Racing Reviewed

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIX, Issue 1083, 8 December 1910, Page 7

Racing Reviewed

FEILDING JOCKEY CLUB’S SPRING MEETING.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

Ideal weather favoured the Feilding Jockey Club last week, when the Club brought off their spring gathering; The meetings provided by this energetic body are always a favourite with racegoers and the consequence was that a large attendance assembled to take part in the outing, amongst the number being .prominent sportsmen from all parts of the Dominion. The racing was good and interesting throughout, but the problem of selecting winners was a difficult one for backers. Three actual first favourites finished in front on the opening day and two on the last day and from this, it Will be seen that backers had considerably the worst of the deal. Betting at the machine was almost equal to last year, there being a small decrease of £l2 last week. In the opening event, the Flying, backers went for Equitas the second choice being Full Rate. The latter was quickly out in front, and here he remained till the end, winning by a length and a-half from Tenterhook, who was well up throughout. Mulga Bill was a fair third, while Equitas finished well after getting a poor True Knight, by Sir Laddo-Purity, hailing from Sir Geo. Clifford’s stalble counted most admirers in the Aorangi Hack, and he won nicely with the second choice, Kilosteri, second and Kauroa. who would have returned a big price, third. Plantation was well supported, but was never dangerous. m , The chief event, the St. Andrew s Handicap, attracted nine runners, but the comnanv was not too strong, and Birkdale, he Karamu three-year-old was a strong order. John who races consistently, was second choice. The race calls for verv little description, as Birkdale was in front a long way from home, and won with Oliver sitting still on him. by a length and ahalf from Sandstream, who together with John finished wellBackers made The Native favourite in the Waituna Hurdles, and the black gelding had the race won at any part. Hydrant showed a return to form, by running second, but he had a good one to beat in The Native, who should win more races for his owner. Merry Lawn was favourite in the Hack Hurdles, but he cut up badly and never looked like winning. Canadian and Howler carried on the running till approaching the last obstacle, When Waterworks took charge and he looked all over a winner.. However, Canadian was not done with and finishing strongly he just got up in time to win by a head. Then came the Feilding Stakes, each of the seven candidates being eagerly scanned as they came down to do their preliminary. Gipsy Belle looked really well and she finished up favourite with Provocation, who had not sported silk for some time, second choice. Formby was the quickest away, but at the half distance Provocation was in front and entering the straight with a clear lead he won comfortably by two lengths from Gipsy Belle. Polymorphous, who received all he worst of the start was only a neck away third, after putting in a fine run. Formby cut up badlySharpshooter was favourite in the Kiwitea Welter, but he never finished in- the first three. First Mate, the outsider of the field, went to the front at the straight entrance and . won easily. The winner is hy Bluejacket who won two Auckland Cups in succession, as did also Nelson and All Red - -4. • 4.1, Ngatiruanui was favourite m the Fitzroy Hack, but he was unplacedVibration appeared to have the race won when W. Price brought Merry Frank with a rattle and snatched a victory on the post.

SECOND DAY. Vibration, upon whom Meagher rode a poor finish the first day, had Oliver on his back on the second day, and won the Nikau Hack, for which he was a staunch favourite, easily. Merry Frank was second favourite and finished in front of the others. carried most money in the Manchester Handicap, with Mendip second choice. The latter, well handled by Gray, was always in a good position and won comfortably by a length from John, with Teotane

third- The favourite finished well and was just outside a place. The Native, despite a rise of nearly two stone, again won the Hurdles, for which backers entrusted him with most coin. Hydrant was again runner up, but had no chance with the winner. The second favourite, Waterworks, was last all the way. Merry Lawn showed a big improvement on his first day’s running, by winning the Rongatea Hurdles comfortably from Canadian and Claremont who filled the places. An outsider in Patrobus, won the Welter Hack from Mallet and True Knight, the latter being favourite. Patrobus should score again before long. Allurement was favourite in the Hack Scurry, but the winner turned up in Jackpin, ridden by W. Ryan. San Pluie and The Rover filled the places. The programme concluded with the Railway Welter, Sharpshooter again being made favourite, but he let his supporters down badly, the winner turning up in Lady Menschikoff, who won by a length from Bunkum, with Marton third. Lady Menschikoff’s victory came as a surprise as she had failed badly in the York Stakes earlier in the day.

Problem (by St. Hippo—Ellerslie), the dam of Solution, has this season thrown a colt to Positano. At the dispersal of the late Mr G-G. Stead’s stud in 1908, Problem was bought by Mr. S. Green, owner of the Shipley Stud (Victoria), for 750 guineas.

Balgowfan has) been sold through Messrs. William C- Yuille and Co-, to go to India. It is to be hoped his new owner will have better luck with Balgowan than Mr. Macdonald had. * « • ©

Storey (by Dorchester), who was purchased by the Sultan of Johore, after winning the last A.J-C. Doncaster Handicap, recently carried lOst. 7lb. to victory in the chief event of the day at a meeting in his dominion.

The American breeder —Messrs. J. B. Haggin and J. R. Keene —gave the Argentine market a fair testing recently. The horses they shipped to the Republic were submitted to auction at Buenos Aires, and Mr Haggin’s batch of 2 5 two-year-olds brought a total of £2,78 4 12s, or an average of £lll 7s 6d; 25 yearlings, £2,9 3 6 19s, an average of £ll7 10s; and a further batch of 24 yearlings £1,681 2s, an average of £7O. Altogether 74 were sold for £7,402 13s, an average of slightly over £lOO. Among the second batch was the stallion Sir Hampton, by Watercress —Lizzie Hampton (imp.), by Hampton, who brought £l9 210 s. Mr Keene’s drafts included 12 brood mares, among whom the stallions St. Simon, Disguiser, Commando, Domino, Hindoo, Pepper and Salt, Kingston, and Ben Brash were represented. They were sold at prices ranging from £7B 15s to £612 10s, or an average of £2 3 3 6s lOd. A dozen yearling colts brought £2,666 18s, an average of £222 ss; 3.3 yearling fillies brought an aggregate of £5,193 4s, an average of £157 7s; and 10 two-year-olds realised £2,476 ss, an average of £247 12s 6d. Altogether Mr Keene’s draughts brought £10,459 9s for 55 lots, an average of £199 6s.

Herb. Price, the well-known mercer .and tailor, 54 Willis-street, Wellington, intends giving two more 18ct. gold chronometers to the most successful jockeys over the fences and on the flat for the season 1910-11.*