After the Races.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XI, Issue 539, 18 April 1901, Page 13

After the Races.

AUCKLAND RACING , CLUB’S AUTUMN MEETING.

Thibd Day—Satubday Apbil 13.

[By

LOCHIEL].

Early Saturday morning gave anything but promise of a fine day for the races, and until ten o’clock showers fell at intervals. But shortly afterwards, to the joy of j the racegoers, the wind veered to the south west, the sun shone out, and the hearts of all were gladdened. The attendance was capital, the racing exciting, and Ellerslie was looking at its best. The programme was begun with the Maiden Hurdle Race, for which The Barge and Bob were the only non-acceptors, leaving a field of eleven to face Mr Outts. Marksman, Dingo and Lieutenant were most in demand with backers. The first named soon put his backers out of trouble, for he struck the first hurdle heavily and fell. Stewart, who was riding the Foulshot mare, got a severe shaking, but unfortunately no bones were broken. At the last jump it looked as if there would be a good finish between Lieutenant and Dingo, but the Flintlock gelding struck the last obstacle, and Dingo was left to JFINISH AN EASY WINNER. Lightning made a good run at the finish and beat Hinemoa for second money. Whitehouse, who was riding Lieutenant, was carried into the enclosure by four bystanders —the ambulance being as usual slow off the mark — but he soon recovered, and was able to ride Balbirnie in the succeeding event. Auld Reekie, who struck a hurdle heavily, was pulled up and did not com plete the course. There was £879 in the machine and Dingo’s backers got the nice dividend of £6 2s. The Criterion Handicap, for horses that had never won 50 sovs at the time of starting, attracted a field of eight, Mr Dan O’Brien’s cast off Peerage being made favourite, with Balbirnie next in demand. Mr Alison’s Regel gelding Tiki was first away at the barrier rise, closely attended by Peerage and Balbirnie. On entering the straight Tiki had a two-lengths lead, and he was never headed, the ALL CHOCOLATE JACKET being nearly two lengths to the good when the judge’s box was passed. Peerage refused to galiop when the critical period came, but Belfast came with a fine dash and got third place, just beating Balbirnie. The six furlongs took imin 18sec, and Tiki’s supporters got a dividend of£6l3s. Next came the principal event of the day—the Autumn Handicap—and all the ten acceptors for the 500 sovs went to the post. Speculation was very brisk and over two thousand pounds were put through the machines. Bluejacket, on the strength of a good gallop on Thursday morning, was made favourite, but in the paddock he moved in a very gingerly fashion, and in his preliminary did not please too well. Boreas and Battleaxe looked in the pink of condition, and Ideal was as handsome as a picture. Her connections were sanguine about her ehance and made no secret of it, and the Dreadnought mare was accorded so much public support that she finished up second favourite. Formula, Beddington, Dayntree and St Peter were comparatively necglected in making their toilet, but St Ursula and Materoa had a good crowd of spectators. After the preliminary gallops, and as the horses were going to the post, Formula, when passing the Grandstand was seen to come to earth, and for the moment it was thought that something serious had happened to Mr Mosman’s filly. She was, however, soon on her feet again, and walked to the post as if nothing had happened There was considerable delay at the post, but when Mr Cutts at last let the barrier go it was to an excellant start. Battleaxe and Beddington got first away, Boreas occupying a position in the rear. The Sou’-Wester gelding had, however, improved his position, and on passing the stand for the first time was racing with St Ursula, the pair having a two le .gths lead of Formula, with Battleaxe and St Peter close up. Dayntree was acting as whipper-in, St Ursula, Boreas, and St Peter were the leading trio at the back of the course, separated bv about two lengths from Beddington, with Dayntree still last. Ideal made a forward move at the cuttieg, and was nearly on terms with the leaders on entering the straight. Boreas also made an onward movement but, was interfered with by St Peter, and at the distance faded out of the race. Formula came with a fine rush, and beat St Peter for s cond place, but had no chance of reaching St Ursula, Mr John Ohaafe’e mare winning comfortably by a length in 2min 40 3-sth sec—a v ry creditable performance. Mr Carr timed the various stages to be :—First four furlongs, 54 3 ssec ; first six furlongs, Imin 19sec ; mile, Imin 49aec; last six furlongs, Imin 21 3-ssec ; last five furlongs, Imin 5 2-ssec; last four furlongs, 51 3-ssec. A cheering dividend of £9 19s rewarded St Ursula’s backers Bluejacket never seemed to get going, and was not prominent at any stage of the race. It is A PECULIAR COINCIDENCE that at the Shore Meeting Bluejacket was made a red-hot favourite for the Takapuna Cup (a mile and a-half), but finished out of a place, St Ursula, a comparative outsider, winning. Here HISTORY HAS REPEATED ITSELF. Cavaliero and Voltigeur were withdrawn from the Hurdle Race, leaving six to face the music. The top-weight, Oannongate, though burdened with 12st 111 b, was made a warm favourite, but

over-jumping himself at the first fence turned turtle, and it looked as if Johnston had met with a nasty accident. Bider and horse were, however, soon on their feet, but took no further part in the race. Passing the Stand Tim led Cairo by a length, Kaimate and Nor’-west being half-a-length in the rear, with Hylas tailing off. At the hurdle at the back of the course Tim struck and lost ground, and Kaimate and Nor’-west went to the front, and on entering the straight it looked as if the spectators would see a battle royal. The Taranaki horse was first over the last jump, with Nor’-west close on his heels, but Peter Ohaafe’s gelding blundered and fell, and though Tim made A DESPERATE EFFORT to overtake the leader, he could not quite get up to the rapidly tiring Kaimate, and suffered defeat by half-a-length, Cairo being third. The winner went out almost neglected, his owners not trusting him with a penny after his inglorious displays on the former days of the meeting. Those who did follow him were rewarded with a dividend of £l4. A baker’s dozen went to the post for the Welter Handicap, Swiftfoot being made favourite. Bacchus, Peerage, Lady Zulu, Aurega, and Belfast were also well supported. Peerage and Aurega were first away, and they led the way across the back stretch with Lieutenant and The Frenchman in close attendance and Bacchus lying handy. When their heads were turned for home Peerage was going so well that his victory was proclaimed on all sides. It was a bit premature, however, for BACCHUS SWOOPED DOWN on the leaders, and overhauling them at every stride won brilliantly by a length. Belfast was second, Swiftfoot third, Lady Zulu fourth, Peerage fifth, and Apparition last. Time, Imin 46 2 sth sec. Dividend, £6 19s. Lady Avon was served up very hot for the five furlong Pony Race, there being 740 investors on her out of a total of 1610. It was REALLY NO RACE for after Lena had been indulged with the lead for a while Mr Ralph’s mare came on the scene, and despite her 9st 51b fairly smothered all opposition, and won as she liked in Imin 5 3-sth sec. One or two behind the winner did not seem too anxious to run into a place, but the stewards asked no questions. St Peter, Defender, Winsome and Landlock went out of the Grandstand Handicap, leaving nine to compete for the 150 sovs. Rosella and Zealous were in most demand with punters, though The Needle has also a strong following. Voice was the outsider of the party. The Needle and Zealous were first away and led past the six furlong post, with Dartmoor lying third and Firefly last. At the home turn Zealous was leading and cutting out the running, at a merry pace, all the others being at the whip. Rosella and The Needle challenged Seahorse’s sister and A GREAT BATTLE ENSUED, the judge’s verdict being a head victory for The Needle over Zealous, with Rosella beaten by a head for second place. I’he general impression was that Major George’s filly had won, and considerable feeling was shown by the public over the judge’s verdict. The seven furlongs took Imin 29 l-ssec. Supporters of The Needle drew a £4 10s dividend. For the Victoria Handicap, Nonette, although WEIGHTED AT lOst 51b, was made favourite, twelve other youngsters opposing him. Bona Bose was very troublesome at the post and broke away repeatedly, but when Mr Cutts at last let them go, it was to a good start. The race requires little description, for Mr Ryan's colt, though he lost fully a length in the straight through swerving—the result of a knock from Ragabrash—won as he liked from Ragabrash and Rete. It was a rattling fine performance on the part of the Seaton Delaval— Charente colt, and his next appearance at Wellington will be looked forward to with much interest by his Auckland supporters. The Messrs Nathan came in for many congratulations after the race on having bred so slashing a colt. Nonette’s time was Imin ssec, and he paid a dividend of £2 14s.