Turf Topic

Free Lance, Volume III, Issue 141, 14 March 1903, Page 10

Turf Topic

By 'Krect-Card.

Splendid acceptances have been received for the annual race meeting of the Horowhenua Racing Club, and some excellent sport should be witnessed. The meeting takes place on Tuesday next, St. Patrick's Day. and, given fine weather, there should be a record attendance. The following are my selections for the different events — Trial Handicap — Ora.. Flying Handicap. — Betsy. Hurdles. — Ruapehu or Ranui. Cup. — Mussel. Shorts.— Waikakaho or Blue Spur. St. Patrick's. — Hamua. Park Stakes. — Shrapnel Shell. Electric. — En Garde. * * * The following are my selections foi the events to be decided on Tuesday next at the Hawke's Bay Jockey Club's autumn meeting — Autumn Handicap. — Camelot. Hawke's Bay Cup. — Advance or Hmetaura. Hurdles. — Tirea or Kohunui. Nursery. — Regiment or Starshoot. Welter. — Tupaxa. Hack. — Kowhete. Railway. — Assayer or Okoari. * * * The annual meeting of the Stratford Racing Club takes place on Tuesday nexfc, and the following horses should run well in their respective engagements — Hurdles — Sunmos. Cup. — Black Reynard or Prisoner. Welter.— Flying Shell. St. Patrick's Handicap. —Prisoner 01 Merry Boy. Flying. — Waireka or Lady Soult * * * It is seldom now-a-days that a horse is brought out to contest tv. o successive events on a programme, but this happened at the annual meeting of the South Auckland Racing Club, which took place at Hamilton, on Saturday laist. The Cup was won by Annoyed, and he was brought out again in the Pony Handicap — the next event on, the programme. His victory in the big race did not prevent backers from making him favourite for the subsequent race, and he justified their confidence bv winning easily. On the third day of the V.R.C. autumn meeting, the Champion Stakes was won in the easiest possible manner by Wakeful. The daughter of Treinton started favourite, with The Victors' next in demand, and was followed home by Great Scot, the winner of the Australian Cup and The Victory, who. it will be remembered, won the last Melbourne Cup. On the fourth, day, the Trenton mare was beaten in the AllAged Stakes by Chant ress, whose win proves that her Newmarket Handicap victory was no fluke. The mile was run in lmin 43sec, and Chantress won in a canteir from Wakeful. Great Soot followed up his Australian Cup wm by annexing the Loch Plate, on the concluding day of the V.R.C. meeting. He was sent out an odds-on favourite, and never orave his supporters any uneasiness, for he went to the front half-a-mile from home, and was never afterwards troubled. The autumn meeting of the Wanganui Jockey Club held last week, was an unqualified success. There was a good attendance, and the sum put through the machines exceeded the amount handled at the corresponding meeting last year bv £1600. The race for the Cup, on the opening day, resulted in a surprise. Advance, despite his bi?, impost, was sent out favourite, with Halberdier and Orloff next in demand The former ran a good horse for a mile and a-quarter, but the pace was such cracker tha-t the weight told its tale and he could get no nearer than fifth. The winner turned un in Mars the aged son of Ingomar — -Lyre, who went to the front when the barrier rose, and lasted long enough to win by half-a-leno^th from Orloff. The rider of the latter had evidently received instructions to watch Advance, for the two horses raced together for a mile and a-quarteir, and he allowed Mars to cet too big a break on. When Advance was done with. Orloff went after the leader but although the son of Stepniak responded gamely, he could not get up to Mars. The latter's victory is looked upon in the light of a fluke — well, perhaps it was — but it must be re-

meinbered that he was only just beaten by Siege Gun in the Auckland Cup, and in the race under review he established a New Zealand record foi the mile and thieet-quaiteis. Mars was bred by the Hon J. D. Ormond at his Karamu Stud, but was not very successful in the all-oense colouis. He used to do excellent work on the braining brack but often failed to produce the same with the colours up. About, three seasons ago he was uurohd.sed by Mr. E. D. O'Rorke, and it is m the latter's colours that his pnncipal victories have been achieved. Mars was ridden in the Wanganui Cup bv the Queensland ]ockey, Mark Ryan, who was on the back of Nonette w hen that horse was successful last year. On the strength of his double success at Woodville the Hack Hurdles was looked upon as the best of good things for Romany Lad, a Gipsy King geldine, trained by W. Homes, at Bulls. He had to be content with second money for Old Gun came with a rattle in the straight, and upset the good thing. The winner was last successful at Otaki and now that he has returned to form he should not be long in putting another wan to his credit. Mr. J. Prosser had bad luok with his lepresentative. Urahahika, in the Hack Hurdles. He was eoing well, and was m a good position, too. Just as he was taking off at one of the jumps', he was galloped on from behind, with the result that he crashed through the hurdle, and turned right over, breaking Ins leg. The Maori-named gelding had a good private reputation and this was his first appearance in public. Waiwera was m a class by himself in the open Hurdle contests. On the fiist day, he won with list 121b up and, notwithstanding that he was raised 101b on the second day he again pie.vailed. None of his opponents could pace it with him at any sta.ge of the journey, and he conclusively proved that he is one of the best fencers w e have m the colony. Mr. Alf. S'hearsbjr's two representatives, Oingo and Westguard, were successful on the opening day, the former in the Stewards' Stakes and the lattei in the Flying Both successes weie anticipated by the public and, in consequence, the dividends were small. Mr. Stead appears to have, a moie than useful colt in Machine Gun. At the recent Chnstchurch races the Hotchkiss colt made Achilles stretch himself in the Middle Park Plate. Latei on, he annexed the Champagne Gtalces at the Dunedin meeting, and on Friday last he put down a good favourite in Advance for the Jackson Stakes, at the Wanganui meeting The latter race was run over six furlongs, in the good time of lmin 14 3-othsec. Machine Gun is engaged in the Wellington Stakes and Wellesley Stakes, at the ap-Dro-aohmg meeting of the Wellington Racing Club and there is a possibihtv that the representative from Yalclhurst will fight his Middle Park Plate battle over again with Achilles. Field Battery ran very consistently at the Wanganui meeting. Out of three starts, he was twice first and once second. W. Davies has the Hotckkiss horse v&ry well just now and he is deserving of all praise for the way he has persevered with the big son of Hotchkiss and Lady Evelyn A pleasing feature m connection w ith the Wanganui meeting w as the success of Mr. D. O'Brien's colt Heioism, in the WancranuL Stakes-. The popular Boniface has not been very fortunate latch m his turf ventures, and no one w ill begrudge old Dan a further share of Foitune's luck. The Otai£OK}wned Evening Wondei has been nominated for the Onkapaiins;a Steeplechase and Hurdle Race decided at the Onkapannga (South Australia) meeting, nerxt month J. E. Boardman, the English jocke\ won twenty-five out of thirty races he rode in South Africa during a, twomonths' visit including six consecutive wins at the Kemlworth meeting nea,r Capetown. Recently he sailed for England to fulfil an engagement with F. W. Day's stable