THE RANDWICK RACES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIV, Issue 230, 26 September 1903, Page 6

THE RANDWICK RACES.

A MEMORABLE SCENE

(Special to "Star"). CHIIiSTCHTJRCII. Friday.

Mr G. Ci. Stead and his horses returned from Sydney this morning. Mason confirms the cabled advice as to tlie scene at Randwick ou the opening of tlxe meeting, lie says itaat four-fiftoa of tlxe 35,000 people who were present seemed to have anticipated that the Spring Stakes, in which, the intercolonial champions were meeting, would furnish a sensational struggle. The interest in the Derby and Epsom Handicap v/as altogether dwarfed by the weight-for-age race. The spectators gave both horses an ovation as they took their preliminaries, but the seen« as the race finished was one to be remembered. Mason 'ias frequently visited Australia before, but never recollects such an exhibition on any, racecourse. He had Lochiel in Melbourne in 1889, when the son of Prince Charlie won the Newrnar-

ket Handicap, and again when lie bent Carbine in tlie Australian Cup, and whoa Carbine turned the tables on uiiu iv >the i'late, the pair being lou-Ked together wr a eounlu (a furiongs aua Carbine winuiug bj Uali a keait; but tilt: excitement was no* to be lowuniL-.a with thai wivat-tksed over Ui« Spang ciahio. Alsisoui, v.-auc modestly uitsfiaiuuuy uji;.- desiite v'fo say auytning that uuuiu i,e Lai.Ji ud implying excuse for CruciiVrin s deuut iv tuc Craven i'late, says suu Jiull nil t-ne worst of 'tue luck. lues. Had iuoiud piace, Wakeful being next, ana tueii Ciuciiorm, with Famous <m tue outride. V. aiiciul was fractious at. the post, ■ i..;' tiaov.;-U Cruoiicrui iuttuer cut. The startiiia' post id on a bend, and Cruciform was sligutiy turned round when -tae tape was tuiiiti. ibex, before iiu yards .'uad been covered, hud a two lengths' lead. Haif a mile from home ibex siiii maintained tills advautaije,iiud, tvu-idng into the bimigiit wicii ouly two furlongs to .140, had increased liis advantage to three lengths. Uere Cruciform shook off Famous, and, sett ing sail in deadly earnest after the leader, reduced the gap, amid excitement, the official -Verdict Wiiig half a head in ftiVQur of Ibex, though many seemed to think the New Zealand representative had won.

WELLINGTON. Friday. Mr if. G: Stead, on 'being Interviewed today sa'idi-hp was well satisfied with his trVp'-tu Auslraliii. Cruciform ran two great ,-afts. ii-ud Had the worst of the luck iv the Craven Plate, in which Ibex beat her. All the same-, [bus ran a great race. " In .regml to OrloJt, Mr Stead stated it Is doubtful if he will race again, t-R-rtainiy not for several monthH. As to the Australian horses generally he said Hie horses at Sydney as a rulo "iiickod substance, many being narrow nnd v.-c"i!y. He admired Famous, Belah, and Wakeful.