BLAST FROM THE PAST
1918 SPRING MEETING: Third Day
1918 SPRING MEETING: Friday 8 NOVEMBER
The New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club's Spring Meeting was concluded yesterday, and although the rain held off until after the last race, the cold wind made matters very uncomfortable for spectators. As on the second day, clouds of dust were prevalent, and many of the spectators kept to the grandstand throughout the afternoon, and did not speculate at all. The weather in no small measure accounted for the paucity of the totalisator investments. The course was on excellent order, but once again the clouds of dust raised were all against horses in the vicinity of the scratch mark.
In the Christchurch Handicap Author Dillon, from scratch, found the handicap conceded to Willie Lincoln too much for him, and after pacing brilliantly for a mile and a half, he just failed to get up in the concluding stages. At one part of the journey Trix Pointer looked like being well up at the finish, while Sherwood put in a good run down the back. The good performance put up by B Jarden's representative was appreciated by the large crowd, and he was warmly applauded on returning to the birdcage.
The Governor's Handicap, for unhoppled trotters, opened the day's programme, and Haroldlander was made a very solid favourite. The Harold Dillon gelding quite justified the confidence placed in him, and won very easily from King Capitalist. Bundura was scratched for the Lyttelton Handicap, leaving a field of four to contest the event. Erin's Queen was in front at the commencement, and having a slight advantage throughout won very nicely. Joan of Arc paid a very good dividend in the Australasian Handicap, and, nicely handled by J Bryce, jun, she won in good style from Granger and Sir Fulham, who were piloted by F E Jones and F Gray, two horsemen prominent in flat racing circles. An excellent dividend awaited supporters of the winner.
In the Dominion Trotting Handicap J Wright, driver of Electrocute, and A Hendricksen, driver of Lord Roanchild, were each fined £5 for anticipating their bells, and at the finish Whispering Willie won a very good race from Red Heather, with Lady Patricia, who went solidly for a mile and a half, in third place.
Stanley's Child went very well from start to finish in the Hornby Handicap, and won comfortably. Though it was generally anticipated that Lord Minto would win the Enfield Handicap, nothing had a chance at the finish with Cora Dillon, who beat Huon Patch quite comfortably. The concluding event of the day, the Recovery Handicap, proved a good race, and after a good performance, John Dillon won comfortably from Admiral Wood, with the favourite, Adelaide Direct, last.
The totalisator dividends for the day amounted to £46,604 10s, as against £50,531 on the corresponding day last year, making a total for the meeting of £136,643 10s, as against £136,339 for the meeting last year. Following are details of the racing:-
GOVERNOR'S HANDICAP (in saddle) of 225 sovs; second 45 sovs and third 22 sovs from stake. For unhoppled trotters. 4.54 class. Two miles.
M Friedlander's b g Haroldlander by Harold Dillon-Woodlander, 6yrs, 11sec, A Pringle 1.
A Smith's b g King Capitalist, aged, 6sec, H Barraclough 2.
E Berry's b g Mushroom, aged, 7sec, Owner 3.
Gay Wilkes 5sec, Treasure Seeker 5sec, Craibwood 7sec, chub 9sec, Sol 10sec, Billy Parole 10sec, Colonel Havelock 12sec and Albertoria 12sec also started.
Albertoria at once led from Colonel Havelock, Chub and Mushroom. At the stand the second time Haroldlander assumed command, while Mushroom was in close attendance. In the straight Haroldlander comfortably held his own, and won by two lengths, with a neck separating the second and third horses. Chub was fourth, Colonel Havelock fifth and Sol sixth. Times - 4m 49s; 4m 44 2/5s; 4m 45 3/5s
LYTTELTON HANDICAP (in harness) of 300 sovs; second 60 sovs and third 30 sovs from stake. 4.36 to 4.40 class. Two miles.
J D Parker's ch m Erin's Queen by Hal Zolock-BJN, 6yrs, 2sec, A Fleming 1.
R G C Munro's b m Stanley's Child, aged, 2sec, R Logan 2.
L Hazlett's ch g Hectorata, aged, 3sec, A Hendricksen 3.
Nancy Stair 3sec also started.
Erin's Queen went to the front shortly after the start, and led Hectorata by a couple of lengths. This order was maintained during the whole of the second round. In the straight Hectorata and Stanley's Child challenged strongly, but Erin's Queen stayed well and won by three lengths, with the third horse a similiar distance away. Times - 4m 42 4/5s; 4m 43 2/5s; 4m 44 4/5s.
CHRISTCHURCH HANDICAP (in harness) of 750 sovs; second 150 sovs and third 75 sovs from stake. 4.36 class. Two miles.
A Allen's b g Willie Lincoln by Lord Elmo-Mary Lincoln, 6yrs 12sec, A Fleming 1.
B Jarden's b h Author Dillon, 6yrs, scr, Owner 2.
S G Lemon & J Bryce's blk g Sherwood, aged, 8sec, A Hendricksen 3.
Jarden & Edgar's b h John Dillon, aged, 9sec, A Butterfield.
M Edwards's b m Adelaide Direct, aged 7sec, Owner.
C Channing's br g Agathos, 10sec, E McDermott.
J G S Holmes's b g Moneymaker, aged, 11sec, A Pringle.
W H Norton's b m Trix Pointer, 5yrs, 11sec, F Holmes.
R E Hall's b g Frandocia, aged, 12sec, W Smith.
Author Dillon and John Dillon were bracketed.
Willie Lincoln began smartly, and at the end of half a mile was showing the way to Frandocia, Trix Pointer and Moneymaker, with John Dillon at the head of the next bunch. There was no change in the order of the leaders over the next circuit, but with six furlongs to go Moneymaker was on terms with Willie Lincoln, while Author Dillon had made up most of his handicap. Racing to the back stretch, Sherwood moved up, and going along the back Author Dillon put in a brilliant run, and quickly cut down most of those in front of him. Willie Lincoln led into the straight, and lasting long enough to stall off a strong challenge from Author Dillon, won by half a length. Sherwood was a length away third, and then came Moneymaker, Agathos, and Trix Pointer. Times - 4m 36 2/5s; 4m 24 3/5s; 4m 33s.
AUSTRALASIAN HANDICAP (in saddle) of 300 sovs; second 60 sovs and third 30 sovs from stake. 4.44 class. Two miles.
J R Corrigan's b m Joan of Arc by Albert Chevalier, aged, 6sec, J Bryce jun 1.
H Wedmore's b g Granger, 6yrs, 5sec, F E Jones 2.
J R Blackie's b h Sir Fulham, aged, 3sec F Gray 3.
Irvar 4sec, Peter Mac 4sec, Bridgewood 6sec, Dillon Eddy 6sec, Rorke's Drift 6sec, Acushla Machree 7sec, Scottish Queen 7sec, Pax 7sec and Commander Bell 8sec also started.
Pax, Rorke's Drift and Commander Bell was the order of the leaders at the end of half a mile. Going along the back Rorke's Drift took charge, and with six furlongs to go was followed by Sir Fulham, Granger and Bridgewood. Rorke's Drift was beaten two furlongs from home, and Sir Fulham went on in front, but in the straight Joan of Arc put in a strong run and won by a length from Granger, who was half a length in front of Sir Fulham. Peter Mac, who lost a good deal of ground at the start, was six lengths aay fourth, with the rest strung out. Times - 4m 42s; 4m 41 2/5s; 4m 39 3/5s.
DOMINION TROTTING HANDICAP (in harness) of 600 sovs; second 120 sovs and third 60 sovs from stake. For unhoppled trotters only. 4.45 class. Two miles.
C Allington's b g Whispering Willie by Woodland Whispers-Gossip, aged, 5sec, G B Murfitt 1.
W R McNairn's b g Red Heather, aged, 5sec, A Cox 2.
W J Moir's br m Lady Patricia, aged, 7sec, A Fleming 3.
Leslie's b g Electrocute, aged, 5sec, J Wright.
Mrs J Lawrence's b m Olive L, aged, 5sec, E Berry.
A R Edgerton's ch g Lord Roanchild, aged, 5sec, A Hendricksen.
C James's b h Paul Huon, aged, 7sec, Owner.
Houston & Wilson's br g Galician, aged, 7sec, M Edwards.
T G Fox's b m Truganini, aged, 9sec, Owner.
Lady Patricia, Truganini and Lord Roanchild were the most prominent from the start, and going past the stand the first time Lady Patricia was leading from Lord Roanchild and Truganini, in that order, with Paul Huon and Red Heather following. At the end of a lap Lord Roanchild was called off for starting before his time. Running down the back and past the stand Lady Patricia still retained her lead, but then Truganini went on in front from Lady Patricia, while Whispering Willie made a forward move. Coming into the straight Whispering Willie had assumed command, and eventually won nicely by six lengths, while Lady Patricia was four lengths away in third place. Truganini was fourth, and Olive L fifth. Times - 4m 43s; 4m 45s; 4m 50s.
HORNBY HANDICAP (in harness) of 250 sovs; second 50 sovs and third 25 sovs from stake. 2.52 class. One mile and a quarter.
R G C Munro's b m Stanley's Child by Stanley-Lily, aged, 1sec, R Logan 1.
M Edwards & S Humphrey's blk g Vice-Admiral, 6yrs, 3sec, M Edwards 2.
A E Fletcher's ch g Ramitiari, aged, 4sec E J Smith 3.
Pitaroa 3sec and Bundura 3sec also started.
Pitaroa refused to begin properly, and Vice-Admiral and Ramitiari quickly established a good lead from Stanley's Child and Bundura. Although she had lost ground by a break, Stanley's Child closed on the leaders by the time the straight was reached, and won by two lengths from Vice-Admiral, who was a length in front of Ramitiari. Pitaroa was eight lengths away fourth, and Bundura last. Times - 2m 58 3/5s; 2m 56s; 2m 57 1/5s.
ENFIELD HANDICAP (in saddle) of 250 sovs; second 50 sovs and third 25 sovs from stake. 2.16 class. One mile.
A R Farrell's b m Cora Dillon by Harol Dillon-Gloria, 6yrs, 4sec, E McDermott 1.
E H Cucksey's b g Huon Patch, aged, 2sec, B Jarden 2.
A H Forbes's b g Ariadne, aged, 3sec, F Holmes jun 3.
Lord Minto scr, Beckom 1sec, St Kevin 1sec and Frank Tracey also started.
Frank Tracey was in front in the early stages of the race, but was soon displaced by Cora Dillon, and going past the stand Cora Dillon led from Ariadne, Frank Tracey and Huon Patch. Cora Dillon increased her advantage going down the back stretch, and led into the straight, eventually winning by five lengths, with Ariadne four lengths away. Beckom was fourth and Lord Minto fifth. Times - 2m 12 4/5s; 2m 12 3/5s; 2m 14 3/5s.
RECOVERY HANDICAP (in harness) of 350 sovs; second 70 sov and third 35 sovs from stake. 2.48 class. One mile and a quarter.
Jarden & Edgar's b h John Dillon by Harold Dillon-Vivid Carlo, 3sec, B Jarden 1.
Mrs A M Seymour's br h Admiral Wood, aged, 3sec, F Holmes 2.
J Bryce's b h Cathedral Chimes, aged 2sec, A Hendricksen 3.
Adelaide Direct 2sec also started.
John Dillon commenced smartly, and going out of the straight was leading Adelaide Direct and Admiral Wood, with Cathedral Chimes last. John Dillon led into the straight and won nicely by three lengths, with Cathedral Chimes two lengths away third. Times - 2m 48 2/5s; 2m 49s; 2m 48 4/5s
Credit: The Press 9 Nov 1918
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