Turf Topics.

Free Lance, Volume IV, Issue 191, 27 February 1904, Page 19

Turf Topics.

By St. Simon.

ON Wednesday and Thursday next the Wanganui meeting will be held and everything points to the probabilities of a successful meeting. Had I the opportunity of setting do^iny anticipations after the decision of the Dunedm Cup, W task wouW be much more easy, as, with the r unn ™q foi the WanganuL Cup. With 9st 61b on her back Glad some vsould cake-walk the race With an other seven pounds on her back tor a Dunedin Cup victory, I would look to Canteen to down her with Bst luio, or ro tybe Convoy. However, I give my rote on the present we^hts as follows Wanganui Cup. — Gladsome, 1. Canteen, 2. Convoy, 3. Plying Handicap.— Jewellery 1, Lady "^ard^Sakes-Hydrant 1, Maro S^Hu'rdles.-Hutana 1, Levant 2, Stakes-Novgorod 1, QuarHandsome R^n^ OHaeO Haek O °L 3 ce-Starinal, Sea Lion 2, Commonwealth 3. Hack Hurdles.— ln-the-Van 1, Lissa 2, Ranana 3. * * * Ghoorka did not figure amon? the acceptances for the Dunedin Cup, and, as he is said to be doing good work at Porirua, it may safely be concluded that his mission will be the Wanganui Cup. Had } ie iourneyed South, I fancy he would have been the one to fill second place. Convoy has further demonstrated what a kood one he is by annexing the Egmont Cup in a comfortable manner in 2min 36 l-sth sec. The unfortunate Auckland-owned Romeo had to play second fiddle to Mr. Young's gelding. It was hard luck indeed for the owner of Sally Port that the Gipsy Grand filly met with such injuries at Egmont whilst racing that she had to be destroyed. The Gipsy Grand filly gave every promise of being a useful sort, and the sum of £250 was her value. It was at one time thought that Cruciform, through an injury, would be relegated to the stud, but I notice that she is again in work. Let us hope that our champion mare, together with Gladsome, will be seen in the sp«ng stretching the necks of Australia s best goods. Achilles' withdrawal from the Wanganui Cup prior to the declaration of the weights gives colour to the rumour that Medallion's son is not too sound. The connections of Romeo have had very bad luck of late, and just when honours appeared to be within their grasp Well-backed by his party, he went out in the Taranaki Cup, but fell in the early stages of the race. On the following day, in the Autumn Handicap he ran disappointingly. ihen, in the Egmont Cup, he was downed by Convoy, and by Jewellery in, the Atkinson Memorial Stakes. Writing of Jewellery causes me to note the fact that the Auckland mare appears to shape well under the control of young Cotton's Tod Sloan-ing. Her two recent successes at Takapuna and Egmont were long overdue, and her connections were just about to suiter from "that tired feeling" which can only be removed by a liberal application at the pay-out windows of the tote-house. Melodeon is a horse that much has been expected of, but is still expected. It was thought when he chased Wairiki and Treadmill home in the Auckland Cup that it would not be long before he would land a good stake for Mr. Watt. In the Egmont Cup his display was ignominious, due, I understand, to his trainer having a difficulty in giving him a thorough winding-up owing to dicky forepins. Owing to Treadmill developing symptoms of unsoundness, he was last week struck out of the Dunedra Cup. Machine Gun still holds an unbeaten record for this season. His last success was the Richmond Plate, at the Riccarton meeting.

The Auckland Cup winner, Wairiki, is doing strong work, in view, it is said, of competing in the two principal events at the A R.C. autumn meeting. Mr. Gates has a worthy descendant of Lady Zetland in Zetland, by Obhgado. The manner in which he won his race at Riccarton stamps him as a worthy halfbrother to the speedy Lady Lillian. The Auckland mare, Rosella, it will be remembered, was some time ago purchased from Mr. Fnedlander by Mr. J. B. Reid, of Ellershe. News comes from the South to the effect that the mare's racing career has ended, and that she will now take up stud duties. A valuable addition, I should say to Mr. Reids stud The Russian Government gave 20,000 guineas for Galtee More. Cable advices to hand state that the horse has now beern purchased from the Russians bj the German Government. It would be interesting to know the price. Mr. H. Goodman has taken up his duties as trainer to the Wellington owner, Mr. R. Patterson. Goodman has had some good ones through his hands, counted among them being Euroclydon. Given a sound horse, Harry could always be reckoned to land him in the pink of condition at the post. Mr Smith, owner of the hurdler Australasia, informs me that his horse is rapidly recovering from the bad leg which it was at one time feared would end fatally. It appears that the horse struck and cut himself rather badly, and, through inattention on the part of the boy who* was looking after the horse, dirt got into the wound, setting up inflammation and festering. Australasia will not likely be fit, to race again until about Grand National time. The Wellington-owned hurdler Eclair has evidently developed a penchant for falling, as he toppled over a fence in both of his recent essays. Eclair has been a bad horse to follow this season. When he wins, which is seldom, he always pays a small price. Manawaiu continues in a winning vein, having won a race at Gisborne and Poverty Bay meetings. Congratulations to Timi Kara, his owner, who is a thorough sport, and doesn't run his horses zig-zag to delude the racing public. Oh, some of the men behind the mokes do want watching badly. There is the hottest bit of "in-and-out" going going on under the noses of the racing authorities at the pdesent time that has ever been perpetrated in the colony ; but none are so blind as those who will not see. Black Reynard, who won on. the opening day of the Egmont meeting, is owned by a messenger in the Government Buildings, and, as a consequence, whenever Black Reynard's victory is announced there is a step that is elastic and an air of pride visible on every messenger in the building. May they often participate Trotting enthusiasts m Wellington district will be pleased to learn of the success of Mr. J. August's horse Black Child at the recent Christchurch meeting in two events, oaying dividends of £27 and £10 odd respectively. Mr. D. Wilkie's Euchre (by Vauclere), trained at Petone, won the Advance Handicap It is something new for Wellingtonians to invade the headquarters of trotting in the colony, and seize the plums.