RACING REVIEWED.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1304, 22 April 1915, Page 14

RACING REVIEWED.

AVONDALE JOCKEY CLUB. AUTUMN MEETING. Wednesday of last week was a perfect day, and a very large number of people spent the afternoon at the racecourse side at Avondale to witness the opening of the Avondale Jockey Club's autumn meeting. The fields were large in some of the races, and a number of them were well contested. The starting in a few instances was unfortunate. Coming so soon after the Auckland Racing and Trotting Clubs’ meetings many thought there might be a large falling off in the totalisator returns, but this was not so, as at the end of the day the figures reached to £20,806, or only £l3l short of the opening day last year. The dividends were particularly good in most of the races, and the money probably went into fewer hands than usual. The racing commenced late, but time was made up gradually until the last race when an enquiry hung up the paying out for some time and many did not leave the course until the 6 8 p.m. train had gone. Conveyances of all kinds went by road, and the train service was an improvement upon previous experiences, and it is estimated that the number that travelled by train was as large as on the last occasion, when there were not sufficient trains to cope with the traffic so efficiently. Mr. Hayr, the secretary, and the totalisator staff had their work well in hand. The stewwards were kept busy with enquiries instituted into happenings during the afternoon. There were a number of falls, Callum, the rider of Dandy Breeze, having his collarbone broken. This gelding is a particularly fine jumper, but tires quickly. The big field of twenty-one went out for the Maiden Plate Handicap, nearly all of them previous winners, Signo, Gold Necklet, Loloma, Hamlet and Hima being entrusted with most money. Fionnuala, an outsider, was bad at the post, and Mr. Edwards sent the field away without her, Hima leading for a couple of furlongs, when Kauri King shot out, and, going on, won by three lengths, followed home by Gallupin, a big outsider in Blueform being only a head away third, and then the two top weights, Glenroy and Glenspire, and the favourite, but some of the horses never had much chance of displaying their form. Kauri King has demonstrated his speed on country courses and is useful in races of this kind where being able to begin well counts. The Juvenile Apprentice Handicap introduced us to a field of eleven, and a 51b allowance was claimed for the riders. In the cases of Loyal Arch and Lightning the 51b was allowed, but not notified on the board in Loyal Arch’s case. As the minimum was fixed at 7.0, the stewards ruled that no rider could be weighed out under that weight, consequently Harlestone and Hiero participated to the extent of 31b each, and none of the others benefltted, while Wartime put up 71b overweight. The prolific Tauhei, all of whose progeny have won races, was represented by a lengthy filly by Marble Arch named Colonnade, and the youngster on top, Barney Chaafe, scored his first win on her in good style, though Loyal Arch finished well in the hands of Rowe. Torotoro was finishing well after running out at the turn, but with a more even start and under other conditions as regards riders the placings might not have been the same.

The Oakley Handicap was a good betting race between Lady Middleton, Munster and Tripoli and the public had sized up the situation very well, as the first two named ran first and second. They are both country trained. Lady Middleton has won on quite a number of courses, and is useful on account of her speed. She led all the way, the only one in the early stage that had an chance of pacing it with her being Try Fluke, and he was done with at the turn. Munster came with a long run that landed him within a neck of the Gluten mare, who, however, had done all the work. Crown Pearl, the top weight, was only cut out of second place over the last half furlong, Salvia and Jolie Fire finished next. After Dandy Breeze had carried on the running for about half the distance in the Handicap Maiden Hur die Race, Valentine took the lead, and further on Master Regel. M<-n athol came through and won by two lengths and a-half from the lastnamed, and El Gallo’s pace carried

him past Valentine and Dogger Bank. Tirohanga could not go the pace with his impost and it was no advantage to him but a distinct advantage to some of the others that a couple of the hurdles were laid over. Monrtthol carried the same weight as El Gallo, as he had 71b over weight, but as he had had some previous experience at hurdle racing and El Gallo was ridden a most careful race there was less in the difference between them than so many lengths would make it appear. As a matter Of opinion, El Gallo may prove the best hurdle proposition that started. Monathol’s win is the first for twenty years that a bearer of the Buckland black and white stripes and cherry cap has recorded. F. Stenning has had horses in his stables for quite that length of time for members of the family, but though the starters have been few they have been unlucky. Monathol promises well if kept at this game and got big, but is on the leggy side and was recently racing on the flat and is lighter on that account. The falling of Ormoloid and Whakanui prevented us see ing what those horses might do. Royal Irish was left in the Avondale Handicap, but was withdrawn it was stated because he was not quite himself. This left ten to go to the post. Tinopai was made favourite, Lady Penury and Jack De’aval were next in request and only a little less fancied than the Waikato mare, while Colonel Soult and Goldsize were also well supported. For some reason, track form rather than public deeds. Phosphorus was neglected though at the weights he should not have been. It could be understood why Prince Merriwee, the best treated horse in the race had so few friends. That was because he was ten days previously in a very burly condition and still looked big though he is so muscular that he always appears bigger than he is. He was well bandaged and Lady Penury had one leg protected. Prince Merriwee just led a well bunched lot down and out of the straight. Lady Penury and Phosphorus were racing him close along the back, but he kept on in the lead for seven furlongs, when Phosphorus drew up and they were together at the end of nine furlongs, where Phosphorus had things his way and came on and won handily by two lengths, Jack Delaval getting up just in time to secure the second money from Mr. J. D. Kemp's horse, after whom came Goldsize, Colonel Soult and Tinopai, all well bunched, Mullingar finishing last. It was a race in which there were few changes and solid from the jump off and one of the fastest run on the course. Mullingar was the disappointment, but Prince Merriwee can be counted the surprise of the race more so than Phosphorus, the winner. The lastnamed has the Taranaki Cup to his credit ,in which he beat Goldsize, and his second in the Takapuna Cup were forgotten performances apparently, besides which he has a second to Chortle at Ellerslie and other good performances, but is not always generous. Chaplin, who rode him, is an apprentice with F. Stenning, owner of Jack Delaval, who had the services of Tapp.

The Chevalier Steeplechase Handicap was picked upon as a good thing for Scots Guard, and so it would have proved too had not Tutchen, who rode him, pulled him up under the impression that he had gone out of the course a few furlongs from home. He had followed the leaders all the way to that stage and there appears to have lost himself where his mount carried him to the front. Golden Glow was always handy and he came on and won, but Coronade, who finished second, was alleged to have missed a flag. He was protested against by the owner of the third horse, Nat Lupin, who was a hundred and fifty yards away, but the verdict was not disturbed. Maisonette, who tired after running well, finished fourth. Moehau, who led part of the way, struck himself and was pulled up lame. Barbwire, who lookjs more like a scarecrow than ever, Vestal and Ngatoa each fell. An enquiry into the riding of Scots Guard was commenced on the course and adjourned.

Mr. R. Hannon provided yet another favourite in King Lupin for the Railway Handicap, but though he ran a good race all the way he could not go the pace with Waiorewa with his weight, and that mare led the field a merry dance only slowing down in the last half furlong and this brought Prince Soult up closer, while Potoa came with a fine dash and just caught the Gienapp mare, whose rider had her near the rails pretty well all the way. Potoa look-

ed big and fresh and is still the gentleman to look at. He and King Lupin are two as fine looking horses as are racing. Of those outside a place Loloma, King Lupin and Munster were well together. The lastnamed does not look so bright as he did. Christmas Rose got kicked on one of her legs at the start and that prevented her doing herself justic.e and giving her backers a good run. She was the second favourite. Ihapuna ran very well. The day’s racing did not end up <oo satisfactorily. Achilledes was favourite for the Titirangi Welter Handicap very heavily supported. Gold Fran and Tararu Jack were next in request. Lady Elgiva and Worcester were left at the post, and Dan Castor got out first and led all the way, when he was being caught he came out from the rails and he, Gold Fran, Achilledes and Tararu Jack finished under the judge’s box, Kaiwhakahere keeping his place near the rails. An objection was lodged against Dan Castor, and the stewards decided to reverse the positions, placing Gold Fran first and Dan Castor second. They were not satisfied with Tapp’s handling of Achilledes and he was disqualified from riding for three months, though he was in no way responsible for the boring in, as he finished very straight when the other horses came over his path. SECOND DAY. The meeting was brought to a close on Saturday under conditions favourable to the sport save that the weather was somewhat unsettled. The attendance was large, and, needless to say, speculation was keen, and as the course was in fast condition, some track records were shattered, the fields being very good all through. The sum of £26,133 brought the total for the two days to £46,939 10s, an increase over last year of £2947. The Waikumete Hurd’e Race showed Black Northern at his best, and the son of Salvadan and Asthore put up an attractive performance by winning almost from end to end. running the two miles in 4min 49sec, which is one of the best time performances recorded on the course. / dmiral Soult, the top weight, who was giving him 121 b, also ran a fine race, and got third. The one that split this pair was Spalperion, and most people will be agreed that the white faced and white legged son of Spalpeen was unlucky as he was caught in the tapes and after making un lost ground and coming with a fine run over the concluding half mile and heading Black Northern he struck the last hurdle so hard that he stopped almost to nothing and was passed by the Salvadan gelding in the run home. Prophet ran a fair race, but Tragedy King apparently ran as if he did not like the going, and after dropping well back in the first mile, improved his position very little. Cloudy Dawn too did not at any stage flatter his supporters. In the big field that followed Kauri King was a rather better fancy than Glenroy, but Toreador and Gold Necklet and Soultane carried fair sums. Those who remembered Glenroy’s form in January last at Trentham got in on the son of Gienapp and some were encouraged to support him on his fourth in the Maiden on the first day. The Taranaki visitor made no race of it, and ran the five furlongs in under lmin 2sec. Gold Necklet once more showed her speed under a light impost, and Kauri King, whose rider, McMillan, presented himself at scale 31b overweight, got third. Toreador just beat Blueform. Some more overweights were noticeable. Glenroy is repaying his purchaser.

There was a splendid race for the Nursery Handicap between GHssando and Taj Mahal over the concluding half furlong, and their respective riders, Robinson and Sinclair, gave a fine exhibition, a short-margin verdict being secured by Glissando, whose first win it was. Colonnade finished close up third and gave further proof of consistency. March was not able to go the pace. A large section of those present very sanguine that Prince Merriwee would account for the opposition in the Autumn Handicap, and weight of money made him favourite, while Tinopai and Goldsize were the best supported of the others. In the face of the report that all was not well with Royal Irish on the opening day of the meeting, backers were not so ready to accord their support to that gelding and many were surprised at his presence. He ran a fair race, but did not begin too well. Prince Merriwee, on the

other hand, commenced well and stuck at his task from the jump off, with Lady Alicia, who caused him to make the pace very sound, and she was the first to cry enough. When it came to the business end the Prince could not come on with Goldsize, Munster and Waiorewa. The last-named had the bad luck to strike the rails going out of the straight and was finishing well considering the interruption. Tinopai was being ridden vigorously by Robinson, and, catching one after the other, she got up in time to defeat Goldsize by — the judge said —three parts of a length, though it did not look nearly so much from the Press stand, while Waiorewa was two lengths away, with Munster, Royal Irish, Prince Merriwee and Phosphorus came home in order.

The Mount Eden Steeplechase proved a very interesting race. Dandy Breeze, jumping like a stag, led for about a mile and a-ha f, and was some lengths in front of Vestal, but starting to slow down when he ran off, and Vestal was left in command for another round, and then Golden Glow and Coronade were nearly on terms, but the last-named broke down, and Ngatoa was pulled up going along the back, where Nat Lupin came well and got nearer the leaders. Golden Glow, however, covered a lot of ground and came away and won nice’y by two lengths and ahalf from Vestal, who was further than that ahead of Nat Lupin. The Chief and Barbwire were the only others to finish.

Crown Pearl led all the way in the Waitakerei Handicap and started a little better fancy than Lady Middleton, who was racing second until Prince Soult, who did not begin as well as he should do, came with a good finishing effort and headed the consistent Thames representative and got well up to Crown Pearl, who had a litt’e to spare in a fast run six furlongs. Gold Necklet, Delenda and Blue Garment were the next to finish. Prince Soult carced 86, 21b over his allotted weight, Delenda 21b, Gold Necklet 61b and Miss Lupinus 231 b over. Crown Pearl and Prince Soult were lucky to get in so nicely. The last-named might have stretched Crown Pean s xeck had he got away as well. The big field of 20 went out for the Mount Roskill Handicap, which proved a runaway race for Gallupin, who was served by his weight and a longer distance than he had hitherto figured in. He got a good position ear’y and led out of the straight, where there was some bumping and a lot of the horses ran out wide to avoid trouble This helped Gallupin, who went out and increased his lead all the way until he finished up with a lead of some 15 lengths. Dan Castor and Gold Fran, who had finished in the same order on the Wednesday previous, being second and third, Kaween, Stepnipaul and Tararu Jack in order. The last-named started a better favourite than the winner. Prince Soult was pulled out a second time and was made favourite for the Welter Handicap, Nicomar being second in demand. The firstnamed never showed anything like winding form, but the big Spalpeen gelding was the first to go up and cut down the Pukaki gleding Hamlet, who made all the running until well into the straight, and Nicomar, going on, outlasted Goldfire, who made a big bid to diplace him, Achilledes putting up another good performance being third, separated by a length from Goldfire, who was beaten by nearly twice that distance. Loloma and Han Pet were the next to finish. Ardfert lost his rider.

Before the business of the day commenced the stewards heard a request from the owner of Achilledes, who asked them to reconsider their decision with regard to Tapp’s suspension. He satisfied them that he himself had supported his horse for the race, and it is said that Tapp also backed him. The stewards punished him for not riding his horse out and declined to reconsider his case. Achilledes was closer at the finish of the race than at any previous stage and Tapp was sitting quite still on him and his riding in that respect appeared peculiar. Achilledes does not finish under pressure as a rule, and no one should know him better than Tapp, but he made a mistake and has to pay the penalty, though it is a pretty severe one.

What led to Tutchen pulling Scots Guard up in the Steeplechase on the opening day when he practically had the race won formed the subject of an enquiry on that day, but was adjourned until stipendiary steward Gordon returned from Wellington on Saturday. A flag pole had been

knocked over and Scots Guard went inside of that and was immediately pulled up. Evidence satisfied the stewards that everything was in order and no further action was necessary in their opinion. The mistake cost a lot of people money. Valentine was not allowed to start in the Hurdle Race as a question was raised relative to the eligibility of his trainer upon which point there was some doubt.