CAP AND JACKET

Observer, Volume XXXII, Issue 24, 24 February 1912, Page 15

CAP AND JACKET

[By Thb Eablt Bibd.]

Racing Fixtures.

February 21, 22 and 24—Dunedin J.C. Autumn. February 23 and 24—South Auckland R.C. Annual. February 29 and March 2 — Wanganui J. C. Autumn. March 4 and 5 — Te Aroha J.C. Summer. March 6 and 7 — Dannevirke R.C. Autumn. March 13 and 14—Napier Park R.C. Autumn. March 16 and 18 — Ohinemuri J.C. Annual. March 20 and 21—Nelson J.C. Annual. March 28—Bay of Plenty J.C. Annual. March 28 and 29— Masterton R.C. Autumn. April 6 and 8 — Auckland R.O. Autumn. April 8 and 9 — Canterbury J.C. Autumn. , April 8 anil 9 — Feildmg J.C. Easter. April 6, 8, 10 and 13—Australian J.C. Autumn. April 10—Westland R.C. Autumn. May 1 and 2 — Hawke's Bay J.C. Autumn.

The Otahuhu Trotting . Club s Meeting was concluded on Saturday, the attendance on both days being very good, and some excellent trotting being shown. Mr E. Stockley won the Cup with HaMane, and Little Paul deatf-heated with Merry Kate in the Special Trotting Handicap. On the second day little Paul annexed the Onehunga Handicap for him. Mr G. Mcßnde's Weary Willie caught the Manukau and Telegraph Mr William Douglas's Merry Kate, on a good mark, won the Mangere Trotting Handicap, and also dead-heat-ed with Little Paul. Mr R. Holland won the Maiden and Sylvia Park Handicaps with Prmce Berlin.

Speculation on both days was brisk, Messrs Blomfield and etaff handling £4892 on the first day and £5674 on the second day, making £10,566 for the meeting. Although a lot of rain had fallen, the track was in fairly good order on Saturday. The only little cloud across the brightness of the meeting was that S. Tanner and J. Nicholson were each fined, the first for not driving his horse out and the other for crossing.

The old saying that nobody but the man in the box can tell cannot always apply, as no one is infallible. Old racegoers who were present at the Rotorua J.C.'e annual meeting and saw the finish between Arawa (who was given a dead heat) and Jolie Fille say that the latter won by a head. One good feature about racing sportsmen is that, as a r:i!c ; they are of a philosophic nature, and never question the '>p ; :iH>n.

The South Auckl.-uid Met-iiiHg takes place this week, and some excellent handicaps have been issued. Jolie Fille heads the list in the Cup with 9.3. The mare has put tip some consistent performances round the country meeting ; she carried i>. f 1 in the Rotor uv Oup. and 10.] 0 in the race in which she dead-heated. Maheno and St. Amans are nicely v eighted with 8.3 each, aivl Sir Artegal has nothing to complain of w» 'i Bst. There '*s [levty of room for a surprise with Master Jack (7.9), Taketuma (7.7), and *he sisters Fuss and Vitalia (7.6 and 6.1) respectively). This should be the best betting race of the day.

Amongst the horses that have been doing good track work at Ellerslie and which look wage-earners are Butter, Bogey, Firelock, Sphinx, Westerly, Admiral Soult, Watchchain an 4 Tipua.

The annual meeting of the Ngaruawahia Racing Club, which was held last Saturday, took more the form of a picnic. Neither of the usual channels for speculation was present—machine nor bookmakers. And old residents summed up the generafl impression ;by declaring, "it's like being at a bally jlance without music.

The old battler Pukewera won two heats, 'the Cup and Publicans Purse ; Miss Ada, whose win was long overdue, caught the Kamgaro Handicap, Una Godfrey the Maiden, and Soultstone the Flying Handicap. The First Trot went to Harold Abdallah and Lord John who deadheated, and the Second Trot was captured by Savanna. This probably will be the last gathering the club will hold.

Ashby, the one-time brilliant two-year-old who was purchased cheaply for 30gs. at the dispersal sale of the Cambria Park .Stud lwa etartetf six Meeting, running a first second and third, and is still susceptible to improvement.

Should Ashby ever come back to his two-year-old form, what a cheap bargainer Victor , Cornaga has secured Prior to being taken to New Plymouth, the horse put up a decent trial, running six furlongs o*P<w* says) in 1.185e0., beating Goldsize in the first part, and clearing away from another stable-mate, Good Shot, who brought him home.

Copestake, the rider of Cornelian in Race at the Taranaki Meeting, got three months for the way he handled his mount.

On Saturday next the nominations close for the old-time popular meeting at Ohinemuri. The usual sixteen rafes are scheduled Being in such a central position it .is a favourite gathering of the " racing,cans Mr H Poland is, as usual, at the helm.

Mr J. George, the veteran Taranaki trainer, has got a couple of useful wage-earning nags in Royal Arms and CFown Pearl. They are constantly knocking at the door Jervie has taken up the " king bolt of the stable again, old Parrtutu,

Lucille, who is always rushed by a certain section of the public, cannot be the animal she is fancied. With only 6.13 in the Flying Handicap at Taranaki, she could get no nearer than third to Ashby and St. Bill.

E. J. Rae, one of Auckland's oldest trainers, did not come back empty-handed from Grisborne. He brought the Glenapp-Tauliie filly, Waiowera, with him.

D. Morrigan has broken in the Soult-Hotcherina colt, who is a very racy looking youngster. The colt is still carrying a lot of his yearling condition, but is full of quality. He has been named Soultikoff.

Ashby was the only horse amongst the Auckland neddies that paid his way at the Taranaki gathering. Lucille, Gloy, Spectre, Miss Livonia, Tiresome, Fuss and Ruatangata all drew blanks.

y The Auckland Trotting Club have issued their Autumn programme, which is set down for the 17th and 20th of April. The limits of the handicaps are to be cut down, which gives a good horse a chance, not as formerly, when they had heartbreaking starts to fight against. The nominations close on the sth of April. There are two fat purees hung up for record-breakers.

Ben Deeley is gradually piling up his winning mounts. At Taranaki Meeting he won four races — St. Petersburg twice, Aloha and -Plantation. Ben is chasing that gold watch.

On Saturday morning the two Wanganui Cup candidates, Maxwell and Santa Rosa, ran a mile together on the sand. There was never a length between the pair, Santa making most play. They rattled home together in 1.47 3-ssec., with a little in hand. Maxwell seemed to be going the easiest.

Maheno, wlio ran so disappointingly at Takapuna on the second day has'been on the easy list ever since. On Saturday morning (assisted by Sir "Walter on the sand) she ran 5 furlongs in I.ssec.

Zinnia, who has a South Auckland Cup engagement, alone strode over a circuit on the sand in 2.3 sec. Beinp; a long strider, she seemed to be tiring in the wet going. The Waikato-owned Westerly jumped, five schooling hurdles in good style. Dunborve, who has been off the scene for some time, has put on a lot of condition. He is now doing lon» slow work, and gradually lining down, and will be in evidence again for the Winter meetings. Sea Elf and Soultoria both look nice and mellow, and a few Pipeopeners will put the pair in good-nick for the A.R.C. Autumn Meeting. The former may be classed as one or the unlucky ones, although always showing her mentor good track wort she does not run up to it. Being a light little mare, probably the big fields demoralise her. The Advance mare Attention (report says) is likely to leave the turf for the stud. She, when in a good position in a race at Hawera, suddenly stopped „ Roosevelt, formerly 'a stable-mate of Coromandel, is being sent along by his trainer, A. Jackson. Ine son of Menschikoff has not claimed the judge's attention for some time. The Taranaki Jockey Club's turnover took a big jump over the money handled last year, there being an increase of £15,698. At the Taranaki Meeting the Kawau Handicap was voted the beet finish of the gathering. It was a duel between the favourite, Manawaka, and St. Petersburg, and was a ding-dong go all the way up the straight. The latter won by a neck in 1.44 l-ssec. Deeley was on the winner. Emmerson rode the winners of the last two events of the Taranaki fixture, Crown Pearl and Ohinee in the Farewell and Fjna.l Flutter Handicaps,