DUNEDIN.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3487, 27 February 1880, Page 2

DUNEDIN.

The Races.

Last night

The weather for the first day of the Autumn Meeting was good, for the sport and the racing on the whole was remarkably good, the; time for the Cup being the fastest on record. His Excellency the Governor and Lady Robinson were accommodated with a box in the centre of the grand stand. Tllq Eace for the Cup.

Special Telegkam.

The Dunedin Cup, a handicap with

500 sots added, the second horse (o receive 50 soys, and the third 20 soys from the stakes •, course, two miles and a distance ; the winner of any handicap race of the value of £200 after. declaration of weights to carry 71bs extra, of two or more of such races lOlbs extra, of any such handicap race of value of £100 to carry 51bs extra, of two or more, such races .Blbs extra, of one or more such races of the value of 100 aovs together with one of the value of 200 soys 91bs extra. Mr C. Cutt's b.g. Mata, syrs, Bst 91bs, 1, (Matthews); 11. Bay's b.m. Titania, 6yrs, 7st 41bs, 2, (Wuttie); Hon. Robinson's b.h. Foul Play, Bsfc 121bs, 3, (Derritt). Mr Bay declared to win with Titania and Mr Eobinson with Grip. Betting even money* against Tiisnia, 3 to 1 against Mata, 4 to 1 against Grip, 6 to 1 against Foul Play, 7 to 1 against Libeller, 10 to 1 against Hornby end Betrayer, 100 to 5 against Camballo, Longlands, and Atlantic. ' After one break away a capital start was effected, the whole line getting off simultaneously. Approaching the stand Libeller was found to be in the van with Atlantic end Grip at his girths, Foul Play and Caiuballo headiug the ruck, the rearmost of the vibole was Longlands. Going r.:umi to the right the Auckland colt was still in front with Atlantic bis immediate attendant, Grip and Mata a length behind, and slightly in front of Camballo, Foul Play, Titauia, Hornby, and Betrayer with Louglands tailing off. At three quarters of a mile Wattie brought Titauia up through her horses, and passing the stand the second time the favorite was ially in front, a little before Libeller and Camballo, next to whom lay Atlantic, Mr liobinson's pair, Hornby and Mata, in a cluster. Hounding the turn to the right Titania began to draw further-away, and as Libeller and Camballo began to drop back, at this juncture Atlantic aud Mata took second and third places. At the back of the course, a half miie from home, the field momentarily closed together again with the exception of Longlands; but before reaching the distance post the final effort had found out the weak spots of the majority, and the final'struggle was left to Titania, Mata, Betrayer, Foul Play and Grip. Mr .Ray's mare bad a clear lead as they turned into the straight into { llie straight, but Mata gradually drew : upon the outside, and Derritt at the same moment calling on foil Play, the Wellington Cup winner joined issue and amost exciting run home ensued. Wattie rode the favorite desperately, and she responded gamely; but Mata had the most in him and once inside the rails he got his head in front and gainhg inch by inch won a grand race by,a head. Foul Play whose final rush was a little late, or on whom the weight t.old too much, could not get quite up, but he was beaten by only a length for third place, Grip was 4th, Betrayer sth, Camballo 6th, Libeller 7th, Hornby Bth, Atlantic and Longlands last of all. Time: 3mins. 56|-secs. the fastest on record. Comment on the result of ibis is scarcely necessary, but it proves that the press and the general public were correct in their estimates of the handicap when it made its final appearanc*. Ma. la and Titania having been spotted at once, and been the primest of faiorites ever since. There was £321 in the totalisator, and the odds against the winner stood at 5 to 2. The next fastest time for the Cup was Templeton—3mins 59secs, in 1878. The following are the acceptances for the Leger :■—Volunteer Bst 101b, Betrayer Bst 101b, Grip Bst 101b, Hornby Bst 101b, Marie Antoinette Bst 81b only. The acceptor for D.J.C Handicap, after the weights were declared last night wai Foul Play Bsfc 101b. .