After the Races.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume VII, Issue 337, 7 January 1897, Page 6

After the Races.

LBy

Atlas.]

THE AUCKLAND RACING CLUB’S SUMMER MEETING. Second Day—Fbiday, Jan. Ist. The committee of the Auckland Racing Club, together with Mr Percival and all its officers, and all its patrons, must have rejoiced in the splendid weather experienced on the second day of the Summer Meeting, when the New Year of 1897 was ushered in. There is every reason to feel pleased with the promising start that has been made with the year 1897. The record attendance at Ellerslie, together with the large amount of money invested on the totalisator, may be described as the pulse by which the financial condition of the community as a whole may be correctly indicated. If that be so, then we are assuredly starting the New Year under much more promising conditions, so far as our financial position is concerned, than has been the case for years. On the second day of the meeting about £5OOO more than on the corresponding day last year passed through the machine, and it may fairly be assumed that the people had that much more money than last year to spend in pleasure or in other ways than for the necessaries of life. It was a splendid gathering, and probably in no other part of the world could such a large assemblage of well-dressed, well-conducted, and well-cared-for people have been got together without some evidence of poverty being shown, but the gaunt ghost of poverty had for the time being, and let us hope it may be for ever, fled from Ellerslie and its scenes of pleasure. The lawn presented a splendid appearance, not because of the well-intentioned and futile efforts that had been made to keep the grass green, but because of the presence in such numbers of the youth and beauty of Auckland, dressed as Auckland ladies know how in our Summer season. The male portion of our community are no doubt keenly fond of a horse race, but they would not be human if they did not intensely appreciate the ever changing scene on the lawn, perhaps just as well as the keen finish when you are in an ecstacy of doubt until the numbers go up. The management was all that could be desired, and when on that subject let me just say how glad all Mr Percival’s friends were to see that he has made such a rapid recovery. He was present, looking almost as well as ever, and with the assistance of Mr R. W. Wynyard, some untoward accident indeed would need to have occurred to prevent such a powerful combination from making things work smoothly. The Glasgow Handicap brought out a field of four, and -when they were sent on their journey Doris took charge, and never being headed, won as she liked from Quickfire by two lengths, while Lillie was three lengths further away third, and Solitaire a bad last. It is quite evident than the Hon. Mr Ormond’s mare is not herself, and under the circumstances starting her even in such a small field was a mistake. In the Hurdle Race there were no scratchings, and a great many of the gentle public went for Dummy, who had won on the first day. On that occasion he very nearly lost through taking matters too easy at the finish when St. Simon was so dangerously close that the uncharitable said he should have been closer still, and backed him. The result was that on this occasion Dummy did not win and St. Simon did. When the field was sent away Dummy acted as pilot, with Belvidere and Aughadowey in close attendance, the others all being together, but when negotiating the bend Aughadowey raced up to the leader, while St. Simon at the head of the others was fencing beautifully, with Levanter and Sterling close in his wake. There was not much change in the straight, but soon afterwards Sterling van to the front, followed by Aughadowey, while Dummy began to drop back, and St. Simon still kept his place. Sterling, taking advantage of his light weight, made the pace very merry, and was quite half a dozen lengths in front of his field at the cutting, but St. Simon now began to make an impression on him, and as he closed on him at the bend the race was practically over. The pair rose at the last hurdle together, and Sterling rapped the obstacle, which St. Simon flew like a bird, and coming on, he won easily by two lengths, there being ten lengths between second and third, Levanter occupying that position, while Dummy was fourth, Belvidere fifth, Warrigal sixth, and Aughadowey last. The time was 3min 56sec for the two miles. The time for the same distance last week, when St. Simon carried 61bs less in the sadddle, was 4min The only late scratchings in the Great Northern Derby were those of Antares and Armilia. The five candidates were inspected in the paddock, and St. Paul looked in excellent condition. Tire had a light appearance, while Daystar did not appear as if the Cup gallop had improved him. , Nestor was very well, while Dauntless had'rather a weary look. When the barrier went away St. Paul and Nestor at once went to the front, the other three keeping close together. In this way they raced round to the Grandstand, passing which the order was Nestor and St. Paul together, Tire three lengths away third, closely followed by Daystar and Dauntless. In that order they raced out of the straight, and at the far side St. Paul was half a length in front of the Cup winner, but not clear, while Tire showed signs of tiring, and the other two were no better. It was now a match between the leading pair, and it was only a question of which would crack up first. When entering the home bend Perry was still on the inside on terms with St. Paul, fie having maintained the advantage of the inside running all through. When entering the straight the chestnut colt had a slight advantage, and although he shifted a little, when Perry straightened him he came on as straight as a gun barrel, while St. Paul drew out a little, from the whip, but he kept on gamely. Nestor, however, was not to be denied, and young Perry,

riding in finished style, landed his mount a winner by a length and a half ; Tire was five lengths away third, Daystar a length further off fourth, while Dauntless was last, a position which he occupied during the whole race. The race was remarkable, inasmuch as with the exception of the first two horses leading alternately by a head and neck, the others ran in the position they took up after fairly going. St. Paul and Nestor were together the whole way, and the former found his Waterloo, but at the same time, despite the fact that young Perry carried a lot of dead weight, in my opinion Nestor was more cooly Served by his jockey than St. Paul. Although defeated St. Paul was not disgraced, and Mr Morrin has every reason to be pleased with the fact that the first and second horses in the Auckland classic event of the year owe their existence to New Zealand’s champion sire, St. Leger. The followers of Nestor were rewarded with a dividend of £4 12s. The winner was bred by the Messrs Alison, and is three-quarter brother of the Kegel colt which brought the top price at the annual sale of the Motu-Korea yearlings. This colt is a very promising looking animal, and after Nestor’s good deeds the career of his three-quarter brother will be well worth watching. After young Perry, who rode Nestor just as well as he had done in the Cup, had weighed in, Mrs. Morrin, as wife of the President of the Club, pinned the blue riband around Nestor’s neck, and of course there was much cheering, all of which attentions the chestnut accepted gracefully. The Midsummer Handicap undoubtedly created a lot of interest, because among the fifteen starters was the winner of the G-reat Northern Foal Stakes, Gold Medallist. He had the top weight

and fully justified the opinion I formed of him in the Foal Stakes. On that occasion I thought him a better animal than Multiform, and there are few who saw him galloping in the Midsummer Handicap who can have a different opinion. When the fifteen youngsters were sent on their journey, Boquet appeared in the van, and, after going a furlong, the order was Boquet a length and a half,in front of Picklock, with Gold Medallist and St. Evelyn close together. Rounding the bend Gold Medallist ran to the front and the race was practically all over. There was nothing in the race that could pace with the top-weight, and, coming on, he won by ten lengths hard held. It was a great showing-up for the rest of the field, the winner certainly making the others look like hacks. Mr Stead was delighted, and his joy found peculiar vent, as, approaching the Press Stand, he said —not in dulcet tones—“ You ought to apologise, the whole lot of you. You see I brought a racehorse up.” While lam anxious to offer solace to the feelings of the owner of the best two-year-old in the land, I am at a loss to know what I have to apologise for. I never even hinted that Gold Medallist was not a good horse, and even expressed the opinion that to me he appeared to be a better animal than Multiform. What I did was to report facts, and those facts still remain, and are—shortly stated—Multiform in the Great Northern Foal Stakes was ridden by Derrett (the leading jockey of the stable) and the public backed him, while Lindsay rode Gold Medallist and won. Thereafter the public howled and yelled Bloodshot and Bluefire. That Solitaire is out of all form was shown by the fact that the pen was put through her name for the County Handicap. Doris led the field a merry dance, but half-way down the straight Rex

joined her, and a ding-dong finish resulted in a dead-heat between the pair, St. Elmo being four lengths away third. A dead-heat always brings about a conflict of opinion, and arguments on the subject are absurd and to be deprecated. The judge is in the best position to tell, and he should be supported and not quibbled at. The Auckland Racing Club Handicap created a lot of interest, inasmuch as several of the Cup horses met again, and I think we are always anxious to fight an interesting battle over again, whether it be on the cricket field or elsewhere. Nine was the main, and Fabulist was the pot. Many of his supporters probably remembering how he led the field in the Cup at a mile and a half, hoped that he would be there again if too much use was not made of him in the early part of the race. When the field were sent on theii’ journey, Haria and Pegasus were the first to show the way, and led out of the straight, with Antares third, and then came Mantle, Fabulist, Mars, St. Laura, and Quickfire all together. Along the back Haria was clear of the others, and there the top weight was sent sailing as in the Cup, starting to gallop all he knew half a mile from home, Mantle following him. Fabulist led Mantle two lengths round the bend, with Haria next, and then came Mars and St. Laura. Once in the straight Fabulist commenced to fail, and Creamer, who had waited patiently with St. Laura, brought her along and, catching the tiring Fabulist at the end of the stand, she won by two lengths, three lengths separating second and third (Pegasus), Mantle fourth, Mars fifth, and Haria sixth. The last to finish were Panoply and Q.uickfire. The winner paid the nice dividend of £5 10s. A very good field turned out in the Pony Handicap, and Fair Nell, who won on the first day,

did her backers a good turn by winning again, but she only got home by a neck from St. Owen, while Napoleon was a good third. Fair Nell, on the first day, was credited by the official timekeeper with doing seven furlongs in Imin 29sec, but, this time it took her Imin 19sec to get over six furlongs. Edith Cureton was made favourite in the field of ten that went out in the Maiden Plate, but although she ran fairly well for a time she was never positively dangerous and took a back seat when Webley, Admiral Hawke, and Lufra commenced racing. Webley lasted longest and won a good race by a length and a half, a length separating the other two, while the favourite was last but one. This brought a good day’s sport to a close and the public betook themselves to the train, bat, alas, the iron horse proved a very slow means of transit. Third and Final Day (Jan vary 2). On the third day of the meeting the clerk of the weather again smiled on Ellerslie, and the consequence was that like the first two days the attendance was large, while the racing from first to last was full of interest for everyone, the great event of the day, of course, being the exciting Steeplechase ; but the Royal Stakes, in which Gold Medallist and St. Paul fought out a battle, and the Grand Stand Handicap, in which Fabulist at last caught the eye of the judge first, were events of much more than passing interest to the ordinary sportsman. Pressure on space this week warns me that at present I can only make passing allusion to the satisfactory work done by the handicapper (Mr J. O. Evett), while the starts effected by Mr Cutts were good throughout,

although on some occasions he was troubled with unruly horses, notably St. Laura in the Grand Stand Handicap. Major Banks in the judge’t box did his duty, and had the confidence of all. Not only has the attendance right through the meeting been a record one, but the amount that was passed through the totalisator has exceeded that of former years. The amount invested on Saturday was £13,892, which, added to the money on the two previous days, made a grand total of £42,690 for the meeting, or £10,891 more than last year. This surely is an evidence of Auckland’s increasing prosperity that will satisfy and gratify everyone except, perhaps, the antigambling but church bazaar promoting humbug. Only eight out of the original twenty-four stripped for the Ascot Handicap, and out of that number Markinch had a strong following, while Lady Marion and Webley both had good support. When the barrier lifted M'arkinch, Lady Marion, and Edith Cureton were first to move, and they formed the leading division to the cutting, where Edith Cureton appeared just in front of Lady Marion, but the latter rounding the bend asserted herself and led Edith Cureton, while Webley and Markinch were at the head of the others. Lady Marion was the first into the straight, but Webley was almost on terms, while Edith Cureton had dropped back. Before the Derby Stand was reached Lady Marion had enough, and Quickfire coming on the rails got on terms with Webley, who was in the centre of the course. A great race home ensued, the Carbine filly lasting best, and winning by half a length from Webley, who was a length in front of Markinch, Lady Marion close up fourth, while Dummy was a bad last. Fairly good time was made—lmin 42Jsecs —but the dividend, £l7 Bs, was better. Eleven youngsters faced Mr Cutts in the

Sylvia Handicap, and out of that lot Defiant was entrusted with most confidence. The favourite was first to move, and the Dreadnought youngster had as his nearest companions Miss Anna and Picklock. These three remained pretty close together until the straight was reached, both Miss Anna and Picklock vainly trying to get on terms with the leader, but Canopus put in a claim, and passing Picklock and Miss Anna caused Lindsay to draw the whip on Defiant. He answered gamely, and drawing out won by two lengths from Canopus, who has started three times during the meeting, an,d on each occasion has run into a place. Mr Budge’s colt is by Castor out of Antelope, and is a smart animal, although a trifle on the small side. Picklock and Miss Anna ran a dead heat for third place, white Volcano was the whipper in. The winner cut out the six furlongs in Imin 18secs, and the dividend was £3 19s. In the Grandstand Handicap, in which eleven saddled up, St. Laura, who was favourite, behaved very badly at the post, and delayed the start. When they were got going, Admiral Hawke, who was running in winkers, showed the way, followed by Pegasus, Folly, Panoply, Donovan, and Mars, all closely together. There was very little change round the bend, but when approaching the back Admiral Hawke bolted and ran off the course, leaving Mantle to carry on the lead around the home bend, with Folly close up, while Mars and Fabulist moved closer to the leader. Folly and Mantle were close together entering the straight, but soon afterwards Fabulist drew up to the leader, and at the Derby Stand was in front. Mars made a game effort to get alongside of Fabulist, but the latter still had a run in him, and won by a length and a half,

while a similar distance separated second and third. St. Laura, who got away badly, improved her position during the race, but was never really dangerous. The time was 2min llsec, a creditable performance with Ost 61b up, and the dividend £4 Bs. The hearty cheer which greeted Fabulist’s return to scale must have gratified Mr Lennard, who raced his horse out in the Cup and the A.R.C. Handicap. In both of these races McTaggart, probably acting under instructions, made his effort all too early, and the consequence was that Fabulist, who had always run prominently, had not a finish left in him when the straight was reached. In the Grandstand Handicap different tactics were observed. Fabulist was more patiently handled, and he had his final run left in him at the proper end of the race. It is probable that in the Cup and A.R.C. Handicap he would have been beaten under any circumstances by Nestor and St. Laura in the respective races, but that does not destroy the argument that too much use was made of Fabulist. Top weights generally do not try to win their races five furlongs from home, especially in a two miles race, and that was what was tried with Fabulist. However, the horse was run as straight and honestly in each of his engagements as anyone could wish, and for that reason Mr Lennard deserved the cheer. I have seen many good steeplechases at such places as Randwick, Rosehill, Flemington, and Caulfield, and although at these places the fields are generally larger, I confess that Saturday’s event pleased me better than Australian steeplechases have usually done. It was a cross-country race in all earnest, and the journey through the plantation and over the hill was novel and exciting, especially when the leading division were performing so well as they did in all sorts of

country, up hill as well as down hill. There were only seven starters, and although it was the first occasion on which St. Simon had been over the big sticks he was entrusted with most money, and I confess to thinking that the majority of backers were right, because the son of St. Leger is a lovely jumper, and there can be no doubt about his pace. Molly Hawk and Clarence were the first to show the way; the last-named led up the hill, but something happened to him and he fell back, while Molly Hawk negotiated the fence at the top of the hill first, but the others were all pretty handy, and Kingswood soon afterwards headed Molly Hawk and showed the way over the stonewall and the sodwall, Levanter and Bombardier being then close up. They were all together over the water, and then Molly Hawk again become pilot, with Mozel and St. Simon following, the latter wanting to mend the pace, which was quite sound enough seeing the long way they had to go. One or two trifling changes took place in the leadership. Bombardier led along the back, but going up the hill and through the plantation the favourite was indulged with a little more of his head, and it was not long before he was in front followed by Kingswood, who was going splendidly, while Levanter was third with Bombardier and Mozel, the others being out of it. The post and rails at the top of the hill was fatal to the chances of Bombardier. The pace was. now faster, and St. Simon and Kingswood led Mozel and Levanter a dozen lengths around the bend, the quartette fencing in splendid style. Right along to the back St. Simon held an advantage, Levanter, on whom John Rae had a strong hold, being last of the four, and some of his friends were afraid as the horses were ascending the hill for the last time that he was laying too far

away. St. Simon was first up the hill, followed by Mozel, who was going splendidly, and Levanter a dozen lengths behind, Rae still waiting patiently. At the top of the hill Mozel was on terms with the favourite, and the excitement increased as it was seen that Levanter had commenced to creep up. Going down hill Mozel was just clear of St. Simon, but the latter beat the black gelding ©ver the stonewall, while Kingswood had closed up and the game Levanter was coming with a wet sail. It was still anjone’s race, and just one of those steeplechases which delight the lovers of cross-country events. On they came, riders and horses dreadfully in earnest. St. Simon and Mozel were together at the turn into the straight, but the ding-dong battle they had fought was telling its tale,'while Kingswood and Levanter were closer still, and the former got to the front at the head of the straight. He now looked like the winner, but Rae had not nursed the topweight for nothing ; his cool and excellent judgment was made apparent as slowly but surely, amidst great excitement, Levanter wore his stable companion down in the bitter struggle which ensued along the straight, and finally won a most exciting race by a bare length. St. Simon, who had struggled on gamely, was a good third and Mozel fourth; the others nowhere. The time for the three miles and a half was Bmin 51sec. The winner, who has been backed ever since the weights came out, paid £3 13s. Despite his heavy weight, St. Clements was made favourite in a field of eight for the Newmarket Handicap. He battled gamely for the lead with Rex, but in the run home the lit tle-

thought-of Donovan put in a rattling good finish and scooped the pool and the veri nice dividend of £23 2s. Three very equally backed ponies started for the Hurdle Race. All went well until the hurdle at the back of the course was reached, and here Pororua and Bob turned turtle, leaving Libeller to finish alone. The Royal Stakes brought out a select field of eight, and the meeting of St. Paul and Gold Medallist caused no end of interest, while Armilia stripped, and despite the fact that she went very short in her preliminary she was well backed. However, there were only two in the race from the start. St. Paul and Gold Medallist left t> e others and had a good battle to the straight, where Mr Stead’s brilliant colt left the dashing son of St. Leger, and, despite the fact that the latter was ridden out, Gold Medallist won easily by nearly two lengths, while Sir Launcelot was nearly three lengths behind St. Paul. The time was ltnin 16£sec; last year Bloodshot won in Imiu 16|sec. The race has only been in existence for two years, and on both occasions it has been won by a representative of the Christchurch sportsman. The meeting was brought to a most successful close with the Recovery Stakes, which was won by Miss Nelson, who ran third in the first event of the meeting, but quite disappointed her followers afterwards.

James Redmond, who was injured while schooling Donald McKinnon at Randwick, has been voted ten guineas by the Australian Jockey Club.