SPORTING.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 14 June 1924, Page 4

SPORTING.

NOTES ON THE RACING. (By Maecenas.) The morning broke springlike for the closing day of the Auckland Racing Club’s winter meeting, but just before the first event a. shower of rain came on, and conditions were showery for the rest of the day. Naturally the attendance did not reach that of the first two days, and in consequence the totalisator figures showed a decline as compared with the corresponding day last year.

Tula was a hundred pounds better favourite than Ditto for the Taniaki Steeplechase. Esplanade, too, was well supported. When the word go was called, Guanaco began best, and he led Syndicate, Mary Bruce and Ditto l to the first fence. There was little alteration over the first mile, but Mary Bruce fell at the bottom of the straight, and at the stand double the whole field were bunched. Turning into the back straight Ditto took charge from Tuki, Syndicate and Guanaco. Going up the hill Tuki led Ditto by three lengths, but at the on Ditto again jumped into the lead, and descending the hill Ditto was three lengths out from Tuki, with General Rose and Esplanade following. At the last fence Ditto, Tuki and General Rose Avere 1 on terms, but once oA r er Ditto' tired, and in a good finish Tuki beat General Rose by a length, Ditto and Esplanade following. The Orakei Hurdles race provided the Avorst exhibition of jumping for a hurdle race this writer has A\ r itnessed, for of the runners only five finished. Brigadier Bill, with over £I6OO, Avas a big favourite for the event, Landbird with just over £9OO and Royal Fame £6OO carrying most money of the other starters. Irish Jig began well and led Knighton at the initial jump, but both fell and brought four others to earth. Bang and Lady Hill then Avent to the front, and lead till six furlongs from home. Here Gfeekson and Vice Versa, displaced them, and thereafter this pair had the race to themselves. Greekson running on the best beat Vice iVersa, Ayith Lady Hill third and the badly ridden Brigadier Bill fourth. Teta-hi was. the only other to- finish. _ Several of the starters for the York Welter came m for solid support, and Avhen the betting ceased Zircon, Avith about £2IOO, was a. good favourite, with Income just over £I7OO, Pompev about £I2OO, and. Illumination £IOSO, folloAvmg in the order of favouritism. The tapes rose to a, good start, and Avhen the field settled doAvn Miss Egypt was just in front of Daylight, Pompey and Lapidary. At the seven furlong post Lapidary assumed control and piloted Miss Egypt, Pompey and Zircon into, the straight. Once in a line for home Pompey Avent to the lead, but over the Last half furlong Zircon threAv out a. resolute challenge, but pompey finished on Avell to win by a length from Zircon, Avith Daylight and Miss Egypt' som© distance away. Contrary to expectations, the Winter Steeplechase produced a good betting race, several of the runners commanding solid support. Sir Rosebery with just over £I6OO was actual favourite with Oroahu £I3OO. Dick £1125 and Sea De’il £IOSO. When the field was despatched, Hokemai showed out in front, and he led Sir Rosebery, Omahu and To tar a. Jack over the first jump At the stand Totara Jack led Hokemai, f. lr Rosebery and Omahu. Going-up hill the first time Totara Jack and Hokemai Avere the leaders, with Sir Rosebery, Omahu, Never Despair and Mary Bruce following - . Coming down the hill Sir Rosebery got to the front, and at the double opposite the stand he was just in front of Omahu, with rseyer Despair, Mary Bruce and Sea De U close up. Going along the hack stretch Sir Rosebery and Omahu; dreiv cut, but at the fence near the seven furlong post Sir Rosebery made a faulty jump and lost some lengths, but uniahu went right down, Morris mak!"S. * marvellous recoyery. Going up the hill the l last time, Sir Rosebery was just in front of Mary Bruce, with Dick, Omahu and Glenotus following Iri-om the top of the hill to the Avinning post Sir Rosebery and Mary Bruce fought out a great battle. Sir Rosebery (giving Mary Bruce little room) ed over the last jump, but over the last half furlong Mary Bruce Avent on to Avin while Dick, finishing well, Avas a> good thud. Omahu and Glenotus Avere next.

-First Born (£2000) w«s a solid favounte for the CampbelL Hurdles eter Ainans (£1450) being the only other runner seriously backed. Monopole led Hmg Abbey over the fim fence, but once over Hyginas Avent out mni le at’ °" ,: r to fall at the next unip. Monopole and King Abbey then W ent away with a big lead, and at the stand were ten lengths in front of lioomerday, with First Born moving IW R°" lg alol1 f the back stretch bust Born moved up fast, and was just behind King Abbey and Monopole d A tb £ ;£ nce , furlongs from home, w - . 1 first day, this jump beat hirst Born, and King Abbey went- on in front. At the last jump Boomerday joined the leader, and in the ™ *? Whl " ell from Ktog nf K lOl ° uly ftneste home in trout of Karamu .and Peter Amans. f ‘ 0 (£-300) was a pronounced fairoonte for the Visitors’ Handicao ulule the best backed of the others were Rata (£1225) and Pavo (£1075) Prom a capital start Heisler be«an quickly, ami led Pavo, Archibald and tohlonn over the first four furlongs At the straight entrance Heisler Avas just m front of Soliforni and Archibald but over, the last half furlong Sverai horse. 3 joined m, and in a. "ood finish stride Cb f° I>s , Sot up in the last four titJ” W Pri-H*.. and whifc T llcl t, palr "all feurtS tul ’ " ,th “ ™„;

rov h TT,S h 1 * nded wlth the Fitzroy HiacK, and m a big pool the bracket Spoony and Steel Bar fin. up good favourites with £9160 Nightraider, too, had a big following (•anying just over £l5O. Other well’ backed ones were. Tintoretto (£1100) and I in note (£1025). When the barjier rose. White Comet began quickly but alter going a hundred yards the Cmncf G °T a ! Pryde - White Comet. Spoony, Nightraider and Finnote. The two leaders opened up a Lig lead, but turning for home Nio-ht-raider went after the leaders, and with hut U 1 S ng *l° go *°° ked a like] y winner, but the nder of General Pryde pulled <"l White Comet such a break ’ that. although Nightraider ct'-nm a " a "i> ' G COuld llot catch White . .'t- - - jI assionate was a good third and Ivmg femock fourth. NOTES AND COMMENTS. A lot of money was lost over the de-n-a; of TTipo on the second day of the Otaki meeting, but this was not the pioperty of well-infonned ’‘punters.’’ Although no rain had fallen for thirty-six hours prior to the last- day’s lacing at Ellerslie, the race track could not have been more sodden. Despite the presence of a couple of stipendiary stewards at the Auckland

meeting, there Avere several bad cases of interference, and it appears as if offenders are- treated too leniently when caught, , Vei'y fe-Av Southern visitors AA'aited for the conclusion of the Auckland meeting- The majority left- after the first postponement.

Had Lochson Avon the Great Northern Hurdles he Avould have started in the Great Northern Steeplechase on the second day at Ellerslie. Prior to the Auckland Racing Club’s winter meeting, Lochson had not been jumping the battens at Ellerslie as well as he Ava,s expected to, but. in his races there Lochson jumped perfect. After racing at the .Wanganui meetuig, Ruby Ring lost form, ancT rvorked badly at Ellerslie before the Auckland meeting.

Black Art was going particularly well m the Great Northern Steeplechase when he broke down badly, and it certainly looks as if he can be struck out of this season’s engagements. After running a creditable race in the Great Northern Hurdles, Oakleigh Avas sent to the post for the Great Northern Steeples, but ran last all the way, but little notice can be taken of this running. The Avriter has witnessed a lot of lacing at Ellerslie, but never before saw the race track as heavy as that of the concluding day of the recent meeting there.

The successes of the ex-New r Zealand bred geldings Chrysostom and Quiniro, and the fonvard running of Carawock would suggest that the standard of the jumpers in Australia is not- very good. First- Born Avas very sore Avhen at Ellerslie, and this may account for his indifferent fencing in the Great Northern Hurdle race. Considering he Avas giving away 42 lbs at Avelter-weight, Pavo ran a great race in the Members’ Handicap. He looked a certain winner in the straight, but J. O’Shea’s health did not .permit him to do Pa\ _ o justice. Alaric developed a cold at Ellerslie, and this prevented the Wanganuitrained gelding from producing his best. For some reason Uncle Dar-e was giA r en out as a strong tip for the Hunters’ Hurdles at the recent Auckland meeting, and Avas backed down to an absurdly short price. On his Taranaki form Uncle DaA'e is extremely moderate as a. racehorse. " The grey filly Rehutai ran an excellent race in her only start at the recent Auckland meeting, and she should do her OAA'iier good service next season.

A peculiar condition attached to Avinners of hack flat races barred such from, competing again in that class of race at the Auckland meeting, but on the contrary Avinners of hack hurdle races could compete in this class of race each day. Surely in one case a mistake existed in the condition, as it is certainly inconsistent. As anticipated, the hurdle horses seen out m the Great Northern Hurdles at the recent meeting Avere the poorest lot (Avith a- couple of exceptions), that have contested that event. The fact that an aged gelding like Sea De’il won after trying unsuccessfully on a number of former occasions is proof of this. A aa bea De’il won very easily too. va hen the totalizator closed on the final race at Otaki there Avere 760 tickets opposite Arsene Lupin’s number, but Avhen the machine Avas adf" to© number was increased to 19/4, and on the face of this it certainly appears as if a- lot of money was held up. If this rva.s the case, it is most improper and unfair to investors and many were induced to put more money on Arsene Lupin on account of the good dividend offering. As the re eult turned out, these people were lucky, as Arsene Lupin won.