Totalisator Turf Topics.

Free Lance, Volume IV, Issue 186, 23 January 1904, Page 16

Totalisator Turf Topics.

By St. Simon.

IT only requires a continuance cf fine weather to ensure a most enjoyable two days' racing at the Hutt to-day (Friday) and to-morrow. The track would be none the worse for a shower of rain, but, under the circumstances, the going is very good. During the week some interesting work has been witnessed by track watchers, one of whcm, whose opinion I highly value, can Gee. nothing to beat Canteen. We had an argument over tl at horse and Gladsome's chances, and my friend, the watcher concluded my eulogy of the Seaton Delaval mare with "Rats — the grey will beat her by a length." Eowever, the mare is in form, and her Auckland performances arc good enough for me. Owing to the holiday in this week, my notes have to be in the hands of the printer on Monday morning, therefore I am unable to srive my final selections for the first day of the Wellington meeting, and will have to let them remain as given mi my general forecast of last week, with the exception of the Electric Handicap, for which I tipped Petrovna. The Dunedm mare went straight home from Auckland, and will, therefore, not be a starter at the mooting. The fall she got in Auckland shook her up badly, and a spell has been decided upon. Te Taiaha should about win, although he is by no means a thicken at the game. I am afraid that the list, of acceptances will be disappointing. The Foxton meeting is held on the same dates, and, as that club is likely to have big fields, with attendant big starting prices, it is more than likely that they will come best out of the deal. Gladsome is a firm favourie for tiie Wellington Cup, at 6to 4. What a price almost a week prior to the meeting! Methinks Canteen's backers, at 5 to 1, wouldn't get that on the day. Mr. Stead's two-year-old filly, Golden Lily, who contracted a cold on the trip to Auckland, is throwing off the effects, and may be able to give us a taste of her ■quality at the meeting. Sir Geo. Clifford's team arrived in Wellington on Sunday morning, from Christchurch after a smooth passage. Cutts has been slipping the work into them at Riccarton and will nrobably have the pleasure of leading in more thani one winner at the meeting. L. H. Hewitt is fast cutting out the pace in the race for the top of the tree in winning mounts. He placed no less than twelve firsts to his credit at the Auckland meeting, and must now be leading a few lensiJas from the popular Jenkins, of Panrua. All going well, they won't catch Bert. The Manawatu Racing Club came out of their recent meeting with a surplus of £1617 odd. Good luck, Manawatu. With better train arrangements next year that figure should be easily distanced. The local owner, Mr. Jorgenson, who is a thorough sportsman, broke his list oi seconds by his nominations filling pride of place on two or three occasions at the Nelson meeting. True, his prices were short, but the change of luck would be palatable to the owner. White Ribbon, by Merrie England, won a double on the second day of the Nelson meeting, and paid £6 odd and £4 odd respectively. The Dunedin races, held at the Forbury Park on Saturday, were carried out without the aid of the totahsator, but the* fielders' laid their usual "liberal" prices of twos and threes to one against, and sometimes on. Pipi, who had just returned from, his Auckland trip won the Hurdle Racei in good company. He started at Bto 1, which was very fair odds indeed. The ancient Blazer came to light in the Forbury Handicap, of seven furlongs. Among the unplaced division -was St. Denis. Another old warrior, in Goldspur, accounted for the five-furlong race. He started at 3 to 1. The Southern horses competing at the Auckland meeting are said to have fined down considerably during their visit, and when they left for their homes looked 1 jaded and worn. It will be remembered that Great Scot, who won the Australian Cup last year, was purchased' by a wealthy 3lajah, with a view to annexing the

much-coveted Viceroy's Cup. The expectations of that Rajah have beem fully realised, as a recent cable announces the victory of Great Scot in that event. Breeders in the Manawatu district will hail with delight the arrival of the Auckland crack, Nonette, who has been purchased by Mr. Stephenson, of Palmerston North. The speedy son of Sea ton Delaval, if given a chance, should prove an acquisition to the breeding establishments m that district. The veteran, Bob Derrett, will have the mount on Canteen in the Wellington Cup, so backers can rely upon having a well-ridden race for their money, even if they don't get home. Cannie Chiel will probably represent Sir George Clifford in the Wellington Cup, but, judging by his display m the Manawatu Cup, over the same distance, I do not expect to see him gain a place. A milei and a quarter a\ ould suit him better. I don't believe in dreams, but something happened on the second day of the Hawke's Bay meeting that, to say the least of it, is strange. I was commissioned to wire £2 to th© course on the second day of the meeting referred to for investment on Anadeja. a local penciller having dreamt that he won, and paid a thumpin^ dividend, and a friend who also invested a portion of the sum sent, dreamt likewise. Anadeja ran second in the race, and paid £14 odd second money.