SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, 31 March 1922, Page 3

SPORTING.

WELLINGTON MEETING. FIRST DAY’S RESULTS. THOMPSON HANDICAP SURPRISE. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The first day of the Wellington autumn races was held to-day in beautiful weather." There was a fair attendance. The track was in good order after the recent heavy rain. The Thompson Handicap fell to an outsider, Printemps, who came at the end and won fairly decisively from Silver Peak. Gloaming, as expected, won the Challenge Stakes in a canter, and Kick Off defeated two opponents in. the St. Leger in a manner which stamps him as a very fine stayer. Tbe totalisator handled £ 39,110 10s, against £56,923 last year, a decrease of £17,812 10s. Results:— FIRST HIGH WEIGHT HANDICAP.—Erie (L. Morris) 1, Blue Hall 2, Active 3. Also started: Alteration, Sir Roseberry, Coalition, Maniahera, Waniba, Grim Joke, Rebuff, Riimutaka, Oak Rose, Wheel. Won by a length and a half, two lengths between second and third. Time, 2min. 12 2-ssec. NEW ZEALAND ST. LEGER.—Kick Off (R. S. Bagby) 1, Pluto 2, Cleasanta 3. The only starters. 'Won by five lengths. Time, bmm, 4sec. PLUNKET NURSERY HANDICAP.—Rapine (R. Reed) 1, Gold Light 2, Lucius 3. Also started: Mountain Lion, Uncle Alex, The Dunce, King’s Trumpeter, The Emperor, Moorland, Kilrae, Zany, Waetea, Bonnie Nurse, Men the. Vogue. Won by three parts of a length, three lengths between second and third. Time, Imin. Isec. THOMPSON HANDlCAP.—Printeunps (L. Butler) 1, Silver Peak 2, Gasbag 3. Also started: Marqueteur, Anomaly, Insurrection, Radiant Light, Trespass. Mustard Pot, Sycorax, Aureate, Blackmail, Quest, Martial Dawn, Princess Pat, Askari, Cold Steel. Won by a Time, Imin. 4lsec. NORTH ISLAND CHALLENGE STAKES.— Gloaming (R. Hatch) 1, Rational 2, Ares 3. Won by a length, half a length between second and third. Time, Imin. 28 3-ssec. SILVERSTREAM HANDICAP.—Petunia (T. Gordon) 1, Prince Hal 2, Five Eighths 3. Also started: Spook, Island, Redlogue, Lord Desmond, Patuki, Liquer, Lord Usk, Good Mark. Won by three lengths, half a length between second and third. Time, Imin. 43 2-ssec. RAILWAY HANDlCAP.—Mireusonta (O. Gunn) 1, Still Sea 2, Grot- le 3. Also started: Surveyor, Songbird, Bon Spec, Sunny Corner, Trlboulet, Backsheesh, Blrkie, Capping Day. Won by three-quarters of a length. Tiune, Imin. 13sec. TINAKORI HANDICAP.—Red Hind (H. Young) 1, Merry Day 2, Danger Zone 3. Also started: Dissertation, Landbird, Warpath, Jackaroo, Lady Nassau, All Cerise, Roset, Moonstruck, Yellow Hammer, '• Basso, In the Pink, Solace, Sagacity, Black Arrowy Won by half a length. Time, Imin, 14 l-ssec.

NOTES ON THE RACING.

EXERCISE FOR GLOAMING. (By Wire. —Special Reporter.) Wellington, Last Night. Bairnsdale was the only withdrawal front the Highweight Handicap and a field of 13 went to the post. The start was a good one and the field was released immediately the starting signal was hoisted. Rimutaka was rushed to the front and soon was joined by Wamba (pulling hard). Active was in behind the pair, and as the field ran down the back Coalition and Alteration were among the rear division. Erie and Erin moved up and five furlongs from home were well placed. Turning for home Erie took charge, and in the run to the post he was not headed, going on to win nicely by a length and a half from Blue Hall, who came away at the distance, but could not reach the leader. Active was another two lengths away third, and the next to finish were Grim Joke and Alteration.

Kick Off, Pluto and Cleasanta were the only starters in the New Zealand St. Leger Stakes. Cleasanta led as they passed the stand the first time, with Kick-off just ahead of Pluto. At the mile post Cleasanta put a break on the field, and down the back she was eight lengths out In front. The other pair gathered her as they raced across the top stretch, and Kick Off led into the straight. The All Black gelding went on to win easily by five lengths from Pluto, with Cleasanta a fair third.

King’s Trumpeter, Moorland, Gold Light and the bracketed pair—-The Dunce and Uncle Alex—were all well backed in the Plunket Nursery, but the result was another surprise. The field was despatched on terms, and raced in good line till the course proper was reached. At the distance Rapine was in charge, and though challenged by Gold Light he won nicely by three-quarters of a length. Lucius was third three lengths away, and King’s Trumpeter was fourth.

The only scratchings for the Thompson Handicap were Songbird and Sunny Corner. Anomaly, Quest, Insurrection, Askari and Silver Peak carried big support. When the field settled down Blackmail was out in front, with Anomaly, Gasbag and Quest well up and Radiant Light lying handy. Aureate and Askari were soon tailing the field. Rounding the top bend the leaders maintained their positions, and Printemps moved up. Radiant Light had dropped back somewhat. Turning for home the field was well bunched, and a fine finish resulted. Printemps hit the front a furlong from home, iand his only danger then seemed to be Sllvej/Peak, who was finishing fast on the outer. Silver Peak just failed to get up, and Printemps won by a short neck. Almost level with the leading pair were Gasbag and Marqueteur. At the head of the rest of the field were Blackmail, Trespass and Quest. Mustard Pot and Aureate were the last to finish.

Rational and Ares were Gloaming’s only opponents in the North Island Challenge Stakes. The race was little more than an exercise for the champion, who led all the way and won by a shade over a length from Rational, who finished just ahead of Ares.

The Silverstram Handicap saw apprentice riders in the saddle. It had not been intended to allow the use of whip or spur, but as some of the owners concerned did not appear to be aware of the conditions of the race it was agreed that both these implements for application of pressure should be permitted. Another good start was effected. Petunia got away best, and was not headed. Prince Hal wa lying second pracically the whole way, with Good Mark well up in the early stages. Petunia came away slightly In the straight and won by three lengths from Prince Hal, with Five-Eighths half a length i away third and Redlogue fourth.

The scratching of Absurduni from the Railway Handicap left Songbird and Still Sea fancied. Still Sea and Mireusonta jumped out smartly, and soon were at the head of affairs. Bon Spec was handy, and so was Blrkie. Mireusonta led into the straight, closely followed by Still Sea, and Bon Spec. Bon Spec dropped out of it at the distance, and the other pair had the finish to themselves. Mireusonta lasted well enough to win bj’ threequarters of a length. Grotesque got up into third place, and the next to finish was Birki.?. There were eighteen starters in the Tinakori Hack Handicap, and of these Red Hind, Merry Day, Danger Zone and Dissertation were in most request. Red Hind was in charge In the straight, where Merry Day “finished strongly from a long way back, but could not reach Red Hind, who won by half a length. Danger Zone was three lengths away third, and Dissertation was close up fourth.

VISCOUNT LASCELLES WINS A RACE. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. London, March 29. A filly by Coriander —Eaglenest, owned by Viscount Lascelles, won tha Spring Two-Year-Old Stakes at the Lingfleid meeting.