Canterbury J.C’s Spring Meeting.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume III, Issue 120, 10 November 1892, Page 5

Canterbury J.C’s Spring Meeting.

(BY WIRE. SPECIAL CORRESPONDS!.)

First Day—Tuesday, November 8.

The Canterbury' Jockey Club’s Spring Meeting commenced to-day. The weather was fine but dull. The attendance was decidedly the best on record, and when the Cup race was run there must have been fully 7,000 people present. His Excellency the Governor, Lady Glasgow and suite arrived early and were received by the stewards, who subsequently entertained them at lunch. The racing was of a most interesting character throughout, and Mr . Sam Powell’s starting was next door to faultless. The sum ot went through the totalisators, being about / 500 more than was handled on the first day of the corresponding meeting last season. The Spring Hurdle Race of 150 sovs, two miles, commenced the proceedings, and the following field of half-a-dozen came out : — Norton, 12.9 ; Erin-go-Bragh, 10.12; Magpie, 10.8; Marquis of Tewkesbury, 10.7, inc. 71b penalty; Gillie, 9.12; and Justice, 9.0. Marquis of Tewkesbury was made a warm favorite, Erin-go-Bragh coming second in public estimation, and Norton next. Erin-go Bragh and Justice fell at the first hurdle, and Sheenan, who rode the former, had his collar-bone broken. Gillie when leading ran off, leaving Magpie in front, where he stayed till the distance was reached, where Norton came with a strong run and won by half-a-length from Magpie, Marquis of Tewkesbury being a moderate third. Time, 4min 3-5 sec. Norton paid a dividend in the paddock totalisator of 9s 6d. The Maiden Stakes of 100 sovs, one mile, was contested by Young Cheviot, 8.2; Van Buren, 8.2: Paramu, 7.13; The Winchman, 7.7; Au Revoir, 7.7 ; Fiske, 7.3 ; Vivat, 7.2 ; and Black Pearl, 7.2. Young Cheviot was backed down to 5 to 4, and won by half-a-length from the Wellington representative Paramu, with The Winchman third.

Next came on the biggest handicap of the New Zealand racing season, the New Zealand Cup of 1000 sovs, two miles. The final acceptances had left in 17. Crackshot had for three days previous been favorite, and he maintained his position till the fall of the flag. A lot of money coming in for Launceston, he was a firm second favorite at the start. St. Hippo was in most demand of the others, and Prime Warden was also backed. How St. Hippo had the race in hand almost from the fall of the flag I will relate further on. The Dunedenite Dilemma, by whom the Otago people had for a long time sworn, ran well, and got into second place, and a big surprise was furnished by the hitherto proved non-stayer Boulanger coming with a strong run at the finish, and gaining third money by a neck from Launceston. Without further remark I append the full field, their weights and riders : — New Zealand Cup, a handicap sweepstake of 2osovs each, with iooosovs added ; the owner of the second horse to receive 2oosovs, and the owner of the third horse ioosovs out of the stake. Two miles. Mr. L. D. Nathan’s b c St Hippo, 3yrs, by St. Leger—Hippona, 7.7 (Gallagher)..., I Mr. J. B. Reid’s b g Dilemma, 4yrs, by Rubezahl—l.ady Emma, 7.0 (Kingan) 2 Mr. J. Paul’s b h Boulanger, 6yrs, by Grand Prix —Fleurette, 8.4 (McKeague),... .. 3 Also started — Crackshot, 8.11 (Derrett); Prime Warden, 8.10 (Lindsay).; Merrie England, 8.9 (Clark) ; Cynisca, 8.9 (Collello); Crown Jewel, 8.1 (Ray).; Morion, 8.0 (McCormick); Vogengang, 7.9 (Brown); Rosefeldt, 7.8 (Price); Flinders, 7.7 (Boyle) ; The Dreamer, 7.0 (Connop); Launceston, 7.o(Fuzard); Awarua Rose, 6.8 (Ross).

As soon as Mr. Powell dismissed them from a beautiful start, Awarua Rose and St. Hippo showed out with a lead, and as they came past the stand Awarua Rose had a length’s advantage of St. Hippo, with Launceston third. By the time they had got to Cutts’, a mile from home, St. Hippo singled out, Awarua Rose and Launceston being at the head of the others. St. Hippo led them along for the next couple of furlongs, with Awarua Rose second, Dilemma moving up third about six furlongs from home. Launceston and Crackshot also showed up well. St. Hippo led into the straight, where Awarua Rose retired, and Dilemma took second place, Crackshot and Launceston also showing a bold front. Crackshot struggled on to the distance, where he fell back beaten, and St. Hippo going on, won by a little more than a length from Dilemma, who was about the same distance in front of Boulanger, who came

fast in the straight, and gained third money by a neck from Launceston. Crackshot was fifth, and Rosefeldt next. Time, jmin jo|sec. The dividend inside was 6 7s, and outside The victory of the Auckland colt was a popular one. The Riccarton Welter Handicap 01 ioosovs, six furlongs, brought out the large field of fourteen, and Aquarius, 10.2, found most friends, Young Cheviot, 10.8, and Wanganui, 9.6, also being well backed. After Roseguard had made play as far as the home turn, Wanganui ran up to her, and had headed the field at the distance, but Young Cheviot then came with a run and beat him by a length and a-half, Warrington, B.7, gained third place close up. Young Cheviot paid £4- 1 is. The Welcome Stakes of 250S0VS, for two-year-olds, four furlongs, attracted a fine field of ten to the post. On the strength of his Hawke’s Bay victory and with the money on from the right quarter and Derrett in the saddle, Mr. Stead’s Geraint was served up very warm, but the Dunedinites, though they had “ fallen ” over Dilemma, were nothing discouraged about the chance of his stable companion Skirmisher, and they put the pieces down with such a will that he left off second favourite. Westmere was well supported too, but the others did not meet with much attention except Token — whose price had improved because of another of Mr.. ‘ W Russell’s” horses running second in the Hurdles —and Whisper’s half-sister Busybody, whose track form at Riccarton had been decidedly good. It was this filly that first got to work when the flag dropped, the last to get away being Westmere and Saracen’s brother Loyalty, who belongs to Mr. D. O’Brien. Busybody kept her advantage into the entrance of the course proper, where she was challenged by Skirmisher and Westmere, the latter having come through at an astonishing pace. Geraint soon made a challenge, but failed to sustain it, and Skirmisher, though tackled strongly by Westmere, beat him half a length Loyalty was third, just in front of Geraint. The time was 49 fsec, and the inside dividend £3 4 s - Skirmisher is owned by Mr. J. B. Reid, the owner of Dilemma, and is by Vanguard (winner of the New Zealand Cup and Dunedin Cup) out of Ouida, by Tubal Cain out of Argosy, the dam of Bundoora. The Ladies’ Purse of ioosovs, about one mile and a half and a distance, gentlemen riders up, brought out half a dozen. Bay King, with 12.10, and one of our best amateurs, Mr A. G. Cox, up, was a pronounced favourite, and he ran a great race, but had to succumb to Exile, 10.12, who is the property of a very popular Oamaru sportsman whose racing name is “J. R. Longfellow.” Exile is a son of Le Loup. Mountain Maid, who won the Bracelet at the Grand National Meeting, was third. The grand field of 17 went to the post for the Stewards’ Handicap of 2oosovs, 6 furlongs. Betting was fast and lively, those most fancied being Hippomenes 9.3, Stepniak 7.10, Quadrant 8.1 1, Carronade 7.10, The Dancer 810, Whakawatea 8.10, and Merganser 7.7. Quadrant led at the start, but his advantage was short lived, for he was supplanted by Stepniak. No sooner, however, had Mr. Stead’s colt got going than Carronade assumed command, and led into the straight. Stepniak came again though, and Quadrant chiming in, they ran a good race to the finish, Stepniak winning by slightly less than two lengths from Quadrant, who beat Carronade half a length. Wakawatea was at the head of the others. The time was recorded as 1 min i6sec, and the inside dividend was £6 3s 6d. The day’s sport terminated with the Shorts’ Race of 30SV0S, minimum weight 7.7, four furlongs, which produced nine starters, and Mr. “W- Russell’s ” Emperor won with a bit in hand, paying the best dividend of the day, 3s. 6d.

SECOND DAY.—WEDNESDAY, NON. 9Results of to-day’s races were:—Middleton Hurdle Handicap of 100 sovs., about a mile and a half and a distance —Mr. C. Archibald’s ch g Marquis of Tewkesbury, by St. Leger — Queen Margaret, 6yrs, 10.9, 1 ; The Idler, 11.8, 2. Justice 9.0, and Black Hawk 10.9, ran off. Dividends —inside, £2 13s ; outside, £2 11s. Criterion Handicap of 150 sovs., seven furlongs—Mr. W. Rathbone’s br f Merganser, by Nordenfeldt —Albatross, 4yrs, 7.5, 1 ; Mr. S. Alexander’s b h Young Cheviot, aged, 8.5. 2; Mr. T. W. Hungerford’s b m Heather Bell, syrs, 3. Dividends — inside £ll 9 s * 6d ; outside, os 6d.

Derbv Stakes of 500 sovs, one mile and a half. — Mr. G. G. Stead’s br c Stepniak, by Nordenfeldt —Steppe, 1 ; Mr. L. D. Nathan’s b c St. Hippo, by St. Leger—Hippona, 2; Mr. D. O’Brien’s ch c Launceston, by Tasman —Rubina, 3. Dividends —inside, £& 6s 6d ; outside, £5 12s. Juvenile Plate of 250 sovs., for three year-olds, with penalties and allowances, five furlongs.—Mr. J. B. Reid’s br c Skirmisher, by Vanguard —Ouida, 1 ; Mr. J. Paul’s b c Westmere, 2 ; Mr. G. G. Stead’s blk c Geraint, 3. Dividends—inside, £4. 16s ; outside, £5 13s 6d. Metropolitan Stakes Handicap of 400 sovs., one mile and a half. — Mr. G. Hunter’s blk m Cynisca, by Apremont— Nautilus, 6yrs, 8.9, 1 ; Mr. V. Harris’ br h Ciackshot, syrs, 8. 12, 2 ; Mr. W. Douglas’ brf Rosefeldt, 4yrs, 7.7, 3. Dividends — inside, £8 3s ; outside, £8 17s 6d. The Selling Two-year-old Race of ioosovs, 4 furlongs, was won by Token by St George—Charm, with Busybody second, and Zodiac third. Dividends — inside, £3 15s 6d ; outside, £3 7s. Epsom High Weight Handicap of ioosovs, one mile. —Mr. G. Blenheim’s ch g Wanganui, 6yrs, 9.4, 1 ; Exile, 9.2, 2 ; Paramu, 9.9, 3- Dividends —inside, /'l3 os 6d; outside, £ll ss. The Auction Handicap of sosovs, five furlongs, was won by Emperor, 8.7, with Balfour, 7.2, second, and Penmine, 7.13, third. Dividends —inside £3 18s., outside £3 13s. 6d.