RACING

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 51, 23 May 1927, Page 6

RACING

BY “EARLY BIRD.”

PETER MAXWELL IMPROVING

RANGATAHI AND CIVILITY SCORE AT WANGANUI Weather conditions were almost perfect for the concluding day’s racing on Saturday of the Wanganui Jockey Club’s winter meeting, and there was a very large attendance. The going was in splendid order, and once, again some very fine racing and jumping contests were witnessed. Auckland horses had a day out, winning the three jumping races. Winners were again difficult to find, the favourites failing consistently. Indeed, during the two daj r s only one favourite was successful. Two more horses were destroyed as the result of injuries received in obstacle events, making a total of four for the fixture. F. Corlett, rider of Brigadier Bill in the May Hurdles, was seriously injured when his mount fell at the first fence, and was admitted to hospital suffering from concussion and body injuries.

NOT OVER THE HILL Peter Maxwell showed a return to form when he won the principal steeplechase event at Wanganui on Saturday. He has not been rehandicapped for the Great Northern Steeplechase by virtue of that success, and his owner may be accounted fortunate in being let off a penalty. The winner of the last Grand National is not at his best yet, for he conveyed the impression that he is susceptible to a good deal of improvement, and consequently his two races at Wanganui should do him good. There are several good judges who will not have Peter Maxwell in the Great Northern Steeplechase, for they are under the impression that three times over the hill will find him out. Whether the critics are right will be disclosed on Saturday week.

Speculation was quiet at the outset, but in the latter stages of the concluding day’s programme the investments had considerably increased. The totalisator on Saturday handled £29,263, against second day of the previous winter fixture, making a total for the meeting of £52,588 10s, compared with £63,298 10s last year, a decrease of £10,710. PAITONU WINS EASILY In the opening event, the Balgownie Hack, punters went hot and strong for Rowley, and once more they were let down. The Polydamon gelding was entrusted with £562, against Capitulation £513, Paitonu £483, and Partaga £452. Going out of the straight the order was Toapaiti, Acred, Henna, Partaga, Rowley, Romantic, Paitonu, Bisox, Lieut. Bill and Capitulation. Running into the back stretch Partaga had gone to the front, being followed past the five furlongs by Acred, Toapaiti, Rowley, Henna, Capitulation and Paitonu. The last-named then made a forward move and hit the front just past the half-mile, showing the way into the straight from Capitulation, Acred, Partaga, Romantic, Lieut. Bill, Rowley and Toapaiti. Nothing had a chance with Paitonu in the run to the judge and he won by over two lengths from Partaga, Romantic, who was at a long price, was only a neck away third, with Henna, Acred, Rowley, Lieut. Bill, Bisox, and Capitulation next, with Toapaiti last. MOUNT MARTA’S HURDLES

Enare, with W. J. Bowden up, was made favourite for the Rata I-lurdles, but was only slightly better backed than San Pedro and Troilus, £SO separating the trio. The field got away on even terms, Mount Marta going out to make the pace, being followed past the standards by Ruby Red, Attractive, Peshwa, Troilus, Enare, San Pedro, Gauntlet and Asleep. At the five furlongs Mount Marta was a couple of lengths ahead of Attractive, with Peshwa, Enare, Asleep, Troilus and San Pedro following. As they turned for home Mount Marta was still in charge, having increased his advantage to three lengths, next in order being Enare, Asleep, Troilus, San Pedro, Attractive and Peshwa. 3N: unt Marta held his advantage to the end, winning by three lengths from Enare, who was two lengths in front of San Pedro. Asleep was fourth, and then came Troilus, Peshwa, Attractive, Lady Acre, Gauntlet and Ruby Red. RANGATAHIIMPROVES

Enare was the sole defection from the May Hurdles, and in a very even betting race Brigadier Bill £745, Ardath £697, Zircon £672, and Koauau £583 was the order in which the fancied division was supported.. Disaster came early, the favourite, Brigadier Bill, tipping out at the first fence. Kalakaua and Gold Peak were the pacemakers, leading past the stands the first time from Sottano, Zircon, Comedy Prince, Koauau, Ardath and Rangatahi. At the fence near the five furlongs, which was responsible for the downfall of the favourite, Ardath came down, and was subsequently destroyed. He was lying third at the time. The order afterwards was Kalakaua, Sottano, Rangatahi, Koauau, Comedy Prince and Gold Peak., At the halfmile Rangatahi went up fast, and was in the van crossing the top, leading into the straight from Sottano, Koauau, Zircon, Comedy Prince and Kalakaua. Nothing troubled in the run to the judge, and he.won Very easily by three lengths from Sottano, with Koauau three lengths away. Kalakaua was fourth. Zircon and Comedy Prince next, and Gold Peak tailed off. COMPLETED THE DOUBLE

The defections from the Grandstand Steeplechase were Bonny Rill and Gil-

gai, and of the thirteen runners the public went for Little River £ SSO, Peter Maxwell £SOO, Fireblight £479, and Omahu £475. Little River and Lady Spalpeen were the leaders the first time round, being attended at the end of half a mile by Omahu, Advent, Ban juke, Birkenella, Peter Maxwell, Labour Morn, Tuki, Crown Coin and Lupineel. The next circuit was not completed by Lady Spalpeen, who stumbled at the hencoop at the bottom of the straight and unshipped jockey Conway. Little River, Rayo, Omahu, Peter Maxwell, Banjuke, Advent, Crown Coin, Birkenella, Lupineel and Fireblight going over the double brush at the stand in extended order. Rayo was in front half a mile from home, but he made a bad jump at the second to last fence, leaving Peter Maxwell to be the first into the straight from Rayo, Omahu and Crown Coin, with Lupineel a long way back at the head of the remainder. Peter Maxwell finally won by a length and a half from Crown Coin, who finished very strongly from a long way back, with Rayo a length away, just in front of Omahu. Then came Little River, Lupineel, Tuki, Banjuke, Fireblight, Birkenella, and Advent at intervals. Labour Morn injured himself after landing over the second to last fence, and had to be destroyed. CIVILITY AGAIN Fourteen went out for the Empire Handicap, and in a big pool RoyaJ Divorce £l,OOl, Civility £919, Alloway £6OO, Tresham £4OB, and New Moon £403 was the order of the betting. A good start saw Day Guard rushed to the front, hotly pursued out of the straight by New Moon, Royal Divorce, Rouex, Shining Armour, Vivo, Civility, Matinee, Income, Diamond Ring, Royal Mint, Ngata, Tresham and Alloway. At the five furlongs Day Guard had a lead of three lengths on New Moon, the next in order being Royal Divorce, Rouex, Civility, Vivo, Matinee, Shining Armour, Alloway and Income, the last pair being Tresham and Ngata. Across the top Rouex had run up into second place to Day Guard, following being Civility, Royal Divorce, Matinee, Alloway, New Moon, Shining Armour and Royal Mint, this being the order into the straight. Once straightened up Civility ranged alongside Day Guard and Rouex, and went on to win from the latter by a length. Another length further back came Royal Mint and Day Guard together, and the next to cross the line were Alloway, Vivo, Shining Armour, Matinee, New Moon, Ngata, Royal Divorce and Tresham. NASTORI AT LAST

Betting in the Farewell Hack took a wide range, Denier £661, Green Bonnet and Subdivision £527 being well supported. Calculation and Avro lost ground at the dispatch, Miss Pat leading out from Nastori, Subdivision, Modest Boy, Berinthia, Onward, Break o’ Day and Eka. Subdivision had charge at the half-mile from Nastori, Miss Pat, Modest Boy, Eka, Berinthia, Calculation, Break o’ Day and Royal Land. Subdivision was bowling along well in the van as they came into the straight, attended by Miss Pat, Eka, Modest Boy, Nastori, Berinthia, Royal Land, Calculation, Break o’ Day and Denier, but in the straight Nastori came fast and won by a length. Berinthia, Modest Boy and Subdivision were separated by heads only, and the next were Avro, Green Bonnet, Onward, Denier, Break o’ Day, and Miss Pat. Oration All The Way All started in the concluding event, the Winter Oats, and in a big betting race Tukia £1,014, Bonogne £914, Oration £909 and Grand Knight £720 were the best backed. Oration began brilliantly, leading along the back from Lady Cavendish, Tukia, Papaponga, Deluge and Bevis, Bonogne lying last. Oration was still clear as they came into the straight, and he drew out as they strightened up, his nearest attendants being Lady Cavendish, Bevis, Deluge, Papaponga, Tukia, Miss Hupana and Grand Knight. It looked an easy race for Oration, but he commenced to stop quickly 50 yards from the post, and Reed was quietly hunting him along. Grand Knight came with a fine burst of speed and got to within a long neck of Oration at the post, with Bonogne a length away third, just in front of Lady Cavendish. Bevis was next, and Miss Hupana headed the remainder. Additional results: EMPIRE HANDICAP Of 300 sovs.; 1 mile and distance. 2 CIVILITY, 9.5 1 9—ROUEX, 7.0 2 10—ROYAL MINT, 7.0 .. 3 Scratched: Bonogne, Orazone. Won by .a length; same between second and third. Time, 1.52 2-5. FAREWELL HACK FLAT HANDICAP Of 175 sovs.; 6 furlongs. 6—NASTORI, 7.8 1 4—BERINTHIA, 8.10 2 B—MODEST BOY, 7.13 3 Also: 7 Rising Star, 1 Denier, 2 Green Bonnet, 4 Miss Pat, 5 Royal Land, 9 Eka, 12 Joy Germ, 10 Onward, 11 Break o’ Day, 2 Subdivision, 13 Avro, 14 Calculation. Length; head. Time, 1.15 3-5. WINTER OATS HANDICAP Of 250 sovs.; 6 furlongs. 3 ORATION, 7.13 1 4 GRAND KNIGHT, 9.5 2 2—BONOGNE, 8.4 3 Also: 1 Tukia, 5 Lady Cavendish, 6 Deluge, 7 Bevis, 10 Papaponga, 9 Miss Hupana, 8 Tip Tree. Half a length; length. Time, 1.13 4-5.

HOME OF THE DEAD It is generally accepted that the Wanganui course is too easy. That may be so, but the fact remains that four horses met their doom during the two days racing last week. In the Wanganui Steeplechase Peter Rosa fell and had to be destroyed. In the same event, a minute or so later, Hallowmorn made a bad jump and in so doing injured himself to the extent that he had to be shot the next day. On Saturday Ardath fell at a hurdle and was so badly injured that he was at once despatched with a friendly bullet. In the next race Labour Morn broke a bone in a leg during the course of the Grandstand Steeplechase, and he too was subsequently destroyed. Four horses in two days is an exceptional death roll.