Totalisator Turf Topics.

Free Lance, Volume III, Issue 116, 20 September 1902, Page 24

Totalisator Turf Topics.

By 'Krect-Card.

Bst 121b, and thank lie will find the distance too short for his liking. Formula will run well with Bst 91b, and the same may be said of St. Olga. Jewellery, Wainki. Landlock, and Lavalette are a quartette of speedy ones, and should give a good account of themselves. Durable has a taking look on the 7st 61b mark, and will have to be reckoned with. Spalpeen and Gladisla have been given a chance to earn distinction at the outset of their three-year-old career. Orange and Blue looks to possess a good chance with 7st, and I shall select him and Landlock to fight out the finish, with a preference for the latter. The racehorse San Fran arrived in Wellington on Saturday last, en route for Hawke's Bay, where he joins the Te Mahanga stud, owned by Mr. W. J. Douglas. The ex-New Zealander, Regalia lE., put up a firood performance on Saturday last, when he won the Waverley Handicap, one mile and three-quarters, in the fast time of 3min 4£seo. He had some good ones behind him too, including Cyanide who beat Regalia 11. on the second, day of the meeting. Wakeful, by Trenton-Insomnia, had no diificultv in silencing the opposition in the Rand wick Plate, two miles and a-quarter, which she carved out in the excellent time of 4mm 4-^sec. The daughter of Trenton has proved her superiority over the Sydney weight>forage horses, and it would be no surprise to see her equalling the great Carbine's performance in November next

For the Avondale spring meeting, which commences on Saturday next capital acceptances have been received, and some good racing should be witnessed. Nanette has declined the contest for the -Cup, but is nominated for the Grandstand Handicap, on the third day of the meeting and, as a win in this event would not entail any penalty for the New Zealand Cup, there is a possibility that he will be given a run. The meeting will commence with the Maiden Plate for which a field of fifteen have cried content with the handioapper's adjustments. La Valeric is at the head of affairs, with Bst 71b, and must be considered to have a good chance. A large number of the horses engaged are unknown quantities, and. perhaps, the winner may come from Gold Web, Rosiphele and Strowan. Nine horses have accepted for the Hurdles, for which Mars occupies n-ide of place, with list 61b. This horse put m some good nerformances at the late Riccarton gathering, running second in the Grand National Hurdles and winning the Sydenham Hurdles. Next to him on the list is Tim, who will be galloping when several of the contestants are getting tired. Cannongate, on the lOst 81b mark may redeem some of the laurels lost at Riccarton and will doubtless beat Tresham at the Auckland Grand National meeting, and should take a lot of beating. Dingo is a consistent performer, and, if the pace is not too solid, would run well. Winsome, so fa v has not been successful over the sticks, and maybe, with the increased schooling she has had, she will perform better. To sum up, I like the chance of Mars, and I think Bellman and Cannongate will occupy the places. The Avondale Cup has drawn a field of twelve, and should be a good betting race. Val Rosa is at the top of the list with Bst 51b, and, if well, would have a good show of annexing the stake. The Needle has been a back number for some time now, and I cannot recommend him with Bst 31b. Formula, with Bst 21b, is well in, and should account for those above her. St. Olea on the 7st 121b mark, will require to be reckoned with if she is in the same form as at the recent Hutt meeting. The Shannon looks to be the pick of the handicap, with 7st 111b, and I shall select her to win. Tresham if his hurdle racing^ has not decreased his speed, should be somewhat near the leaders when the winning nost is reached, and when it is remembered that he won a flat race at the Riccarton meet^ ing from a fair field, after winning the Grand 1 National Hurdles, it must be admitted thait he has been given a chance with 7st 101b. Further down, the horse with the long Maori name — Matamataharakeke — is well in with 7st 71b, and. as he has won on this course before, he may repeat the performance. Next to The Shannon, whom I select to win outright, I like Formula and Val Rosa. The First Hack Race has a field of thirteen acceptors, the best of whom appear to be Lavalette, Irish, Ben Blair, may be the one to win, with Lavalette and Hippowai, and perhaps the latter as next best. First Whisper and St. Loanda look to be the pick of the six engaged in the Pony Race, and I shall select them to finish in that order. Cannongate is at the head of the list for the first Steeplechase, with 12st 41b, and with this weight must be eriven a chance. His recent form was too bad to be true, and I think the result of this race> will bear me out. Norwest has been a back number for a year or two and I do not like his chance. Dingo and Tarragon are two consistent performers, and will run well Hinemoa, on the 9st 121b mark, will account for all those below hir- I think will also do for most of those above him. His last performance was at the Auckland Grand National meeting, when lie carried 9st 101 band won the Maiden Steeplechase, two and a-half miles, from Cavaliero, Clarion, and five others. In selecting Hinemoa to win, I think the places will be filled by Dingo and Cannongate. For the Flying Stakes, the concluding event on. the first day, Highlander is top weight., with 9st 61b, and, if well, would account for most of those below him. Ido not care for Blue Jacket, at