WANGANUT STEEPLECHASE MEETING.

Otago Witness, Issue 2362, 1 June 1899, Page 38

WANGANUT STEEPLECHASE MEETING.

First Day.— Wednesday, May 24-.

For the first day of the W.J.C. Steeplechase meeting the weather was rainy and overcast. There was good sport and brisk speculation, the sum of £6906 being put through the machine. Results : —

PLYING STAKES, Of 70sovs. Six furlongs. 43— Mr W. Davies's bin Leda, by CastorWelcome Katie, 7.8 (Holmes) . . . . 1 117 — Mr Rutherford's Female Franchise, 7.12 (Murray) 2 249 — Mr Holmes's Toa, 7.11 (Jenkins) . . 3 Also started: 73 Bona Fide 8.5, 60 Indianshot 7.13, 48 Sedgebrook 7.12, 48 Taplow 7.7, 29 Aquatic 7.7, 36 The Hempie 7.0, 81 Famous 6.12, 153 Return 6.11, 12 Light 6.10. From a fair start The Hempie immediately went to the front, but o.ily momentarily, Female Franchise taking up the running, and holding it up to the last quarter of a mile, where Aquatic displaced her. The latter, however, soon fell back beaten, and the grey mare showed the way into the straight ; but Leda, who was lying handy at the distance, slipped up on the inside, and, coming on full of running, won somewhat easily by two lengths from Female Franchise. Time, limn 19 3-ssec. On the totaliaator, £949; dividend, £19 17s.

i WANGANUI STEEPLECHASE, I Of 300sovs. About thiee miles. I 189— Mr P. E. Dover's b m Muscatel, by Foulshot — The Dauphin mare, aged, 10.9 (Johnston) 1 415— Mr Scott's Whangaroa, 11.0 (Cochrane) 2 147 — Mr Goodson's Bradshaw, 9.7 i (W. Higgins) 3 I Also started: 383 Kanaka 10.5, 103 Tally-ho ; 9.12, 47 Barbarossa 9.12, 60 Hilda II 9.11. j At the fall of the flag Muscatel went to the j front, followed by Kanaka and Tally-ho, with \ Bradshaw last. All the obstacles were j negotiated safely on the first round. Passing I the grand stand Hilda II assumed command, I Kanaka being a short distance behind, with ! Tally-ho third. Entering through the centre i of the course Barbarossa and Hilda II fell at ! the water jump. Tally-ho then assumed command, but gave way to Kanaka at the double. Whangaroa then joined issue, and the pair raced together up to the last gorse hedge, where ' Kanaka fell, and Tally-ho also came to grief ■ at the same obstacle. At this stage it looked a j good thing for Whangaroa, but Muscatel came : at him, and an interesting set to up the straight I resulted in a two lenpths' victory for the mare. ; Bradshaw was a bad third. Time, 6min 29 4-ssec. On the totalisator, £1342; dividend, ! £6 7s. HUNTERS' STEEPLECHASE, Of 50sovs. About three miles. 136— Mr A. Ellis's eh g Stilts, by Sou'wester — Ahua mare, 6yrs, 11.3 (Mr Christie) 1 156— Mr Scott's Robin Hood (Mr H. Vallance) 2 90— Mr Noakes's The Clown, 11.0 (Mr W. Gordon) 3 Also started: 83 Elector 11.10. The Clown fell at the first jump, and Electro followed suit at the first gorse hedge. Stilts then took command, and won all the way from Robin Hood by two lengths. The Clown was remounted, and was placed third. Time, 7min lOsec. On the totalisator, £465; dividend, £3 Is. FIRST HANDICAP HURDLES, Of lOOsovs. About two miles and a distance. 880 — Mr J. W. Proctor's b m Marina, by i Sou'-wester — Barballe, aged, 9.4 £Axaatt) i

169 — Mr Lucenas's Nipapu, 9.3

("W. Higgins) 2 75 — Mr Tucker's Naytjorn, 9.9 (Attwood).. 3

Also started: 60 Social Pest 12.11, 105 Tataramoa 9.9, 266 Hangfire 9.8, 91 Troubadour 9.6, 65 Flying Shot 9.0.

From a good start Nipapu went to the front. Three-quarters of a mile from home Tataramoa fell, and a little further on Marina and Hangfire displaced Nipapu. At the half-mile post Hangfire went to the front, but Marina was always handy, and, coming rovind the turn for home, the daughter of Barbelle assumed command. Coming over the last hurdle Hangfire rapped very hard, and threw his rider, who, however, made a wonderful recovery, for which he was loudly cheered. Marina then came on full of running, and won easily by eight lengths from Nipapu, who was about three lengths in" front of Nayborn, the rest tailing off. Time, 4min 8 l-ssec. On the totalisator, £1211 ; dividend, £2 17s.

Hack Hurdles, of 60sovs. About one mile and a-half. — 286 Deny, 10.0, 1; Woolloomooloo, 12.5, 2; 194 Frost, 9.7, 3. Pour others started. An exciting race. Won by a bare neck. Time, 2min 59sec. On the totalisator, J51092: divi-

dend, £3 Bs.

SUBURBAN STEEPLECHASE, Of 80sovs. About two miles and a-half. 222— Mr S. M'Guinness's b g The Friar, by Hiko — Religieuse, aged, 10.7

(P. Johnston) 1 56 — Mr Messena's Venture, 9.7 (Hands) .. 2 134— Mr Rutherford's Highlander, 10.0 (M'Morran) S Also started : 194 Watershot 9.12, 223 Faugh-a-Ballagh 9.7.

At the start Venture and Watershot went .to the front, but the first gorse 'hedge was disastrous to the latter. Passing the stand Venture led from Faugh-a-Ballagh, while Highlander brought up the rear. No alteration took place until the last circuit, when The Friar went to the front, while Highlaudor ran into second place. The Hiko gelding showed the way into the straight, but at this stage Venture again came, and, passing Highlander, put in a determined challenge to The Friar, who, however, under the whip stalled off the Voltigeur mare, and won by a length and a-half; Highlander a fair third. Time, smin 43 l-ssec. On the totalisator, £829; dividend, £3 7s. First Hack Flat, of 50sovs. One mile and a distance.— Dartmoor, 8.0, 1; Southerly Buster, 8.8, 2 ; Cora Linn, 7.12, 3. Two others started. Won by half a length. Time, 2min 7sec. Dividend, £2 18s.

Seciond Day — Thtjhsday, May 25,

For the second day of the above meeting the weather was wet. The sum of £5770 was put through the machine, making a total of £12,676 for the meeting. Results : — WINTER OATS HANDICAP, of lOOsovs; second 15sovs from the stake. One mile and a-half. » 24— Mr F. Tilley's br g Return, by Prodigal—Talagalla, 6yrs, 7.0 (Daniels) . . 1 172 — Mr W. Davies's b m Leda, sged, 8.4

(W. Holmes) 2 76— Mr T. S. Bristol's b g Light, aged, 9.0

(Price) 3 Also started: 126 Rubin 8.8, 228 Toa 7.8, 29 Taplow 7.4, 15 The Hempie 6.7, 84 Bona Fide 8.9.

Bona Fide and Return raced together until entering the straight, where Toa and Leda came very fast. The last-named made a big effort to overhaul the leader, but without avail, for Return under pressure won with a length to spare, Light just beating Toa for third place. Time, 2min SOsec. Dividend, £28 ss. SECOND HANDICAP HURDLE RACE, ot lOOsovs ; second 15sovs from the stake. About two miles. 417 — Mr J. W. Proctor's b m Marina, by Sou'-

wester — Barbelle, aged, 10.6 (Arnott) 1 186— Mr D. Scott's b g Hangfire, syrs, 9.12

(F. Cochrane) 2 78— Dr Nairn's eh g Tataramoa, aged 9.3 (Moore) 3 Also started : 112 Nipapu 9.7, 79 Nayborn 9.0. Nipapu showed the way over the stand jump, Tataramoa and Marina being next. At the three-quarter mile post Tataramoa went to the front, but was immediately supplanted by Marina, and a little further on Hangfire ran into second place. The race was then practically over, for without being troubled Marina kept her place and won by four lengths. Time, 3min 59sec. Dividend, £1 17s. GRAND STAND STEEPLECHASE, ot 120sovs; second 20sovs from the stake. About two miles and a-half. 168— Mr J. T. Blake's b m Tally-Ho, by Forerunner, aged, 9.10 (Redmond) . . 1 212 — Mr P. E. Dover's b m Muscatel, aged, 11.8 (P. Johnston) 2

61 — Mr R. Connop's b g Barbarossa, aged, 9.9 (Arnott) 3

Also started: 306 Whaugaroa 11.5, 41 Highlander 10.6, 44 Watershot 9.8, 97 Hilda II 9.7, 92 Cloister 9.7.

Watershot baulked at the first stone wall, and took no further part in the race. In taking the gorse hedge entering the Recreation Ground Hilda II fell, and Wliangaroa took up the running, Tally-Ho and Barbarossa being his nearest attendants. Passing the stand in the last round Whangaroa was still in tho van and led to the half-mile post, where Tally-Ho displaced him. The last-named kept the lead till coming over the Hencoop where Muscatel shot over and challenged her. A good race up the straight ensued, but Tally-Ho lasted long enough to win an exciting race by a length, Barbarossa being an indifferent third. Time, smin 25sec. Dividend, £5 Is. HUNTERS' HURDLE HANDICAP, of 50sovs ; second lOsovs from the stake. About two miles. 76— Mr A. Ellis's eh g Stilts, by Sou'-

wester— dam by Ahua, 6yrs, 11.5 (Mr D. Christie) 1 151 — Mr A. Ellis' s eh g Mangamahu, syrs, 11.7 (Mr Attwood) 2 64 — Mr T. Scott's eh g Robin Hood, 6yrs, 11.5 (Mr T. B. Valance) 3 Also started: 18 Electro 11.5, 41 Whakawa 10.12, 34 Bonfire 11.0, 9 Queen Mab 11.0, 6 Joan 10.7, 34 Nea 10.7. Mangamalni went to the front and kept the lead up to the last three furlongs, where Stilts passed him. The latter had half a length's lead over the last jump and maintained it to the finish, Robin Hood being a bad third. Time, 4min lOsec. Dividend, £6 6s. HACK HURDLES, of 60sovs; second lOsovs from the stake. About one mile and a-half. 258— Mr W. Best's b g Frost, by Foul Shot, aged, 9.9 (Galbraith) 1 52— Mr A. Lynch's b g Silver Ray, 4yrs, 9.0 (A. Lynch) 2 218 Mr H. Hannah's eh q Woolloomooloo, syrs, 12.10 (F. Cochrane) .. ..3 Also started: 17 The Fox 9.0, 28 Lightning 9.0. When it came to racing Frost gave his opponents no chance, and won ridiculously easy from Silver Ray, Woolloomooloo a very bad third. Time, 3min 3sec. Dividend, Sfl. FINAL STEEPLECHASE HANDICAP, of 70sovs; second lOsovs from* the stake. About two miles. 62— Mr D. Thurston's b g Sir Athol, by Torpedo — Lady Athol, aged, 9.7 (Arnott) '1 160 — Mr Messena's b g Venture, aged, 9.7

(Hands) 2 66 — Mr C. E. Major's b g Faugh-a-Ballagh, 6yrs, 9.7 (O'Connell) 3

Also started: 165 The Friar 11.2, 79 Barbarossa 10.7, 259 Bradshaw 10.0, 109 Hangfire

Barbarossa fell at the back of the course and brought down The Friar. Hangfire then went uo to. tka laaAeißj. but B,l* the water jump fell.

Coming out of the Recreation Ground Sir Athol ran .up into first place, and keeping his place, won easily by four lengths from Venture, Faugh* a-Ballagk a bad third. Time, 4min 22 2-ssec. Dividend, £13 Is. HACK FLAT HANDICAP, of 50sovs; second

lOsovs from the stake. One mile. 389— Mr F. Watson's eh g Dartmoor, by St. Leger — Lyrelinus, 4yrs, 8.10 (W. Holmes) t

68— Mr T. S. Bristol's b g Whitney, 4yrs, 7.9 (Price) .. „ 2 245 — Mr J. A. Goodson's b f Cora Linn, 3yrs, 7.13 (J. Woods) 3 Also started: 194 Southerly Buster 8.11, 30 The Bugler 7.7, 16 Kai-Iwi Lad 7.7, 147 Cannonade 7.7.

Won by a length; a bad third. Time, lmin, 52sec. Dividend, £2 10s.