THE WANGANUI JOCKEY CLUB’S WINTER MEETING.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIV, Issue 847, 31 May 1906, Page 8

THE WANGANUI JOCKEY CLUB’S WINTER MEETING.

Ideal weather prevailed for the Wanganui Jockey Club’s Winter Meeting, which took place on Thursday and Friday last week, and prqyed highly successful from every point of view. The fields were exceedingly large, the quality of the contestants good, and the racing close and exciting throughout ; .in fact, the opinion was expressed on all sides that more interesting or better sport has not been ■witnessed at any meeting in the colony for many a long day. Much of the credit for the great success scored by the club is, of course, due to the splendid work done by Mr. Geo. Morse, the popular handicapper, who was congratulated by all classes of sportsmen on the wonderful ability he displayed in bringing his fields together. The tote bells rang to some purpose throughout the two days, the result being that no less than £20,143 was handled by Messrs. Neylon and Spraggens, an increase of £2718 on last year’s tbtal. Added to this, the attendance was the largest on each day ever seen here at a winter so that the club will reap a handsome profit out of tne gathering—a result which w 11 be highly gratifying, not only to the club’s officials, but to all who have had the pleasure of attending any of the well-managed and enjoyable gatherings held m Wanganui. Amongst those present were sportsmen from all parts of the colony, and the visitors were loud in the r praise of the capital sport provided and the excellence of the management. It cannot be said that the starting was at all up to the mark, especially in some of the flat events. Mr. Chavannes got his fields away in first-class style in the jumping events, in which the barrier was ijpt used, but in the races where the hiach ne had to be manipulated there were three or four vgry uneven despatches, and the bad starts no doubt effected the results. A special feature of the racing was the excellent jumping in all the obstacle events; in fact, better and cleaner all-round jumping could not be wished for. There was only one cropper in the Wanganui Steeplechase, the three miles of country being got over safely by the rema' nder of the 11 starters, though a couple (Defoe and Playfair) certainly ran off at the last jump. In each of the other events the jumping was of a high class, only three horses —Phaetonitis in the big Steeples, Hutana in the Final Steeples, and Handsome Rose in the Century Hurdles—coming to grief during the

two days. This speaks highly for the quality of the “lepping” witnessed. Ailsa was sent out favourite for the first evejit of the meeting as a result of the excellent work the daughter of Wallace had been doing on the local track, but she disappointed her backers. The winner turned up in the St Clements’ gelding St. Claiimer, who was very fit, and was suited by the soft going. Miss King and Nadador were in front most of the way m the big Steeples, and three-quarters of a mile from home the former looked to be going to win, as she held a two lengths’ lead. Just then she struck a fence very hard, and fell back into third place. This acp'dent took all the out of her, and though she kept going her chance of winning was extinguished. Nadador, Defoe and Eurus were close together at the bend for home, where Defoe ran to the front, followed by Eurus, with Playfair coming strongly three lengths away. Defoe and Eurus were separated by about a length as they raced at the hen-coop—the last jump—and there was every prospect of a most exciting finish between those two and Playfair, who was gaing on the pair every stride. Unfortunately Defoe ran off, and Playfair followed suit, leaving Eurus —who cleared the obstacle in good style—to win comfortably from Nadador. with Moccassin third. The lastnamed shot up fast over the last quarter of a mile. Probably Miss King would have won but for hitting the fence so hard, though Eurus and Defoe were both going well all the way, while Playfa.'r put in such a strong run to the last fence that he, too, would have had a big say in the settlement. Frank Lind rode a well-judged race on the winner, and was accorded well-merited applause on returning to scale. Strange to relate, the time recorded by Euroclydon’s son was exactly the same as that put up by Evening last year.

Defoe was found to have cut his stifle, and is unlikely to race agajin this season. Some contend that the Robinson Crusoe gelding would have been a sure winner had he not run off, but this view is not shared by the riders of Eurus and Playfair, who both consider that Eurus would have won in any case, with Playfair second. In view of his dash at the finish, it is evident that Mocassin is likely to give some troble lawr on. White Star’s win in the Electr-c Hack came as a surprise, as the dividend (£3l 1/) would show, but the Daystar gelding was in such excellent condition and had such a good record that many are wondering now how they let him go. There were 23 starters. Hydrant showed capital form in the May Hurdles, in which he' paid £4 10/. Weary Bill finished last, but he will probably show that this was not his true form before long. Some will have it that this gelding is not really as good as he is made out to' be, but I shall look to him to prove himself amongst the best before long. He is engaged n the big Steeples at Auckland, and I fancy he will take some beating. Exmoor got out in front early in the Hack Hurdles, and never gave anything else a chance, though Sardonyx ran up close to him once or twice. The Grafton gelding jumped well, though he rapped the last fence a bit. Rangiwhenua put in a great run over the last quarter of a mile, and drew up to within a length or so of the winner, who was under a pull. Had it not been for Exmoor being in the race, however, it is safe to say that one or two of the other starters would have performed differently. Gold Crown was looked upon as a “good thing” in the Connolly Handicap, but he performed very disappointingly. He seemed to be shut in in the early stages, and d d not get going until it was too late to win. Rustique looked well and ran well, and got home after putting in a splendid run up the straight, paying £22 8/. Nova’s effort up the straight in the Purua Hack Flat was a brill'ant one, the Stepniak colt shaping like a racehorse, and just getting his head in front of. Lingerer in the last stride. Proceedings opened on the second day with the Winter Oats, one mile, for which 13 faced the starter, Black Reynard, on whom a big commission was worked, being the most fancied. From a wretched start Jolly Friar shot away in froit, and stayed there to the end, with MarTello, who was shut in the first day, second. The favourite got off badly, and was never iu the hunt.

Only three contested the Grandstand Steeples, about 2J miles, but it was a most interesting race. Nadador was made favourite, but felt the fleets of her racing the previous day, and was beaten by both Phaetonitis and Playfair, the latter winning by a length. The jumping was really first-class, and the three horses kept together all the way. Phaetonitis will be very hard to beat in Auckland, as he will no doubt be all the better for the racing here, as should also Playfair, who is not engaged at Ellerslie.

After Gold Guard had won the Balgewnie Hack Race, the ten candidates for the Century Hurdles were paraded in the lawn. With the exception that old Kohunui looked a bit lame, little fault could be found with the condition of any of the horses. Exmoor was much admired, and it is doubtful whether Jos. Prosser has ever had the gelding in better nick. Romany King also looked very fit, as did Comfort, while Hydrant, though only a small horse, was at his best. Exmoor was sent out favourite, and, getting ahead early, jumped well, the pace being fast. Three-quarters of a mile from home he was out two or three lengths ahead of Hydrant, with Romany King about three lengths away third. At this stage it seemed as if the favourite would never be caught, but Cairns (who was riding Hydrant) suddenly made an effort, and the little son of Jet d’Eau ranged up alongside of Exmoor. Then commenced a ding-dong battle, the pair bowling along for all they were worth. Hydrant jumped better than Exmoor, but the latter’s extra pace enabled him to make up his ground on the flat. It was a most exciting battle, the pair contesting every inch of the ground. As they jumped the last hurdle simultaneously the excitement was great, especially as Romany King (who had put in a fast run over the last furlong) was only a length or so away. Exmoor began to tire, and half a furlong from home was beaten, Hydrant” going on and winning by a length, while Romany King just beat the favourite for second place on the post. Cairns handled the winner splendidly, riding a cool and welljudged race. Romany King put up a great performance, and might have won had he been brought along earlier.

Ability, who ran a good second to Hydrant the first day, won the Rata Hack Hurdles rather luckily. Silverlene came with a great run over the last quarter of a mile, and was rapidly gaining on the winner when she took the last jump. Here a strange thing happened. The hurdle had been broken, -and by some, means a big piece of batten got caught in Silverlene’s girth, and as the mare galloped up the straight with this dangling about her legs many thought she had been staked. She finished fast, and was only beaten by a long neck, so that it is evident she would have won but for the disadvantage under which she laboured. Strange to say, the piece of wood had gone under her girth without even making a scratch on the mare. Mawhiti and Eclair fought out a great finish in the Final Steeples, the latter,, eventually getting the verdict by less than half a length. Mawhiti jumped too high at the last obstacle, otherwise would perhaps have won. He is only a little chap, but is a capital fencer, though it is doubtful if he can stay too' well. The curtain was rung down on the meeting with the decision of the Farewell Handicap, which was won by Splendid Idea. Many of those who occasionally get into the “know” when there is anything “good” on went for a big win on the Captain Webb filly, who paid £8 SJ. Neither Charlie Jenkins nor George Price rode a winner at the meeting.