Totalisator Turf Topics.

Free Lance, Volume V, Issue 227, 5 November 1904, Page 21

To tali sator Turf Topics.

By the "Old 'Un."

THE New Zealand Cup will be run tomonow (Satuiday). The field will be the smallest foi years, but a good content should eventuate all the same. Mr Geoige G. Stead's horse. Grand Rapids, is now a ruling favouiite, and will probably pay a small dividend should he secuie the rich stake. Most backeas argue that when Mi . Stead withdrew Martian and Nightfall he must have felt very sanguine as to the prospects of Grand Rapids. The Squne of Yaldhuist has not won a New Zealand Cup since Loch.el'i* year. The latter horse will ever be remembered by those who were laying the odds, tor his win was the means of causing a laige numb©' to stop payment, and some to take flight to fresh fields and pasture, new. Some of the incident* in connection with Lochiel'** Cup were as amusing as they were disastrous, and were not readily forgotten The Yaldhuist stable pi obably contains the stroneest team that Mason ever had under hi* cue uc i f °/ m ' Martian. Grand Rapids, Nightfall, Golden Lily, and the two-year-olds, Mnnjeet, by Stepniak— Madder, and Sun God, by Multiform— Otterden, comprise the active brigade that will do battle at Riccarton to-morrow and next week. Hewitt's mount will be a favouute mode of wagering on the "tote. lhat Mr. Stead's horses will go to the post favourites may be expected, and the Yaldhurst combination for the double, Cup and Stewards', will not pay much — probably 10 to 1. The C.J.C. meeting this year is the jubilee of the club's existence. Mi. Stead is chairman of the stewards, and it will only be in accordance with the fitness of things that his repiesentatives should secure a considerable share of the prize-money. He is a plucky buyer in the sale-ring, and spares no expense in getting his horses fit for the fray. Such sportsmen deserve a share of the prizes offered. Intending visitors to the C.J.C. meeting aie expenencing great difficulty in obtaining suitable accommodation at Christchurch. Several citizens who wired as long: back as a couple of weeks ago had replies sent them "no room." Fiom this this it would seem that it only requnes fine weather to ensure a {record' attendance. The field for the New Zealand Cup will probably consist of the following Convoy, Giand Rapids, Melodeon, Fleka, Mahutonga, Calabre, and peihapsi Full Cry and Seciet Society, but the latter parr need not be seriously considered. Mr. Stead's horse holds his place at the head of the bettm? pi obably because he is trained at Yaldhurst. He is meeting a weak field. His second in the Great Autumn Han r dicap, when obviously not at his< best, stands out as has finest performance, notwithstanding that he put up faster time at Randwick when he won there. I pick him to win, and, all going well with Mahutonga I select him to be the hardest to beat. Melodeon and Convoy are sure to run well, but the formei has no public form to warrant one concluding that he is other than a useful handicap horse. On pievious form, Convoy should beat him at the Cup weights. The Stewards' Handicap beais a more open appearance. Messrs. Stead and Chord hold sti ong hands with Machine Gun, Golden Lily, Stronghold, and Tomorrow. The latter pair are favourably treated as regards weight, and I select the best of the pair to win, with Hewitt's mount next, and would recommend our local representative, Ballarat, as worth a pound or two on the machine. She will certainly start at good odds. * * * The Taratahi — Carterton race meeting will take place on November 9th. Acceptances are not vet due I will, however, make a few selections that will probably assist backers who intend patronising the meeting : — Hack Flying, six furlongs. — St. Albert, Hinurewa, Hippodrome. Railway Handicap, six furlongs.— Bounce, Gold Dredge, Wet Reef. Handicap Hack Hurdles.— Raema, Moeraki, Giand Jury. County Cup. one and a-quarter miles — Sea Lion, Handsome Rose, Plaidie.

King Edwaid Handicap, one mile. — Hamua, Rapids, Spoil. Birthday Welter.— Joe Chamberlain, Waitoa, Laertes. * * * The Masterton Racing Club's spiing meeting met with a simalai fat© to the Otaki meeting^ lam falling m bucketsful each day of the meeting. The approach to the coui-se was ovei the boot tops and only those who had gum-boots managed to keep dry-footed during the racing. The public rolled up well, and, despite the depressing ciicurnstances, a fan sum went through the totahsatoi, and all seemed to enioy themselves. A capital luncheon was piovided, and, as the whisky was of the best brand, complaints were few and far between The racing was interesting. F. Tilly, fiom the Fordell stable, captuied, w\th the a>d of Asteroid and Handsome Ro^e, the' two puncipal events, the latter w ith 101b over-weight. Sea Lion, AchilW full-brother, ran in three events, and' managed to secuie the Publicans' Handicap, but, as he was in leceipt of 2st 61b from the ancient Blazer there was very little merit in his win. He is coming on, however, and will score again ere long. Hmeiewa, Laeites, and St. Albert ia,n up to their Wellington form, and secured a lace each in good style. Daredevil and Hamua, cast-offsi from the stables of the Hon. J. D. Ormond and Poniua, caught the judge's eye. Mr. T. Ray, the owner of Hamua, is one of the veiy oldest spouting men in the Wairarapa, and his victory was very populai . Raema made the best showing amongst the huidle horses, and should secure a 1 ace 01 two m open company soon. He has greatly improved m his style of jumping, and, being a nicelybred hoise, was a cut above any hurdler engaged at the meeting. The New Zealand maie Gladsome continues her victorious career, and bids fair to fill the place foimeily held by that sterling bit ot horseflesh, Wakeful. The Melbourne Stakes us one of the principal weight-for-age events m Australia. This Gladsome won with a little to spare from the cream, of Australasia. Kia Ora, Gladsome 1 Probably had the Caulfield Cup been tun on the Flemington racecourse Gladsome would have been hailed as the winner. The Caulfield course is said to be bhe worst in the Commonwealth States, and true form is seldom exposed there. Each successive win for Gladsome must cause her late owner, Mr. J. B. Reid, to feel a pang of regret that he paited with so grand a mare when in her prime, but possibly the tieatment meted out to him by the powers that be was a factor in shaping his decision to reduce his racing team. Rumours are m the air re the riding of a number of jockeys at leoent meetings. While not prepared to put much dependance on the "tittle-tattle" of the "man in the street," I certainly think that in a number of cases some explanations were due. Racehorses are peculiar ajninals, and, were it not that they are erratic beasts, there would be very little speculation. Many stewards of racing clubs are not experts in racing matters, and those who know most about the game are leluctant to make themselves objectionable by looking for "motes" in their brothers' eyes. In such cases, stipendiary officials 1 might assist to protect the general public, who, after all, are those who pay the piper.