Late Racing.

Observer, Volume XXXV, Issue 50, 21 August 1915, Page 23

Late Racing.

♦ The weather opened dull and cole for the New Zealand Metropolitai Trotting Club's Autumn fixture, bui the racing was first-class, big fields and keen contests. The totalieator staff handled no less than £96,985, as against £76,952 —an increase of £19,943. Both Whisht and Auckland Girl won heats, and the latter seemed unlucky to lose a race through losing the ground on the concluding day. Mr R. T. Reid's Eccentric ran a solid race at the meeting, but did not wim> outright. Olive was also runming well until he left the ground. Calm, on the 8 second mark, put up a good performance by winning the August Handicap, two miles, in 4.36, beating thirteen others. Sherwood appropriated the King George Handicap from Fashionwood, jFranacia and seven others. 1 In the Inter-national Handicap Adonis just v outed the Auckland horse Eccentric which is trained at Addington and is a good class of a ;horse. Prince Rufus is owned by the" same owner. Jack Ashore also won a heat, the .Dash Handicap, beating eighteen others, leaving a mile behind 1 in 2.25 in very heavy going. In the Midwinter Handicap Kirikiriroa and Whisht could not be induced to settle down, the other Auckland! horse Grattan Abbey being in front for a time. Whisht came : with a wet sail, but could not reach the Whispering Lad. Prince Berlin brought a little grist to the Auckland mill when he made good in the Islington Handicap. We are now within a month of the Avondale meeting. The local trainera are keeping their charges well up to their work, especially the juveniles and Guineas candidates. On Saturday both Taj, Mahai and Gold Lac were putting their best forward, the former being assisted by Monojack and' the latter by eriae.

The hurdle division among the novices are putting in fair schooling. On, Saturday the Spalpeen showed Inspector the way over the big schoolers, pleasing the onlookers. Toreador was showing the way over five of the big battens to Monathol and Hima. The trio gave a good! display of quick fencing. Master Regal and Hemisphere circled the same fences leisurely. They are both safe jumpers,, if a bit slow. Chime, fencing much better than >i usual, showed tbe way over the small •battens to Marconi. The latter . started by running off, but Roach would stand no, nonsense, and Marconi then jumped well. The starter at the O.J.C. fixture handled two hundred and ninety-two starters at the tapes. ParaAvanui, Harbour Light, Rufus, The Mouse, Nicomar, Art (twice), Teviotdale and Crib were the ten first favourites that got home for the punters at the C.J.C. National Meeting. The following horsemen were successful at the National meeting:— W. Adams, J. O'Obnnell (three each), A. J. McFlynn, A. Julian, S. Reid, A .Wormaid and B. Deely (two each), R. Gray, Mr J. D. Smith, J. Miller, L. Morris, 0. McCarter, J. Boyd, J. O'Shea, and S. Barr (one winner each). Bluestone and Lolonaa were two of the local horses that proved disappointments at the National meeting. The speculative punters piled the money on the former in both starts. Another local horse that his consistent fencing made some amends for his rather poor display was Golden Glow. He always has a hunter's chance, but if there is any pace on he cannot foot it fast enough. The Heatihcote Handicap was productive of one of the best finishes at the meeting; no less than five taking a hand in the first flight, and with the second division battling out close up it was a stirring finish.

The partners found that they could not send the gelding Colonel Soult by the Niagara next Monday, and he was efliipped last Wednesday to Sydd ney. The owners will go over later n on. '* Mr Henry Barr, who has been racls ing horses for a decade, Orange and Blue, Tiki, and numerous others, 0 finds the game is not worth the can--2 die, and has gone on the land. He is managing a farm for his brother at 1 Hangatiki, King Country. Colonel Soult's last gallop, prior to y leaving for N.S.W., was a six-fur-long sand gallop with Analogue to assist, but the latter, although alj lowed a generous start, was no use at } the finish to the big Soult horse. j There were two odds-on chances got home at the O.J.C. National . gathering, Chibb being the shortest, \ Art coming next in his two races. [ Ngatoa was the best dividend, paying nearly twenty-three pounds. On Tuesday most of the work at ' Ellerslie was of the easy pace order. J. Chaafe stretched out Gold Lac. Hi ma, Goldsize and the two-year-old , 1 Ritasea all worked usefully. \ On Tuesday morning Loyal Arch ..acted as pacemaker to the English- ■ s bred three-year-old and the tnree-year-old Elysian-Miss Nelson colts, f The young ones are still a bit backward, and had no chance with the Marble Arch filly. I Mr Bob Rae, of Remuera, was one of the first to hunt the National winner Ngatoa Avith the P.H.C. The genial Robert had anything but * a joy ride when the son of NgaturaLeolantis mare first sighted the crowd and heard the music of the pack when the throw-off was sounded. The heady gelding wanted to take charge and rush his fences, but soon settled down when he found he _ had the restraining hands of a master behind the reins. Perhaps the " good example of this initial lesson indirectly won tbe Pakuranga Hunt Club Cup Steeplechase (1913-14), and the C.J.O. G.N. Steeplechase of c 1915-16 for Mr B. W. Alison, junr.'e, k horse.