THIRD DAY.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IX, Issue 692, 11 June 1903, Page 14

THIRD DAY.

Proceedings were re-commenced on the final day with the Second Maiden Steeplechase, for which The Pullack was in strong demand. Marine and The Pullack led at the start, but after travelling for a bit Hipstone, whose jumping showed a marked improvement, went ahead, and gradually drawing away on the second round, was twenty lengths ahead as they came to the

hill. Here Marine closed up rapidly, but, as they came down to the last jump the race looked a certainty for the son of St. Hippo. There is no such thing as a certainty in steeplechasing, however, for at the very last hurdle in the straight. Hipstone came to grief, this leaving Marine to canter in by himself. Hipstone was mounted, and managed to just beat Mount Zeehan for second place. The favourite, who, however, was in hopeless trouble at the time, fell at the wall at the entrance into the straight. A field of a dozen carried silk in the York Welter, Putty and Rosella carrying by far the most investments, while, of the others Zuleikai and Vai Rosa had plenty of friends. When the barrier rose Bastion shot out, and followed by St. Olga and Strathavon carried along the running down the back. At the bend for home Messrs Duder’s horse was still in the van, but directly heads were turned for home Durable was seen to come through. A great finish took place, Putty just getting the better of Durable in the last fifty yards, while Vai Rosa, running kindly for once, was third, at the head of a bunched field. Tb

Haydn was: an absentee from the Winter Steeplechase, which apparently left the race at the mercy of Cannongate, and he was made a red-hot favourite. Directly O’Connor let them go Hylas was taken to the front, and he led down the back from Tuni, with the top-weights handy. Down the hill Hylas drew away, and led from Cannongate, while at the stand Nor’-West was alongside the black horse. Here Tuni was almost down, but McGregor made ai very smart recovery. Running down the back Cannongate stole away, and reached the hill four lengths ahead of Nor’-West and Hylas, with Tuni six lengths away last. Down the incline Higgins let the son of Cannon go, and he was in a moment ten lengths away, but Wright then commenced to bustle Nor’-West along, and as they entered the straight he was alongside Mr Marshall’s gelding. For one instant it looked as though Nor’-West might prevail, but when the top-weight was shaken up he drew out, and won by two lengths, with Hylas about ten lengths off third. The winner pulled up lame.

All the ten on the card went to the post for the Campbell Hurdles, for which Tresham was sorted out as tbe right pea. : Directly they settled down to work Me- ' teor shot out and commenced to make the i running, and he led by several lengths past the. stand and down the back stretdh, 1 when Lady Bell and Mars set out in put- | suit. As they neared the bend for home I the son of Mitiora was still out by himself, but the other two came at him in I earnest. Meteor was over the last hurdle I a length to the good, and although Mars ' made a desperate effort to get past Mr

Hannon’s gelding struggled home under severe punishment, and won by half-a-length, with Lady Bell two lengths off third. The favourite never got near the leaders at any part of the journey.

There was a splendid field in the Third Maiden Welter, no less thansixteen being in the starter’s hands, Cygnet was made favourite, other well-backed candidates being Croupier, Maoriland, and Sandy. When the barrier rose the first to show oait were Black and Gold, Sandy, and Hurrah, while before they had run far the field was spreadeaglcd. At every stride Messrs Duder’s colt got away from the others, and as they turned into the straight it could easily be seen that it was his race. He came bowling up the straight full of running, and won in a canter by four- lengths from Sandy, who was two lengths in front of Swagsman, with Croupier and Ambition at the head of a loose field.

Great Shot and Miss Drury were the popular selections for the Hunters’ Steeplechase. , Kiatere was responsible for the bulk of the running, with Great Shot in next place, while Mr Ellett kept Miss Drury far in the rear. Down the hill she was two hundred yards behind the others, while Kiatere had drawn out such a lead as to make a win for him almost a certainty. The son of Castor came right away, and won by twenty lengths from Great Shot, with Boxer ju’st in front of Miss Drury. The latter, when there was no possible chance of winning, was brought with a great rush, and was only just out of a place, the rider being hooted on returning to scale.

The Farewell Handicap was considered to lie between Numa, Black and Gold, and St. . Olga, who were backed in that order, a singularly accurate forecast of the capabilities of the trio, for they finished in the exact order of favouritism. There were eleven runners for O’Connor to deal with at the barrier, and he effects so many splendid starts that it was quite a surhrise to find that for once in a way he had failed. Numa got right away, while Hurrah and Green and Gold were virtually left at the post. Profiting by his start, Numa made every post a winning- one, cantering in two lengths, ahead of Black and Gold, while St. Olga was some three lengths off third.

lhe sum of £10,106 was put through the totalisator during the afternoon, a substantial falling off from last year’s result