THE TURF. THE OTAKI MEETING. [By Austral.]

Evening Post, Volume LV, Issue 125, 28 May 1898, Page 3 (Supplement)

THE TURF. THE OTAKI MEETING. [By Austral.]

The meeting turned out as everyone expeoted — a glorious success — and a handsome profit will no doubt be made by tho native club. Thin wub justly deserved, for the club adopts a go-ahead policy, and is not afraid to lauuoh out with good prize - inonoy for owners, who, therefore, show their appreciation by rewarding the club with good entries. But it wus hardly anticipated that with such big fields competing the public would spot the winnem as they did, no less than eight absolute favourites scoring at the meeting, tho largest dividend being on May Day in the Jubilee Handicap— £l2 12s. The heavy state of the ground interfered greatly with the chanoes of a number of the competitors, especially ou the second day, when the going in certain parts of the course was up Jo the horses' fetlocks. Bush Rose, a nicely-made gelding by Torpedo— Primrose, and therefore full brother to Primula, won the two principal events— the Otaki Cup and Ranfurly Stakes. He came from Hastings with a big reputation, having performed well in a trial -with Donovan, who won the Waipawa Handicap the same day. He was in splendid condition, and his party supported him right royally, as tho local bookmakers know only too well. The Otaki Cup was a ding-dong go between him and Ruby Twist, but tho weight told its tale in Iho last iew strides with Ruby Twist, and the light-weighted one just managed to squeeze home. He was raised Ist 51b for his first day's success in the Ranfurly Stakes, and Ruby Twist only being rained lib, the latter was sent out a strong favourite. He ran well for a bit, but failed to last it out in the heavy going, and Bush Rose then came on. Sing Song put in a desperate challenge in the straight, and Bush. Rote had to be sent along in real earnest to stall off the old mare's challenge. Bush Rose is capable of still better things, and ought to turn out a profitable horse next season for Mr. W, Lemon, of Woodville. J. Cress had Sing Song in rare fettle, and ahe ran as well as she has over done, filling a place in each event she started in. In my opinion, which was also borne out by many otherß in a good position to judge, she beat Guardfish in the Flying Handicap on the first day by a nose, but the judge made it a dead heat. Guardfish showed better form in this race thau he has done for some time, and is a fair sort of a horse over short courses. His running in the Railway Plate, however, was below bia true form. i The Oracle gave backers a severe knock by decisively defeating Rubin in the Champion Stakes. W. Davies has made a deal of improvement in Oracle since he has been under his care, and he was rewarded with two wins. Rubin's defeat was taken exception to, but I am certaiti there was not the slighest doubt that he was honestly beaten. His party staked heavily on him in the different centres as well as on the course, and one can imagine their disgust when the stewards, after bis winning the Welter Handioap.questioned the horse's running on the first day by holdiug an enquiry. The class of horses which competed in the Welter were stones below his first day's conqueror, Oraole. In fact, .Thrush, who acted as runner-up to him, failed ignominiously earlier in tho day in the Ranfurly Stakes. Therefore not ,tho least inconsistency was fehown. This was no doubt the opinion of the owner of Thrush, who did not enter a protest, the stewards taking the matter up themselves. W. Homes, the Bulls trainer, after a continued spell of bad luck, broke the ice by pulling off a double with a handsome son of Wapiti— Rangihau named Tupuhi. Ho is a fine upstanding howe, and his victory was heartily received, for his painstaking trainer's sake. I was glad to hear he hud a real good bet on his charge, which will go a long way to compensate him for the spell of bad luck he has had this season. Tommy Atkins is a neat hort>o, and won tho Trial Handicap in nice style. The journey in the Otaki Cup was too far for him in the state of the ground, but with more condition on him he should be able to get to the end of a mile and half. Short courses, however, are more to his liking. May Day is another Hawera- owned horse that is slippery over six furlongs, and she made all the running in the Jubile*e Handicap, which she ultimately won after a good set-to with Marina and Whario. Marina kept up tho reputation of Sou'Wester as a sire for turning out jumpers. It was her maiden appearance in public over fences, and the manner in which she put down her opponents in the Trial and Birthday Hurdles made the haudicapper raise her to list 71b, an increase of Ist lllb, and then it did not prevent the little mare from winning. But it nevertheless took her rider all he knew to get her home in front of Master Jack and Persimmon. The race proved Marina as game as a pebble, and, although the opposition was not perhaps very strong, yet her treble victory is quite sufficient to induce backers to look hopefully to her scoring again before long. 0. Jenkins and L. Prootor were the most successful riders at the meeting with three wins each, J. Hercock and W. Gillett having a brace each, and J. M'Taggart, C. Berkett, L: Matthews, W. Thomas, and D. "Wallace one each. The starting at the meeting by Mr. Honi te Waru was wretched, and the club would confer a great benefit by securing the services of Mr. Harry Piper for future meetings. The chances of numbers of horses were entirely spoilt by the disadvantage in which they were placed at the start. This should be avoided in the future by changing the starter for one of more experience.