BIG CROWD AT MATAMATA TO-DAY

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 270, 4 February 1928, Page 13

BIG CROWD AT MATAMATA TO-DAY

ANNUAL FIXTURE HELD FIRST RACE TO TE KOROKE {Special to THE SUN.) MATAMATA, To-day. The annual fixture of the Matamata Racing Club was held to-day on the club’s own course at Matamata, the going being hard but nevertheless in good order considering the drought. There was al large attendance, comprising many visitors from Auckland city and from all round the province, the trains being crowded. The weather is very hot. Following are the results; TIRAU HIGH-WEIGHT HANDICAP Of £80; 8£ Furlongs. 1— TE KOROKE (J. Asher), ch g, by Humbug—Tigritiya, syrs, 10.5, S. Holland .. i 4—BRIGHT DAY, 10.13, Warner .... 2 2 PRINCE LU, 9.13, Garvin 3 Also started:—s King Merv, 6 Gold Rain, 3 Lady Spalpeen, 7 Rita Hiki, 8 Lord Thurnham, 9 Day Abbey. (Winner trained by J. H. Wallace, Te Aroha.) Won by a neck, half-length second and third. Time, 1.49 1-5. The Favourite Lands Prince Lu began smartly, followed by King Merv, Gold Rain, and the trio held command down the back, where Day Abbey, Lord Thurnham and Te Koroke joined forces. Prince Lu led into the straight from Lord Thurnham, Lady Spalpeen, Te Koroke and Gold Rain. In a hard finish Te Koroke did best to win by a neck from Bright Day, with Prince Lu close up third, followed by Lord Star, Lord Thurnham and Gold Rain. WAHAROA HANDICAP Of £80; 71 furlongs. 4—MASTER LU (J. O’Connor), b g, by Spalpeen—Lupin mare, 6yrs, 7.2, O. Mclnally 1 6—QUEEN COMET, 7.10, Forbes .. 2 2—TAURIMU, 8.0, Keesing 3 Also started: 1 King Arc, 5 Menance, 3 Dress Circle, 7 Tarrapeen. Winner trained by R. H. Martin, Matamata. Won by a head, similar distance between second and third. . Time, 1.32 2-5. One for Matamata The favourite King Arch was the first to show out in the Waharoa Handicap, and led a bunched field to the six furlong post. Down the back King Arch was still leading the way, followed by Taurimu, Queen Comet, Master Lu, and Day Guide, with Tarrapeen moving up prominently. Taurimu and Queen Comet headed King Arch at the home turn, while Master Lu was lying handy. Inside the distance the latter ranged alongside the leading pair, and in a great finish got up to score a popular victory by a head from Queen Comet, with Taurimu a similar distance away third. King Arch was fourth and then came Dress Circle, Menance, and Tarrapeen. MATAMATA CCJP Of £225; 10 fur. 15yds 4 RARAKAU (J. McNicol), b m, by Day Comet—-Waterwood, aged, 7.8, Keesing i 1— BRANSON, 8.7, .Driscoll 2 2 MERVETTE, 7.0, Gilmer 3 Also started: 6 Lord Star, 3 Siaoei, 7 The Author, 5 Red Comet. (Winner trained by A. E. Cox, Te Aroha.) Won by neck; half length between second and third. Time, 2.8 1-5. Rarakau Narrowly Defeats Branson From a good start Red Comet set out to make the pace, and passing the r stand was followed by Rarakau, Branson, Mervette, The Author, Siaosi and Mervette within striking the back stretch, The Author and Branson were the leader’s nearest attendants, but crossing the top Rarakau, Siaosi and Mervett© closed up. Red Comet piloted the field into the straight, being a length in advance of the favourite, Branson, with Rarakau, Siaosi and Mervetter within striking distance. At the distance Red Comet cried enough, and Rarakau threw out a hot challenge to Branson, who succumbed in a punishing finished by a neck. Mervette was a good third and Siaosi fourth, with Red Comet, The Author and Lord Star next to cross the line. EGMONT RESULTS CONCLUDING DAY NUCLEUS AGAIN TAKES HURDLES (Special to THE SUN.) HAWERA, To-day. A hard track was responsible for very small fields being seen out today on the occasion of the concluding day of the Egmont Racing Club’s summer meeting. Nevertheless the racing throughout was of an interesting nature, and kept the large crowd entertained. Following are the results: OKAIAWA HURDLES Of £180; 12 Miles. NUCLEUS, 9.13 .... 1 SAN FERA, 10.4 2 BLUE PETER, 9.0 .... 3 Won by two lengths. Nucleus Again Although risen 13 pounds for his win on the first day, Nucleus again won the hurdle event. He was in front all the way, closely attended for the greater part of the journey by Powhiri. Nearing home San Fera arid Polyphemus were handy to the leaders, but Polyphemus lost ground at the hurdle near the three-furlong post and was not a strong possibility from there on. Nucleus was much too good at the end and won by a couple of lengths from San Fera, who beat Blue Peter by half a length. Powhiri failed to stay and was a fair fourth at the finish, while Polyphemus and Mountain Bell were next. WAI MATE HANDICAP Of £250; 6 Furlongs. 1— VAST ACRE, 8.3 1 2 ROYAL CERES, 7.4 2 5 ORATION, 7.10 3 Won by a length. Time, 1.132. Vast Acre Easily Vast Acre was a good favourite for the Waimate Handicap and won easily. Town Bird made the running from Vast Acre, who, however, came through at the home turn and easily held off Royal Ceres to win by a length and a-half. Oration, who had got away badly, ran up third, a jieck behind Royal Ceres. Town Bird was last.