THE THREE-YEAR-OLDS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 5, 7 January 1899, Page 3

THE THREE-YEAR-OLDS.

Honours in the three-year-old division must be divided between Bluejacket, Explosion and Altair, and really it is difficult to separate them. The two first named proved in the Derby they were better colts than hitherto given credit for, both running a great race for the Blue. Riband. The victor is not such a tine specimen of the thoroughbred as Explosion, and does not look, so well up to big weights, but all the same he amply proved by his running that he is not to be despised under a heavy impost. Explosion registered a really capital i performance in the Cup, and consider- j ing the way the race was run it was a good feat on the part of a three-year- j old to get in third position with 7st 41b behind lightly weighted horses of advanced age. I have reason to know that Mr Stead blamed Derritt. for losing' the Derby on Altair. It appears that the veteran horseman did not ride to instructions, and that he got. in a bad position soon after the start, which he could not make up in the last part of the journey, so fast was it run. A mile from home Altair was absolutely last, instead of being up on close terms with the two leaders, Bluejacket and Explosion. He gallantly made up a lot of ground, and was only narrowly beaten. In the Royal Stakes Castor's son stripped an improved colt, for he did not go proppy in his preliminary, while he also went very generously in the race. I should say Altair is not a colt with a big run in him for a finish, but he is considerably more than useful in a season when there are no smashing three-year-olds about. Two three-year-olds who had a -winning bracket were the uncertain Dayntree and St. Lawrence, the former carrying off the Alexandra Handicap and the latter the Handicap Maiden Plate. St. Lawrence finished well up behind the placed division in the Derby, and the gallop evidently improved him, for later in the afternoon he won the Maiden Handicap. His win was well deserved. On the second day of the meeting St. Lawrence had run unplaced in the Waitemata Handicap when well supported, so' there was not much to go on to fancy him for his third day's engagements. "A three-year-old who ran with bad luck at the meeting was the gelding Djin-Djin. In the Railway Handicap, on the opening day, he was last to leave the mark, and then he only suffered a neck defeat at the.hands of the outsider Cuirasette. In the Summer Cup he was badly bumped about and cast one of his plates, while on the last day Waiorongomai defeated him by a length in the Grandstand Handicap. DjinlDjin is evidently one of the useful sort, with plenty of pace. THE FOUR-YEAR-OLDS. Multiformis high-class performance in the Auckland Plate placed him at the top of the four-year-olds; indeed the son of Hotchkiss was the champion of the meeting. He looked very muscular, but he was not wound up, so that his feat of running a mile and a half in 2min 39isee was a brilliant deed. I suppose we. shall not see Multiform in Auckland again until the time comes round for the decision of the Century Stakes. Mr Stead, I understand, has had some very substantial offers of late for his great racehorse, but so far he is deaf to all overtures for purchase. Coronet and .Battleaxe shone out among the four-year-olds. The Cup performance of Coronet was full of merit, and all through the race he ran with great gameness and as straight as a gun barrel. His win in the Summer Cup was a brilliant deed, and it will long live in the memory of those who witnessed it. Coronet went up eleven pounds in the A.R.C. Handicap for his deeds on the opening days, which effectually stopped him, and he was also out of a place on the last day of the meeting in the Grandstand Handicap. Perhaps Coronet does not dike too much racing. On the opening day of the meeting Battleaxe won the Trial Handicap in such fin«_ style that it promised well for a big score on his part at the gathering, but, lo and behold! when he came out in the Christmas Handicap, the concluding event of the afternoon, he collapsed like a pricked balloon. All sorts of excuses were put forth for his defeat, but in a conversation I had with the horse's owner during the present week anent the matter he is inclined to think that in the interval between the two races the horse must have got more water to drink than was good for him. On the second day Battleaxe came with a late run in the Alexandra Handicap, and was defeated by Dayntree, and on the third day Mantle prevented him scoring in theAscotHandicap. MrWatr son's gelding is full of promise, and he is evidently capable of winning a good handicap some day. Among the other four-year-olds which competed Chasseur is worthy of mention. He was a bit sore on the opening day of the meeting, but he improved,, and- had the misfortune to run second to the well treated Red Lancer in the County Handicap. Other four-year-olds that ran with ill luck •'through the meeting were Okoari. Miss Emmy and Record Reign. The first named was not quite herself at the meeting, and she therefore failed to' show her true form. Tirant d'Eau was seen out in the Cup and Summer Handicap, and in both races he disgraced his reputation. The style of going on the course perhaps did not suit the gelding, for he looked all right in the matter of condition. Cuirasette is one of the four-year-olds who must be'-mentioned, for her win in the Railway Handicap showed that she can run a fast six furlongs. There was a gale of wind blowing during the running of the race or better time would no doubt have been recorded than lmin 17sec. THE FIVE-YEAR-OLDS. Of the five-year-olds Uhlan, of course, comes out on top. His Auckland Cup win was achieved in splendid style, and his later victory in the Racing Club Handicap fairly set the seal on his fame, and showed there was no fluke about his victory in the twomile race. While saying this much, it is a pity his running was blemished by his unplaced effort in the Grandstand Handicap.

Nestor looked a trifle light, and he I did not shape with his old brilliancy. j The heavy weight apportioned him no ! doubt interfered with his success. j While Nestor was apportioned 8.11 in j tlie A.R.C. Handicap, Swordfish 11., j who had run a good horse in the Sum- ! mer Cup, was dropped down to 7.11. I There was nothing to justify this. j Swordfish II also did not look in his I best trim. | SIX YEARS AND AGED. i In this division Waiorongomai and ! Red Lancer stood out. The first namj ed ran consistently and well, her win I in the Grandstand Handicap being one lof merit, for she had 8.11 in the saddle. Red Lancer gave a taste of his quality on the third day of the meeting, when he pulled off a double. The handicapper, however, took good care of him on the last day, so he had j little chance to score. The Dunedinowned gelding is a fast customer, indeed, and he is the cort that would pay his way sprint racing in Australia. Among the aged lot the old champion St. Clements proved the best, for he showed some of his old dash j in the Newmarket Handicap, in which j he silenced one of the select fields of i the meeting, carrying 8.12. It was a I treat to see him finish up his task, and he was accorded a hearty cheer as he flashed past the post. THE JUMPERS. Among tlie jumpers Nor'-West came out with the best record, for he scored in two hurdle races and acted as runner-up in the Steeplechase. The son of Sou-Wester was:, greatly improved horse, but at the same time there are many who vote he has a soft spot about'him. The hardy Magpie won the Steeplechase in great style. He is only a moderate at best, but with practically no opposition and a light weight, he made an easy win of it. Gebrge Comer evidently under.stands the old gelding thoroughly. Dummy won the First Hurdle Race in his best style, but he jumped badly in his second effort on New Year's Day, while he failed to see out the Steeplechase owing to making a faulty jump. Of the other jumpers, Tim showed the best form, and under light Weights the gelding is evidently a good one. THE WINNING SIRES AND JOCKEYS. Hotchkiss headed the list of winning sires with seven wins to his credit, Avhile Cuirassier came next with four, and St. Leger with three. Of the jockeys T. Taylor came out on top. He steered three winners, being on Bluejacket in the Derby and Red Lancer in his two wins at the meeting. Mark Ryan also rode three winners. THE TOTALISATOR RETURNS. Messrs Hayr and Co., who had the working of" the Club's totalisators, had a busy time, and the firm and their staff came out of the ordeal with credit." The grand total handled was £ 57,237. The figures for the just concluded meeting and the two previous years come out as follows: — 1899 1898 1897 _£__£•£ First day 15,317 13,544 12,941 Second day 10,229 14,078 .15,747 Third day 17,545 14,678 , 13,982 Fourth day 14,140 £57,237 £42,300 £42,070