AUTUMN MEETING.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1508, 20 March 1919, Page 15

AUTUMN MEETING.

FIRST DAY. BONNIE MAID WINS THE CUP. (From Our Masterton Correspondent) FEATHERSTON, Thursday. Fine weather was experienced for the opening day of the Wairarapa Racing Club’s autumn meeting, which took place at Tauherenikau this afternoon. The attendance was only moderate, and the absence of a band and the closing of the alcoholic bars gave the gathering a somewhat cheerless aspect, the remark being occasionally heard that something was needed to infuse some life into the proceedings. The Cup was won by the Wellington owner who races under the assumed name of P. Soames, with his mare Bonnie Maid, who secured the verdict by a length. The minor events were all keenly fought out.- Old Gold, owned by a popular Palmerston North sportsman in Mr. R. A. (“Roddy”) McKenzie, put up a fine performance during the afternoon by winning a double. The totalisator staff handled £19,093 during the afternoon, which is considered very satisfactory under the circumstances. Mr. C. O’Connor was in fine form at the barrier, getting his fields away in good line, though in several instances vexatious delays were experienced at the starting post owing to the fractiousness of a number of horses. As a consequence the official times for starting could not be adhered to, the last race being run about half an hour behind time. The judging of Mr. J. W. Card- was first-class, there being no semblance of doubt about the accuracy of his placings. Mr. J. McMahon, chief stipendiary steward, was present, but there was nothing of serious moment to engage his attention, everything appertaining to the racing being entirely free from suspicion. Racing commenced with the Trial Plate, of five furlongs, for which the public sorted out the three-year-old filly Astinome, owned by Mr. A. S. Pilmer, of Masterton. Third place was the best she could do, Old Gold and Dainty Step finishing in front of her. Old Gold was always in a good position after the first furlong had been covered, and at the finish had a bit in hand. The second horse is owned by Mr. W. Fenwick, clerk of the course to the club and brother to the late Mr. J. Fenwick, who raced Sardinia. Comment was the only withdrawal from the Wardell Handicap, leaving seven to go to the post. For some unknown reason, Red Signal was made a better favourite than either Nystad or Torfreda. Trentham Rose went out in front quickly, but was closely attended by Torfreda. Once' in the straight. Mr. A. McDonald’s mare went to the front, but had to be ridden hard to stall off a late run by Nystad, who did not seem to have a good passage in the early stages. Trentham Rose was a good third, and the favourite fourth. Six went to the post for the Hack Welter Handicap, favouritism resting with Sacramento, with Momac and Manu next. Imaribbon got the worst of the start, but soon found her way to the front. The favourite went past her on entering the straight, and Momac and Manu each put in a strong challenge. L. Morris kept at the favourite, and landed him a winner by the best part of a length, with the other placed horses close up. Royal Battery was fourth. The withdrawal of Form Up, Jean Laddo, Esperance and Galore left seven to contest the Wairarapa Cup, for which Bonnie Maid was an oddson favourite. The top weight, Mascot, seemed to falter in the straight when the pressure was put on, otherwise the finish would have been much closer. As it was, the favourite did not have much to spare at the finish. Rose Pink and Hydrus were the early pacemakers, while Ladify was with the leaders at the straight entrance. Bonnie Maid stalled off Mascot’s challenge over the last bit, and passed the post in the good time of 2min. sisec. for the mile and a-quarter. Multaine was a fair third. Comment was a hot favourite for the Wangaimoana Welter Handicap, but had to put up with second place to Sweet Tipperary, on whom Gray had the mount. Alteration made the early running with the favourite, but when the home bend was reached

Comment and Sweet Tipperary left the field, and in a great finish Messrs. Dwan Bros.’ mare won by a head. Kiltess was third. Gold Soult was troublesome at the barrier.

As was expected, Jamieson’s bracket, Affectation and Hyades, saw a short price in the Nursery Handicap, Ermine being the only other starter to be seriously supported. Gray got Affectation away smartly and the son of Kilbroney and Simper was never seriously troubled, although Missgold appeared to be going faster than the winner at the finish. Ermine drew No. 1, but was never really in the picture. Prince Hal was a fair third. Battle Array, with Deeley in the saddle, was a hot order in the Rimutaka Hack Handicap, and he never left the issue in doubt. Penury Rose was the only other runner to put up any sort of a challenge, but the favourite won on the bit. Battle Array ran in the same interests as the Cup winner. There were only four starters. The concluding event saw Rebekah a very short-priced favourite, with Old Gold, winner of the Trial Plate earlier in the day, second choice. The favourite was carrying a 161 b. penalty for her Nelson wins, and this stopped her. She was in front until well in the straight, where Old Gold caught and passed her. Zabism was close up third. The results were: — TRIAL, HACK HANDICAP of 150sovs. Five furlongs. 2 — R. A. McKenzie’s b g Old Gold, 3yrs, by Hymettus — Florigold, 7.1.0 (L. Morris) 1 6 —W. Fenwick’s blk f Dainty Step, 7.9 (H. Young) 2 1 — A. G. Palmer’s br f Astinome, 8.9 (A. Reed) . . 3 Also started: 9 Timidity 7.13 (F. Corlett), 3 Guinea Gold 7.7 (R. Bagby), 5 Violetta 7.9 (Gray), 4 Deacon 7.7 (R. Reed), 7 Clever Mary 7.7 (G. Reed), 8 Dady Penza 7.7 (Styles). Won by a length, a neck between second and third. Deacon was fourth. Time, Imin 0 4-ssec. WARDELL HANDICAP of 250sovs. Six furlongs. 3— A. McDonald’s b f Torfreda, 3yrs, by Hymettus — Straga, 8.8 (H. Gray) 1 2— J. Goring Johnston’s b g Nystad, 9.0 (R. Reed) 2 4 — H. Whitney’s br f Trentham Rose, 7.7 (A. Reed) 3 Also started: 5 Birkenvale 8.1 (13. Morris), 6 Lady Black 7.7 (L. Morris), 1 Red Signal 7.2 (R. Bagby), 7 Pariform 6.7 (Styles). Won by a neck, a head separating second and third. Red Signal was fourth. Time, Imin 13 4-ssec. MOKAI HACK WELTER HANDICAP of 150sovs. Seven furlongs. 1— R. A. McKenzie’s br g Sacramento, 4yrs, by California—Armada, 5.12 (L. Morris) 1 2— H. E. Card’s b m Momac, 9.5 (H. Young) 2 3 — M. Williams’ b g Manu, 9.6 (H. Gray) 3 Also started: 4 Imaribbon 8.13 (R. Bagby), 5 Vascovia 8.8 (Wyeth), 6 Royal Battery 8.0 (T. Young). Won by a length, half a length between second and third. Royal Battery was fourth. Time, Imin 2Ssec. WAIRARAPA CUP HANDICAP of 500 sovs; second lOOsovs, third 50sovs. One mile and a-quarter. 1— P. Soames’ br m Bonnie Maid, 4yrs, by Boniform —Happy Maid, 8.5 (B. Deeley) 1 3 —V. and E. Riddiford’s b m Mascot, 9.6 (A. Reed) 2 6 —W. R. Kemball’s bl’ m Multaine, 6.13 (F. Corlett) 3 Also started: 2 Rose Pink 8.5 (Emerson), 4 Hydrus 7.13 (Bagby), 5 Goldstream 7.8 (H. Young), 7 Ladify 6.7 (L. Morris). Won by a length, a similar distance separating second and third. Ladify was fourth. Time, 2min s%sec —-a record for the course. WANGAIMOANA WELTER HANDICAP of 175sovs. Seven furlongs. 2 — Dwan Bros.’ blk m Sweet Tipperary, syrs, by King’s Guest— Golden Ball, 8.11 (Gray) 1 I—W.1 —W. Hume’s br m Comment, 9.6 (B. Deeley) 2 5 — J. K. Jackson’s br m Kiltess, 8.2 (A. Reed) 3 Also started: 6 Loyal Arch 8.13 (M. McDonald), 3 Gold Soult 8.11 (C. Emerson), 4 Altercation 7.12 (H. Young). Won by half a length. Time, Imin 27sec. NURSERY HANDICAP of 200sovs. For two-year-olds. Four furlongs. I—A. McDonald’s b c Affectation, by Kilbroney—Simper, 9.2 (H. Gray) 1 5 — W. R. Kemball’s b f Missgold, (.4 (McEwan) 2 6— G. Hume’s b c Prince Hal, 7.7 (H. Young) 3 Also started: 1 Hyades 7.7 (Bagby), 2 Ermine 8.13 (R. Reed), 3 American Beauty 7.7 (L. Morris), 7 Princess Charming 7.4 (M. McDonald), 4 Chaeronia 7.4 (A. Reed), 5 Misslass 7.4 (E. Lazar). Affectation and Hyades were bracketed on the machine, as were also Missgold and Misslass. Won by a length and a-half. Time, 47%sec. RIMUTAKA HANDICAP of 150sovs. One mile. 1— P. Soames' br g Battle Array, 4 yrs, by Signor—Carissima, 8.0, inc. 51b over (B. Deeley) 1 2 — R. Knox’s br g Penury Rose, 8.13 (F. Corlett) 2 3— H. E. Fuller’s b g Rienzi, 8.6 (B. Morris) 3 Also started: 4 Royal Battery 6.12, inc. 51b over (Bagby). Battle Array led all the way and won easily by a length and a-half, three-quarters of a length separating second and third. Time, Imin 4144 sec.

MAKAHI HACK HANDICAP of 150 sovs. Six furlongs. 2— R. A. McKenzie’s b g Old Gold, 3yrs, by Hymettus—Plorigold, 7.8, inc. 101 b pen. (L. Morris) 1 I—J.1 —J. J. Corry’s cli f Rebekah, 10.2 (R. Bagby) 2 3— -T. Higgins’ br in Zabism, 8.9 (B. Deeley) 3 Also started: 4 Restful 7.12 (C. Emerson), 5 Tuticorn 7.9 (G. Reed). Won easily by a length, with a similar distance separating second and third. Time, lmin 13 l-ssee.