RACING IN AUSTRALIA.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1648, 30 September 1903, Page 54

RACING IN AUSTRALIA.

THE CRUCIFORM-WAKEFUL CONTEST.

Mr G. G. Stead, the owner of Cruciform, received hearty congratulations on Cruciform’s victory in the Spring Stakes on Friday when he landed in elLmgton. In the race Wakeful started at 7 to 4 on, whilst “the ring” freely betted 2 to 1 against Cruciform. There was, however, a considerable number oi visiting New Zealand eis present, and these loyally supported Mr Stead’s representative. Mi Stead .is of the opinion that Mr -Leslie McDonald, the owner of Makeful, like himself, did not back his mare tor & smiling, sio that both horses were running purely for the stake and the honour and glory of the contest. The first race was the Spring Stakes. "Wakeful had th. e inside running, and Cruciform was on the outside of a field of four. . The starting-point is exactly one furlong distant from the winningpost, and by the time the latter was reached Wakeful —still on the inside and Cruciform —who had passed Postillion and Victory—were running head and head. Approaching the one-mile and-a-quarter post Cruciform took up tha running but was not sufficiently far ahead of Wakeful to take the inside place. As a matter of fact she practically ran on the outside from start to finish of the race. Between the sixth and the second furlong posts Wakeful had dropped back into last place, being then from two to three lengths behind Cruciform, who was carrying the field along at a fairly fast pace. Just before reaching the five furlong distance Wakeful had improved her position and at the four-and-a-half-furlong post she ranged alongside the New Zealand mare, still maintaining the inside place next the rails. From thence homeone of the most exciting races possible ensued, as the two mares were never more than a neck apart. A furlong from heme the crowd commenced to shoiit "‘Wakeful! Cruciform! Wakeful! Cruciform !” and it was impossible for the best judge* to say which. would reach, the goal first. Hewitt was sitting almost motionless on Cruciform, whilst Dunn, on Wakeful, was equally patient. Both horsemen deserve every credit for their steadiness at a very tlying moment as, whilst getting everything possible out of their respective mounts, they did little more than ride their horses home with their hands and heels. Cruciform’s success was received in the most -remarkable manner, the authorities stating that they had no recollection qi any previous victory causing such a demonstration. Evidently there were a- large number of New Zealanders present, for as the winner got home the well-known Maori war-cry ""Alee ake kia kaha” could be heard rising above the shouting and the cheering. Wakeful also was cheered vociferously.

With respect to the Craven Plate, decided on the Wednesday, the trainer of Wakeful was confident that Saturday’s verdict, would be reversed. He considered that his mare was, if anything, short of a gallop, and that her run in the Spring Slakes .would have done her good. It was moreover held that Postillion had interfered wijth her in that race, and as a matter of fact she had received a slight cut on the near hind-leg, resulting in its ""filling” slightly on the Sunday and Monday. Mr Stead, bearing in mind that Cruciform had had the outside running on Saturday, although not over sanguine, was hopeful that Cruciform would again prove successful. However, it was the unexpected that happened. Ibex, a brilliant and handsome horse,ridden by Bardon, the best jockey in Australia, drew the inside running; Wakeful was No. 2 and Cruciform No. 3. The two mares had evidently not forgotten the gruelling of the Saturday, ana both were somewhat excited at the post. The result was that when the barrier rose Ibex got fully a length the best of the start. Approaching the furlong post Cruciform endeavoured to improve her position, but Ibex was still going strong and Avas Avell in front. He entered the straight rather over a clear length in front of the New Zealand

mare. Here Hewitt commenced to ride Cruciform in earnest. For the last furlong he rode her under the whip. Iwo hundred and fifty yards from home she was half a clear length—or a length and a half altogether—behind Sticking to her work in the most determined ner she overhauled her opponent yard by yard, but failed to get up by half a head, which was the judge's verdict. A stride past the winning post tne two horses were level. Had the race been another twenty yards further there is no doubt that the New Zealand mare would have been returned the winner. Mr Stead is on the whole inclined to think that Wakeful was not at her best; at the same time he is also convinced that Cruciform also was rather backward. She still carried a considerable portion of her winter coat. In any case, however, there could not have been much the matter with either mare, seeing the pace at which both races were run. In reference to his message from Sydney in reply to the suggestion of the \\ ellington Racing Club for a £SOO sweepstake, for a\ Inch the- Australian cracks should compete, Mr Stead explains that he sent the- reply “unworkable” because from inquiries which he made he found that it was very unlikely that the owners of the horses named would come across to meet a crack like Cruciform or a horse with the reputation of Achilles when they could at less expense, and with less risk in travelling, run them for larger stakes in their own country. While in Sydney Mr Stead bought two voung brood mares Curfew Bell and Barley Bree —for each of which he paid three hundred guineas. These two, with Orloff and Cruciform, arrived here without a scratch. Mr Stead hopes that he will be able to get Cruciform ready to start at the November meeting m Christchurch. Orloff, however, is unlikely to race again, at any rate not for many months to come, as his near fore-leg filled badly in Sydney. Mr Stead, before leaving for Christchurch on Friday telegraphed scratching Orloff" for all engagements at the C.J.C. spring meeting. TATTERSALL’S HANDICAP. SYDNEY, September 26. Tattersall’-s Handicap was run to-day and resulted: —Brantwcodl, Bridegroom 2, Naphro 3. Seven started. Betting —3 to 1 agst Naphro, 7 to 2 Bruntwood. Won by half a length in 2min 14^sec.