RACING REVIEWED.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume V, Issue 212, 16 August 1894, Page 5

RACING REVIEWED.

The weather was fine, but cold, for the opening day of the New Zealand Grand National Meeting, and splendid atmospheric conditions were experienced on the second day. The attendance was capital on both days ; and in the matter of investment therewaslittle evidence ofdepression. Proceedings opened up with the First Hunters’ Handicap Hurdle Race, for which a dozen horses saddled up. Pumau was a decided favourite, Hero was well supported, and the winner was an almost rank outsider. The fall of the flag saw Gillie, a very indifferently supported aged horse who had 12 stone to carry, shoot to the front, and fencing in great fashion, he kept in a leading position pretty well all the distance. Coming up the straight he took command and stalling off a desperate rush by the favourite won by a short neck. Laurence was third half a length behind Pumau. Barnardo had no difficulty in beating his two opponents, Lady Sockburn and Goodwin, in the Maiden Hurdles, and that was not surprising considering what a horse he subsequently ran in the big hurdles. The big event, the G.N. Steeplechase, was reckoned a certainty for Norton, and from the betting it looked any odds on the son of Ascot and Romp. And the race showed what good grounds investors had for their belief, for Norton, after keeping in the first flight all the way, shot to the front at the top of the straight and won by six lengths from our supposed fast Shore horse Bombardier. During the journey Belle and Booties fell, but the first-named quickly regained her feet and raced sufficiently to beat Despised for fourth place. As subsequent events proved, she sustained an injury when she fell. Nanakia was

second favourite, and Despised and Belle were almost level in public esteem. Making all allowances for the blunders, falls and everything else the race showed that there was nothing class enough for Mr Gollan’s horse. Pahau beat a field of eight for the Tally-ho Steeplechase, and beat them easily. He kept with the leaders for a mile and three-quarters, and then, thanks to the blundering of his opponents, he only had to stand up and canter home 200 yards in front of Waverley and a quarter of a mile ahead of Lascar. The Ladies’ Bracelet was reckoned a certainty for Leontine, and the Leolinus horse, with his sportsmanlike owner in the saddle, justified the public verdict by winning easily. Chaos made a fight at the end of the race, but Leontine easily stalled off the opposition, and won by a length and a half. Abel Tasman was third. Another favourite got home in the Enfield Steeplechase, for Robin, who was hotly supported, was taken to the front by Cotton at the fall of the flag, and jumping perfectly, kept at the head of affairs all the way, ultimately winning easily by half-a-dozen lengths from Roscius, who was a fairly well backed one. Lord John was a bad third. The public voice declared that Musket, Mariner and Speculator were the picked three in the Winter Handicap, and the punters’ judgment was justified by the three finishing in the order named. Musket gave Mariner a stone and had not the slightest difficulty in beating him by a couple of lengths. On the second day of the meeting the card was set going with the August Handicap for which King John was served up a warm favourite. But he sadly disappeared his backers, for he was never in the struggle over the three-quarters of a mile. The winner turned up in Mariner, who reversed the Winter Flat decision by easily beating Musket and sixteen other starters. Magazine was beaten by a length and a half by the winner, and Warrington lost the second money by a neck. Roscius easily won the Hunt Club Cup, and yet another favourite — sterling old Liberator — romped home in the big event, the G.N. Hurdles. Melinite, the second favourite, was easily put out of the hunt by coming down at the first fence, and when that occurred it was any odds on the favourite. He was never troubled, and won by four lengths in comfortable fashion from Baruardo. Empire was a bad third. Robin scored a second win in the Beaufort Steeples and Gillie did ditto in the Second Hunters’ Race.