AVONDALE JOCKEY CLUB.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1489, 7 November 1918, Page 19

AVONDALE JOCKEY CLUB.

OPENING OF THE SEASON IN

AUCKLAND.

MULLINGAR WINS CUP.

PRINCE CHARLEROI CAPTURES AVONDALE STAKES.

The first meeting in the new racing season so far as Auckland is concerned was commenced on Saturday at Avondale, under conditions favourable to the sport, though the fear that the afternoon might prove wet was uppermost until the actual business began, and no doubt a good many were deterred from being present on that account. The influenza epidemic so prevalent made many careful about (taking risks. Quite a number of owners were without horsemen on the day owing to their being laid up, and some actually scratched their horses rather than put up strange riders; others because they could not get riders at the weights allotted, while some were content to put up overweight. Some owners were laid up, also an odd trainer or two, and some of the usual hands who work the totalisators were not in their accustomed places. The business in that department, however, was well handled. There was a little delay before the taking of investments commenced over the first race, in which there was a big field of twenty-five, and after the second race there was a shortage of about £lOOO as compared with last year, but by the close of the day this had been reduced to £513. The sum of £28,477 10s. was handled. The starter, Mr. Harley, was successful in getting the fields off without delay, and with the machine closing down promptly everything worked in unison under Mr. H. Hayr (secretary) and staff. As a result of this, and getting the horses out smartly, the last race was over well to time, and winners were able to get their dividends quickly and get back to the city and suburbs earlier than usual. This is as it should be. There was some good racing, and Mr. Coyle, the club’s handicapper, was present. The attendance was quite as large as it invariably is, and the fields were large also. The course, thanks to a strong wind to counteract the rain of the previous day, was in good safe order and only about 2sec. to the mile slower than when at its fastest, as will be seen by comparing the times with previous ones. As a matter of fact, the course was never better, as it suited the bulk of the horses better than if it had been really hard, so that no excuses to the contrary can be legitimately advanced. People who were talking about the heavy going were talking nonsense. Other features about the day were the successes of Auckland-owned horses, Auckland and Waikato-bred horses, the successes of a few good dividend payers, the prominent running of a number of first, second and third fancies, and the failure of several solidly-supported competitors to show expected form. Assuming the possibility of all thirty-five acceptors starting for the Maiden Plate Handicap, provision was made in the “correct card” for 10 couplings of horses. Four were the property of two owners, and in a third coupling one owner had an interest in another starter. That disposed of half a dozen of the expected runners in accordance with the rules of racing, and left the club to arrange for the bracketing of fourteen others in pairs, the last fourteen on the minimum mark being taken. There were twenty-five starters, five of the bracketed ones and five others declining. The pool was not a large one. Gatherer, a four-year-old by Multifid, ridden by McFlinn, had £1 10s. more invested on him than had Spanner. Comedy Prince came only a little below the pair.- Then after a good drop came Athens 11., Ruatara and Te Miro, the latter’s rider, Rennie, claiming the 51b. apprentice allowance, as did the riders of Penona, Lady Lyddite, Lady Rouge, Monocrat and Whitford Belle, while General Advance had 31b., Admiral Advance 111 b., Gatherer 11b., and Whitehall 51b. overweight. The start was one out of which Comedy Prince came best, and he led until less than a furlong from home, where Te Miro, who showed the more finishing dash, got up and won by a length and a-half, well handled by young Rennie. Athens 11. (who raced at Gisborne), Gatherer and Spanner did not begin well; the first-named finishing third, Spanner fourth, and Lansannor fifth. General Advance was well up at the turn into the straight, but Gatherer ran surprisingly bad.

Te Miro, the winner of the Maiden Handicap, is a shapely son of Spalpeen and Bell Crispen. Comedy Prince may do better over a longer course in time. He is on the improve. If Spanner had got the same start, however, he must have been very hard to shake off. The honours of the race were in any case with Mr. Alison’s three-year-old Australian-bred young horse, who was giving the two colts of his own age that finished first and second 151 b. each, and to Athens 11. 111 b., and weight to all the rest of all ages and sexes, from 31b. to 201 b., just as we expected him to do. His owner would have been well advised had he secured a good apprentice to ride him, and the same remark applies with equal force —more so, in fact —to those owners who at the finish put up overweight on their colts, who were unfortunate at the last moment in some cases in not having any option. The field for the Grey Lynn Hurdle Race was reduced to four through the scratching of Otter, Ditto and Seville. The order of backing was Crown Pearl, Thrace, Tenacious and Dancaster. The first-named raced to the front, and, jumping well throughout, ran a good race, always in the lead until well on the way home after jumping the last hurdle and then Thrace came on and gathered him up. Dancaster’s jumping over three of the hurdles left something to be desired, but he ran about his best race to date. Tenacious was not far away in fourth place. There was a nice field of twelve in the Avondale Stakes, and consequent upon his previous running and, experience Mr. E. Short’s Demosthenes colt Parorangi—who, by the way, was carded as a gelding instead of as a colt, as was also the case at Masterton —was made favourite, while Prince Charleroi, who is a gelding and was carded as a colt, was second in demand. The result justified their support, though if the race were run over again backers would be in quandary which to support, as Parorangi was distinctly unfortunate at an early stage, but was able to finish within half a length of the local youngster, who has been the best track performer at Ellerslie all the spring, and bore out his reputation. He was always in front of Parorangi, who has raced most consistently. No Mistake finished well and would have been handier had he made the turn just as well as the winner. We would not like to say that any one of the placed trio will beat Yankee Dan so handily when that’ colt has had more racing, as he does not lack for speed and is a good looker. Heather Moon can muster up speed, too, and is a good beginner. Of the local lot Phyllona did not show to the same advantage as was anticipated. “Useful” can be applied to the class of half the runners. In this race the overweights were: Yankee Dan and Misslove lib. each, Irene Bruce 31b. J. Chaafe, jun., trained Prince Charleroi, the winner, and Mr. G. Green’s first success was popular. The trainers and riders of Ellerslie were demonstrative over the local youngster’s success. He was bred by Mr. Dunn, of Waihou. There have been worse fields for the Avondala Cup than was that of Saturday, when eleven of the twelve carded put.in an appearance. The Gisborne six-year-old gelding Gazique, now in his prime, was rightly made favourite, and he carried nearly £4OO more money than Glenopal, after whom came the consistent Sir Ralph, who was being ridden 41b. overweight. Colonel Soult (lib. over), whose track work had been so good, Elocution, and Sanacre (71b. over), were almost equally supported, while Teka was only £2O lower in the list than the Colonel. Form Up was preferred to Mullingar, only two others, Alteration and Blue Cross, being less fancied, though he had been doing good track work and had not bled since last season and never looked quite so bright. The story of the race can be briefly summed up. Elocution set out and made the pace from the start —a good one, save that Colonel Soult and Sanacre did not begin too well. Forcing the pace, Elocution, with Gazique handy, continued to lead until three furlongs from home, where Gazique joined issue and carried her along faster into the straight and looked like winning, but Mullingar, taking a chance on the rails, got up, and putting in a fine finish beat his bigger opponent a neck. Sir Ralph, with a late run, beating Elocution in the last hundred yards and being only a length and a-half away. Teka, Form Up and Alteration were next, and then came Glenopal (who was prominent for seven furlongs), Blue Cross, Colonel Soult and Sanacre, the last-named being twice shut out when making

up ground next the rails in the first seven furlongs. Mullingar’s surprise win was not his first of that order, and though he was lucky to get the run he did there is no doubt he is a useful little horse when he is himse.f, and a good advertisement for Marble Arch and the best performer of his dam, Romola, a Wallace mare. The Hack and Hunters’ Steeplechase was a pretty race so far as the fencing of the candidates was concerned, and they all came through without mishap save Picador, who fell when entering on the second round. Gluterreno, however, went right to the front and established such a long lead that it only looked a matter of standing up for him. There Was never any doubt concerning Tirau’s chance of second prize, for always in that position and slightly gaining on Gluterreno as they came home, it was then a question as between Hopye and Simple Sam for third place, and the topweight had.a slight advantage, but pulled up very lame. Jacaranda (ridden by his owner, Mr. C. A. Green), Peneton, and Kurnalpi, the latter a badly-disgraced favourite, ■ were next. Gluterreno was well handicapped and his win was registered for a good sporting owner and was popular, more especially as he had recently lost his old favourite, Gluepot. A good deal of money appeared to be shut out at the machines over the next race, the Henderson Handicap, for which backers made Glenroy and Bedford their most fancied candidates in a field of sixteen. Neither of the pair made any sort of show. Rockfield, the third favourite, trained at Takapuna, was soon in the lead after a start which gave an advantage to Uncle Ned anj a disadvantage to Lady G’len and Miss Leslie. He was never headed, but only had a short margin in his favour when they crossed the line, as the three-year-old filly Tigritiya finished very strongly and might have won with a bit further to go. All Talk, another All Black, was finishing on well, too, anj got third, while Uncle Ned was fourth and Hyllus fifth. There were fifteen in the Hack Welter, War March, a Guineas candidate, being supported heavily. New Zealand was the only other backed with very great confidence, Pierrot, Gold Kip and Marble Star being next on the list. The start was a good one. Declare led out of the straight, but Queen Abbey, another three-year-old from R. Hannon’s stable’, was seen making a bid for the lead, which she had going along the back and turning for home, and Rennie keeping the little one going looked likely to win on her. Singular, a daughter of Bunyan, came with a good finishing effort, and Warner, who rode her, got up, as he had done in the Avondale Cup, and won for Mr. S. Bradley, whose colours are not often carried to victory. Gold Kip ran a fine race. The scratchings for the Flying Handicap were unexpectedly heavy, no fewer than a dozen going out of the race, the second leg of the double, and there must have been some disappointment over the defections of Silver Link, Kipling, Cyresian and Hineamaru, the three first-named in particular though few had to carry them forward in doubles. Mr. R. Hannon supplied the favourite in Rekanui, and the daughter of Flagfall played her part well, winning nicely, after doing most of the work, from Kereone and Gaycium, who were each paying good prices, while Hyginas, the second favourite, was fourth. Ring Lupin was at a very outside price, but was good enough to lead up to about a distance from home. The results were: — MAIDEN PLATE HANDICAP of 150 sovs; second 20sovs, third 1 Oso vs. Six furlongs. (•—R. Hannon’s ch c Te Miro, 3yrs, by Spalpeen—Bell Crispin, 7.13’ inc. 51b allow. (Rennie) 1 3 — Mrs. Harvey Patterson’s b c Comedy Prince, 3yrs, 8.0 (J. Buchanan) 2 4 — J- Hart’s b g Athens 11., 3yrs, 8.3 (E. Manson) -. 3 Also started: 2’ Spanner 9.0 (Mui- ’ lins), 14 Lansnnor 8.11 (Roach), 17 Pell 8.7 (Hamilton) and The Broke 7.8, 51b allow. (Mcßandal) bracketed, 18 Penona 8.6 (Stockley), 12 Cadet 7.13, 51b allow. (C. Sinclair), 10 General Advance 8.7, inc. 31b over (Henderson) and Admiral Advance 9.1, inc. 131 b over (A. McDonald) bracketed, 5 Ruatara S 3 (Paterson), 11 Miss Elice 8.2 (Husband), 8 Hallow 8.2 (Hunt), 1 Gatherer 8.0, inc. ' 11b over (McFlinn), 9 Cambridge 7.13 (Ferguson), 12 Totara •Tack 7.13 (R. Manson), 15 Auldana 7.13 l6 Lady Lyddite 7.8. inc. 51b allow. (Harvey) and Lady Rouge 7.8, inc. 51b allow. (Down’ng) bracketed, 13 Monocrat 7.8, inc. 51b allow. (R. Sinclair) and Whitford Belle 7.8, inc. 51b allow. (Burgess), 7 Whitehall 5.4, inc. 51b over (Warner), 13 Ma Coppe" 7.13 (Gosper) and Actrice 7.13 (Ayres) bracketed. Won by a length and a-half, a similar distance between second and third.

Spanner was fourth. Time, lmin ISsec. GREY LYNN HANDICAP HURDLERACE of 200sovs; second 20sovs, third lOsovs. Two miles. - —E. W. Alison’s b g Thrace, aged, by Poseidon — Cremona, 10.10 (A. McDonald) 1 I—J.1 —J. George’s b g Crown Pearl, aged, 10.10 (Tutchen) 2 4 — T. J. B. Stewart’s b g Dancastor, aged, 9.2 (J. Preston) 3 Also started: 3 Tenacious 10.12 (E. Rae>. Won by a length, five lengths between second and third. Tenacious was last. AVONDALE STAKES of 500sovs; second 60sovs, third losovs. Four furlongs. - —Geo. Green's b e Prince Charleroi, 2yrs, by General Latour—Alicia, 7.9, inc. 51b allow. (R. Manson) 1 I—E. Short’s b g Parorangi, 2yrs,' by Demosthenes • — Pellicle, 8.0, inc. 51b over (McFlinn) 2 5— Wm. Higgins’ b g No Mistake. 2yrs, by Bezonian — Winsome, 7.9 (McDonell) 3 Also started: 6 Yankee Dan 8.0 (Garment), 3 Heather Moon 7.9 (C. Sinclair), 11 Valley Queen 7.9 (K. Smith), 12 Irene Bruce 7.12, inc. 31b over (Buchanan), 9 Olga Petrova 7.9 (P. Sinclair), 8 Misslove 7.10, inc. 11b over (Stockley), 10 Gwenette 7.9 (Burgess), 4 Phyllona 7.9 (Hockley). Won by half a length, three-quart-ers of a length between second and third. Yankee Dan was fourth. Time, oO 2-ssec. AVONDALE CUP of SOOsovs; second 70sovs, third 30sovs. One mile and a-quarter. 9—Jas. Hand’s b h Mullingar, aged, by Marble Arch — Romola, 8.5 (E. Warner) 1 I—C.1 —C. J. Bennett’s b g Gazique, 6yrs, by Gazeley — Pauline, 8.11 (A. J. McFlinn) 2 3—K. T. Reid’s br h Sir Ralph, syrs, by Rokeby—Rose Red, 7.2, inc. 31b over (McDonell) 3 Also started: 7 Teka 8.12 (E. Manson), 8 Form Up 8.7 (Robinson), 4 Colonel Soult 7.13, inc. lib over (Buchanan), 2 Glenopal 7.10 (Rennie), 10 Alteration 7.8 (C. Sinclair), 5 Elocution 7.7, inc. 51b over (R. Manson), 11 Blue Cross 6.10, inc. lib over (Hockley), 6 Sanacre 7.0, inc. 71b over (Harvey). Won by a neck, a length and a-half between second and third. Elocution was foui th, Teka fifth and Form Up next. Time, 2min 10 3-ssec. HACK. AND HUNTERS’ STEEPLECHASE of 150sovs; second 20sovs, third lOsovs. About three miles. 3 —W. H. Windsor’s br g Gluterrino, aged, by Gluten — Careno, 9.8 (F. Tutchen) 1 - —A. Mitchell’s ch g Tira.u, aged, 9.13 (Flynn) 2 5 — W. C. Ring’s b g Hopye, aged, 11.1 (Warner) 3 Also started: 1 Kurnalpi 10.9 (McDonald), 6 Simple Sam 10.0 (Henderson), 7 Jacaranda 10.1, inc. 41b over (Green), 9 Sir John 9.7 (Keepa), 4 Peneton 9.7 (S. Reid), 8 Picador 9.7 (J. Preston). Won by ten lengths, 150 yards between second and third. Simple Sam was fourth. Time, 6min 14 2-ssec. HENDERSON HANDICAP of 200sovs; second 20sovs, third lOsovs. Seven furlongs. 3 —E. W. Alison’s ch g Rockfield, syrs, by Monoform •—■ Golden Rose, 7.7, inc. 21b over (Ayres) 1 6 — K. S. Williams’ ch f Tigritiya, 3yrs, 6.7 (Hockley) 2 11 —J. J. Regan’s br g All Talk, syrs, 6.10, inc. 31b ovei- (Smith) 3 Also started: 2 Bedford 9.5 (Tapp), 9 Uncle Ned 8.8 (Roach), 1 Glenroy 8.8 (C. Sinclair), 4 Hyllus 8.2 (Manson), 7 Fabriquette 7.11, inc. 11b over (Bucha..c..n.), 13 Tabasco 7.13, inc. 51b over (Goilop;, 5 Arch Lassie 6.13 (Hamilton), 15 Bingham 6.13, inc. 31b over (Gosper), 14 Piraeus 7.1, inc. 61b over (P. Sinclair), 10 Alf. Delaval 6.10, inc 31b over (Burgess), 8 Miss Leslie 6.7 (Downing), 16 Bloomine 7.1, inc 81b over (McDonell), 12 Lady Glen 7.0 inc 71b over (Harvey). Won by a neck, half a length between second and third. Uncle Ned was fourth and Hyllus fifth. Time, lmin 31 sec. HACK WELTER HANDICAP of 150 sovs; second 20sovs, third lOsovs. One mile and a furlong. 9 —S. Bradley’s b m Singular, 6yrs, by Bunyan—Leolantis mare, 8.4 (E. Warner) 1 8— R. Hannon’s br f Queen Abbey, 3yrs, 7.12, 51b allow. (Rennie) 2 4 —H. S. Keesing’s ch m Gold Kip, 4yrs, 9.6 (Roach) 3 Also started: 7 Lady Energy 9.4 (J. Buchanan), 3 Pierrot 9.1 (McMillan), :0 Gluclan 8.9, inc. 51b allow. (Harvey), 12 Gladful 8.12 (Stockley), 2 New Zealand 8.8, inc. 11b over (Robinson), 5 Marble Star 8.7 (Mcßandall), 14 Signature 8.4 (McDonald), 1 War March 7.11, inc. 51b allow. (Hockley), 6 Debutante 8.0 (McFlinn), 13 Declare 8.0 (R. E. Brown), 15 Pearl de Mont 8.2. inc. 21b over (Carmont), 11 Tame te Kapu 8.0 (Patterson). Won by half a length, a length and three-quarters between second and third. Glucian was fourth. Time, 1 min 59sec. FLYING STAKES HANDICAP of 250 sovs; second 40sovs, third lOsovs. Six furlongs. 1 — R. Hannon’s b m Rekanui, syrs, by Flagfall—Mignon, 7.12 (RenA n ie) 1 9 — J- Hanks’ b g Kereone, aged, 6.11 (Hockley) ... 2 7 —Mrs. E. Coffey’s b m Gaycium, aged, 7.6 (Manson) 3 Also started: 4 Lightning 8.1 (Mullins), 2 Hyginas 8.1 (Nodder), 3 Lord Kenilworth 7.12 (Buchanan) and Revenue 7.6, inc. 131 b over (Husband) bracketed, 13 Ring Lupin 7.13, inc. 41b over (McFlinn), 7 Mossman 7.7, inc. 21b over (Ayres), 9 Kilbeggan 6.9 (Hamilton), 10 Shining Light 7.0, inc. 71b over (P. Sinclair), 11 Falstone 7.2, inc. 91b over (McDonell), S Flying Gowrie 7.1, inc. 81b over (Harvey), 12 Vandubhe 6.11, inc. 41b over (Burgess). Won easily by two lengths and a- ’ half, a neck between second and third. Hyginas was fourth. Time, lmin 16 2-