WANGANUI JOCKEY CLUB’S SPRING MEETING.

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

WANGANUI JOCKEY CLUB’S SPRING MEETING.

Wanganui, October 3. The stormy weather which was experienced for the past couple of weeks continued right up till noon on the opening day of the Wanganui Spring Meeting, and in consequence the attendance on that day was not up to the usual. However, Friday being a perfect day saw a very large crowd present, and specula(ion was very brisk, although the sum put through the machine for the gathering, viz., £13,583, shows a decrease of £606 on last year’s meeting. The fields throughout were exceptionally large, and the racing interesting and exciting, once more testifying to the excellent qualities of the handicapper (Mr. G. Morse). The secretarial duties were, as

usual, carried out by Mr. F. Moffatt in his best style, while all the officials did a fair share of work. The starting of Mr. Chevannes on the first day was much below his usual form, but improved somewhat on the second day. A smart three-year-old filly by Multiform—Bloomer, appropriately called Petticoat, annexed a double in taking style, and should not be long in making her way to the fore in open company.

The handsome son of Merriwee—lndian Queen, King Billy, was also responsible for a dual win, and the resolute manner in which he races augurs well for his future career.

Another double winner was Uatspaw, who proved himself well adapted for the lepping game by winning both hack hurdle events in fine style. The big son of Sou’-wester was steered by the popular and clever Sloanite, Clarence O’Neill, and his splendid horsemanship and excellent judgment helped in no small degree to the success of the powerful brown horse.

C. Jenkins and F. Davis rode two winners, while F. Lund, L. Miller, H. Carmont, T. Wilson, V. Cotton and G. and D. Price each secured a win.

Racing commenced with the Spring Handicap, Paritutu being the only defection. St. Joe was the popular fancy, with Gold Crown and Lass o’ Gowrie evenly supported, and these two filled the places, Gold Reef’s son winning by a length, with Whakawehi a good third. The favourite got away badly at the start, and finished fourth. Thirteen faced the startei - for the Maiden Hack, Petticoat being at once installed favourite, with Apa and Glenullin next in demand. The public once more proved right in their judgment, as the three three-year-olds finished in that order. Jenkins rode the daughter of Multiform and gained his second consecutive victory. A three-year-old colt by Stepniak—Faua called Nova put in a good run and secured fourth place. Makaroff and Glen owlet declined their engagements in the Guineas, the public at once rushing Marguerite, who had the services of Jenkins. However, the two Merriwee colts, King Billy and Boomerang, looked in great buckle, and good judges predicted a struggle for supremacy between this pair, and so it proved, as the Porirua representative was done with two furlongs from home, and after a good finish the brown son of Indian Queen defeated his stable companion by a length. St. Lyra was made favourite for the Hurdles, for which all the acceptors faced the barrier, Comfort, Waiwera, Miss King and Pushful also being in good demand. The favourite got to the front half a mile from home, and her victory was loudly proclaimed, but the St. Leger mare struck the second last hurdle and unseated her rider. A great race then ensued between Comfort and Kohunni, and when the former had got to the front near the post, the neglected Valima came along with a rattle and won by a head. St. Lyra caused some amusement by giving chase, and catching the field at the last jump, raced home, riderless, a winner. She then pulled up and walked proudly back to the paddock. The large field of fourteen started for the Hack Hurdles, Catspaw being better b ekod than Numa and Sleepwell. The favourite and Wild Cat made the running for the greater part of the journey, when the latter cried content, and Catspaw going on, won easily from the rank outsider, Hokio, on whom George Pow’ell rode one of his best races, with Bounce third and Numa a neck away fourth. The second jump proved disastrous to Cassiopea, Sleepwell, Wild Duck, and Land o’ Cakes. Pushful and Glenullin were scratched for the Putiki Hack, Aorangi, with Jenkins in the pigskin, being made a hot favourite out of the sixteen starters, the local Kuroki also having many admirers. This was a slashing race, and Wilson brought Kuroki along in splendid style at the finish and beat the favourite by half a head. Probably had the Petroleum mare Silverlene got anything like a decent run, she would have just about won. An outsider in Aureole got third berth, with Captain Shannon fourth. Jolly Friar was the favourite tip for Hie Flying Handicap, Glenowlet, Black Reynard and Solution being also well supported. The winner turned up in J he Multiform colt Multifid, who galloped in great style and won from Black Reynard, with the consistent Regulation in third place.

Ballarat was the only withdrawal from the opening race on the second day, King Billy at once being installed favourite, Glenowlet, Marguerite and Multifid alsr being well supported. The son of Mern wee won all the way, and was follower bv the Clanranald filly, with Marguerite ‘bird. The latter pulled up slightly lame. The Merriwee filly Devonia was the

only defection from the Moutoa Hack, Marseillaise being made a slightly better favourite than Aorangi, while Captain Shannon also had a large following. The winner turned up in Grenade, who gave Mr. D. O’Brien his second win at the meeting, Aorangi being second and an outsider in Mereshot third. The seven acceptors weighed out for the Brunswick Hurdles, Pushful and Valima being almost equal favourites, Miss King and Midia being well backed. The winner turned up in old Waiwsra, with Pushful second and Midia third. The Gipsy King gelding finished a bad last on the previous day, while Pushful was also a long way back, and this reversal of form came as a surprise to the majority of backers. The public, pinned their faith to Catspaw in the Aramoho Hurdles, for which thirteen went to the post. Bounce, Sleep well and Wild Cat were the best backed of the rest, but nothing had a chance with the Sou’-wester horse, who won with the greatest ease from Bounce, with the neglected Flanagan third. Lass o’ (Cowrie was withdrawn from the Wanganui Handicap, Melodeon being a slightly better favourite than St. Joe, with Flamen, Ghoorka and Cannie Chiel in that order. Asteroid and Armistice, who have been doing excellent track work, were almost neglected in the betting, and the issue was fought out between the pair, the daughter- of Apremont gaining the verdict over the Mahaki mare by a length. The Fordell-trained Apa was the only defection from the Railway Hack, the top weights, Petticoat and Sedgewood, holding pride of position in the betting, while Captain Shannon also got strong support. Multiform’s daughter never left the issue in doubt, and won easily from Truce. The concluding event, the Marangai Handicap, saw seven go to the post, Boomerang being favourite, with Paritutu and Auratus evenly supported. The favourite won from an outsider in King’s Birthday, who put in a good run at the finish. Paritutu got the worst of the start, and then had a bad run throughout, but the son of Castor put in a great finish and got third. As he is susceptible of improvement, his New Zealand Cup supporters have no cause for dismay at his failure on Friday last.