AUCKLAND RACING CLUB’S SPRING MEETING.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIV, Issue 819, 16 November 1905, Page 8

AUCKLAND RACING CLUB’S SPRING MEETING.

OPENING DAY. On Thursday lasv, King’s Birt-.day, the Auckland Racing Cub the spring meeting. The weather conditions were far from satisfactory, lor a strong sou’-west breeze broughc up . driving showers,, and these became more Lequent as the day progressed, um.il with the last race steady _ rain set ai. Grave doubts were expressed as to whether the newly-fornied track would s.and the strain of racing, arid io help .t the preliminary canters were dispensed with, and the course rolled after every race, the result being that -t was not damaged at ail. His Excel.ency the Gove nor and lady P.’rnket were present during ’he afternoon, while the general attendance Was about up to the average. During the afternoon ; the sum of £9891 was put through the totalisatur, a slight advance dri tl • amount handled on King £> l»’r‘hday last, For the first time the bookmakers were excluded from the course, and the fact of there being no one to call the odds made it. seem a very silent meeting to. those who have for so many years been, .accustomed to hearing the battle cries of “ 2. to 1 bar one;” “I’ll lay on the ’ field” of the knights of the pencil. Mr. Lusk occupied the judge’s box, and gave his decisions promptly, altnoigh he jad one or two close things to adjudicate

upon. Mr. O’Connor’s starting was satisfactory, although he has been seen to more advantage. Some of the horses were, however, very refractory. The bail was opened with the President’s Handicap, and of the thirteen starters Seabird was made a strong favourite. Lenoator, who was not much fancied by the public, immediately set out to make the. running, and he showed the way down the Lack and into the straight. At flip eis’ance Seabird came at him, but despi e Ryan’s de.ermim-u efforts, the Ben .Godfrey mare could never quite get up, and she suffered defeat by a short head, with Hero three lengths off third.

.When the Great Northern Guineas came on for decision, punters were not Jong making up their minds as to which was most likely to score, for King Billy was fairly rushed, and he went to the post an odds-on favourite. He ran very badly, however, and never once made an effort to go near the leaders. Annuette, as usual, jumped away smartly, and she led frcm Multifid round the course. At the distance Multifid made an effort to catch her, but although he brought her to the whip, could, never reach the speedy daughter of Soult and Miss Annie, who won by over a length. Boomerang, who alone of the others made any serious attempt to kin <he leaders, ran two lengths further off third, the favourite being a ba l fourth.

On her Avondale form Sweet Alice seemed to have a great chance in the Welcome Stalfes, and she - as accordingly very sOongly sr j ported, gcing out a hot favourite, while of the others Mignon and Loongana were most fancied There was a considerable delay at .he post owing largely to the fra r.unless of Sveet Alice but eventually Mi. •> ’ onnor got them away to a very fair start. Inglis immediately took up the running, and showed the way into the straight. At the distance Cambrian was just in front of a bunch, and it looked as though he would score but Pylades finishing on the rails with great determination, beat him home by three-quarters of a length, with Loungaha close up third, and the others straggled out.

Vexation’s great run at Avondale after being left at the post was not forgotten by speculators, who came very strongly for the daughter of Linstock in the Manukau Hurdle Race. Following her usual

custom ;Lady Glare , set out to make the pace, rier nearest attendant being Inniskillen. • Soon sifter passing the stand > X exatxon’ went into second place, and these two drew out from the field. .At the back Hakaria, who had been running last, went up into third place, but making a faulty jump fell back. Lady Clare turned into the . straight two lengths ahead of the favourite, with Hakaria .coming fast. The leader swerved at the lasi hurdle, and Vexation putting in a determined challenge, beat Hakaria home by over a 1» igth, with Lady Clare two lengths oft third.

A fine field of fifteen went out to try their luck in the Shorts Handicap, and so well did the bay mare look that punters were soon satisfied that Te Aroha was the pick of the basket, and backed her accordingly, the next in demand being Avalanche. After some delay the field got away to a good start, the brilliant colours of Certainty immediately showing out in alvance, and attended by Klondyke she led down the back and into the straight, where the field closed up. Te Aroha put in a strong claim, and lasting better than the others won by over a length from Nervine, who beat Certainly on the post, with Desdemona fourth and Hohoro fifth.

There were eleven runners in the City Handicap, and for it Geordie was considered a really good thing, the only o.her to be seriously supported being Delania. Owing to the misbehaviour of Landlock at the post it was some time before Mr. O’Connor could get them straightened up. Ultimately a good start was effected, Land’ock taking up the running from the favourite, with Waipuna next. Turning into the straight the favourite was in the van, and at the distance he looked like winning. Waipuna came at him in the most resolute fashion, but apoeared to have just failed to get up. The judge deeded otherwise, giving the race to Waipuna by half a head, with Delania half a length further off. The Pony Handicap was a very onesided affair. Girton Girl was made favourite of the ten runners. Diiectly the barrier rose Storyteller streaked away, and nothing ever had a chance with her, the daughter of Leolantis fairly bolting with the race, coming in ten lengths ahead of Gladys Rose, who just beat Girton Girl in the last few strides.

The concluding event was the Flying Handicap, fourteen horses going out to compete, and of these Te Arona was a slightly better favourite than Nervine and Lucrece. Millie and Austerlitz made most of the running, but w.th heads turned for home Te Aroha jo ned issue, and a good race home saw the Seaton Delaval mare win by half a length, with Lucrece ovm- a length off third. SECOND DAY. Beautiful weather favoured the second day’s racing of the Auckland Racing Club, and as a result there was a good attendance of the public. The Governor and l ady Plunkett were again present, and they were able to witness some interesting racing. Speculation proved brisk, the sum of £10,130 10s going through the machine. There being only two absentees from the Spring Handicap, this left a nice fieid of fourteen. Punters were in a quandary which to go for, but eventually most money was forthcoming for Landlock. There was a long delay at the post Waikato and Landlock being the chief offenders. When eventually the baiiier rose, Carl Rosa was immediately seen in front, and closely attended by kook tn and Landlock he led down the back and into the straight. At the distance it seemed he would win fairly comfortably, but in the last bit Georclie, on the inside, and Jewellery, on the outside, both chapenged, but Vai Rosa’s brother just lasted long enough to win by a head, wivh Jewellery less than a length off third.

The Penrose Hurdle Race proved one of the poorest ever seen at Ellerslie. There were but four starters, Hakaria meeting with rather better support than Vexation. At the start Loch Fyne stumbled, Burns coming off. Vexation took up the running from Hakaria, with Inspiration tailed off. Half a mile from home Hakaria went to the front, and Vexation falling two hurdles from home Hakaria was left to canter in a hundred yards ahead of Inspiration. There were no absentees from the Musket Stakes, all ten two-year-olds going to the post. The popular fancies were Loongana, Pylades, and Cambrian. Without much delay a very fair start was effected, Loongana and Cambrian being the smartest to move Cambrian led into, the straight, and running home as straight as a gun barrel, won by two lengths from Inglis, who just beat Loongana by a head on the post. The Birthday Handicap, the big event of the day proved a great disappointment. for but five were found willing to

take on the contract, this being about the poorest in point of numbers and class that have ever competed for the big handicap. Boomerang and Zuleika were the only two to be supported, and they parried, the bulk.; of the investments. They, got off the mark to a capital start, Grenade immediately taking up the running from Boomerang, and so they ran past the scand. At the top end Zuleika dashed into first place, but Grenade was soph in charge again, and he led into the straight from Zuleika, with Boomerang making a hopeless effort to join the leaders. Taking no chances Kemp kept the whip going on Grenade all the way home, Mr. O’Brien’s outsider winning by three lengths from Zuleika, who was a similar distance in front of Boomerang, with Puhipuhi a bad last There were six runners in the Onehunga Steeplechase, The Swimmer being made a better favourite than Hinemoa. The race proved a decidedly interesting one throughout. Brighton started to make the running at a great pace, but he soon shot his bolt, and Hinemoa then took up her customary role of pacemaker. After going half the distance the only ones left with any elm nee were Hinemoa, Nor’-west, Major, and The Swimmer. Hinemoa just led at the double, but down the back The Swimmer went up to her, and they climbed the hill together. Coming down the pony drew out a couple of lengths, arid as they came on to the course proper it seemed she would win. W th beads turned for home Selby brought Nor’-west wrth a big run, and the old fellow answering gamely to the call, won by two lengths, The Swimmer beating Hinemoa by a neck for second place.

A field of ten contested the Maiden Plate, most money being forthcoming for Hiro, but Monoform, Silicia, and The Lark also met with strong support. Directly the barrier rose Lady Clements set out to make the pace, Monoform being in second place until displaced by Silicia, and then King Paul. As they turned into the straight nine of the ten were in a. bunch, Tuakitua being tailed off. Coming up the straight King Paul drew away, and although Ryan rode Monoform home for all he was worth, he could not get with'n striking distance of the leader, who won easily by two lengths, with Silicia two lengths further off third.

A field of a dozen carried si k in that popular event, the Pony Handicap, Luresome being in better demand than Storyteller, with Girton Girl also well backed. That the pubi c had correctly summed up the position was shown by these three running home in the exact order of favouritism. Luresome was in front at the distance, and stalling off a late run by Storyteller, won by over a Iqagth, Girton Girl, who failed in the last hundred yards after looking dangerous, being a length further off third. King Billy was most fancied of the eleven runners in the Epsom Handicap, but Lady Annie, Multifid, and Landlock were also well backed. Certainty dashed off in front, and her crimson colours could be seen in the van as the field’ reached the straight. At the distance Lady Annie took charge, and coming on she won by a length from Multifid, who was the shortest of heads in front of King Billy, with Certainty in fourth place. THIRD DAY. Very pleasant conditions prevailed for the concluding day of the A.R.C. Spring Meeting, and there was a fairly good attendance. The track was in excellent order, and the racing was interesting. Results were as follows: —

HUNT CLUB CUP STEEPLECHASE. Pierre (Mr. H. Tonks), 12.0 1 Ngaru (Mr. P. Neagle), 12.7 2 Pilot (Mr. C. Ring), 11.0 3 Won comfortably by four lengths, Pilot a good third. JEsop and Baritone both fell. Time, Bmin 42sec. Dividend, £3 14s. MAIDEN HURDLE RACE, one mile and a-half. Lady Clare (Deeble), 10.7 1 Seabird (Mclntosh), 10.11 2 Te Papa (McGregor), 9.6 3 Won by a length. Time, 2min 56sec. Dividends, £1 19s and £1 7s.

ASCOT HANDICAP, one mile and aquarter. Landlock (Sparkes), 7.3 1 Delania (Deeley), 7.6 2 Zuleika (Ferguson), 7.6 3 Landlock led all the way and won by two lengths. Time, 2min lOsec. Dividends. £5 4s and £l.

JUVENILE HANDICAP, four furlongs. Loongana (Deeley), 8.4 ] Conductor (Sparkes), 7.10 2 Turbine (Wilson), 7.2 3

Won easily by two lengths. Time, 51sec. Dividends, £2 16s and £1 15b.

PONY HANDICAP,, seyen furlongs. , Lady Nannie (Deeley), 7.1 >1 Little Mabel (Brady), 6.9...:............i2 Hurihuri (Kemp), 6.11........V;?....;..-... 3 Won without-pressure by two lengths. Time, lmin 30 4-ssec. Dividends, £3 12s and £5 9s. „ 1 . . PARNELL HANDICAP, six furlongs. Hohoro (Cress), 9.3..... ;... 1 Nervine (Cotton), 7.4.... ............... 2 Te Aroha (Deeley), 8.9. .-. 3 Won without the whip by a length. Time, lmin 15 3-ssec. Dividends. £8 3s and £1 Ils. HUNT CLUB HURDLES, two miles. Sol (Mr. M. Wells), 11.7 1 Mozart (Mr. C. Selby), 10.7 2 Ngaru (Mr. P. Neagle), 12.7 1. 3 Won very easily. Time, 4miri. Dividends, £2 6s. WELTER HANDICAP, one mile. Zuleika (Ijfarchant), 10.0. 1 Monoform (Ryan), 8.7 2 Lovelink (Towers), 9.0 3 A good race, Zuleika winning by over a length. Time, lmin 42sec. ' Dividends, £5 Ils and £1 Ils.