LATEST SPORTING

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20075, 23 October 1939, Page 11

LATEST SPORTING

MAKARAKA RACES NATIVE SONG AGAIN MORE FOR THE STABLE GOING MAKES NO ODDS Heavy going at the Makaraka course to-day made no difference to the Fitzgerald entries in the second and third races at the Poverty Bay Turf Club’s meeting this afternoon, both Native Chief and Native Song duly winning their respective events for the popular local owner.

The weather was not much better at any time during the day than during the running of the first race, though the rain eased off a good deal. The course was heavy, but, despite this fact, some good times were registered.

At the end of the third race the totalisator showed a decrease of £990 10s on the figures of last year for the corresponding three races. Seventh Fitzgerald Win

The Fitzgerald stables registered Its seventh win of the meeting when Native Song came home in the Centennial Hack Handicap a length ahead of Minnow, with Reay Bridge a close third, and Mendelssohn just out of the running. Th.e first and second started well and Mendelssohn also got off smartly, this trio having an advantage of two Or three lengths on Raana, with the other runners in behind from the start. Gay Laura was unlucky in the first stride and never seemed to settle down properly.

Round the back Minnow was two lengths in front of Mendelssohn and Native Song, with the others close up, and there was no real change in the position until round near We home turn, where Native Song began to close up on Minnow. Reay Bridge was last round the west bend and looked a poor proposition, but came on strongly from the bend. Native Song wore down Minnow and won by a length, with Reay Bridge half-a-length further back. Mendelssohn was next across the line, and Raana and Gay Laura finished in that order. CENTENNIAL HACK HANDICAP, First £95, including 15gns donated by Mr. R. J. Kerridge, with a sweepstake of £2 each added to the winner; second £7; third £3; 1 mile. 1 SONG, E. N. Fitzgerald’s b.g., 4yrs., Hunting Song—Valadore, 9.9, car. 9.4 (E. Baker) 1 S—MINNOW, W. Wilson’s ch.m., aged, Mimetic —Tuna, 8.0 (R. Marsh) 2 S—REAY BRIDGE, G. D. Dobson’s ch.g., syrs., Master Colossus — Likely, 7.13, car. 7.C (R. G. Kerr) 3 —Also started: 2 Raana, 9.7, car. 9.4 (L. Cullen); 6 Mendelssohn, 8.4 (J. P. McLaughlin); 3 Gay Laura, 7.13 (O. Evans). Won by a length, and half a length. Time, lmin. 44 l-ssec.

SPRING HANDICAP

Sky Way .. 1 De Friend .. .. 2 Gay Mimic .. .. 3