GOOD FIXTURE AT METHVEN

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 171, 10 October 1927, Page 7

GOOD FIXTURE AT METHVEN

FAILURE OF FAVOURITES PROMINENT FEATURE OF DAY’S PROGRAMME

(Special to THE SUN.) CHRISTCHURCH, Saturday. In bright sunshine and a light nor'west wind, the first totalisator meeting of the Methven Trotting Club was held. There was a. large attendance and the crowd exhibited great enthusiasm. Tht fields were really too big 1 to permit of hair-raising contests, but the sport was enjoyable and the club had a happy opening. The grass course was in good order and from every standpoint the meeting must be regarded as a creditable one to the club. The totalisator turnover was £10,322. QUALITY AT LAST Though 19 faced the starter for the Westward-Ho Handicap, only five had any chance of winning the money. After the race had been in progress two furlongs. Tommy Dillon dashed into the lead, but soon dropped back. Lady Gunn showed the way past the stand, but when the others wanted the lead, she was soon making for the rear. Going to the far turn Royal Authoress paced to the front, with Quality, Regime, Glenrowan and Tommy Dillon all racing in close formation. At the head of the stretch Royal Authoress and Quality left their opponents, and half way down the lane they were both under the whip. Quality had the advantage of three years in age and -wore the filly down to finally beat her by two lengths. Regime was genuinely beaten into third place, being 10 lengths behind Royal Authoress. Glenrowan who raced nicely all the way filled fourth place. Quality is owned by Mr. J. O’Grady, and is trained by C. Donald. She is by Denver Huon from Lady Superior, the dam of Bankhead, Richore, Cardinal Logan and Monopole. FAVOURITES FAIL The Drayton Trot was a three-horse affair. When Taipoiti went away with a lead of six lengths of Frontier, with Lord Tracey several lengths farther away, it looked as if Taipoiti would register an easy win, but when the place was reached where it counts, .she was second, Lord Tracey having overhauled her a furlong from home, and sent her to a break. Lord Tracey made several breaks on the route, but did not lose any ground by misfiring in his gait. He is an aged trotter by Lord Chancellor from Myra Tracey, and is trained for Messrs. R. B. Baker and A. Carroll by J. Wallis, who drove him. MILO MINTO MAKES GOOD

When the field settled down for the Mount Harding Handicap, Milo Minto was blazing away in front, with Prologue being pushed along to overhaul him. Following them were Jimmy Chimes and Lady Gunn. With half the journey completed Lady Gunn shut up and Prologue took the lead from Milo Minto. At this stage the pair left the bunch. Prologue was first in line for home, but a hundred yards from the judge Milo Minto overhauled him and the pair settled down to a real fight, which ended in Milo Minto annexing the stake by half a length from Prologue. Four lengths farther away finished Bingen Patch. Horotane got off slowly but came fast round a bunch at the bend for home and filled fourth place. The winner is a three-year-old gelding by Oinako from Princess Minto and is trained by his owner, Mr. L. A. McNeil, who drove him a nice race.

COLENE POINTER GOES SOLID Mr. B. Grice’s bonny mare Colene Pointer won the Methven Cup. She got on the journey safely and was in fourth place at the half-mile peg. Withers took her into the lead with a mile to go, and though she appeared to be in danger at different periods of the race, she beat them pointlessly at the end. She is a grand type of mare by Logan Pointer from Queen Cole, and stayed on over the last furlong in a style that impresses one that she will be seen to good advantage in better company over the same distance. Bay Nut beat his colleague out of the barrier and kept the lead till the second circuit was entered upon. He then dropped back into third place, but pulling out a brave effort in the last furlong he gathered third money. King Pointer must have lost a good deal of ground at the start, and for a mile and a quarter he was hid in a forest of pacers, and it was not till the 10-furlong pole had been passed that he came into the picture. He was going strong but had to come wide at the home turn. On he came with Hendricksen working overtime to get him on terms with Colene Pointer, but the mare was too good for him, and his place at the judge was second. Yoicks showed that he is on his way back to form. He was with Colene Pointer at the head of the straight, but was in serious difficulties well down the running. Acre had every chance, but after being prominent for 10 fur-

longs, he fell back into the ruck. Orphan and Epigram were never near the front division, and must have failed to get away smartly at the start. Pantc- put in good work and should win a twomile race before the season is advanced much further. The performance of Trampfast among the pacers was particularly good. CONSISTENT KIOWA The five-year-old mare Mary Locanda threatened to walk off with the Avonmore Handicap, but just as; her few supporters were about to reckon up their wealth, Mary began going up and down in the one place. Her driver never moved an eye-lash, and thanks to the third horse, Forward Maid, being of little account, Mary’s supporters collected second dividend. Kiowa, who ran second in both his races at Geraldine, drew up to Mary Locanda a furlong the straight, and was not pressed to win. He is a level pacer and a solid sort that will do well later on. He is by Brent Locanda from a mare by St. Louis and was well handled by his trainer, G. McKendry. The favourite, Brown Admiral was slow to reach his speed, but was travelling well in fifth place when the race was all over. ANOTHER CONVERT The four-year-old mare Nancy Mc- | Kinney, by Nelson Bingen from Annie : Bells McKinney, won the Riverbank Handicap after failing to leave the mark correctly. She gave away a lot of Nancy McKinney and the pair were mowed her opponents down as if they were all hitched to the sprinkler, and sticking to her work in resolute fashion, she won by a neck from the aged gelding Bon Elect who stayed on in surprising style. Taipoiti, Frontier and Quickfire raced in single file for *. mile, where Nancy McKinney dashed up to

take the lead. At a mile and a half Taipoiti and Frontier threw in the towel, and Quickfire then set after Nancy McKinnon and the pair were right at it with Bon Elect on the premises also. Half way down the straight Quickfire challenged Nancy McKinney, but to reach her he received a few stripes of the whip. He eventually faulted and failing to catch his gait quickly, he was beaten into third place. Meanwhile Bon Elect had asserted himself and proceeded to overhaul Nancy McKinney, but the latter managed to have her neck in front of her opponent when tie line was. crossed. Nancy McKinney was first trained as a pacer, but was subsequently converted to the trot by her present owner Mr. A. G. Wilson, who drove the mars to victory on this occasion. LOCANDA GENERAL IMPROVES The Visitors* Handicap saw a muchimproved pacer in Locarda General win in convincing style from the good but unlucky mare Exclusive. After King Abdullah had piloted the field for half a mile, Locanda General went to the head of affairs, but giing to the six-furlong disc Billy Whiz ran up to his sulky wheel, the pair racing just clear of Exclusive, Sahib and Planet, with Panto doing best of the others. On reaching,' the straight, Billy Whiz signalled that he had had enough, and Exclusive moved up to take Locanda General along, but the lat;er held too many guns for Exclusive, f.nd beat her comfortably. Locanda General has made considerable improvement under J. McLean, who drove the gsiding a nice race. He is a five-year-old, owned by Mr. E. Ward and is by Brsnt Locanda from General Mac. Yoicks and Orphan declined to leave the nark pacing. Orphan was coupled with Locandas General and Great Form. The Mount Hutt Handicap attracted 16 saddle performers, of which Lady Minto was sent out favourite, but unfortunately for her supporters she was never prominent. Miss Dorothy was quickest to leave the marls, and looked to be going easy entering the back stretch, but Kate Thorpe 'an past her at the two-furlong peg. and proceeded to put daylight between her and Miss Dorothy and Bower Dillon, the trio being well clear of My Sonny. Half way down the straight My Sonny headed Miss Dorothy # and Bower Dillon, but he could not overhaul Plate Thorpe, who won comfortably. She is by Our Thorpe from a mare by Blue Ruin, and is trained by J. Hickey, o*vned by Mr J. T. Wright and was ridden by F. G Harris. Later results: METHVEN CUP 2 miles COLENE POINTER, scr ‘I KING POINTER, 12yds 2 BAY NUT, scr :: Scr.: Killinchy, Auditress and Logan King. Won by three lengths. Time. 4.41 4-5. AVONMORE HANDICAP li miles KIOWA, scr I MARY LOCANDA, scr 2 FORWARD MAID, scr 3 Scr.: Regime, Eugene da Ora, Huon Dillon, Zonophone and Rochdale. Won by two lengths. Time, 3.39 2-5. RIVERBANK HANDICAP 2 miles NANCY McKINNEY, scr I BON ELECT, 72yds > QUICKFIRE, scr J Scr.: Golden Spray and Katute. Won by a neck. Time, 5.5. VISITORS’ HANDICAP 1$ miles LOCANDA GENERAL, scr 1 EXCLUSIVE, scr 2 GAHIB, 48yds 3 Scr.: Man o’ War, King Sandy. Won by a length Time, 2.52 3-5. MOUNT HUTT HANDICAP S—KATE THORPE, J. T. Wright’s limit (J. Harris) 1« 2—MY SONNY, 24yds bhd (F. Price) 2 S—MISS DOROTHY, limit (H. Frost) 3 Also started: 3 Change, 13 Bowen Dillon, 8 McNab (coupled with Miss Dorothy]’, 6 Henry Tracey, limit; 1 ]jady Minto, 4 ! Amy Audubon, 12yds bhd 7 King Ab- ! dulla'ti, 11 Wee Gus, 9 Hole! On, 14 Auto, ; 24; 10 Harley Dillon, 36; 11 Kulnine, 6C; ; 15 Prince Lyons, 72. Won by two lengths, with four lengths between second and third Time, 2m 20 2-ss.