NEW ZEALAND METROPOLITAN MEETING.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 439, 10 November 1875, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND METROPOLITAN MEETING.

First Day — Wednesday, November 10. Stewards —Messrs G. B. Parker, H. P. Lance, H. H. Prins, E. W. Stafford, E. G. Griffith, E. Clogstoun, J. Brabazon; judge, Hon E. W. Stafford; starter, Mr P. Campbell; clerk of the course, Mr J. Campbell; haudicapper, Mr G. S. Stead ; clerk of the scales, Mr E. H.

Campbell. The Metropolitan meeting commenced this morning under more favorable conditions than appeared probable at the beginning of the week. The weather was bright and fine, though not unpleasantly warm, and the attendance on the course was pretty nearly up to the average. His Excellency the Governor again paid the club the compliment of attending the meeting, and appeared to take a great interest in the various events. The chief events of the day were the C.J.O. Handicap and the Derby and though there was not a large field for the former race, yet the antagonism of Rory O’More with the Canterbury owned horses gave it an interest which we have seldom seen equalled on this course. Rory O’More has been a steady first favorite for the race from the moment the weights appeared, and the confidence of the Dunedin contingent of visitors was immense. Immediately following this exciting event was the Derby, for which there were seven competitors. In the case of this race too there was a good favorite at the finish, as the followers of the blue and white stripes were as great believers in the prowess of Pungawerewere as the Dunedinites were in Rory O’More’s abilities the first big race of the season. Daniel O’Rourke, too, the half brother to the winner of last year, was nibbled at pretty constantly, while Fishook and Cloth of Gold had also their admirers. A full description of the race will be found below, and we congratulate the firm on their victory. The Free Handicap followed, and though the handjeapper had not been very successful in inducing many owners to pay up, yet the race itself was not without interest. After the usual Hack race, both winners and losers returned to town, the former on very good terms with themselves, and the latter hoping for better luck to-morrow. Appended is the account of the racing:— Railway Plate, of 50 sovs. Entrance, 5 sovs. Weight for age. Half a mile.

Mr Redwood’s ch f Twitter, 3 yrs, 7st 131 b (A. Lyford) 1 Mr F. W, Delamain’s b g Elfin King, 4 yrs, Sst 111 b ... ... (McHugh) 2 Mr J. Lunn’s gr m Alice Grey, 6 yrs, 9st 41b (E. Griffin) 3 Mr R, Ray’s ch m Sornnambula, 4 yrs, Sst 111 b (Ray) 4

Betting—Even money Sornnambula, 3 to 1 against Elfin King and Twitter, 4 to 1 Alice Grey. All entered came to the post with the exception of Castilian, in reserve for the Derby. Sornnambula was naturally a good favourite, and looked fairly well. Twitter was fancied by her division, but we did not hear her backed, but a few stray pounds were invested on Elfin King. They got away to a fair start,| Sornnambula having, if anything, the best of it. They came into

the straight at a good pace, and Twitter took the command, Sornnambula dropping away to the rear, from which position she never emerged, Twitter led all the way home, closely followed by Elfin King, but the little chesnut mare won pretty easily at the finish by two lengths. Alice Grey was two lengths away from Elfin King, and Somnambula last.

Canterbury Jockey Club Handicap, of 200 .sovs, added to a Sweepstakes of 10 sovs each, h ft, for acceptors ; second horse to save his stake. Entrance, 5 sovs, to go the fund. Acceptances, with 5 sovs on the day of entry, and 5 sovs at post. Two miles. Mr Lunn’s br m Nectar, 5 yrs, 6st 71b Mr F. W. Delamain’s b h Templeton, 5 yrs, 9st 31b ... ... (Wattie) 2 Mr Redwood’s blk c Guy Fawkes, 4 yrs, Bst (A. Lyford) 3 Mr Yeend’s b g Rory O’More, aged, Bst 21b J. Cotton) 4 Mr D. O’Brien’s b g Tambourini, aged, 9st 51b (Owner) 0 Mr Redwood’s b c Hercules, 4 yrs, 7st 111 b (H. Ryder) 0 Mr Mallock’s ch c Ranolf, 3 yrs, 7st (Richards) 0

Betting—6 to 4 Rory O’Morc, 4to 1, Guy Fawkes, 5 to 1, Tamburini, 5 to 1 Templeton. All left in, but Cocksure, were weighed for, and Rory was still a hot favourite 4 to 1 “ bar one” being the cry. Hercules showed a great deal of temper, and would not face the crowd for his preliminary canter, while Nector took a fit into her head, and ran away, being only pulled up on the far side of the course. On assembling at the starting point she repeated this performance twice to the detriment of her chance in the race. At the second bolt she came up to the rails, where she got rid of her rider, and then fell herself. The boy was not hurt, however, and remounted. Hercules, Nectar and Rory O’More passed the stand first time in the order named, and Nectar and Rory drew away round the bottom turn. Rory led for 'some time, and then Nectar joined him again. Ranolf was not in it at this period, or in fact at any other. Hercules was soon afterwards beat, and coming round the top turn Rory O’More dropped back amidst shouts from the stand. Templeton and Guy Fawkes then made their effort to catch Nectar, but it was all in vain, and the light weight passed the stand first, a length and a half before Templeton, who struggled home under his heavy weight in the gamest manner; Guy Fawkes was third, and Rory fourth. Time —3min 57 \ sec. Derby Stakes, of 10 sovs each, h ft,, for acceptors, with 100 sovs added ; 2 sovs on nomination, 3 sovs on acceptance on day of general entry, 5 sovs at the post. Colts p st 101 b ; fillies and geldings, Bst 51b. One and a half miles. 37 subs.

Mr P. Campbell’s ch c Daniel O’Rourke, Bst 101 b (Ray) 1 Mr D. O’Brien’s b g Fishook (late Lough Neagh), Bst 51b (R. Derrett) 2 Mr Delamain’s br f Pungawerewere, Bst 51b (Wattie) 3 Mr S. Nosworthy’s br c Tattler, Bst 101 b (D. Jones) 4 Mr Redwood’s ch f Twitter, Bst 51b (Lyford) 5 Mr R. H. Campbell’s br c Castilian, Bst 101 b (J. Ray) 6 Mr T. Shand’s ch c Cloth of Gold, Bst 101 b (Matthews) 7

Betting—Even money Pungawerewife ; 3 to 1 Daniel O'Rourke, Nothing else backed for any money. A dreadful bad start, of which Daniel O’Rourke bad all the best, and Castilian all the worst, the latter being absolutely left some fifteen lengths behind, and consequently never getting on terms with his horses. The race is easily described, as Daniel O’Rourke, with Tattler in attendance, led from the jump, and Pungawerewere being beaten at the distance, a very bumping finish endfd in Daniel beating Fhhook a length and a half for first place ; Punga, several lengths off, was third, and the others finished in the order given. Time —2min 51 £sec. A protest was entered by the owner of Fishook on the ground of Ray on Daniel O’Rourke having jostled his horse, but after a short consideration the stewards decided that Daniel O’Rourke was entitled to the stakes.

Free Handicap, of 50 sovs, added to a Sweepstakes of 5 sovs each, for acceptors. One mile. Mr Redwood’s br c Korari, 3 yrs, Bst 51b (A. Lyford) 1 Mr Delamain’s b g Elfin King, 4 yrs, Bst 6Rb _ ... (Wattie) 2 Mr T. Shand’s ch c Blair Athol, 3 yrs, Sst 21b (Smith) 3 Mr R. Ray’s b c Tadmor, 4 yrs, 9st (Ray) 0 Betting—6 to 4on the, field. A good start, Tadmor being the first to show in front. They turned into the straight all together, but Korari had the best of it, and won all the way home finishing about a length in front "of Elfin King, who beat Blair Athol several lengths, Tadmor was never dangerous after the first two hundred yards.