CONCLUDING DAY.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IX, Issue 670, 8 January 1903, Page 14

CONCLUDING DAY.

Proceedings for the last and concluding day were resumed on Friday, the weather being much more pleasant than on the proceeding day, for the wind Tad dropped, and there jivas an absence of. dust. The sun came out. and shone nrilliantlv, and altogether it proved the most cn-oyabie day of the meeting. The Steeplechase proved a rather interesting race, but ( annongate won fairly <a-my nt the end. Mr Stead’s pair, King Log and Cruciform, annexed the two weight-for-age events rather easily, but it was possible that Wairiki might have troubled the former, but for a bad blunder at the start, when he was almost down.

For the Ascot Handicap there were six runners, and of tlhese Putty and St. Olga found most, admirers. The start behind the trees was invisible, but when they came into view St. Olga was half-a-length in advance of Francis Lovejoy, with Despatch in advance of a closely packed field. Down the back St. Olga was out a clear length ahead of Despatch, who. however, displaced Chaafe’s mare at the bend. The consistent daughter of Saracen camo into the straight two lengths ahead of Ragabrash, with St. Olga in bad trouble. 'The whips, were out at the distance, but although Ragabrash made an effort she could never reach the leader, who Avon by three lengths, with Putty third, and StOlga last- Dividend, £7 ifis fid. Kamo was sorted out as the right pea in the Sylvia Handicap, her very moderate display on the opening day not having the effect of putting punters off her. Idasa was also well backed. The favourite was shot out of the barrier nearly two lengths ahead of the field, of which Bonheur and Idasa were next. ’The sister to Nonette drew up level with the top-weight at the bend, but once in the straight she fell ‘back. Idasa came with a strong run under the whip, ancl chased Kamo right home to the judge’s box, but could not bring her to the whip, Mr Friedlander’s filly winning by two lengths, with Bonheur six lengths awav. A protest was lodged against the winner, but was dismissed. Dividend, £2 5s 1 6d.

Rosella’s running on the previous day had so impressed the public that they came at her open-mouthed for the Grandstand Handicap, and she went to the post the hottest of favourites. There were seven runners. O’Connor got them away to a grand start, and immediately The Needle was taken to- the front, and he led the field out of the straight, closely attended by Tupara and Golden Rose, with Vai Rosa last. Running down the back stretch The Needle and Tupara drew out two lengths from the field, while Rosella was whipping in the field. At the bend Golden Rose went up to the leaders, while Rosella made a forward move, but Ihe Needle led the way into the straight. A great race then took place, and at the distance it was anybody’s race. Vai Rosa put in a strong claim, and ,answering to Sceats’ call came on under severe punishment, and won all out by two lengths Wm The Needle, with Golden Rose third. ’Then followed Formula, Tupara, and Rosella, with Legion of Honor, tailed off. Time, 2min 10-Jsec. Dividends, £6 Is and £1 16s- fid.

The Royal Stakes was supposed to be a duel between Wairiki and King Log, the general summing up of the situation being that the; Soult colt would hardly be equal to giving Mr Stead’s two-year-old twentyfive pounds over a. distance to which he is by conformation unsuited. There were eight runners, and the only other to be backed at all being Rose Shield. Porirua and King Log got all the best of the start, the last to begin being Wairiki. At the bend King Log was a length in front of Porirua, with Rose Shield going up, and the top-weight in a bad position. As they turned into the straight King Log was still showing in front, and he came bowling along full of running. Wairiki got a very bad run, but at length seeing an opening on the inside Gainsford came through, the big horse being under the whip. He could never extend the leader, however, who won without pressure by three lengths, with Spalpeen four lengths

further back. Time, Imin Ififsec. Dividends, £1 Ils 6d and 15s. There were no absentees from the Steeplechase, and of the seven Nor’-west and Rufus carried most weight of money. Going off with a good start, Nor’-west was soon out in front, he and Kowhai being responsible for the bulk of the running for a round. At rhe treble for the second round Rufus was alongside Nor’west, with Cannongate gradually closing up the big gap which had existed in the first round. Going up the hill the last time Cannongate was alongside Rufus, while Nor’-west was in hopeless trouble. At the top of the hill the two leaders were racing alongside each other, with nothing else near. The black horse came down the hill very fast, but Rufus hung on, being perhaps two lengts behind at the bottom. Once into the straight it was immediately s?en that it was Cannongate’s race, and he came on and won very comfortably by six lengths from Rufus, The Swimmer being twenty lengths away third, and the rest spread-eagled over the length of the straight. Dividends, £4 18s 6d and 15s 6d. Okoari was very soundly backed for the Newmariket Handicap, in which a good field of twelve sported silk. Scotty, Strathavon, and Float also carried a lot of money. From a capital start Okoari was the "first to show prominently, but she was immediately displaced by Marshall Soult, who made the pace very willing down the back stretch, with Landlock and the favourite following two lengths away. As they turned into the straight, Marshall Soult was still in the van, but he stopped very suddenly, and Okoari coming through very fast, led the field by two lengths at the distance. Landlock threw out a. challenge in vain, as did Strathavon, but in the last hundred yards Hewitt brought Ayrdale with a late rush, but could not reach the top-weight, who won by nearly two lengths, with Strathavon third, Landlock fourth, and Marshal Soult fifth. Time, Imin Isfsec. Dividends, £2 10s 6d and £3 2s 6d.

Only Bluejacket and Formula were found willing to oppose Cruciform in the Auckland Plate, the second money, no doubt, tempting owners. The race merits little description, for after Bluejacket had led all round to the straight, Cruciform came past and won without any effort by two lengths from Bluejacket, with Formula close up third. Time, 2min 38£sec. Dividend, £1 3s. A fine field of twelve ponies went out for the concluding event of the meeting. Directly the barrier rose The Imp was first away, and he led down the back stretch, closely attended by Belle Cole and Annoyed. They swept into the straight in a body, But Mr Quinlivan’s gelding was 1 full of running, and although vigorously challenged by Girton Girl and Belle Cole, Hewitt never had to use his whip, The Imp running home two lengths in advance of Mr Marshall’s mare. Belle Cole was third, Solitary fourth. Forth fifth,_ with Mosquito and Resurgam whipping in the field. On returning to scale The Imp came in for a very hostile reception, the running showing a great reversal of form on previous running. A protest was immediately lodged against the winner, and this, after a. lengthy hearing, was sustained, and the race awarded to Girton Girl. Time, Imin ssec. Dividends, £lO 13s and 19s fid. This somewhat unpleasant affair rung the curtain down on the great Summer Carnival at Ellerslie. Taken all round, it was an enjoyable meeting, but was marred to a certain extent by the bad weather and the number of protests. The sum of £16,327 was put through the totalisator on the last day, this bringing up a grand total of £70,497 for the meeting, or a decrease of £3042 on last year.