AUCKLAND R.C. SPRING MEETING

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IX, Issue 663, 20 November 1902, Page 14

AUCKLAND R.C. SPRING M EETING

THIRD DAY. The concluding day of the A.R.C. Spring Meeting was favoured with very pleasantweather., and there was in consequence a capital attendance, the Hunt Club races attracting many. Speculation was Very brisk, £7540 going through the machine during the afternoon, ( this bringing the total investments for the meeting up to £24,817, which is £7BO in excess of the amount handled last year at the corresponding meeting. The great feature of the racing was the wonderful finish in the Ascot Handicap, when six horses finished almost abreast, and no one except the judge could tell which had won till the numbers went up-.’ The day’s proceedings opened with the Maiden Hurdles, in which eleven sported silk. Admiral Hawke was made favourite, but he came to grief at the last hurdle in the straight, : another to fall being Hipstone, while Waimana dislodged his rider The race resulted in a somewhat easy win

for Kaitcre, Air Crowther s gelding running, home fully three lengths ahead .of l.ady Dash, with Sirdar third. Time, 3min 22.'.sec. Dividends, £l4 7s 'id and £6 Is 6d? ■ All started' for the Ascot Handicap. Rosella and St. Olga were the. -first to move when the barrier went up, iWairikigcttiiig all the worst of tbe start. St. Olga, led past the stand, while at the mile post Wairiki had moved up from last into third place. Down the back of (he course Si. Olga led from Wairiki, Matamatakarakiki and Ihe Needle. On passing the halfmile post St. Olga had a lead of,half a length from Wairiki, and a similar distance behind came the queerly named one. St. Olga was first into the straight, being a length ahead of Wairiki,, who then put in a strong run, and looked like winning. Vai Rosa, however, put in an undeniable claim, shooting up on the inside, and winning cleverly by a head. r l he finish was verv exciting, Wairiki, St. Olga, Golden Rose and The Needle all being locked together. and it looked like a dead heat between the four. The time of 2min 12sec was not, however, very fast. The divi- . dends were £ll 14s 6d on the winner. Golden Rose and The Needle paying 16s 6d and 19s respectively. Only four started for the Hunt Club ( up. getting away together. Evermore was first to iump the hurdles,, and kept the lead to the trees. Going up the hill Riot took command, and Tarragon , closing up passed Evermore. At the sod wall all three were abreast, with Economist a long way in the rear. , Tb.e three kept within a length of each other for a whole round, and over the double passing _ the stand the second time thev jumped in a' line. Down the back of the coprse Mr Pittar’s Dorse drew away from the other; and led by about eight lengths' at the top of tie hill. Tarragon came next, with Evermore ’some three lengths; a.way. Riot .came down the hill and jumped the stone wall three lengths ahead of • Tarragon, with Evermore now a length away coming very fast, and the latter passing Tarragan drew level with Riot at the last hurdle. Evermore came with a great, run, and gained the judge’s verdict by a bare length from Riot, with the grey horse about four lengths away third. Time, Smin 29sec. Dividend, £1 19s 6d. There were no absentees in the Nursery Handicap, thus making a field of thirteen , runners, of which Alba Rose was" chosen as favourite. From a good start Desdemona was the. first to-show out, and getting a substantial lead' was never headed, winning by two lengths from Ropa, with Delania third, and the, rest of the field strangled out. 'Time. 514 sec, Dividends,' Cs'ss fid. ' ' ■

In the Publicans’ Handicap ten starmrs faced the barrier, the absentees being Austerlitz, Tukaj a and Mars. 'Hie public fancy was Formula, who ran disappointingly. The start was not a good one, several horses getting mixed up in the barrier. The colours of Landlock were • the first to show out, and making tie pace merry the Flintlock gelding, led his .field all the way. winning by two lengths, from Spalpeen, who was a length in front ofLaviiette, with Lady Soult fourth,' and Jewellery fifth. 'Camille .got left at the start, and never caught the field. Time, Imin IGsec. Dividend, £4 4s fid and £2 17s Gd.

All the six on the card in the Tally-Ho Steeplechase went to the front, and were despatched together for <the cfoss-country journey. Matarawa was in front at the sod wall followed by Cannongate, The Swimmer and Dingo, and at the water jump Mr O’Rorke’s gelding still led the wmy, with Kow'hai as a close attendant, and I’he Swimmer and Sirdar close up. Down the back of the course Dingo led Matarawa and Kowhai, while the first iump on the hill the order was Kowhai two lengths in front of Dingo, who was a length ahead of Matarawa and The Swimmer, Sirdar falling at the jump, Cannongate w as about six lengths in the rear at this point. The double saw Dingo in the. lead, all the others being close up. .At the back of the course tbe second time Kowhai led Dingo by two lengths, Matarawa being six lengths further astern. Up the hill to the first jump all closed up,, and Dingo was the first over, followed by the rest in a bunch. Dingo led down the hill with The Swimmer handy. Cannongate came down tie hill with, a wet sail, and passed The Swimmer and Dingo in the straight. Mr Mantali’s ’chaser won by two lengths from The Swimmer, who was two lengths in front of Dingo, with, Matarawa some distance behind pulling up. Time, 6min 12soc. Dividend, £2 ,ss. Thirteen starters composed the field for the Welter Handicap, and these got away - to a good start. Grey Seaton was the first to show put of the ruck, followed by Geologist and Maroon and Gold. At tbe half-mile tl',e grey colt still held the lead, with Lingard and Hippowai close up. Zulieka came through as they dashed-into the straight and eventually won a good race by a length from Tresham, who beat Grey Seaton by a head. Time, Imin 44J--A 1 see.. Dividends. £3 9s 6d and £1 6s. Seven horses started for the Amateur Maiden Kurdle. Race, Vic and Economist declining the contest. From a good start Guardwvan H- reached’ the hurdle first, and led MArina and Tip, but. was soon dis-. placed. - Marine and Tip together .’in

command down the straight and past the Stand. At the back of the course Miss Drury closed up and joined the leaders. All three jumped the hurdle leading into the straight in a line, but two hundred yards from home Miss Drury went to the front. Marine fell at the last fence, Miss Drury beating Tip by three-quarters of a length, with Guardsvan IT. three lengths away third. Time, 3min Dividend, £2 9s 6d. /