True Topics.

Free Lance, Volume III, Issue 129, 20 December 1902, Page 23

True Topics.

By 'Krect-Card.

The summer meeting of the Woodville Jockey Club was held last week, in splendid weather. There was a larse attendance on both days, and speculation was fairly brisk. The field® were large, and some excellent racing was witnessed— notably in the Woodville and Borough Handicaps on the first day. and in the High Weight the second day. Proceedings commenced with the Maiden Plate, which brought out a field of six starters. Waitohi, who had the services of Jenkins in the saddle was the popular fancy, but. with the exception of Sea King, all of the contestants were well supported. From a erood start the favourite was the first to show out, and he carried on the running till the bend was reached where Asteriod (by Apremont — Planet) rushed through the field, and, easily holding her own in the run home, won by four lengths from WaitoJu who was about the same distance in front of Apprentice The winner paid £4 18s and backers of the favourite lost 4s in the £1. The Flintlock gelding, Roer, was selected as the "correct pea" for the Hack Hurdles, but once a~nn was the nudgment of backers astray. Five horses faced the starter, and when the word was given Vathek rushed to the front, and led the field past tihe stand, with Ashleaf and Mourner following in that order, the favourite last. No alteration took place the first time round, but along the back stretch on the second occasion, Ashleaf took up the running, and he was several lengths in front on entering the straight. Maintaining his position till the winning post was reached, he won comfortably by four lengths from Vathek, who beat Roer for second honours by half-a-length. The mile and three-quarters was traversed in 3min 28sec. and the winner paid £5. Seven horses faced the barrier for the Grandstand Hack, run over seven furlongs. Kowhete, on his forward running in Wellington, was slightly better fancaed than Gold Seal, and Brilliantme was also well supported. The field were despatched to a good start, Gold Seal being quickest to get away. The favourite was 1 in front along the back, attended by Waitoa and Shackle. Rounding the bend for home, Rajah and Gold Seal had improved their positions, and when the straight was entered, Kowhete was joined b" Brilliantme and Shackle. An interesting struggle to the winning post then ensued, victory resting with Shackle by two lengths from Kowhete who was a neck in front of Gold Seal. The winner paid £9 13s, and backers of the favourite lost 3s. The next event on the card — the Woodville Handicap — was one of the best races seen on the course 1 for many a day. Twelve horses lined up to contest the race. Queen's Guard and Benefactor were slightly better fancied than

Hinetaura. From an even start, Platypus earned on the lunnang, and she led the field past the stand, closely followed by Motor Bally neety, Laureate, and Wilson, with Kahuwai last. At the back of the course, Bally neety was in front just clear of Motor, and rounding the bend these two were joined by Dexterity. The latter was first into the straight, where Motor came well under the whip, and catching Dexterity opposit© the lawn, won bv three>-qu/arters of a length. Hinetaura was third, a neck away. The distance was out out in 2min 13 l-sthsee, and the winner paid a dividend of £7 8s while backeis of Dexterity received £7 12s second moneiy. Ziska and En Garde were about equally fancied for the Flying Hack which was contested by a field of nine. When the tapes flew up, Gold Dust rushed to the front, but, aifter a furlong had been covered, Lass o' Gowrie bad assumed the lead. Rounding the bend for home, Ziska came fast, and put in a strong challenge but Lass o' Gowrie lasted long enough to win. by a head. Gold Dust was third, a head away The winner, who is by Soult— Lady Musket, carved out the six furlongs in lmin 18seo and paid a dividend of £5 while backers of Ziska received £1 3s second money. Seven horses contested the Borouerh Handicap, for which la and Mananthus were most in demand, although all of the candidates were well su— >orted. From a good start, Roseplot took ~a^ the running, and led out of the straight, attended by Marianthus and Mongonui. Along the back stretch Mananthus assumed command, and she led into the straight, where la began to go through her field. The latter caught the leader at the distance, and a din^-dong struggle ensued, the pair passing the winning-post locked together, the -judge being unable to separate them. The seven furlongs was clocked as done in the good time of lmin 31 3-sthsec. Both horses returned their backers a few shillings over even money. Lissa was a strong public fancy for the Welter Hack, which brought out seven starters but she never, at any portion, of the race flattered her backers. At the nse of the barrier, Ashleaf and Musketoon carried on the running till the bend was reached, where Ziskai came through her opponents- and, never being troubled, won easily bv a length from Waareka, who was a head in front of Baldie. The winner paid £5 Bs, and the second horse £1 13s. St. Denis and Turepo were most in favour for the- Electnc Handicap — the last event of the first day's programme — which brought out six starters. The confidence of backers was not misplaced, for they finished in the order named. The St. Clair geiding paid £1 16s, and backers of Turepo received 16s second money. The weather was again beautiful for the second day's races, but the attendance showed a, considerable falling off. The fields were not very large, but some good dividends were paid, the winners being hard to select. Backers received a shook when Roseplot annexed the Summer Handicap, and paid £8 18s m a field of five, and this was further augmented when St. Denis failed in the Railway Stakes, for which he was mad© the medium of a lot of speculation. A start was made with the Stewards' Handicap, which brought out five starters. Brilliantine was most in demand, the remainder being about equally supported. Shackle and Kowhete took the lead at the rise of the barrier, and

these two earned on the running until the bend was reached where Waireka made a forward move. Once in the home stietch. the latter challenged strongly, but he oould make no impression on, Kowhete. who won bv a length and a-half Shackle the same distance away third. The winner paid £5 9s. Five horses tned conclusions for the Second Hurdles, Ashleaf, Vathek. and Waitohi being equally supported. Vathek was the first to show out, and, racing alone the back stretch was attended by Flanagan and Ashleaf Rounding the bend, Waitohi assumed the lead, and, never being troubled, won easily by four lengths from Vathek, who was only a head in front of Ashleaf. The winner or O t over the mile and a-half in the eood time of 2min -55sec and paid £3 11s. Backers would stand nothing else but Ziska for the Ruahine Hack Welter, and their confidence was not misplaced. Musketoon and Roll Call carried on the running from the rise of the barrier till the bend was reached, where Waitoa joined the leaders, and the favourite made a forward move. The latter came through in the run horne 1 and won comfortably by haJf-a-length from Baldie, who was two lengths in front of Musketoon. The winner paid £1 19s. Benefactor was a slightly better favourite than la for the Summer Handicap, which drew only five starters. Roseplot was the first to move, and he led the field nast the staind and along the back stretch, his nearest attendants being Laureate and la. The latter was m front when, the straight was reached, but Roseplot came again under punishment, and overhauling la, won by threequarters of a length. The winner paid £8 18s, and covered the mile and a distance in lmm 59 3-sthsec. The Telegraph Hack consisted of a field of six Gold Seal and Lass o5o 5 Gowrie being the popular fancies. From the rise of the tapes, Gold Dust shot out, and he led the field until the back stretch was reached, where he was supplanted by Gold Seal and Lass o' Gowrie. The latter was first into the straight, but Gold Dust came fast on the outside, and won bv a length in the run ht<me. Waireka just managed toi beat Lass o' Gowrie on the post for second honours. The winner paid £6 17s. The Railway Stakes which was contested by a field of four, was looked upon as a gift for St. Denis, but once again the uncertainty of racing was manifested. Turepo went to the front at the rise' of the tapes, and, making every post a winning one, passed the judge's box a length and a-half in front of Shackle who was followed b^ the favourite. The winner carved out the six furlongs m lmin 18 l-sthsec, and paid £7 4s. Seven horses contested the Hack Scurry, the Rebellion mare Rebellious being the one most in favour, although Wind was also in good demand. Waikanae was the first to show out, and, although challenged by the favourite in the home stretch he just held his own, and won, all out by a length. The winjner paid £4 16s, and backers of Rebellious lost 7s. The finish for the High Weight Handicap was the best witnessed for the day. Eight horses faced the barrier, Lady's Link and Marianthus being about equal favourites. The opinion of backers was not misplaced, for they finished in the order named. Argyle out out the running passing the stand, but she was headed by Marianthug in the baok stretch. The former dropped back beaten rounding the bend, where Ladv'si Link ioined Marianthus. The latter led into the straight, but the Chainlink mare was enual to the task, and she won by a length in the run home, and paid £3 4s. * # * The acceptances for the Auckland Cup are of a disappointing nature, only eleven remaining in. As this is the last opportunity I shall have of dealing with the handicaps I will suggest the following as likely winners of the principal events — Auckland Cup. — Siege Gun. Steeplechase. — Haydn . Railway Handicap. — Pallas. Derby.— Orloff. • * * For the Manawatu meeting, on Boxing Day, I like the chances of the following : — Hack Hurdles. — Moleskin. Nursery. — Gold Seal. Cup. — Hinetaura. First Hurdles. — Waiwera. Telegraph. — Westguard. Hack. — Cave. Grandstand. — Lady's Link.