THE RACING.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVIII, Issue 1047, 31 March 1910, Page 5

THE RACING.

WAIARI WINS THE EASTER HANDICAP. FAVOURITES FARE BADLY. A field of ten horses faced the starter in the opening event —the Tradesmen’s Handicap—and the first choice with backers was Waimangu, with Regain next. The start was only fair, and when they raced past the stand Miss Advance was in front, followed by Manapouri, Freevata and Rauparaha, and in this order the field raced to the back stretch, where Freevata ran up second, but soon dropped back again, and at the five-furlong post the order was Miss Advance, Rauparaha, Manapouri, Waimangu, with very little between them. Miss Advance continued to carry the field along, and she was the first to reach the corner for home when Rauparaha took charge, and he looked like winning easily. About 50 yards from the post Buchanan brought Manapouri along witli a wet sail, and, catching the leader at every stride, he landed the little son of Soult a winner by a neck. Miss Advance was two lengths away third, and Waimangu next. Time, 2m. 10 2-ss. Dunborve carried most money in the Brighton Hurdles, for which only five went to the post. Prophet at once set out to make the pace, and he cleared the first fence well clear of Reservoir and Dunborve. At the second jump Prophet was about 10 lengths out from the field, but when they reached the stand the first time Reservoir and Dunborve had closed up the gap, and were just behind the leader. Prophet still had a little the best of it running along the back, and at the fence at the half-mile post was two lengths out from Reservoir, with Dunborve still close up. Prophet was the first to enter the straight, but Reservoir then closed up, and the pair rose at the last fence almost together. A great race then ensued to the box, terminating in a head victory for Prophet, with Dunborve about four lengths away third. Lady Patricia was a long way back last, Te Aral having fallen. Time, 3m. 51s. Blue Garment carried most money in the Gore-Brown Handicap, but Emblem also carried a fair amount of coin. When the tapes flew up Blue Garment was quickly into his stride, but at the end of a furlong was joined by Penwarden, and the pair ran across the cutting well clear of Lady Frances, with the remainder of the field well strung out. The order remained unchanged till the straight was reached, when Penwarden retired, leaving Blue Garment to come in on his own and win easily by three lengths from Lady Frances, with Haku the same distance away third. Emblem was next, and then came Soultoria.

The course was then cleared for the Easter Handicap, and as the horses paraded in the birdcage they were eagerly scanned. In the preliminaries nothing went better than Salute and Waiari, but Uranium, who carried . a lot of money, moved very scratchily. Equitas came from the South with a great reputation, and was made favourite. There was a fairly long de-

lay at the post, and when the tapes eventually went up the field moved off in good style. For half a furlong the front division ran in line, but Wauchope then showed out in front, but he was soon joined by Ambala and Elegance, and the trio raced in line along the back just clear of Waiari, Salute and Tainainupo, with Equitas prominent of the others, but a bad position. The order remained practically unchanged in the run through the cutting, but Wauchope was having slightly the best of it when they started across the top stretch. Here Salute, who was well, up, fell, bringing down First Wairiki and Advocate. Wauchope was first to turn for home, but Brown then brought Waiari along, and the son of St. Paul was in front at the distance, but the opposition were all going well. About 100 yards from home Equitas emerged from the ruck, and Waiari had to be hard ridden to win by half a length, with Wauchope only a neck behind Equitas in third place. Merrivonia finished strong, and was well up next; followed by Santa Rosa. Time, lm. 40s. Miss Winnie was made favourite in the Eden Handicap. As usual, Maiora refused to jump off when the barrier went up, and was left several lengths. The field had not gone far before Miss Winnie was in the van, and the daughter of Leolantis soon placed daylight between herself and the field. Running through the cutting she was a couple of lengths out from Auldearn and General Soult, and, galloping along freely, she was the first to straighten up for the run home. Stalling off the opposition she won fairly easily by a length and a-half from Jena, who finished well, as did Zinnia and Coromandel, who finished third and fourth respectively. Backers would have nothing but Birkdale in the race for the babies, and the Karamu colt was made a strong favourite. There was about fifteen minutes’ delay at the post. When the tapes went up War Song got a fly, and was soon right out on his own. However, Doughboy set out atfer the leader, and was within two lengths of the white-legged one at the half-mile post, with Antoinette and Solus next. At the straight the order was practically the same. At this juncture Birkdale was running fifth. War Song turned into the straight full of running, and holding off all opposition he won nicely by two lengths from Antoinette, with Wenonah, who finished fast from the distance, only a neck away. Doughboy was fourth and Solus next. Master Wairiki was badly left, and finished a long way back last. Admiral Soult carried most money in the Nelson Handicap, while Epsom Lass also received strong support. Admiral Soult and Monocle were first to show out, and they raced in front till the five-furlong post was reached, when All’s Well rushed to the front, and she was a couple of lengths clear of Admiral Soult when they raced across the top stretch, with Monocle, Waiotahi and Sea Elf well up next. At the distance Admiral Soult had the measure of All’s Well, but here Sea Elf and Epsom Lass both put in good runs, and Sea Elf going the strongest, won nicely by a length and a-half. Admiral Soult was two lengths behind Epsom Lass in third place. All’s Well was fourth and Waiotahi next. Waiata and Sir Artegal carried practically all the money in the Tramway Handicap, but backers were again astray, and the pencillers received another “ turn up.” As usual, Turbine was first to get going, and clearing right out from the field he practically made no race of it, winning easily by a couple of lengths from Mahinga. who was just clear of Waiata. Sir Artegal finished well up next. The enjoyment of the outing was somewhat marred owing to accidents happening during the running of two of the races. In the Brighton Hurdles Te Arai came down at the sixth fence by the half-mile post, and F. Porter, the rider, received severe injuries, necessitating his removal to the hospital. While the horses were running at the turn for home in the Easter Handicap, Salute, First Wairiki and Advocate came down. P. Brady and R. E. Brown, the riders of

Salute and Advocate respectively, escaped with a severe snaking, but H. Price, the rider of First Wairiki, was not so fortunate, and he received serious injuries. The lad was at once removed to the hospital, where he lies in a precarious condition.