Turf Topics.

Free Lance, Volume IV, Issue 192, 5 March 1904, Page 14

Turf Topics.

By St. Simon.

THE Dunedin Cup of 1904 produced a surprise. Gladsome went out a hot favourite for the event, with Canteen next ia demand, but it remained for the Pel kin Warbeck pony, Buluwayo, to carve out the distance in record time for that race, Red Gauntlet being second, and Gladsome third. With the performance of the Auckland pony, Annoyed, fresh in our minds when she downed the big guns at Takapuna, it would appear that the midget equines of New Zealand are fit cattle to meet the best of their race. Red Gauntlet, son of Lochiel has never been looked upon as a stayer, but his merry pace lasted right into the straight in the Dunedin Cup, and his second to the winner was a meritorious performance, which he followed up on the second day by annexing the D.J.C. Handicap, one mil© and a-quarter Totahsator tickets at the Dunedin meeting were 10s each, and, as the amount handled was in excess of last year, the system must have met with the appreciation of the betting public. The veteran, Blazer, scored a win for his owner, Mr. Jackson, at the meeting by winning the mile on the concluding day. He's an old battler right enough. Auckland files record the fact that the hurdler, Haydn, is looking well, and it is expected that he will be in the leading division of leppers during the coming season. Mr. G. G. Stead has had the misfortune to lose by accident the yearling colt by Phoebus Apollo, from Armilla, which cost him 380 guineas at the Wellington Park sale. The consistent Shrapnel Shell has been taken up again m view of next month's racing.

The v ell-known huidler, Tresharn, has had to be destroyed. It seems he splintered a bone in one of his legs. An effort was made to save him, the horse beinp placed in shno-s, but in the end a bullet found a billet. The Trump Card maie, Flower o' Clutha, who earned a stake at Riccarton lecently, repeated the perfoimance at Wmgatui last week, placing the Domain Handicap to her credit, and paying the nice dividend of £5 12s. One of Euroclydon's progeny, Brighton, out of Ma Belle, showed a good turn of foot at Wmgatui meeting, and will probably be heard of again in the near future. A Dunedin telegram states that another misfortune has occurred to one of Mr. Stead's thoroughbred youngsters, a colt by JMultiform — La Nolle having been drowned. It was valued at £500. Ellis Bros., the Otago tramer-owners, headed the list of winners at the Dunedin meeting with £610, Sir G. Clifford and Mr. Teschemaker being next with £400 each. The Woodville Cup, run on Wednesday of last week, was won by Starshoot, with the unlucky Romeo again in second place. The big race on the second day was T\on by ahead by Hydrant, ridden by Victor Cotton. Captain Russell's mare, Nadador, w on the Hurdles on the first day of the Woodville races, from Miss Kine, but the latter turned the tables on the second day, and made no race of it. Kudu maintained her reputation for consistency bv winning the Kumara Handicap from Coxswain who is owned by Mr. Jorgenson, of Wellington. That gentleman had no luck at the meeting w th either Coxswain or Pokeka. The Euroclydon filly, Notos, who has long been expected to score, dead-heat-ed with Pahuwai in the five-furlong Scuriv, and paid a dividend of £3 ss. The concluding event of the meeting was yon by Capulet, who beat a hot favourite in Perfection, who scored a meritorious win in the President's Handicap on the first day. This beauti-fully-shaped scion of The Workman has a lot of followers. Harry Goodman is now in oharge at the Hutt. His team consists of Matuku, Ringlet, Solution, Vallance, and the Stepniak — Runee colt. The rumour that Achilles was not too well is without foundation, and I learn that he is doing in a satisfactory manner all that is asked of him.

The Guesser is being schooled over fences. He has joined F. Higgott's team at the Hutt. Glenaladale has retired fiom the track to take up duties between the shafts. Stepson is again in commission, and may be seen out in April. The popular rider, H. Cannon*, is only slowly recovering from the effects of a fall from Fakir, at Taranaki. Fakir has been shipped to South Africa where his lady owner will endeavour to capture some of the rich prizes for hurdlers. He is a useful sort but no wonder. Pure Silver is doing good woik for A. Peters at the Hutt.