AFTER THE RACES.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIII, Issue 800, 6 July 1905, Page 8

AFTER THE RACES.

NAPIER PARK RACING CLUB’S WINTER MEETING.

The villainous. climate that was on tap on Wednesday and yesterday had, as

might be expected, a deteriorating effect upon the attendance. Still, it is a certainty that patrons were in a betting humour, for when the figures were made up at the conclusion of the outing, it was seen that the takings of the 1904 ’chasing meeting had been exceeded by £337, the respective figures being—l9o4, £10,371 ; this season, £11,068. Mr. Hyde was in the majority of cases successful in the dismissals, and the same may be said of A. Hood's essay in the Ladies’ Bracelet, Mr. Hyde being engaged in that race piloting Baltic. Class was not largely in evidence at the gathering, and the paucity of good ’chasing horses was very noticeable. In the ranks of the flat competitors, Fontenoy. whom 1 had a good word for last week Droved an easy first, as he won upon both occasions that he carried silk, and the easy style in which his triumphs were gained marks him out as a horse who must be given a chance in the future in more classy contests than engaged his powers this week. In Rose Madder Mr. Lowry has a more than useful bearer of his popular racing lively, for out of two goes Stepniak’s daughter got a first and second award, and for a small-built mare like her to carry list 61b and then run second to Assayer, to whom she was giving 181 b and three years, marks my argument in her favour in a forcible manner. Rose Madder is exceptionally quick at getting going, and I think there is no question had she been able to get out of the slips as rapidly on Thursday as she did on Wednesday, that Assayer would not have proved her conqueror. Still, I am inclined to think that winners and losers alike did not grudge the gentleman who goes a-racing under the nom-de-course of Mr. A. Stuart the victory gained by the Gold Reef gelding, for his hearty genial style has made him numerous friends, both in and out of the racing world. A further proof that it is good business backing horses in form was shown by the effects of Wild Cat, who also scored once, and got second out of a couple of tries, and Comfort, who had the bad luck to get put out of court through his rider making a mistake as to the number of fences to be negotiated in the Napier Steeplechase. Mr. Lowry’s gelding has put up a most consistent performance during the past fortnight, for he has started four times, won two steeplechases, run second in another, and got the first award in a hurdle race, and though opinions may be divided as to whether he would have won in the Napier Steeplechase if he had not missed the last crosscountry fence. I incline to the belief that he would have accounted for Nadador, my contention being based upon the fact that she had to put out a bit of effort to reach Comfort before the last big obstacle was reached, and this naturally took a deal of the vigour out of her. Nadador’s record for the ’chasing period of this season so far reads in an attractive light, for she has started upon four occasions, twice at Wanganui, where she got second to Eurus in the Final Steeplechase, and missed her other attempt there; won at Hastings last week, and ran second to Comfort on Wednesday, but got the stake, which makes her a dual winner for two efforts. Sir William Russell’s representative has justly earned the title as a consistent performer. It may be stated that she has started in twenty-five events over obstacles, has won upon six occasions, ran second the same number of times, and been placed third on five occasions. She had her first public go over the battens at the-

Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club’s sprint meeting in 1903, when she ran .second to Comiort in the Hack Handicap Hurdle Race. It was bad luck for Creusot that he tipped out in the Park Steeplechase, for it was only reasonable to suppose, with the poor pace that Jack o’ Lantern and Lurcher were able to muster up at the finish of the go, that he would have downed both of them had he not come to grief. Still, I do not appraise Creusot in the same light as regards steeplechasing qualifications as the handicapper did this week when he made Kiatere only a 61b better horse than Torpedo’s big son. How this reason was arrived at I fail to see, and I know perfectly well I am not the singular observant in the matter. Lurcher, who got a second in the Park Steeplechase, carried Mr. F. Armstrong’.s racing jacket in that event, St. Hippo’s son having been purchased by that sport on Wednesday. Another of his team, Bill Bailey, who has lately been acquired bv Mr. Armstrong, got a second place in the Ladies’ Bracelet. Bill Bailey is booked to make the trip to Riccarton in August, and the well wishers of the Akitio sportsman, and their name is legion, will, I am sure, join with me in wishing all sorts of good luck to the county sport, who, like many more in these parts, follows up the game for the pleasure it affords him. Kiatere and Numa may be expected in the future to show out in much superior style than characterises their displays on Wednesday.

Old Daredevil demonstrated that he is no back number, for, although he failed badly on the opening day, he put up a good performance on Thursday. His poor attempt in the Motu Hurdles may be set down to the fact that he got into one of the fences badly, and in the tangle his pitot had the misfortune to lose one of his stirrup irons. Handsome Rose again showed that he is a good sort for the obstacle business, as his display in the Ahuriri Hurdles was faultless. He was engaged in the Poraiti Huhrles on Thursday, but the trainer notified the handicapper that he did not intend to put in an appearance with Handsome Jack’s son in that event, and requested him not to handicap him for that race. Full Cry would have been hard to beat in the Winter Oats bis rider (O’Brien) tried to get up on the inside three furlongs from home, and getting boxed in had to. pull on the outside, and thus destroyed nis winning opportunity. Cavalry, who was. made the medium of a big plunge on the part of his connections, once more failed to help them over the style. lam inclined to think he is a welsher, and I should say he would be a good sort to give away. The last race of the meeting, the Newstead Handicap, proved the best of good things for Matakokiri, the top weight and favourite, as he came through the straight and won easily by three lengths from Onyx (who used to be known by the name of Sycophant), who was lengths ahead of Pantaloon, White Squall last. The w’nner paid £2 Is. and the runnerup £3 Hr 1 . The winning horsemen at the meeting were headed by C. Jenkins with three wins, which equals his Hastings record. Clarence O’Neill, W. Price and J. Hall each steered a couple of victors apiece, and J. O’Connell. F. Davis, C. Mitchell, R. McGregor, and Mr. J. Ormond one winner each.