MASTERTON RACES.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9051, 28 March 1908, Page 5

MASTERTON RACES.

SECOND DAY,

IMPROVED WEATHER CONDITIONS.

WAITAPU WINS THE AUTUMN HANDICAP.

The second day of the Masterton Racing Club's autumn meeting was favoured with very much better weather than the opening day, in fact the sun's heat bordered almost on the unpleasant. The rain ceased some time before daybreak, and the course dried very rapidly, with the result that little inconvenience was experienced on account of the dampness underfoot. The track improved rapid'y as the day wore on, and some very fine performances were registered. The attendance was quite up to the usual for a second day. The acceptances were only fair, but it v. as satisfactory to find that in nearly every race all acceptors fulfilled their obligations--in fact it is seldom the scratching pen was used so little as yesterday, only five horses being withdrawn. The handicapper, Mr J. H. Pollock, had no easy task in adjusting his weights to suit what turned out to be a greatly improved track, but he succeeded in setting sports a few problems, though the top weights) had a remarkable innings, six out of the eight getting first place and one a second, and the latter (Sunbonnef) might* have made the seventh topweight in but for getting away badly. The coterie of pencillers was smaller than on Thursday, eight taking up their stand on the lawn and four in the outside enclosure, as against eleven inside and seven out- x side the day previous. ..,■■. The totalisator investments showed a falling off of £1,879 compared with the receipts for the corresponding day la'st year, £4,299 going through the machine yesterday, as against £6,178 in 1907. The loss to the Club on the account, however, will be almost, if hot quite, balanced by receipts from bookmakers' fees. Only one slight mishap occurred during the meeting, Aberration coming to grief yesterday at the entrance to the straight in the big money. A. Olliver, the jockey, • however, was not hurt at all, and, remounting, rode in to the paddock. The officials worked well together to ensure a successful meeting, the popoular President, Mr C. F. Vallance, receiving willing support from his stewards m all departments, and commendable promptitude characterised their work all through. The secretary, Mr A. J. Hathaway, and his assistants, Messrs W. Gillespie and Q. Yates, were also most painstaking and courteous, and contributed materially to the general success of the meeting. Mr A. C. McDonell's starting was again very successful, taken all through. The luncheon provided by Mr A. Rebay gave general satisfaction.. Five horses went out in the hurdles, Reservoir -being scratched. Royal Blue carrying top weight, got into bis stride early, and secured a long-deferred win, C. Cress riding with fine judgment. Gaelic was a strong fancy ior the Opaki Hack, but he was reserved for the Welter. Keteo secured his second win at the meeting by annexing the stake, putting up Imin 32sec, and being somewhat of a surprise.

In the big money, backers'had' a hard thing on to select from such an even lot. Waitapu was looking a shade brighter than on Thursday, and he proved what a sterling horse he is by overtaking the field and winning comfortably after being left several lengths behind at the post. In the gentlemen riders race, the High Weight Hack, Anemone was a strong fancy, though Mr A. Hyde's engagement secured Ancyle a lot of support. Mr F. Moore got wedged in on the rails, but drew his mount out just in time to upset Defeat's chance.

Ikon had a fairly cosy thing on in the Railway Hack Handicap. With three opponents only to beat, and a handy weight up, A. Olliver brought the San Fran filly in without any trouble. The Telephone Handicap saw a large field go to the post. Waicola was never in it from the start.-being apparently unready when the barrier rose. Sunbonnet also was not favoured by the start, but ran a great race nevertheless, giving Platypus a ding-dong run home. Valima made Her first appearance for some time in this' race. She looked well —too well, in fact, for the track. Gawain was unable to get into his stride early enough to be in the race, while Chicane had a fair winning chance, but could not last it. Gaelic justified strong support by landing the Welter in an easy fashion. Wailethe was popular,'also Defeat, but the placed horses were selected as they finished by backers. Naumai was generally considered a certainty for the Final Hack, and he justified his position as hot favourite by getting out in front and bringing the field home, making his second win for the meeting. Royal Blue was sold by Mr R. Knox to Mr C. Hammond, a West Coast buyer, for £150,' including all engagements. Following are detailed results:— HACK HURDLE HANDICAP, of 70sovs, second horse 10 sovs, and third horse 5 suvs; 1£ miles. R. Knox' b g Royal Blue, aged, 10.9 (C. Cress) 1 J. Orr's b g Tilson, aged, 9.7 2 W. J. Douglas's b g Commander, syrs a I Also started —Dulcinea (A. Watson), 9.7; Lady Adair (P. Whitehouse) 9.0. Dulcinea led off, Royal Blue and Tilson close behind, tlv» latter two leading over the hurdle opposite the stand. This position was maintained to the finish, the field all jumping passally well. Time, 2min 574 sec. OPAKI HACK HANDICAP, of GO ! se-vs, second horse 10 sovs; 7 x I furlongs. A. Donald's ch g Kelso, syrs, 7.0 (L. Wilson) 1 J. Macara's b m Lochiela, 4yrs, 7.0 (T. Carroll) 2 D, Mullin's ch h Rangihaeta, syrs (W. McKay) 3 Also started—-Wailethe 8.0 (R. Hatch); Nichevo, 7.3 (F. Cress).

Wailethe got away well from an even • start, being attended by Lochiela and : Kelso. At the turn for home Wailethe still led, but the winner came through and had little difficulty in annexing the stake by half a length, Rangihaeta two lengths away. Time, lmin 32sec. AUTUMN HANDICAP (open), of 130sbvs, second horse 15 sovs, and third horse 5 sovs; 1 mile. T. Messena's b g Waitapu, syrs, 8.11 (W. H. MacKay) 1. j D. Buick's b m Tangimoana, 4yrs, f 8.9 (W. Young) 2 J. Armstrong's br m Chatterer, aged, 8.1 (G. Price) 3 Also started—San Julie, 8.3 (L. Wilson); Aberration, 7.11 (A. 01liver); Merrie Rose, 7.9 (F. Cress); Strathcona, 7.0 (K. Hatch). Waitapu and San Julie got the worst of the start, Chatterer being first to show out, joined by Merrie Rose. The latter died away before the bend was reached. After the straight was entered, Waitapu came round on the outside with a wonderful turn of spe*d and brought Tangimoana with him from the bunch, Aberration coming down. A great finish ensued, Waitakpu winning by a bare half length, Chatterer two lengths away. Time, lmin 44sec. HIGH WEIGHT HACK HANDICAP, of 50 sovs, second horse lOsovs; 1 mile. H. Jeffrey's ch m Anemone, syrs, 11.7 (J. Moore) 1 G. Beatson's bg Defeat, aged, 11.3 (G. Beatson) 2 W. Davis's b g Ancyle, syrs (A. Hyde) 3 Also started—Arahura, 10.7 (F. Selby); Grand Circle, 10.7 (J. Signall); Jet de More, 10.7 (A. Best); Traylock, 10.7 (L. B. Vallance). Defeat and Traylock were quickest to move, the field getting away uniformly, Ancyle whipping in. Anemone was not prominent until halfway down the straight, where Ancyle and Defeat had the best going. The winner got out of a tight corner on the rails and won by half a length, Ancyle nearly a length away. Time, lmin 51 3-ssec. RAILWAY HACK HADICAP, of 60 sovs; second 10 sovs from stake; 6 furlongs. R. F. Douglas' br f Ikon, 4yrs, 8.9 (Olliver) 1 W. Davies' br m Yosami, 6yrs, 8.2 (G. Price) 2 C. F. Vallance's br g Hinupai, 6yrs, 7.5(T. Carroll) 3 Also started—Blue Ribbon 7.0 (R. Hatch). Ikon got away very well, Yosami, Blue Ribbon and Hinupai following in that order. At the bend Hinupai displaced Blue Ribbon and at the distance Ikon overhauled Yosami, with little difficulty, winning by a short length. Time, lmin 17 2-ssec. TELEPHONE HANDICAP (open),of lOOsovs; second horse lOsovs, and third 5 sovs from stake; 6 furlongs. R. Knox's br m Platypus, aged, 7.7 (R. Hatch) ' 1 W. Cooper's b m Sunbonnet, 6yrs, 9.0 (L, Wilson) 2 J. Armstrong's br m Chicane, 4yrs, 8.2 (G. Price) 3 Also started— Gawain 8.2 (A. Watson), Waicola 7.11 (McKay), Sherlock Holmes 7.10 ' (T. Carroll), Valima 8.2 (including 91b carried over weight) (R. Cameron), Thera 7.5 j (F. Cress), Elfrida 7.3 (H. Mai-j lows). This was'an uneven start, I Platypus getting away first, Waicola | being badly left, and Sunbonnet being | also in a disadvantageous position, j Tha. winner was in front at the bend, j and in front of the stand had a tussle to stave off Sunbonnet, who had made up a lot of ground in the straight. Won by a length, Chicane a length j away third. Time, lmin 17 2-ssec. WELTER HACK HANDICAP, of 60 sovs; second horse 10 sovs; 7 furlongs. J. Cress' b g Gaelic, syrs, 9.7 (C. Cress) 1 W. Hume's b g Wailethe, aged 9.4 (R. Hatch) 2 G. Beatson's bg Defeat, aged, 8.3 (G., Price) 3 Also started—Snip 7.10 (A. Oliver ), Epsom Down 7.7 (L. Wilson), Jet de More 7.7 (F. Cress). Gaelic found his feet first, Jet de More and Defeat following in that order. Wailethe, who had started badly, dr«w up near the bunch at the bend. In the straight the latter mare rapidly improved her position, but Gaelic succeeded in keeping a length and a-half ahead to the post, Defeat half a length away. Time, lmin 33 l-ssec. FINAL HACK HANDICAP, of 50 sovs; second horse 5 sovs; 5 furlongs. Wairi Pewene's br g Naumai, 3yrs, 9.6 (T. Pritchard) 1 C. F. Vallance's b g Conquer, 3yrs, 7.6 (Hatch) 2 W. Wiggins' br m Lady Lethe, syrs, 7.0 (F. Cress) 3 Also started—Knight Commander 7.0 (T. Carroll), Hinerangi 7.0 (H. MaUows). Naumai, getting off the mark, was never challenged, winning easily by two lengths. Time, lmin 4 4-ssec.