Aspiring’s Rider Makes a Mistake

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 905, 24 February 1930, Page 12

Aspiring’s Rider Makes a Mistake

INCIDENT IN CLASSIC THE CANTERBURY MEETING Special to THE SUX CHRISTCHURCH, Saturday. The Canterbury Jockey Club’s meeting was hold today in fine weather. There was a large attendance, and the ti*ack was in good order. Hornby Handicap Marsham, who carries the colours of the Riccarton trainer, F. D. Jones, atoned for past failures when he scored a most decisive win in the Hornby Plandieap. He was always racing in a handy position in third place, and was not worried by the terrific pace set early by Gala Day and Haze. At the home turn A. E. Ellis put the favourite to the front, and at the false rails he drew out to win in easy style. Quarterdeck could not get going in the early stages, and at the home bend her prospects looked anything but bright. However, she finished very determinedly on the outside in the run down the straight, and cut Chickwheat out of second place by a length. Hounslow ran a promising race into fourth place, while of the others Phastar did best. Roi de Val, who came from the North yesterday, ran a very poor race. Trial Stakes Flair re-entered the winning list today when she scored brilliantly in the Trial Stakes from Gay Crest. The Psychology filly was never far away from the leaders and at the false rail she shot to the front to score most convincingly. Flair, who is a member of F. Christmas’s stable, showed good form in the spring; in fact, her form was so impressive that she was regarded as a formidable opponent for Pink Coat in the Great Northern Guineas. She did not go to Ellerslie and in the Dunedin Guineas, won by Meprisant, she failed to produce her former brilliance. In the last few weeks, however, it has been apparent that she was getting back to her best again, and her victory in today’s race indicates that she is going to play a prominent part in her future engagements. She is a good filly who may develop into a fast miler with age. Gay Crest was backed for good money, but the Shilling* Lea gelding was well beaten into second place. He ran a very solid race, however, and was unfortunate in that he struck such a smart filly as Flair. Fair Exchange lived up to his track form by gaining third place from Swiftray, and of the others Tariff was best.' The following were the principal investments: Gay Crest (£643 10s), Flair (£389 10s), Tourist (£319 10s) and Ravine (£304 10s). Middle Park Plate Aspiring was a certainty beaten in the Middle Park Plate at Riccarton today and her defeat under the circumstances that obtained further emphasises the absurdity of the Canterbury Jockey Club’s two winning posts. The Some Boy 11. filly was in front at the first post and, thinking he had won the race, Emerson dropped his hands, with the result that Charmaine went on and beat Aspiring by a neck. For some considerable time trainers have complained about the Canterbury Jockey Club’s two winning posts and without doubt they are misleading even to the more prominent riders. A short time ba.ck Riccarton trainers sent in a petition to the club to have one of the posts removed, but so far nothing has been done. C. Emerson, who rode Aspiring in the race today, admits that he made a mistake when he stopped riding Aspiring at the first winning post. He had the race Avon at the old post and that such an experienced horseman should make a mistake shows the fallacy of the whole thing. Aspiring has been an unlucky runner in recent races and though beaten in today’s Middle Park Plate she put up one of the best performances of her career, carrying 9.4 against a head wind. She was not taken to the front early, but her speed was conserved for a final effort in the straight. She issued her challenge inside the distance and actually headed Charmaine at the old winning post, but the youngster eventually got the decision by a neck. Charmaine’s Dunedin form shows what a good filly she is and with the exception of Aspiring she defeated her opponents in decisive fashion. She led from barrier rise and her time for the full distance, 1.12 2-5, was excellent. Jaloux was well beaten into third place, while Blue Metal did best of the others. Nightmarch's Exhibition After the running of the Middle Park Plate, Nightmarch gave an. exhibition gallop over four furlongs with his stable mate, True Shaft. The champion was not severely taxed for his four furlongs, taking about 53, but

he strode out in Yils Dest style. lie was ridden by C. Emerson, and on his return to the weighing - enclosure he was accorded an ovation. Midsummer Handicap Hunting Cry may not have much opposition in the Great Northern St. Leger at Ellerslie, but at Wellington next month he will be thoroughly tested by Sir George Clifford’s Waterline, who beat a good field in the Midsummer Handicap today, giving a polished display of galloping. At the six furlongs post he was in the rear. Rapier, Topere and Amor leading at that stage, but going to the half-mile he moved up on the outside, and was within striking distance of the leaders at the home bend. He put in a very determined challenge inside the distance, and although Hoylake made him gallop at top over the last furlong, the three-year-old managed to beat the imported horse by a neck. Hoylake ran his best race for some time, and there was no disgrace in his defeat at the hands of such a promising young galloper. Topere again ran a sound race, and although beaten into third place, he should do better in the Peninsula Cup next Saturday. Pride did not run up to expectations, while Amor was disappointing. Rapier ran a good race, while his condition lasted, and with another run lie should soon come back to form. Lyttelton Plate Praise, who was coupled with Ozone, was an outstanding favourite for the Lyttelton Plate but once again the daughter of Limond and Eulogy let her backers down. She showed little of her former dash, but over the last two furlongs finished strongly to gain j.ourth place. Spoon, the winner, led from the barrier rise, and was never seriously troubled in the run home. In the spring she was narrowly beaten in the McLean Stakes by Satisfy, and though she performed only moderately at the spring carnival, she has improved in the interim, as her performance today revealed. Winsome Hind again ran up to track form, but had little chance with the winner. Ozone ran a promising third, and Praise was next to finish. Craven Plate Silver Coot won the Craven Plate after a thrilling finish with Red Heckle, who was making his reappearance after an absence of three months from the race track. The Paper Money gelding made the pace from the outset, and the fact that he came home his last half-mile at just over 48 shows the merit of his performance. When he disposed of Greenaway half-way down the running, it appeared that he would have an easy win, but when tackled by Red Pleckle he had to put his best foot forward to stave off the Warplane gelding. Silver Coot’s recent form has been good, and as lie is more solid now than at any other period he may go oh to further successes m the near future. Red Heckle put up a sterling effort, but Arrowmir anci Greenaway were beaten decisively by the winner and the runner-up. Halswell Handicap Noteworthy scored a surprise win in the Halswell Handicap, and returned a very big dividend. He was well back early, but finished with a strong burst of speed to beat the favourite, Te Awhina, by three lengths. Mount Boa finished strongly in third place, and Leader was close up fourth. Leader was responsible for the pace, and it looks as if the Chief Ruler colt is returning to form. Post Handicap Full Feather tailed off early in the Post Handicap, but finished brilliantly to beat Gay Crest and the outsider Chiekwheat. Results: Trial Stakes, of £200; 7 fur.-—2 Flair, 7 11, R. Coveney, 1; 1 Gay Crest, 8.0, A. E. Ellis, 2; 11 Fair Exchange 8.5, S. Brvce 3. Also started; 4 Ravine, ».o, .7 The’Viscount, 8.5; 6 Tariff, 8.5; 3 Tourist, 5.5; 9 Solgele, 8.5: 10 Audience. 8.-., 12 Pahautar.ui, 8.2; lo Safety, 8.2, 14 Colonel Quex, 8.0: 7 Swiftray, 8.2, 16 Flaxbird, 8.0: 8 I'.etley, 7.11, la muss Isiehtraid, 7.11. Won by two lengths, a neck separating second and third. Time, Hornbv Handicap, of £200: 9 fur. 1 Marsham, "o A e! Ellis, 1; 3 Quarterdeck, 10.9, G. Salt, 2\ 10 Chiekwheat, 10.7. J. W. Jennings, 3. Also started. 4 Roi de Val, 10.0; 2 Don Jose, 10.2, G fVila T)aA' 9 13; 8 Haze, 9.9; 9 Hounslow! 9.9;" 7 Phastar, 9.3; 5 Wrigley, 9.0. Won by three lengths, a length separating second and third. Time, 1.54 4-r. MIDDLE PARK PLATE Of £400; 6 fur. 2—CHARMAINE, 7.6. L. J. Ellis .. 1 I—ASPIRING, 9.4, C. Emerson . . S—JALEUX, 5.4, T. Green " Also Started. —3 Inevitable. 9.7; £ Semper Paratus, 9.0;_ 4 Blue Metal, TarCjuinius. 7.2. Won by a neck, with three lengths between second and third. Time, 1.12 2-5. Midsummer Handicap, of £350: miles. —2 Waterline, 7.10, E. Coveney. 1: 3 Hovlake, 8.10, R. Manson, 2; 5 Topere, 7 tt I- J. Ellis. 3. Also started: G Rapier. 9.13; 1 Pride, 7.13; 4 Amor, 7.11. Won by a neck, third horse two lengths away. Time, 2.8 1-5. Lyttelton Plate, of £200: for two-year-olds; 5 fur.—4 Spoon, 5.6, A. Eastwood, 1; 2 Winsome Hind, 7.6, R. Coveney, 2 1 Ozone, 9.7, R. Hensbaw, 3. Also started: 1 Praise, 9.9 (bracketed with Ozone): 5 Pharaoh. 7.7: 8 Eton Hall 7.7; 6 Weatherly, 7.7: 3 Appeal, 7.4; i What-

not, 7.0. Won by three lengths, two separating second and third. . Time. 1.1. Craven Plate, of £250; 7 fur.—3 Silver Coot, 7.5, L. J. Ellis. 1; 1 Red Heckle. 8.13, R. Coveney, 2: 4 Arrowmir, 7.7, A. Eastwood, 3. Also started: 2 Greenaway, 7. 9. Won by a neck, three lengths separating second and third. Time. 1.25 Halswell Handicap, of £200; 6 fur.— 11 Noteworthy, 8.1. S. Bryce, 1; 1 Te Awhina, 8.13, A. E. Ellis, 2; 3 Mount Boa, 8.9, R. Manson, 3. Also started: 6 Leader, 9.6; 5 Starshooter. 5.3; 2r Ranelagh, 8.2; 9 Greyfinch, 7.9; 8 Proud Knight, 7.5; 4 Quinopal, 7.5; 7 Straightcourse, 7.2; 13 Kentish Lady, 7.0; 16 Weather Raid. 7.0; 12 Garvary, 7.0: 10 Compris, 7.0; 14 Sunny Pal, 7.0: 15 Arrow Maid, 7.0. Won by three lengths, a length separating second and third. Time, 1.13. Post Handicap, of £200; 1 mile.—s Full Feather, 9.8, R. Coveney. 1; 2 Gay Crest, 7.7, L. J. Ellis, £: 7 The Bailiff. 7.7, W. Broughton, 3. Also started: 3 Meprisant, 9.0; 4 Master Clarence, 8.3 3; 3 Buoyant, 5.5; 6 Courtlike, 7.12; 9 Sea Raid, 7.11: S Chiekwheat, 7.10. Won by a neck, with the third horse three-quarters of a length away. Time, 1.39 4-5.