LINGERER STEEPLECHASES.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVII, Issue 1008, 1 July 1909, Page 5

LINGERER STEEPLECHASES.

Lingerer, like Fretwork last season, easily secured the two steeplechases, and at no part of the game was he ever being asked to do his very best. His fencing was of the best, and there is no doubt his knowledge of the business helped him well along the road to success, for there were some behind bim— notably El Dorado—who will be greatly benefited by the public schooling they have had of late. Lingerer, who was bred by the late Mr. W. Rathbone, was sold about a couple of years ago for less than fifty pounds, and by his dual success this week has proved that he was not a dear purchase, even

allowing that it has cost a fair amount to get condition upon him and education imparted to him. Speciosa, who was the closest attendant to Lingerer on Wednesday (she was not started on the last day) ran a real good race, considering that she was presenting the winner with 231bs. She had to be kept racing during the latter part of the run to stall off the attentoins of El Dorado, whom she beat for second honours by a bare length and a-half. In the Park Steeplechase the Lingerer people got a more than fair price; this was no doubt due to the coupling of El Dorado and Gold Shower on the machine, both of whom are the property of Mr. H. E. Troutbeck, the pair being installed favourites. Gold Shower, who is a great though erratic fencer, soon had a commanding lead, but the difficulty that D. Watt experienced in steering him, which led to his covering chains more ground than anything else in the race, gave rise to the idea that he would soon run himself out, a prophesy which proved correct, and, getting rid of his pilot half a mile from home, his prospect was gone, and the hopes of the followers of the grey and cerise were settled, for El Dorado, making a mistake earlier in the contest, had got his

quietus. The big son of Gold Reef was not by any means disgraced, for he is yet a baby at the business, and with more education he is sure to do credit to all connected with him, for besides being a docile horse he has got power, pace, and pluck —a trio of hardy qualities for any horse to possess. Coy, allowing for the fact that he has not been long in work, put up a really creditable performance, for he never wavered or shirked the ordeal, and it was only lack of condition that told its tale in the last half mile. Third place on Thursday was gained by the ancient Needlework, who just beat another warrior in Post Haste for the 10 sovs. hung up for third place. IRANUI WINS TWICE. Like Lingerer, another double event winner, Iranui, had the softest of snaps. In her two victories Woodhey had next best on both occasions as the line was crossed. The Soult mare got going smartly, the persuading powers of a big whip, which her trainer handled with good effect at the post, no doubt assisting her to get moving. From the word go she never left the debate in suspense, and the further she went the farther were the opposition behind her. A coincidence in connect'on with the two events won by Iranui was that the judge’s placing in the double was exactly the same each day. Waikaraka, who had the stable support accorded to him in good current

coin of the realm in the Winter Oats (his only start at the meeting), got interfered with at the send off, which obliterated his chance, and he finished a bad last. MUNDIC’S DOUBLE. Another runaway double was that captured by Mundic, the Gold Reef gelding breaking up his field direcMy the lever went up, and never giving the opposing forces the slightest opportunity to get on arguing terms with him. The black gelding got a great rally when he returned to the scales on each occasion, not because he was favourite, but rather owing to the popularity of his owner-breeder-trainer (Mr. W. Cattanach), one of the “hornyhanded sons of toil.” Mr. Cattanach has always been a good follower of the sport, and it is pleasing to note that at last he has got a real good one in Hopeful’s black son. HURDLE RACES. The Open Hurdle events only attracted three runners each afternoon, the same competitors being in evidence on both days, and it is just a question open to argument that had Hall not laid so far out of it in the Ahuriri Hurdles that Corazon and

not Commander would have been returned the victor in that race. On Thursday, in the Poraiti Hurdles, Corazon was always close up to Commander, and once over the last fence, which the pair took simultaneously, the chestnut son of Coeur-de-Lion forged ahead and got there by a two lengths’ margin from Griffith’s gelding —who was indeed a cheap deal for him when he bought Nixie’s son from Mr. F. King. Somali was third upon each occasion, and at no part or portion of the journey even appeared to possess winning prospects. A stable pal of Commander’s, Forest, had an easy task in his capture of the Moteo Hurdles, matters being made easy for him in the mistakes made by Donzel, Chicane and Somali, the two former getting into difficulties at the second obstacle. Donzel, who was going well at the time in front, screwed in the air and landed on the inside of the course. He got badly cut about on both stifles, and his reappearance on the track again will, be a question of some considerable time. Lebeccio, the half brother by Sou’-Wester to Hipporofla, was the only other contestant engaged who stood up, and as Forrest crossed the mark in a canter he was quite four lengths ahead. In the Waiohiki Hurdles not one of the batch that had lined up against Forest on the preceding day were in evidence. Rawhiti was elected favourite, and he and Diplomatic soon singled themselves out from the balance of the opposition, the pair being on near-

ly level terms to the entrance to the straight, where the chestnut son of Diplomat put in a good run, which had the effect of placing him in front, he finally scoring by three lengths from the favourite, who had to exert himself to settle Forest, who put in a strong challenge in the last furlong, and was only a neck behind the Douglas gelding as the judge was passed. A RANK OUTSIDER. Waipunui was sorted out as the proper item for the correct solution of the Petane Hack, but his followers were a long way out in their reckoning, for the best the Conqueror gelding could do was to get third, honours going to the Phaeton horse Marathon, who returned the best dividend of the gathering. Guiding Step, who had the assistance of C- Tonkin in the hogskin, just beat the first choice on the line for second money and dividend. Rohepotae was close up fourth. Wairiki, whose people gave him excellent prospects of capturing, and who was elected second favourite, cut up very badly, and has apparently lost all form when compared with his displays earlier in the season. Waipunui’s partisans again rallied around him in great force in the Newstead Hack, and so vigorously did they put in their money that when the total was made up in connection with the tote investments over the contest, it could be seen that nearly half of the coin had been speculated on the chance of Sheet Lightning’s son. Aftei- all, it was not such a hall-marked thing for tne favourite, for half way up the straight he had to be strenuously ridden to settle a vigorous onslaught made by Oliver on Rohepotae, who only suffered defeat by a long head; Guiding Step close up third. Had the half-brother to Maniapoto prevailed, his backers would have received a good return. As it was, one of his pasteboards was nearly equal to three of the winner’s, which is as close as I can get to it without infringing the Gaming Act of 1907. THE BRACELET. By the assistance of Maku, Mrs. W. J. Douglas secured another bracelet, her nomination again being piloted by Mr. G. Hirst, who has carried out his bat during the late meetings of the Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club and Napier Park fixtures. The winner, who was third selection in the field of speculation, looked rough in the coat, but when it came to silencing the pretensions of the opposition just before reaching the straight run home, his coat did not seem to affect him, for he fairly bolted away from the field. Water-o’-Milk, one of the outside faction, beat the favourite, Sealer, by a length for the second bracelet. Next afternoon Sealer and Maku were not engaged in the second Bracelet, the Squall, whose first go it was at the meeting, ranking as first choice. Zoraida, who earlier in the day had got second berth behind Mundic, was the next best supported. The favourite was slow to get going, and after a few lengths had been compassed Water-o’-Milk and Colossus were the leaders, Zoraida being third. With a half-mile gone, the latter made her run, and soon got command, The Squatter laying last. When well in the straight it could be seen that Zoraida had the verdict in her keeping. All of the Executive put in their best work to give patrons a pleasant couple of afternoon’s sport, and the decided opinion was that they had well succeeded in their exertions. A. Wood’s starting was of an equitably level description, and met with the universal commendation of all concerned. Amongst the knights of the hogskin honours were easy amongst T. Price, W. Ryan, F. Flynn, and G. Jones, who each piloted a brace of winners., Mr. G. Hirst and Mr. T. Taylor each notching a victory, as did W. Young, J. Lyford, J. Hall, and F. D. Jones. Amongst the training profession, W. Griffiths, W. Cattanach, J. W. Lowe, and J. Fryer each led in a couple of successful ones; V. Costelo, J. Hathaway, J. Gromstock, J. Sullivan, T. R. Taylor, and J. Munn each had a victorious pupil.