WAIRARAPA HUNT CLUB.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9177, 28 August 1908, Page 5

WAIRARAPA HUNT CLUB.

NOTES

STEEPLECHASE MEETING.

(By "Zetland.") The Wairarapa Hunt Club's annual Steeplechase Meeting was held yesterday under favourable weather conditions. The : racing tracks were in good order, considering the amount of rain that had fallen during the week, and the racing was most interesting throughout. In all but one event good average fields were seen out, and, fortunately, no accidents of a serious nature occurred. Thirteen bookmakers laid the odds, and prices being on a fairly liberal scale the betting was of a decidedly brisk character. The officials and the secretary (Mr Norman James) are to be complimented on the thoroughness of the arrangements generally, and the management certainly left little to be desired. The attendance of the public was large, and the fixture is one steadily growing in popularity. Being the only steeplechase meeting held in the district, it only requires a material increase in stakes to ensure big fields, and consequent good racing, and the Hunt Club may be depended upon to act in a progressive manner in this connection. The following are the results:— HUNTERS'HANDICAP HURDLES, lOsovs; 1$ mile. W. VV. Hercock's ; Clovial, 11.7, Tasman (Owner) 1 C. Vincent's Don Carlos, 11.0 2 W. H. Buick's Firestick, 11.0 3 Dreamy Daniel, Otus, Atarangi, Lady Kuline, Hansdsome Kate, Trustee and Kaurau also ran. The field was bunched for half way, when Clovial took the lunning, and capably ridden by her owner, won by three lengths. Time, 2min 58ec. HANDICAP FLAT RACE, lOsovs; 5 furlongs. W. Cooper's Over Rate, aged, 9.0, The Officer—Kimmer (C. Cress) 1 C. F. Vallance's Conquer, 4yrs, 10.7 (N. Williams) 2 R. J. Wadham's San Lass, 4yrs, 9.2 (S. Reid), 3 Traylock, Black Angel, Hinerangi, Kingston, Golden Rein, Anga Roto, Purakau, Tainui, Sarcenet and Bravery made up the field. Over Rate was first out, but was quickly joined by Conquer, who showed the way round she far side and; into the strajght, San Lass and Over Rate closed up and a good race down J in the latter winning by a Time, lmin Bsec. j HUNT STEEPLE- : CHASE, lOsovs; 2i miles. j ! Mj. Jury's Whakatika, aged; 10.7, ' j btrathbraan —Momoukai (H. Welch) | 1 !F„ Buck's Tatoo, aged, 11.7 (A. I ! Watson) 2 Ns Douglas's Atarangi, 10.9 (J. Delaney) 3 Tiara, Dick Turpin, Gun Metal, Kaurau, ..;d. Tui also competed Tiara IsJvJ for seven furlongs, when Turph took thy lead, _ He held command utf a mild, but was then daposed by Whakatjka, who, well ridden by Jarold' Welch, won comfurlably by four lengths. Time, smin 42sec. HACK H'.NUICAP, 2050v3; 7 fyr : j longs. W. Cooper's aged, 9.?, | The Officer—Kimmer (C. Cress) 1 H. Hodge's Diplomatic, syrs, 10.7 (N. Williams* 2 A. Reside's. Lebeccio, 7 yrs, 9.7 (A. Watson) . 3 Golden Butterfly, Black Angel, Hinerangi, Anga Roto and Bravery also ran. Over Rate led to the far turn, where Hinerangi joined him, aid leading to the straight held a slight , advantage, with Diplomatic close by. When heads were turned for home Over Rate came away and won by two lengths. Time, lmin 40sec. TARATAHI STEEPLECHASE, 20 sovs; 3 miles. R. Cooper's Kuranui, aged, 12.11, Penrose —Vera mare (J. Delaney) ( 1 R. Gaisford's' Whipcord, aged, 11.7 (Owner) 2 W. D. Watson's Moonlight, aged, 10.7 (J. Shaw) 3 Kuranui led throughout, followed by Moonlight and Whipcord in that order. In the final stages, while the first named pair were fighting out a finish, Whipcord put in a most convincing run, and Kuranui was brought under the whip to win by a neck. Time, 6min 57sec. LADIES' BRACELET, 1$ miles. Miss Hercock's Clovial, aged, 11.3, Tasman— (Mr W. W. Hercock) 1 Mrs T. Clancy's Traylock, syrs, 11.0 (Mr J. Haxton) i Mrs W. H. Buick's Firestick, 7yrs, 10.10 (Mr W. Buick) 3 ' Also ran —Dreamy Daniel, Lady Kulnine, Master Lethe, Korarau, Ngakawau and Whakatika. Master Lethe had command for a mile. Whakatika led to the straight, where Clovial came out and won by eight lengths. Time,. 2'tmn 54sec. FINAL STEEPLECHASE, 15sovs; 21 miles. L. V. Russell's Otus-,-11!. 12, papakura— (Owner) 1 W. D. Watson's Moonlight,. 10.7 (J. Shaw) 2 C. F. Vallance's Garry, 11.0 (H. Welch) 3 Atarangi, Tui, Trustee, Dolly, Rhino, and Handsome Kate also started. Rhino fell at the first obstacle and brought down Dolly. At the brush fence Trustee and Handsome Kate fell, and round t'e back Atarangi dtruck a jump and lost his rider. Otus was then left with the lead, and he had no difficulty in winning by two lengths from Moonlight. Time, 4min 24sec.

Many who had not previously attended the Hunt Club Steeplechase meetings expressed surprise at the nature of the racing. Among the performers were some really wellbred horses, of which at least a few should score at more pretentious fixtures during the season. Clovial, by Tasman, who won the Bracelet Handicap at last year's meeting, won the Hunter's Hurdles and Bracelet yesterday. A good offer for her was not accepted by her owner. SanjLass was the popular selection [ for the five furlongn hack event,

others well back being Conquer and Over Rate. The latter, a brother to Full Rate, trained by R. Knox, and ridden by C. Cress, won nicely from Conquer. Golden Rein, a half brother to Silken Reip, made his first appearance under colours in this race. He was badly left, but finished up with the field. He should race well about Christmas. Other likely candidates seen out were Purakau, by Saracen—Lola, and Anga Roto, by Lake-shell Petrole. Both can be improved upon in the matter of condition. Whakatika, by Strathbraan, winner of The Wairarapa Hunt Steeplechase, is a half-sister to Matakokiri and Mataari.

In the seven furlongs Hack Flat Over Rate again ran very gamely, and stalling off good runs by Hinerangi and Diplomatic, wan in fine style. In tin's race Hinerangi showed a nice turn of speed for six furlongs. The Taratahi Steeplechase finish was one worth going a long distance to see. Although only Kuranui, Moonlight, and Whipcord started, the three joined issue in a most exciting finish, and Kuranui, ridden by J. Delaney, scored by a neck from Whipcord, ridden by R. Gaisford. ,From the start to within-a hundred yards of the winning-post Whipcord was running several lengths behind. Nearing the post he put in a brilliant run, and catching Kuranui, Delaney had to bting uut his whip in order to win by a short neck. Winner and runner-up were loudly cheered en returning to scale by the hundreds who appreciated the good horsemanship shown. The programme concluded with the Final Steeplechase. Out of nine starters only four finished, those that fell being Rhino, Handsome Kate, Dolly, Trustee and Atarangi. Otus, by Papakura, who won, showed form that should lead his owner racing him at other race-meetings.