TALK OF THE DAY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2719, 25 April 1906, Page 54

TALK OF THE DAY.

Bt Sextixel. THE CHALLENGE STAKES. It was only a few days ago th<s writer, in drawing attention to the Challenge Stakes, regretted that the valuable- prize attached to the race did not provoke better racing than has been the ease on many occasions when the classic has come up for decision. This charge could not be laid against this year's race, and the battle which took place between Achilks and Porcelain will go down to history as one of the best equine fights that has ever taken place between the Riccarton rails. Opinions were clo?e'.y divided as to how the race would result, but there is no doubt that the YaWhurst colt had the mo&t admirers, although the Xorth Island representative was a slightly better favourite en the machine. Still, if the S.P. money were thrown in the balance, the three-year-old would in all probability have been entitled to the position of favourite. Porcelain evidently required pushing along a bit, as it was notice- . able that Hewitt abandoned his perch seat and rode with his leathers considerably longer than is the case required by the seat with which ho is identified in the majority of his races. Of the quartet which paralled for the race the interest was naturally centred on Achilles and Porcelain. The latter looked well to the eye. and the former also carried himself as if he were in the excellent racing order suggested by the reports of his track work. Hewitt evidently Jiad instructions to make things fairly solid, as he at once took his mount to the front; and Jenkins, with Achilles lyinjf handy, used him for a pacemaker, which no doubt materially assisted in bringing about the 'ultimate result. Porcelain raced round the home turn with Achilles lying on his girths, and approaching the distance he drew up to his" rival and raced stride for stride up to the lawn rails, at which stage both riders were at th-eir n>ounts, but still endeavouring to keep a litt'.e in hand for the final tussle which it could be seen would have to bo fought out before winning honours could bs gained. At the north end of the grand stand both risers almost simultaneously lifted their whips and got hard at their mounts. The telling stride and more seasoned condition of flic Medallion horse stood to him in the final pinch, and when the pair flashed past the po->t he had gained the judge's verdict by a head — a head which made him the victor of as great a battle as one could wish to «r-o. Both horsemen rode as well as ever they did in their lives, and appeared to be watching each other like swordsmen in their desire to steal a march on each orhev. but had Hewitt ridden in his uibiial style the writer's opinion is that Achilles's winning margin would^ have br-pn increased, as the crouch seat does not lend itself to getting the last ou7ice out o f a horse. The threa-yoar-oid was by no means dngraesd by the r'-ofeat. and he was entitled to a good share of what must bo termed the mild enthusiasm with which the spectators greeted hor-cs and riders after providing a race which rhe o!d-time scribes would have described as being worth a bare-footed pilgrimage to witness.