AUCKLAND RACING CLUB’S SUMMER MEETING.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVII, Issue 982, 31 December 1908, Page 5

AUCKLAND RACING CLUB’S SUMMER MEETING.

AN IMMENSE ATTENDANCE. ALL RED WINS THE CUP. There was a slight shower of ra.n on Saturday morning, but this did not deter the public from going out to Ellerslie to assist at the opening of the great summer carnival of the Auckland Racing Ciub. Trains and trams, of which there were a great number, were one and all densely crowded, while people poured on to the course in all sorts of vehicles and on foot. By the time the Cup was run the attendance must have been between 15,000 and 20,000, and was an easy record for the course. With the sun shining out brightly the scene on the lawn and in the enclosures was a very gay one indeed the varied hues of the ladies’ dresses, to say nothing of the rainbow-hued, and, in many cases, enormous floral hats, made a veritable feast of colouring. The flower-beds were indeed quite a sight, and the efforts of Mr. Hill and his staff in thi s respect came in for very high pra.se on all hands. Mr. Hartland was unfortunately absent through illness, but Messrs. Spence and F. Yonge and staff are to be complimented on the success of the arrangements for the comfort of visitors, nothing being left undone to make matters go pleasantly. Mr. O’Connor was in h.s usual good form at the starting barrier, and Mr. Lusk made no semb.ance of a mistake in his decisions, which were given very promptly. West's City Band and the Garrison Band, under G. F. Carter, helped towards the enjoyment of those present. A very large number of sportsmen from the South and elsewhere were present, among them being such well-known turfites as Sir George Clifford, the Hon. J. D. Ormond, Messrs Lowry, W. G. and G. L. Stead, A. E. Whyte, G. Panner, R. Turnbull, Dr. Earl, Dr. Palmer, as well as many officers from H.M. sh.ps Powerful, Challenger, Cambrian, and Pegasus. There was no lack of betting, and punters must have had a bad day, favourite aiter favourite suffering defeat. Still, they came up smiling each time, the big sum of £22,5 65 going through the totalisator, an increase of £lOlO y 2 on the corresponding day last year. Forty-four bookmakers were licensed, the fees from th.s source amounting to the respectable total of £902.

The carnival was opened with the Trial Handicap, seven furlongs, punters sorting out Chanteuse as the likeliest one. Mr. O’Connor got them off well together, Guidwife immediately showing out in front of Chanteuse and Inglis. As they neared the home bend the bright green colours of Guidwife were still showing in the van, but once straightened for home Inglis went to the front. At the distance Maheno and Chanteuse threw out challenges, but Inglis, galloping home strongly, won all out by half a length from Maheno, who was half a length in advance of Chanteuse. Dunborve was fourth, and Tue Cakobau fifth. The Great Northern Foal Stakes, six furlongs, was not a particularly interesting event. With Nautiform. Sharpshooter, Kina, and Salute scratched, Broadsword seemed on paper to be something of a certainty, and he was made a piping hot favourite. The actual race was rather

a procession, for after a poor start, of which Elysian got the best, while Xylophone lost three lengths and Kakama was left standing, Broadsword soon went to the front. Entering the straight he was two lengths ahead of Elysian, and although the latter chased him home gamely enough, he could never threaten serious danger, Sir George Clifford’s colt winning by two lengths from Elysian, who was six lengths in advance of Xylophone, Snowfoot being a length further off fourth.

Next came the great event, the Auckland Cup, two miles, and naturally the candidates came in for close scrutiny. The absentees were Downfall and Rauparaha, and with the former scratched punters rushed on to his stable mate, Bobrikoff, who started a very strong favourite. Next in demand came Diabolo and Pohutu. Without much delay Mr. O’Connor sent them off to an excellent start, Carl Rosa being quickest to move. D.rectly they settled down, Paritutu took on the role of pacemaker, and as they turned into the straight he was showing in front of Zimmerman, All Red, Bobrikoff, First Gun, and a bunch. Passing the stand, the veteran was sailing along a length ahead of Zimmerman, after whom came Bobrikoff, All Red, First Gun, Carl Rosa, and Pohutu. Once round the top bend Diabolo made a forward move, and he was in second place at the six furlong post, while All Red was working into a good position, and Master Delaval was fourth. Nearing the bend Diabolo fell back beaten, and All Red closed on Paritutu. With heads turned for home, All Red forged to the front, and ga'loping very strongly up the straight, he won by three lengths from Bobrikoff, who beat Paritutu by a length in the last l.ttle bit. After the placed horses came First Gun. Ikon, Carl Rosa, Pohutu, Diabolo. Stratagem, and Master Delaval, while the top-weight, Zimmerman, was the last to finish. The time for the race —viz., 3min 31sec. —has been beaten on several occasions, the record of 3min. 28 3-ssec. being held by Master Delaval, who won in 1906. Only a quartette carried s.lk in the Grafton Hurdles, two miles, Dolores being a warm favourite. Following his usual custom, Hautapu went off with a lead, and at the stand he was four lengths ahead of the other three, who were in a line. Down the back Dolores closed up on the leader, but came to grief half a mile from home. This left Hautapu with a ten lengths’ lead of Reservoir, and it looked something of a certainty for him. Reservoir, however, steadily closed up all the way home, and reaching the fast tiring leader twenty yards from the judge’s box beat him by three-quart-ers of a length. Okaihau finished ten lengths off third.

A fine field of sixteen toed the mark in the Railway Handicap, six furlongs, this prov.ng a great betting race. Armlet was most in demand, but there were p'enty of backers for Master Soult, Dawn, Gold Lace, and Royal Soult, almost everything being supported. Always a quick beginner, Miss Winnie hopped out in front, followed by Royal Soult and Coromandel. With a furlong traversed, Miss Winnie was just showing in front of Gold Lace, but a little further on the latter was alongside the leader, with Cambrian and Armlet next, while Royal Soult fell back. At the distance Cambrian, Armlet, Devonport, Master Soult, Aborigine, and Royal Soult were nearly in a line stretched across the course, but Royal Soult carried too many guns for the others and finishing fast on the extreme outside he won by half a length from Master Soult, Aborigine being third, followed by Armlet, Devonport, and Gold Lace. Eleven came out for the Nursery Handicap, five furlongs. punters tumbling over each other to back Sir George Clifford’s colt Sharpshooter. The start was a very fine one, but Deeley got Hyperion going very smartly, and he was soon two lengths ahead of the field. Gradua’ly increasing his distance, the son of Soult came round the home bend with a big lead, and at the distance he was four

lengths to the good. Golden Water and St. Amans came with a good run at the end, but failed to trouble Hyperion, who won very easily by a length and a half from Golden Water. St. Amans was haif a length further off, and then followed Sharpshooter and Merriwa.

There was another facer in store for punters in the Robinson Handicap, seven fur’ongs, in which Sedition and Hard Rock were as well fancied as any. Hard Rock was first away, but after leading for a furlong gave place to Lady Frances. The Eton mare had a good lead as they dashed round the home bend, but found the distance too far, fading but of the struggle. A hundred yards from home Ngapuka forged his way to the front, with Sedition in chase. Ngapuka was too good, however, Sparkes getting his mount home by two lengths, with Hard Rock two lengths off third, and Rimlock fourth. A very free use wa s made of the scratching pen in the Christmas Handicap, one mile, for out of twelve coloured on the card, but five carried silk. Punters were in a quandary. Sunglow, Douche, Celtic, and Waimangu all meeting with strong support. Douche dashed away in front, and led down the back two lengths from Waimangu and Leonator. At the home turn Mr. Davidson’s mare was stdl going strong in front, but at the distance Deeley sent Waimangu along for all he was worth, and the black colt, answering gamely, he wore down the leader and won by a neck. Sunglow was a poor third, being folloed home by Celtic and Leonator. The following we’-e the details:— THE TRIAL HANDICAP of 150sovs; second horse to receive 20sovs and third horse lOsovs out of the stake. Seven furlongs. Mr. A. Hanson’s br g Inglis, syrs, by Hotchkiss—Lady Marion, 6.10, including 21b overweight (D. Price) 1 Mr. W. Davies’ br m Maheno, 4yrs, by Soult—Lottie, 7.0 (B. Deeley) 2 Mi-. T. H. Lowry’s b f Chanteuse, 3y-s. by Merriwee—Cantatrice. 8.4 (C. Jenkins) 3 Also started: St. Aidan 8.8, Tui Cakobau 7.10, Delegate 7.9, Aristocrat 7.4% (including l%lb overweight), Guidwife 6.11. Dunborve 6.9. Time, Im. 28s. THE GREAT NORTHERN FOAL STAKES of 650sovs; second horse to receive lOOsovs and third horse 50sovs out of the stake. For two-year-olds: Colts, Sst 101 b; geldings, Sst 71b: fillies, Sst 51b. Six furlongs. Sir George Clifford’s b c Broadsword, by Clanranald—-Safeguard (F. E. Jones) 1 Trustees Mrs. A. M. Coombe’s br c Elysian, by Soult —Dreamland (C. Jenkins) 2 Hon. J. D. Ormond’s b c Xylophone, by Biikenhead—Banjo (F. D. Jones) 3 Also started: Kakama, Snowfoot. Time. Im. 14 3-ss. THE AUCKLAND CUP (HANDICAP) of 1750sovs; second horse to receive SoOsovs and third horse 150sovs out of the stake. For three-year-olds and upwards. Two miles Mr. St. J. Buckley’s b h All Red, 4yrs, by Stepniak—Madder, 8.6 (C. Jenkins) 1 Mr. T. H. Lowry’s blk g Bobrikoff, 4yrs, by Finland—Gossip, 8.12 (F. Davis) 2 Mr. J. George’s b g Paritutu, aged, by Castor—Yattaghan, 7.3, including 21b overweight (J. Buchanan) 3 Hon. J. D. Ormond’s b h Zimmerman, syrs, 9.5 (F. D. Jones) 0 Mr. D. Moraghan’s b g Master Delaval, 6yrs. 8.12 (R. E. Brown) .... 0 Mr. A. F. Douglas’ blk m Ikon. svrs, 7.10 (Kemp) 0 Mr. A. Dennard’s b h Carl Rosa, (ivrs, 7.8 (Deeley) ... 0 Mr. J. Monk’s blk c Diabolo, 3yrs, 7.6 (L. Wilson) 0 Sir G. Clifford’s br m Stratagem. syrs, 7.6 (Chapman) 0 Mr. D. McLeod’s blk li Pohutu, 4yrs. 6.11, including 21b overweight (McMillan) 0Tiustees Mrs. A. M. Coombe’s b g First Gun. 6.12. including 51b overweight (Killick) 0 Time, 3m. 31s. THE GRAFTON HURDLE RACE (HANDICAP) of 200sovs: second horse to receive 35sovs and third horse 15sovs out of the stake. Over eight flights of hurdles. Two miles. Mr. W. S. Davidson’s ch g Reservoir, aged, by Jet d’Dau—Cartoudhe. 9.7 (Jones) j Mr. R. Hannon’s b g Hautapu, aged, by Mitiora—Lady Sarah, 10.11 (Brady) 2 Mr. J. B Williamson's eh g Okaihau. 4yrs. by Salvadan—Orini. 9.7 (A. Gay) ’J 3 Also started: Dolores 9.11. Time. 3m. 19s.