THE GREAT EAS ER RACING CARNIVAL.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IX, Issue 683, 9 April 1903, Page 13

THE GREAT EAS ER RACING CARNIVAL.

®PHE AUCKLAND RACING CLUB’S AUTUMN MEDINGTHE FIRST DAY’S EVENTS. ANTICIPATIONS BY “THE JUDGE.” Once again the relentless march of Time has brought us to the great Caster Carnival of the Auckland Racing Club, which will be commenced at Ellerslie on Saturday, April 11, and continued on Monday and Tuesday. The Easter Meeting at headquarters always seems to Carry with it pleasant recollections, for the time of year still makes it possible for a day in the open air to be an enjoyable one, while the racing is invariably of a high-class and interesting nature. One generally associates autumn with a somewhat sunburnt appearance of the land, but tisitors to Ellerslie will >find it hard to realise that this is really the fall of the year, for the grass is still wearing that vivid shade of [green so stronglyi suggestive of early spring. Indeed it is hard, to imagine tnat the lawns could possibly look better than they do at present, and there is no doubt that Mr J. Hill, the painstaking custodian, deserves more credit for his efforts than is usually accorded him by the public generally. The tracks are at the time of writing in faultiest order, the heavy rainfall at the end of last week having been of very considerable benefit. Visitors will notice several improvements which have been carried oUt since the Christmas gathering, and no doubt these will be favourably commented upon. < ; Having had over a-quarter of a century’s experience as secretary to the big club, it may be safely depended upon that Mr W. Percival’s arrangements for the comfort of patrons will leave very little to be desired. Indeed, in this respect the Auckland Racing Club have a very good name, and having had experience of race meetings in many parts of the world, I can speak with a good deal of authority in the matter. There are very few race>courses indeed where the sport of kings can be witnessed in such comfort as obtains at the picturesque Ellerslie convincing ground. The first race is timed to start at noon, and there will be a very complete service of trains to the Ellerslie platform, particulars of which can be seen in our advertising columns. There seems little doubt but that if the meeting i& favoured by fine weather it will prove one Of the most successful ever held, which! is indeed saying a great deal. A review of the handicapper’s adjustments and an attempt to f athom the mysteries of th® future and forecast events again falls to my lot, and truly it is not an easy task. As there has i eeh no racing except country meetings since Christmas, there is no recent form •'.• go upon. Proceedings will commence wb‘ the Tradesmen’s Plate, in which t! are thirteen horses engaged. Rosella •’ < the top of the list with 9.5, but M' Nathan’s good mare will no doub* --er-

ved for the Easter Handicap. The Southerner. Queen’s Guard, has 8.1, and is left with a good chance. On their latest form there is very little to choose between Putty and Matamataharakiekie, while Green and Gold has been in rare winning form Of late. Annoyed is a very smart pony and might run well if she is started, while, if Idas would show a glimpse of her two-year-old form she would get the judge’s verdict,; but in hazarding a selection the three I would place as dangerous are— GREEN AND GOLD 1 PUTTY 2 MATAMATAHARAKEIKEI ... 3 The Great Northern Champagne Stakes, of 500 eovs, is the next item, and it goes without saying that the youngsters will come in for close scrutiny as they file out to do battle for the rich “ classic ” sprint. Indications point to the field being more numerous than is usually the case with this big event for two-year-olds. There is a marked absence of anything which might be expected to frighten the others out. Those which appear to be the likeliest of the youngsters to do the trick are Mr Friedlander’s pair Kamo and Roseshield, Mr Watt’s Melodeon, and Messrs Darlot and Dunfee’s Ropa. The son of Medallion has been showing to great advantage lately at Napier, but I fancy he will meet one or two up here aible to pace it with him. The placing® of the judge may be— MR FRIEDLANDER’S BEST ... 1 MELODEON 2 ROPA 3 The big event! of tlhe day, the Easter Handicap, of 650 sovs, next comes in for consideration, and for this a good baker’s dozen should fie found sporting silk. Wairiki holds pride of place, both in the weight and in the betting market. With 9.7, the long-legged son of Soult will require to be at his best to win. He has come in for very substantial support, and if all goes well with him is certain to remain favourite up to the start of the race. Rosella is nicely treated with 8.12, but it remains to be seen if she is the Rosella of old. Her track work does not suggest it. Strathavon, with 8.11, may be confidently counted on to run a good race. He won the Takapuna Cup with 7.9, and the Takapuna J.C. Handicap with 8.7, and has since annexed the Taranaki Cup, carrying 8.0. With 8.10 Mr Evett has given him an excellent chance of another win. Oingo is considered by many to be one of the prime picks of the bunch, more especially as Westguard, who hails from the same spot, has dropped out. A horse I must confess ta having a very great regard for in the race is Vai Rosa. True, he is somewhat of an in and Out customer, but it must not be forgotten that at times he has finished with the greatest resolution. On the last day at the A.R.C Christmas meeting he beat a good field in the Grandstand Handicap when carrying 8.0, and now he has but 8.4. On that form he ought to beat several in the Easter Handicap. The Needle finished second on that occasion, and now meets Vai Rosa on four pounds better terms, and 'also meets Rosella on better terms than when he last beat the mare, so must have a chance. Landlock is one of the honest sort, but might do better over tax furlongs. I am told Golden Rose has a splendid chance, as she is very well, and am not prepared to entirely gainsay this, although I hardly think her quite good enough to win. Of the light weights Jewellery may possibly be most prominent. To endeavour to find the place-gettersi is a hard matter indeed. It may seem rash to desert the favourite, especially such an old friend as Wairiki, but I am going to risk it. In November Vai Rosa beat Wairiki in receipt of 51bs, and I do not see why he should not repeat it when in receipt of seventeen. Trusting he may be in a galloping humour, I will therefore place them — 1 WAIRIKI 2 STRATHAVON 3 After the excitement has died down, the Hurdle Race will be called on. Cavaliero is reported amiss, and Tresham is under suspicion. I should not be surprised to find the places go to INCHCAPE 1 LINGARD 2 ROYAL CONQUEROR 3 Eleven remain in the Eden Handicap, and it is somewhat difficult to name those who will start. If Green and Gold is reserved for this race the mare is bound to be hard to beat, but in her absence 1 incline more to the chances of MARSHALL SOULT FORMULA .. SOULTFISH There is nothing of very much class in the Onslow Stakes, as indeed the conditions of the race would imply. The two-year-olds have’- shown very in and out form this season, and anything might win.

The trio I exoect to find engaging the attention of Judge Lusk are BONHEUR 1 DELANIA 2 ALBA ROSE 3 There is a fascination about a pony race which always' seems to appeals to punters, and it not infrequently happens that the event for the liliputians is the best betting event of the day. 1 here is plenty of material in the First Pony Handicap, for fourteen have been accepted for, including all our best ponies. To attempt to forecast tfie result pl a pony race in Auckland is a sufficiently hopeless task, but those whose winning prospects appear brightest if all is well on the day are ANNOYED 1 ORANGE AND BLUE .2 GIRTON GIRL 3 The Railway Handicap will bring the first day’s proceedings to a close, and I am inclined to think the three topweights will fight out the finish, and should not be greatly surprised to find them finishing in the same order as on the programme, namely— WESTGUARD 1 ST. OLGA J. 2 NUMA 3