RACING REVIEWED.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1244, 19 February 1914, Page 17

RACING REVIEWED.

POVERTY BAY TURF CLUB. MISTIE WINS TURANGA STAKES'. A RECORD GATHERING. The Poverty Bay Turf Club, made* a start with its summer meeting on Thursday in beautiful weather, and the attendance quite fulfilled the most sanguine expectations. The Mauarana track was somewhat hard consequent upon the recent dry sped, but nevertheless the racing was of a tnoroughly enjoyable character, the keenly-f ought-out finishes being a strong factor towards the success of the day’s outing. Mr. D. R. de Costa (secretary) conducted the gathering in his customary able manner, the other onicials rendering valuable assistance in making the meeting a record one in the history of the club, the totalisator staff were kept extremely busy, the sum of £12,414 finding its way through the machine, compared with ai 10,262, an increase of £2152 over that handled on the corresponding day of last year. Eight saddled up for the openingevent, the Welter Handicap, and Caher Davon, despite his big impost of 11.1, was pounced upon as the most likely to score, Glouria, Gazette and Perceler also ciaiming a large following. The favourite gave considerable trouble at the barrier, and did not get away well, Perceler being the smartest out. The H,awke o Bay mare maintained her position until the straight was reached, when Multikoff and Gazette displaced her, and in a determined struggle to the> post the former gained tne verdict by a nose, Park Tide being but half a length away third. A trio contested the First Handicap Hurdle Race, Merry Lad being made a staunch favourite, and the Merriwee justimed the confidence of his supporters, for after leading all the way fie won by close on a dozen lengths from Rongamau. Eiya, the other contestant, fell at the second hurdle, Traill escaping without injury-

Our King's failures at the Gisborne meeting did not .prevent backers from again sending him out in pride of position on the totalisator in the Telephone Handicap, for which nine others saddled up, Blue Lake and Snona May also coming in for liberal support. The favourite, who was capably ridden by the Aucklander, A. J. McFlynn, was in front turning the bend into the straight, and though challenged by Blue Lake, Multiplicity and Arosine, he just managed to get home by a nose from Blue Lake, with Multiplicity and Arosine a dead-heat for third, the race being a sterling one.

The big event of the day, the Turanga Stakes, attracted e:ght runners, the top-weight, Birkline, being heavier backed than Multiply, with Mangaroa next in request. Vi got away with her accustomed smartness, being closely attended by Mistie, while the favourite was the last to leave the barrier. A great race ensued in the straight, Mis tie outstaying Vi and winning by half a length, with the Tatimi/ >a similar distance away third. Shonaform, ridden by C. Brown, was made a strong favourite for the Maiden Scurry in a field of eleven, but was badly bumped at the start and never was prominent. The race resulted in a victory for Royal Scout, who was heavily backed, Te Huhuti being two lengths away second, a. length in front of Soultie. Carburetter was backed for the. (County Stakes Handicap as if the race were a gift, Despatch Carrier and Arosine being the best backed, of the other half-dozen competitors. Carburetter was first out when the. tapes lifted and momentarily flattered his supporters, but Arosine displaced, him, but in the straight both Hima. and Despatch Carrier put in their claims, Mr. J. Clark’s roan gelding, winning a good race from the, lastnamed by half a length, with Arosine, third.

The First Hack Handicap saw Multitude made t he medium of brisk speculation, Multiano and Bodenham. also coming in for considerable support. The race resulted in a surprise, none of the trio mentioned getting' into a place. Trieze proved to be the* winner, with Hiwitapu second and the. outsider, Patti, third. Blue Ljake was singled out as the: right goods for the concluding event,, the Flying Handicap, while Waiorewa who won a double at the Gisborne: meeting the • previous week, was next, in demand of the septette of starters.

The public’s judgment was correct, the favourite defeating Waiorewa comfortably by a length, with Faith third. CONCLUDING DAY. BIRKLINE WINS BIG EVENT. The gathering was concluded on Friday in fine weather, another large crowd being present. Betting was very brisk, £12,440 being put through the machine, making a total for the meeting of £'24,778, as compared with £19,871 for the 1913 summer gathering.

Eocene was entrusted with most support in a field of four for the Stewards’ Handicap and duly landed the stake from Faith and San Pluie. Another favourite, Hatana, prevailed in the Second Handicap Hurdles, leading from start to finish, Game and Fagot filling second and third places. Nine lined up at the post for the Second Flat Handicap, and for the third consecutive time the favourite (Golden Sky) registered a victory, Patti and Multikoff finishing second and third respectively. In view of his indifferent showingin the Turanga Stakes, Birkline was neglected for the big event, the Sunderland Stakes, on the second day, Blue Lake claiming most support, with Mistie and Vi also in big demand. The favourite looked all over a winner in the straight, but Birkline, nicely handled by C. Porter, soon had her measure, and won by a length, with the little-fancied Perceler third.

Another surprise was created in the Maiden Scurry, Grand Idea defeating the other seven starters after a good race. Ruffiana was three-quarters of a xength away, second, with Te Huhuti third. Royal Scout was favourite. St. Elmn was a strong favourite in the Roseland Handicap, which was won by Patti by a length, with Bodenham third. The Publicans’ Purse attracted a field of eight, and once more Our King (10.13) was installed favourite, with Golden Sky next in request. The latter scored her second victory of the afternoon, winning bj r half alength from Berg, with Hima third. Caher Devon was accorded the most solid support in the concluding event, the Farewell Handicap, Eocene and Tatimi being the most fancied of the other half-dozen starters. Eocene made the pace a cracker and appeared a likely winner, but Tatimi put in a great run up the straight and defeated her by fully three lengths. Faith was a length away, third.