CONCLUDING DAY.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1360, 18 May 1916, Page 20

CONCLUDING DAY.

LEONTA WINS BIG RACE. The gathering was concluded on Thursday in fine weather, though the heavy rain of the morning made the track heavy, while the attendance was again up to expectations. The totalisator receipts amounted to £18.563, as against £17,353 10s. for the concluding day of the 1915 winter gathering, making a total for the two days of £36,357 10s., as compared with £33,244 10s.. being an increase of £3113.

Antwerp was again entrusted with solid support when betting commenced on the Ngamutu Handicap, being a better favourite than Golden Grafton, Haupai and Coropet. The last-named was first into the straight, and though challenged by Golden Grafton he managed to score by a couple of lengths from the latter, the favourite being third and Haupai fourth. Tirana, Depredation, Glenroy and Veto were backed in that order in the Mokioa Handicap, in which nine horses went to the post. The favourite showed up well over the first half, but took no part when the business end was entered upon. The stable mates Astor and Tyson were always prominent, and filled the places of first and second respectively, a length and ahalf separating the pair. Patronale was third.

The field in the M-anawapou Hurdles was reduced to a quartette, Patronymic being elected favourite, while Golden March was second choice. The favourite always appeared to have the race in hand, and eventually won easily by half a dozen lengths from Captain Miro. Golden March was hampered by the soft going, and was never in a position to trouble the winner, a poor third being the best he could do. Seven saddled up for the Opeke Handicap, Ticino being favourite, with Maid o’ Gowrie, Black Ada and Silenus all fairly well backed in the order named. Henry Clay and Maid o’ Gowrie showed the way into the straight, where Silenus put in his claim and with a remarkable run got up in time to win

by a length from Henry Clay, with Maid o’ Gowrie third. Regio was fourth. Consequent upon his decisive win on the opening day, together with reports of his capabilities, Royal Chef was made a very warm favourite for the Shorts Handicap, in which there were 11 runners. He was followed in the betting by Revocation, Hushman and Coropet. The favourite got away with his accustomed smartness, and quickly established a break of a couple of lengths on the field, of which Hushman, Zion and Bisogne were the most prominent. Royal Chef had no difficulty in holding his challengers safe in the run home, gaining a length victory from Bisogne, with Coropet third. Pergola was fourth. The Manaia Handicap produced a field of seven, favouritism resting with the first day’s handicap winner, Crawford, with Leonta, Want and Ineuru the next best fancied. Ineuru, Want and Crawford were first prominent, while with half the distance covered Leonta could be discerned going well within himself. Harbour Light also made a forward move and as the straight was entered Ineuru and Leonta looked like having the issue to themselves, and this proved the case, with the exception that the latter had to be hard ridden to secure second honours from the fast finishing Harbour Light, whose display augurs well for his chances in jumpers’ flat races before the season closes. Leonta showed his usual great finishing powers, and though only a length separated him from Ineuru. his victorv was none the less an easy one. Want ' displayed an inability to stay, and the Penury colt must surely have proved a costly proposition to his backers, who evidently live in hopes of securing a dividend from him at an early date.

Sylviaroa, on the strength of his creditable second in the Railway Handicap on the first day, was installed favourite for the concluding event, the Borough Handicap, St. Kiel, White Blaze and Captain Miro all being accorded generous support. A surprise was in store for backers, for the winner turned up in Flying Camp, who led practically all the way, and scored in convincing fashion by a couple of lengths from Captain Miro, with St. Kiel third. Sylviaroa proved a distinct disappointment to his backers, never showing a glimpse of his first day’s form, and finishing last. The results were:— NGAMUTU HANDICAP. Six furlongs. 4 — Coropet, 9.1 1 2—Golden Grafton, 8.8 2 I—Antwerp,1—Antwerp, 7.13 . 3 Also started: 5 Conguard 7.3, 3 Haupai 7.3, 6 Silver Webb 7.0, 7 Erma 7.0. Won by two lengths. Time, lmin 21 l-ssec. MOKOIA HANDICAP. Six furlongs. 5 — Astor. 8.12 ’ 1 6— Tyson, 7.9 2 7— Patronale, 7.1 3 Also started: 3 Glenroy 9.6, 8 Awahou 8.7, 9 Los Angelos 7.12, 4 Veto 7.12, 1 Tirana 7.7, 2 Depredation 7.0. Won by a length and a-half. Time, lmin 20sec. MANA WA POU HURDLES. One mile and a-half. I—Patronymic, 10.2 1 4—Captain Dick, 9.0 ... 2

2 —Golden March, 9.0 3 Also started: 3 Draft 9.0. Won by six lengths. Time, 3min 5 V sec. OPEKE HANDICAP. Eight furlongs and a-half. 4— Silenus, 7.2 1 5— Henry Clay, 7.0 2 2—Maid o’ Gowrie, 8.3 3 Also started: 3 Black Ada 9.5, 6 Sylvandale 7.10, 1 Ticino 7.10, 7 Regis 7.0. Won by a length. Time, lmin 58 4— SHOTS HANDICAP. Five furlongs. 1- —Royal Chef, 8.11 1 5 — Bisogne. 8.8 2 4 —Coropet, 9.2 3 Also started: 3 Husnman 9.11, 7 Zion 8.2, 9 Bivouac 7.10, 2 Revocation 7.9, 10 Avena 7.4, 6 Pergola 7.3, 11 Durane 7.0. 8 Golden Fan 7.0. Won by a length. Time, lmin 6 2-5 sec. MANAIA HANDICAP. One mile and a distance. 2— Leonta, 8.13 1 4 —lneuru, 6.12 2 6— Harbour Light, 7.5 3 Also started: 1 Crawford 8.8, 7 Ratana 7.5, 3 Want 7.4, 5 Combustion 6.9. Won by a length. Time, 2min 3 4-5 sec. BOROUGH HANDICAP. Seven furlongs. 6—Flying Camp, 8.0 1 4—Captain Miro, 9.2 2 2—St. Kiel, 8.7 3 Also started: 3 White Blaze 10.3, 5 Normanby 8.13, 1 Sylviaroa 8.13, 7 Conguard 8.10, 8 Leah Kleshna 8.7, 9 Reneg 8.7. Won by two lengths. Time, lmin 36 2-ssec.