Anticipations.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IX, Issue 664, 27 November 1902, Page 14

Anticipations.

LAKAPTOA JO SPRING MEETING ANTICIPATIONS FOR THE FIRST DAY.

(By

“The Judge.”)

The Takapuna Jockey Club will open the season’s racing at North Shore on Saturday next, when the Spring Meeting will be commenced. * The course is in really perfect order, while I doubt whether the enclosure ever looked so well as it does at present, the flowers blooming everywhere in the most reckless profusion. If only the weather holds fine there is no more pleasant wav of passing the afternoon than by a trip across the harbour to the picturesque Marine Suburb, and with the expectation of having to deal with a big rush of visitors the Ferry Company is arranging to have nearly the whole of its extensive fleet running backwards and . forwards every few minutes. A shilling ticket will pay for the ferry and also admit to the course. Mr R. Wvnvard, the popular secretary, tells me that' no detail has been left un-

done which will conduce to the comfort of patrons. Mr King has charge of the catering, which fact in itself is, a guarantee that the luncheon will be a good one. All that is required is a line day, when the reunion should prove as successful as any that have preceded it. Racing will lie commenced at one o'clock with the Trial Handicap, for which a field Of ten is engaged. They are not a very brilliant lot, and possibly the best may be found to be Rosiphele, Hillflower, and Lingard. Only five have accepted for the Cambria Handicap, and two-year-old form has been so peculiar this season that really any one of the quintette might win. but possibly Te Arona, Stibbington, and Desdemona may come home in that order. The big event of the day comes next on the bill-of-fare, this being the St. Andrew’s Handicap, for which eight should go to the post. If caught in a galloping humour Formula ought to score a victory, and the Hotchkiss mare’s most dangerous opponents should be St. Olga and Tresham.

For the Maiden Hurdles there are no less than nineteen acceptors, so that the field promises to be large. The Swimmer would win if it were, over country, but so far hurdle racing has not been his forte. I incline more to the opinion that Lady Dash and Admiral Hawke may just about lead him home

• Another very big field is down to compete in the First Hack Handicap, but as many of these are also entered in other races the scratching pen may be freely used. Even with a dozen starters at the five furlong mark, it will be quite enough and much will depend on how they get away. It is rather like trying to find the proverbial needle in a bundle of hay, attempting to soft out a winner in this big batch of moderates, but perhaps Powerful, Wellcast, or Cygnet might catch the judge’s eye. In the Pony Race there should be a capital finish, which may be fought out by Annoyed, First Whisper, and Cuisine, who may run home in that order. For the First Handicap Hurdles I incline to the chances of Bellman, whose Southern performances were very consistent. It is,, however, possible that the old fellow may be an absentee, in which case Princess of Thule and Hippowai may be next best. The Cheltenham Handicap will bring to a close the day’s proceedings, and in this a good field is engaged. On his Ellerslie running Landlock must prove very hard to beat, while St. Olga and Spalpeen should supply the places. The full programme is as follows Trial Handicap. One mile.

> '.Jji QillToMiaji uamdicaf of 100 sovs. Five furlongs.

st lb st lb Powerful 9 0 Queen Ann ... ... 7 7 Marshal Soult S 0 Lingard ... 7 5 Rosiphele 7 12 Irish ... 7 2 Sly Mias 7 7 Hillflower ..7 2 Green and Gold . 7 7 Wellcast ... 7 0 Cambria Handicap of; 100 sovs. Four furlongs. st lb st lb Stibbington . 8 8 Te Aroha ... 7 9 Matua . 8 0 Sol ..7 2 Desdemona . 7 12 St. Andrew’s Handicap of 200 sovs. One mile and a-quarter. st lb st lb St. Olga 7 12 Tresham ... 7 5 Matamataharakeke 7 8 Romeo .. ... 7 4 Putty 7 8 Gladisla .. 6 12 Formula 7 8 Doctor... ... 6 7 Maiden Hurdles of 70 sovs. One mile and a -half and 100 yards. st lb st lb The Swimmer 11 12 Perseverance... ... 9 5 Kiatere 11 7 Dick .. 9 3 Admiral Hawke 10 7 Tuni ... 9 3 Solo ....... 10 0 Gunfire ... 9 3 Kowhai 9 12 Guardsvan II. ... 9 3 Gipsy Lass ... 9 7 Sirdar ... 9 0 Mariae . 9 7 Hipstone ..9 0 Evermore 9 7 Amahantas ... ... 9 0 Midnight ... 9 7 Economist ... 9 0 Lady Dash .97 First Hack Handicap of 60 sovs. Five furlongs. st lb st lb Powerful 8 12 Welle < st ... 7 4 Muskerdale 8 6 Ben Blair ... 7 4 Mai shal Soult 8 2 Swagsman ... 7-..4 Queen Anne .. 8' 0 Bastion ... 7 0 Green and Gold 7 12 Seatonia ... 7 0 Cygnet 7 8 Resurgum ... 7 0 Lingard 7 S Vyvette ... 7 0 redeemed 7 7 Bloodstone ... 7 0 Black Watch .. ... 7 7 Soultfish ... 6 7 First Pony Handicap. Six furlongs st lb st lb Stepaway 9 6 Cuisine ... 7 8 Annoyed .. ;. 8 13 Solitary ... 7 0 Sentinel 8 0 Sonica .. 6 10 First Whisper 7 10 First Handicap Hurdles of 100 sovs. Two miles. st lb st lb Bellman 12 4. Miss Drury- ... ... 9 10 Tim 10 5 Hippowai ... 9 10 Princess of Thule . 10 0 Tip ... 9 0 Inchcape ;.. 9 12

st lb et lb Landlock ... 9 2 Hikipene 7 2 St. Olga ... 8 12 Despatch ... ... 7 0 Powerful ..8 7 Cygnet 7 0 Telephone ... 8 4 Hillflower 6 10 Borneo Spalpeen ... 8 2 Lauy rfoult ... 7 12 Wellcast a.. fi IQ 6 10 Geordie .. 7 12 Mary Seaton 6 7 Mechanic :.. 7 3 Seatonia 6 .7 Hesper 7 2 SECOND DAY. Handicap Steeplechase. About three miles st lb st IB Nor’-west ... 12 5 Matarawa 9 10 he Swimmer ... 11 5 Kowhai 9 9 Treeham ...10 9 Evermore 9 9 Princess of Thule ..10 8 Economist ‘ 9 7 Tim ..10 6 Sirdar 9 7 Kiatere ... 9 12 Riot 9 7