OTAKI MEETING

Evening Post, Volume XCIV, Issue 74, 25 September 1917, Page 4

OTAKI MEETING

NOTES ON THE RACING

(By Sir Lancelot.)

The Spring Meeting of the Otaki Maori Baoing Club, held yesterday, passed off successfully. During the afternoon a drizzling rain set in, which somewhat interfered with the pleasure of the outing. Considering the restricted train service the attendance was very satisfactory. Among those present were Sir James Carroll (patron) and Mr. W. H. Field, M.P., a vice-president of ths club. Mi 1. Ben Ling (president) was, as usual, attentive to the visitors. Speculation on the machine was brisk, the amount handled on the seven events totalling £19,902 10s. The sum put through on the first day of the last Spring Meeting was £18,507. The going was on the heavy side, and cut up as the programme was run out. The events were got off well up to time, and Mr. Ha-rley despatched the fields in good style, without any unnecessary delay. The scratching of Sartoline, War Maid, March On, and Lady Fermior for the Maiden Plate,left in twelve runners. The Trentham-trained Matilda was favourite, Astrophel and Blue Gown also being solidly snpported. Astrophel began best, and at the end of a furlong was showing out clear of Matilda. These two were still in charge at the home bend. In the run home Astrophel held his own, and won comfortably by two lengths. Beaufort a-nd Quinu's Post crossed the line on almost level terms. Matilda finished fourth. Astrophel (Finland—Asteroid) is a member of J. Sullivan's Woodville team, and carries the same colours as Ohiwia and Merry Jack. He was ridden by J. Olsen, who goes into camp shortly. Hector Gray made his reappearance in the saddle in the race on Little Ann. The field for the Dominion Day Hack Handicap was reduced to eight by the withdrawals of Nobleman, Perrier, and Benope. Polynesian and Lady Beaufort divided favouritism. Lady Beaufort began well, but was steadied, and Haetie and Arihia took up the running. They were prominent along the back and into the straight, where Polynesian joined in. These three were lighting out a finish when Lady Beaufort appeared on the outside in the last fifty yards, and, getting- up in the last few strides, won by a head. The other three crossed the line almost on level terms. The winner, Lady Beaufort, was bred in Australia, and is by the imported horse Cardinal Beaufort. She ran second to Marker in the Trial Plate at Trentham, but failed at Marton. She was ridden in a masterly manner by Hector Gray, who got a great reception on returning to the weighing enclosure. Paremata, Axatiatia, and Te Manuiri were taken j out of the Tatimi Hack Steeplechase!, leaving in nine runners. Arlington led for a round, and passing the stand . with half the journey gone was m a bunch with Papatere and Union Jack. After the. next fence, Papatere took charge, but slipped and was nearly down six furlongs from home. Along the back Union Jack had charge. The hen-coop, four furlongs from home, stopped Arlington, who managed to keep his feet. At the home bend Coalition drew up to the leader, and, clearing the final obstacle first, wqp by two lengths. Gaekwar was half-a-dozen lengths away. Fashion Plate -was fourth. In previous steeplechase events at Otaki a good many of the competitors have run off. The 'fences have been widened and improved since the last meeting, and yesterday all the competitors completed the course. Menelaus, Midnight Star, Master Moutoa, and Alteration were withdrawn from the Teone Makitonore Memorial Stakes. Black Ada and Rose Pink set a solid pace. Racing along the .back they -were showing out clear of Mascot, Sleight of Hand, and Goldstream. Black Ada was .the first beaten, and Rose Pink was done with when Sleight of Hand drew alongside her at the distance. In the.run home Sleight of Hand held his own, and won by a length and a-half from Orleans. Mascot and. Rose Pink were close up. Sleight of. Hand is putting up a great record. He won the Grand National Hurdles, also the Jumpers' Flat Race at Dannevh'ke. Yesterday he carried 101b penalty, and beat a better field than he ha-d previously met on the flat. He is engaged in the Now Zealand Cup. Master Strowan and Un- s decided were always well back. The latter appeared to meet with some interference. Sleight of Hand is held on lease by A. J. Shearsby, the Awapuni trainer, who is having a successful run with the gelding. In each of his three wins Sleight of Hand has been sent out favourite. Yesterday his supporters got a better price than at Riccarton or Dannevirke. The heavy course and slow going appeared to suit him admirably. The smallest field of the day contested the Stewards' Hack Handicap. Rylstone, Otarana, Campaign, and Royal Queen, were taken out, leaving in five runners. Trickery and Holyhead led to the turn, where the field closed up. At the distance Bloomine and Perrier headed the leaders, the former winning by a length. Ridden out, Trickery beat Holyhead for'third place. Bloomine, trained by J. W. Scott at Trentham, carried a penalty for a win at fehe Dannevirko Hunt Meeting. Bloomine is owned in Auckland, and was sired by v ßunyan (tho Pilgrim's Progress horse), who, when trained by F. Tilley at Fordell, won the Wanganui Guineas. Chakwana, Glenroy, Wahnatoa, Orleans, Black Ada, Botanist, and Nobleman were scratched for the Flying Handicap. Trentham Rose and Sweet Tipperary got the best af the send-off. Menelaus, who drew- No. 1, ran up to them, but was knocked back. Sweet Tipper - ary drew away from Trentham Rose at the turn. At the distance. Merrie Poto ran up to Sweet Tipperoiy, and, finishing best, won by a length. Bairnsdalo •was close up third, and Crowhurst, who was a slightly better favourite than the winner, fourth. Trentham. Rose finished last. Merrie Poto has scored three wins in as many starts at the Otaki course. He was ridden in a confident manner by Hector Gray. Although that horseman lias been ont of the saddle for a consid- | arable time he has lost none of the arts of race-riding. Private L. Nichol, owner of Merrie Poto, was among those present in khaki Hastie, who ran third to Lady Beaufort earlier in the day, was saddled up again in the Welter Hack Handicap. He was sent out a good second favourite to Thoughtful, on whom backers went for a recovery. Thoughtful began well and was always prominent. Ho was doing his best at the finish to stall off a late rim by Amity, who went well in the bad going. Thoughtful is trained at Trentham by C. Pritchard for Mr. G. Foreman, who used to race Full Rate a few seasons back. Thoughtful was ridden by T. Pritchard, trainer of the previous winner.