Auckland Racing Club’s Winter Meeting.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume III, Issue 151, 15 June 1893, Page 5

Auckland Racing Club’s Winter Meeting.

A RETROSPECTIVE GLANCE.

[By

Sir Launcelot.]

Second Day.—Saturday, June io. Cruel was the luck again meted out to the Auckland Racing Club on Saturday last, the second day of their North New Zealand Grand National Steeplechase Meeting. Friday night looked promising enough, but the wind got up, and early on Saturday morning it blew a hurricane, rain descended, and it became bitterly cold. Throughout the forenoon it was showery, and though it cleared again a bit j ust before the time of starting the first race, such a heavy downpour of rain then came on that the race had to be put back for a few minutes, for neither horses nor jockeys could withstand the pitiless force of the tempest. All the afternoon it rained off and on, the consequence being that the saddling paddock was a perfect sea of mud and slush, and few racemeetings in the colony have ever been carried out under more disadvantageous circumstances. Considering the state of the weather the attendance must be accounted satisfactory, there being about 2000 present, which was in excess of the number present on the Grand National Hurdle Race day. Of course the heavy going caused more than one upset of form, but there was some capital racing, and the big event of the day furnished in the victory of the aptly- ; named Despised one of the greatest sur- <. prises of the season. Though greatly hampered by the unfavourable surroundings the officials worked with their usual mm, and though the first race was. perforce, started a bit later than should have been the case Mr Percival, the secretary, and his assistants, kept the ball rolling so merrily that the programme was got off in good time. Mr W. Blomfield and his staff efficiently handled £3664 at the ; totalisator, making a total of £6809 for the whole meeting. Only three out of the half-dozen whose names appeared on the card came to the post for the Hunters’ Welter Handicap of 40sovs, one mile. Ida and Lottie, who were weighted at 11.10 and 10.11 re-

spectively, each claimed 71b allowance for a gentleman rider, and it. was this that probably frightened out all the opposition but Ingorina. Ida was made an odds-on chance, and she landed them but only aiter a capital set-to between the whole three coming down the straight. Ida and Ingorina led on even terms for most of the journey, but Lottie came up rounding the bend, and appeared to have Slightly the best of it at the home turn. Here Ingorina put in a strong claim, and headed her by the time they reached the Derby stand. Then Ida put in some strong work, and coming on with, seemingly, a bit in hand beat Ingorina at the finish by a length, and Lottie was only slightly more than that distance behind Ingorina. The dividends were—lnside, £1 12s; outside, £1 Ils. Though the rain continued to beat down, the interest in the piece de resistance of the meeting—the Great Northern Steeplechase Handicap of 400sovs, about three miles and a half—did not flag, and under cover of the stand and the booths could be seen eager knots of spectators discussing the chances of the various competitors. When the numbers were hoisted it was seen that there were half a dozen absentees, viz., Mangere 12.4, Tiritea 11.4, Waterbury 10.7, Parnell 10.0, Isidore 9.7, and Bombardier 9.7. Of these adverse rumours had been afloat for some days regarding Mangere, and his defection did not therefore come much in the light of a surprise. Tiritea could have had no show at the weight in such heavy going; Parnell’s stable had something better to rely on; Waterbury was kept back for something better later on, and Isidore and Bombardier, though both having the minimum, were not class enough in such company. The state of the atmosphere prevented the cognoscenti from having much of a look at the eleven competitors, of whom, by the way, Shillelagh, 11.4, and Scaltheen, 9.10, were the only ones that figured in last year’s field. Under ordinary circumstances the top weight Norton would have attracted a big levee, but he had been off his feed for a few days previous to the race, and he was certainly a bit on the light side. To the last the Taranaki contingent were very sweet upon Booties, 10.8. He certainly had none the worst of the weights, and those who knew him best averred that the heavy going was, if anything, much in his favour. It had been freely hinted about that Shillelagh had broken down when being exercised at Hawera prior to the Egmont Steeplechase, but though he had bandages on both forelegs we failed to detect much of a “ breakdown,” and those connected with him did not hesitate to back him, while the public, remembering that he won the same race last year, supported him in such earnest that he left off second in demand. A good many remembering that Marechai Neil, 10.0, had not shown his true form in the Grand National Hurdles owing to his running outside the course at an early stage of the race and that his owner supported him to win the double of Hurdles and Steeples just after the weights appeared,made such a strong order of him that he was next in favour after Booties and Shillelagh. The rest were pretty evenly backed except Despised, 9.7, who was the absolute outsider of the whole party, and whose victory, as I have said above, furnished one of the greatest surprises ever recorded in the annals of tbe New Zealand Turf. With some horses riding in wrong colours and the weather none too propitious, it was hard to see what moved away first, but Deceiver drew out and led over the first obstacle, Scaltheen, Shillelagh, and Flukem being close handy, Nero last. Deceiver went on with the lead till they got to the bottom of the hill where Booties assumed command, but a sheet would have covered him, Deceiver, Shillelagh, and Despised, the others being in a ruck not far away. Flukem soon took up the running, and Marechai Neil refused the next obstruction, while Shillelagh’s leg gave away. Flukem led Booties down the hill, and they ran together till the sod wall, where Flukem was first, Deceiver second and Booties third, Despised, Scaltheen, and Norton heading the others. Deceiver led over the water with Booties second, Flukem third, and Despised and Scaltheen next. The leaders kept their positions till the back of the course, where Booties joined Deceiver, Despised being seen in third place about a couple of lengths away, Flukem and Norton a bad third and fourth respectively. Booties again asserted himself as they ran through the trees, and at the post and rail fence on top of the hill he had about three lengths advantage of Despised with Deceiver third and the others, to all appearances,

tailing off. Auckland stuck up here. Koss Heaton evidently now considered it time to send Despised along, so he livened up the pace, and the son of Cap-a-pie, going to the front, took the sod wall with a good lead from Deceiver. The favourite was running third, but it was evident that he had had enough of it. Despised led over the double in front of the stand, with quite half-a-dozen lengths lead of Deceiver, and here Flukem blundered and Norton was pulled up in obedience to instructions from his owner. Despised, keeping going, increased his advantage as they ran to the back of the course, Nero (who had been steadily plodding on) being by this time second, Scaltheen third and Chester fourth, Deceiver and Booties going on a hopeless sternchase behind them. Despised drew away a bit further going up the hill, but he came down at the first fence of the double on the top of the hill, which left Scaltheen with a good lead of Nero. Deceiver and Chester being next at a long interval. Despised was quickly remounted, but Scaltheen was about a furlong in front of him as they ran towards the stone wall, where Nero was about a dozen lengths behind Scaltheen. But Despised had been creeping up and getting on level terms with Scaltheen at the next obstacle he had the best of the run home by three lengths from Scaltheen, who finished third in the same event last year with 31b less than he now carried and with the same jockey up. Nero was third now, about half-a-dozen lengths away, and Chester and Deceiver were a long away ahead of Flukem and Booties, who were the only others that finished. The time was, as was only to be expected, terribly slow, 9min 58sec, which is lmin 44sec slower than the journey occupied last year. Despised paid the large dividends of £37 12s inside and £93 5s outside.

Mutiny and Deceiver dropped out of the Handicap Hurdle Race of lOOsovs.one mile and three-quarters, so that only a quartette was left to face Mr E. D. Halstead, who, I must not omit to mention, wielded the starter’s flag with great proficiency throughout the meeting. Once more did backers rally to the support of Belmont, 10.7, and they made him favourite. They had good grounds—on paper—for doing so, but once more did he have to put up with the unenviable position of runner-up, for he met more than his match in the Poverty Bay representative Criminal, who was getting 71b from him. Waterbury, 10.12, was second favourite to Belmont — in fact there was little to choose between them in the betting—but Mr Douglas’ horse finished last of the quartette. Criminal made play as soon as the flag dropped. Each of his opponents had a dash at him, but though at various intervals of the race they decreased his lead they could never get very close to him, and he led into the home stretch with three lengths advantage, which he held to the finish in spite of a gallant effort on Belmont’s part. Ingorina was third. Criminal (who is by the Wellington Cup winner Foul Play out of the Diomedes —Waimea mare Renga) paid dividends of £5 10s and £4 9s, and the Gisbornites present profited accordingly. Only a trio declined the contest for the Second Winter Welter Handicap of 50 so vs, 7 furlongs, which left the nice field of ten to go to the post. The Grand National Hurdle Race winner Mutiny, who had been withdrawn from the H urdles j ust decided, and had that morning been purchased by the Napier sportsman Mr Douglas for 235g5, was installed favourite, and next to him the public evinced most liking for Master Pat, 10 8. Lady Belle was quickest on her legs, with Mutiny and His Worship next. Lady Belle continued to lead round the back and along to the straight, where Ida, 11.12, and His Worship, 10.0, were very handy. Both challenged the North Shore representative at the Derby Stand, and though she responded gamely, Ida was too good for her, winning by a head from His Worship, with Lady Belle only half-a-length behind Mr “B. Thompson’s *’ cast off. It was only the other day that Mr “ Thompson ” leased His Worship, and this was the first time the colt had run in his new lessee's nomination, and he certainly ran the best race he has run during his three-year-old career. Considering the big form Ida has shown during the last three or four months it is rather surprising that her present victory rewarded her backers with such dividends as £7 2s and £lO 15s.

Seven out of 10 acceptors came out for the Tally-ho Handicap Steeplechase of lOOsovs, about 3 miles, and a trio were pretty evenly backed, viz., Parnell, 10.3, Long Roper, 9.7, and Bombardier, 9.7, the last named being absolute favourite

when the machine closed. Backers of outsiders had another “ flop-up.” for Nero, who like the favourite had the minimum weight, got home —a well-de-served win after the way he had finished in the big Steeples. Flukem, 10.0. cut out the work at the start, and was leading when they came on to the course proper, Auckland having meanwhile stuck up. As they came along towards the stand Flukem had a long lead of Bombardier, who was second, Nero lying third. Parnell came down, and the water jump proved fatal to Kate’s chance. Nero ran into second place behind Flukem, at the back of the course, but after they had got through the trees, Flukem again drew clear and led down the hill nearly a dozen lengths in front of Nero, Bombardier third, and Long Roper fourth. Flukem had had enough when they got on to the flat again, and Long Roper took the lead, Bombardier blundering at the stone wall and unseating Morrigan. Long Roper kept going right along to the back stretch and up the hill, but Weal on Nero did not allow him to get too far away, and coming down the hill he challenged. The pair ran together and jumped the stone wall in company, but Nero landed first, and it seemed that he had the best of it, but Long Roper came again, and it was all Weal could do to get Nero home by a length. Flukem was a bad third. The dividends were £lO 10s and £lO 4s, some more nice plums for lucky investors. Naturally, with the shades of evening falling and the aqueous surroundings everywhere, few could muster up interest over the Novel Race of 30sovs, one mile, especially when there was a field of but three to deal with. Jessica, whois getting rather used to this kind of race now, was favourite, but though she led to the home turn Minnie soon found her measure, and won easily by a couple of lengths. This mare (who was ridden by Nero’s trainer Weal) is by Anteros, and is one of those useful sorts that the Loiterer horse left behind him while he served in this colony. The dividends on Minnie were £2 8s inside and £3 17s outside

After this a “ bee-line” was made for the train, and on the homeward journey more than one of the occupants of the same carriage in which I travelled, and who loves the sport of racing for its own sweet sake, expressed a hope that the Fates would be more kind next season to the Auckland Racing Club and would grant them better fortune than they had experienced during the season of 1892-93. The amounts passed through the totalisators were : —lnside —First day, ; second day, Outside —First day, ; second day, Total for the meeting, The following amounts were paid over to the winners at the settling : —

An Auckland gentleman, who is well acquainted with Despised and who profited by his victory to a substantial amount, having backed him in a double with Mutiny, kindly supplies me with the following history of his career : —He is by Cap-a-pie out of Mavis by Diomodes (imp.)—Victoria (bred in New South Wales by Mr T. Icely about 1849), by Operator (imp.)—Lady Matilda by imported Bay Camerton out of Miss Nettleton, an English thoroughbred mare imported to New South Wales via India. Mavis is the dam of Castoff, who sired Tongariro, Ruapehu. Aorere, and other good horses. Despised was bred by Mr J. S. Caverhill, of Hawera. On account of a faulty hock he was sold as a three-year-old to Mr Middleton. of Opunake, who found he had a bit of pace, and having a liking for the breeding he put the horse into training. He was rewarded by winning both hack races at the Egmont Autumn Meeting, and Despised also won

the hack race at Warrengate shortly afterwards. In taking the horSe home he caught a severe cold which affected hjh eyes, with the result that he was practically withdrawn from racing till the season of 1889, when he won the Novel Rate atManaia, and was sold for £l5. In Mr Cunningham’s nomination he won a ' Hurry Scurry at New Plymouth and three Hack Hurdle Races this season before coming to Auckland. Since his arrival here he ran second in both Hurdles and Steeples at the Takapuna Jockey Club’s Birthday Meeting, and at Ellerslie last week, after being beaten a head by Chester in the Maiden Steeplechase won the Great Northern Steeplechase. Taking up the history of Despised from where my friend leaves off, I may say that a couple of days after the racing at the North Shore Despised was offered for auction at Messrs. Buckland and Son’s yards. The bidding did not reach the reserve, so he was passed in. Private offers were subsequently made for him by Mr T. Wyley, and that gentleman secured him for He went into Williamson’s stable, and his victory made the third successive year in which that trainer has led in the winner of the Great Northern Steeplechase, Parnell and Shillelagh having come out of his stable last year and the year before. It was the latter that the stable relied on now, so they profited but little by the triumph of the “ despised” one.

£ s, Mr Thos. Wyley—2nd Maiden Steeples, £9 10s ; 1st Gr. N. Steeples, £313 10s 323 0 Mr J. Keswick —1st G.N - Hurdles .... 204 5 Mrs J. Lennard —1st Winter Welter, £38 ; 1st Second Winter Welter, £38 ; 1st Hunters’ Welter, £33 5s 109 5 Mr C. Weal—3rd G. N. Steeples, £09 ; 1st Tally-ho Handicap, £80 15s .... 99 15 Mr D. Hepburn—1st Hurdle Handicap 85 10 Mr R. Burke—2nd Winter Welter, £9 10s ; 1st Selling Steeples, £57 66 10 Mr L. Binnie —1st Maiden Steeples.... 66 10 Mr W. Douglas—3rd G.N. Hurdles, £9 10s ;• 1st Maiden Hurdles, £47 10s 57 0 Mr J. Clements —3rd G-.N. Steeples.... 47 10 Miss Lennard—Bracelet 38 0 Mr F. Macmanemin —2nd G-.N. Hurdles, £23 15s; 2nd Hunters’ Welter, £9 10s 33 5 Mr G. McGlashan —1st Novel Race.... 28 10 Mr C. Sexton —2nd Tally-ho Steeple .. 14 5 Mr L. D. Nathan —2nd Maiden Hurdles 9 10 Miss Kean —2nd Bracelet 9 10 Mrs Baker —2nd Winter Welter 9 10 Mr A. E. Byers—2nd Hunters’ Welter 4 15 £1206 10