After the Races.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IX, Issue 666, 11 December 1902, Page 14

After the Races.

fAKAPHNA JO SPRING MEETING SECOND DAY. The concluding day of the Takapuna Jockey Club’s Spring Meeting was favoured with pleasant weather, although the wind was rather strong. The attendance for an off day was by no means bad, while, the management left nothing to be desired Betting was fairly brisk during the afternoon, the sum of £6082 going through the totalisator, which was almost equal to the Saturday. This made a total of £12,252 for the meeting, as against £13,791 for the corresponding re-union last year., Racing was recommenced with the Stanley Handicap, for which a good field of twelve, horses weighed out. Most money was forthcoming for the uncertain Spalpeen. whose many halt-hearted attempts at galloping had not quite choked off backers. Camille, Hillflower and Vulpine also found supporters. When the barrier rose the white jacket of Vulpine was the first to show (dear of Hillflower, Bastion, and Rosiphele. and they ran in this order round the back stretch and up the straight, the pony winning by nearly two lengths from the unlucky Hillflower,with Messrs Duder’s colt, who was almost friendless on the machine, filling' third place.

Six went to the post for the Second Handicap Hurdles, for which Bellman was made favourite, with Miss Drury next in request. The favourite showed the way over the first fence, with Inchcape and Tip in close attendance, and at the back of the course Mr Hannon’s gelding had considerably extended his lead, being fully three lengths in front of Inchcape. The old chestnut led the field at a merry pace for a round and a-half, but then at the end of the back stretch he began to tire, Inchcape and Perseverance drawing level with him. A few lengths further on the Tetford gelding came down, treating Quinton

to a nasty fall. Perseverance and Marine raced up the straight together, but, the latter fell at the last hurdle, and Miss Buckland’s gelding won by three lengths from Inchcape. He was an almost ua-thought-of outsider, and returned the handsome dividends of £25 6s 6d and £47 ss, . ■ There were only five runners in the big event, the Spring Handicap, and of these Romeo was considaered by backers to.have a rather better chance than Formula of annexing the stake. As it tukned out, this was a verj correct forecast. When the barrier rose the favourite was quickest away, but St. Olga soon went to th® front, and led for half-a-mile, when Romeo displaced her. As they headed for home the Leolantis gelding began to draw away from the field, but then Formuia singled out in chase. Both Abbott and Lindsay were hard at it at the distance, but Romeo held his lead and, won by over a; length, with Putty a bad third. Of the six starters in the Second Haiidicap Green and Gold was sorted out as something pretty good, and in such a field of moderates the full sister to Wairiki did look something in the nature of a “ moral.” She was first away, away, and went sailing along two lengths ahead of Swagsman, Buchanan having the utmost difficulty to hold her back to the field. As they rounded the bend for home the Soult mare was still pulling double, but it had taken a lot of the steam out of her, so much so, in fact, that when Wellcast threw out a challenge it looked momentarily as though Mr Banks' mare would b« beaten. She, however, answered to Buchanan’s call all right, and won by nearly two lengths from Wei hast, who was a similar distance in advance of Queen Anne.

The Second Pony Handicap was pretty generally summed up as a fairly good thing for Girton Girl, as it was considered that Mr Marshall’s filly would be quite capable of putting.down the five apponents over her pet distance. First Whisper was quickest into her stride, while Solitary and Retaliator were rather badly left. First Whisper and Cuisine carried on the running to the bend into the straight, when the favourite threw out a successful challenge, and easily passing tnem won by two lengths from Solitary, who came with a well-sustained run at the finish, with Sentinel a poor third. Another field of five went to the post for the Cautley Handicap, for which Formula was made a very strong order. Hillflower was first to commence, and the Freedom gelding was rattled along to such a tune that at the back stretch he was out four lengths ahead of the field. At the bend the favourite commenced to improve her position, and was alongside Mr Ross’ gelding at the distance. The latter was soon at the whip, but could not choke off Formula, who won comfortably by two lengths, with Spalpeen an indifferent third. Princess of Thule and The Swimmer were pretty generally dropped on as the pair most likely to be dangerous in the Handicap Steeplechase, and both were. Very steadily backed. The Swimmer made play at the'opening stage of the journey, but then Nor’-west and Kowhai ranged up alongside the little son of Captain Webb. The latter ran off behind the stand, and at the last round it was apparent that _ the struggle rested between Evermore, Nor’west and Princess of Thule At the hurdle in the straight Mr Ross’ gelding came to grief, and a good race ensued between the other two, the top weight winning by two lengths from Mr Deeble’s mare. Matarawa was a bad third, and then followed The Swimmer and Kiatere.

Proceedings were brought to a termination with the Welter Handicap, for .which only five went to the post, Treshani being made a rather better favourite than Geologist. The latter made most of the running down the back stretch, being closely attended by Mechanic and Ragabrash. A splendid race ensued up the straight between Geologist and Ragabrash, the daughter of Strathmore just beating Mr Riley’s, gelding by a neck, this finishing an interesting day’s sport.