Totalisator Turf Topics.

Free Lance, Volume V, Issue 222, 1 October 1904, Page 21

Totalisator Turf Topics.

By the 'Old 'On."

THE weights for the Marlboiough spring events have just been declared, and as the events will be decided e'er there is another issue of the Lance, I must give my imjpiessions now. — Handicap Hurdle Race.— Moeraki or Jeanae d'Albret. Blenheim Handicap. — Sychem or White Ribbon. Spring Handicap.— Togos or St. Winnifred. Welter. — Oateress 01 krror. Flying Handicap.— Glory or Puie bilElectric Handicap.— Togos or RekaHawke's Bay acceptances aie to hand, and the following should tun well — Tomoana Hack Hurdle Race.—Romany Girl 1, Tamwha 2. King Edward Handicap. — Clifford s selected 1 1, Mahutonga 2, Madrigal 3. Hawke's Bay Guineas.— Stronghold 1 Boris 2, Golden Lily 3. Pakowhai Hurdle Handicap.—Comfort 1, Aroha 2. Welter Handicap. — Bandmaster I, Sleepwell 2, Optimist 3. Waipatu Hack Handicap — Alteration 1, Galahad 2, Te Hauke 3. Flying Handicap. — Immersion 1, Ine Stake 2" Float 3 * * * The local sportsman, H. Biown, made a good bargain when he purchased the Auckland Steeplechase winner, Moccasin for 100 guineas. He szot moie than his purchase money back the fiist time of starting. Moccasin's owner intended to have a good bet on his horse for the Rangitikei Steeplechase, but, owing to a flaw in the arrangements, a sum of cash which he intended investing on his horses chance, was not put on. He, however, had a fairly good bet with the totahsator, and the dividend (£7) was a capital one. The racecourse and lawn at Rangitikei was a perfect quagmire, rain falling prior to nd' during both days of the meeting. Many horses were consequently unable to display their true form. Handi cappers Henrys, Morse, Pollock, and Chadwick, who were in attendance, will not be inclined to place much reliance on some of the form exposed at the meeting. The New Zealand Cup representa-tives-—Halberdier, Regulation, Shrapnel, and Full Ciy — were palpably backward in condition, and cannot be wound up for a stiongly-run two-mile race between now and the date of the New Zealand Cup, and backers may omit them from their list of possible winners. Matuku, Lasso' Gowue and' Submarine were probably the best-conditioned racers seen out at Rangitikei. The foimer pair ran. really well Submarine is a nice colt, and will score again shortly. He is owned by Mr. E. J. Watt, of Hawke's Bay. Raema, who won the Hack Hurdle Race on the first day at Rangitikei, is the property of the Wairarapa sportsman, Mr. C. A. Vallance. Te Kohau, winner of the Chfton Steeplechase, is owned by Mr. Vallance's nephew, whose late father (Mr J. C. Vallance) was, in the eighties, an extensive breeder of blood stock. Rose d'Amour, dam of Roseplot, Pasha, Rumour, Honeysuckle, and other good performers, was the queen of his stud matrons. The hack hui die horses that competed at Rangitikei were not a brilliant lot. Defoe, the half-brother to Moifaa, was a class above his rivals. Defoe was unlucky to get beaten on the first day. Had he been ridden more vigorously during the early stages of the race he would have won. Why Delight should have been sent out a better favourite than her stable companion, Defoe, is a puzzle. She is so obviously a long way from a good one. Sea Lion, the much-discussed brother to Achilles, was given a lun during the meeting. He looks well, but seemed unable to act in the heavy going. He is, however, thoroughly sound, and should soon repay his owner some of the money he has laid out upon him Hamua, another Ponrua cnst-off, was a competitoi at the meeting. He ran second to Submarine in the last race of the first day, but ran badly on the second day.

Union Jack, a huntei, lepiesented Major-General Babington in the steeplechase events. Although a capital fencer, he is not possessed of much pace, but succeeded in getting a place in the Steeplechase, owing to mishaps to other horses. He was expected to lun wel- in the Ha-ok Steeplechase, on the second day, but he failed to occupy a prominent position duiing any portion f of the journey, and disgraced the flag whose name he bore. This appai ently struck his connections, as they submits ted the horse to auction at the conclusion of the race. He did no+ however, find a purchaser. Mr. T. Maiama, a well-known Rangitikei native racing man, and breeder of tlhorough-breds, had the bad luck to lose the well-known sire, Sou-wester, last week. The son of Goldsboiough had left a large number of useful descendants to keep his name fresh in the memory of racing men Mr. Marama is the owner of Rangipuhi and 1 Toa, whose names are well-known to followers of racing. The veteran jockey and trainer, Fred Poth, manages the no-tive-owned stud.' During a chat with him, at Bulls, he mentioned that Toa is now quite sound, and may be again put into training. • The owner of Sanfoin submitted him to auction during the races at Rangitikei, and the horse found a new owner in a resident of the district. It is more than probable that he will be withdrawn from the turf, and put to the stud. Mr. J. H. Pollock intimates that he was not an applicant foi the position of handicappei to the Taranaki Jockey Club. On learning that the veteian handicapper, Mr. J. 0. Evett, was agreeable to again accept the position, Mr. Pollock withdrew in his favour. Owing to a large number of racing clubs selecting the middle of the week for their race meetings, and my notes only reaching the Lance readers on Friday at the earliest, I am frequently compelled to make selections for coming events prior to the acceptances, which are usually made one week previous to the meeting. Some valuable hints might have been vouchsafed le the Wanganui meeting had it been possible to publish them subsequent to the Rangitikei running. It is obvious that it would be mostly guesswork to attempt to forecast winners when the form of the competitors was an unknown quantity. Nomination* for the Otaki Maori R C meeting aie equal to those made foi the club's last spring meeting, although several wod-class horses aie engaged, including Sea Lion, Tomirangi, Sychem, Bonheur, Position, and Cairngoim. It ls> singulai that the most valuable stakes diew the smallest nominations. The Otaki executive might find it advisable in futuie to include a couple of open events on their programme each day. Horses that are ineligible to compete in hack events could be engaged with the best of the hack 1 acers in open 1 aces. The handicapper could, no' doubt, equalise matters. With feeven events in one day's racing all confined to hacks, there is a difficulty in getting them to fill. There are fifty-foui diffeient horses engaged at the meeting, but, even if all ran, it would only give an average of about seven per race. The hurdle events have filled well, and, with careful adjustments, good racing should ensue. Handicaps aie due to-morrow. The return of the Yaldhurst team to New Zealand will, no doubt, enliven the betting on the New Zealand Cup. Martian is public favouute since his steihng peiformance in the Randwick Plate, at the A.J.C. meeting. Any move on the part of those closely in touch with the Yaldhurst stable will be, no doubt, eagerly followed, and the elect of the team quickly made a warm favourite It would appear that each of the tno has a capital chance of secunng the C.J.C. "Two Thousand Pounder." The Wanganui lunning will give a line to the prospects of a number of North Islamd horses engaged. Achilles claims no engagement pi lor to the C. J C meeting Ghooika will, however, be seen out at the Wellington meeting. Late> t i eports are to the effect that the pair are in the best of health, and doing good work The fact that Achilles is not engaged in the Canterbury Cup is taken as an indication that he is not bein^ piepared for long-distance racing. It is obvious that if he has a chance in the New Zealand Cup with lOst, that lie would have had an even better chance m the Canterbury Cup at his weight -far-age, viz , 9st 6lb The Wellington Racing Club have received exactly the same number of nominations as for the last spring meeting. The alteration of the date baok from November to October has pi oved satisfactory to horse-owners. The Cup horses engaged in the Wellington Handicap are Grand Rapids, Nightfall, Heroism, Mahutonga, Halberdier, S r Percival, Ghoorka, Cyrus, Fleka, Inglewood, Convoy, Sandy, Regulation, find Full Cry. The hack events have filled well fifty-two hoises of that class being engaged at the meeting.