THE RACING DESCRIBED

Taranaki Daily News, 15 November 1926, Page 5

THE RACING DESCRIBED

GOOD SPORT PROVIDED. SEVERAL FAVOURITES SCORE. (By Wire —Special to News.) Christchurch, Nov. 13. Following on heavy rain yesterday the weather was perfect for the conclusion of the Canterbury Jockey Club’s meeting. The course was a trifle dead, but it provided excellent going. The racing was again full of interest. Form worked out exceptionally well and most of today’s winners were heavily supported. Racing opened with the Suburban Handicap. In a field of ten, Goosestep just headed Sayonara for favouritism, with Sir Roy also well backed. Monoxide led to the home turn and beat a hasty retreat, as did Clare Crag, who was well placed to this point. Kalakaua, Sir Roy, Goosestep and The Harp were others prominent at -this stage. The Harp ran to the post on reaching the straight and won easily by three lengths. A good finish for places saw Sunny Loch beat Santiago by a neck, with Goosestep close up. The Harp has been out of form lately, but now looks like coming back. Sunny Loch is a good prospect for later in the season. RAPIER RETURNS TO FORM. Arpent. Volent and Nadarino were scratched for the Cressy Handicap, the first-named pair being engaged later. There were a "few fractious brutes in the field. Lava being the worst offender. Lady Desmond began well from the extreme outside, but soon lost the place, Booster and Gold Brick going on from a bunch in which Mireusonta, Finora, Set Sail, High Pitch, Paperchase and Rapier were all prominent. Rapier, wide out. and Paperchase, on the rails, drbw clear below the distance. Rapier crossed over and they had a good finish, Rapier winning by a neck. High Pitch was three lengths away, with Booster and Economist next, and the others following after another gap. Rapier showed good form in the winter but had to be laid aside on account of an accident, from which he has just recovered. He is a good horse. Paperehase was a smart two-year-old. but until now she had shown no winning form this season. . TABOO FINISHES STRONGLY. The nineteen acceptors lined up for the Seymour Handicap, representing useful hack form. David Garrick was a sound favourite, with Vesperus and Taboo best backed of the others in a great betting race. When the field settled down Goldtown was showing the way to Precious and Solrose, with Thorndale and Princess Mafalda in the next bunch. Half a mile from home Goldtown was still in charge, with Princess Mafalda next, while Celebrity and Darkspot were just behind them. Once fairly in the straight only Darkspot went on. the others retiring, while Taboo, David Garrick and Vesperus made their appearance. Taboo shot out at the distance a:id beat David Garrick easily by two lengths. Vesperus was three lengths away well clear of Bonhomme, who beat Darkspot on the post. The winner had two wins and two seconds at the meeting and will do still better. David Garrick' is a promising three-year-old. Darkspot should pick up a minor race shortly. CENTREPIECE A GOOD HORSE. Haze was the only scratching for the Members’ Handicap, leaving a field of ten. Nadarino, Centrepiece and Fool’s Paradise were pretty evenly backed. Fool s Paradise raced in the interest of the Melbourne owner, Mr. Otway Falkiner, who purchased him after Wednesday s Jockey Club Handicap win. Nadar:no and Licinius were first out. but Fools Paradise and Arpent soon joined them. Arpent was still clear of Fool’s Paradise at the end of two furlongs, with the other pair handy. Centrepiece was last half a mile from home, with Glentruin alongside him. Centrepiece tnen moved on the outside and he was in the firin? line on reaching the straight, where Arpent. Fool’s Paradise, and Linienius were beaten. Rouex also’ made his appearance at tl*» stage. Centrepiece was in front at the distance and he won easily by a length and a-half from Nadarino. who beat Rouex by half a, length, with Circulation and Father O’Flynn next. The winner has developed into a fine hors*, and he represents good class at seven furlongs. Arpent and Fool’s Paradise were made too much use of early in the journey. ROYAL CERES IS BRILLIANT. The scratching of Solgele, who lias a cold, left seven starters for the Pioneer handicap, for two-year-olds. Roval Ceres, giving lumps of weight to all his opponents. was a screaming favourite and his backers were never uneasy. The Australian-bred two-vear-old had Money Peer and Starflight in close attendance to the course nroper. He was out well clear at the distance and beat Money Peer eomfortablv by a length. Jerieho, after a slow start, came with a brilliant run over the last furlong and tot within half a length of the second

horse, with Starflight close up. Royal Ceres is a brilliant galloper, but Jericho, by Archery, from Palestrina's dam, will be a grand colt next season. RAPINE WINS CIOLD CUP. The five horses who lined up for the G. G. Stead Gold Cup made up a highclass field. The t-hree-year fold Commendation, on whom R. Reed had the mount, was a hot favourite. Reremoana went out in front, with Grand Knight and Commendation a length away, a Length in front of Star Stranger, while Rapine was four lengths further back when a furlong had been covered. They ran with practically no change till they reached the home turn, where Rapine moved up fast and he was alongside Reremoana and Grand Knight when fairly in line for home, Commendation being over a length away. A little further ou Reremoana retired and Rapine soon had the measure of Grand Knight. Then Commendation put in his claim, but Rapine stalled him off and won by half a length. Grand Knight was two lengths away, with Reremoana three lengths further back. F. E. Jones rode the winner and handled him well. It was a novel experience for R. Reed to be beaten by a horse which he usually rides. Permission for him to ride Commendation was given when it was not seriously intended to start Rapine. The pace was not fast in the early stages and the race seemed to be run in the way most calculated to cause the defeat of Rapine, the best stayer in the field. Commendation was disappointed twice when looking for an opening at the entrance to the straight. First he tried to go up on the inside of Reremoana and then he went for a gap between him and Grand Knight. These incidents were the basis of an inquiry. The stewards decided that though there hacLbeen interferences it was accidental. It seemed as if a better way of expressing it was that the interference was due to Roy Reed’s own fault. When he got clear he had to catch Rapine. He got within half a length, but he was making no great impression on the Martian gelding at the finish. SEATOWN PERFORMS WELL. The Stonyhurst Handicap for three-year-olds. drew a field of ten after Sir Roy had been scratched. Seatown was a pronounced favourite, but it was a great betting race. There was a delay at the start, Seatown, High Gear, Alyson and Countersign all causing trouble. When the barrier was released they were in excellent line, but Seatown immediately showed clear. Scrip ‘soon joined him, with Alyson handy, First Rank being last. Then Hynanna moved up and at the five- furlong post he was in second place behind .Seatown and Front Rank and, improving his position, while Countersign was last with Rascal just in front of her. Front Rank was third at the home turn and ran past Hynanna below the distance. She never looked like catching Seatown, who won in fine style by a length. Pink Terrace was three lengths away, a head in front of Hynanna. The winner is a solid customer. who gives the impression that he will improve a lot. Front .Rank is a light framed filly, who may be better later in the season in open company under a light weight. CLARINDA WINS FINAL EVENT. The Fendalton Handicap, the concluding event of the meeting, attracted only seven runners. It was a great betting race. Clarinda being a little better favourite than Footfall, with Fresco also well backed. Ravenna set a strong pace with Full Swing and Clarinda next, while Footfall was last. This w 7 as the order all the way to the straight, where Ravenna retired, -while Footfall joined the leaders. Clarinda and Footfall drew away in the run home, Clarinda winning by half a length, with Fresco three lengths back, a head in front of Vaward and Full Swing. The winner’s performance was attractive, but Footfall's was even better. He was giving away 121 b. and he wound up the meeting with a vastly-improved reputation. Fresco, on the other hand, did not quite justify the opinion of his admirers.