HOW THEY FARED AT ASHHURST

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 571, 25 January 1929, Page 10

HOW THEY FARED AT ASHHURST

POINTERS FOR PUNTERS , HORSES NOW IN FORM (Special to THE SUN) PALMERSTON N.. Thursday. While overshadowed by the Trentham fixture, the Ashhurst meeting’ proved quite an enjoyable affair, and from the point of view of the officials, quite a, successful one. Fields certainly underwent reduction in several instances on the day, but patrons were offered two chances of collecting a dividend in every race. In the first three evfents the favourite was correctly selected, but thereafter favourites failed. While the hurdlers in the jumping event were not particularly strong, the victory of Locarno was full of merit, for superiority in jumping powers carried the Elysian gelding to the front quite early, and he never gave anything a chance on the final circuit. . . .The Acre gelding Lin Arlington made t J us debut as a hurdler at Foxton, when he ran a creditable second to the im- ’ proving Deluge. On that performance he cam© m for strong support at Ashburst, and. while he filled second peith to Locarno, he could not bold 11S fellow-Awapuni representative o' the last three furlongs. Likes the Jumpers Cold Air. who carries the brown ' the Hunterville sportsman, ! J? 1 ’- £>• Hammond, is apparently destined for the jumping branch, for he was a runner in the Hack Hurdles at Ashhurst, when he ran a fair third. J be owner of the Warplane gelding is a Jover of jumpers, and those good ones Aidath and Puwhero have carried his colours in the past. Incidentally, the last-named is again an inmate of L. tvnapp s stable, and endeavours will be a-aln X ° him ready to race once ' u,,? 1 ! a circular course such as Ash- ! f. ulbt ’ starting from the inside positions gave to the smart beginner a considerable advantage, particularly in tno six and seven furlong sprint events, wnicn are started on a bend. The only instance where such was not forthcoming was in the mile event ewing to the starter bringing the field m too close together, there was considerable jostling at the jumpout, and before the turn out of the straight was reached the outer division bad crossed over to the rails, and more bumping ensued. In the Maiden Stakes, Inflame, assisted by the draw at the post, jumped away smartly, to spread-eagle the field, be not being required to give of bis best in the run home. The Lord Quex gelding has undoubted pace, but he has closed up so frequently over the final furlong of a six-furlong mission that he has proved expensive to his connections. I-le, however, found the ! scurry distance very much to bis liking on Tuesday, and strode home like a champion, which he is not. Have Yet to Win Marica, an Arrowsmith-Gladiole four-year-old mare, who runs in the same interests at Nucleus, filled the role of runner-up to Inflame in the Maiden Stakes, but while she was finishing on well, a better jump-out would have found Bione a dangerous contestant. At Foxton the Bisogne gelding had finished very fast in fourth place, on the opening day, and had then run Second to Bisrank. She did not behave over-well at the barrier at Ashhurst, and thus ruined any prospect she had of repeating her preceding performance. A four-year-old mare by Way plane out of Canella. the dam of Birkenclla, ran a surprisingly good race in the Maiden Stakes, and it was only in the last stride that Bione forced her back into fourth berth. Although she looked a trifle burly, and had been required ot carry 6?.1b overweight, she ran a very game race. Vanilla, the cognomen which has been accorded her, runs in the same interests as Powhiri. No. 1 position at the barrier probably assisted somewhat toward the victory of Ridgemount in the open sprint event, but the Leighton gelding was not seriously troubled at any stage ol! the journey, he being in the van from barrier rise. The Raider, from No. 3 position, who attended the Taranaki gelding throughout, produced a good finishing effort, but could not get closer than half a length. T. Metcalf made his first appearance in the saddle in public since be met with severe injuries when Briar Root fell at Fell ding, when he threw his leg over Moutoa Treasury in the open sprint. Like her pilot, Moutoa Treasury has been out of action recently, and she evidenced that she was in need of a race. Later in the day the Paper Money filly was started in the seven furlong sprint, and. after coming from the rear, got to within a short half-length of The Swell. Althqugh a speed merchant, she does not begin as quickly as might be, and such discounts her chances. Gtood Barrier Position Essential Those usually smart beginners, Callanmore and Dobbin, were drawn wide out at the barrier in the Pohangina Handicap, and they were never in the picture. Callanmore was certainly noticeable in that, instead of being ir. the leading division, he was bringing up the rear, the Absurd gelding eventually finishing ahead of Lady Ideal, who filled the role of whipper-in. That the draw at the post played all too great a difference was further evidenced by the position occupied by Lady Ideal throughout the race, for, while she may not stay on. the Treadmill mare is almost invariably found out in front for at least a period in her races. The chestnut gelding Shining Star, who was recently purchased by the Awapuni mentor, H. H. Doyle, gave an early return when he scored in the Siberia Hack Handicap in quite striking fashion. Although he did not get the best of the jump-out., his rider had him placed nicely comparatively early, and. when asked the question, the Starstream gelding came away in good style. As his sire was a product of Autumnus, and ’his dam. Musical Moments, was by imported Merry Moment from En Parole, by Finland from Gossip, the chestnut might well , improve still further. In past years H. H. Doyle has found the West Coast (5.1.) fixtures a happyhunting ground, and he purposes

going South next month, when he will take with him Fee Simple, from G. New’s stable: the hurdler. Lieutenant Bill; and Shining Star. C. Broughton and C. Robinson will accompany the team to do the riding, the one on the flat and the other over the battens. King Cheops. Buoyant, and Birthmark are performers who have passed through Doyle’s hands, and it would not be surprising to find him leave Shining Star behind, providing a sufficiently attractive offer is made. Horses trained by the Foxton mentor, F. J. Carmont. are nothing if not consistent, and while Miss Pat found her poundage of 9.8 sufficient to halt her in the open spuint. Henna carried on her stake-winning campaign in the Cup contest. She was required to come round her field at the straight entrance, but her wonderful finishing effort enabled her to win nicely by a length from Imperial Spark. The runner-up ran what was probably bis best race to date, and it may be that he black gelding will yet prove capable of winning a major stake. Two Winners and a Second The Taranaki mentor, R. Johnson, went close to capturing all three open events figuring on the Ashhurst programme, Ridgemount winning the sixfurlong event, The Swell the open seven-furlong race, while Anolo took third honours in the Cup contest. In the distance event Anolo made a run on the rails approaching the turn for home, but could not find the necessary opening, and when the Antagonist gelding did get free hi.- t came too ]g,te. As he carried < c quarter of the total investments, was an expensive failure. The largest dividends of the day were forthcoming in the final event, when Wilmoreana narrowly defeated Raukauponga in the run home. The jostling which was forthcoming at the turn going away probably improved their chances, for they, together with Heather Blend, had been fortunate enough to hit the front sufficiently early to avoid trouble, although Delude got on the latter’s heels approaching the six-furlong post, and then came back on to Kilorel. The place-getters had the finish to themselves, although Delude was a length and a-half back from Raukauponga. The latter came again when apparently beaten, and almost got to Wilmcreana on the post —a very fair effort. King Quex and Charmaline. who were bracketed on the totalisator, came in for strongest support for the Gorge Handicap, but backers did not have their hopes running high at any stage of the journey. The pair were bringing up the rear turning for home, but Charmaline came fast over the last bit. to fill fourth berth—a surprisingly good effort on the part of the Clareneeux three-year-old. King Quex did not reproduce his Marton form, but it was reported that the Lord Quex gelding had not been doing well.

THE RIDERS

PROVINCIAL HORSEMEN I WILL HAVE MANY ENGAGEMENTS AT TAKA- i PUNA. I i I TRENTHAM HOLDS SOUTHERNERS Local boys will have plenty of opportunities to try out their skill in the saddle to-morrow, this being due to the fact that the final day of the Trentham fixture clashes with the opening of our own provincial meeting at Takapuna. Southern jockeys will be provided with plenty of seope to show their talents at Trentham, and th© big fields in vogue there provide practically a ride in each race for

everyone, thus obviating the necessity of a trip North to Takapuna, where there Mould have been a chance of them securing a good percentage of rides. Not a great many riding engagements have been announced for to-morrow, but the following are known to have been made:— a S. Henderson —Glena Boy, The Lamb, Justify and Ca.rmint. E. Ludlow —Jolly Money, Eager Rose, Te Money and Sir Mond. S. Bryce —War Officer, Princess Rain, Cynthia N., Fairy Belle and Ballymoy 11. E. A. Keesing —Parfait Amour. W. Goldfinch —Ti Tree (if started), Polyxena, Tidal, High Finance and Brilliant Light.' H. Wiggins —Roman Pearl and Cymon. R. McTavish —Glenlight, Good Boy and possibly Vallar. C. Goulsbro —Royal Doulton and Hipo. E. Manson —Mussie and Otranto. H. Gilmer —Hyde Park, Norval Tea and Critique. O. McNally —Flying Juliet and Macroom. F. McGovern— Bizarro. R. Olive — Harbour View. W. Jones —Salamander. A. Driscoll —Royal Form and Subdivision (second day). J. Conquest —Mon Star and Kaiwanga. A. Skipper— Lady’s Boy. E. Garrett— Zircon. D. Cottpn— The Begum.