RACING REVIEWED

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1594, 11 November 1920, Page 12

RACING REVIEWED

AUCKLAND RACING CLUB.

SPRING meeting. A dull though otherwise favourable • day, a large attendance, a record ■ totalisator turnover for the time of year at Ellerslie, a safe course, excellent fields with few mishaps in the jumping races and none serious, goo racing and a few good dividends—with one unusually large—capable management, and starting of a good ' standard in the majority of the races —a * bit of crowding out in one in particular, iii the largest field of the day—and no protests or enquiries, were the main features in connection with the afternoon’s entertainment on Saturday at the opening of the Auckland Racing Club’s new season at headquarters. There is plenty of room for congratulations all round. - To go into details, £76,863 was ■ passed through the totalisators, which was £12,114 in excess of the money put through on the corresponding day last year. With larger nominations and an increased acceptance, and ■ takings from all other sources larger, the profits of the club on the day must have been satisfactory, though the stakes had been correspondingly increased. Some money had been expended in improving the stewards’_ and members’ stand, for the convenience, too, of members of the Press, who were brought a little closer £O- - the judge’s box, which they can appreciate. The good field of fifteen went out for the Trial Hurdle Race, Rathlin and Golden Petal being made better fancies than any of the others. It looked likely with seven furlongs run that* Battletide and Golden Petal might trouble the topweight, but Golden Petal got into a hurdle and this tied him up, while Battletide, when apparently keeping Rathlin busy along the top stretch, .fell. Otara, who has been a sore disappointment for a Long, time, came through into second place, Golden Petal only just cutting Shellshock out of third position. Escaped fell at the third 1 hurdle and injured his pin bone. Erickson, his rider, and L. Manson, rider of Battletide, were not hurt. A useful lot of five geldings and one colt came out for the Great Northern Guineas, and though Landslide and Lucullan, two of the geldings, were much more fancied, the Absurd colt Listowel accounted for the pair in a pleasing manner, and Mr. G. M. Currie, his owner and breeder, from Wanganui, was congratulated on his first classic success, though a number of horses he bred have at various times succeeded for other owners. Mermin, the crack two-year-old, is one of them, and Loyal Irish, who dead-heated : in the next race (the Welcome - Stakes) with the Hawke’s Bay two-year-old Toa Taua, .‘is another —indeed, the successes of the gets of Absurd this season in two and three-year-old races have been remarkable. They are fast. Reverting to the Guineas, Geoffrey carried Landslide along as though the riders thought the race lay between them only, and the first half-mile was. pretty solid. Lucullan then took a hand, and Listowel came on the scene in the run home and had Landslide’s measure after passing the last furlong post and from thence on, though Kenilworth’s son hung on to his task well. Listowel looked more solid and classy than the others, and should do better at three years than he did at two. The Welcome Stakes race was unfor the reason that ■if'l:Maunu and Munus, Jhe. property of i?: ’"Mr. Troutbeck, . bracketed on the totalisator and favourites, were unlucky in. not getting away with the others. No such excuse could be, offered for Namutere, Toa Taua and' Anomaly, who got away well, Namutere, failing to stride with the firstnamed in the run home, giving place to Loyal Irish, who got a good run on the rails and made a dead-heat of it with Toa Taua. Maunu and Munus, in getting third and fourth respectively, were closer to the pair that beat them than they had been

at any stage of the race after leaving the barrier line. At Avondale Maunu had the luck at the start with him. Such are the fortunes of the game. , Of the ten starters in the Hunters Steeplechase Papatere was more fancied than Koura, who fell in the last round; Lady Salvadan, whose .jockey kept losing lead on the trip;. Total a Jack, who made all the running, and Gladwin, who fell on the hill, like Koura. It was Mestee, the seventh in request, who was always following Totara Jack up, and keeping him busy until the concluding two obstacles got ahead in the run home, the weights telling on Totara Jack and Papatere over the business stage and favouring Mestee, whose jumping helped him. The carty but clever cob Argo, who is not improving with the racing he has had recently, finished down the course, and Koura, Tahuroa (who was the first to fall), Badminton, Gladwin and Hokimai did not finish. Mestee’s supporters received a nice price. Queen Abbey was favourite for the Shorts Handicap, and Murihiku was also more fancied than the Taranaki mare Inah, whose long suit has been in five-furlong dashes, though she has also won at four and at six. The daughter of Coronet never looked, brighter and was never more capable as she dashed to the front and stayed there to the end, chased home by Queen Abbey and Dovelet, the lastnajned weakening in the run to the box. Esthonia and Emerald Hill were fourth and fifth respectively. Royal Abbey, Tama-a-roa and Windorah were taken out of the Mitchelson Cup, , Royal Abbey’s stablemate, Tinopai, being preferred, while Tama-a-roa was reported to have been missed mysteriously from his box. Windorah was retired in favour of Rose Queen. The topweight, Volo,, was made a very substantial favourite, being entrusted with nearly £lOOO more than Lord Kenilworth, who looked well enough and good enough to score if he had been capable with his impost. Tinopai looked well,, too, and Uncle Ned much as he invariably does, while there was no fault- to be found with Demagogue’s appearance or that of Gold Kip, Woody Glen and Rose Queen. Some Boy 11. looked a picture of freshness, Alteration was well seasoned though troubled by string-halt; Sir Ralph was sore owing to a greasy heel. Bitholia looked a bit light, as if feeling the ‘racing he has had the last few weeks, and Bezant seemed a trifle gross. In the actual racing Lord Kenilworth took Some Boy 11. along as if they were out for a sprint, and they stayed in front until Lord Kenilworth tired of his task at a mile or under. Some Boy 11., continuing on, was threatened momentarily by Tinopai in the straight at the distance. Then Volo started his run, and, heading Tinopai, caught Some Boy 11. and after a struggle won by a head. Tinopai, who had enough left to stave off Uncle Ned, was a length and a-half off, third. Unde Ned finished well. Gold Kip and Lord Kenilworth were next.

There were 29 starters for the Hobson Handicap, Regent, Tinohoro, the. bracketed pair Guerre a Mort and Firebrook, Marble Slab, and Miss Leslie being the best supported. Of this lot, Guerre a Mort and Firebrook were not sighted, but Loved One, Clonmel, and the others were, and were right up in the straight. It was only in the run home that the trig outsider, Prince Carl, who was bracketed with Sylvan (who was left badly), got a run, which carried him to within striking distance of the leaders, and he got up and beat Tinohoro by a length, with Miss Leslie a length and a-half away third, Regent and Marble Slab being -the next to finish. Winning horsemen during the afternoon received the plaudits of the crowd, but none had such an enthusiastic reception as T. Scott, the lightweight apprentice who was on Prince Carl. The crowd recognised his dash on the outsider, but for which H. Robinson, who was in great form, would have had an even better record for the day than he did. Two wins, a dead-heat, two seconds and a fourth for five rides is creditable, However, and “Robbie,” as his familiars call him, had a good day.

The business of the day ended with the Flying Handicap, which Royal Abbey (the favourite) won in good style by half a length after cutting down the Hawke’s Bay-owned gelding Woden, who led until near the winning post. Jutland (second favourite) finished well, being only a neck away third, with Perfect Day and Arran handy. Over-weights were carried in several of the races during the afternoon. The results were: —

TRIAL HURDLE RACE of 400sovs; second 70sovs, third 30sovs. One mile and a-half. 1— F. Waller’s b g Rathlin, 6yrs, by Robert the Bruce — Orange and Blue, 11.9 (Henderson) .... 1 10 —R. Slattery’s ch g Otara, 9.5 (Conway) 2 2 — Hon. E. W. Alison’s ch g Golden Fetal, aged, 9.9 (Turner) . ... . . 3 Also started: 7 First Call 11.4 (Rowe), 9 Battletide 11.4 (R. Manson), 3 Scottish Knight 10.6 (Warner), 5 Keystone 10.2 (Rennie), 6 General’ Stephen 9.2 (Erickson), 8 Shell Shock 9.1 (Roach), 4 Oak Abbey 9.3 (Packer), 12 Kiriwinning 9.0 (Morrison), 11 Hessian 9.0 (Chaplin), 14 The Packman 9.13 (McRanville), 13 Irishland 9.0 (Stanaway). General Stephen fell at the hurdle at stewards’ stand, while Battletide came down at the fence at the mile and ahalf post. Rathlin won by a length and a-half, four lengths between second and third. Shell Shock was fourth. Time, 3min. 53 3-ssec. GREAT NORTHERN GUINEAS' of 1000 sovs; second 200sovs, third lOOsovs, the remaining lOOsovs to go to the breeder of winner, provided that the ' horse is bred in N.Z. One mile. 3 — G. M. Currie’s ch c Listowel 3yrs, by Absurd —Lysistrata, 8.10 (H. Robinson) •••••• i-V ’ 1 1 — Ernest Alison’s br g Landslide, 3yrs, by Kenilworth.- —Elegance, 8.7. (Bagby) • •••••••• 2 2— G. Seifert’s b g Lucullan, 3yrs, by Lucullus —Merry--Nif, 8.7 (B. Morris) ...» ** Also started: 4 Geoffrey 8.7 (goldfinch), 6 Lovelight 8.7 (Hogg), 5 Puke-marama-’8.7 (McTavish). Won by a length, four lengths between second and third. Geoffrey was fourth. Time, lmin. 41 3-ssec. WELCOME STAKES of lOOOsovs; winner 600sovs; second 200sovs, third 100 sovs, the other lOOsovs to go to the breeder of the winner, provided that the horse is bred in N.Z. For two-year-olds. Five furlongs. 5 — Estate late W. J. Douglas’ b g Toa Taua, by Mountain Knight —Fairy Gold, 8.5 (Stowe) 4— j. Williamson’s ch c Loyal Irish, by Absurd—Moira-ma-chree, 8.5 (H. Robinson) ■ • • • • I—H. E. Troutbeck’s b c Munus, by Wolawa —La Notte, 8.5 (Ryaia) 3 . Also started: 3 Anomaly 8.5 (O. McCarten), 1 Maunu 8.5 (Olsen), 2 Naumatere 8.5 (Goldfinch), 7 Soulterina 8.0 (Lowe), 6 Dissertation 8.0 (B. Morris). Munus and Maunu were bracketed. A sterling finish ended in a dead-heat, Munus being a length away third, with Maunu fourth. Time, lmin. 4sec. HUNTERS’ STEEPLECHASE of 400 sovs; second 70sovs, third 30sovs. About three miles. 7—H. Swaffield’s br g Mestee, aged by Zimmerman — Icicle, 9.11 . (Erickson) • • • • 1 4 —Bruce and McCarten s ch g Totara Jack, 11.12 (Rennie) 2 I—J. McDonnell’s blk g Papatere, 11.10 (Burt) . .. • • • • • • • * Also started: 2 Koura 12.9 (Henderson), 3 Lady Salvadan 11.5 (Packer), 6 Argo 10.13 (Roach), 8 Tahuroa 9.13 (Brady), 9 Badminton 9.7 (Rowe), 5 Gladwin 9.-7 (Adolph), 10 Hokomai 9.7 lost his rider, at the third fence, while Koura fell at the hurdle at the top of the hill the last time. Mestee won by a length,, three lengths separating second and third. Argo was fourth. Time, 6min. 39sec. SHORTS HANDICAP of 500 soys; second lOOsovs, third 50sovs. Five furlongs. 3— H. Spratt’s b m Inah, aged, by Coronet—lnaha, 8.10 (Morris) . . - 1 I—R.1 —R. Hannon’s b m Queen Abbey, 8.6 (Robinson) 2 4— F. Earl’s br f Dovelqt, 6.12 (Downing) ....'. 3 Also started: 5 Spanner 9.8 (Chaplin), 12 First Salute 8.7 (Lowe), 10 Crowhurst 8.5 (Manson), 9 Esthonia 8.4 (Olsen), 2 Murihiku 7.11 (Bagby), 13 Canzonet car. 7.4 (McCurdy), 10 Dead Sweet car. 7.1 (McTavish), 7 Emerald 6.11 (Wiggins), 8 Tieki car. 6.9 (Glover), 11 Escaped 6.7 (George), 6 Cantabile car. 6.8 (Keesing). Won by two lengths, a length between second and third. Esthonia was fourth. Time, lmin. 1 3-ssec. MITCHELSON CUP of 1400sovs; second. 250sovs, third 150sovs. One mile and a-half. 1— H. J. Eave’s b g Volo, aged, by Husbandman —Beautiful Star, 9.2 (B. Morris) 1 6— E. W. Alison’s b h Some Boy 11., 8.7 (Goldfinch) 2 3 —R. Hannon’s br m Tinopai, 6.12 (Glover) 3 Also started: 4 Uncle Ned 9.2 (Robinson), 7 Gold Kip 8.6 (Olsen), 5 Deinagogue 7.13 (Bagby), 11 Alteration 7.2 (Walsh), 10 Woody Glen car. 7.3 (McDonald), 2 Lord Kenilworth 6.12 (Downing), 8 Sir Ralph car. 7.0 (McTavish), 9 Rose Queen car. 6.12 (Percival), 12 Bitholia 6.7 (George), 13 Bezant car. 6.8 (Wiggins?. Won by a head after a sterling finish, a length and a-half between second and third. Uncle Ned was fourth. Time, 9 3-ssec. HOBSON HANDICAP of 400sovs; second 70sovs, third 30sovs. Six furlongs. 17—L. McKinstry’s b g Prince Carl, 4yrs, by Carl Rosa —Adeline, 7.0 (Scott) 1 2 — R. Hannon’s b g Tinohoro, 8.8 (Rcbinson) 2 5— —W. Ihompson’s br m Miss Leslie, 8.4 (Manson.) 3 Also started: 4 Marble Slab 9.0 (Bagby), 10 Scrap o’ Paper 9.0 (Ryan), 1 Regent 8.8 (Goldfinch), 8 Clonmel 8.8 (O. McCarten), 18 Persian King 8.6 (Sinclair), 9 Monocrat 8.3 (Olsen), 20 Luperino 7.10 (Glover), 6 Pepin 7.9 (Tinker), 12 Brodrick 7.9 (McTavish), 14 Karaeo 7.8 (Pine), 13 Gold Plane car. 7.9 (C. Sinclair), 11 Loved One 7.6 (Dennison), 7 Flowing Bowl car. 7.8 (Conquest), 21 Lord Bruce 7.0 (Percival), 15 Paonui 7.0. (Wiggins), 19 Aircraft car. 7.4 (F. Reid), 24 Avanti 7.0 (L. Pine) bracketed with Valley Queen car. 7.1 (Walsh), 25 Vauxhall 7.0: (Keesing) and Pembrey car. 8.5 (Chaplin) bracketed, 3 Guerre a Mort 7.0 (Hall) and Fiery Brook car. 8.5 (Ferguson) bracketed, 17 Sylvan 7.0 (Downing) bracketed with winner, 16 Octoplete car. 7.11 (Conway) and Harlestone

car. 7.5 (McCurdy) bracketed, 22 Pine Arch car. 7.5 (McDonald). ' . . Sylvan and Pine Arch were left _at the start. Prince Carl won by a length, half a length between second, and tnira. Clonmel was fourth. Time, lmin. 17sec. FLYING HANDICAP of 500sovs; second lOOsovs, third 50sovs. Seven furlongs. 1

1— R. Hannon’s ch g Royal Abbey, syrs, by Quin Abbey- —Uranium, 8.6 .(Robinson) 1 4—j. E>. Ormond’s b g Woden, car. 6.13 (Dennison) •••••••• 1 A 2 — J, Champion’s blk g Jutiamd, a.z, Also Started:' 3 Depredation 8.9 (Goldfinch) 7 Hyllus 8.8 (Ryan), 5 Arran 8.5 (McTavish), 8 Arch Salute 8.2 (Lowe), 9 Perfect Day 7.7, 15 King Chiara 7.3 (Glover), 6 Te Oro car. 7.3 (G-ussey), 12 Prince Rufus car. 6.11 (T. Reid), 10 Prince Charleroi car. 6.9 (Wiggms), H Some Fashion car. 6.10 (Percival), 13 Isingarch car. 7.1 (Walsh), 16 Commission 6.7 (Scott), 11 War Tank car. 6.10 (I Won in by’ half a length, a neck between second and third. Perfect Day was fourth. Time, lmin. 17sec.