THE GERALDINE MEETING.

Otago Witness, Volume 06, Issue 2899, 6 October 1909, Page 55

THE GERALDINE MEETING.

The Geral<Mne Racing Club were favoured •with fine weather and good attendances oa both dajg of their annual m<sstw&,

•which wa3 held last week. A novelty in the way of air excursion train was run €ach day from Chiristcihurch, and was fairly well patronised, and an ordinary slow train from Tiznaru also conveyed a large number of people to the meeting. The track was in fair owkir for the first day, but rain eet in, and the joing was on the soft sida for the second day. Fa.irsiaed fields were seen out, and some interesting sport provided in a number of races. On the first day Antony drew out to a commanding- lead in the early stages of the Hurdle Race (in which Court Martial ran oft at the first fence), but tired •in the last half-npile, and jusc lastedi long enough to teat Spraybird a neck at *b>3 finish. Lacfy Orizoin showed heir usual pace when running in the Squafcte-rs' Handicap, but at the finish her 9.9 told 1 , and Silkweb came away full of running and scored handsomely, Arhils* none of the others were 1 dangerous in the run home. In the Geraldine Cup a field of five facedthe barrier, amd after Cymbiform and Somaroff were closely attended by the others in the stages, at the busn'ness end Field Gun put in a good run from the turn which resulted in making a big gap from the others. Boutade, however, finished fast. and got within half a length of the winner, but Field Gun had no great difficulty in stalling off tihe challenge. Boutacte'3 ru,n. however, suggests that she may be a better stayer than io generally supposed. Hecrthen ran 'faiirly well far about a mile, but. like Cymbiform, dredl away in the straight. Mangrove had to be ridden to stall off Brasenose in the O'haps Handicap, and the last race of the day looked like becoming a duel between Claymore (who carried a eood deal of money) and Luperin. In the straight Claymore stopped to nothing, and lost place to Luperin, bufc then Pas-sion, who began slowly, put in an appearance, and won easily. Zetland lost f. lot of ground at the start, and v.as upver dangerous On the second day the .ittentJj.no? showed a slight shrinkage on that of the openimr day, but the card attracted a fair attendance) Court Martial fell, and brought down King of Trumps in the Hurdles, and after tbe mishap Cardiff had matters practically all his own way. In th* Stewards' Stakes the quartet comprising tbe field ran togefchar to the straight, but then Passion and Zetland were in trouble. From this out Luperin hac» no serious menace to his success, and he won with a good deal ir hand. The going and weight apparently told on Passion and Zetland, who both ran bad races. Outla ruder was made a warm fancy for the Spring Handicap as soon as the betting op?n«d, and Boutaoe al-io had a -good fcllowing, but nothing had the gho«t of a chance with the favourite over the last couple ot furlongs. Brasenosa mad© his second app-eaa-ance diiing: the cJay wuen he. won the Wainui Handicap, whicih was leal'ly the b:st finish of the meeting. Brassuo?<? was prominent from the rise of the barrier, but at the finish whips weve out on the placed horses. Lady Eta. ran a {rood race, as she began slowly at the ftfcitrt, and was putting in a good mri at the finish, bwf sh>?- just failed to get up, whilsfc Mangrove was half a Length away. Claymore was on (he movie as the bacTier rose in the Shorts Handicap, but lie was imir.»daa.t.ely joined by Millionaire, and the pair put in a hreak on the others. Milliona,ni3- barely lasted three furJonge, s.nd at this stage Silkweb was fully fhe lengths away from Claymore. Dnce in the scraight Silkweb rapidly made up ground on the tiring Claymore, but the latter juefc lasted locg enough to win by a neck. Lady Orizoin also improved her position at the finish, but was really never dangerous. Mr C. O'Connor acted as starter for the flat races, ajid >Ir ReynrJ.vn despaAcih-ed the trotting races. As usual nowadays, the business of the meeting left little to be desired-, as the hcrses were promptly pent to the post for each race, but a closer supervision of the running would be desirable in the future, as there was cue or two happenings which would hardly stand the close inspection of zealous and capable stewards.