SPORT AT MAKARAKA

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20075, 23 October 1939, Page 8

SPORT AT MAKARAKA

HURDLES TG WHETU MINNOW WINS HACK CONDITIONS EXCELLENT Excellent course conditions, a satisfactory attendance, and the promise of fair fields were the features of tlm opening of the Poverty Bay' Hunt. Club’s annual totalisator meeting held to-day at the Makaraka course.

Sunshine after overnight rain had dried up the grounds nicely and the underfoot conditions were a striking improvement on those experienced by' the patrons of the Poverty Bay Turf Club's second day last week. Course officials were almost identical with those at the Turf Club’s fixture and the same good organisation prevailed, the officers being as under:—President, Mr. R. I. Scott; vice-president, Mr. M, R. Moore; stewards, Messrs. B. R. U. Burke, H. H. Dods, C. Fraser, J, Jobson, M. L. Holden, J. H. Allan, M. R. Moore, F. Toler tori, L. G. Woodward, R. Hans-en; C. Monckton and H. Thatcher; hon. tirhekedper, Mr. C. O: Hansen; starter, Mr. L. Murray; judge, Mr. P. A. Pettit; riandicapper, Mr. A. Tuckweli; clerk ot scales, Mr. A. H. Gordon; clerk of course, Mr. F. Evans; secretary, Mr. G. H. Sceats. Whetu’s Go6d’ Performance Whakao went out to make the pace in the Labour Hay Hurdles Handicap, and lasted three-quarters of the circuit in the van before dropping out of the fixture. Whetu was second during that period and was ridden a good race throughout. He jumped safely at all the hurdles but the last, I which lie rapped heavily without taking any disadvantage. Birkology and Paul Robeson were in behind Whetu from the start, and were close up when the winner made a great jump in the back stretch and got clear away to a two-lengths lead, Whakao having pulled away from the rails and tost ground.

Round the west bend Whetu led Paul Robeson and' Birkology by three lengths, and at the turn for home he had a lead of four lengths. Paul Robeson came up well in the straight, despite a bit of a check at the last jump, and reduced the lead to less than a length, but Whetu had the race in hand from the turn and was not bustled in the straight. Never Headed

The second favourite on the machine, Minnow, ran well to win the Whatatutu Hack Flat Handicap. He went out in front from the start, and was never headed, extending his lead to five lengths at one stage and setting the other runners too heavy a task after he came .round into the straight at least' three lengths to the good. Queen’s Dream, the favourite, was lying in fourth place during the early running, with Golden Flame and Mendelssohn between her and the leader. She moved up to third place at the half-mile, but did not improve much after that. Golden Flame flickered out after making the turn, and Mendelssohn filled second place, with Queen’s Dream third, and Golden Flame fourth. Kahuroa started slowly, and after half , a mile faded right out of the picture. Results were; — LABOUR DAY HURDLES H’CAF. First £SO; second £7; third £3. Over six flights of hurdles; 1} miles. 1— WHETU, A. Macdonald’s br.g., fiyrs., Mimetic —Hipparchia, 9.12 (D. Craddock) .. .. .. 1 3 PAUL ROBESON, J. D. Jobson’s blk.g., aged, Master Colossus —• Nightwatch mare, 10.2 (C. P. Shields) .. ..... -.2 2 BIRKOLOGY, M. R. Moore’s cli.g., Gyrs.. Psychology—Birlcrole, 10.11 (W. Pine) .. ..3 Also started: —4 Whakao, 9.0 (N. Cavaney). Won by a length, and three lengths. Time, 2min. 47sec. WHATATUTU HACK FLAT H’CAP, First £SO; second £7; third £3; 1 mile. 2—MINNOW, W. Wilson's ch.m., aged, Mimetic —Tuna, 8.2 (R. Marsh) 1 4 MENDELSSOHN, J. W. Nixon’s ch.g., syrs., Hunting Song— 1 Autumina, 8.2 (N. Vaughan) .. 2 I—QUEEN’S DREAM, E. N. Fitzgerald's br.m., Gyrs., DefoeHeavenly Dream, 8.4, car. 7.13 E, Baker) .. .. .. .. 3 Also started:—3 Golden Flame, 7.10, car. 7.9 (L. Cullen); 5 Kahuroa 7.7, car. 7.121 (N. Cavaney). Won by four lengths, and 1| lengths. Time, lmin. 41 4-ssec.