AUCKLAND RACES.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5327, 24 April 1878, Page 2

AUCKLAND RACES.

(per press agency.) Auckland, Tuesday, ST. LEGER STAKES, Of 100 sovs, with a sweep of 10 sovs each added. Colts, fillies, and geldings, Bst 71b. Mr. Walters’ Venus Transit, S yrs 1 Mr. Buclcland’s Queen Mafa, 3 yrs .. .. ' .. 2 Betting : 3 to 1 on Venus Transt. Queen Mab started off with a slight lead, bub Venus creeping up, they kept well together until after they had passed the stand the first time, when Venus took the command, retained it throughout, and won easily by three lengths, Time, 3min. 37sec. French, the jockey, was fined 2 sovs for being late. FLYING STAKES. Isaac Walton .. ... 1 May Moon .. 2 Omega .. .. 3 Betting: 3 to- 1 agst Isaac Walton, 5 to 1 agst anything else. The following horses were scratched:- —Nimrod, Hippocampus, Pungawerewere, and Xantippe. Isaac carried a penalty of 51bs. for winning the Selling Race in January. A false start was made, in which Omega ran some distance before being pulled up. Eventually May Moon led off, followed by Isaac and Omega. Isaac headed May Moon, and they were in this order until entering the cutting, when Isaac had considerably increased his lead, Omega being third. On emerging from the cutting Gainsbro’ was called on, but too late to take the leading position, and Isaac came in a winner by a good length and a-half, May Moon being the same distance behind. Omega, a two-year-old, was a good third, and Gainsboro’ on the flank of Omega. The latter is considered to have run very well. STEEPLECHASE. Don Juan (Molvor) .. 1 Sportsman (Wilson) .. .. .. .. 2 Perfume (Wheeler) .. .. .. .. .. 3

The following also ran ; —Loafer, Whitetoot, and the Don. Don Juan carried 71h. and Sportsman 171,b. extra. Betting, 2 to 1 agst Don Juan, Perfume, and Butcher Boy, 3 to 1 agst Loafer, sto 1 agst Sportsman. Whitefoot led off, followed by Butcher Boy and Don Juan, with Perfume, who got badly off, last. At the double hurdle opposite the stand McGee’s mare struck her heels violently, splintering the bars. A small stone wall was successfully negotiated by all, but a little further on Perfume made a kind of half-baulk, which threw her much behind. As they were mounting the hill Don Juan kicked the wall, and Loafer fell behind, seemingly out-paced. Whitefoot baulked at her old place. On passing the stand the second time. Butcher Boy led, followed by Don Juan, Sportsman, aud Perfume, the latter beiug a long way behind. On mounting the hill the second time, Butcher Boy cannoned off Sportsman and threw his rider, and from this point the race was a gift to Don Jnan, who came in a gallant winner by a length from Sportsman, who made an excellent race of it, Perfume a bad third.