AUCKLAND RACING CLUB.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1573, 17 June 1920, Page 13

AUCKLAND RACING CLUB.

GREAT NORTHERN MEETING. THIRD DAY. SLOWCOACH WINS WINTER STEEPLECHASE. Again the luck in the matter of weather was with the Auckland Racing Club, and the Great Northern meeting of 1920, and the last totalisator meeting of the season in the province, came to an end under most favourable conditions. There was a large attendance and good fields, good racing, and plenty of money still in evidence, as revealed by the totalisator turnover for the day. This amounted to £73.032, as against £68,664 last year, bringing the grand total up to £220.391 for the three days, as against £205,868 last year for the same number of days racing. There was, however, one race more this year than last, so that the average increase per race was not very large. The meeting passed off pleasantly, and though there were grounds for holding an enquiry over the last race of the day the stewards were not called together, and evidently saw nothing requiring their attention. Mr. Spence (secretary) and staff and - the totalisator workers. Mr. A. Hill (the caretaker and manager of the grounds), the starter (Mr. O’Connor), handicapper (Mr. Macmanemin), clerk of the course (Mr. Selby), and judge (Mr. R. B. Lusk) all got through their tasks with satisfactory results, and the stipendiary stewards, Mr. A. Gordon associated with Mr. Murchison, had comparatively light duties. The first-named acted on the first and second days and then proceeded to Gisborne.

The public were right in installing Oakleigh favourite for the first race, the Tamaki Steeplechase, and the son of St. Amans led practically from end to end after jumping the first fence. Totara Jack, the second favourite, fell, and though Monopole, the topweight, ran a good race considering that .it was the .first, time he had got to the end of a steeplechase journey, he had to strike his colours also to John Bunny, whose condition was the more seasoned. Maira finished, as also Southland and Peria, but a long way back, as they were eased up. Backers were again on the spot when they selected Deviation to win the Qrakei Hurdle Race, making that hitherto unlucky gelding a £lOOO better fancy than Keystone, who fell while fighting it out with the winner and Kerehone, who carried just about half as much as did Deviation and was third selection. There were a lot of other falls. Ohoreka, Golden Petal, Gladwyn, Mentmore. General Stephen, the last-named quartette coming down in front of the press and stewards’ stand. It was up to Deviation-to have a win at Ellerslie. Mary Bruce was some distance away, third, and Ma Copper, who has the Captain Webb trait for jumping, was fourth. Ma Copper might get a win amongst the hunters. The York Welter was sorted out as a good thing for Hyllus, who had been twice unlucky at the meeting with W, Ryan up. Hector Gray had the mount owing to the absence of Ryan at the meeting with owners in Wellington, and he only just got the son of Hymettus home from Arran after a hard race. Arran has been seen to the best advantage in soft going, and though now an aged gelding and on the minimum mark has never run better since he sprung a surprise defeat on Desert Gold in the A.R.C. Champagne Stakes. With two fourths and a second to his credit he was unlucky at the meeting. Parisian Diamond had had two hard races and he did not run up to the expectations of those who made him second favourite, giving away as much as three stone to some of the runners. Mangamahoe, now racing in the nomination of Mr. F. Potts, did not show up, nor did Trespass and the recently-sold Rockfield, who was not himself. Gold Kip ran a good race, and Demoiselle and Archie were running on. The last-named has not recovered his earlier-in-the-season form, and Te Oro and Waiuta are a pair that were racing below their best. The Winter Steeplechase was a good betting race, but the winner,

Slowcoach, on whom Fielding had the mount owing to Turner being incapacitated, was over £2OOO ahead of Omahu, the second selection, and they finished first and second after a good race, in which First Call and Peneton made the early running, the firstnamed being headed off by Old Mungindi, who, however, tired under his weight and pulled up sore, First Call securing third place, though nothing had a chance with Slowcoach and Omahu, the last-named being overmatched when it came to racing home Mill o’ Gowrie. who changed hands on the day preceding, carried the colours of Mr. Kemball and was ridden by Rennie and made favourite for the Campbell Hurdle Race, a usefullooking gelding called Ore Ore (by Signor from The Brook), who should see a better day, being made second selection, Pendoon and G'luetanus being next in demand. Thrace, who had started second favourite in the Renown Hurdles, and Cynic, second favourite in the Great Northern Hurdles, were the least backed. Mill o’ Gowrie was in front all the way and won easily by three lengths and a-half from Thrace, who, staying on, beat Ore Ore a length and a-half for second place, though most people would be found picking the lastnamed to improve on his showing as the season advances. Cynic continues sore, and neither Gluetanus nor Pendoon ran up to form. The last-named hit a hurdle and he is not solid at best.

King Abbey was favourite for the sixth race, the Visitors’ Handicap, but it was sufficient that five favourites on end had won. and it was left to the second favourite. Tama-a-roa, who was carrying about half as much as Hannon’s gelding, to score. This he did from the Rig outsider Emerald Hill (by Marble Arch), a three-year-old. He, however, only had half a length to spare. Asterina, another three-year-old. was a neck away, third, and Crowhurst fourth. Ring Lupin, the fourth favourite, was only good enough to. lead part of the journey, and Golden Bubble, like King Abbey, found the weight and going against him.

"The Fitzroy Welter Handicap, in which there were nineteen runners, served to show Royal Abbey in a still mor e favourable light, and the public made him favourite with 12.3 on his back, and they were not far out in their judgment in selecting Tuipa to give him most trouble. A big outsider in Nunerrant, however, split the pair, and even she might have been defeated by Some Fashion and North Loburn had the last-named not persued an erratic course, interfering with Some. Fashion badly right along in front of the stand to the judge’s box and after passing it. Royal Abbey was one of the most useful sorts that ran at the meeting, and it was perhaps a good thing for his owner that he did not pass the vet. the day before when offered for 800 guineas. A number of the runners should improve on the form they displayed. The results were:— TAMAKI STEEPLECHASE of 300sovs; second 70sovs, third 30sovs. About two miles and a-half. I—G.1 —G. and F. Peach’s b g Oakleigh, 6yrs, by St. Amans —Jean, 11.9 (Warner) 1 6 —W. H. Windsor’s b g John Bunny, aged, 10.4 (Henderson) 2 3 —A. Brown’s b g Monopole, 6yrs, 11.12 (Roach) 3 Also started: 2 Totara Jack 10.4 (Rennie), 5 Southland 10.4 (Wood),. 4 Maira 9.7 (Packer), 7 Peria 9.7 (Rowe). Totara Jack fell. Won by three lengths, a similar distance between second and third. Maira was fourth. Time, smin. 12sec. ORAKEI HURDLE RACE of 275sovs; second 50sovs, third 25sovs. One mile and three-quarters. I—-A.1 —-A. Murdoch’s br g Deviation, aged, by Elevation — Wailethe, 11.0 (Warner) 1 3 — J. Hanks’ b g Kerehone, aged, 11.2 (Roach) 2 6 —A. Mitchell’s br m Mary Bruce, 4yrs, 9.0 (Rennie) 3 Also started: 2 Keystone 10.10 (Marchant), 9 Otara 9.13 (Preston), S Lady Energy 9.12 (Fletcher), 11 General Stephen 9.2 (McSeveny), 7 Ma Copper 9.0 (Phillips), 13 Multiplane 9.0 (Williams), 4 Golden Petal 9.0 (Clarke), 10 Middlemark 9.0 (Conway), 15 St. Carl 9.0 (R. Manson), 16 Toby 9.0 (Rowe), 14 Gladwin 9.0 (Golding), 12 Ohoreka 9.0 (Howden), 5 Mentmore 9.0 (Preston). _ Ohoreka, Multiplane, Mentmore, Golden Petal, Gladwin, General Stephen, and Keystone' fell. Won by three lengths, two lengths between second and third. Ma Copper was fourth. Time, 3min. 31 3-ssec. YORK WELTER HANDICAP of 750 sovs; second 150sovs, third 75sovs. One mile. I—W. J. Irwin’s ch h Hyllus, Gyrs, by Hymettus — Marty, 10.4 (H. Gray) ...... 1 9 —J. McNicol’s br g Arran, aged, 9.0 (C. Reed) . 2 4 — H. S. Keesing’s ch g Gold Kip, syrs, 9.8 (Sinclair) . . . 3 Also started: 2 Parisian Diamond 12 0 (Oliver), 5 Mangamahoe 10.13 (H. Robinson), 13 Rockfield 10.4 (Anderton), 3 Trespass 10.4 (McFlinn), 11

Blue Cross 9.4 (R. Manson), S Waiuta 9.0 (Deeley), 10 To Oro 9.0 (Olsen), 7 Archie 9.0 (Clarke). 12 Penona 9.0 (L. Manson), 6 Demoiselle 9.0 (Warner). Won by a head, a length between second and third. Demoiselle was fourth, and Archie next. Time, Imin. 4 7 sec. WINTER STEEPLECHASE of 1000 sovs; second 200sovs, third lOOsovs. About three miles. 1 — Hon. E. W. Alison’s b g Slowcoach, syrs, by Wauken Phast — Aquiline, 10.3 (Fielding) ...... 1 2— J. Bull’s blk g Omahu, syrs, 10.12 (McDonald) '2 O—C.0 —C. Shaw’s b g First Call, aged, 9.7- (Rowe) o Also started: 3 Old Mungindi 12.0 (Preston), 5 Tenacious 10.0 (Packer), 4 Peneton 9.7 (Warner). Won by a length, ten lengths between second and third. Old Mungindi was fourth. Time, 6min. 25sec, CAMPBELL HURDLE RACE of 500 sovs; second lOOsovs, third 50sovs. Two miles. 1— W. R. Kemball’s hr m Mill o' Gowrie, aged, by Glengowrie— Millie, 10.9 (Rennie) 1 5 —G. Green’s br g Thrace, aged, 11.7' (Henderson) 2 2 — E. T. Batt’s- br ' g Ore Ore, Gyrs, 9.6 (Cameron) .. . . ............ 3 Also started: 6 Cynic 10. S (McFlinn), 4 Glueta.nus 9.12 (Warner), 3 Pendoon 9.10 (Packer). Gluetanus fell at the hurdle in the straight the first time. Won by three lengths and a-half, a length arid a-half between second, and third. Cynic was fourth. Time, 4min. Isec. . VISITORS’ HANDICAP of . 400 soys; second 70sovs, third SOsovs. Five furlongs. 2 —J. Hetet’s br g Tama-a-roa, Gyrs, by Penury — Electrum, 9.7 (C. Reed) . 1 13—W.- Kemp's b g Emerald Hill, 3yrs, 9.0 (Buchanan) . . 2 5—G. D. Beatson’s b f Asterina, 3 yrs, 9.4 (Oliver) 3 Also started: 1 King Abbey 11.5 (H. Robinson), 3 Golden Bubble 10.10 (H. Gray), 9 Bedford 10.6 (R. Manson). 7 Crowhurst 10.6 (Morris), 4 Ring Lupin 9.2 (Mullins), 6 Prince Charleroi 9.0 (Tinker), 17 Independence 9.0 (Conquest), 14 Finkop 9.0 (Rogers), 10 Clonmel 9.0 (Deeley), 19 Jocular 9.0 (G. Clarke), 15 Salvaless • 9.0 (Wood), 11 Princess Charming 9.0 ' (McFlinn). S Dead Sweet 9.0 (Sinclair), "18 Midget 9.0 (Olsen), 16 Oak Abbey 9.0 (A. McDonald), 12 Ohinewairua 9.0 (Henderson). Won bv half a length, a neck between second and third. Crowhurst was fourth, and Ring Lupin next. Time, Imin. ssec. FITZROY WELTER of 275sovs; second 50sovs, third 25sovs. One mile. 1- —R. Hannon’s ch g Royal Abbey, 4yrs, by Quin Abbey—Uranium, 12.3 (Robinson) 1 16—A. McArthur’s b m Nunerrant, 5 yrs, 9.0 (Mullins) 2 2 — Mrs. J. Anderson’s ch g Tuipa, syrs, 10,0 (Deeley) 3 Also started: 4 Sir Fanciful 11.1 (Oliver), 3 Kareao 10.6 (McDonald), 6 Khublai Khan 10.5 (Henderson), 8 Scottish Knight 9.12 (McFlinn), 12 Monocrat 9.8 (C. Reed), 10 No Bother 9.8 (McTavish). 5 New Zealand 9.7 (Gray). 7 Flowing Bowl 9.7 (Olsen), 9 Some Fashion 9.6 (Conquest), 13 King Albyn 9.5 (Rennie). 11 North Loburn 9.3 (R. Manson), . 19 Texas Lass 9.3 (Rowe). 15 Senlac 9.0 (Buchanan), 17 Merrie Prince 9.0 (Clarke'), 18 Lyroe 9.0 (Wade), 14 Actrice 9.0 (Roach). Won by two lengths, a length between second and third. North Loburn was fourth, and Some Fashion next. Time, Imin. 47 3-ssec.