A.R.C. SPRING MEETING.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLV, Issue 19, 9 November 1910, Page 12

A.R.C. SPRING MEETING.

KING SOULT WINS THE GUINEAS. The opening day’s racing in connection with the A. R.C. iSpring Meeting took place at Ellerslie on Saturday afternoon. The weather w r as fine, but the attendance did not strike one as being as large usual, nor was the average of outside visitors up to former years. The course and surroundings were in splendid order, the beautiful lawns and flower beds being the subject of much favourable comment. The racing was interesting throughout, and the club's handicapper (Mr. Geo. Morse) had the satisfaction of getting a dead heart, and seeing several warm favourites defeated, notably Regain in the President's Handicap, Continuance in the Maiden Hurdles, and Maxwell in the Hobson Handicap. Mr. R. R. Lusk officiated as judge, Mr. J. K. Douglas, of Messrs. Kohn and Co., as timekeeper, and Mr. C. O’Connor as starter.

At headquarters one looks for things to be as near perfection as possible, and there was no disappointment on Saturday, everything passing off without a bitch, reflecting credit on the secretary (Mr. J. F. Hartland) and his assistants. During the afternoon the Auckland City Band, under Bandmaster John West, rendered a choice musical programme, while Mrs. J. Gallagher supplied a first-class luncheon. THE STEWARDS. The stewards met after the running of the Maiden Hurdle Race to consider a report by the look-out steward (Mr. G. Cutts) on the running of Continuance in that event. It is understood Mr. Cutts voiced his opinion in no uncertain manner, but the connections of the horse were able to satisfy the stewards that everything was as it should be, and the explanation was accepted as entirely satisfactory. During the afternoon there wore two falls in flat races, Parable In the City Handicap and Maykoff in the -Hobson Handicap coming dowff. In the former event there was a lot of crowding ns the field left the straight, and Sea Elf w’as nearly over the rails, while about a furlong further on Parable fell. After the City Handicap the stewards inquired Into

the mkdiap which brought Parable dowif, and, after hearing evidence, during whicß it was stated that Parable had bumped Sea Elf, which C. Brown (the rider of Parable) said was due to his being knocked on to the mare by another horse, they came to the decision that Parable’s falling, which occurred about a furlong further on than the mix-up with Sea Elf, was accidental, but deemed it necessary to administer a caution to Brown. THE TOTALISATORS. Although the attendance did not look up to the mark, still those present must have been well supplied with “the root of all evil,” for during the afternoon the staff of Messrs. H. H. Hayr and Co. handled the sum of £12,643, an Increase of £2233 10/ for the corresponding day last year. In addition 23 bookmakers were licensed at a fee of £2O 10/. THE RACING. Racing commenced with the Handicap, for which the good field of sixteen came out. Regain was made the medium of a plunge, while First Wairiki also found plenty of supporters. The latter was quick to begin, and never gave the rest of the field a look-in, scoring his maiden victory as he liked from Flying Soult, which was one of the outsiders of the field. Regain was never prominent. Of the ten carded for the Great Northern Guineas, Poictiers was the only withdrawal, a good looking field of nine going to the post. King Soult was made a very hot favourite, carrying just about half the investments on the machine, W’hile Kapanga and Goldfinder were the only others to meet -with anything like decent support. The favourite appeared to be a bit fretful in the paddock, but looked well, and, in the light of his Avondale running, it certainly looked picking up money to back him. They were not kept waiting long at the post, and, when they settled down, Antoinette was out filling the role of pacemaker, and a very merry pace she set. After they had gone four furlongs there W’ere only three with anything of a chance —Antoinette, King Soult, and Solus, the others, even at this early stage, being well beaten. Antoinette was going nicely in front when they turned for home, and, with Brady riding King Soult with his hands and heels, it looked as if his task was not so easy as anticipated. As the distance he ranged alongside Antoinette, and for a few strides the mare appeared to hold him, but it was only momentary, for W’hen asked to go on King Soult responded generously, and eventually won with a good bit in hand by a length. Solus, which stuck to his task well, was third, and Cheddar fourth, the big disappointments being Goldfinder and Kapanga, which were the last two to finish. That the pace set by Antoinette was solid the following times, kindly supplied by Mr Douglas, show:—One furlong, 13 3-ss; two furlongs, 24 2-ss; three furlongs, 36 l-ss; four furlongs, 49 l-ss; five furlongs, 1.1 2-5; mile, 1.41 2-5. Previous winners of the race are:—

Time, m. s. 1888 — Hilda, by Musket. 1 47£ 1889— Cissy, by Musket 1 451 1890— Leolantis. by Leoiiuus 1 47f 1891— Brigand, by Brigadier 1 47 1892— Tit, by Leolinus 1 50 1893— St. Laura, by St. Leger.... 1 45 1894— Forme, by Nordenfeldt.... 146 1895— Fabulist, by Fabulous 1 47 1896— St. Paul, by St. Leger 1 45 1897 — St. Crispin, by St. Leger.. 150 1898— Explosion, by Cuirassier... 148 1899 — La Gloria, by St. Leger.... 1 50 1900— Beddington, by Sea. Delaval 144 1901— Nonette, by Seaton Delaval 1 43$ 1902— Wairiki, by Soult 1 46 1903 — Ropa, by St. Leger 1 421 1904— Boris, by Stepniak 1 47 1-5 1905— Annette, by Soult 1 45 4-5 1906 — Cambrian, by Cyrenian.... 1 41 1907— Dunborve, by Bluejacket.. 1 43 1-5 1908— Aborigine, by Merriwee.... 140 1909— Maori King, by Merriwee .. 1 41 1-5 1910 — King Soult, by Soult 1 42 2-5 Th e Welcome Stakes, the “babies' “ race, saw Miss Winsome a very stroug odds on favourite in a field of nine, Ireland being the only other to meet with any support w’orth mentioning. The start was not a. good one. Ireland, being quickest out, and making the pace across the top, looked to have a good w-inning chance, but w’hen Miss Winsome put in her claim the race was all over, the unbeaten daughter of Soult winning as she liked from Ireland, with Tranquil third. Thirteen made their toilets for the Maiden Hurdle Race, and of these Continuance was backed as if it was all over, the only others to get even moderate support beiug Black Northern. The latter was early iu the lead, and w r on comfortably from Delegate, while the best the favourite could do was to struggle into third place. The Shorts Handicap brought out a field of a dozen sprinters, w’ith St. Bill first choice, while Miss Winnie, Blue Garment, Kakama, and Turbine w’ere also backed. Backers were right on the spot, for after Miss Winnie had made the running to within a short distance of the post, St. Bill just got up to win by a neck. Waiari and Iney dropped out of the City Handicap, w’hich attracted a field of eleven, North-East being made a strong favourite, •with Waimangu also well backed, and then, in order of favouritism, came Advocate, Sea Elf, Lochbuie, Parable, Coromandel, Uranium, Admiral Soult, Palsano, and Waitapiu The field gave a lot of trouble at the post, and when they were let go Waimangu lost a lot of ground. Uranium was quickly into her stride, and, with Admiral Soult, Lochbuie, and North-East as her nearest attendants, made the pace solid. Turning for home the evergreen one was still forcing the pace, and, instead of coming back, as most people were expecting, she stayed it right out, and w’on by three lengths from Waimangu, which just caught Lochbuie on the post. The favourite was fourth. The times for the various stages were: Oue furlong, 14s; two furlongs, 26 2-ss; three furlongs, 43 2-ss; five furlongs, 1.4 35; six furlongs, 1.18; seven furlongs, 1.30; one mile and a-quartex, 2.9 4-5.

On the strength of Mn track work Maxwell was made a screaming hot favourite In a held of twenty that contested the Hobson Handicap, but the good thing came undone, the race resulting In a dead heat between Kanewara and Spectre, with Flying Boult third. Salute and Golden Loop monopolised the betting in the concluding event, the Flying Handicap, and, after the latter hud flattered his admirers to the home turn, Salute took charge, and, a tailing off challenges by Sir Artegai and Santa Bosa, won comfortably. * * i