Tauranga Races.

Putaruru Press, Volume VII, Issue 281, 28 March 1929, Page 8

Tauranga Races.

QUEEN ARCH WINS CUE. Double to Matamata. The annual Tauranga race meeting was held on Saturday in beautiful weather. There was a record attendance, the visitors including a big number from Matamata and a fair sprinkling from Morrinsville, Te Aroha and Waihi. The totalisator showed an increase of £2123 10s, the figures being £16,236, compared with £14,112 10s for last year. The meeting was admirably conducted and reflected credit on the secretary, Mr. S. G. Wilcocks. The president and vice-president, Messrs. A. E. Newsham and J. A. Guinness respectively, were on hand with cheery greetings to visitors, which meant that the hospitality was such as to more than uphold tbe Bay of Plenty Jockey Club’s reputation. The whole of the races went through without untoward incident, and in every race the field was of such dimensions as to ensure exciting racing and first and second dividends. The win of the Matamata horse Spring Abbey, owned by Mr. J. Pohlen, in its second start was the least anticipated by investors, and supporters were rewarded with a dividend approaching a score. Proceedings opened with the fivdfurlong flutter, from which Waitekohe, The Jack Jumper, Dainty Manners, Homai, Lovely Boy and Gen. Latour gelding were scratched, leaving 15 to contest the event. It was an even betting race, Lady Mestor winding up favourite from Tanetoa and the Matamata-owned Spring Abbey. Lady Mestor took up the initial running from Terrapeen, with Spring Abbey on the outside of the next bunch. The order was very little altered in the running, Terrapeen winning from Tanetoa, who came fast, with Lady Mestor third. The winner paid over double figures. The Maunganui, six furlongs, was confined to High Rose, Prince Val Brilliant Light, Arcade, Flapperette, Flying Tresses and Cragsman. Flying Tresses got the best of a straggling start, with Prince Val leading the ethers. Prince Val was always handy and looked all over a winner at the bottom of the straight but was ■ galloped on. Brilliant Light caught Prince Val halfway down the straigh’ and beat the Matamata-trained one by half a length. Flying Tresses hung on to get third. The order of favouritism was Brilliant Light, Prince Val, Arcade, Flying Tresses, Flapperette, High Rose, Cragsman. The cup race was sifted down to a bare two-dividend field, Queen Avcb being made favourite over V/endav, Desert Glow, Hakanoa, Far North and The Author in that order. The Author and Queen Arch took charge from a good despatch. Passing the stand The Author had Hakanoa as an attendant, with Queen Arch next, and Desert Glow, lengths behind, last. Round the back Deseri Glow went up to a compact field i Queen Arch was well clear again entering the straight and ultimately won by two lengths from Desert Glow, which just got up in time tc beat the tiring Hakanoa. The time, , 2.8 4-5, was good for the course. The Herries Memorial Hack Cup attracted 13 starters, the East Coast ■ horse Simeon being made favourite The starters were : (5) High Tide . (3) Prince Val, (7) Mark Mint, (1) Simeon, (8) Lady Castlemaine, (6) Waitekohe, (12) Te Waka, (10) Peketahi, (9) Otangihaku, (4) Kaha. (11) Little Toy, (13) Snort, (2) Night Comet. The colours of Prince Val were first sorted out, with Peke--ahi one of the last to move. Round he back Kaha assumed command and he Limond gelding was never afterwards troubled. Waitekohe met with

nterference but was going strongly it the finish in second place. Otangihaku was third and the favourite fourth. Time, 1.43. The injury Prince Val sustained in the previous race undoubtedly affected him. Lucy Rose, Value and Te Money were withdrawn from the Greerton Handicap, leaving (1) The Thorn, (2) Waltzer, (4) New Moon, (6) Tall Timber, (3) Town Bird, (5) Maurea and (7) Tinopono to go on the sevenfurlong journey. The Thorn got the best of the break and led from Mauvea. Along the back Town Bird ran :o the front and was never afterwards headed, the Cambridge gelding going on to win easily from The Thorn, which beat Maurea by a neck. Then followed Tinopono, Waltzer, New Moon and Tall Timber. Time. 1.30. Town Bird had the easiest of

wins and showed no effects of the race on returning to the paddock. New Moon thoroughly disappointed his connections. Waltzer looked a little jolly.

The field for the President’s Hack Handicap dwindled considerably, only (5) High Rose, (6) Lady Castlemaine, (3) Flapperette, (2) Joy Germ, (1) The Jack Jumper and (4) Night Comet going to the post. Night Comet was slow to move. When they settled down ' Flapperette led the field from Joy Germ and The Jack lumper. Joy Germ then took command from The Jack Jumper and Flapperette. The Jack Jumper fairly worried Joy Germ out of it to win by a length and a half. Joy Germ just managed to beat the fast-finishing Night Comet. Then followed Flapperette, High Rose ar.d Lady Castlemaine. Time, 1.14 4-5. The Jack Jumper was turned out in perfect condition but had Joy Germ had the stamina there is no doubt what would have won. Night Comet appeared as though an extra furlong would have suited.

A good field went out for the County Stakes of six furlongs, the scratchings being The Jack Jumper, Dainty Manners, Kosovo, Homai, Orthodox. The starters were (1) Wai"'.akohe, (3) Terrapeen, (10) Joy Day, (7) Spring Abbey, (12) Luana Lu, (2) Tanetoa, (8) St. Heliers, (4) Swiftlight, (11) Kanui, (9) Lovely Boy, (5) Kiwinui and (6) Kaikuna. 't was a straggling start, with Tanetoa badly placed. Waitekohe assumed command from Swiftlight and Tarrapeen and led to the straight. A great finish home saw the Matamatatrained Spring Abbey prevail by a long neck from Swiftlight, with Waitekohe third. Then followed Tarra-->een, Kanui, Joy Day and Tanetoa. Time, 1.15. The dividend paid by the winner was surprising inasmuch as it ran quite a good race in the first start. The public went solidly for Waitekohe, Tanitoa and Terrapeer and practically neglected everything else.

The public went for the fresh horse, Value, in the Flying, but taking it- 7 win in the Greerton Handicap into consideration it looked the best of good things for Town Bird. The latter won easily from (3) Hakanoa rnd (4) New Moon. Also started : (6) Waltzer, (5) Ned Kelly, (1) Value, (7) Te Whaka. The time, 1.12 1-5, is flattering to the horses and the course.