Turf Topics.

Free Lance, Volume IV, Issue 197, 9 April 1904, Page 19

Turf Topics.

By the "Old Un."

THE Wairarapa autumn meeting, which begin on Saturday last, was favoured by capital weather. Mr. 'Timi Kara" was on the course, to see his filly Manawaru run, but appeared somewhat disappointed at the result of her efforts. Mr. C. F. Val lance has a useful gelding in Kaimoe, a powerful animal, that should make a cross-country horse before the season ends. Kaimoe had an easy victory in the Hurdles. Gipsy Jack, a full-brother to Waiwera was gome strong in the early part, of the race, but, jumping wildly, came a cropper opposite the stand after leading for half-a-mile. With more practice he should make a useful hurdler. The Maiden Plate introduced Aberration, a racy-looking colt by The PosSl ble — Kie Kie The public were much taken by his appearance, and he went out a firm favourite. He won easily enough, but hung in a little at the finish, and his owner, Mr. W. E Bidwell, had to undergo the ordeal of an illadvised protest, which was dismissed. The Easter Handicap brought out the five runners who had made acceptance. Good Intent and Plaidie were most fancied. The disappointing Far Niente mare, Sunfish, has appaiently done well under the care of the veteran, Ike Freeth, as she hopped off with the lead, and despite a strong effort by Plaidie, won m a very easy manner. Matam.au, the property of Mr. Vallance, looked very fit, and, a'ded by her light weight, easily settled the pretentions of Black Squall and Bounce in the Tohoranga Hack Race. Bounce ran well for five furlongs, but his heavy impost of 9st 71b anchored him. The Wairongomai Handicap was thought to be a good thing for Mr. Patersons mare, Matuku. The Wairarapa folks however, would have nothing but Immersion, and the pair carried mobt public money- Matuku fretted a deal before she left the saddling paddock, and during the race was not at. any time prominent Mr. Bidwell 's mare. Immersion, came away at the turn, and won very comfortably. For the Hack Race, Wilier, Manawaru, Hoity Toity, and Black Squall were selected as probable winners. The winner, however, turned up in Mammga, with Black Squall second, and Silverlene third, the former paying the best dividend of the day — £8 2s. The Open Welter brought out a field of seven. Replete, Ringlet, and Waitote were most fancied. The firstnamed hung at the post, and lost several lengths. Waitote, aided by her light weight, soon had a couple of lengths lead, and, never being headed, won comfortably, the unlucky Ringlet gettine second. Sanfoin, who was loaded with lOst 21b, was not prominent. A stipendiary steward would probably have inquired into some of the jockeys' performances had one been in, evidence. Matamau, having incurred a 101b penalty for the Makari Hack Handicap, Delight was selected as the proper thing to back, Matamau being next in demand. The pair had the race to themselves, and Matamau won after the only close finish during the day. Gladsome's defeat by Sweet Nell, in the A.J.C. Autumn Stakes, at Randwick last Saturday, was a facer to New Zealand punters, who planked their cash down freely, and would not hear of Mr. Reids filly's downfall. Sweet Nell, however, is a brilliant filly, and it is quite possible that Gladsome has felt the effects* of the hard races she has taken part in this season.

Followers of the Porirua stable were pleased to see the Stepmak — Shepherdess colt, Bmis, win the Northern Champagne Stakes. Pi osser had capital trying: tackle in Novgorod and Valois, and, as he selected Boris to repiesent the stable at Auckland, many punters supported the colt, although he was not given a chance by the Auckland sporting scribes. There wa,s some spirited speculation on the A.R.C Easter Handicap. Starshoot, however, w<\& most heavily supported in Wellington, his form at Woodville and Wanganui demonstrating that he would run well with Bst 51b. His supporters, after having a good run, got a refund of their cash, with five per cent, profit. Starshoot's Wellington admirers, emboldened by the colt's good form m the Easter Handicap, planked their money on him with confidence for the Century Stakes, notwithstanding that he had to meet the Auckland champion, Wairiki. They were agreeably surprised when the news came through that he had paid the capital dividend of £2 12s. The training Wairiki has done for longdstance events has evidently detracted from his speed Had the distance been a little further it would have suited him. Mr. R. T. Turnbull, owner of Boris, who is now in England, was advised by cable of the success of his colt in the Auckland Champagne Stakes. The event would, no doubt, be duly celebrated in proper style by his genial owner and a number of New Zealand friends who are at present residing in Ifondon. Boris's win in the Ellershe Handicap, on Monday, was a meritorious one, as he had 9st 101b in the saddle, and gave Gladstone (a full-bro-ther to Gladsome) 211 band a twolengths beating. Ghoorka, the Porirua stable's second representative at the Auckland meeting, finished, out of a place in the Easter Handicap, but managed to get a place in the St. George's Handicap. Mr. Evett, the handicapper, gave him lib more to carry, although he was never prominent. Romeo, on the other hand, was given 41b less weight. On the face of it, the Auckland horse seemed unduly fovoured, and on paper looked a good thing, but only managed to run a dead heat with the much-im-proved Regulation. Why Ghoorka was not allowed the same concession in weight as Romeo, for being defeated, seems a bit of a Chinese fizzle. The Yaldhurst stable's alleged good thing for the C.J.C Easter Handicap finished, as I ant'cipated, amongst the "also started." The timely warning of Mr. Stead, "that Martian had done nothing in private to justify the colt's being rushed into the position of a favourite," was unheeded, and the crowd who tumbled over one another to forestall the stable will probably raise the.r usual cry, that they did not get a run for their money. The old saying "that fools rush in," etc., is once more exemplified and the metallicians profit theieby. The Great Easter Handicap was fought out by a pair of Dunedin-owned hoises, Vladimir and Kremlin, the former having been purchased last season from the Hon. Geo. McLean by Messrs. Hazlett Bros., sons of one of Otago's oldest racing men and a steward of the Dunedin Jockey Club. Vladimir's first win for his new owners was the Winter Cup, at last Grand National meeting. Subsequently, he went sore, and was indulged in a lengthy spell. He showed he had regained his form in a six furlong handicap at the recent Southland meeting. With 9st 71b up he won in the good tzme of lmin 17 2-sth sec. The local bookies scarcely wrote Vladimir's name in connection with the Easter and Autumn Handicaps, and the majority have thus escaped laying the winning double. Had horses in the Yaldhurst stable prevailed every layer in New Zealand would have been struck. The whole of the wagers about Mr. Stead's horses were taken it is said by professional backers, who expected to retail later on at a short price. Mr. Stead himself does not bet, and his immediate friends were offered such absurd prices that they abstained' from taking wagerb about his horses. Mr. G. W. Smart, on a recent visit to Auckland, purchased the Cyrenian —

Silk colt, Cyrus, for seventy guineas. After seeing him win the mile and a-half Waitemata Handicap, most Northern sportsmen thought Mr. Friedlander well rid of the colt, as he was not considered much class. Mr. Smart's judgment however, has been rewarded by his, purchase securing the valuable Feilding Cup, in whioh he put up good time, and beat a capital field. Frank Higgott, his trainer, is to be congratulated unon his success w.th the colt.