Racing Reviewed.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIX, Issue 1075, 13 October 1910, Page 7

Racing Reviewed.

HAWKE’S BAY JOCKEY CLUB’S SPRING MEETING.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

With the exception that a gale was blowing on both afternoons, there was nothing much to complain about as regards the climate at headquarters, but the attendance was not as numerous as I have before seen at the opening ventures of the metropolitan body- Taken altogether, the racing was of a very good class, notwithstanding that some of the events were robbed of excitement by the runaway victories of the conqueror. There was a slight falling off in the revenue obtained from the totalisator when compared with the takings obtained from the same source in 1909 at a similar gathering, for when the sums were totalled up on Thursday at the termination of hostilities, it was seen that £237 less had been handled than was the case last October. The pencillers for the two days contributed £471 10s to the treasury of the club. Several mishaps occurred in the hurdle contests, but luckily in only one instance was attended with disastrous results. This was in the Mangapapa Hurdles, when Pikapo had the misfortune to break one of his legs, and later on had to be destroyed.

The meeting could not be described as a backers’ meeting, for out of sixteen races only five first favourites prevailed, and in three instances they were odds-on chances. It will therefore be noticeable that supporting the favourites was not productive of the accumulation of wealth by their adherents.

Lamsdorff and Spate each returned to their partisans double-figure dividends, and several others returned good prices. The two leading handicap events — the King Edward and Spring Handicaps—were won right from the fall of the flag, the ultimate winners being first away and first across the line, but while Spate in the latter event had to do her very best to get the better of Sandstream, Bliss in the King Edward had no difficulty in achieving success, for she fairly bolted in and it appeared as if, had it been required, that the time for the trip could have been reduced, and when I state that the official clocking made it lmin 53sec, for the nine furlongs. only three-quarters of a second behind the colonial record held by Perkeo, it will be easily observed that the Stepniak mare was not dwelling by the way-side. In consequence of the good track work she has been doing of late Bliss was well supported by her connections- Her owner, Mr. G. Hunter, was not present to see her annex, which was unfortunate as he follows the sport for the pleasure it affords, and as it was the first time his colours have been carried since his temporary retirement last season, owing to a family bereavement, his pleasure at making a successful re-entry in the sport would have been doubly gratifying. The pace set by Bliss fairly staggered the opposition forces, for try their best they could not get on arguing terms with her. Separator held a good place a long way behind the leader certainly, as the field swung around the home bend, but just as he was making a good run up the straight a dog ran across the course and got foul of him and nearly caused him to topple over- This cost him second place, for it took Kopu all his time to settle him for second award. And then it must be remembered that be met with no interference. Spate’s people gave her excellent prospects, but I presume they did not imagine that Bliss would set such a breakneck pace as she did. The next day, in the Spring Handicap, there was no Bliss to meet and the daughter of Monarco put in force the plan adopted by Mr. Hunter’s mare on Wednesday, and the same result ensued, for Spate was in front all the wav- She bad but little to spare from Sandstream at the conculsion of the battle, for the son of San Fran was putting in mighty work at the finish, and was fast over-haul-ing the lightweight. Young Kemp rode a nice cool race upon the winner, for the little mite (he is only about five stone in weight) never appeared to get flurried, and, keeping his mount going with the whip, just got the chair quick enough to record an award. Merriwa, who did not have the 'best of passages, was a fair

third. It was somewhat of a coincidence that the bottom weight in each of the big handicaps should have each proved victorious. In point of looks Tribulation towered over the field weighed out for the Guineas, though Lord Kelvin, Warsong, Birkdale and Bunkum also appeared' to advantage. Poictiers did not impress so favourably, he is a poor coloured chestnut, and that in a mea,sure detracts from his outlook. Coming into the bird-cage he was wearing a boot on his near hind leg, but this was removed before he went out for the fray. Cheddar gave the idea that the racing that he had come through the previous week at Wanganui had been felt by him for he did not wear as bright or gay an appearance as some of the rest of the competitors. However, his 'bold showing in the event proved conclusively that there was not much the matter with him, for he was always handy throughout the route, and finished fourth. Lord Kelvin was slow to get under way, but came on well when reaching for the straight and only got beaten by a bare margin for second honours- Tribulation was never far away from the lead in the first couple of furlongs and after that distance had been compassed he headed the company, and though Birkdale and Lord Kelvin tried desperate efforts to wrest command from him it was without avail. Though no extreme pressure was applied to Tribulation, it looked as if he was doing his best, for he appears to be one of those free goers, who exert themselves to the full of their bent without any forcible means having to be applied by their pilots. This Was the first occasion upon which Mr. Bidwill has secured a Hawke’s Bay Guineas, and it must have been gratifying to know that his representative had equalled the time record put up by Menschikoff in 1901.

It was a most peculiar thing that in the Hastings Stakes six owners had each two coloured on the card against their names, the final acceptors numbering a dozen. However, only one owner (Mr. T. H. LoWry) started his pair, Bellah and Sea Pink, the Hon. J. D. Ormond relying upon Miscount, a full brother to Miscast, Mischief and Co. He is a nice cut of a colt, with plenty of range and power. Mr. Donnelly had Goldenfield to bear his colours, and he is a well-formed youngster with nice action. St. Petersburg, the half-brother to Danube, represented Mr. Buckley, a blood-like-looking colt of fine size and conformation, but he has not got the best of action. Ireland went out to do battle for Mr. Watt. He is a son of Kilcheran and the Stepniak mare Savanna, and though somewhat on the small side when compared, with those opposed to him, is a particularly nice mover. The first of the Achilles in Pierene sported Mr. Greenwood’s racing uniform. Though not so attrac-tive-appearanced as some of the other babies sent out, there is no question that she is speedy. The filly won a lot of admirers by the excellent style in which she handled herself in the preliminary. She carried the performance out in the contest, for although she did not move quickly when the lever was released, and was well back when the straight was reached, she put in a great run at the finish and settled Miscount by a long neck. The good-looking Sea Pink, a son of Seaton Delaval and Rose Madder, was a good third. The latter is a fine cut of the juvenile racer, and has a particularly nice way of getting over the turf.

A great improvement in regard to the start for the Hastings Stakes was the fact that the dismissal did not take place at the old four. furlong post, but about a chain in advance of the old post, which removed the awkward bend that was so apparent at the dismissals in previous years for half-mile events. Owing to the alteration the judge’s box for this particular race was shifted to the other side of the birdcage.

The other two-year-old event on the card, the Juvenile Handicap, was secured by one of the cerise bearers in Bootle, a son of Birkenhead and the St. Andrews mare Links. He is a very ordinary colt to look at, for he is as homely-anpearanced as a, Dutch oven, but there is no question that he can gallop in great style. He left the barrier like a shot, and that was the end of the affair as far as the rest were concerned, for the farther he went the less chance they had. Bellah, a sturdy son of Royal Fusilier out of Lissadurn, got second. Merrimac (a full brother to Winning Post) third. A stable pal of the latter’s in Midnight Sun, a full brother to Night-

fall and Noctuiform, was also one of those arrayed against Bootle and Co., but his exhibition was not of a very meritorious nature, for he never appeared upon the scene in a prominent position throughout the journey. Sanguinary, another of the contestants, was reported to be a very slippery filly, but she gave no great demonstration of her vaunted powers. Certainly she did not get moving well, for she was one of the last to get under way, and therefore was handicapped by this delay. On the score of breeding mere is nothing to cavil about as regards her, for she is got by Sylvia Park out of Sanguine, the latter mare being by Apremont out of Last Chance.

Captain Jingle was sent out a good favourite in the Tomoana Hurdles, a half-dozen others opposing the son of Captain Webb. The weight of coin, however, did not make him win, his best being to get third to Centaur and Appin. The former was making his first public display over the battens, and there is no gainsaying the fact that he made good in fine style, for he never wavered or took any liberties, but went for the obstacles like a seasoned horse. He is the property of Mr. H. H. Pharazyn, who purchased him from Mr. S. H. Gollan, but is now leased to Mr. C. O’Donoghue, in whose interests he competed this week. Harry Hickey educates him, and his ability in preparing equines for the lepping business was again further demonstrated in the finished style in which the gelding got through his tasks, for the next day he came out in open company and again downed the opposition—not a bad performance for a new beginner at - the game. He is one of the Primula clan, from which a bad one never sprang, and he is a full brother to Probable and Prize Bloom and Co. Appin ran a good second, while the favourite was a none too brilliant third; After going half a mile Sleacombe got up in front along with Captain Jingle, but just when he looked as if he.would make matters interesting, he made a mistake which brought him to grief, and his prospects were gone. On Thursday Centaur made no work of silencing the quartette ranged up against him in the Te Mahanga Hurdles, and he was giving away weight to Whatakura, Aorangi and Rangihaeta, but he did it all serene without any apparent exertions. Although there were fifteen weighed for the Maiden Hack, there were only two backed for money, the brace being Gold Circle and Falsetto, and backers got well on to the situation, for they finished first and second, Falsetto, who had £l5 less invested on her number than Gold Circle, proving victorious, the . San Fran —Kissmary gelding Ngakau settling all the remainder just as comfortably as he had been downed by Falsetto and Gold Circle. The outsider of 'the mob in the Pakowhai Hurdles, Whatakura, made light work of his task, and, well handled by W- Young, he just came along at the right time and bowled over the rest in a most comfortable fashion. Despite the fact that he was steered by one of the shining lights in the profession, the son of Lethe paid a great price. Aorangi was given a great chance by his trainer, who reckoned that the verdict was his without doubt. The anticipation, however, was badly founded, for it took the big gelding all his time to run an indifferent third in a field of four; in fact three, for Longner came to grief early in the course of events. Amato was backed down to a very short price in the Welter, Bourrasque and Ortygia filling the second and third favourites positions respectively. An outsider in Lamsdorff, however, prevailed. He was assisted in his annexation by W. Young, who again rode a good dividend-pro-ducer; in fact, the Welter winner paid the biggest return at the fixture. The favourite was second, and the much-raced full brother to Tangimoana, Rangikapua, third Tribulation experienced no difficulty whatever in giving weight away to the rest of the field in the Waipatu Hack, and he administered a most decisive beating to them, for at the finish he was only cantering. Niwaru was second and Goldemar third. Backers were well on the spot in their solution of the problem, for the first, three’ w;ere supported in the order in which they were placed 'by the judge. No doubt owing to his good performance in the -Wanganui Guineas for six furlongs, Warsong had more attention paid to him that Bliss, who was again saddled up for the Flying

Handicap. Bad judgment was, however, displayed in the selection, for although Warsong got well away, it was all over with him and the rest of them when Bliss took command after going about a furlong and a-half, for she spread-eagled the pack and came in by herself without any bother at a.l, the favourite having as much as he could do to beat Multiple for second honours. The first and second horses between them carried threefifths of the total investments on the machine.

When transactions were started over the Mangapapa Hurdles Te Whetu was most in favour, with the othei’ four at any old outside quotation. In a short period before the start the coin poured in for Captain Jingle, and when the bells ceased ringing to intimate that business had to be closed on the race, it could be observed that C aptain Jingle had been installed a warm favourite. At the second fence Appin, Whakaweira and Pikapo came to the earth, and the favourite also appeared to get into trouble. The.mishaps gave Te Whetu a good lead, and he went on in good style from his only opponent, Captain Jingle, who discovered that a stern chase was a long one, for, try as he would in the most determined manner, he could not reach the Daystar gelding, who registered a very easy score. As a result of the accident, Pikapo had later on to be destroyed, for one of his legs was frightfully smashed. One of Mr. T- H. Lowry’s Cup candidates was introduced in the Ngatarawa Hack. I refer to Cullinan, the big son of Royal Fusilier and Bijou, and though he had the impost of 9.2 to carry, the majority of backers would not hear of him losing- Their prophesy proved absolutely correct, for the big fellow, though not too well placed in the early portion of the run, pulled to the fore at the entrance to the straight, and the argument was settled in his favour without any more bother- Idealism, the second selection, had an easy task to get the second award for the third horse Mediterranean, was a long way in the rear of him as he crossed the line. The other members of the opposition were scattered ajway down the track. Polynices, whose second start it was at the meeting, ran a good race for about six furlongs, when he cried a go. Falsetto, Niwaru and Gold Battery were supported in that order for the Flaxmere Hack, the next in favour being the ultimate winner Amaru, who on Wednesday had not attracted, any notice by the vigour of her performance. The spin then must have done her good, for when the favourite looked a hundred yards from the line a good victor, Amaru, Niwaru and Gold Battery got to her, and in a great go the former lasted the longest and captured from Niwaru by a bare half-length, Gold Battery barely the same distance away third and the favourite fourth. , E. Lowe on Amaru rode a real good race, for after getting well away he steadied his mount and then let the favourite run herself out, watched his! opportunity, and, coming with a clear run on the outside clear of interference, landed The Possible’s daughter a winner. G*. Hope seemed to be unlucky with Niwaru, for the mare, who has been a disappointment for some time, has come on wonderfully of late, and it was indeed hard luck to get her form displayed with but slight financial results. Just before the start Scots Fusilier and Merrie Valet bolted once round. The rehearsal could not have done the latter much harm, for he was well up with the leaders at the home turn.

Another cerise bearer in Humming Bird was looked upon as the right way out of the conundrum in connection with the Final Handicap. It was a poor selection, for the mare did not get one or two, the winner turning up in Multiple, with Voetgang second. When McLaughlin’s horse returned to the birdcage a cheer long and loud went up, not on the gee-gee’s account, but from the bare fact that it meant that T. O’Brien had registered his first win after many tries since his return to the saddle after having been under the ban. When he got into the jockeys’ room his confreres gave him a rousing rally, which I am sure must have been much appreciated by the genial “ Shamus,” as he is called by his associates. The winning jockeys at the meeting were headed by W. Young with three wins, next coming L. Wilson, R. Hatch, F. Flynn, and R. Young with a couple of wins apiece, F. D. Jones, J. Kemp, E. Lowe, T. O’Brien and HGray each having a leg up on a single conqueror.