AFTER THE RACES.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIV, Issue 847, 31 May 1906, Page 6

AFTER THE RACES.

TAKAPUNA JOCKEY CLUB’S WINTER MEETING. The winter gathering of the Takapuna Jockey Club was brought to a conclusion on Thursday last, under fairly pleasant weather conditions, the attendance being one of the largest ever seen on the course. The going proved heavy and times slow, but three was an entire absence of accident of any sort. Mr. Ralph acted as judge and Mr. O’Connor as starter. The racing was not so interesting as on the opening day, most of the wins being very easy ones. The sum of £13,658 was put through for the meeting, an increase of £2492 on. last year’s figures. The double, Waipuna and Swimmer, only returned the small dividend of £6 9s, a big contrast to the preceding day. Once again the management was entirely efficient in every respect.

Proceedings commenced with the Pupuke Handicap, all the eleven on the card going to the post. Pearl Necklet, who was leniently handicapped, was made a hot favourite, a very correct forecast. Having the inside berth she was first away, and never giving anything else a chance, scored her first win four lengths from Keep Step, who was three lengths ahead of Tui Cakobau.

A quintette turned out for the Hauturu Hurdles, one mile and threequarters, Cuiragno being served up very hot. Directly they got going Rolf went to the front, and he led past the stand from Corporal and Cuiragno. Down the back the positions were unchanged, Lady Hune being last. Half a mile from home Rolf was done with, Cuiragno and Corporal being together in the lead, while Lady Hune, hard ridden, closed up somewhat. As they entered the straight it could be seen that it was Cuiragno’s race, and although Corporal chased him home very gamely, the son of Cuirassier won by two lengths, with Lady Hune under severe punishment three lengths further back. There were no absentees in the Second Pony Handicap, six furlongs, and of the seven runners Forth and Storyteller were best fancied. The start was a good one, Etu shooting away very smartly. The Lebel mare soon opened up a big lead, but Forth closed up down the back, and before the bend was negotiated was in front. With heads turned for home Sonoma commenced to put in a great run, but she could never reach Forth, who won by a length, with Storyteller a length further off third.

The scratching pen was freely used In the Britannia Handicap, one mile, only five being left to fight out the race. On the strength of his win on the opening day, Waipuna was made favourite. From a good start Rookby was the first to show, and when the stand was reached he and Waipuna were racing side by side. Down the back Waipuna was sailing along in front, while Geordie, who has been last, commenced to go up. At the bend for home it could be seen that Waipuna had the race in his safekeeping, and coming on he won a slow-run race very easily by two lengths from Rookby, who was a similar distance ahead of Geordie, while Nervine was pulled up. The Takapuna Steeplechase, three miles and a-half, attracted a field of six, and of these Swimmer was a better favourite than Aka Aka. Directly Mr. O’Connor let them go, Major took up the role of pacemaker, and he let! for six furlongs, when Catherine Gordon went to the front. The daughter of Perkin Warbeck 11. was still in front in the second round, with Loch Fyne just heading a bunch. At tht third time they climbed the hill Aka Aka, Swimmer, and Cathtrine Gordon were together, but once on top the two former drew out and raced side by side on to the flat. Half a mile from home Swimmer commenced to slowly forge ahead, and although Phillips called on his mount for every ounce he could not hold Swimmer, who came on and won by four lengths, with Baritone three lengths behind Aka Aka. Of the nine runners in the Victoria Handicap, six furlongs, Millie was the most fancied. After some delay at the start Tambourina, who had the inside running, was first away, and there he remained for the rest of the journey, winning without the whip by nearly two lengths from Kola Nip, who was three lengths ahead of Lucrece. Ten runners faced the barrier .in the concluding event, the Welter Handicap, one mile, and on the strength of his good form on the first day, Aka-

rana was made a very pronounced favourite. Pamperia and Bromide were first away, and they led past the stand from Bully. Down the back the latter went to the front, and easily holding the opposition at bay, romped home three lengths ahead of Baltimore, who just beat Akarana in the last little bit. The results were as follows: — PUPUKE HANDICAP. Five furlongs. Mr. J. Marshall’s b m Pearl Necklet, 4yrs, by Haut Brion—Necklet, 7.13 (Lindsay) . . . . 1 Mr. J. N. Hunt’s b g Keep Step, 6yrs, 8.0 (Bdchanan) . . . . 2 Messrs. R. and R. Duder’s b g Tui Cakobau, 4yrs, 8.0 (Ackroyd) . . 3 Other starters: Peregrine, Fretwork, Seabohm, Intombi, Lucio, Hermes, War Cloud, Rose Lawn. Time, lmin 9 l-ssec. Dividends, £3 Is and £2. HAUTURU HANDICAP HURDLE RACE. One mile and three-quarters. Mr. W. Foss’ br g Cuiragno, syrs, by Cuirassier—Miss Agnes, 9.10 (Julian) . . . . . . .. 1 Mr. J. J. N. McKenzie’s b g Corporal, aged, 9.6 (Nearey) . . . . 2 Mr. C. Weal’s b m Lady Hune, syrs, 10.0 (Howard) . . .. . . 3 Other starters: King Paul, Rolf. Time, 3min 31sec. Dividend, £2 ss. SECOND PONY HANDICAP. Six furlongs. Mr. A Ludlow’s ch g Forth, aged, by Lebel—Sleevelink, 8.12 (Ryan) 1 Mr. L. B. Harris’ ch m Sonoma, syrs, 9.9 (Speakman) . . .. .. 2 Mr. P. James’ b m Storyteller, syrs, 8.5 (Buchanan) . . . . 3 Other starters: Merry Delaval, Etu, Hopscotch, La Annie. Time, lmin 23 4-ssec. Dividends, £3 Is and £1 7s. BRITANNIA HANDICAP. One mile. Mr. J. Muir’s br g Waipuna, syrs, by Soult —Folly, 8.4 (Parramore) 1 Mr. E. Morrison’s br g Rookby, 6yrs, 6.12 (Brown) . . . . .. 2 Mr. G. Mrshall’s br br h Geordie, 6yrs, 7.9 (Gray) 3 Other starters: Nervine, Baltimore. Time, lmin 49 l-ssec. Dividend, £2 9s. TAKAPUNA HANDICAP STEEPLECHASE. About three miles and ahalf. Mr. J. Beckett’s Swimmer, aged, by Cannon, 10.5 (W. Wilson) . . 1 Messrs. A. and A. J. Kidd’s b g Aka Aka, aged, 11.2 (H. Phillipus) . . 2 Mr. M. Wells’ ch g Baritone, 6yrs, 9.10 (Howie) . . . . . . 3 Other starters: Major, Catherine Gordon, Loch Fyne. Time, 7min 41 l-ssec. Dividends, £2 2s and 19s. VICTORIA HANDICAP. Six furlongs. Mr. J. Johnston’s ch m Tmbourina, aed, by Tambour—Linnet, 7.8 (Chaafe) 1 Mr. W. Gall’s b g Kola Nip, syrs, 7.4 (Parramore) . . .. .. .. 2 Mr. J. Donald’s b m Lucrece, 4yrs, 8.0 (Gray) . . . . . . 3 Other starters: Millie, Ben Blair, Discoverer, Certainty, Black and Gold, Pari Necklet. Time, lmin 21 3-ssec. Dividends, £l2 2s and £2 12s. WELTER HANDICAP. One mile. Mr. L. Gordon’s b g Bully, 4yrs, by Freedom—Natator mare, 8.8 (Buchanan) . . . . .. 1 Mr. K. Heaton’s ch g Baltimore, syrs, 7.9 (Lindsay) . . . . . . 2 Messrs. R. and R Duder’s b h Akarana, 4yrs, 812 (Ackroyd) .. 3 Other starters: Bromide, Jewellery, Te Taniwha, Sir Hector, Pamperia, Mechanic, Merry Soult. Time, lmin 51 l-ssec. Dividends, £4 Ils and £4 17s.