RACING.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2655, 6 November 1923, Page 3

RACING.

SUCCESS OF FOXTON HORSES. R.OUEN WINS THE N.Z. CUP. ROUEX PLACED IN- WELCOME , STAKES.. Christchurch, Saturday. The Canterbury Jockey Club’s Metropolitan Meeting opened on Saturday in fine, but windy weather. There was a large attendance including the Governor-General, and the course and appointments wero in excellent order. The totalisator investments „were £71,992 10/-, as compared with £79,141 10/- on the opening day last,year. NEW ZEALAND CUP, of 2,500 sovs., two miles. — Rouen 8.5 (M. MeCarten) 1 Dame Straitlace 6.7 (0. Wright) 2 Roseday 8.9 (A. H. Wilson) .... 3 Also ran: Scion and Quest (bracketed), Royal Star, Deucalion, Palestrina, Vagabond, Scotch Mixture, Muraahi, Pilliewinkle, Little River, Kilbird, Kilgour, Kukume, Happy Warrior. Won by a neck, with a length separating second and third. Time 3min. 27sec. An inquiry was held into the handling of Roseday by Wilson, but his explanation was accepted. Quest was first into the straight, but Dame Straitlace got her head in front inside the distance, with Royal .Star, Muraahi and Kilbird goings well. Rouen made a strong late run and wore down the leader. Roseday challenged, hut was a. length away at the finish. Royal Star was fourth. THE RACE DESCRIBED. \ Auckland was the only withdrawal from the New Zealand Cup field. After a parade of the candidates, keen interest was shown in the preliminary. They all moved down freely with the exception of Muraahi, who showed signs of soreness. The most heavily supported when the barrier rose, were Roseday and Muraahi. At the . stand, with a -quarter rof the journey gone v the Oamarn representative, Happy Warrior, was setting a solid-pace, with Quest, Roseday, Royal Star, Dame/ Straitlace, Kilgour, and Kilbird all m the next batch. The tailend of the field was made up of Little River, ..Vagabond, and .Scion. Quest, had headed Happy Warrior before reaching the mije post, where they had a couple of lengths lead of Roseday, with Royal Star and^Kilbird handy. The last-named put in a good ran along the hack, and when the six furlongs post was reached there was only one horse in front

. .of him (Quest). Royal Star hung on . well and was next" to the two, leaders when three-quarters of the ■journey had- been covered. Vagabond also put in a claim from the six furlongs to the half-mile, where lie was in fourth place. When heads’ were turned for home, Quest was going so well that it looked as if he would repeat the stable victory of last year. However, he failed in the last furlong, and was headed off by Rouen, who was well back in the first, part .but came with a strong finishing run and beat the light-' weighted Dame Straitlace by a neck. Quest was about two lengths away with Royal Star handy. Pilliewinkle, Deucalion, Kukume, and Kilbird were also handy. Scion never hit. the front, and was well back with Happy Warrior and Little River at the finishing post. Rouen was one of the least fancied of the North Island runners, and paid a doub-le-figure dividend. M. M'Carten, who is riding in good form at present, had the mount on Rouen. The Bezonian gelding was among the runners in the Grand National Hurdles at Riccarton in August and came to grief. It was a fast-run race. The times for the different distances were: Four furlongs, 53 see.; one mile, 1 min. 46sec.; one and a-quarter miles, 2min. lOsec.; one and a-half miles, 2min. 34sec. 'ROUEX RUNS THIRD IN WELCOME STAKES. ‘ Air F. S. Easton’s locally-owned •Rouex, lialf-brother to Rouen, ran into third place in the classic twoyear old event, Welcome Stakes, of £I,OOO. The judge placed Rouex second and Killoera third but afterwards erased the placings. There were eleven starters. The two previously- unbeaten North island colts, Killoera and Inferno, monopolised the. betting. Killoera showed a great burst of speed in the first part, and was well clear when the course proper was reached. At the distance Gamebag and Tresham were worrying Killoera, when Inferno dashed up on the outside and catching Killoera, won by half a length, Rouex, Tresham, and Gamebag were handy.