AFTER THE RACES.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIII, Issue 755, 25 August 1904, Page 8

AFTER THE RACES.

NEW ZEALAND GRAND NATIONAL MEETING-

SECOND DAY. The heavy rain which fell on Wednesday night made the course very heavy for the second day’s racing of the Canterbury Jockey Club’s Grand National Meeting. There was some capital racing, the race for the Grand National Hurdles being the finest hurdle contest ever seen at Riccarton. The day’s programme opened with the Hunt Club Cup, for which there were seven starters. Rowlock and Craigmore .(coupled) were sent out favourites, but the horses went under before Te Kohau, who, after running well forward for the greater part of the journey, took the lead at the last fence and beat Rowlock by six lengths, Craigmore being a similar distance away, third, while Balfour fell. There were twelve starters for the Summer Handicap, Talune being made a strong favourite. The start was delayed for some time by the fractiousness of Bombastes and Coxswain, the latter breaking through the barrier twice. Bayonet made all the running but when the straight was reached The Mohican came with a rush from the middle of the field and beat the tiring Bayonet by a comfortable margin. Twelve horses started for the August Handicap. Backers were very much divided in their opinions, there being no decided favourite. The race provided a keen struggle between Brighton and Flower o’ Clutha. The two Dunedin reps, singled themselves out at the distance and ran locked together to the judge’s box, Brighton gaining his second win at the Meeting by less than a length. Kremlin and Petrovna ran well till the straight was reached, when they faded out very quickly. The Grand National Hurdle Handicap attracted eighteen starters. This was one of the largest fields that have been seen in an important hurdle race in the Colony. It is certain that a finer race or more exciting finish have never been witnessed on a New Zealand course. Hautapu and Slow Tom made the pace in the early part of the race, but they commenced to drop back when half the journey had been completed. Half a mile from home Tupara had taken the lead, while Tahae and Huku had run from the middle of the field into second and third places. Entering the straight the field closed up and racing for the last hurdle, there was little to choose between about ten. Zealous was the first to clear the obstacle, but once over on the flat she died away. A des. perate race to the winning post ensued, the excitement being intense, but in the end Medallius fairly outstayed his rivals and won in the last stride by the narrowest of margins. Right on the heels of the placed horses came about half a dozen others, the uidge’s verdict being heads between the first seven. The ra< was in many ways remarkable, not only for the size of the field and the close finish, but also on account of the splendid exhibition of jumping which it provided. Cavalrv hit the hurdle in front of the stand and nearly unseated his rider, who well deserved the applause that greeted his neat recovery. This was the only mistake till the last hurdle was reached, where Tahae fell, when he seemed to hold an excellent winning chance. The win was very well received, and Mr Henrys, the handicapper, came in for hearty congratulations over the result. Medallius was not in great favour locally, but his connections were very sanguine, particularly when the course proved so heavy. The Beaufort Steeplechase provided a far better display of jumping than the Grand National Steeplechase, as out of seven starters only one, Saturn, came to grief. Phaetonitis was going well all through the race, and he won comfortably after blundering at the last fence.

There were eleven starters for the Islington Handicap, in which the favourite. Juniper, had his chance extinguished through getting badly awav. Cannie Chiel was in front from the start to the finish, but he was tiring palpably in the last furlong, and he had to

be ridden hard to stall off the challenge Of Secret Society and Waitarere. Nine went to the post for the Second Hunters’ Hurdle Handicap, but Poacher retired at the first hurdle. Hawera had the race in hand a long way from home, his performance being an improvement on the first day’s display. There was talk of his qualifications being questioned, but everything proved to be in order. Euros finished second, but his rider could not draw the weight, and Early Van was placed. The Second Woolston Plate attracted a field of nine, the Porirua representative, Elibank, being made a strong favourite. He commenced slowly but put in a great run from the distance, catching Muscovite, Sophistic and Ordnance in the last stride, won by a head, tlu..providing a good finish to an excellent day’s sport.

THIRD DAY.

The meeting was concluded on Saturday in fine weather, but a strong nor’west wind, though beneficial to the course, proved unpleasant to the spectators. The racing was better than that witnessed on the two previous days. A field of ten started in the Third Hunters’ Hurdle, four of the number, Reliance, Anadeja, Wonderful and Andy Regan being equally well backed. Early Van, Plantagenet and Hawera fell at the first hurdle, and Wonderful came down at - the five furlong post. Andy Regan was among the first three throughout, and taking command at the mile post, he was never afterwards headed, winning by a length from Eurus, who defeated Anadeja by six lengths for second place. There were only four starters in the Ladies’ Bracelet, run over two miles on the fiat. Slow Tom led from the start, making his own run through out, and beat Methven by two lengths, Carlo being ten lengths away, third. Graduated Tax was the other starter, but was outnaced.

The Sydenham Hurdle Race was contested by twelve horses, nine being well backed. Tupara fell after going half a mile, but the others jumped well all the way. Hautapu, Zealous, Catherine Gordon and Hippowai were prominent for the first mile, when Hippowai ran into first place, Zealous being second, three lengths clear of Cavalry and Hautapu. Hippowai was first over the last hurdle and just lasted long enough to win by half a length from Cavalry, who was half a length iu front of Huku, then came Zealous, Catherine Gordon, Scottish Minstrel, Lissa and Hautapu close up to the leaders. Sixteen went to the post for the Heathcote Handicap, Ellis Bros, pair, Blackstone and Juniper, being made warm favourites. Speculate moved off the mark quickly, but soon gave way to Lee-Enfield, who piloted the field round the bend and well into the straight, Cannie Chiel, Waitarere, Secret Society, and Loch Erne being prominent among the others. When half-way down the straight Loch Erne and Secret Society drew alongside Lee-Enfield, and after a slashing set to, Loch Erne passed the post a bare head in front of Secret Society, who was only a head in front of Lee-Enfield. Waitarere was fourth, just in front of Bandmaster and Juniper.

The Lincoln Steeplechase, like the Grand National Steeplechase, furnished a poor exhibition of jumping, only four out of ten starters finishing the journey. Crespin, Victory, Phaetonitis and Agitator came down at various parts of the distance, while Saturn was pulled up half a mile from home. . Eclair, Haydn, Pipi and Sultana jumped well, and Eclair headed the field in the last half-mile, and easily holding his own beat Haydn by five lengths, Pipi being a similar distance away, third.

A field of thirteen faced the starter in the Selwyn Handicap. Petrovna, on paper, appeared to be a class above the others, and she was installed a strong favourite. Repulse and Petrovna were the first to show out, but after going a furlong the pair were joined by Muscovite, and this trio were first into the straight, but Petrovna soon after retired, leaving Muscovite in the lead. Flower o’ Clutha and Brighton came fast from the distance, but they failed to reach Muscovite who won bv nearly three lengths, Flower o’ Clutha’ being a length and a half in front of Brighton, while Lady Soult and Ability finished next.

Spalpeen was sent out favourite for the Final Hurdle Race, in which a field of nine started. The favourite gave a poor exhibition and finished absolutely last, The Guesser, who was bought bv Mr H. McLean on the previous dav, took command in the last half-mile arid beat Moeraki by four lengths, Hautapu being third, a similar distance behind Moeraki, with Cavalry fourth. The Hunters’ Plate, one mile and a half on the flat, fell to Jolly Roger, a six-year-old gelding bv Saracen from Merry Maiden, who defeated Hawera by two lengths, Brookside being third.