RACING REVIEWED.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1150, 25 April 1912, Page 11

RACING REVIEWED.

WELLINGTON RACING CLUB. (From Our Own Correspondent.) Ideal weather favoured the Wellington Racing Club, whose autumn gathering commenced on the Trentham racecourse on Wednesday. The attendance was very satisfactory for a Metropolitan Club, leading owners being present from all parts of New Zealand, whilst the district in the immediate vicinity of the city was well represented. The racing provided was full of interest, and the fact of only two first favourites scoring during the afternoon betokened a bad time for backers. The minor events were well contested, and some keen contests were fought out. During the afternoon the following horses returned their supporters two-figure dividends, Lady Kilcheran, Gipsy Belle, Merry Frank, and Mt. Victoria. People came well provided with the sinews of war, for at the close of the afternoon’s racing it was found out that the totalisator had handled £19,686 10s, which is £6642 10s in excess of last year’s figures. The starting of Mr C. O’Connor, who was assisted by Mr A. Vincent, was highly satisfactory, excellent send-offs being a feature of the af-

ternoon’s racing. The work of the handicapper (Mr J. H. Pollock) was favourably criticised, and it was recognised that this official had vsed his best endeavours to bring the different fields together. THE RACING. The ball was set rolling by the decision of the First Hack and Hunters’ Steeplechase of two miles and a-half, for which the Captain Vvebb gelding Beeline, who gave such a. good display in the recent A.R.C. Steeplechase, was installed ia good, favourite, and as events turned out the verdict was never in doubt, for taking his mount to the front a mile from home A. Julian landed him a winner by five lengths from Dorando, with Glenmore, who bad made all early running, seven lengths further back, third. Rosegrove, Xavier, and Zante, the other runners were some distance further off. Dorando’s running was distinctly good and augurs well for his future prospects for this season’s steeplechase events. Zante, who came down from Taranaki, failed to show any brilliancy, but the Euroclydon gelding will assuredly see a better day. C. Jenkins rushed Con the Shaughraun to the front in the Waiwetu Handicap of seven furlongs and, remaining in that position until the post was reached, won comfortably by four lengths from Blakeney, who was two lengths in front of Rill, whilst Turna, the only other starter, was an indifferent last. The Hawera trainer, T. Pine, came in for some praise for the

nice condition that he landed Con the Shaughraun in at the post. The Silverstream Handicap of six furlongs provided a good contest between Lady Kilcheran and Moutoa Girl, the former winning by half a length, although had the latter been ridden with better judgment she must have won as the Soult mare was galloping over everything at the finish. Toney, the favourite, was never dangerous and finished third, the other contestants Manitau, Lady Volley, Lambton and Grandee being all beaten off. Lady Kilcheran’s supporters received a very acceptable dividend. The Thompson Handicap of one mile was contested by sixteen runners of which Los Angelos was the best supported whilst Undecided, Khamsin, Sea Queen, and Dearest were all backed in the order named. There was some little delay at the barrier but eventually the contestants were sent on their errand in a beautiful line. Gipsy Belle at once went to the front, her nearest attendants being Boanerges and Sir Solo. This order was the same at the entrance to the straight and, coming on full of running, Gipsy Belle managed to win by a head from Boanerges, who came very fast over the last portion. Lady Moutoa, who showed a rare turn of speed in the straight, was half a length away third, the next to finish in the order named being Sir Solo, Undecided, Dearest and Los Angelos, whilst Sir Knox was the last to pass

the judge’s box. Lady Moutoa was nauly placed in the early stages, and with another fifty yarns to go must have won. Sea Queen, Khamsin and Midnight Sun failed to show any form and nnished well behind the placed division. Autumnus and Brown Owl, the two Chokebore representatives, were the medium of a big plunge in the North Island Challenge Stakes of seven furlongs, but backers of Sir G. Clifford’s horses were doomed to disappointment. When th » tapes were released Bon ion was rushed to the front, closely followed by Autumnus and Jan, whilst Brown Owl was slow to get under way. At the distance Autumnus went to the head of affairs, while Bon Ton tried desperately to get on terms. When well in the straight Bronze, who had been lying handy, was bustled along by A. Olliver and, galloping in great style, ran in a winner by a length from the colt, while Brown Owl, who was not ridden to the best advantage, was a head further back third, whilst Bon Ton was a length further back with Jan, the only other starter, three lengths off last. In carrying 9st 61b and running the distance in Imin 29 4-ssec, Bronze’s effort was distinctly good, although well-informed critics were of opinion that had Autumnus and Brown Owl been ridden with better judgment they w r ould have been first and second respectively. Haskayne, (the Birkenhead —Outer filly, belonging to the Hon. J. D. Ormorifl, was voted the best of goods in the Plunket Nursery of five furongs

ior two-year-olds. From an excellent seiia on Eocene and iSiepney were tne first to show out, closeiy followed uy At the straight entrance the later took charge and from this out the race was a procession, the ui.y winning comfortably by two lengths from Eocene with Styx half a length away third. The next to finish in tne order named were Obligant, Bon Soir, Stepney and Glenfinnan. 'lhe latter is a well bred colt, being by C.anranald from Lady Annie, and should carry Sir G. Clifford’s colours with some distinction during the next racing season. Bandeira was a heavily backed candidate for the Railway Handicap of six furlongs, and carried twice as many investments on the totalisator as Bootie who was second favourite. The latter was the first to show out whilst as usual Longstep who has developed waywardness, was left at the post and took no part in the race. At the bend Bootle was just clear of Theodore, Bandeira and Makara. At the straight entrance Makara took the lead and appeared likely to score, but W. Bell hustled Merrie Frank along and in an exciting finish, the latter won by a head from Makara with Eandeira, two lengths away, third. Bootle was fourth, followed by Blue Lake and Theodore, with Ineuru last. The curtain .was rung down for the day by the decision of the Tinakori Handicap of six furlongs, for which Distinction was a good favourite with Dirge next in demand with backers.

Mount Victoria, Distinction, and Chinee were the first to get clear but at the straight entrance Distinction was in front and appeared a likely winner. A few yards from the winning post, however, Mt. Victoria came with a late run and got up in time to win by a short head. Dirge was four lengths off third, closely followed by Dogfish and Semaphore. Mr Whitney’s galloper returned his supporters a nice dividend. SECOND DAY. The weather was dull at the beginning of the meeting which was brought to a conclusion on Saturday. As the day advanced rain came down in torrents, and as people did not go out to Trentham prepared for wet w’eather some of them suffered severely from moisture, and towards the close of the afternoon the enclosures were somewhat cut up by mud-footed pedestrians. There was again a very representative crowd present, some interesting contests taking place. A feature of the afternoon was the success of seven favourites in succession, whilst in the last race, Distinction, who occupied pride of position and finished in third place, whs unlucky to lose. Bronze proved what a clipper she is by winning the Autumn Handicap in a very convincing manner, whilst Counterfeit had a bloodless victory in the St. Leger Stakes, being in front all the way. £22,337 was handled by the totalisator staff, compared with £16,776

that was dealt with on the corresponding day last year, making an aggregate for the meeting of £42,023 10s, against £29,831 for the 1911 autumn gathering, disclosing the satisfactory increase of £12,092 10s in favour of the present meeting. The secretarial duties in Mr A. E. Whyte’s hands, assisted by Mr J. Griffiths, were highly satisfactory, everything passing off well throughout, it not being necessary to call the stewards together during the two days. Racing was resumed with the running of the Second Hack and Hunters’ Steeplechase of two miles and a-half. There was a miserable field, of four runners, viz., Glenmore, Dorando, Xavier, and Zante. The event requires very little description. The former went to the front at the rise of the tapes, and, jumping faultlessly, won easily by three lengths from Zante, with Dorando a similar distance off third. Xavier was eight lengths further back. Sir Solo was easily a big favourite for the Hutt Handicap of one mile, and after indulging Mira and Turna with the lead, D’eeley brought his mount on the scene a hundred yards from the post, eventually landing Sir Solo a comfortable winner by a length from Turna, who was a length and a-half in front of Mira. Rill was fourth, Toney was the best backed in the Muritai Handicap of seven furlongs, and getting to the front early ran home the easiest of winners by two lengths from Lambton, who had no difficulty in beating Manitau by three .engths for second place. Grandee, who appears to be only moderate, was fourth, and Lady Volley fifth, whilst Lady Kilcheran, who scored on the first day, was a bad last. The Autumn Handicap was productive of a good contest between Bronze and Flingot, the former winning by a clear length. Odessa was the smartest to begin and passing the stands on the first round, the St. Ambrose horse led from Undecided and Dearest. At the mile post Merrivonia went to the front and, moving very leisurely, appeared likely to win. She* led into the straight from Midnight Sun, Dearest Bronze and Flingot. A little distance further on A. Olliver extricated himself from a bad position and, the filly responding gamely, ran home a winner by a clear length from Flingot, who was another length and a half in front of Merrivonia, whilst Dearest was close up fourth and Midnight Sun fifth. Cheers greeted the filly and rider on returning to scale, as her performance was an exceedingly good one. The New Zealand St. Leger Stakes 'of one mile and three-quarters was a one-horse race, for Sir G‘. Clifford’s brilliant filly Counterfeit was in front throughout, winning very easily from her stable mate Masterpiece by one and a half lengths, with Byron three parts of a length away third; whilst Sir Knox, the only other starter, was close up fourth. Byron ran a splendid race and Mr Harle, in securing the son of Martian and Greek Maid, for 250 guineas, made a decidedly good bargain. The coupled pair on the totalisator Bon Ton and Bon Soir, who carry the Messrs Stead’s colours,’ were well backed for the Pacific Handicap of six furlongs, and as events turned out the former had to be hard ridden to beat Eocene by a head with Obligant a length and a half away third. Styx was fourth, whilst Haskayne was a bad last. The going was very heavy throughout, caused by the heavy rain, and the time, Imin 18 l-ssec, need not be taken as a criterion of what Bon Ton could be capable of under more favourable conditions. Obligant ran well and appears likely to become a useful member of the racing brigade. Makara, who was installed favourite for the Suburban Handicap of six furlongs, won from end to end, thus making seven first favourites to score during the afternoon. The race needs little comment, for, getting to the front early, B. Deeley landed Makara an easy winner by one and a half lengths from Blue Lake with Khamsin a length further off third. Merrie Frank was a close fourth and Con the Shaughraun fifth, whilst the other runners were all beaten off. The meeting was brought to a conclusion with the Belmont Handicap of six furlongs, for which Distinction was a good favourite and after flattering his supporters to well in the straight the Daunt gelding could not withstand a challenge from Dirge and Gay Lawless, the former winning by a length with Distinction close up In third place, the other runners being tailed off.