Second Day.

Otago Witness, Issue 2509, 16 April 1902, Page 48

Second Day.

The meeting was advanced another stage on Easter Monday, when nn opportunity was afforded Wakeful to cover herself with glory In the Sydney Cup, the great two miles handicap of the meeting. She not only won with the heavy impost of 9.7, but beat Carbine's long-standing two miles' time record of 3min 28Jsec— made in the Melbourne Cup in 1890— by a quarter of a second. Of course, Carbine's ■was far the better performance, as he carried 10.5, and beat a much better field. All Ihe same, Wakeful's performance was the best in the handicap line registered in Australia, by any horse for a considerable time. No ■wonder the crowd cheered as they never cheered before at Randwiek. To Melbourne Folk the surprise in connection with the Sydney Cup was not that Wakeful won, but that jhe should have started at such a short price ft* 4 to 1. At Moonee Valley, where racing was being held, odds of 12 to 1 and 10 to 1 were laid against her early in the afternoon, while right up to the time of the starting of the race the bookmakers were offering 7 to 1 against her. There was, it appears, p, persistent run on the mare at the post, and at one time she touched 3 to 1. Blue Metal 9.5 (who looked certain to beat Wakeful on the Autumn Stakes running) and Lucknow 8.5 were second favourites, at 7 to 1 each, and Ace of Diamonds 7.9 was next in demand at 8 to 1. Of the others Acetine 7.2, Pelissier 7.10, and Warrior II 7.4 were Jhe most in request. It was stated of the latter that he nearly fell in the Doncaster HanSicap. There was some delay at the post, but t last they got off. Wakeful and Warrior II were the first to jump away, but the mare was »t once steadied back into the field. Warrior II set out at a very solid pace, leading for <about a mile and a-half, when Acetine cut him down. Wakeful was about seventh, on <ho rails, passing the stand, but at the mile post she ran up fourth. Directly Warrior II stopped Wakeful went after Acetine, and, catching him about tho Leger stand, she came light away, and won all out by two lengths and a-half. The third horse must have been bix or eight lengths behind Acetine; in fact, there were only two in it from the entrance of ihe biraight. Rabato, Blue Metpl, Lucknow, ana Bruntwood were the nearest to the placed horses at the finish. Blue Metal got into a bad position at the start, and never seemed to get out, while Ace of Diamonds was never dangerous, and is probably unreliable. R. Wootlon, who has Acetine, was luckier in the first Tace of the day, as he won the ■Flying Handicap, six furlongs, with A'annah 7.4, a full sister to Cabin Boy, by Gozo — Kathleen. There was a fair field for this race, and Ibex 9.0 wont out a strong fas-ourite. He led wntil a few strides from the post, when Alan■jmh got up and beat him by a neck. J. Monoghan took Ihe Maiden Stakes, one mile and aquarter, with Uneasy, who is aIFO by Gozo. The favourite, Phihbeg, did not get a place. The Champagne Stakes gave B^akpan si,ethcr opportunity of showing his quality. He carried a 10lb penalty, and won with the greatest ease from Ceres, who waa greatly fancied ,Tjy her stable. Brakpan will now retire into .•wintd quarters as a strong favourite for tie iV.K.C. Derby. Brokerage carried 12.10 to vi'Itory in gallant style in the First Steeplechase Tl-Vrc was only a small field, and the sonof The Broker went out a strong favourite. Mr K. Richards won the First Nursery Handicap (wil'i the Daimeny gelding Merlon Steel K~. win- wa« well ridden by J. Barden, and beat f.fdv Mary 7.3 by a neck. The distance _vas p. miic, and, aa might be expected, the ne!;l wa3 small.