CAP AND JACKET

Observer, Volume XXX, Issue 39, 11 June 1910, Page 15

CAP AND JACKET

By Box.

Racing Fixtures. June 15 and 16 — Hawke'e Bay Jockey Club. • June 22 and 23—Napier.Park Racing Club. . July 7 and B—Gisborne Racing Club. July 16, 20 and 23 — Wellington Racing Club. '; Great Northern Meeting. THE Great Northern Meeting at' EUerslie opened well, and gave good augury of finer weather to follow. There was a wintry look in the sky—grey and cold, andl bo ltremained until the close of the iirst day's programme. Thefe was ., a great attendance, estimated as the largest for the opening ;day of a " Great Northern " Meeting. Southern visitors were numerous, followers doubtless of the big southern team. They would have the pleasure of seeing 'Wimmera carrying off, in really brilliant manner, the chief etake of the day — the Great ■ Northern Hurdles. It was noteworthy that this was the only stake of the day not secured by Auckland stables. Wimmera, too, looked like losing in the earlier stages. Hampered by muscle soreness, his jumping was faulty, and in a shorter race this temporary infirmity might have cost his owner the victory. # He had a great one to jump with in Prophet, and the pair sticking together, and Wimmera losing his stiffness, a close race between the pair was looked for, but the race proved to be for Wimmera, and Wimmera easily. Woolloomooloo caused a sensation by a big run from the turn into the straight, which, though it lasted only to the last hurdle, enabled him to set second place. The Cornwall Handicap resulted in a close and exciting finish between the three placpd horses, Master Soult scoring a head victory from Ngapuka with Bollin a neck behind m third place. • • • On Steeplechase day the scene had changed. North-east weather had set in during the night, and from

early morning racegoers, had before them a pretty certain prospect of & wet day's sport. The weather could have deterred only the more dainty of racegoers, for there was a good attendance in both outer and inner enclosures. Teh horses started for the big Steeplechase, the Hawke'e Bay horse, Audax, figuring as favourite. CavaJiero was the first to go out, the first jump settling his chance. Lovell was responsible for most of the running, but he passed out of count early in the third round. Audax then looked like winning, but the hill the last time round tolid its tale, and barely had the enthusiasm at the spurt of the favourite roared itself out When the ultimate winner, Red Maogregor, made pla-; and leaving Audax at the winning side of the stone wall, came hcime an easy winner' by about ten lengths. Audax and Loch Fyne, both all out, fought for second place, Loch Fyne gaining the position by a neck. Wauchope proved victor in the Prince of Wales Handicap by a neck from Sea Elf,, and Ben Jonson had a soft win in the Remuera Hurdles, his two opponents, Prophet and Aorangi, both falling. The meeting is being concluded as these notes go to press (Wednesday). So far as the first two days are concerned, the A.R.C. have reason to be well satisfied with results, seeing that such unpropitious weather was met with on the most popular day of the three (Steeplechase Day). The totalisator results, despite the shrinkage of the second day, were still ahead of last year's figures over the two days, whilst a decrease might very reasonably have been anticipated. The secretarial duties, under any circumstances no sinecure, must have heeii specially difficult on a day like Saturday, but the efficiency of the business arrangements under the supervision of Mr Hartland, were made apparent by the smooth runm'nor of the whole rjroaramme.

Nominations for the C.J.C. Grand National events close on Friday, 24th inst. Wimmera was again sore after the G.N. Hurdles, and had to be blistered. He was shipped home on Sunday. The three-year-old Electrakoff showed improving form at Ellerslie. He ran especially well in the Prince Wales' Handicap. G.N. Steeplechase Day, though an ideal winter steeplechase day, wasnot pleasant. The nor'-eastor mv.de itself felt, but in spite of rain an<3 wind and mud, sportsmen ensoyed the sport. The big s';eeple?.h<ise was run in rain and heavy goictg, I'U* the conditions were no'appr"acu to t!:«se of old Despised's da.*, * .i-mi iwrs and horses were unrecognisable in their coating of mud and shrou led m a blinding mist and rniri The fullest measure of admiration was accorded Wimmera, the Great Northern Hurdles winner, in respect of his performance. As to hie appearance, the somewhat genuine verdict was that he was a good deal betW than he looked. This opinion, however, must be held to be the outcome of casual inspection, and based on a somewhat over-trained appearance. All the same, I take it that Wimmera is deceptive in appearance as a successful hurdle norse, and especially as a successful hurdle horse over such an exacting 2£m. course as that of Ellerslie. Though unsuccessful, Audax ran a good race in the Great Northern Steeplechase. W«IT to the front for the most nart, he made a dashing effort .along the back stretch, seeming, by the way he left his field, to have stolen a march, this hit_ of finesse on the part of his rider having evidently been executed with an idea of giving time for nursing the last .time up the hill. The move perhaps would have succeeded, too, but for the unexpected reserve held by Red Macgregor ; for although Audax was eventually beaten tor second place, it appeared to be caused rather by the laxity of his. rider at the moment of finding himself hopelessly beaten .for the the want of a bit more effort on the part of his mount. All the same, Audax was,a much,distressed horse ftfter tfte contest '~-.' -/> ~, S ;

Bullworth's absence from Ellerslie, ;$ was caused by his going,amis*. y \ ;,"yj Lord Derby is to run the -late >"$$ King's horses until the end of the''| year. ' '%^ Up-to-Date, who is to compete 1 in, /;; the steeplechases at Randwick, now ' ? > carries a tube in his throat. \ Tui Cakobau failed to outstay the * distance of the Gieat Northern „, Hurdles. He was looking well and ' A ran a good race, finishing fourth. '„ J , S Armagh's effort in tha Great Northern Hurdles will be his last for ; a while. Having shown signs of '{ unsoundness afte.' the race it was decided to give him a spell. y Gauged by the totalisator - the Dunedin Winter Meeting appears to have been a very successful one - financially. The investments for ' 1 two days totalled £17,709, as against, ; £14,044 last year—an increase of , l £3664. - . The sale of the late J. B. William- - eon's horses on Monday last resulted in £1805 being realised for 23 lots. The highest price (336g5.) Was oh- , , tainedfor the brood mare Allannah, with colt by Soult and stinted to Soult; Mr G. .Currioj of Warganui, was the purchaser. Le Beau's true form was not shown r ' in the Great Northern .Steeplechase.' He unseated his rider at the water jump the second time round, but was remounted and finished the course in * - fotrth place, some thirty yards behind Audax.' Bar his one mistake he might have been second. The Remuera Hurdles at Ellerslie last Saturday, with only a trio of . runners, proved a pitfall for eager bettors at." odds on." Prophet was looked upon as an absolute, certainty . by the many. . Prophet fell, likewise Aorangi, Heaving Ben Jonson .to canter the last round and win. The Great Northern Steeplechase winner, Red Macgregor, was in the sale ring on Monday at the sale of tli9 late J. B. Williamson's horseß. An anticipated big reserve of something like IOOOgs. appears to have operated against the bidding for him, as only one effer of 50gs. was.niade for him, and he was passed, in. Loch Fyhe's tecond in the Great Northern Steeplechase was v really a very good performance. , He was giving the winner, Red Macgregor, a stone, and Audax, 31b: He ran in a forward position the whole way, and made a stirring fight of it with Audax (both all out) for second place, which he just secured by a neck. Racing at Dunedin last Saturday met with somewhat similar weather conditions as* thab at Ellerslie — showery weather and heavy going. Honest Tom wo a the Wingatui Steeplechase, his victory being; an easy one. The principal handicap, the Provincial, was won by Gunboat; Cronstadt second, and Tikitere third. Kiatere's chance in the Great Northern Steeplechase was seen to be a forlorn one early in the race He plodded heroically for some time in the heavy going with his tig burden of 12st 41b, but stopped when he came to the water jump the second tie. In other days, the old Castor gelding would, notwithstanding; big v-eight and heavy £oing. # have been seen finishing strongly, with the leaders. , , Waitapu, in appearance, was the commoner of the Great Northern Hurdles bunch. Except that he com- . pleted the course, he had little .to say in the contest, and finished last. These factors would operate against - his being made -much the Jumpers' Flat, his past performances being overlooked. ! He trounced his field finely in the Jumpers'. Flat,--put-ting down a pretty strong favourite .. in Woollooraooloo. :,'.""•'- Red 'Macgregor won the ._■ Great Northern Steeplechase so easily at the finish; that .whatever might have batmened, bar falls lor baulking,, in . regard to the second and third ,\>. places, it Was fairly apparent- ;tfhat , nothing could have disturbed bjsfosra , victory.' The crowd lostjtheinscdyes ,\ in enthusiasm over tjhe wisider'ilj'gal- '■. lant victory, and the; losfers,- /^who 1 , must have been many, '.'■> ,% lustily and as loudly