SECOND DAY’S RACING.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume VI, Issue 289, 6 February 1896, Page 7

SECOND DAY’S RACING.

Defeat of the Favourite in the Dig Hace—Anita Downs St. Clements by a Dead —The Dobson Da adieu > Kun Twice — Admiral Hawke Deal; the Machine but is Brought Buck— Carbuncle Justifies her Steeplechase Win.

On the second day of the meeting the weather authorities were again favourable, and a good attendance was the natural consequence. Betting was again spirited, £4832 going through the machines, which gives a total of £10,244 for the two days. The judging was well carried out, but. the starting—which was excellent on the opening day —caused a big rumpus in the Hobson Handicap, Admiral Hawke slipping under the barrier and gaining a lead which rendered pursuit hopeless. However, the run availed him nothing, for the stewards properly decided it was no race and made the starters run it over again. As to the facts of the case, there is no doubt Admiral

Hawke had a length if not more the best of it when the barrier went up, and I am inclined to think that the starter (Mr Halstead) never saw the colt’s position until the webbing had been released. He w.is w itching La ly Anna, who was fid etting about, aid while his attention was directed to her Admiral H iwke got under the barrier. L'he starter said in his evidence that when he released the barrier he was astonished to see Admiral Hawke streaking away several lengths ahead. The trainer of Anmiral Hawke weighed in after the race and refused to start the colt again, and intends, I understand, taking proceedings for the recovery of the stakes. The money invented on Admiral Hawke was returned and two dividends paid on the winner of the run off, which proved to be Nestor. Racing opened with the Maiden Handicap Hurdles of 35 sovs, one mile and three-quarters, which was a chapter of accidents, four out of the eight contestants falling. Economy was a strong favourite, but though the mare started off well she only got over one fence, the second turning her a terrible purler. The mare rolled right over her rider (Wells), who had his shoulder blade injured. Lifebuoy then went to the front, with Carbuncle, who had got off badly, rapididly making her way through the field. Opposite the stand the last time she got in front, with Ika and Glenlora close up. 'l'he rest of the horses had by this time got rid of their jockeys. Carbuncle had no difficulty in getting home by two lengths in 3.33, Ika and Glenlora in the places. After her exhibition in this race and Othello’s defeat of Bombardier in the big Steeplechase, there can be no doubt as t > Carbuncle having travelled the full distance of the Maiden Steeplechase. Judged by Othello she was good enough to carry off the big cross country run as well as the Maiden. Doris, Miss Nelson, and Peerless were all well backed for the Suburban Handicap of 40 sovs, five furlongs and a-half, Doris having a very slight lead of Miss Nelson in the betting at the start. Creamer got well away with Peerless and

was never headed, winning easily by a couple of lengths from Doris, Miss Nelson third. Time, Imin 13sec. Dividend, £4 4s. In spite of her 10.7 Mavourneen was heavily backed for the Second Pony Handicap of 35 sovs, five furlongs and a half, and right worthily did she acquit herself, although she could not get into first position. The uncertain Cupid was made favourite, but beyond a short flutter at the start she never gave her supporters a chance of winning. Kit dodged under the barrier twice in a manner that should have earned a reprimand for Creamer, and when a start was given Kit again got all the best of things owing to her jockey’s smartness, while Lady Thornton got hung up.in the tape and had no show. Aided by her startjKit managed to defeat Mavourneen by half a length, but with a straight send off the second mare would have won in spite of her load of ten and a half stone. Valencia finished third. Time, Imin 13sec. Dividend, £8 15s.

The principal race, the I’.J.C. Handicap of 100 sovs, one mile and a quarter, was reckoned a good thing for St. Clements, and so it should have been. Anita was well backed, and I fancy Wellington books will be affected by her win. Three Star led the field for half a mile, with Eve and St. Regel next to him, and then St. Clements, who quickly closed with the runners and kept a good position throughout. Three furlongs from home he was in the lead and it looked any money on him, but over-confidence lost him the race. His rider took matters fairly easy when once in the straight, merely holding his whip ready in case of a surprise. But when Anita supplied that surprise, she came at him with such a rush that the top-weight was caught on the post and caught napping too. W. Smith is a clever jockey and seldom makes a mistake, but I consider he made one here. Knowing that a proved stayer like Anita was behind him, he should have kept moving all the way up the straight, instead of which he allowed himself to tumble into the mistaken belief that the field were beat. Yattenfeldt was a good third. Time, 2min 15|sec. £4 13s.

Then came the Hobson Handicap, which resulted in a no-race owing to Admiral Hawke being in front of the barrier when the tapes were released. After an inquiry had been held and evidence taken the stewards decided that the race should be run over again, and the owner of Admiral Hawke refusing to start his colt a second time the money invested on him was returned. In the run-off an excellent start was obtained, Porangi Potae being earliest to break rank, Nestor, who is a terrible slug, had to be whipped from the very jump, and after two furlongs of continual whipping, the son of Tamora agreed to put his best foot foremost. Entering the straight lie and Lady Anna were locked together, and they remained in that position right up to the post, the judge declaring in favour of Nestor by a head. St. Elmo was third. Time, Imin 14sec. Dividends—First race, £3 9s; second race, £2. When Bombardier was prepared for the Steeplechase it was seen that his owners had made another change in riders, John Kae having the mount on the Brigadier gelding. He was made a decided favourite, but again upheld his name as a most uncertain ’chaser. Othello went to the front at the start, with Bombardiei next, then Disturbance and Mozel last. The field kept this order until Disturbance ran off on the hill the second time round, when it looked a good thing for Bombardier. But try as Rae might he could not close with Othello, who beat him home by three lengths. Bombardier jumped badly throughout, rapping the little brush hurdle past the water every time he crossed it. And a horse that will do that is surely a bad animal to trust. Ponies could jump it without difficulty, yet here we have a Great .Northern Steeplechase winner hitting it, and badly, too. Bombardier would break any man who trusted him, and some day he will break the neck of the man who rides him. By the way, I was under the impression that Morrigan stood off Bombardier at his own wish, but that is not so. In a conversation I had with

Morrigan on Saturday, he told me that it was the owners who decided him not to ride thenoibc again. They asked him to ride in the Summer Steeplechase", after which they said they would not ask him to again steer Bombardier, tor they were convinced that if he stuck to the horse he would break his neck. Morrigan knew very well the danger he was running, an I sensibly accept eci the offer of the Messrs Duder Bros, to stand down. He will never regret it, but somebody else will, for Bombardier will hurt his rider some day as sure as he races. The Borough Hack Handicap of 3i> sovs, six furlongs and a half, was an evenly-backed race, Fro'itignac, Revenge, and Commodore cacti being well supported. From an even start Resolute and Bellevedere were earliest, to the front, but they had not gone very far when it was seen that Commodore had them all beaten, and he had no difficulty in getting home by three lengths from Merry Maid, Black Friar third. But Merry Maid’s owner promptly lodged a protest on the ground of a cross, and such being sustained, the stake was awarded to Merry Maid. And so a horse that could have beaten his field at any part of the journey lost the stake, the rider (Farrell) being suspended for a month. Time, limn 28sec. Dividend, £7 Ids. The last race, the Anniversary Handicap ot a(J sovs, seven furlongs, was reckoned a good thing for Doris, but a pair of stable-mates, St. Regel and Miss Nelson, had matters to themselves, and Miss Nelson got home by a bare length from St. Regel, Dons third. Time, Imin 32sec. Dividend, £8 18s.