Rotorua Club Has Successful Opening Day

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 585, 11 February 1929, Page 6

Rotorua Club Has Successful Opening Day

Ellerslie Stable Wins Cup for Second Time

BRANSON’S MILD SURPRISE

Special to THE SUN)

ROTORUA, Saturda

The annual meeting of the Rotorua Racing Club opened to-day in fine weather and with a large attendance. The course was in good order. Tho Rotorua Cup was won for the second time in succession by a horse from J. Williamson’s Ellerslie stable, The Lover signalising his advent into open company by scoring well after a tight finish with Queen Arch, the minor place being filled by Le Choucas. The sprint saw that good horse Branson win from In the Shade, another good handicapper, with the favourite, Lady’s Boy, at the head v of the others.

There were only three runners in the concluding race, the Arawa Park Handicap, providing a rather disappointing finish to an otherwise enjoyable day’s sport.

Speculation was particularly good in all except the last race, no less than £23,980 10s going through the machine, against £22,348 on opening day twelve months ago—an increase of £1,632 10s. Results re:—

Owairaka £766 was made favourite in the Pohutu High-weight Handicap, Bizarro £ 511 being next in demand, with Glena Bay £330 and Maurea £236 best backed of the remainder. Owairaka was in front going out of the straight, followed by Maurea, Bizarro, Pendennis, Kaihoremai and Glena Bay. Along the back, the favourite, who was pulling hard, lost his position, Bizarro and Ulingar taking up the role of pilots. Making for the home turn Glena Bay went to the front and led into the straight from Owairaka, Maurea, Ulingar and Bizarro. Maurea responded to the rider’s call for a final effort, but failed to reach Glena Bay, who won easily by a length, with Ulingar half a length away third. The favourite, who was not ridden to the best advantage, was fourth, and then came Pendennis, Bizarro and Kaihoremai.

There was nothing else in demand in the Hot Springs Handicap but The Begum, and he ultimately wound up an odds-on favourite carrying £1,120, with, a big drop to Gazerin £ 311 and Prince Val £297. The Jack Jumper and Prince Val jumped out best, while the favourite dwelt a little, losing no time, however, in chasing the leaders, with the result that at the end of two furlongs she was on terms with The Jack Jumper and Loving Cup, this trio being out two lengths clear of Prince Val, Otangihaku and TJnoco. The Begum pushed her way to the front crossing the top, and led into the

straight, Unoco, Loving Cup, The Jack Jumper, Prince Val and Swift Light following in that down the running the leader appeared to be doing it easily, but Prince Val put in a strong claim on the outer, only to suffer defeat by half a length. Unoco was a length away third, and then came Tho Jack Jumper, Loving Cup, Master Clements, Ding Dong and Swift Light.

Backers were on the mark in the Mokoia Handicap, when they made Archeen (£834) and The Thorn (£597) first and second- choice, for this pair filled the major places. Prince Lu was also the medium of some support, carrying £456. The start was affected in front of the stand, and as they passed out of the straight The Thorn, Boomerday, Cynthia N., and Red Day were in a line, but when they had settled down Cynthia N. had the role of pacemaker, being clear of The Thorn, Prince Lu and Baby Bun. Nearing the top Prince Lu went to the front and piloted Palmares, Cynthia N., Archeen and The Thorn into the straight. Although the leaders stopped in the run home, a good finish eventuated, Archeen finishing on to beat The Thorn by half a length, with Palmares a length off in third place. Prince Lu (badly drawn at barrier) was fourth, followed by Boomerday, Cynthia N., Red Day and Baby Bun. It was a good performance on the part of the winner, for he had a bad passage in. the early stages. The Lover, £960, Queen Arch £753 and Le Choucas £630 were backed in that order in the Rotorua Cup, and that is how they finished. Queen Arch, Le Choucas and Siaosi left the tapes smartly, but at the end of a furlong the last-named had charge and led past the stands attended by Mosque, Le Choucas, The Lover, Queen Arch, Far North and Schorr. At the halfmile Schorr, who had moved up fast, was on terms with The Lover in the van, this pair being closely pursued by Queen Arch, Far North and Mosque. Siaosi lost his position on the turn, where The Lover and Queen Arch were in front, following them being Schorr and Far North. In a good finish The Lover hung on to get the verdict by a head from Queen Arch. Le Choucas, who had shown some dash when straightened up. was a length furthex back in third place. Schorr was halt a length away in fourth berth, f o'lowed by Far North (wide out). Siaosi and Mosque. Red Lion began best in the Waimangu Stakes and led from Wee Prince, Royal Lover, Arcade, Haviland and Sea Cob, but at the end

and led round the bend from Haviland, Royal Lover, Red Lion, Sea Cob and Snow Prince, and at no stage did the leader look like being beaten, going on to score comfortably by a length. Snow Prince finished well to gain second place, while half a length further back was Hiata, the favourite. Sea Cob was fourth, and then in order came Wee Prince, Red Lion, Royal Lover and Haviland. An unfortunate mishap occurred as the horses were turning for home, Valwin, Handstitch, Silver Division and Dainty Manners falling, while Kiri pulled up. Notwithstanding liis weight Hakanoa was made a solid choice for the Geyser Handicap, being entrusted with £1,209, as against High Tide £514, Brampton £ 383 and Whaka King £ 368. The last-named was the early leader and led past the stand from Otangihaku, Bahama, Brampton, Hakanoa and High Tide. Otangihaku joined issue with Whaka King going into the back stretch, and this pair piloted Brampton, High Tide, Hakanoa and Bahama down the back. Brampton moved up crossing the top, and was with Whaka King at the head of affairs as they turned for home, having Otangihaku and Bahama as their nearest attendants. A really good finish saw Brampton prevail by a head from Whaka King, who beat High Tide by three-parts of a. length. Hakanoa was a close fourth, and then there was agap back to Taumai, Otangihaku, Bahama and Archette. The favourite, Hakanoa, did not receive the best of the running.

The Tourist Handicap proved to be a bad race for investors for two poorly backed horses filled the chief places. Lady’s £7lO, was favourite, but third was his portion, while Branson, the winner, carried money to the extent of £2lO. Lady’s Boy received tho best of the despatch, and moved out fast from Liaison, New Moon, Town Bird and Macroom, and at the end of a couple of furlongs the pacemaker was bowling along clear of Liaison, Atapai, Town Bird, New' Moon, Macroom and Branson, with Mervette tailed off. Lady’s Boy still had a slight call over New Moon, Liaison, Macroom. Atapai and Branson when the straight was reached, but Branson unwound a smart finishing run at this stage, which landed him home a winner by a neck from In the Shade, who also came fast over the concluding bit. Liaison was fourth, and after her followed New Moon, Atapai, Macroom and Town Bird-

Only three started in the Arawa Bark Handicap, and backers had no difficulty in summing up the situation, for the favourite, Ti Tree—he carried over half the investments —won from end to end. He never looked like being beaten, and although he disposed of Schorr by half a length, the distance could have been greater had it been desired. Lucy Rose was the other starter and was beaten by a head for second place.

Pohutu High-weight Handicap, of £140; 1 mile.—3 Glena Bay, 10.2, E. Warner, 1; 4 Maurea, 9.4, H. Dulieu, 2; 5 11lingar, 9,8, W. Reid. 3. Also: 1 Owairaka. 10.8; 2 Bizarro, 9.4; 6 Pendennis, 9.4; 7 Kaihoremai, 9.0. Winner trained by owner, Te Rapa. Won by a length, with half a length between second and third. Time, 1.45 1-5.

Hot Springs Handicap, of £120; 6 furlongs.—l The Begum, 9.0, D. Cotton, 1; 3 Prince Val. 7.4, car. 7.1, A. Stead, 2; 4 Unoco, B.S, A. Tinker, 3. Also: 5 The Jack Jumper, 8.3, car. 7.12; 2 Gazerin, 8.0; 6 Otangihaku, 8.0, 9 Loving Cup, 7.5; 10 Master Clements, 7.5 cai\ 7.6; 11 Rangikaha, 7.5; 8 Ding Dong, 7.4, car 7.6; 7 Swiftlight, 7.4. Winner trained by W. Stone, Te Awamutu. Won by half a length, with a length between second and third. Time, 1.15 3-5.

Mokoia Handicap, of £125; 7 furlongs and 80 yards.—l Archeen, 8.8, A. Tinker, 1; 2 The Thorn, 8.6, R. McTavish, 2; 4 Palmares, 7.0 car 7.2, 3. Also: 6 Cynthia N., 7.10; S Baby Bun, 7.7; 3 Prince Lu, 7.7; 9 Boomerday, 7.4, car 7.9; 5 Bahama, 7.0, car. 7.31; 7 Red Day, 7.0. Winner

trained by A. Tinker, Te Rapa. Won by half a length, with a length between second and third. Time, 1.31 2-5.

Rotorua Cup, of £3OO and Gold Cup; 1£ miles. —1 The Lover, 7.0, car. 7.21, J. Cammick 1; 2 Queen Arch, 7.12, L. Manson, 2; 3 Le Choucas, 8.2, H. Goldfinch, 3. Also: 4 Siaosi, 8.2; 6 Schorr, 7.7, car. 7.9; 7 Far North, 7.0; 5 Mosque. 7.0., car. 7.2 i.

Winner trained by J. Williamson, Ellerslie. Won by a head, with a length between second and third. Time, 2.8 2-5. Waimangu Stakes, of £120; weight-for-age, 5 furlongs.—s Arcade, 8.7, A. Tinker, 1; 12 Snow Prince. 8.7, R. McTavish, 2; 1 Hiata, 8.7, E. Manson, 3. Also: 9 Haviland, 5.7; 4 Royal Lover, S.ll; 8 Silver Division, 8.7; 10 Handstitch, 8.11; 2 Kiri, 8.11; 13 Whakania, 8.11; 11 Crema’s King, 8.7; 6 Red Lion, 8.7; 3 Sea Cob, 8.7; 7 Dainty Manners, 8.4; 14 Valwin, 7.0, car. 7.2; 15 Wee Prince, 7.0; 6 Valreina. 6.11. Winner trained by A. Tinker, Te Rapa. Won by a length, with a length and ahalf between second and third. Time, 1.3. Geyser Hack Handicap, of £125; 1 mile. —3 Brampton, 7.8, car. 7.3, A. Parsons, 1; 4 Whaka King, 8.8, O. Mclnally, 2; 2 High Tide, 8.4, car. 8.1, P. Brady 3. Also: 1 Hakanoa, 9.9; 6 Bahama, 8.4; 5 Archette, 7.7, car. 7.9; 9 Blue Bonnet, 7.7; S Otangihaku, 7.7, car. 7.101; 7 Taumai, 7.7. Winner trained by owner, Ellerslie. Won by a head, with three-quarters of a length between second and third. Time, 1.42 3-5. Tourist Handicap, of £200; 6 furlongs.—6 Branson, 9.0 R. MoTayish, 1; 4 In the Shade, 8.9, H. Goldfinch, 2; 1 Lady’s Boy, 5.6, car. 8.1, F. Forbes, 3. Also: 3 Mervette, 8.6; 9 Mosaic, 8.6, car. 8.1; 2 Macroom, 7.9; 5 Liaison, 7.7, car. 7.2; 10 Atapai, 7.0; 8 New Moon 7.0, car. 7.1; 7 Town Bird, 7.0, car. 7.4. Winner trained by P. Scally, Avondale. Won by a length, with a neck between second and third. Time, 1.15 1-5. Arawa Park Handicap, of £150; 1 mile. —1 Ti Tree, 8.5, 11. Goldfinch, 1; 3 Schorr, 8.5, D. Cotton, 2; 2 Lucy Rose, 7.11, car. 7.6, 3. The only starters. Winner trained by J. T. Jamieson. Takanini. Won by half a length, with a head between second and third. Timft 1.43 1-&.