Mr. W. E. Hazlett was ordered to > pay "a losing riding fee to E. Baker, [ who rode Astral Flash on the first » day but was replaced by L. Hare to- [ day after he had been weighed out nearly 41b overweight, as on the first ' , day. i FAVOURITE FAILS. Gold Bar, Erin's Lad, and Ceres set i the early pace in the Wai-iti Trot Handicap. Erin's Lad and Kansas City ; took charge at the six-furlong post, . opening up a long gap at the home . turn. Erin's Lad drew away in the ; straight, winning easily. Mandrell finished fast to be second, a length in front of Kansas City, who tired but hung on to beat Lady Milne for third. Trousseau and Diviner were close up. Aurie's Star, a warm favourite, went off slowly. AGAIN SUCCESSFUL. Mungatoon repeated his first day's form to win the South Canterbury Handicap, in which a rise of 111b was nullified by his apprentice rider claiming a 71b allowance. Night Dress led out from Waitoru, Petersham, and Mungatoon. After going two furlongs Night Hawk went up fast to join Night Dress, but Mungatoon then ran past them. Waitoru dropped out on the I turn, where Thermidor made her appearance, with Settlement starting to improve his position. Thermidor staged a good challenge, but Mungatoon hung on to win by a head. Foxlove was three lengths back, with a length to Settlement, Petersham, Night Hawk, and Rabble, in a line. ONLY THREE FINISH. There were six starters but only three finished in the Pareora Steeplechase. The first to go was Chile, who blundered at the first of the stand double soon after the start. Gold Wren and Sunny Comet led early, Tomcat being third when he fell at the hencoop along the back. The two leaders were then left well clear of Corban, who came to grief at the second of the stand double with a round to go. Sunny Comet then started to lose ground. Wexford Bridge headed him five furlongs from home and jumped , the last fence on terr»s with Gold Wren. They had a great battle, Gold Wren having a head advantage at the post, with Sunny Comet a good way back. Gold Wren and the first day's winner, Pandine, are both trained at Riverton by J. Thistleton for Mr. R. Brown, a newcomer to ownership in Southland. The two horses have won nine steeplechases in the last year, Gold Wren having taken six and Pandine three on end. NIGHTCALM'S DOUBLE. Nightcalm, the first day's winner, had a change of riders in the Farewell Handicap and as he was able to claim a 71b allowance he met Roseman on 31b better terms. He jumped out and soon had Flagman, Rebel Mate, and Roseman following in that order, which was never changed. Rebel Mate, a good favourite, never looked like overhauling Nightcalm. SPOILED BY MISHAP. An accident after the field had gone a little more than a furlong robbed the Winchester Trot of some interest. The favourite, Jerry Parrish, fell, Mandrell, Lord Zetland, and Huguenot toppling over him, while some of the others suffered interference. Marfax was the leader from the start, Rollalong, Black Art, Equerry, Becky Direct, and Lady INessa following him along the back. i Marfax and Rollalong were beaten when the straight was reached, and a close finish saw Becky Direct win by a length, with Lady Nessa, Black Art, and Equerry separated by necks. M. Clare, the driver of Mandrell, had a leg broken below the knee. WARDRESS EASILY. Wardress demonstrated her class when she won the Temuka Hack Handicap as easily as she had scored on the first day. Lord Puck led Wardress, The Wrecker, Disband, Garonne, and Doctor Duthie to the straight. Wardress then drew out. to win easily from Doctor Duthie, who came home strongly. Bright Prospect, with a late dash, cut The Wrecker out of third, with Gironde almost on terms.