SPORTING

Waikato Times, Volume 92, Issue 14253, 2 January 1920, Page 4

SPORTING

AUCKLAND SUMMER MEETING. THIRD DAY. ROYAL STAG WINS THE DERBY. (By Telegraph.—Special to Times.) AUCKLAND. Thursday. Although the crowd was not so great as on Boxing Day it was still very intense for the New Year's Day racing. Among the notable visitors were the Prime Minister and Hons. T. Wilford and Sir W. H. Herries. The totalisator revenue for the day was £118,544 10s, making £337,062 for the three days of the meeting, which is an increase of £134,300 over The three days last year. Notes on tho Racing. The Waikato-owned and' trained King Abbey was made a very warm favourite for the opening race of ' the day,; the Ferguson Handicap. Getting out smartly Mr Hannon's chestnut was soon piloting the field, and Robinson had little trouble in bringing him home a winner by three lengths. Ruatara, who defeated Nightime by threequarters of a length, got a bad passage during the running on two different occasions, but under the most favoured circumstances would not have paced it with the winner. Rekanui gained her second victory over hurdles on her second appearance, and again won in a convincing fashion from the six others who were saddled up to contest the N"w Year Hurdle Race. Rennie took the Waikato mare to the iiunt from the barrier rise, and she soon established a big gap between herself and the rest of the field. Over the last half-mile Entente Cordiale reduced some of the leeway, but Mr Hannon's representative finished a good four lengths ahead, carving out the two miles in the good time of 3.44 3-5 sees, and the popular public selection was justified for the second successive occasion of the day. The two-year-olds attracted a lot of attention as they paraded to contest the Midsummer Handicap, over five furlongs. Both Humbug and Moorfowl looked improved on their Boxing Day appearance, when the colt defeated the filly, while Wake was not without a lot* of admirers. On the machine Humbug was installed first fancy, but the filly got out smartly, while Humbug raced well back to the straight entrance. A hundred yards from the post, it looked as if Humbug might reach her, but the filly finished strongly for a w'n by nearly three lengths. Wake, who got out with tne winner, iiv tied Iho c;trks. The greatest surprise of the day was the defeat of a red hot Derby favourite in Rossini by Royal Stag, who returned her supporters close on a baker's dozen. Rossini was racing in a field of . five for the greater period of the mile and a-half. At the straight entrance Rossini threew a challenge out to Rose Wreath, who had acted as pacemaker, and the latter was effectively disposed of, but Royal Stag came fast on the rails about 50 yards from the post. Rossinj suddenly swerved when Deeley drew the whip, and this settled it, and the fast finishing Royal Stag got the verdict by half a length. The investments on Rossini reached £7750, 10s, which easily ousted the individual .record investment set up by Moorfowl on Boxing Day. Royal Stag made Sir Geo. Clifford's fourth win in the event. In the next event the triple victory of the day passed to Mr Hannon, when he captured the Newmarket Handicap with Queen Abbey. Quin Abbey's .daughter was ridden a good race by Glover.' She gut in front early, and, finishing full of running, carved out the six furlongs in 1.13, a sterling performance after making all the running from Dusky Eve and Mountain Gold. Mangamahoe was beaten into third place in the Racing Club Handicap. Vagabond and Uncle Ned put in their runs from the distance, the New Zealand Cup winner passing the post half a length in front of Uncle Nod, who ran a great race once again. Though the Waikato horse was the actual favourite in a great betting race, Uncle Ned, Vagabond, Kilmoon, Battlesong, and Mascot were well supported. A very short price favourite in Te Oro was downed in the Ellerslie Handicap by Starland, while the public selection was astray also in the concluding event of the programme, the Glasgow Handicap, when Escaped got home by a head. Tobasco,-who finished well fourth, had a lot of leeway to make up. Results. Ferguson Handicap.—King Abbey 1, Ruatara 2, Night Time 3. Also started: Gatherer, War Tank, Tuipa, Clonmel, Golden Petal, Independence, Golden Crozier, Oak Abbey, Over There, Marble Slab, asd Backfire. Won by three lengths. Time, 1.14 3-5. New Year Hurdle Race, 2 miles.— Rekanui 1, Entente Cordiale 2, Marconi 3. Also started: Multive, Tenacious, Waiukura and Middlemark. Won by four lengths. Time, 3.44 3-5. Midsummer Morfowl 1, Wade 2, Humbug 3. Also started: Illumination, Loveiight. Arch Margot, and Bonnie -Maid. Won by two lengths and a-half. Great Northern Derby, one mile and a-half.—Royal Stag 1, Rossini 2, Rose Wreath 3. Also started: Archie, Canowindra. Won by half a length. Time, 2.34 3-5.

Newmarket Handicap. —Queen Abbey 1, Tigritiya 2, Gazique 3. Scratched: Silver Link and Simonides. Won by three-quarters of a length. Time, 1.13. A.E.C. Handicap, H miles.—Vagabond 1, Uncle Ned 2, Mangamahoe 3. Twelve starters. "Won by a length. Time, 2.34.

Ellerslie Handicap, 1 mile—Slarland 1, Te Oro 2. Persian King 3. Also started: Scottish Knight, Glen Canny, Phyllona, New Zealand, Actrice, Hessian, Prince Rufus, Penella, Romeo. Won by a length. Time, 1.40. Glasgow Handicap, 7 furlongs Escaped 1, Roekfield 2, Trespass 3. Also started: Mill o' Gowrie, Ohinewalrua, Bitholia, Nightraider Tobasco, and Kerchone. "Won by a head, the third horse a length and a-half away. Time, 1.27.

THE CONCLUDING DAY. (Isv Telegraph.—Press Association.} ' " AUCKLAND, Friday. The fourth day's racing of the A.R.C. Summer Meeting was held in fine weather, with a very large attendance. Eesults: — Goodwood Handicap.—Te Oro 1, Trespass. Won by a neck. Time. Trespass. Won bya neck. Time, 1.39. Grandstand Handicap.—Gazique 1, Melee 2, King Lupin 3. Scratched: Tinopai, Bonnie Maid. Won by two lengths, three lengths separating second and third. Time, 2.0 2-5,. Sylvia Handicap.—Wflldnne 1, Landslide 2, Potona 3. All started. Won by three-quarters of a length, the tin J horse being three lengths away. Time, 1.15 2-5. Royal Stakes.—Gloaming 1. Silver Link 2, Humbug 3. Scratched: Rossini, Affectation, Murihiku. Won by threequarters of a length, two lengths between second and third. Time, 1.13. Auckland Hurdles. Pendoon 1, Battletide 2, Entente Cordiale 3. Scratched: Tenacious. Won by 13 lengths. Time, 3.43 ?.-'>