THE AUCKLAND RACING CLUB’S AUTUMN MEETING.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume VII, Issue 352, 22 April 1897, Page 6

THE AUCKLAND RACING CLUB’S AUTUMN MEETING.

[By

Atlas.]

First Day-—Monday, Aphid 19th. Another Autumn Meeting is numbered with the gatherings of the past, and the recollections of it will always be pleasant, for the meeting was a pronounced success. Perhaps it might have been more successful bad the handicapper adopted a higher scale in most of the events, out then we are all liable to make mistakes—the critic as well as others —and if Air Evett did en- he must have solace in the thought that the racing right through was interesting to the patrons of Ellerslie. In the matter of weather the Club was in luck. Monday was a deligtnlul day, and Ellerslie was seen at its best, and that is saying a great deal, because the Ellerslie course and its surroundings at any time are pretty. The course proper was in excellent order, and Mr Percival with his staff had the business arrangements of the meeting in splendid order. On the first day between 6000 and 7000 people patronised the course, and it is satisfactory to note that the sum passed through the machine, £7936, totalled £llBB more than on the corresponding day last year, and we are encouraged to think that, as a community, we are correspondingly richer. Mr Impey’s band did its duty in capital style. The toialisator was most efficiently worked by Mr Bloomfield and his staff. Mi’ T. McEwin who presided over the luncheon rooms discharged his portion of the contract to the entire satisfaction of his patrons, and under all these favouring circumstances it is not surprising that the meeting was such a great success. The programme was opened with the Tradesman’s Plate for which fourteen cried content. This handicap was a particularly light one as the top weight was 7.LU. Everyone likes the genial handicapper and it is no spirit of petty criticism that I take exception to it. Speaking to one horse owner he remarked to me, “ The evil effects of handicappers commencing their scale low is more observable every race meeting, especially in the northern metropolitan district. The exhibition of several of our best horsemen of unsullied honor strolling about the saddling paddock, whilst trainers are assisting children and deformed pigmies into the saddle, with the jackals of the turf hovering round, is enough to shake ones confidence in the future prosperity of horse breeding and racing.” And these words were emphasised by the remark, “ Shades of Admiral Rous look duwn ”, (or up, because I don’t know which place he is in, but I think the chances are that he is on top). The old Admiral 1 feel very much inclined to think would hold his hands up in horror if he contemplated a field of fourteen with the top weight at 7st 121bs. It is not justice, Mr Evett, either to horse breeders or good jockeys, and that plain tact should be stated. In nearly every race at the meeting we saw mannikins in the saddle, while such men as Tommy laylor and others that we could name had to stand down. The Tradesman’s Plate possessed another interest. Under the rose it was known that a well-known and highly respected North Shore sportsman had set the Metropolitan Club in motion over recent scandals. The inquiry was still pending, and it was significant to those who knew anything about the evidence given before the committee of the Metropolitan Club that Waldron, the stable boy, was up on Lady Anna. It is wonderful, too, bow well the mare acted in the hands of toe youthful jockey. At North Shore she was fractious and in a lather of foam, but at Ellerslie she was quiet. Mr Cults got the big fiel 1 off like a regiment of cavalry. Commodore, Flying Fish, and Lufra formed the front division, and it was not long before Mr Donald McKinnon s mare had assumed the lead, and she was followed by Swordfish, Flying Fish, and Markinch, while Lady Anna was just in front of the bunched field. At the five furlong post Lufra just held a slight advaniage of Flying Fish, while Panoply and Lady Anna were close up. St. Gordon at the turn made a forward move and got on terms with Lufra, with Lady Anna closing up. Lufra was first into the straight, but at the distance Lady Anna made her final effort, and coming away won by a couple of lengths. The win was popular, and the North Shore sportsmen were warmly congratulated. The dividend, £ll 12s, must have been a solace for past disappointments. After the placed horses came Markinch and Flying Fish. I was pleased to see that my suggestion regarding the drawing for places by the jockey boys was adopted in this race. They drew numbered marbles, and the system is one that no fault can be found with St. Conon was voted the good thing among the seven who weighed out for the Northern Champagne Stakes, but substantial support was also accorded to Miss Emmy and Defiant. The latter pair made the pace, followed by Blaircarrig, while Coronet acted as whipper-in. Rounding the bend, St. Conon made his gallop, and with a few long strides he was almost on terms with the leaders, and a great battle ensued. However, when fairly in the straight St. Conon shirked it very badly, while Defiant and Miss Emmy fought out a brave battle, but Gallagher rode the mare home in splendid style, and landed the stakes by a long neck, while the rolling St. Conon was a neck away third, Canopus fourth, and Coronet fifth. Six faced the starter for the Easter Handicap, the only scratching being Fabulist. The public fancied Daystar—although there were rumours that he was showing signs of his old soreness —but George Wright turned him out in fine condition, while all the others looked really well. Mr Cutts sent them away to a splendid start, the first to show the way when they had settled down being Porangi Potae with Folly and St. Paul following. Very much the same order was preserved past the stand, Daystar being last. At the turn Porangi Potae had enough and

Haria appeared in front, and led into the straight with St. Paul, Nestor, and Dav star in close attendance. At the Derby stand Haria bad enough, and then Daystar and St. Paul went to the front together and a great battle home resulted in the judge giving his verdict in favour of Daystar by a nose, Nestor being two lengths away third, with Haria fourth, Porangi Potae fifth, and Folly last. The finish whs a very exciting one, and many people are inclined to think that St. Paul won, but the angle at Ellerslie is a very difficult one, and the judge is certainly in the best position to decide. Nestor performed fairly well and is evidently improving. Probably this strapping son of St. Leger will be at his best about the next New Zealand Cup time. In the Handicap Hurdle Race St. Simon was made a warm favourite in a field of eight. When the flag fell Tim, Natation, and Aughadowey formed the first division. At the second fence Tim was the pilot, being attended by Aughadowey, while Miss Nelson and Levanter were close up. At this fence Natation’s rider was unseated, and passing the stand the order was—Aughadowey and Tim together, with Miss Nelson and Levanter close up, Beggarman acting as whipper-in. Levanter led r >und the back, but when they came into the home turn Miss Nelson was in front, while St. Simon had improved his position. When fairly in the straight, St. Simon ran up to Miss Nelson, and quickly had her in trouble, winning by a long length. On returning to the paddock, Hukatere showed unmistakable signs of soreness. Thirteen faced the starter in the Eden Handicap, and Armilia was made a warm favourite, but fairly good support was given to Lady Anna. The first to show the way were The Sharper,

Lady Marion, and Armilia, and they entered the straight in that order, but at that juncture Armila took command. At the half distance Lady Marion and Lady Anna got on terms with the leader. After a splendid finish Lady Anna was returned the winner by a neck, a neck separating second and third. This, the second victory of Lady Anna during the day, was evidently very popular. Lady Anna, it may be remarked, is the horse chiefly involved in the enquiry that has recently been instituted by the A.R.C. The allegation is that Lady Anna has been interfered with, and the fact that she has performed so well with the stable boy in the saddle, lends colour to the allegation. Messrs. Duder, who own the mare, were warmly congratulated after her second victory. A field of fourteen cried content in the Onslow Stakes. Miss Anna was very properly elected favourite, and she proved her excellence by winning her third successive victory. This mare is the first of St. Hippo’s progeny to race, and up to the presant she has a splendid record. On Monday she was fairly tried, and proved her gameness. Miss Anna,-like Lady Anna, belongs to Messrs. Duder, and the stable boy was again up. In the Pony Race ten started, and Fair Nell was made first favourite. She justified the confidence reposed in her by galloping away from her field at the finish. Norina, who ran second, is evidently a good mare, and more will be heard of her in the future. The Railway Handicap, in which there were seven starters, brought the day’s sport to a close. Lady Cuisine was the popular pick, but Lillie and Porangi Potae received substantial support. The Drone commenced well and galloped in a style which completely astonished those who

thought he had only an outside show. At the distance Donovan made an effort to get in front, but something happened to him and he failed at the finish, The Drone winning by a head. Second Day.—Tuesday, Aphid 20. Again the Auckland Racing Club were fortunate in the matter of weather. The attendance fell short of that on the first day, but speculation was brisk, and the sum of £6,101 passed through the machine, making a total for the two days of £14,037. Owing to the absence of Major Banks, Major Westrupp and Mr W. H. Herries, M.H.R., acted conjointly as judges. The opening' event, the Stewards’ Handicap, attracted a field of eight, and Lady Marion, a bookmaker’s horse, was elected favorite. I make this remark in order to commend Mr Beckett. His little Malua mare has been before the public some time, and she always gets there, or thereabouts. In this race Cast Ashore, a good looking chestnut gelding by Castor, acted as pilot during the first portion of the journey, but half-way down the straight Lady Marion, running withall the gameness <>f her sire, put in a claim, and won by a length and a-half. St. Gordon finished within a leng’h of Cast Ashore, while Lufra tailed off last. The Ellerslie Handicap brought about an interesting meeting among our two-year-olds. Notwithstai ding his erratic running on the first day, St. Conon was made a warm favourite, St. Crispin occupying the second place in the opinion of the public. Mr Cutts again effected a good start, and the heavily-weighted Miss Emmy was the first to show the way, followed by St. Crispin. Along the back St. Crispin went to the front and led Io the turn, where the whole field bunched

up. At the Derby Stand it seemed to be anyone’s race, the field being all together; but opposite the Grandstand Defiant, well handled by Davis, shot out and won by a length from Mr Donald McKinnon’s Picklock, with St. Crispin close up third, Miss Emmy fourth, and St. Conon fifth. The Hon. J. D. Ormond’s colt paid the very nice dividend of £ll 7s. Tne Autumn Handicap brought out a field of eight, and St. Paul was elected favourite. Porangi Potae was a little fractious at the start, but Mr Cutts succeeded in getting the field away on very even terms. Porangi Potae as usual acted as pilot, and at the bottom turn was two lengths in front of Markinch, after whom came St. Paul, Doris, and Haria. Porangi Potae showed the way along the back followed by Markinch and St. Paul, but on entering the straight St. Paul ran to the. front and very quickly had everything else in trouble, winning easily by three lengths from Daystar, Markinch being an indifferent third. Although Chaafe on St. Paul won ea-ily there is no reason why he should have looked behind him as if he were playing with his opponents. This conduct on the part of a jockey neither serves the horse he is riding or its owner. The next event, the Autumn Steeplechase, proved to be the race of the meeting. Kingswood and Bombardier were almost equal favourites in the field of eight which started. Flukem was the first to show the way, and led past the stand, followed by Miss Nelson, Kingswood, and Natation, and at the water jump led by nearly a dozen lengths. When negotiating the hill the leader began to fall back to hie field. All the horses j umped splendidly and were close together when the sod fence was reached. Flukem, Miss Nelson, Mozel, and Kingswood being altogether at this

stage. Flukem, although blundering at the sod wall, continued to lead to the old water jump, where Kingswood drew up with him, and he began to fall away. Mozel going up the hill went up to Kingswood, and going through L ie plantation was in front, while the others were bunched together in his rear. After passing plantation Mozel had a clear lead, and cam down the hill in front of Miss Nelson, whL-j Kingswood and Bombardier were close handy. Mozel negotiated the stonewall first, and when he led into the straight proper beseemed to have the race in hand, but at this stage Miss Nelson came at him, and in turn appeared 1 to be the winner. Opposite the Derby stand Rae brought Kingswood up with a well-timed run, andd “ '■m’ Miss Nelson finished together, the judge 3t' .ing a dead heat. Mozel was close up thirdp. A Bombardier fourth. The totalisator paid out on the dead-heat, and the owner of Miss Nelson consulted with one of the part owners of Kingswood on the subject of the division. However, the rider of Kingswood, who is also a part owner, was obdurate. He was evidently under the impression that an injustice had been done his horse Dentist at North Shore, and declared that he would have all or nothing. It now became evident that the run-r.ff would be a “ battle royal,” and the race, altho u u the last of the evening, was witnessed with a lot of interest. Soon after the start Rae took King wood to the front, and made the pace soun Kingswood jumped in faultless style, while JU Nelson more than once blundered. Howe er, she was on terms with Kingswood coming down the hill for the last time, and the excitement became intense. The pair raced to the last obstacle locked together, but here Miss Nekou again struck, and Kingswood coming on won by about three lengths. On returning to scale both Rae and Katterns were loudly applauded. Ten sported silk in the Flying Handicap, Armilia being again made favourite. Lillie and Kanaka were the first away, and the former led into the straight, still being there when the Derby Stand was reached. At this stage Armilia threw out a challenge, but was unable to sustain it and Lillie won comfortably by a couple of lengths from Rex, who was closely attended by Three Star, Armilia being fourth. Thirteen came out for the Pony Handicap, and Fair Nell, on the strength of her previous good deed, was made favourite, while Leona, Norina, and Partan Jeannie had a strong following. Partan Jeannie, Norina, and Provoke all flattered their backers in the straight, but, at the distance, Napoleon came with a wet sail and won easily by three lengths from Fair Nell. This pony, Napoleon, has been mentioned freely of late as one of the animals connected with the enquiry instituted by the A.R.C. at the late Avondale meeting. Napoleon ran a dead - heat with Panoply in the Selling Race, after which he was sold for £3O. Since then it has been alleged that proof can be given that twice over he had been pulled contrary to the interests of this previous owner. Napoleon’s running on Tuesday, like that of Lady Anna on Monday, came to many in the light of a revelation. The Meeting was brought to a most successful close with the Shorts Handicap, in which the main was seven. Mr J. 0. Booth’s rather uncertain mare Rex secured for him his first win of the Meeting. Messrs Alison Bros.’ Regel astonished everyone by the way in which he ran iu this race. Although manifestly above himself he stuck to Rex right through the journey, and was only beaten by a little over a length, that fast mare Porangi Potae having to be content with third place.