True Topics

Free Lance, Volume III, Issue 125, 22 November 1902, Page 25

True Topics

By 'Krect-Card.

At the third day's racing of the Canterbury Jockey Club's spring meeting, there was an excellent attendance, and the racing was of an interesting character. The weather was anything but perfect, a howling nor'-wester blowing on the course, accompanied by clouds of dost. The big event of the day — the Canterbury Cvp — was won by Mr. Stead's representative, Cruciform, in very easy fashion. Canteen bore Mr. A. Mosss colours to victory in the Jockey Club HamdicaT> after an interesting set-to with Scylla, and both horse and rider were heartily cheered bv the public. The race for the Oaks was generally considered a moral for Punamu, but the winner turned up in Lady Rosslyn, a descendant of Lord Rosslyn, who paid the largest dividend of the day. The Suburban Hurdles proved a regular Cakewalk for Bellman, who went to the front at the start, and never gave his seven opponents a chance of getting near him. Evening Wonder managed to secure second berth, but it was only on account of Long Tom's rider being caught napping in the straight. The winner paid £2 7s 6d, and oarved cnut the distance in, 3inin 2 l-sthsec. A field of five horses contested the Spring Nursery, run over four furlongs. Backers would' stand nothing else but King Log, and their judgment was not astray, for the Stepniak colt short to the front at the rise of the barrier, and never being headed, won by four lengths. An excellent struggle for second place between Gladsome and Treadmill resulted in favour of the former by , half-a-length. The winner cut cut the four furlongs in 49sec, and paid £2 10s 6d. The large field of fifteen lined up to contest the Avon Welter, for which Oingo had a slight call in the betting over Ayrdale. Both Tsaritza and Wet Blanket were well supported, but they never flattered their backers. From an excellent start, Magnificent and Zealous took up the running till the straight was reached, where the favourite moved up, and, easily holding his own. won comfortably by half-a-length from Glen^ elg, who came very fast at the end. and defeated Ayrdale for second money bv a long neck. The winner paid £3 6s and backers of Glenelg received £3 12s 6d. Vladimir was a slightly better favourite than Canteen for the Jockey Club Handicap, which was contested bv a field of eight. At the rise of the barrier, Exmoor shot to the front, closely followed by Canine Chiel and Fleka Can- ' teen and Scylla lying next in order.

Whein heads were turned for home, the two latter had caught the leaders, and am interesting struggle up the straight resulted in favour of Canteen by a neok Fleka was a length away third. The winner 1 paid. £3 12s 6d. and backers of Scylla received £2 16s second money. The mile was timed to be run in lmin 42 4-sthsec, which proves that there was no loitering on the way. Only a quartette were sent out io contest the Canterbury Cup, run over two miles and a-quarter. Thei race was regarded as a moral for Cruciform, and so it proved, for the Yaldhurst filly waited or her field till heads were turned for home and' then came away and won as she liked by two lengths. Welbeck defeated Ponrua for second money by a length and a-half. The winner paid £1 6s 6d. A surprise was effected in the Oaks, which was contested by a field of nine. Punamu, on - her excellent showing in the Cup, was made a pronounced favourite, with Oamelot and lodona next in demand. The field got away together, but Dirk and Ora soon forged ahead and, along the back were just in front of Camelot and Romany Oueen. Rounding the bend Punainu went through her field, and when heads were turned for home was half-a-lemgth in front of Camelot. Half-way up tihe straight, Lady Rosslyn shot out, and, easily settling the leaders, came on and won by three-quarters &f a length from Stepdancer, who defeated Camelot by a length for second money. The winner paid the excellent dividend of £12 3s 5 6d, and the second horse £4 6s 6d. The Electric Plate was won by Achilles in a canter, from his two opponents. The winner carved out the four furlongs in 47 2-sthsec, and paid £1 2s 6d. The day's racing concluded with the Asihley Handicap, run over six furlongs, which brought out a field of ten. St. Denis had a slightly better following than Westguard, after whom Blaaer and Farewell 11. were next in demand. The favourite and Farewell 11. got all the worst of an otherwise good start, and were left several lengths in the rear. Scotty shot to the front, and, when the straight was reached, was a couple of lengths in front of Westguard and Somenrled. His victory was bein? loudly proclaimed when Westguard commenced to overhaul him, and the latter succeeded in iust getting up in time to win by a long neck. The winner carved out the distance in lmin 14 4-sthsec and paid a dividend of £2 11s, while backers of Scotty received £2 12s 6d second money. * * * For the concluding day's races, the weather was perfect, and the attendance good. The chief attraction of the day wais the race for the Jubilee Cup between Achilles and Cruciform, and an excellent set-toi it was. Favouritism) rested with Mr. Stead's champion, but she had to succumb to a better horse over that particular distance. Mr. Prosser came m for all-round congratulations on the success of the colt, and his arm must be sore with the amount of hand-shaking he had to undergo. An unfortunate accident in the last race marred the day's enjoyment, which necessitated the race being run over twice. At the first start only half the barrier went ur> and only those horses 1 there started. They went right round the course, and the result ended in favour of Halberdier by

hali-a-length from Glenelg. The stiarter declared it not a start, and the owners of the horses that had completed tihe course justly decided to scratch tiheir animals. Then, Mr. Stead scratched his , horse, Siege Gun, for no apparent reason whatever as he was amongst those that had not started the first time. Thus backers of Siege Gunhad no run for their money at all. At the second start, Punamu got caught in the tapes 1 , and took no part in the race. Fakir and Cameo took up the running till the straight was reached, where they were joined by Fleka. After a good finish, Oameo gained the verdict by a neck from Fleka. The winner paid £15 14s 6d and the second horse £1 9s. The annoying part of the whole business is that backers of Halberdier lose everything. The time for tihe first race was 2min 9sec, whereas it took Cameo 2 mm 14sec to win. The owner of Halberdier had a good bet about his horse, and he is naturally chagrined at such a fiasco occurring. Smithy was a slightly better favourite than Long Tom for the Port Cooper Hurdles, which brought out a field of eight, contestants. The winner turned up in the outsider, Nance O'Neil, who got home bv three lengths from Bellman. The favourite ran, a good race for three-parts of the distance, but could not see the journey out. The winner paid £22 4s* and backers of Bellman received £1 11s second money. Evening Wonder appeared' to be sore, and finished last. The Cressy Welter was contested by a field! of twelve Lady Lilian. Ayrdale, Wet Blanket, and Regulation coming in for most support. The former was always with the leading division, and, in the run home', easily held the opposition safe, and won by three-quarters of a length from Battler, who beat St. Monica for second money by a head. The winner covered the "six furlongs m lmin. 15 4-sthsec. and paid £3 17s 6d. and backers of Battler received £5 Os 6d for second money. The Pioneer Handicap resulted in a win for Sir George Clifford's colt Treadmill. The five competitors shot off the

mark together.,__and. when the straight was reached Treadmill and Gladsome were just in front of Sychem and Ros<xraunon. All were being hard ridden at the distance, and- a fine struggle up the straight ended in fjavour of Treadmill by a head, Gladsome second, a neck mi front of Syohem. • The winner paid £4 3s. Twelve horses tried conclusions in the Randolph Handicap, over five furlonPß. The public sorted out Pallas as the best of good thingo, and their judgment was not astray, for the colt shot to the front at the rise of the barrier, and, never being headed, won by three lengths from Petrovna. The winner created a new record for the distance, he being timed to run the five furlongs in 58 4-sthseo. Blazer is evidently a back number, for, although well supported by his party, he finished out of a place. Another public fancy, in St. Denis, scored in the Ranfurly Handicap, run over seven furlongs. The favourite went to the front at the start, and, making every post a winning one, lasted long enough to win by a lorno 1 neok from Scylla, who came with a late run. and beat Red Gauntlet by a length fr >r second money. The winner paid £3 14s, and the second horse £2 12s 6d. * * The Wellington spring meeting takes place to-day, and the following horses should run well in their engagements. The acceptances are not in a* time of writing, so I must content myself witib sorting: out likely animals from the weights . — November Handicap. — Menura or Waiwhera. Rimutaka Hack. — En Garde or Roseplot. Wellington Handicap. — Siege Gun or Cannie Ohiel. Shorts Handicap. — Torowai or Ringlet. Nursery Handicap.— Starshoot or Captain* Kettle. Wainui Hand cap. — Shrapnel Shell or Kiwa. Flying Handicap. — Reclaimer or Achilles. Spring Hack Handicap. — Livonia or Pantomime.