THE TAKAPUNA JOCKEY CLUB’S WINTER MEETING.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVI, Issue 951, 28 May 1908, Page 5

THE TAKAPUNA JOCKEY CLUB’S WINTER MEETING.

FIRST DAY. URANIUM WINS THE EMPIRE HANDICAP. In very pleasant weather the Takapuna Jockey Club commenced the winter meeting on Saturday. It had been anticipated by some that the strike on the tramways might affect the attendance, but this did not appear to be the case, a very large crowd crossing the water to assist at the gathering. The track was in excellent order, better in fact than it has ever been before at the time of year, while the enclosures also were in a condition to reflect credit on the caretaker. Mr R. Wynyard thoroughly understands how a race meeting should be managed, and the result of his arrangements was that everything passed off without a hitch. Furthermore there was a complete absence of protests, foul riding and the like, while the only items in the way of accidents were two falls in the Hauraki Hurdles, in which, however, the riders escaped with a shaking. Bookmakers were licensed, and these appeared to do a big business, which of course seriously affected the amount going through the machine, this totalling £6112 10s, as against £9992 10s on the corresponding day last year. Mr O’Connor’s starting was quite in his best style, and Mr W. J. Ralph correctly placed the horses as they finished.

The curtain was rung up with the Maiden Plate, 7 furlongs. The scratching pen was very freely used, but eight were left in to fight the battle. The start was a good one, Cyreniac and Waihoihoi showing in front. Down the back Lord Crispin was upsides with the leaders. At the home bend Tauriki closed on Lord Crispin, and a good battle occurred all the way to the judge’s box, Tauriki winning by half-a-length, Cyreniac beating Lord Crispin in the last few yards, while Waihoihoi was fourth.

Next came the First Pony Handicap, 5% furlongs, five going to the post for this. Waihou was made a very strong favourite, nothing else being much fancied. After some delay at the post, Ngakapu jumped off in front and attended by Banshee led down the back with the favourite last. Nearing the bottom bend Waihou moved up, but as they came round the turn Ngakapa was still showing the way to Banshee and Octoroon. With heads turned for home Ackroyd brought Waihou with a great rush, but he could never bring Mr Ring’s gelding to the whip, Ngakapa winning by a length, with Octoroon two lengths off third, and Hughie fourth. The big race, the Empire Handicap, 1% miles, was rather a failure. Of the six on the card only three turned out, Leonator being made favourite. Directly the trio jumped off Uranium went to the front and led past the stand from Leonator and Maheno. The pace was very slow, the three being little more than out of a canter. No change took place for the round, but as the home bend was reached Leonator closed on Uranium. It was only on sufferance, however, for with heads turned for home the mare came away and won with the utmost ease by over a length. Maheno finished three lengths off third. The Maiden Hurdles, 1% miles, made amends for the previous race, for a better go over hurdles one could not hope to see. A nice field of eleven sported silk, of which Paritutu was made a very strong favourite, with Pukenui the only other enquired for. The start was a good

one, Pearl Necklet jumping away first with Paritutu and Noteorini next. Down the back Hikuai went to the front, followed by Paritutu and Noteorini. Passing the stand English was in command, followed by Hikuai, Noteorini, Paritutu, Waihekau, and Pierre. Down the back the three leaders cleared away, while Paritutu fell back. Nearing the home bend English was going so well in front that he looked like winning comfortably. As they came round the home bend Noteorini ranged up alongside, while Pierre also closed the gap, and Johnson at last woke up to the fact that it was time to send Paritutu along. The top-weight came fast up the straight, but the effort had been left too late, Noteorini beating the Castor gelding by half-a-length. English was only a neck off third. Pierre, who had made up a tremendous lot of ground, was fourth, and Anna Lombard fifth. The Hauraki Hurdles, 2 miles, came next, but, although it was a good race, it was marred by several falls, the jumping being by no means so good as in the Maiden Hurdles. There were eight runners, and of these most money was forthcoming for Cachuca. The start was a capital one, and following their usual tactics Hautapu and Omati immediately went to the front. Passing the stand the first time the order was Hautapu, Omati, Landlock and Cavaliero. At the hurdle opposite the stewards stand Sol fell, giving Howard a nasty spill. Down the back Omati assumed command, with Hautapu and Cavaliero next. At the hurdle below the terrace Landlock came down, treating Hickton to a shaking. Omati was still sailing away in front down the back, but here Cachuca closed the gap and the pair turned into the straight together. A fine race took place to the finish, but Cachuca had a trifle more pace and won by a neck, with Hautapu a length behind Omati, and then came Cavaliero, Creusot, and Cinque. Five contested the Maiden Steeplechase, miles, but this did not prove a very exciting struggle, as Le Beau carried too many guns for the opposition. He was a very strong favourite, and was in front virtually the whole journey, winning without any apparent effort. Matakokiri tackled him during the early stages of the race, but had to cry enough a long way from home, while Good Faith chased him right home, but could never bring the Leolantis gelding to the whip, although on sufferance he got within two lengths. Bullworth was a long way off third, Matakokiri fourth, and Tui fifth. The day’s racing was brought to a close with the Royal Handicap, 5% furlongs, a nice field of thirteen going., out to’ try their luck. The event looked open and betting was very spirited, Miss Winnie and Lucio being as much fancied as any. There was some delay at the post, but as far as could be seen in the dusk, Black and Gold, Celerity, Miss Winnie and Wauchope formed the lead ing division when the barrier went up, and the former took the field along down the back. Wauchope was first into the straight, when he fell right back. At the distance Lady Francis came through and finishing very fast, won by two lengths from Wauchope, with Miss Winnie third, and Haldane and Soultmaid next.

SECOND DAY. SOL WINS THE BIG STEEPLECHASE. With rain falling from early on Sunday up till Monday morning there was some doubt whether a postponement would not be necessary. Despite heavy showers it was decided to go on with the meeting, but the bad weather seriously affected the attendance. The going was of course exceedingly heavy, and the jockeys had a far from enjoyable experience coming in after each race plastered from head to foot with mud. The holding nature of the track made anything like fast times impossible, and these

were very slow. As the afternoon progressed the weather got worse, the rain descending in torrents during the running of the last two races. The result was that would-be speculators refused to- leave shelter to go to the totalisator, this meaning a tremendous falling off in the totalisator returns. The figures for the day amounted to on’y £5941 10s, which meant a decrease of £10,702 for the whole meeting. Twenty-three bookbookmakers were acting. It had been expected that accidents would be numerous, but there was not a spill the whole day. Once again the starting by Mr O’Connor, the judging by Mr Ralph, and the general arrangements by Mr Wynyard left no loop hole for complaint.

Racing was resumed with the Pupuke' Handicap, 5% furlongs, eleven going to the post. On the strength of the first day’s win Tauriki was made favourite, a very good selection as it turned out. Cyreniac was first away and she showed the road down the back to Lady Ferris, Tauriki, and Firelock. IVith heads turned for home Tauriki came away and won easily by two lengths from Cyreniac, who was half-a-length in front of Explosive, Freemantle being fourth. There were six starters in the Hauturu Hurdles, 1% miles, and of these Omati was a little better favourite than Hautapu. From a good start Hautapu was first th show out, and he led Omati a length down the back with Cavaliero four lengths off third. Omati then took up the running and he piloted the field past the stand three lengths ahead of Hautapu, English, Cavaliero following next. There was very little change the next time round, but Omati was gradually getting away from the field. Half a mile from home it could be seen that Omati had the race at his mercy, while English singled out from the others. Coming along in good style Omati won in the easiest possible fashion by eight lengths from English, who was four lengths ahead of Cavaliero, Notoeorini, Cuiragno, and Hautapu following in that order. Then came the Second Pony Handicap, 5y 2 furlongs, and of the seven runners Necktie and the bracketted pair Mighty Atom and Ngakapa had most investments on their chances. There was a long delay at the. start, a smart shower falling, but directly it cleared the field were sent away to a good start. Mighty Atom, always quick to begin, was first away, and he led round the back closely attended by Ngakapa and Necktie. The nuggetty son of Freedom had shot his bolt at the bottom end, where Waihou joined the leaders. As they turned into the straight Waihou was alongside Ngakapa, and she looked like winning. Inside the distance Octoroon came with a great rattle, and in a fine finish beat Necktie by a neck. Waihou was only a neck off third, Ngakapa fourth, and Hughie fifth.

The big event of the day, the Takapuna Steeplechase, 3% miles, came next, and for this seven went to the post, Pierre and Loch Fyne being sorted out as the best. With the track in such a bad state it was expected there would be some falls, but as a matter of fact all jumped well and completed the course. Directly Mr O’Connor gave them the word go, Inniskillen took on the role of pacemaker, with Bullworth as his nearest attendant, Sol whipping in the field. Going up the hill the order was Inniskillen, Bullworth, Loch Fyne, and Cinque, and so they came to the water jump. Along the back of the course proper Bullworth and Inniskillen were quite ten lengths ahead of Pierre, with Loch Fyne and Creusot next. Coming to the water jump the second time Bullworth was still showing the way, Loch Fyne, Inniskillen, Pierre, Creusot, and Sol following in that order. Along the back stretch Pierre closed on the leaders, while as they went up the hill Sol commenced to make a forward move, and at the new jump on top near the road, Bullworth, Pierre, Loch Fyne and Sol were in close order. As they raced at the water jump Sol drew up to the leaders and once over he tackled Bullworth who, after a short struggle, compounded. The top weight going in fine style came away and won by eight lengths, Pierre being a similar distance behind Bullworth, and then followed Loch Fyne, Creusot, Inniskillen and Cinque in straggling order, the latter being tailed off. . The rain came down m torrents and the riders in the Victorian Handlcap had a sorry time of it. There were ten runners for the 5% furlongs flutter, and after some delay they were sent off to a good star , Wauchope showing the way to Miss Winnie and Black and Gold. Down the back stretch the order was Wau-

chope, Black and Gold, Miss Winnie, and Lucio, and as they rounded for home Mr Ring’s colt was still in front. With heads turned for home Lucio came with a great rush and won easily by a length from Wauchope, Frederick was third, Soultmaid fourth, and Imprimus fifth. The meeting was brought to a close with the Welter Handicap, one mile, which was run in pouring rain and in semi-darkness. There w|ere nine runners and so far as could be seen the start was a good one, Tui Cakobau and Marangai setting out to make the pace a cracker. This pair drew out from the field, but down the back Tauriki singled out in chase. Tui Cakobau came round the home bend a trifle in front, and a great race ensued to the post, Tauriki just getting up in time to win by a head, Franklin was three lengths off third at the head of a bunch. And so ended the winter meeting, those who had assisted having a very wet time of it on the journey home.