THE LEVIN RACES

Taranaki Daily News, 22 November 1926, Page 4

THE LEVIN RACES

DIOGENES WINS THE CUP BIG HANDICAP 10 FIRFT ACRE. TARANAKI HORSES RUN WELL. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Levin, Nov. 20. The Levin Racing Club’s annual meeting was held to-day in perfect summer "Weather, and was largely attended. The course was in good order. The sum of £18,573 was put through the totalisator, £lOOO less than at the last meetting. The detailed results are;— MANAKAU HURDLES. Of 110 sovs; 1J miles. 2- GAUNTLET 1 3 ‘MATU 2 7 TEMPEAN 3 Also started: 4 Bonecto, 6 Sir Pam, 8 Empire Camp, 7 Axle, 8 Salamis, 9 Risk, 10 Merry Sarto. Won by a neck, with the field six lengths away. Time, 2min 44 l-ssec. WERAROA HANDICAP. Of 110 sovs; 7 furlongs. O—ANCHOR 1 O—PAN ART .. 2 WAI 3 Also started: 4 Gardant, 2 Our Jack, 3 Ardfinnan, B*A sleep, 10 Bonny Marion, 1 Petal, 7 Boy, Il Sole Mio. Won by half a length, with the third horse a lengtji away. Time, Imin 31sec. MAIDEN RACE. Of 10U. sovs; 5 furlongs. 1— KILMEZZO 1 2 DOMINION ROSE 2 6— MOLTO 3 Also started: 13 Palette, 3 Eloquent, 4 Some Lad, 15 True Step, 11 Doe, 12 Tiramoana, 14 Vexatious, 5 Humouresque, 8 The Swell, 9 Dale Ogden, 7 Theodolite, 10 Propeller. Won by two lengths, with the third horse half a length away. Time, Imin 16 Losec. MAKO MAKO HACK HANDICAP. Of 110 sovs; 6 furlongs. 3 LEN ARLINGTON 1 4 VIVO 2 6— TWINK 3 Also started: 1 Black Mint, 5 Addlepate, 2 Volplane. 7 Taketeke, 8 Lhasa. Won by one and a half lengths, with the third two lengths away. Time, Imin 14 3-ssee. LEVIN CUP. Of 300 sovs; Ij miles. 2 DIOGENES (L. G. Morris) 1 I—HH’O (R. Reed) 2 3 KILFAIRE (T. Green) 3 Also started: 4 Indian Sage, 7 Nukumai, 12 Beaumont, 5 Rouex, 9 Bonhomme, 10 Mah Jong, 8 Misgovern, 13 Stream, 6 Penman, 11 Benmure. Won easily at the finish. Time, 2min 0 3-ssec. LAKE HACK HANDICAP. Of 110 sovs; 1 mile and a distance. 4 ASLEEP 1 I—NO FAVOURS 2 3 PANART 3 Also started: 2 Mountain Star. 5 Boy, 7 Inoe, 8 Conviction, 6 Taketake. Won by a neek. a head separating second and third. Time, Imin 57 2-ssec. McDonald memorial. 4 FIRST ACRE 1 8— STAR SHELL 2 3—JOY BIRD 3 Also started: 5 Star Area, I Epistle, 2 Modern, 9 Birthmark, 6 Santonin, 8 Starshell, 11 Mountain Top, 7 Bay Dighton, 10 Agitate. Won by a head, with the third half a length away. Time, Imin 30see. HOKIOI HACK HANDICAP. Of 110 sovs; 5 furlongs. I—JAZZ BABY * 3—KIDMEZZO * 6—ROYAL LAND 3 Also started: 4 Starboard Light, 2 Royal Game, 7 Merle, 12 Bonny Marion, 5 The Bolter, 8 Twink, 9 Landguard. 10 Starbird, 11 Palette. Time, Imin l»ee, THE RACING DESCRIBED. GOOD SPORT PROVIDED. GAUNTLET WINS OPENING EVENT. (By Wire —Special to News.) Palmerston N., Nov. 20. The Levin annual meeting opened in perfect weather with the track in firstclass order. Taranaki horses ran prominently but Anchor and Jazz Baby were the only local representatives to win, whilst minor platings were filled by Vivo and Hipo. All lined up for the Manakau Hurdles, in which Matu was accorded most support, with Gauntlet, Axle and Bonecto next in demand. Axle was left several lengths at the jump out. Tempean was the first to break the line from Empire Camp, Bonecto, Risk, Salamis and Gauntlet. Tempean was first passing the stands, clear of Empire Camp, Axle, Bonecto, Risk and Salamis, wito Gauntlet and Matu moving up fast. At the three furlongs post Matu assumed the had from Gauntlet, Tempean, Axle. Sir Pam and Bonecto. Matu had a slight advantage over Gauntlet at the last jump, but in a stirring finish the Martian gelding stayed on better to win by a neck from Matu. with Tempean twelve lengths further back, just ahead of Empire Camp and Sir Pam. Salamis and Risk lost their riders. ANCHOR PAYS BIG DIVHIEND. Bronstell, Vertigern and Conviction were withdrawn from the Weraroa Hack Handicap, leaving a good field of eleven to the contest. Petal was elected public favourite, with Our Jack, Ardfinnan, Gardant and General Wai next in demand. From a perfect start Anklet was the first to break away from Sole Mio, Ou. Jack, General Wai, Gardant and Panart. At the five furlong post Sole Mio was making play from Our Jack, Anklet, Gardant and Petal. The order was unchanged until entering the straight, where Gardant ran up to Sole mio, with Petal, Our Jack and Anchor next. At the distance Anchor came through and lasted long enough to beat Panart by three-parts of a length, with General Wai the same distance bark, just in front of Asleep, Gardant, and Sole Mio. Anchor returned a dividend of well over a score.

KILMEZZO JUSTIFIES SUPPORT. Survivor and Otauru Eclipse were withdrawn from the Maiden, and of a good field of fifteen Kilmezzo was installed favourite on the totalisator, with solid support for Dominion Rose, Elo.quent aud Some Lad. Vexatious was first out from Molto, Palette, Dominion Rose, Theodolite, Dale Ogden and Kilmezzzo, but before a furlong was covered Kilmezzo had run to the van from Molto, Dominion Rose and Humoresque. Kilmezzo was first into the straight from Humoresque, Molto and Dominion Rose, and the favourite stretched out to win by two lengths from Dominion Rose, with Molto half a length back. Then came Theodolite, Humoreeque and Dale Ogden. LIN ARLINGTON WINS EASILY. The withdrawal of Starboard Light from the Mako Mako Hack flat left an even field of eight to face the barrier. (Black Mint carried most of the money, with Volplane. Lin Arlington and Vivo backed in that-order. Take Take and Addlepate were first to hop out from Volplane and Tjn Arlington. At the five furlong post Lin Arlington dashed to the front from Take Take, Twink, Lhasa, Volplane and Vivo, with the favourite labouring in the rear. Lin Arlington was first into the straight from Twink, Vivo, Take Take and Black Mint. From there Lin Arlington never left the issue in doubt and won easily by two lengths from Vivo, with Twink two lengths further back, followed by Take Take, Volplane and Addlepate. DIOGENES WINS HARD HELD. The withdrawal of Modern, Bronstell and Ardfinnan left a first-class field to race for the Levin Cup. Hipo, Diogenes and Kilfaire moved freely in their preliminaries, gaining many friends. Mah Jong drew the rails, with Kilfaire and Penman next and Dogenes next to th© extreme outside. From a good start Benmure and Misgovern were first out and, passing the stands, the order was Benmure, Misgovern, Diogenes, Indian Sage, Hipo, Mah Jong, Beaumont and Nukumai. Four furlongs from home Benmure and Beaumont were making play from Misgovern, Nukumai and Stream, with Diogenes moving fart, on the outside and Hipo and Kilfaire arse moving up. Diogenes was first into the straight from Be i jmons. Hipo, Penman, Kilfaire, Mah Jong and Rouex. At the distance Diogenes walked away from the field to win, hard held, by three lengths from Hipo, who was ridden out to beat Kilfaire by a length for second money. Close up were Nukumai, Penman, Beaumont, Mah Jong, Misgovern. Rouex and Indian Sage. Benmure and Misgovern were going well until meeting with trouble on the home bend and Rouex had the worst of 11 e rnn_ throughout. Diogenes was not well placed at tiie beginn ng of the race and had to come right around the field in the back streteh, making his win all the more meritorious The president of the club, Mr. Thos. Bevan, made the presentation of the cup amid warm applause from the public. A STIRRING FINISH. Bonhomme, Sottano. Our Jack and General Wai were scratched for the Lake Hack. Handicap, in which No Favours was accorded most support, with money for Mountain Star and Panart. Conviction was first to show out from Inoe, No Favours, Take Take and Boy! Inoe and Conviction led into the baek stretch from Take Take, Mountain Star, Asleep a.n Boy. On the home bend Asleep moved up and was first into the straight from Take Take, No Favours and Inoe. In a great run to the post Asleep flashed past the post a head in front of No Favours, with Panart half a head away, barely in front of Mountain Star and Inoe. RACE FOR THE MEMORIAL. The only withdrawals for the McDon. aid Memorial were Sir Pam, Gold Box, and Misgovern, and the publie went for Epistle, with Modern, Joy Bird and First Acre backed in that order. Starshell was first to show out from Joy Bird, First Acre, Modern and Santonio, while Mountain Star .was left several lengths. Along the back stretch Starshell was four lengths in front of First Acre and Joy Bird, and led into the straight from First Acre, Santonio, Joy Bird, Epistle, Modern and Star Area. In a good finish First Acre went well to win by half a length from Starshell, which held on to beat Joy Bird by a neck for second money. Then eame Star Area, Santonio end Epistle. DEAD HEAT FOR FIRST. With Argue, Note, Polonaise and UtMiru Eclipse dropping out of the Hokio Hack Handicap, a weak field of twelve faced the barrier, and Jazz Baby was the best backed with Starboard Light next in demand. The Bolter was first out from Jazz Baby, Kilmezzoz, Star Bird and Royal Land. The Bolter was first into the straight from Jaz Baby, Royal Game, Kilmezzo and Starboard Light- Tn a great finish Jazz Baby and Kilmezzo passed the post together, with Royal Land a length back. Then eame The Bolter, Starboard Light and Royal Game. TAUMARUNUI MEETING. HANDICAPS DECLARED. Auckland, Last Night. Weights for the Taumarunui Racing Club’s annual meeting are:— TARINGAMOTU HACK HANDICAP. —Te Koroke 9.5, Green Bonnett 8.10, Winsome Boy, Joy Germ 8.4, Topping 7.13, Master Mind, Bracken Abbey, Cantab 7.2, Rena Mangu, Abbess, Day Guide, Miss Penury, Branson, Day Lass 7.0. RANGAROA FLYING HANDICAP.— Day Guard 9.4, Miss Egypt 8.5, Passionate 8.1, Namutere, Qninette 7.10, Black Cruiser, Miss Vera, New Moon, Te Koroke 7.2, Abbey Day, Abbess, Ngarara 7.0. HANDICAP.—Day Guard 9.0, Spoony 8.5, Passionate 8.3, Forest Gold 7.12, Boomcrday 7.6, Rahepoto, Black Cruiser 7.4, Miss Vera, New Moon 7.2, Ngarara, Curraglimore 7.0. OWHANGO HACK HANDICAP.— Lightwood 9.0, Ngarara 8.9, Hangaw-era 8.4, Gold Rep 8.1, Lady Cintra 7.8, Niblick, Seaport, Locheva), Glen Maree, Velna, Dav Lass, General Maneapoto 7.4, MATAPUNA HACK HANDICAP.—Te Koroke 9.6, Green Bonnett 8.11, Arch Arrow, Joy Germ 8.5, Atapai, Athenry 8.4, Gold Clip 7.12, Macroon 7.10, Master Mind, Bracken Abbey, Abbey Queen 7.4, Ahurere, Cat Claw, Tree Leaf, Abbess, Taurimu, Sandbag, Branson, General Maneapoto, Ambrosia, Abbey Day, Hats Off, Day Guide, Miss Penury, Lucy Glitters, Velma Day 7.0. MANUNUI HACK HURDLES.—Nga-

hinepouri 10.11, Advent 10.4, Tres Bon 10.2, Gold Rep, Gleneairn 9.12, Ahurere, Waiau Lad, Le Cheval, Hats Off, Scot Free, Topping, Hangawera 9.0. MATIERE HACK HANDICAP.—Te Koroke 9.4, Winsome Boy, Lightwood, Joy Germ 8.3, Bright Comet 7.12, Always 7.5, Master Mind, Cantab, Lady Spalpeen 7.1, Rena Mangu, Abbess, Branson, Day Lass, General Maneapoto, Day Guide 7.0. AWAKINO BEACH RACES. NOMINATIONS ON WEDNESDAY. Owners and trainers are reminded that nominations for all events in connection with the Awakino Beach races close at 8 o’clock on Wednesday evening with the hon. secretary, Mr. W. L. Smith, at Mokau. This meeting, which is to be held on Saturday, December 4, so grown in favour during the past few years that it is now one of the most popular within reach of Taranaki, a tribute to the capable manner in which it is conducted, every official knowing his job and doing it. Owners, therefore, can rely oh getting a good run, whilst the public get a good day’s sport, so that both entries and attendance this year should constitute a record. KAREAO OFF COLOUR. Owing to a slight mishap the Haweraowned racehorse Kareao will not race at Ashhurst and Feilding. L. G. MORRIS TO RIDE TE MONANUI. Mrs. Graham has secured the services of L. G. Morris for Te Monanui in the Auckland Cup and all other engagements at the forthcoming meeting at Ellerslie. RACING IN ENGLAND. THE DERBY CUP RESULTS. By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received Nov. 21, 5.5 pan. London, Nov. 19. The Derby Cup resulted: Invershin I, Mem Soha 2, Hercules 3. There were fourteen starters. Won by three-quar-ters of a length. ' STAMINA TOLD. THRILLING FINISH. MELBOURNE CUP RACE. Melbourne, Nov. 3. It was a lucky day for the former Digger Vim O’Neil when a would-be buyer refused to pay 7600gns. for Spearfelt just before he ran third in the A.J.C. Derby, of 1924, as he won his half of over £20,009 with him since. Spearfelt is a horse with’ whom O’Neill has played tricks. One of these was to lie down in the horse’s stall, and allow the animal to stand with one foot on his face. The boy who stood while William Tell shot the apple off his head, displayed scarcely more confidence, but O’Neil has a way with horses. He it was who, during his leave in London, made a pony sit down in front of Whitehall to the amazement and amusement of the crowd. He has a great affection for Spearfelt, as well he may. He went halves with D. C. Grant, who gave 120gns. for Spcarfelt, a rather puny yearling, by Carbine’s grandson, Spearhead. As a two-year-old the colt won a couple of races, and he went into winter retirement' as a popular Derby fancy, because he had always finished with a long dazzling run in hie races. That was Heroic’s Derby, but O’Neill was not frightened of any Heroic or Nigger Minstrel. So confident was he in his favourite that when he w’as asked to put a price on him before the Derby was run, he wanted 7060gn5., and the would-be buyer, who was understood to be a wealthy squatter, jibbed. He is probably feeling sorry now, as Spearfelt has since won a V.R.C. Derby, V.R.U. St. Leger, A.J.C. Spring stakes, and now a Melbourne Cup. Altogether, the 120gns colt has netted £22,089 in eash. and a gold trophy worth £2OO, which represents the Cup. That surely ought to go to O’Neill, who has been so painstaking with the horse. Everybody knows that O’Neill has had infinite trouble with Spearfelt. After he had been so narrowly defeated by Windbag in the A.J.C. St. Leger. the colt started favourite for the Sydney Cup, but fell over Kingslot, and was lather badly hurt. When O’Neill prepared him for races last spring, he had trouble with one of his forelegs, which suggested that the horse had not recovered from the effects of his accident, so he was given a long spell, and got up again for this season's racing. What he has accomplished recently is too fresh in the minds of race-goers to need recapitulation. O’Neill sold his interest in the horse to his partner immediately after the A.J.C. meeting, but fortunately arranged that he should continue to take half of his winnings until after the Melbourne Cup. He never lost his confidence in his champion’s ability to win the Cup, not even when his hoof was slightly split in last Saturday’s race. Sheer courage won for Spearfelt, who was in perfect condition, apart from foot trouble. He was always a generous horse, but not exactly bandy in a big field. When crowded he was apt to be thrown out of gear, and he was not the easiest horse to get balanced again. Tne way yesterday’s Cup was run suited him down to the ground. The terrific pace set by Camus quickly had the others straggled out, and a rare opportunity was presented for a true’stayer. Cairns was just the rider for him, as he is so eool and vigorous. His coolness was displayed when he took the outside running with Spearfelt down the straight, and his vigour in that last desperate furlong. Mr. Douglas Grant, owner of Spearfelt, is perhaps the youngest owner to win the Melbourne Cup, and is the first returned soldier to be on the list of winning owners. He is a bachelor, not much over 30 years of age. He served with the Australian Artillery, becoming, as he terms it, “a rough sergeant.” He was badly gassed, and suffers occasionally from its effects. Spearfelt is the first horse he has owned. BIG BETS RECALLED. Probably the largest amount won over the Melbourne Cup by the stable and its

followers was that credited to the Revenue party in 1901. They began backing the horse at 50 to 1. One bookmaker actually laid a fancy wager early in the discussions of £lOOO to £4 about Revenue. The stable commissioner was still backing Revenue' when the horse was 4 to 1. Revenue went out a 7 to 4 favourite and won from San Fran, on which odds of 3 to 1 on were laid when the home turn was reached. Poitrel, which won the Melbourne Cup of 1920, was backed by the owners and stable followers for £60,000. The owners were reported to have had wagers aggregating £20,000 to £lOO9. The stable commissioner collected £31,500 at the Melbourne settling. Bitalli was backed for fully £60,000. When Kingsburg?! won one of the wagers collected was £20,000 to £l2O. Though immediate stable followers won only £25,009 over Artilleryman, that horse was well supported by the general public. Seven wagers of £lOOO each were accepted about Artilleryman in the express train between Sydney and Melbourne four nights before the race. The stable wins over Patrobas amounted to 1 was secured for the whole of this £21,000 and the average price of 84 to amouht. THE ENGLISH TURF. ’ “THE HORSE OF A CENTURY.” THRILL OF THE YEAR. BEATEN BY AN UNCONSIDERED HORSE. (From Our Own Correspondent.) London, Oct. 7. The biggest sensation of the year occurred in the Jockey Club Stakes at Newmarket, when the £lOO,OOO horse, Solario, with odds of 100 to 30 betted on him, was not only beaten by his uneonsidered stable companion, Faxlaw, but subsequently suffered the ignominy of disqualification from second place. The objection was lodged by the rider of the third horse, Foliation, who complained of having been Lumped and generally interfered with by both first and second. The upshot was that the sole blame was placed on Solario, which meant exonerating Foxlaw, who thus kept the race. Now for some impressions of the events which led up to this tangled drama. Solario’s appearance—it was to be his last in public "before retiring to the stud—gave general satisfaction, which indeed was reflected by the betting. He was sweating about the middle piece, which did not seem quite natural, but otherwise the horse looked as he always does—an individual of conspicuous class and merit. Foxlaw (second favourite for the Cesarewitch at the time) looked big and hard in condition, his dark brown coat bearing a fine sheen. Still, no one was taking him seriously, because his more exalted stable companion was in the field, and because it was deemed that the Cesarewitch was his chief objective. Incidentally, however, Sir Abe Bailey, who never allows his horses to run unbacked, put £lOO on Foxlaw at 14 to 1, though the starting price was 20 to 1. Foliation, one of the gamest fillies in training, sweated, as is her wont, before racing but the characteristic was not quite so marked on this occasion. The other two starters were good three-year-olds in Comedy King and Innuendo, the latter t'he winner of the Scottish Derby. As they raced across the flat, Innuendo showed the way, and, when he .was finished with', Solario, Foliation and Foxlaw came on almost abreast, with the favourite next to the rails. The filly was in the centre. Down Bushes Hill into the dip they were racing in earnest. Foxlaw and Foliation were not for acknowledged defeat. Childs on Solario was the first to show uneasiness. One beheld the sight with feelings of amazement, and a fear that something altogether undreamed of was going to happen. Solario had a tendency to hang to the left, which meant bringing him closer to Foliation, who was putting in some strong work, and was certainly not beaten at the time. They probably touched then. Simultaneously, Carslake, riding Foxlaw with rare strength and determination, joined in the desperate triangular struggle, for each jockey wanted to get first run out of the dip. Solario did unquestionably respond to the equally vigorous riding of Childs, and then the two outside horses made a sort of inverted V which resulted in Foliation being exeluded from the final phase of the race. Solario did not surrender without making a valiant effort, and was battling gamely as Foxlaw passed the judge a neek to the good. A BIG HANDICAP. After the objection had been decided as mentioned above, everyone fell to believing that the Cesarewitch had been thrown away where Foxlaw was concerned, for his victory- in the Jockey Club Stakes meant incurring a 101 b penalty for the handicap. However, opinion veered round when Reg Day, the trainer, made no secret of the fact that he still fancied the horse, and Foxlaw remained second favourite to Gioramen in the ante-post market in the Cesarewitch. It ie not robbing Foxlaw of his honours to suggest that Solaria could not have been seen at hie best. There is, of course, always a tendency to make excuses for the fallen. If a reasonable explanation of Solario’s downfall can be advanced it ie that the horse did not like the jar of the hard ground, while Childs might have done better to have challenged on the outside, when he found his mount showing a persistent desire to hang to the left. One recalls that Solano's Lest performances—when he won the St. Leger, the Coronation Cup and the Gold Cup—have been accomplished when the going has been very soft, and it is a rare exception for a horse to be equally at his best in both kinds of going. Solario’s grandsire, Bayardo, was the outstanding horse of his time, but he could not give of his best when the ground was hard. Still the “horse of a eentury,” as Solario has been acclaimed, should be impervious to changes in conditions underfoot. The mantle of the "great” has now fallen upon Coronach, but it will not he until next year that we shall see if he deserves to wear it.