RACING REVIEWED.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1148, 11 April 1912, Page 10

RACING REVIEWED.

AUCKLAND RACING CLUB. A SUCCESSFUL GATHERING. The autumn meeting of the Auckland Racing Club was commenced at Ellerslie on Saturday in the presence of a large gathering, despite the threatening nature of the weather. Though a fair amount of rain fell in the morning it was fortunately not of sufficient volume to render the track at all slippery, and fast times were the order of the day. His Excellency, Lord Islington, was present, while a large number of Southern sportsmen patronised the popular Northern fixture. The day’s programme was productive of some interesting racing, and with the exception of three of the events, which proved runaway victories for the favourites, the winners were well concealed, backers being set a stiff task in making their selections. The unwarranted curtailing of racing days in Auckland had the effect of creating the greatest enthusiasm among racegoers in regard to the Easter carnival, and it was gratifying to all supporters of racing to find that the totalisator staff were kept extremely busy during the afternoon. Speculation was of a brisk nature, no less than £30,921 being handled, as compared with £20,701 10/ passed through the machine on the opening day of last year, being an increase of £10,219 10/. The management of the meeting was a distinct credit to any metropolitan club, the capable secretary, Mr J. F. Hartland, being largely responsible for the undoubted success of the gathering. The Tradesmen’s Handicap (144 miles) was the first event to occupy attention, Sea Elf being installed favourite,- with Sir Artegal next in request among the other half-dozen starters. Sir Artegal left the barrier much smarter than usual, and led from start to finish, winning by a length from the Ohinemuri Cup winner, Monoplane, with the favourite, Sea Elf, who finished well, in third' position.

Sol was the only defection in the Brighton Hurdle Race (two miles), and the eight horses which went to the post included the Southerners, Idealism and Sandy Paul. The former, who had not been performing too well over the battens in his schooling tasks since his arrival at Ellerslie, was found to be displaced in favoritism by Lloyds when the totalisator bells ceased ringing. The race, however, resulted in a surprise victory for Sandy Paul, a beginner at the lepping game, whose performance in running second to Darby Paul on the concluding day of the Wanganui summer meeting, caused his connections to

view his chances in a very hopeful light. Lloyds ran a good race, flattering his supporters until five furlongs from home, when Sandy Paul wrested the lead from the favourite, who had pot enough pace for the speedy Southerner, to whom he finished second. Black Northern, who finished very strongly, broke his recent series of successes by finishing a poor third. Idealism jumped in slovenly fashion, and was never prominent. Don Quex, who cleared the fences in first-rate style, ran well until the final stages, finding the distance too far.

The Great Northern Champagne Stakes drew a field of seven, the Auckland colt, Prince Soult, being made a pronounced favourite, with the Hon. J. D. Ormond’s representative, Haskyne, next in demand. The favourite had every opportunity to win, Deeley getting him away smartly, but he found a speedier rival in the finelooking Gisborne colt, Our King, who won rather easily by close on three

lengths, covering the six furlongs in lmin 15sec. Prince Soult finished second, while his stable companion, Tact, occupied third position. Miss Winsome was the only withdrawal from the Easter Handicap, in which the good field of fourteen went to the post. Last year’s winner, Antoinette, was made a slightly better favourite than Kakama, while General Latour, La Reina, and Boanerges were all well supported. Crown Pearl acted as pilot in the early stages, with General Latour and Kakama in close attendance, while Goldsize, Antoinette and Boanerges were all handy. With three furlongs gone, General Latour

took up the role of pacemaker, and led the field into the straight. A great race then ensued over the final stages, Kakama, ably handled by Deeley, putting in her claim, while Soultoria could be discerned finishing with much brilliancy close in to the lawn rails. On reaching the main stand, Kakama had the advantage of the Waikato colt, but the race was not yet at the mercy of Mr Donald McLeod’s representative, for Soultoria made a bold bid for victory, the trio fighting out a desperate finish, the judge’s verdict being in favour of Kakama by a neck, with General Latour second, a head in front of Soultoria. The success of Mr McLeod’s mare was most popularly received, and the fact of her equalling the time record of lmin 40sec, held by Gold Crest and Waiari, added further to the merit of her performance. There was only one horse to meet with any support in the Tramway Handicap (five furlongs), backers selecting the Hon. J. D. Ormond’s Bootle

as a safe investment, his winning performance on the concluding day at the Wanganui summer meeting guiding them in their choice. Of the thirteen other starters, Lucille was the only competitor that looked to have a chance of beating the Karamu representative in the straight, but in response to F. D. Jones’ efforts, Bootle gave a taste of his quality by drawing right away from the Soult mare and winning handily by over a length, Salute, who showed up creditably, being three lengths away third. Fifteen two-year-olds lined up in the Onslow Stakes (five furlongs), the topweight, Prince Merriwee, who had the

services of B. Deeley, being made the medium of heavy support. The winner proved to be Devastation, who returned a good dividend wflien his track work comes to be considered. Devastation left the barrier quickly, and though challenged by Prince Merriwee, had no difficulty in defeating the Merriwee gelding by a length, with Indulgence third. The Nelson Handicap (one mile) was won by the hitherto disappointing Sea Pink, who, splendidly ridden by the Southern horseman, C. Jenkins, gained a neck victory from Tiresome, with Parawai three lengths away third. Eighteen started. Sea Pink being made favourite. Jack Delaval was made an odds-on favourite in the Eden Handicap, and he again stood to the punters by winning with ridiculous ease by four lengths from Mahinga (who paid a most acceptable dividend for second), with Admiral Soult third.

SECOND DAY. ANTOINETTE WINS ST. GEORGE’S. The Auckland Racing Club’s autumn meeting was concluded on Easter Monday in fine weather, when there was again a very large attendance.The totalisator investments were particularly heavy, £38,026 10/ being handled, which is an increase of £11,077 on the amount put through the machine on the corresponding day of last year. Some excellent racing was witnessed, the Autumn Steepler chase in particular providing a keen finish amid the greatest excitement. The opening event, the Stewards’ Handicap (one mile) saw Wee Olga installed an odds-on favourite in a field of six, and she duly registered a victory, with Admiral Soult and Maheno in the places. The winner was again started in the concluding race on the programme, the Auckland Welter Handicap (one mile), and she returned her many supporters another dividend, winning with ease from Sea Pink and Ruatangata. The Great Northern Oaks was considered a foregone conclusion for Sir Geo. Clifford’s Counterfeit, who had been brought up specially from Christchurch for this classic event, and the Chokebore representative succeeded in defeating her three rivals without really being asked to gallop, and returned the smallest dividend that has been hoisted at Ellerslie for some time. Miss Winsome challenged the crack Southern filly in the straight, and for a moment an exciting finish looked probable, but the latter immediately asserted her superiority, and won easily from Miss Winsome, covering the mile and a-half in 2min 40 3-ssec. Kaween finished in third place. The St. George’s Handicap (1% miles) drew a field of thirteen starters, Soultoria being a very strong first choice, with Antoinette the best backed of the others. The race resulted in another sterling finish, Antoinette scoring a brilliant victory from Soultoria, with St. Amans, who was prominent all through the race, in third position. The winner finished very strongly, leaving the impression that but for a bad passage in the Easter Handicap she would have taken a hand at the business end of that event on Saturday. The Autumn Steeplechase (3% miles) proved one of the finest crosscountry races seen at Ellerslie, 12 of the 13 acceptors going to the post. Commander and Hautere both fell during the running of this event, the latter when jumping the fence before going up the hill the last time, the chances of victory prior to making a faulty jump appearing particularly bright. When the straight was entered Webfoot looked a certain winner, the Captain Webb gelding having several lengths’ lead of the Southerner, Pleiades, who was a strong favourite. The veteran ’chaser Sol, however, who made up ground very rapidly, was catching the leaders at every stride, and, passing Pleiades, he was almost on terms with Webfoot at the last fence. A great struggle was fought out over the final 100 yards, Sol gaining a splendid victory from Webfoot, with the favourite third. Both horse and rider were given a hearty ovation on returning to the enclosure. . „ , The Huia Handicap (six furlongs) showed the crack little Aucklander, Jack Delaval, up in a pleasing light, the son of Seaton Delaval defeating a high-class field in convincing fashion, Goldsize being second and Crown Pearl third. Prince Soult turned the tables on the Gisborne colt, Our King, in the Victoria Handicap (five furlongs), the full-brother to Master Soult winning in his best style, with Potoa third. The Mangere Handicap (six fujlongs) attracted the good field of 24 Parawai carrying most money, but the favourite was never in a position to flatter his backers, and the winner turned up in Tangiwai, with the Wai-kato-trained Ngatimuru second, and Royal Irish third.