PAKURANGA HUNT CLUB’S SPORTS

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIV, Issue 813, 5 October 1905, Page 9

PAKURANGA HUNT CLUB’S SPORTS

The weather cleared up in good time ou Saturday, and it did not therefore militate against the success of the annual sports meeting oi the Pakuranga Hunt Club. The track at Alexandra Park was a little heavy, but surprisingly good considering tlie amount of rain which had fallen during the week. The attendance was quite up to the average, and although fields ruled small, the racing was full of interest. Mr Hanken acted as starter, and was successful in getting ms fields away on eve i terms. Good work was done by the serretaties (Messrs. ixmloch and Lewis), whose arrangements were quite up to a ate, aud everything accordingly went off without a hitch.

Racing commenced with the Farmers’ Flat itace, one mile and a-quarter, and of the five starters Cannoneer was made an even-money favourite. Pukerimu was the first to begin, but he was soon passed oy the favourite. Half a mile from home Tua Kitua, on whom Mr. F Selby had the mount, which had been left at the post, caught the field, and heading them at the bend won easily by two lengths.

There were four runners in the Hunters’ Hurdles, two miles, and the Fabulous gelding aEsop was considered such a good thing that punters had to lay 6 to 4 “on.” The favourite and Mozart were together most of the journey, but in the home stretch AEsop came away, while Bryan O’Lynn, coining with a late run, got into .second place. Jean was supported so solidly for the Open Flat Race, six and a-half furlongs, that the Lord Rosslyn mare touched even money. Fortication was quickest to move of the five runners, and with the favourite was in advance for two furlongs, when Lord Seaton went to the front, and holding his own all the way home, won in a canter by five lengths from Blueskin and Te Papa. The Hunters’ Steeplechase resolved itself into a chapter of accidents. Of the four starters Bachelor, who was an evenmoney favourite, ran off at the first jump. Cannoneer at one time had a big lead, but lost his rider, and old Boxer, who plodded steadily along throughout, came home alone, this making Mr. Selby’s third winning mount at the meeting. Odds of 2 to 1 were laid on the ability of Pukerimu to win the Farmers’ Hurdle Race, and in this punters showed that they had correctly solved the problem set them, for the son of Insomnia, with Mr. Wallace in the saddle, led all the way and won without an effort by fifty yards. The concluding event was the Ladies’ Bracelet, two miles and a-quarter. Lockie was made a 2 to 1 on favourite, but failed badly. Lancet made play for most of the distance, but when it came to the business end of the trip the St. Ives gelding Ngaru went to the front, and finishing strongly won by fi.-e lengths from Lancet, with Bryan O’Lyn.) in third place.