After the Races.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IX, Issue 687, 7 May 1903, Page 14

After the Races.

AVONDALE JOCKEY CLUB’S aU'l umn meeting. CONCLUDING DAY. The Autumn Meeting of the Avondale Jockey Club was favoured on both days with beautiful weather. could have been better inf this respect 'than the meteorological conditions, on the concluding day, and despite the City elev. lions being on the same afternoon, there was a considerable attendance. The racing was resumed with the Maiden Hurdles, for which Meteor was instantly dropped on as something particularly choice at the weights, and he went out a screaming favourite. This confid ence on the part of punters in the son of Mitiora was fully justified as, jumping beautifully throughout, he soon had the field at sixes and sevens. As St. Rowan fell when attempting to race him, there was nothing within twenty lengths at the finish. The Rioter just beat Waimana for second place. In the Flying Handicap most money was forthcoming for Cygnet, and once again the public had correctly sized up the situation, for Julian managed to get the filly going at once, and she led from start to finish, and won without much pressure by a length from the unlucky Hinetaupuriki, who came with a wet sail at the finish. 4 ■ . • •

Despite Forth’s very hollow ’Victory on the first day of the meeting, pointers preferred the chances of Girton? Girl and Gladys Rose. The former made a wretched start, and never had a chance. It looked as though the disappointing Solitary was going to do the trick at last,

for once in her life getting off at the head of the field. Two furlongs from home Forth came with a rattle, and cantered home an easy winner by three lengths from Gladys Rose, who beat Solitary by a head in the last stride. In the big event, the Autumn Handicap, nothing much would go down with the public but Landlock, although a fair amount of money was forthcoming for The Needle and Rosella. Backers of the latter were soon out of their misery, for Gallagher managed to get left at the PosL Landlock umped away in front, and then showed a clean pair of heels to the others for the whole distance, winning by two lengths from the unthought-of Durable who just lasted long enough to beat The Needle by a neck. Ropa was considered to be the tight pea for the Nursery Handicap. A very accurate forecast, for after Simple Simon and Idasa had been responsible for most of the running, the favourite came from the rear, and, galloping over everything in the race, won by over a length from Delania. Once again punters were on the job in the Steeplechase, for with but five runners, Tuni was backed so stoutly that the Crackshot gelding went out first favourite, and he won handily from Hylas. Queen Anne was made a rather better favourite than Bobs for the Second Handicap, for which only a quartette carried silk. For once in a way the big son of Hotchkiss decided to gallop, and he rather easily defeated the exceptionally weak field. Bobs was followed home by lan who beat Queen Anne by four lengths. The Waitakerei Handicap! brought proceedings to a close, and for this seven! runners filed out. St. Olga, who had been scratched for the big race was served up piping hot, while the only two to be neglected were Mary Seaton and Oraflge and Blue. The latter pony brought about the surprise of the meeting, for after going a furlong she was in front, and there she stayed for the remainder of the trip. The consistent Cygnet finished a length behnfld Orange and Blue, Miss Lottie being third. Mr Barr’s pony payed her thirty-two admirers the nice dividend of £2O 11 s. The meeting all through was well conducted, and proved thoroughly enjoyable.