AFTER THE RACES.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIII, Issue 773, 29 December 1904, Page 8

AFTER THE RACES.

AUCKLAND RACING CLUB’S SUMMER MEETING.

CUP DAY.

Under the happiest possible circumstances the great summer carnival of the Auckland Pacing Club was inaugurated on Saturday. It was one of those genuine summer days of which, unfortunately, we get all too few in Auckland, and the result was that an immense number of people were tempted out to spend the day on the Ellerslie course. | The famous convincing ground looked at I its very brightest and best, Mr Hill I having everything in the most “appleI pie” order. It is difficult to estimate I the exact attendance, but there must I have been some twelve to fifteen thouI sand people present, including many ■ well-inown visitors. His Excellency I the Governor, who was accompanied by | Lady Plunket and a party from GovernI ment House, arrived early, and remained I up till the final event. Other faces to I be recognised were the Hon. H. Mosman I (Queensland), Messrs J. H. O’Meehan, I C. Clark, L. H. Darlot, T. Fenton, and I Dr. Mcßae (West Australia), Messrs J. I B. Reid, G. G. Stead, W. Clifford, W. I H. Wan .lvn, and G. Palmer (CanterI bury), J. Cook (Dunedin), T. H. Lowry I (Napier), and W. Abbott (Wellington), I while every Auckland sportsman of note I was present. The lawn looked exceedI ingly pretty, for with such brilliant I weather the ladies were not afraid to I don their summer frocks, and these I blending harmoniously formed a perfect I kaleidescope of colour. I With such a number of people present I it was certain that speculation would ■ be brisk, but owing, to the Foal Stakes ■ being virtually a walk-over and the ■ smallntess of the field in the Cup, both I these events showed a considerable fall- ■ ing off when compared with the amounts ■ invested on those races last year. Other ■ events showed an increase, however, ■ and the total put through was £20’,897, ■ a decrease of but £553. Owing to the ■ proportiors of the crowd the catering ■ department was overtaxed, while the ■ lotaTsator staff was hardly large ■ enough to deal with the rush of busi- ■ ness. The transport facilities to and ■ from the course were unequal to the de- ■ rnand, trains, trams, and buses being ■much overcrowded. However, a holiday ■crowd is alwaj s ready to make allow- ■ ances, and as there were no accidents ■ everything may be said to have gone off ■ The opening event was the Trial Han- ■ dicap, sevpn furlcngs, for which a dozen ■faced the barrier. Of these Numa, who ■had the services of Hewitt, was made a ■prorJourced favourite, with Lovelink ■next in demand. A good start was ■effected, The Middy and the two favour■ites immediately showing in front. Nu■ma was in command at the cutting and ■he led into the straight. At the dis■tance Lovelink threw out a strong chal■lenge, and drawing up was apparently ■bumped by Numa, who in a good finish ■won by half a length, with Jewellery, ■who came too late, a close third. A was immediately lodged against ■the winner for interference with Love■link at the half-distance, but after a enquiry, which delayed the next half-an-hour, it was dismissed. ■ The scratching pen was very busy ■among the list of competitors in the Foal Stakes, six furlongs, which prize of £5OO brought out but three Sungod was, of course, a screaming hot favourite, the wanting 6 to 1 about his chance. was a very long and tedious dewhile the protest on the previous was being considered, but eventhe trio of contestants, ForeMultifid, and Sungod went to the The latter was quickest to move, ■ut Multifid was soon alongside him, the pair ran locked together for ■wo furlongs, with Foremost fast dropastern. Entering the bend Sungod out, and coming on won without effort by over two lengths from with Foremost four lengths away. Then came on the big event of the the Auckland Cup, of two As was generally anticipated, name was missing from the ■istof starters, seven going to the post. had admirers, but the fine appearof Mahutonga caused many of the to make up their mind in his and the big son of Quilt went ■ut a very warm favourite, 1458 tickets taken ort him, while of tne others Romeo, Scotty, Idas, Starand Melodeon being backed in order. There Was some delay at

th 1 post, Starshoot being the chief delinquent. At last Mr O’Connor got them awav well together, Starshoot immediately 7 ' taking up the running from Mahutonga, Romeo, and Scotty, with Idas last. The latter, however, soon went up, and as the straight was entered Mahutonga led from Idas, Scotty, f.nd Starshoot. At the members’ stand Mabutonga and Idas were running together two lengths ahead of Scotty, Melodeon, and Romeo, with Ghoorka last. At the six furlongs post Mahutonga was still going strong a length in front of Idas, Romeo being next, while Melodeon had dropped right away last. Mahutonga came into the straight full of running, but at the distance he swerved badly, Romeo, Scotty, and Ghoor’ a closing up. Buchanan straightened the big chestnut, however, and he won comfortably bv two lengths, while Scottv beat Romeo for second place after a great fight by little more than a head. Ghoorka finished fourth, Starshcot fifth, Idas sixth, while Melodeon cantered in a hundred yards behind the field.

Wellcast was the only absentee from the Grafton Hurdle Race, two miles, Up-to-Date, Ranana, and Catherine Gordon being the most fancied. Irish was first away and he led for a bit, when Spalpeen went to the front but was soon displaced by Bellman, the two chestnuts leading the way into the straight from Loch Lomond, Ranana, and Pharos. The latter made a faulty jump and lost ground, Bellman showing the way past the judges box two lengths ahead of Spalpeen, with Loch Lomond a length away. Positions were unaltered running down the back when Pharos came down, while Ranana wertb up nearer the leaders. Once in the straight Bellman came away and won with the utmost ease by ten lengths from Lech Lomond, who was a length in front of Ranana, with Spalpeen fourth, Catherine Gordon? being the last to finish.

Much interest centred in the next event, the Railway Handicap, six rurlongs, for which Numa, To-morrow, and Crichtcn were scratched, this leaving thirteen to fight out the event, and of these Savoury was made a screaming hot favourite, with Boris and Marshall Soult next in demand. After an exercise of some patience a fair start was effected, of which Ailsa and Black and Gold had the best, -while Savoury was one of the last to begin. At the cutting Ailsa was cutting out the work from Lady Annie, Black and Gold, and Beau Seaton. Entering the straight Lady Annie was still in front, and at the distance she drey. 7 out, and finishing up her task, very strongly the Soult mare won by two lengths from Golden Vein, who finished very fast in the last hundred yards, beating Ailsa for second place by nearly half-a-length. Hohoro was fourth, at the head of a bunch, while the favourite was never once prominent.

With five missing from the Nursery Handicap, five furlongs, the field was reduced to eight, and of these the public fancies were Florsa and Boomerang. A good start was effected, but Horsa getting speed up the quickest was soon out two lengths ahead of Boomerang, whose nearest opponent was Apologue. Turning into the straight Horsa had, if anything, increased his lead, but when heads were turned for home, Boomerang and Apologue set out in pursuit. At the distance it was evident the leader would be caught, and so it proved, fcr Apologue showing great dash in the last hundred yards won all out by two lengths from Boomerang, who just beat Horsa by a neck, the latter having lost ground by running wide. Orange and Blue, Fashionable, and Reduction were the popular selections in the Pony Cup, seven furlongs, for which event thirteen faced the barrier. Orange and Blue and Sally Fiorner were < uic. - est to move from a good start, and they led down the tack to the cutting, where Forth moved up. The latter was in front as the straight was neared, with Manoetn re closing on him. At the distance it was anybody’s race, but nearing home, Hewitt brought Reduction with a great rush, the Southern pony winning by half a length from Manoeuvre, with Gladys Rose third, and the favourite, Orange and Blue, last.

Proceedings terminated with the Christmas Handicap, one mile, and of the eight starters Signalman, with Hewitt up, was backed down to a verv short price, Delania being the best fancied of the others. Signalman and Nuriia were first away, with The Middy next. At the six furlong post Numa was in front, with Heroism and Bowman close up, while the favourite was fast falling back. Numa was still in front when heads were turned for home, and although Heroism and Delania challenged they were unable to catch Numa, the son of Pinfire winning by a length and a half from Heroism, who was half a length in front of Delania.

The following are the results : — THE TRIAL HANDICAP, of lOOsovs. Seven furlongs. Mr G. Wright’s b h Numa, 6yrs, by Pinfre, 7.11 (Hewitt) J Mr J. B. Williamson s tr c Lo.elink, 3yrs, 6.7 (Deeley) - Mr B. Armitage’s br m Jewellery, fiyrs, Ost (Pinker) 3 Other starters : Waipuna, 7.12 ; Austerlitz, 7.8 ; Crichton, 7.5 ; The Middy, 7.2 ; Golden Sands, 7.2 ; Mechanic, 7.0 ; Woodfield, 6.10 ; Mauku, 6.9 ; Muthema, 6.7. Won by three-parts of a length. Time, Imin 28 4-ssec. Dividends, £3 7s 6d and £1 13s Gd. THE GREAT NORTHERN FOAL ST AKES, of 500sovs. Six furlongs. Mr G. G. Stead’s b c Sungod, by Multiform —Otteiden, 8.10 (Hewitt) ... 1 Mr D. O’Brien’s br c Multifid, 8.10 (Cotton) 2 Mr E. W. Alison’s br c Foremost, 8.10 (Ryan) 3 Won in a hollow fashion, with something to spare, by close on three lengths. Time, Imin 18 l-ssec. Dividend, £1 4s. THE AUCKLAND CUP HANDICAP, of 1500sovs. Two miles. Mr C. W. Wallis’ ch g Mahutonga, 4yrs, by Quilt —Maude, 8.12 (Buchanan) 1 Mr D. Stewart’s b g Scotty, 6yrs 8.3 (Ryan) 2 Mr P. James’ b g Romeo, 6yrs, 8.7 (Cotton) 3 Other starters : Ghoorka, 7.9 ; Starshoot, 7.8 ; Idas, 7.0 Won by a length from Scotty, with Romeo a neck away third. Time, 3min 30 1-fisec. Dividend, £2 Ils 6d.

THE GRAFTON HURDLE RACE HANCAP. of 200sovs. Two miles. Mr R. Hannon’s ch g Bellman, aged, by Tetford—The Orphan, 11.0 (Walsh) 1 Mr S. Steyers’ b g Loch Lomond, aged, 9.5 (Murray) 2 Mr A. Hughes’ br g Ranana, fiyrs, 10.3 (Howie) 3 Other starters : Up-to-Date, 11.10 ; Spalpeen, 11.3 ; Catherine Gordon, 10.9; Pharos, 9.S ; Irish, 9.0' Won by eight or nine lengths. Time, 3min 47 3-ssec. Dividends, £8 8s and £3 4s.

THE RAILWAY- HANDICAP, of lOOsovs. Six furlongs. Mr B. Armitage’s b m Lady Annie, 4yrs, by Soult —Miss Annie, 7.9 (Pinker) 1 Sir George Clifford’s ch h Golden Vein, syrs, 8.4 (Cotton) 2 Mr J. Brett’s br f Ailsa, 3yrs, 7.10 (Beale) 3 Other starters : Hohoro, 9.9 ; Kremlin. 8.12 ; Marshal Soult, ,8.7 ; Black and Gold, 8.6 ; Savoury, 8.4 ; Boris, 8.4 ; Avalanche, 7.11 ; Strathavon, 7.5 ; Seabird, 6.12 ; Beau Seaton, 6.10. Won by about two lengths and a-half. Time, imin 15 3-ssec. Dividends, £25 Ils 6d and £4 19s. THE NURSERY HANDICAP, of lOOsovs. Five furlongs. Mr J. E. Thorpe’s br c Apologue, by Phoebus Apollo—Miss Gladys, 7.12 (Speakman) 1 Mr E. J. Watt’s blk c Boomerang, 9.8 (F. Davis) 2 Mr FI. Mosman’s b g Horsa, 7.9 (Cotton) 3 Other starters : Carl Rosa, 8.11 ; Czarevna, 7.8 ; Hiro, 7.6 ; Merry Delaval, 7.0 ; Silkie, 6.10. Won by a length. Time, Imin 4 3-5-sec. Dividends, £4 10s 6d and 19s Gd. THE PONY CUP HANDICAP, of 150sovs. Seven furlongs. Mr D. W. McLean’s b m Reduction, syrs, by Mauser —Moderation, 7.12 (Hewitt) 1 Mr J. E. Paul’s br g Manoeuvre, syrs, 8.0 (Cotton) 2 Mr J. Montgomery’s b m Gladys Rose, aged, 7.3 (E. Rae) 3 Other startersi: Sonoma, 9.12 ; Forth, S.B ; Fashionable, 8.8 ; Orange and Blue, 8.7 ; Lucrece, 7.8 ; Whawhai, 7.7 ; Sally Hornter, 7.5 ; Miss Cuirassier, 7.4 ; Sentinel, 7.2; Lady Lottie, 7.0. Won by a bare length. Tin e, Imin 30 3-ssec. Dividends, £4 16s and £2 12s 6d. THE CHRISTMAS HANDICAP, of Isosovs. One mile. Mr G. Wright’s b h Numa, (.yrs, by Pinfire, 7.13, including 51b penal tv (Jones) 1 Mr D. O’Brien’s b h Heroism, syrs, 7.3 (Deeley) ' 2 Mr W. L. Thomson’s b m Delania, 4yrs, 8.0 (Ryan) 3 Other starters : Signalman, 8.12 ; The Needle, 7.9 ; Bowman, 7.2 ; The Middy, fi.l2 ; Idasa, 6.10. Time, Imin 42sec. Dividends, £l7 8s and £2 17s.