Turf Topics

Free Lance, Volume IV, Issue 193, 12 March 1904, Page 19

Turf Topics

By St. Simon.

THE Stratford meeting takes place on the 16th and 17th instant. Writing prior to acceptance day, I fancy the following in their various engagements — Ohura Hurdles. — Moetoropuku 1, Hawera 2. Stratford Cup.— Rustique 1, Starina 2. Tariki Welter.— Toledo 1, Lurcher 2. Midhurst Handicap.— Little Turk 1. Maureen 2. Flying Handicap.— Kudu 1, Silver Star 2. # On the 16th arid 17th instant, the Napier Park Club's meeting also takes place. The entries are Targe, and, should a fair proportion accept, there ought to be interesting racing. With a start, I take the following to run prominently . — Hack Hurdles.— Nadador 1, Gipsy Jack 2. Esk Hack. — Mesmer 1, Greenstone 2. Napier Cup. — Hinetaura 1, Gold Dust 2. Welter. — Good Spec 1, Anadeja 2. Sapling Stakes. — Mystification 1, Galahad 2. Redcliffe Hack. — Mesmer 1, Optimist 2. Flying Handicap.— Gold Seal 1, Idea 2. Trial Stakes. — Anser Anser 1, Lord Soult 2. Maiden Hack. — Lord Soult 1, Forest Vale 2. ♦ * » On the 11th instant, the Shannon Hack Club's meeting will be held. I like the following — Shorts.— Lethehne 1, Loch Tay 2. Shannon Handicap. — Rebounding Lock 1, Torbina 2. Hurdles. — Rebounding Lock 1, Intrigue 2. Easter Handicap. — Loch Tay 1, Arawa 2. District Race. — Waimori 1, Rongaru 2. Hurry Scurry. — Hector McDonald 1, Tawhoa 2. * * * Prosser's luck has changed. The Wanganui Cup fell to Ghoorka, the outsider of those who went to the post for that event, and he paid the nice price of £9 odd. Canteen went out favourite for the Wanganui Cup, but the grey has lost the dash which he possessed when he established a record in the fastest New Zealand Cup ever run. The long-looked-for meeting of two such guns as Achilles and Machine Gun eventuated when they went out to do battle in the Wanganui Stakes. It was expected that honours would, with the difference in weight, rest 'with the winner, but it was not thought that Exmoor and Chryseis would beat Machine Gun. The good old Musket blood flowed through the veins of 17 out of 24 winners at the Dunedin meeting. Musket's son, Carbine, has not come up to expectations at Home, although given a chance with the best of mares. With age, however, blood will tell. The pony, Bulawayo, rendered notable through annexing the Dunedin Cup in a strong-quality field, carries a strain of blood that is undeniable when the whips are cracking and necks are stretched for home. The mottledquartered chestnut son of Perkin Warbeck EL has three strains of the famous Stockwell, through Birdcatcher, Fisherman, and Musket. I reckon breeding apd form are good guides in backing 'em but I know a better — that's when the dollars are up.

Another "take down" for bookmakers i« recorded. The telephone adjacent to a certain course is worked by the local grocer. It is a Government bureau. Race morning, or rather noon, two "swaggers" enter shop and order various articles. Industrious grocer dips heartily into sugar and tea chests, while one of the enterprising "swaggers" whips the clock back half-an-hour. Said "swaggers" have a betting connection which accepts bets if telegrams show the handed-in-time to be twenty minutes befoie the race. Grocer, good honest man, don't know the clock is slow, sends his time along, and the "swaggers" manage a winner every time. Oh, this naughty, nauehty world ! Red Gauntlet, runner-up in the Dunedin Cup, has often caused his backers to regret the day they trusted their spare dollais with the totahsator man. But recently the son of Lochiel has come right along at the business end, and proved that, although his backers were beaten, they were not astray as to his capabilities. By Lochiel, out of Russet, and only five years old, he should prove an acquisition to this colony's sires. I understand he joins their ranks next season. The Graf ton colt, Blaokstone, owned by the Dunedin sportsmen, Ellis Bros., showed good form at the Dtmedin meeting. On the first day we find him cutting out the Domain Handicap distance in lmin 30 3-sth sec, and on the second day again to the front in the Farewell Handicap, after running second to Ailsa earlier in, the day. In the three events he paid the respective dividends of £6 14s £1 2s, and £5 16s. Not a bad one to have followed. The Wammoo has valuable cargo aboard for Sydney. She carries our equine heroine, Gladsome. May the nag come back covered with honours gained on the turf of the Commonwealth. Skobeloff , of whom much has been expected, and only disappointment gained, has been relegated to the shafts, wheie I hope he will never be asked to catch a train — even a New Zealand train. Kudu, the Workman filly, broke a blood vessel in her head at the Woodville meeting, in the Settleis' Handicap, and lan unplaced. This, however, did not pi event her coming out later on in the day, and winning the Kumeroa Hack Handicap m good style. Friends of Tommy Godfrey in these parts were pleased to learn that Petrovna had won the Publicans' Handicap at the Dunedm meeting. Tommy has had a run of bad luck of late, and, no doubt, the substantial stake was very acceptable. The Hon. J. D. Ormond has disposed of Menura to the owner of Mourner and Woodguard. The mare had a splendid chance in the Dannevirke Cup with 7st 131b, but, owing to getting into a wire fence, she had to be withdrawn. The Auckland two-year-old, Veldt, who showed good form recently, is booked for South Africa where she should make a name for herself. Bert Hewitt put up a big record at the Dunedin meeting. He rode seven winners out of twelve mounts. He has a lot of followers down South who must have ben, fited accordingly.

Bulawayo, Dunedin Cup winner, once paid a sensational dividend on the Wingatui couise. He won the Hack High Weight Welter, and backers called for drinks. Theie were only two of them, and they each got £125 16s. Anyone then suggesting him as a probable winner of the Dunedin Cup would have been, suspected of rats.