WELLINGTON RACING CLUB’S SUMMER MEETING.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVI, Issue 933, 23 January 1908, Page 5

WELLINGTON RACING CLUB’S SUMMER MEETING.

(By Our Wellington Correspondent.) Amidst charming surroundings the club commenced its annual summer carnival on Saturday. The day was an ideal one, and the attendance on the lawn was a record. Saturday is not the best day for a big crowd of those who patronised the outside enclosure, the second day of the meeting being a holiday, toeing looked upon as the people’s day. Ladies were present in large numbers, and lent animation to the scene. Among prominent racing men present were Sir G. Clifford, Hon. J. D. Ormond, Messrs. G. G*. Stead, Geo. Hunter, G. P. Donnelly, W. F. Bidwill, J. F. Buchanan, D. Buick J. R. McDonald, Jas. Macara, E. J. Watt, T. H. Lowry, “ Wire Tokena,” and J. L. Carl and officers from H.M.s. Powerful. The racing was most interesting, large fields lining up at the barrier, which was manipulated toy the veteran Starter Piper in his best style. An unfortunate misunderstanding occurred in the seventh race (Tongariro Hack) owing to the starter not having noted the official time of starting posted up near the totalisator. This, owing to some delay had been extended ten minutes, with the result that the field was inadvertently started before time, and whilst the machine was in full operation. The stewards promptly declared the race void and decided to re-run at after the last race on the programme. The whole of the owners accepted the position in a sportsmanlike manner, and the public were treated to an extra exhibition.

The opening event, Trentham Hack Welter Handicap, was contested by ten highly-bred “ hacks.” Red Rain, who filled third place in the Great Northern Derby got up in time to defeat Gold Thread (Gold Reef —Pursering), Moscow (Stepniak—Coronal), who cost over 700 guineas as a yearling, just missing third place, which was filled by Playmate. The time, lmin 29 2-ssec, denoted that the track was very fast. Clanchattan and Chatterer were reserved for the Cup, leaving nine to compete for the Anniversary Handicap of one mile. The Birkenhead Kairoma was installed a warm favourite but after a ding-dong finish all the way from the distance post, suffered defeat by the San Fran mare San Julie, hailing from Wairarapa. Fireiron, six lengths away, was third, and Vardo fourth. The ancient Melwood carried his owner’s colours in this event after an absence of three seasons from the racecourse, but although he displayed his old dash, found the distance beyond him. and the time (lmin 41sec) rather too fast. The Ruapehu Hack Handicap brought out one of the largest and highest-class lot of “ hacks” ever seen on the course. The seventeen horses as they paraded the saddling paddock might easily have been mistaken for the candidates of a big handicap. Nearly all had staunch admirers, and betting was fast and furious. Mon Ami, a racy-looking naif-sister to that good horse St. Paul, was turned out in capital condition by C. Pritchard, and, getting to the front at the end of the first furlong, held her advantage and won by a length and a-half in the fast time of lmin 15 l-ssec. Miss Vera and Rangipapa had a great setto for second place, the Merriwee — Prioress filly prevailing by less than half a length. For the Nursery Handicap of four furlongs the Yaldhurst filly Armlet (9.6) was opposed toy eight of the season’s best two-year-olds. Gravitation (the Hastings Stakes winner), a fine-looking half-brother to Elevation by Birkenhead, was looked upon, as Armlet’s most formidable rival. 'Mr. Bidwell’s colt has, however, been growing fast, and begins more slowly than some that have done more racing, and could only fill fourth position.

Armlet won with something to spare, Aborigine and Sir Artegal fighting out a great finish for second place. Armlet’s time (48 4-ssec) was meritorious considering her impost. The news that the Hon. J. D. Ormond’s crack Zimmerman had split his hoof during his last gallop was received with great regret. His withdrawal left the Hawke’s Bay Guineas colt Gold Crest at the top of the handicap, and he was at once installed favourite with the totalisator and the bookmakers. The Rand and Apa were next in demand, tout each of the twelve runners had a strong following. The light-weight Clanchattan, with Downfall and the favourite, forced the pace at a terrific rate, The Rand and Mystification bringing up the rear. At the mile post the trio named above still held command, running in company. Moloch and Splendid Idea joined issue at the end of a mile, when Downfall compounded and The Rand and Apa closed up. Clanchattan and Splendid Idea were done with at the turn into the straight, and Moloch tackled Gold Crest just before the distance post was reached, and. running very strongly, soon had him in difficulties. The Rand and Apa made well-sustained runs, but could not reach the favourite Gold Crest, Moloch meanwhile winning fairly easily. Of the other runners, Lapland and Tangimoana ran well, whilst Mystification, who was outpaced in the early stages was running on during the last two furlongs. Chatterer and Saga seemed outclassed. The time (2min 33 4-ssec) is 4-ssec slower than that put up by Ropa two seasons ago. The victory of the Wairarapa gelding was a great turn up for the ring, although the Masterton visitors loyally supported their representative. Their investments were placed with the totalisator in the hope of drawing a second dividend.

Moloch’s dam Listener is a granddaughter of that grand old Traducer mare Rose d’Amour, dam of the New Zealand Cup winner Rosefeldt. The' veteran trainer M. McGrath was deservedly complimented on the winner’s condition. Gold Crest was also in superb condition, but his task of conceding a stone and two years in age was rather too big a contract. A dozen of the best sprinters owned in the Dominion were saddled up for the Telegraph Handicap. Dawn was in strongest demand, while Full Rate, Petrovna, Mr. Watt’s pair, King Billy and Moriarty (coupled on the machine) were almost as heavily supported but Munjeet, All Red, and Sister Anne were only moderately supported. Mr. Watt’s colours were prominent during the first furlong, but King Billy at once lost his position, whilst his stable companion, Ballarat, and Cross Battery forced the pace. Munjeet and Buccleuch were some lengths away from the main body rounding the turn for home. All Red ran up to Moriarty, and Ballarat, Munjeet and Buccleuch closed up, and at the distance all the runners looked to have a winning chance. Then All Red and Sister Anne drew clear while Moriarty and Ballarat compounding, Munjeet and Buccleuch came with a strong run and supplanted them, but could not reach the three-year-old, who fought out a good finish, which ended in favour of Munjeet’s full-brother All Red by half a length, Sir George Clifford’s filly being the same distance in front of the fast-finishing top weight. Dawn was prominent throughout the race, but did not get too good a run during the race. Full Rate also ran well, but Cross Battery. Kitchenmaid and Petrovna were the last to finish-

The Tongariro Hack Handicap, which was run twice, was easily annexed by Elevation’s four-year-old full sister Culmination, who carried top weight. Suttee, a four-year-old mare that has been carrying all before her on the West Coast of the South Island, running a creditable second in the fast time of lmin 41 2-ssec.

The Electric Handicap completed the programme. Mr. Lowry’s Birkenhead filly Finery appeared to be in her best form, and, jumping away smartly, soon established a lead of four lengths, followed by a speedy-

looking filly from R. Gocseman’s stable named Chamois. Finery never left the issue in doubt, and stalling off a strong run by Gawain and Swimming Belt, won nicely in lmin lsec. Cockleshell and Petticoat were last.