Agrion’s Derby Win Was Impressive

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 196, 8 November 1927, Page 10

Agrion’s Derby Win Was Impressive

TE MON AN UI AGAIN PROVES HIMSELF

THE Canterbury Jockey Club's Metropolitan Meeting was continued a further stage at Riccarton to-day. Th e course was in excellent order, and the attendance fair. The totalisator handled £43,882, against £41,852, and the total increase for the two days is now £10,153 10s. (Special to THE SUN.)

CHRISTCHURCH, Monday. TJUD FUCHSIA and Projector were solidly supported for the first event, the Middleton Hurdles, while of the others Koauau and Aberfeldy were best backed. Heisler was the early leader, but Clontarf ran to the front at the mile post from Red Fuchsia, Projector, and Heisler. Along the back the order was practically the same, but at the seven furlongs post Gay Jim lost his rider. Projector ran up to Red Fuchsia before the straight entrance was reached, the pair being 12 lengths in advance of Clontarf, Te Kawa, and Kapuna. Projector was first over the last fence, and. going on, defeated Red Fuchsia by two lengths. Kapuna was 20 lengths away third, followed by Clontarf, Aberfeldy, Tarleton, Koauau, and Heisler. REREMOANA COMING BACK On the strength of his third to Eulalie in the Stewards’ Handicap, Kiosk wound up tr good favourite for the Criterion Handicap. Reremoana was quickest to begin, but was steadied, and Kiosk ran to the front from Paperchase. Reremoana, and Booster. There was no change turning for home, except that Benzora was making a fast run on the outside. Kiosk was first into the straight from Paperchase, Booster, and Reremoana, and though challenged in the run home, first by Booster and then by Reremoana and Paperchase, Kiosk lasted long enough to defeat Paperchase by a neck, with Reremoana a head away third. Booster tired into fourth place, while behind him were Royal Game, Benzora, and Paper Boy. REPEATS TRENTHAM FORM Staghunter was made a warm favourite for the Irwell Handicap, and after allowing Flicker and Banket

to lead into the straight, he came away, and scored in convincing style. Royal Flower was left at the. barrier, and though she chased the field she was pulled up at the entrance io the course proper. Banket showed plenty of speed, but she ran like a very green youngster over the last two furlongs. Rigmarole (in Mason’s stable) showed speed in the early stages, but is only a moderate. Staghunter will win again before long. THE DERBY CONTEST Bon Jose, Gascony, Paleta, and Talisker were the only defections from the Derby. Laughing Prince and Agrion were strongly supported, while Great Charter and Martarma were others solidly backed. Agrion, on the rails, led throughout, and after entering the straight drew away, and defeated Satrap rather comfortably. The latter finished very fast, .and is on the improve. Laughing Prince was always in striking distance of the leaders, but he could not come on in the straight. Martarma raced disappointingly. He was last all the way till the straight entrance, but at the end finished strongly in fourth place. He never appeared to travel kindly till his rider rode him hard in the straight, and had he been better placed three furlongs from home he would have been a place-getter. Agrion would be greatly improved by the race, and if he is a starter in the Stead Gold Cup he will have to be reckoned with.

At the start, Agrion, on the rails, took charge going out of The straight. Passing the nine furlongs’ post Agrion led from Latin Quarter, Laughing Prince and Great Charter, with Martarma and Singleton bringing up the rear. Agrion was still the leader along the back, and across the top Martarma dropped back to last. Agrion led into the straight, coming' away two furlongs from home, to beat Satrap by a length and a-half. Laughing Prince was a neck away third, and Martarma a length and a-half away fourth. Agrion, who was having his first race this season, defeated hi.s rivals as only a champion could, and Limerick will have to be at his best to defeat him in the G. G. Stead Gold Cup on the concluding day of the meeting. WINNER LIKES A JOURNEY Master Clarence was the only scratching for the Hagley Handicap. Star flight, Wayward, and Grand National were the early leaders. Grand National led into the straight, but dropped out two furlongs from home, leaving Don Jose in charge from Starflight, Wanderltist, and Wayward. Don Jose looked like a winner at the distance, but Oratrix finished well, and defeated Don Jose by a length. Wanderlust was a neck away third, with Wayward fon rth. TE MONANUI’S WINNING BURST All the acceptors for the Metropolitan Handicap went to the post, and in a big pool Footfall wound up favourite. Vaward and Beacon Light were

the early, leaders, from Footfall, Te Monanui, Bennanee, and Yoma. Beacon Light and Vaward were four lengths out from Count Cavour and Te Monanui at the seven furlongs post, but five furlongs from home Vaward dropped back, and Te Monanui improved his position. Beacon Light led into the straight, and Te Monanui challenged a furlong from home, and in a good finish he defeated Beacon Light by a length. Footfall was a length away third, followed by Bennanee, Vaward. Lady Desmond, and Piuthair, with Count Cavour last.

Te Monanui won well. Footfall covered a lot of ground, and with I ordinary luck he will take a power I of beating in the Otaio Plate, a mile land a-quarter, on Wednesday. \ award

finished on well after losing his position, and will be heard of before the meeting concludes. WIGGINS BRINGS ROTOR HOME A big field went to the post for the Randolph Handicap. Amor was the leader when the field settled down from Arikiwai, but at the straight entrance the latter went to the front. However, when tackled by Bronstell, Arikiwai lost his position, and Bronstell went on in the lead from Rotor and Fair Exchange. Bronstell ied 100 vards from the post, but in a good finish Rotor, who came with a fast run. defeated Bronstell on the post. Fair Exchange finished on in third place, and should be improved by the race. RASCAL ALL THE WAY The day’s racing concluded with the Epsom Handicap, for which Black Duke was backed like a good thing. Rascal, who drew an inside position at the barrier, was quickest to begin, and, racing past the half-mile, showed the way to Vesperus, Vertigern, and Margaret Birney. Rascal led across the top and into the straight, and, holding his advantage, went on to win by a good length from Vcrtigoru, with Vesperus half a length away third, followed by Thorndale. Black Duke ran up to the leaders at the straight entrance, but dropped out a furlong from home, and finished in the ruck. Later results: NEW ZEALAND DERBY Of £2,000; 11 miles 2—AGRION, 8.10 (T. Green) 1 S—SATRAP, 8.10 (F. C. Porter) .. 2 1 — LAUGHING PRINCE, 8.10 (L. Morris) ° Won by one and a-half lengths. Time, 2.33 1-5. Scr.: Eulalie, Don Jose, Gascony, Paleta and Talisker. The winner led all the way. HAGLEY HANDICAP 9 furlongs. 2 ORATRIX, 7.S J 5 DON JOSE, 7.4 - 4—WANDERLUST, 9.0 - Scratched: Master Clarence. Won by three-quarters of a length; third horse a neck away. Time, 1.52 3-5. METROPOLITAN HANDICAP Of £1,000; li miles. 2TE MONANUI, 9.5. L. Morris .. 1 •7 —BEACON LIGHT, S.S, E. Waddell 2 I —FOOTFALL. 9.0, P. E. Jones . . 3 —BENNANEE, 7-9, J. Barry 4 All started. Time, 2.32 3-5. RANDOLPH HANDICAP 7 furlongs. 1— ROTOR, 7.11, H. Wiggins I 6 BRONSTELL, 7.2 - 12—FAIR EXCHANGE, 7.4 o 3 Vigilance, 7.9 4 Won by half a length. Time, 1.26 3-5. Amor, Arikiwai and Vigilance ‘Were in front to the straight, where Rotor tame through to score well from Bronstell, who weakened over the last bit. EPSOM HANDICAP Of £350; 1 mile. 12 —RASCAL, 5.3, F. Waddell 1 6—VERTIGERN, 8.5, H. Morris .... 2 4 V EsPETTC S', S.l, T. Green .. .. 3 Also started: 8 Centrepiece, 10.4; 3 Tiega, 8.11; 5 Nincompoop, 8.10; 14 Thorndale. 8.5; 1 Black Duke, 8.5; 2 Monaghan, 8.5; 7 Assurance, 5.4; 9 Margaret Birney, 8.3; 10 -Sir Roy, S.O; 11 Ophir, 7.11; 15 Arpent, 7.11: 16 Peho, 7.11; 13 Gold Mint. 7.11. Won by a length and a-half, with Vesperus threequarters of a length away third. Time, 1.40 3-5.

MEETINGS TO COME

November 5,7, 9, 12.—Canterbury J.C. November 10, 12.—Whangarei R. C. November 16. 17.—Win ton J.C. November 19.—Levin R.C. November 23.—Ashhurst-Pohanglna R.C. November 26. 2S.—Takapuna J.C. November 30. December l.—Feilding J.C. December 2. 3.—S. Canterbury J.C. December 7, B.—Woodville DisL J.C. December 10, 12.—Taumarunui R.C. December 17.—Waipa R.C. December 26. 27.—Dunedin J.C. December 26.—Waipukurau J.C. December 26, 27.—Westland R.C. December 26. 27.—Taranaki J.C. December 26, 27, 29. Manawatu R.C. December 26. 28. January 2. 3.—Auckland R.C. December 30. 31. January 2.—Greymouth J.C. December 31, January 2. Wairarapa R.C. January 2. —Waikouaiti R.C. January 2.—Wyndham R.C. January 2, 3.—Hawke’s Bay J.C. January 2, 3. —Stratford R.C. January 2, 3.—Marton J.C. January 3. 4.—Southland R.C. January 6, 7.—Reefton J.C. January 7, 9.—Vincent J.C. January 12, 14.—Dargaville R.C. January 14.—Ashburton Cty. R.C. January 16.—Waipapakauri R.C. January 17, 19.—Wairoa R.C. January 21.—Wairio J.C. January 21, 23.—Foxton R.C. January 21, 23, 25.—" Wellington R.C. January 28, 30.—Takapuna J.C. February I.—Tapanui R.C . February 1, 2.—Pahiatua R.C. February 2, 4.—Egmont R.C. February 2, 4.—Gisborne R.C. February 4.—Matamata R.C. February 9, 11.—Dunedin J.C. February 9, 11.—Taranaki J.C. February 9, 11.—Poverty Bav Turf Club. February 11, 13, —Rotorua R.C. February 15.—Clifden R.C. February 16.—Tolaga Bay J.C.