AFTER THE RACES

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIV, Issue 812, 28 September 1905, Page 7

AFTER THE RACES

aWnDALE JOCKEY CIUBjS spring t"! --- - — • —i j n»i ■ n ■■■■■* ■■ ii >■ ■i ■ MEETING ; THIRD DAY. The Avondale Jockey Club’s Spring: Meeting was brought to a conclusion on Saturday. The weather showed a slight improvement on Wednesday, but the showers were still all too frequent. The course was in a very heavy state, and the enclosure, especially in front of the grandstand, little better than a morass. Betting proved fairly brisk, the sum of £5309 going through the totalisator, bringing up the amount handled at the meeting to £14,723. The racing on the whole proved interesting, although one or two events were rather runaway affairs.

The Maiden Hurdles, one mile and three-quarters, which commenced the programme, was a peculiarly-run race. There were five runners, and the top weight, Lady Clare, was made an evenmoney favourite. Vexation was left twenty lengths at the post, the other four being well together. Loch Feve and 1 Lady Clare were responsible for most of the running, with Vexation toiling away far in the rear. At the back the second time round the favourite went to the front, and the race looked all over bai' the shouting. Half a mile from home Towers made a move up on Vexation, and the unthought-of daughter of Linstock maintaining a long run, caught the field at the bend for home, and cutting down one after the other, won handily by three lengths from Lady Clare, with Te Papa four lengths off third.

War Cloud was the sole absentee from the New Lynn Handicap, this leaving a field of ten to try their luck in the fivefurlongs’ dash, and of these Discoverer was made a better favourite than Stepmar and Lunetta. The race admits of but little description, for Lunetta jumped away in front, and never giving anything else much chance, won without the whip by three lengths from Discoverer, with Ben, who came with a late run, in third position. Punters soon dropped on Waikato as having the best chance in the Welter Handicap, six furlongs, and they backed the big son of St. Hippo down to a very short price. Not a few considered that the pony Lucrece might beat him, and she met with a lot of support. Waikato jumped off in front, and closely attended by Lucrece led the field into the straight. A great battle then ensued between them, Waikato being on the rails while Sceats kept Lucrece in the centre of the course on the better going. Both fought it out all the way under punish me nt, Waikato getting the verdict by a length, with Calle Iris four lengths off third.

There were six candidates for winning honours in the Steeplechase, three miles, and punters apparently overlooking Ranana’s big rise in weight and the ‘very heavy going, made Mr. Hughes’ hollowbacked gelding a warm favourite. Directly Mr. Hanken gave them the word go, Hinemoa was taken to the front, and there, the game little pony remained throughout, winning easily by four lengths from Major, who made a good run when the race was virtually won. The Swimmer fell two jumps from home when running second. Ranana ran well to the straight, but the weight told its tale; he struck a jump, cutting his stifles, and was pulled up. Kanaka finished well in, and seemed to like the soft going. Seven runners carried silk in the Grandstand Handicap, and punters were not long making up their minds, for the leniently-treated Avalanche was promptly made a warm favourite, the next fancy being Akarana. The race is soon described, for directly the barrier rose Avalanche jumped away in front, and there she stayed to the end. Waipuna made a big effort in the straight to get level, but could not bring the pony to the whip. Putty was brought on the scene to*’ late, hue finished very fast in third place, just beating Akarana. For the Electric Handicap, a scurry over four furlongs, there were eleven runners, and when the machine closed down Waitati was found to be by far the best supported. After a considerable delay at the post, Mr. Hankens let them away to a fair start. Waitati being the first to move. . Before they had gone far Martyr King dashed to the front, and attended by Lady French and Discoverer, led into the straight. Directly heads were turned for home Martyr King drew out and won fairly comfortably by nearly two lengths from Millie, who was a similar distance in advance of Discoverer, with Desdemona close up fourth. There were seven runners in the Pony Handicap, six furlongs, the popular selection being Eton and Marisa. Tho race was an exceedingly poor one. for it

appeared that some of the competitors were not seriously wanting the first prize. Marisa got off very smartly, and simply plaving with the field, ran home five lengths ahead of Luresome, who was oust in advance of Hurihuri. Proceedings terminated with the Publicans’ Handicap, seven furlongs, and for this Delania was made a warm favourite. with Austerlitz and Rookby also well backed. From a good start Faritutu, Rookby and Austerlitz were alternately in the lead, but at the distance it could be seen that the race lay between the favourite and Waikato, who was the outsider of the party. A fine race home ensued, but Waikato proved too good for the mare, who was beaten by a length, Waipuna and Rookby following them home.