Turf Topics.

Free Lance, Volume III, Issue 119, 11 October 1902, Page 23

Turf Topics.

By Krect-Card.

Beautiful weather was experienced for the fust day's races of the Wanganui Jockey Club's spring meeting, which took place on Thursday and Friday ot last week. The attendance of the public was quite up to the average, and the totalisator turnover slightly exceeded the amount handled at the corresponding meeting last year. The fields were large, and the racing good, some excellent finishes being witnessed. Much interest was centred in the Wanganui Guineas, on account of the presence ot the redoubtable Achilles, who won in a canter from hi® stable mate Porirua in the excellent time of lmin 42 2-othsec, which is a record for the race. For the Spring Handican— the first event on the card— a field of ten faced the barrier, included amongst which were the New Zealand Cup candidates Halberdier and Fakir, and the Avondale Cup winner— the Shannon. lhe latter was carrying 101b less weight than she succeeded with in the Plumpton Handican at the Northern meeting, and looked the pick of the handican, and so backers thought, for she was sent out favourite, with Halberdier next ia demand. From a good start, Loch Erne and King Edward cut out the running, closely followed by Fakir and Halberdier, The Shannon running last. At the entrance to the straight, Fakir improved his position, and when heads were turned for home. The bhannon was seen coming through her fiela in fine style and, sustaining a welltimed run, succeeded in gaining the verdict by a nose from Loch Erne, with the Halberdier close up third, lhe winner paid a dividend of £2 2s bd and backers of Looh Erne received Li 4s bel second money. Thirteen, horses tried conclusions foi the Moutoa Hack Handicap, which included in their number two representatives from the Porirua stable. Several of the contestants were fractious at the post but when the field did get away it was seen that Glory and Waireka were in front, with The Ganger and Rustique in close attendance. lne field were bunched round the bend, but once in the straight The Ganger came through, and. in a good finish, won by half-a-length from Waireka. The winner is a chestnut gelding by Workman from Vigorous, and was last successful at the Marton meeting, held an the same course. Waireka is by Howitzer— Maritana, and started nine times last season without once scoring a win. The dividends were • The Ganger £5 7s, Waireka £4 11s. The Guineas race was the next event to come up for decision, and much interest was centred in the various candidates. The field included represents tives from Auckland, Wellington, Wanganui. and Canterbury. The race requires little description, for Achilles, the champion two-year-old of last season jumping off the mark at the start, never gave his opponents a chances and romped home by four leneths from his stable mate Porirua. The winner has several important engagements at the C.J.C. spring fixture, and also at the A.R.C. summer meeting, included amongst which are the C.J.C. Stewards' Handicap, Jockey Club Handicap, Juvenile Plate, Jubilee Cup, Auckland Cup. Railway Handicap. Summer Cup, and Racing Club Handicap. The Hurdle Race brought out a field of five. Waiwera was installed favourite, and he amply iustified the confidence replaced in him by backers, for h« waited on his field until the straight was reached, and then came away and won by a length and a-half from Frost. The winner was a very consistent stake earner last season, and his excellent beginning gives promise of even greater success this year. On the second day of the meeting under notice, he was raised lOlbs, but this did not prevent him from annexing the stake, and when it is considered that he was giving Smithy 361b, and that the latter was six lengths in front when the straight was reached, it must be admitted that Waiwera has proved himself to be about as good as am- we have over the sticks. Eight horses faced the starter for the Hack Hurdles Levant and Glencoe being; the popular fancies. At the fall of the flag, the latter was in front, with Dick and Old Gun next in order. The order was unchanged the first time round, but when, heads? were turned for

home Levant came through his field, and beat Glencoe in the run home by a length. The winner paid a dividend ot £2 8s and backers of Glencoe received 15& 6d second money. Levant is a chestnut gelding, by Sou'- \\ ester, and out of seven starts last season was only successful once. His last winning; performance was on the second day of the Marton meeting when he beat a fair field. For the second day's races he was raised 13lb, but this did not prevent him from again gaming the verdict, and, strange to say he was followed home by Glencoe again. The Putiki Hack Handicap brought out a field of five contestants, for which Laureate was, made a warm favourite. When the tapes flew up, Aroha was quickest into her stride, and she earned on the running closely followed bv Laureate and Lissa. Rounding the back stretch, Laureate commenced to move up, and when the straight was leached was with the leader. A ding-dong struggle then ensued to the winning post, victory resting with Aroha by a length. So little was the winner's chance thought of that she was allowed to pa^ a dividend of £14 13s 6d, which was; the largest at the meeting. The winner is by Seouah — Miss Patriarch, and started twenty-three times last season, but was only successful once. Sik hoirses composed the- field for the Flyinsr Handicap, for which Windwhistle and Ringlet were most in, demand. Chasseur and Ringlet cut out the running until the straight was reached, where Wmdwhistle and Nioiti commenced to move up. A desperate struggle up the home-stretch resulted in thei latter winning by the narrowest of margins. The winner, who a dividend of £3 lb, was making her first appearance in open company, her previous successes being obtained in hack company at the Marton and Rangitikei meetings. The weather was again first-class for the second day's races, and there was a good attendance. For the Owen Stakes, run over six furlongs, seven horses faced the barrier. When the tapes flew up, Shrapnel Shell, who declined his first day's engagement, shot out in front, and, making every post a winning one, passed the judge's box two lengths in front of Chasseur. The winner got over the distance in the excellent time of lmin 16sec, and paid a dividend of £5 4s 6d, and backers of Chasseur received £5 Is second money. Shrapnell Shell, who races under the nomination of Mr. Smart, started twenty-one times last season, and was successful four times. The large field of eleven 1 . rses contested the Hack Flying, favouriteism being equally divided between The Ganger and Governess. The former cut out thei running until the straight was reached, where he was challenged by Governess, and, after a short struggle, the latter gained the verdict bv a length. The winner covered the distance in lmin 16 2-sthsec, which stamps her performance as something bettei than "hack" form. Governess hails from Taranaki, and is by Natator— Mrs IRadwon. She was successful twicejlast season out of ten starts. The Wanganui Stakes— the big event of the day — brought out ai field of nine starters, of which Halberdier was the popular fancy. The judgment of backers was not misplaced, for the son ot Cuirassier waited on his field until the home stretch was reached and then won comfortably by a length. Fakir came with a late run, and secured second money. Mel wood made a creditable showing for about a mile, but then cried enough. For his success, Halberdier carries a penalty of 31b for the New Zealand Cup in November, which brings his weight up to Bst. The winner cut out the mile and a-half in 2min 40sec, which enhances his Cup prospects considerably. Last season he started eleven times and was successful on five occasions his best performance probably being his Cup win at Feilding, with 9st 41b in the saddle. Six horses faced the barrier for the Railway Hack, for which Cave was most in demand. From an excellent start, Rita cut out the running for five furlongs when Lissa began to> move up. A good race down the straight between Lissa Dick Turpin, and Cave saw the former pass the winning: post half-a-length in front of Dick Turpin. The winner paid a dividend of £4 14s 6d, and backers of the second horse received £1 12s 6d. For the Marangai Stakes a field of eight tried conclusions, amongst which was Tortulla, who was making her first appearance this season. Oracle and King Edward led the field for a furlong, with Tortulla next, and Nioiti and Dodona last. Nioiti made a forward move round the bend, and was up with Tortulla and Loch Erne entering the straight. After a good set-to down the straight, Tortulla gained the verdict by half-a-head from Nioiti. who was two lengths in front of Loch Erne. The winner cut out the mile in lmin 45sec, and paid £1 15s 6d.

Tortulla, by her success at Wangauui, proves that she is very well iust now, and in capital trim to take on the big contest in November next. The daughter of Torpedo put up a great performance m carrying lOst 41b in such good time, and that she will repeat her last year's performance is high l " nrobable. True, she has 181b more to carry this year, but she has proved her ability to master heavy burdens on more than one occasion since then, and that she will give her admirers a good run for their money there can be no gainsaying. News comes from South that St. Michael has prone amiss, and that he will probably be an absentee from the Cur>. This is to be regretted, as the son of St. Leger has been doing excellent work on the track and it only remained for him to arrive at the post fit and well for the Cup contest to be thought at his me rev. It will be remembered that Mr. Knight paid 200 p-uineas for St. Michael last autumn. Mr. R. J. Mason, who trained the horse at Yaldhurst, says that not only was St. Michael a wood stayer. but that there were few faster horses in the establishment. Sportsmen throughout the colony will regret to hear of the death of Mr. J. T. Moore the owner of Chasseur and Armistice. He sustained a nasty fall at one of the hunt meets recently, and his illness terminated fatally during the second day's racing of thei Wansanui Jockey Club. According to the quotations furnished by a Southern firm of bookmakers, in connection with the New Zealand Cv 500 to 1 is the price of Stepdancer. "Terlinga," of the "Australasian." who, it may be remarked, witnessed the racing at Randwick durin^ the recent A.J.C. meeting, writes- — "Nothing that ran at Randwick looks to have much chance of beating Abundance in the Derby." At Riccarton last week, Romany Queen had the best of Siewe Gun the New Zealand Cup favourite, in a gallop over six furlongs. A rumour in town during the week was to the effect that Siege Gun had gone amiss, but there is no confirmation at time of writing. The "Sporting Times" writes of Sceptre — "Her form is as difficult to piece together as a Chinese puzzle or a lyddite catastronhe. Sceptre's form is really funnier than anything that has ever appeared in comic paper, musical play, or statute-book."