DUNEDIN J.C. MEETING.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1293, 10 December 1896, Page 27

DUNEDIN J.C. MEETING.

[By The Aristocratic Tout.] Proceedings opened with the Hurdle Race, and Clarence and Ilex were made nearly equ'al favourites, while Belmont was next in demrind. Ilex and Rebel cut out the running at a good pace with Clarence lying last. About a mile from home, Stewart called on the top-weight, and Clarence going through his field, stopped in front till the end, winning with the greatest ease, with Belmonc second and Invader third, Ilex close up. The Maiden Plate was looked upon as a moral for Plotter, and he was a red-hot favourite. However, in the race itself he could do better than run second to Starshot with Damigella third. Tbe Gleaner, •who is an Australian bred filly, by Trident —Helen Tree, ran off at the turn when in front, and would, no doubt, have won easily. Plotter did not race again at the meeting, and I hear he has taken to an undesirable habit.

The Otago Cup was next and a field of four came to the post. Euruclydon, who looked all the better for his racing at Eiccarton, was made favourite, with Hippomenes next best in the public estimation. He had been responsible for a lot of good work on the tracks, and the wiry son of St. Leger was well backed by his popular owners. Epaulet also looked improved in appearance to when he raced at Eiccarton, but was neglected in the betting, while Captive was rightly considered out-classed. The race needs little description, as Euroclydon, going- early to the front, made all his own running and won in a canter by five lengths, with Epaulet second and liippomenes a similar distance away third. The victory was a very popular one, and hearty cheers wer9 given when Mr Craig was presented with the cup by Miss Belle McLean, daughter of the club's president. There is no doubt that if Euroclydon had been raced in public prior to the New Zealand Cup he would have ran a much better race.

The Dunedin Stakes was looked upon as a good thing for Blazer, and so it proved. Jumping away well in front of the others ho stopped there all the way, finishing about six lengths in front of Senior AVrangler, with Sequin close up third. Seashell again ran badly and she must have been a great disappointment to her popular owners. For the Federal the Auckland sprinter, St. Clements, was reckoned good goods, while Skirmisher and Telemeter wore best backed of the others. Bello Clair and Campbell jumped away in front and ran together till the straight was reached, when Campbell dropped back and Arline, coming through, a splendid race home ensued, and Belle Clair lasting longest won by a short neck, while St. Clements was some distance away third. Skirmisher ran badly, although well supported by the stable. The Selling .Race fell to Vogengang after a good finish with Cactus and Tangi Maid. Thers being no bid for the winner he returned to his owner.

Choroid, who is owned by a popular Wellington sport, was made favourite for the Maiden Two-year-old Handicap, and getting well away won comfortably by about a length from Decoy, with Mountebank third. The latter is a nice cut of a colt, and should turn out a good one in time. At present he is very poor in condition.

Marquis of Zetland on bis Riccarton form was looked upon as a moral for the St. Kilda Welter, and once more he let his backers in. He jumped away in front, and cut out the running till tho straight was reached, where Bay Bell came at him, and, going on, won easily by two lengths from Lady Somnus, with Marquis of Zetland a bad third. There were a few onlookers started in this. With Blazer scratched the Criterion Stakes on the second day was thought to be a match between Senior Wrangler and Choroid and they were made almost equal favourites. Choroid lan very disappointingly and his trainer, E. Cutts, could not account for his poor display as lie was well supported by the stable connections. Senior Wrangler got away well and going to the front at the'bend won in a canter by half a length from Decoy with S«quiu third. Maybud was thought to have a chance in this but failed to winy it out.

Hippomenes, who had been greatly favoured in the handicaps, was rightly looked upon as a moral for the St. Andrew's Handicap and won in a canter from his two moderate opponents. Tho two mile trot proved a good thing for the favourite, Mokoreta, who won comfortably but tho majority cf the other starters did not appear to be in much of a hurry to get there. After Euroclydon had been, indulged in a walk over for she Onslow Plate a field of four came out for the Spring Handicap and a really pretty race resulted. Van Buren, who had unfortunately been left at the post in the Federal, was in front all the way and won at the finish by a long neck from Skirmisher, with Bay Dell close up third. Star-shot was the other starter but had the misfortune to break down during the race.

The Musselburgh Plate came next, and Multiform, on the strength of his Riccarton form, was made a hot favourite, whilst Belle Clair and Blazer (who were bracketed on the machine) were next in public favour. After a long delay at the barrier, Blazer and Belle Clair hopped away in front, w'lile Multiform and Marquis of Zetland were slow to begin. Half way up the straight, Multiform, hard ridden, came at Mercer's pair, and, wearing them down, won by a neck, from Blazer with. Belle

Clair a good third. Had Blazer been ridden hard from the turn, he would no doubt have won. ( Erringtou, after beating a bad lot m the Post Stakes, was bought in by his owner for £22.

The Tahuna Park High Weight Handicap was productive of the most exciting finish I hate se«n. Stimulant and Misfire cut out the running till the straight was reached, when the latter dropped back beaten. Then Marquis of Zetland, Victim, Telemeter and Vogengang came at the leader, and, after a desperate struggle, the judge placed Telemeter first and Victim second, and he could not place the third horse. Opinions are varied as to which horse was really first, but the judge was the only one who could really see. A protest against the winner on the grounds of inconsistent running, was very rightly unanimously dismissed. For the Pacific Handicap Hurdles Clarence, on the strength of his easy win the first day, was made favourite on the last day, 'while Ilex and Highlander (coupled) were next in demand. When the barrier went up, Clarence got foul of the tapes and lost a few lengths, but it made no difference to the result. Lobo and Highlander cut out the running till the last fence when Clarence joined issue, but Lobo, finishing strongly, won comfortably from Clarence, with Highlander third on sufferance.

Hippomenes, again greatly favoured in the weights, waited on his field in the President's Handicap till the straight was reached when he went up and won in a canter from Captive, with the disappointing Marquis of Zetland third, Black and Red pulling up last. Tbe Novel Handicap fell to Tangi Maid after a good race, with Pactolus close up, second, and Mca Cutya, third. Molly Darling (who had not run very well at Eiccarton) was heavily bucked this time by her connections, but faded away after being in front for half-a-mile. Errington broke down badly after going a couple of furlongs. The Glasgow Plate came next, and much interest was evinced as to how Multiform (who carried a 141 b penalty) would fare with St. Clements. Blazer jumped away when the barrier went up, with St. Clements second, and Multiform, as usual, slow to begin. When they had gone a couple of furlongs Multiform had begun to close up, and rounding the bend he had got on equal terms with St. Clements and Blazor. Half way up the straight Multiform appeared to have the race in hand, but St. Clements, hard ridden, just got up in the last stride, and made a dead heat of it, while Blazer was three lengths away, third. Many people blamed Wilson for going to sleep on the colt, but Mr Stead was heard to say that ho was thoroughly satisfied with the way in which Multiform was handled.

Marlin was picked upon as a good thing for the Grand Stand Handicap, while Vanilla and Skirmisher were best supported of the others. Vanilla Avas taken to the front, while Marlin, Bello Clair and Campbell were most prominent of the rest of the field, and Skumisher had fallen right out of it. At the distance Vanilla looked all over a winner, but Arline, coming with a wet sail, and getting up on the inside, went on and won comfortably by a couple of lengths from Vanilla, Telemeter third, with Marlin and Bay Bell close up. The start for the Nursery Handicap completely destroyed any chance that Senior Wrangler and Maybud had, as they were left standing at the post. Choroid and Eidelweiss got well away, and the former won comfortably, while Bold was a fair third.

The One-mile-and-a-half Trot resulted in a close finish between Colonel and Jane, the former gaining the verdict by a neck. A protest against the first two on account of galloping past the post was dismissed. The stewards would have dono no harm asking a few of the starters for an explanation of their form.

The Farewell Handicap brought a field of eight out, Van Buren and Misfire being made favourites. The latter ran badly, not running anything like his Riccarton form. Stimulant, getting well away, was taken to the front and stopped there all the way, winning by half a length from Lady Somnus, with Van Buren third, just in front of the vYinclnnan.