CUP DAY AT ELLERSLIE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVIII, Issue 301, 29 December 1897, Page 3

CUP DAY AT ELLERSLIE.

Outside the Cup and Nursery Handicap the racing at Ellerslie on Boxing Day was not exciting. Everyone who witnessed the contest for the two mile race must admit that Antares was fortunate in having his name inscribed upon the list of Cup winners, and that the victory should have been with St. Paul or Waiuku. In a nut shell," it was an unsatisfactory race. St. Paul had the race won if his rider had not made his effort too soon, and this despite all the ground he lost at the start. Of course, the slowness of the pace in the early stages of the race allowed both St. Paul and Waiuku to quickly make up their lost ground, but it >va3 no^ without taking a lot out of the pair. Waiuku was handled in a very unsatisfactory manner; on the other hand, young Sceats rode a welljud^ed race on Antares, and he timed his run to a nicety. The horse, too, fought out the finish with great gameness, and the severe taxing St. Paul had been subjected to caused him to falter at the critical moment, and he had to put up with defeat. The judge placed half a length between the pair, but it reallylooked a close thing. Antares is the first Cup winner that F. McManemin, the Ellerslie trainer, has led in, and he took the honour with his customary coolness. During the afternoon both owner and tiainer were extended many congratulations from their friends. Nestor ran well as long as his condition lasted, but Coronet was beaten early in the race and his running was a sore disappointment to the track watchers. Favona looked vastly improved. However, he did not run up to his private reputation, and Mr Lennard must have been sorry after the race that lie did not let Fabulist remain in. However, it is stated that Favona was twice interfered with in the race, and on his return to the paddock his thigh bore the statement out, for it had a bruised appearance. Antares was bred by Mr Thomas Morrin at Wellington Park, and the headings of his pedigree read :—

ANTARES. ~~ Hilda [ Castor Ouida Musket Lady Zealot ' Yardley It %t II II 3 S- Jn 51 w If- S" • '■--.' |o. ' .- - p....■■' ....■■ - For the fifth time Mr Stead captured the Great Northern Foal Stakes. Conqueror, this year's winner, maintained the reputation he achieved in the South in the spring, for the colt was not extended at the finish. He is a juvenile of good conformation, but Just a trifle on the leg. There is no reason ■why he should not stay well with age, and he fills the eye as a more likely Derby ■winner than Altair. However, the lastnamed is a sluggish colt, who will greatly improve, and one that needs a lot of riding. Holmes could hardly do him justice in this respect on Monday. Hermosa made such a tight of it that it goes to show she will always hold her own when the opposition is not too strong. On the score of she has no superior. The head lines of Conqueror's pedigree are as follow ;—

Toxoplnl'te (1855) Longbow Legerdemain is c a Musket (1867) imp. Onyx . (1872) Da'ghterof (1857) West Australian Brown Bess Angler (1S62) Fisherman Marchioness l< S o •81 'chrysolite 1(1860) imp. Stockwell (1S49) Stockwell Juliet The Baron Poeahontas I r-f £ is? B o 'o c Thunderbol: (1875) Cordelia (1851) Daniel O'Rourke (1819) Daughter of (1843) Red Deer Emilia Birdcatcher Forget-me-not Keepsake (1856) s o s & % 0 0 Hampton Com us mare p. a I I !•: The Libel (1842) Pantaloon (1824) Pasquin'de (1839) Castrel Idalia Camel Banter Arethusa (1839) Elis (1833) Langar Olynipia Si i S 3 Languid (1831) Cain Lydia II P w ill u o c S ... Orestes (1830) Orlando B.Middleton m. Orest (1357) L'dy Lo'isa (1850) Touchstone Lanercost mare Mother Neasham (1865) Buccaneer (1857) Little Hannah (1848) Wild Dayrell L. Red Rover m. iLanercost iPhosnix mare