WELLINGTON RACING CLUB

Free Lance, Volume I, Issue 44, 4 May 1901, Page 16

WELLINGTON RACING CLUB

The club was fortunate in getting through the meeting without a postponement, as rain set in, and continued steadily, on both Thursday and Saturday evenings of last week. Ine attendance both days was, fair, although there have been more people present at previous autumn meetings Ine fields were good, and the public found plenty of opportunity for speculation. Ine totahsator turnover on each day was less than last year, but £17,443 is very satisfactory for this time of the year. The secietary (Mr. J. F. Clark) made a favourable impression, and, given time should turn out a most useful official. Hairy Piper's starting was up to his usual first-class form. In only one case (that of Punaw ai) did a horse wet lett, and it was the fault of the animal jumping round when the signal to move was given. The Waiwetu Handicap, which startod the totahsator bell ringing, was won rather easily by Ostiak, on whom the Riccarton jockey, J. Pine, had the ride. C. Jenkins had not arrived, and J.MeTaggart could not scale the weight Fakir, on a performance at the Wanganui Cup meeting, was looked upon as the best of the Maiden Hack lot. He got well away, and died to nothing at the finish. The two-year-olds Shrapnel Shell (Son of a Gun— Dudu) and Durable (Sylvia Park— Duras) fought out a great finish, and the firstnamed, locally owned and trained, just got there Other juvenile competitors were Benefactor (Stepniak — Chanty) and Steol Gun (Musketry— Tiara, by St. Leger — Bangle). Crusoe, Sylvia Park, and Faslnon were the least fancied of the Thompson Handicap lot, and none of them got a place. The Ponrua gelding (Boreas) and Rosella were first and second favourites, and finished in that order. Okoari was in the van for about seven furlono-s. Boreas came round the outside of the field, and won in the most decisive manner. Rosella came fast when she got out of the pack. The light-weighted Glenaladale filled third place. Right Metal did the Blenheim division a good turn in the Hurdles. Long Tom was in trouble half a mile from home. Had an accident not happened to Vanquish, she might have won. Her jockey (Fahey) managed to finish, second, riding bareback, a good feat where hurdles have to be negotiated. Some of the starters did not appear particularly anxious. The conditions of the Welter Handicap did not provide for the winner of the Waiwetu Handicap carrying a penalty. Ostiak, ridden by trainer Jim McTaggart, therefore got in at the original weight. The Taranaki division thought Dartmoor could not lose, but Ostiak had no difficulty in settling him. The Ponrua horse paid the good price of £4 2s. This was Mr. Douglas Gordon's third win dunng the day. Those who expected a good race between Mcnschikoff and Nonette must have been greatly disappointed. The Aucklander was never m it, and it is doubtful if a 141b allowance would have brought the pair together on the day. The Stepniak pony is a champion. Somerled ran vi the rear, and got lOsovs third money. The favounto in the Hack Race (Plaidie) could not ivu.se a gallop, and finished <ibsolutch last. Thorn wa.s ovulenth something wiong with hei , which Mi iM.uaia could not account ior Mi V Mai tin got a wm, and a, good iMiic (L\'.i 19s) with Cornea. The placed horses were all evenly backed, there being only £4 difference in the totals. Glenogle, Cornea's half-brother, did Sir George Clifford a winning turn in the Railway Handicap. He- is pretty low down in the weights, having only scored once previously this season, but has given a lot of trouble with a split hoof. The local pair, Sentry and Woht Guard, were fighting out a great finish, when Glenoglo appeared on the scone, and got the judge's verdict with nothing to spare. On the second day, Cameo, although carrying top weight, accounted for The Shannon and others in an easy mannei . Sundial, on whom C. Jenkins made his reappearance, after lus Australian tnp, finished well up fourth. The Third New Zealand St Legcr turned out the best of good things for the Sylwa Park bred and owned Bed-

chngton, udden by Joe Gallagher. He simply went to the front, and stopped there. The time was the slowest on record for the race Sir George Clifford started two. Somerled (W Brown) set out to make the pace foi Canine Ohiel, but it is too much to expect a fourth-rater to keep company with such as Beddington. Cannie Chiel made a bit of a dash in the straight, bub the Auckland gelding had only to be shaken up to win by a couple of lengths. Although the Messrs. Nathan were not present, tho win was a most popular one. Gipsy Jack was the only withdrawal of the thirteen acceptors for the Hack Welter. Cornea, on her previous day's running, was sorted out as the best of those engaged. She came late, and caught Raema on the post, in time to make a dead-heat of it for second place. The Porirua maiden, Dormant, owned by Mr Prosser, and ridden by C. Jenkins, who was in with the minimum weight, ran over the field at the finish. He paid £10 18s. Dormant, who is the cut of a jumper, was making his first appearance with the colours up, and should be useful at the winter meetings over hurdles or across country. Fakir was prominent at the distance, where he died away as on tho first day. With the exception of Fashion, the nine runners m the Autumn Handicap were all backed. Fashion had started twice since Feilding, where over the same distance, he was paying about £2 10s. On Saturday he was paying about £60, and, with a strange horseman up (Price had never ridden him before) he ran second to the Great Autumn winner, at level weights, in a fast run race. He is evidently a self-willed gentleman. Palaver (ridden by Tod Sloan Hewitt) sneaked away from tho field rounding the bend, and finished out by herself, with a flying start, Palaver ran the last last four furlongs in about 50secs. Cameo would have been there, or thereabouts, had he not fallen. Volley had a good position throughout, and ran well considering the time. Boreas would have been with them, at the finish had he got a clear run as in the Thompson. The Guard made his reappearance in the Hurdles, but will probably be seen to better advantage when thoroughly wound up. The public stuck to Long Tom, but he apparently cannot stay Weight should not stop such a big gelding. Vanquish's chance was extinguished bv falling at a hurdle. Two furlongs from home Long Tom was being ridden with the whip to keep pace with Right Metal, and it looked the latter's race. There was, how T ever, a surprise in store. Kohunui passed Right Metal, who was ridden out down the straight, and won anyhow. The usual demonstration followed. Mr. Ray nor protested, on the ground of inconsistency, and the Blenheim horse got the stake and dividend. There was £100 on Kohunui, who was paying £10 os. If the Voltigeur gelding does not get a spell, he will be with them at the jumping meetings. After Nonette made such a poor show with Menschikoff in the Challenge Stakes, Mr. Mason acted wisely in sendin for San Patricia to take on the Aucklander in the Pacific Handicap. Mark Ryan carried 41b overweight, which gave the Chnstchurch filly 81b in weight. The scale of light weight suited her. She streaked away, and was never caught, putting up lmin 14 4-osec. The Seaton Delavel colt was in trouble from flagfall, and is evidently not at his best. The Shannon beat Melwood for the lOsovs third money. Hewitt rode Fakir in the Hack Flying, and he carried about £200 more than in the Welter. The favourite (Blackwing) was m front at the distance, where Fakir came through, and won with something to spare. Blackwing is only a pony, and weight will always stop her. Palaver was brought out again in the Suburban Handicap, a 71b penalty bringing her up to top weight. Although udden by Hewitt, she was not gieatly fancied, and finished in the ruck. The three top weights, with only lib between them in weight, filled the places. The Taranaki mare Okoan was clear of the field as they passed the box. Ostiak was going faster than anything else, and beat Rose! la out of 20sovs second money.