OTAKI MAORI RACING CLUB’S MEETING.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XX, Issue 1120, 28 September 1911, Page 6

OTAKI MAORI RACING CLUB’S MEETING.

FIRST DAY.

(From our Wellington Correspondent)

The Otaki Maori Racing Club was favoured with beautiful weather for the opening day of their spring meeting that took place on Saturday last. The attendance was very satisfactory, the countryside being well represented, whilst a large contingent journeyed from Wellington. The racing throughout was distinctly interesting and some keen contests were fought out. Some substantial dividends were returned by several of the winners, testifying that the club’s handicapper (Mr. J. H. Pollock), had used his best endeavours with a view to concealing them. The stewards did not consider that Equitas was ridden with consummate judgment and on their own initiative held an inquiry. After hearing evidence from those immediately concerned, no action was deemed necessary. Amongst those present was Sir James Carroll and a party of M.’sP. Mr. .T. Cameron was fairly successful at the barrier, whilst as usual, Mr.

Hartgill’? verdicts from the judge’s box were given promptly and accurately.

Money was fairly plentiful, the sum of £8219 being put through the machine during the afternoon compared with £6167 that was dealt with on the corresponding day last year, showing an increase in favour of this year of £2052.

Racing began with the running of the Te Hiwi Memorial Stakes of one mile, for which Melologue was a strong fancy. The start, which was a perfect one, saw the favourite closely followed by Turna, at the head of affairs, but by the time the entrance to the straight was reached Melologue was done with, whilst Golden Age made a forward move closely followed by Brown Trout and Otahu. A little further on the latter took charge, and, stalling off a late run by i.idy Volley, won cleverly by a clear length, with Turna a half length away third. Brown Trout was close up fourth, whilst Scots Fusilier was fifth, with the others beaten off. The Kahurangi, on the strength of some excellent track work on the. Porirua beacii; was' 1 installed favour-?. Be for the : Flying Handicap, whilst' Deploy and Full Rate had plenty of admirers. The field were sent away in a capital line, and the tyzo former? at once rushed to the front and the ”ai.r had.'.the race to themselves, Deploy eventually winning comfortably b" a length, with Fall Rate a head away. third, Erin and Merry Frank finished in the order named. Full Rate ran a generous race and is evi-

dently coming back to form. A surprise was sprung on backers in the Maiden Plate, of five furlongs, by an unknown quantity to the racing public in Adare, a three-year-old gelding by Sweet Simon from Colleen, who c' eared away at the start and galloping in good style stopped in front until the winning post was reached, beating the fast-finishing Our Queen bv a head, Abercoed was a length away third, whilst the others were strung out over a considerable distance, the pace set by Adare having naralysed the others with the exception of Our Queen, who was the only one to get within striking distance, The winner returned his supporters a dividend approaching a third of a century, which comes as a surprise seeing that W. Young put up 5%1b. overweight in order to ride him. It transpired afterwards that a big commission was worked away from „ the course in favour of Adare. An unfortunate incident took place at the start of the President’s Handicap and the chances of several of those, engaged were completely spoilt. Floater held the inside position, with Countermine next. At the word “go” the former moved off very smartly, and the tapes failing to rise instantly got entangled with both Floater and Countermine. The pair carried the tapes entwined about them for a considerable portion of the journey and also interfered with several of the contestants. Equitas got clear away, and, going round the back, was fully 40 yards in front and going strong half a mile from home the mare was steadied, whilst Projectile was creep-

ing up meanwhile. Equitas was going strong, whilst Projectile, who was hard ridden, got up in time to win by half a length, with Voetgang a length further back third, the others being hopelessly beaten. The stewards were not satisfied with the running of Equitas, but after an inquiry, the matter was allowed to drop. A capital start was effected in the Stewards’ Hack Handicap, of six furlongs. The colours of St. Bees soon became prominent, the St. Ambrose colt leading right up to within a few yards from the post when Rongomai dashed up and answering gamely to his rider’s demands got up in time to win an exciting race by a neck, with Ahuapai two lengths away third, Cornelian was next and Faugasse fifth. Strathmoira was in most demand in the Hack Hurdles, whilst Gaelic and Waiouru were also well supported. When the barrier rose the latter went to the front and passing the stand the Conqueror gelding led from Inveran and Boyne Water. Going round the back Waiouru was still in charge, whilst Fond Memory and Salopian were running well. The Foxton-owned hurdler was still in front entering the straight, but when well in a line for home C. Price brought Gaelic with a late run, but he could not overhaul Waiouru, who won by half a length, Strathmoira was close up third, Fond Memory and Salopian being the next to finish in the order named. The afternoon’s racing was brought to a conclusion with the decision of the Welter Hack Handicap, for which Ebonite and Foreshot had hosts of admirers. From an excellent send-off R. Hatch rushed Emma to the front, but after traversing three and a-half furlongs the Conqueror mare was done with, while Brown Trout, St. Bees and Kina took a hand in the race. When heads were turned for home Kina went to the head of affairs and not being afterwards seriously troubled won comfortably by two lengths from St. Bees, who was a clear half length in front of Puketotara, the next to finish close together being Brown Trout, Kopane and Bonnie Boy. The winner paid a substantial two-figure dividend. W. Young and C. Emerson, with two wins each to their credit, were the most successful riders, others to win one race each being D. Gordon, T. Pritchard and Clarence O’Neill.

CONCLUDING DAY.

FIRST BATTERY WINS DOMINION

HANDICAP

; The concluding day’s gathering of the Otaki Maori Racing Club’s spring meeting was brought to a conclusion on Monday. The racing as on the opening dav >vas very interesting and some, excellent contests were fought out. First Battery, who was nicely ridden by C. Emerson won the principal event very comfortably. The starting was not of a very high order, several horses having their chances spoilt at the post. The totalisator staff was kept busy the sum of £7911 being handled by them, compared wit’h £2087 for the corresponding day last year, making an aggegate for the meeting of £16,130, an increase of £7,936 on the figures. for the corresponding fixture last year.

Racing was resumed with the Trial Handicap, of five furlongs, for which Emma was backers’ fancy. From a good send-off Aurora and Faugasse rushed to the front but by the time the distance was reached the latter was done with- and Aurora went on to win comfortably by a length and a half from Inveran with Emma half a length away third, Faugasse and Foreshot were the next to finish in the order named.

Te Kahurangi was a warm favourite for the Railway Handicap of six furlongs. The Conqueror gelding led from end to end and won by a clear length, from Deploy, who was half a length in front of Rill, with Erin fourth and Thetis fifth. On the strength of her Saturday’s running, Lady Volley was a firm order with backers in the Otaki Handicap, but the chestnut never once flattered her backers. The winner turned up in St. Bees, who won comfortably at the finish by two lengths from

Cornelian with Turna a length away third. Lady Volley, Abercold, and Golden Age were the next to finish in the order named.

St. Felix and Projectile comprised the leading division in the Dominion Day Handicap of 1% miles. This pair were still in the iead after travelling six furlongs when they both cried enough and Vbe -gang was at the head of affairs at the straight entrance and appeared to possess a winning chance but a little further on C. Emerson brought First Battery along with a well sustained run eventually winning easily by two lengths from Voetgang, with First Consul a similar distance away third, Projectile was fourth and Waipunui fifth. Te Ru was backers’ fancy in the second Hack Hurdles of a mile and a ha'f and he fully justified the confidence reposed in him by winning from end to end, the only one to get near him 'being Scots Fusilier, who appears to be the makings of a decent hurdler.

Our Queen was on the move when the barrier rose in the Electric Hack Handicap of five furlongs, and stepping in front all the way won with ridiculous ease by six lengths from Makara, whilst Rongomai was an indifferent third. The other runners never had a chance from the word “go.”

The meeting was brought to a conclusion with the Rahui Welter of one mile, for which Brown Trout was a warm favourite. At the start Kina assumed command but they had not gone far when Otahu assumed the lead and galloping in good style ran home a easy winner by a clear length from Foreshot, who ran a neck in front of Brown Trout, Dusky Sound being the next to finish.

Advocate, the New Zealand Cup candidate, who made such a poor showing in the Avondale Cup, is reported to be suffering from a greasy heel.

Spult heads the list of winning sires at the Avondale meeting. The progeny of the defunct son of St. Simon won five races, while Monoform was represented by two winners.

Ben Deeley and J. Conquest have gone South to fulfil riding engagements at the Wanganui spring meeting.

The Harp of Erin, Ellerslie, has been taken over by Mrs. T. Taylor, widow of the late well-known horseman “Tommy” Taylor, and Southern sportsmen, trainers and jockeys can rely upon receiving the greatest hospitality and comfort at this popular house. Being handy to the course, visiting racegoers find it most convenient to take up their quarters at the Harp of Erin, and as no effort is being spared ■in catering for the wants of boarders it is certain to receive a large share of patronage from the racing public.

A Waikato subscriber asks the following questions:—l. What is the highest hand possible to hold at a game of poker? 2. Is a routine flush of hearts superior to any other suit? The answers are: 1. Royal Flush in any suit, i.e., Ace, King, Queen, Knave, ten. 2. No.

A number of people did not back St. Amans at Avondale because they thought he looked a bit above himself, but the Bon of Soult—Lottie always carries a lot of flesh.

Fort William is to receive the remainder of his preparation for the New .Zealand Cup at the hands of the Trentham trainer, J. Lowe.

So far as totalisator investments go the second day of the Avondale Jockey Club’s spring meeting constitutes a record for clubs in the Auckland province, barring, of course, the Metropolitan club.

Some of the stable connections of Urukehu. Hemisphere, and Seawai, did not support the former in the race she won, but had a strong fancy for Hemisphere in the Maiden Plate, but the son of Hesper failed.