Turf Topics.

Free Lance, Volume V, Issue 248, 1 April 1905, Page 21

Turf Topics.

By the 'Old 'Un."

ACCEPTANCES for the Manawatu Racing Club's autumn meeting aie to hand. The Longbuin Handicap principal handicap on the progiamme) is. Jiorn of much ot its mterevt o«mg to the withdrawal of a large number of the be,t hoiseo. fallal oi Black Reynaid, Ghoorka Gold CWn Solution, Field' Battery, Shiapnd Shell, Armistice, H^diant, and four others have discontinued their engagements This is to bo resetted, as the above-named hor.es carry a lot of mo'.ey when their i elective followers attend race meeting* where they are engaged Boris, Mam, Position, and Te g taf? all inmates ot the Ponma stable are also absentees. Although quality will be absent theiearesbll sufficient horse, of ak nd left to render the meeting interesting from a betting point of view and, as the general public care little for quality so long as they can pick the winners, it mattere not whethei the horse,s competing are first or third raters. Sir Geoige Clifford's pair, Canme •Ohiel and Chiyseis, represent class in the handicap events at the meeting. Their presence will assist to give tie Manawatu CLubs autumn meeting the appearance of being other than an ordinary one. The Manawatu Stakes and Champion Hack Plate should prove a draw, and, with fine weather, a successful meet.rag ought to eventuate. A numbei of horses are engaged that may incur penalties at the Wellington meeting, and backers will have, to take this into consideration when making then selections. The following, undei their present imposts, should place themselves — Telegraph Handicap.— Chryseis and Wet R&ef _ Welter Hack Handicap.—Commonwealth and Maniapoto. First Hack Hurdle Handicap.— W^nd and Gipsy Jack. Handicap Hurdie Race.— Ti umpery and Warv\ era. . . Longbuin Handicap.— Can me Cruel and Veneer. , Electric Hack Handicap.— Spark and Maniopo'to. . „ The Champion Hack Plate should piove a good race between Lady Lvoness Lady Wayward, and Pdlyanthus. The Manawatu Stakes should be won by Achilles. * * * The weights for the C.J.C. Easter and Autumn Handicaps are being much discussed by racing men, and backeis who dtabble in double wagering. Space will not permit of a detailed review of the handicaps. I will therefoie simply mention a feu hois>e<that are likely to see the post, and give a good account of themselves* on the day. The Gieat Easter Handicap is headed by Achilles, with 9&t 131b. Mr. Monk's hoise will have competed m the North Island Challenge Stakes, with 9st 81b. Should he be defeated., I would advise backers to leave him alone foi the Easter Handicap, and should he win he will incur a penalty of 101b for the Gieait Easter Handicap, making lik impost 10s 91b. Tins weight would seem a bar to his success, a^ there ai c some first-class performer® lower down the handicap. Vladimir, Petiovna, the Yaldihuret elect, Stronghold, Master Ahx, Melodeon, and To-morrow can run weM over seven fui longs with then imports, and are worthy of consideration. The Autumn Handicap is a peculiar production when viewed side by wide with the seven-furlong event. Foi instance, Nightfall is pie-'umed'to be a better stayer than Achilles, else why not allow her the same concession, namely 41b? Jeanne d'Arc, notwithstanding her perfoirmanoes over distances at Wellington and Egmont, is handicapped as a spj inter. Both Ghoorka and Mr. Stead's filly are set to gave Jeanne di' Arc 61b less ovei the sprint distance than in the mile and a-haJf . Mr. Tatham's mare should run well with 7st 111b. Achillas and Convoy only meet her on lib better terms than when she defeated them in the W.R.C Handicap, one and aKiuartei miles. Ghoorka, who finished in the rear in the same race, meets Jeanne d'Arc 131b woise. Melodeon has been handicapped on his worst form, and actually receives lib from Jeanne d'Arc, notwithstanding that he defeated her in the Wellington

Cup on even teams. It is worth while foi backers to keep their eye on tins pair for the Great Autumn Han.cliicwp Nightfall and Quariym.an would seem to hold the otheis safe enough Capital nominations have been received by the seoietan of the Masteiton Racing Club for their autumn events. The figuie^ stand — 1904, 251 nomination^, 1905, 312 nomination?, inoiease, hi. The Ponrua stable are lepieisemted bv Ghoorka, Gold Gioun, Position, Valoi 1 - and a number of hack candidate-. Submarine and Gold Dust lepiesent Hawke's Bay and the Wellington entries include Ballarat, St. Winifred, Hydrant, Wind Moccasin, Tallin c, and a i. umber of leosei lights Mi J. H Pollock's handicap-* are due at the conclusion of the Wellington meeting • # *■ L H. Hewitt, the Y.ildhuist -.table jockey, who was put under the- ban foi three months bj the Dunedin htew.uds, i^> said to contemplate leaving New Zealand. He ha-, disposed of some pioperty he owned in Glinstchuich. Whilst Mes^-is. Shiubb and Duffey, the international amateui athletes, were being entertained' at the Bellevue G-aulenis, on Sunday last, by the officials of the Wellington Amateur Athletic Club, Mr R. J Mason kindly invited them to inspect his charges, Machine Gun and Nightfall. Mr. Duffey was especially interested in the Auistialaslan record holder, Machine Gun, whilst Mr. Shrubb, when he leaint that Nightfall was a long-distance- perforate) , made many enquiries as to her performances, and expressed his opinion that they would compare favourably with those of English racehorses. A leport gamed currency to the effect that Black Reynard had been purchased by Messrs. Whitworth Bros. I have the authority of Mr. D. Thomson tor stating that Black Reynai d 1d 1 has not changed owneas, and is still his sole pioperty. Mr. Thomson explains that the horse was placed under offer through Messrs. Whitworth to a Wellington sport, but up till the day of nomination for the Wellington meeting no sale was effected, and subsequent to that date the 1 negotiation's were broken off. Mr C. Parkeir has been entrusted with thei caie of both Kaharoa and Black Reynard during the Wellington meeting. The much-belauded hack racer, Ma/niopoto seems to be Miffaunig from an exaggerated reputation. The son of Soult was said to be equal to Waiuku. A syndicate of Hawei a residents (so report says) gave upwards of one thousand! pounds, for him. They now complain that the Wellington handicapper adjusted their horse's weight on gossip. Maiuopoto won the Lepperton Stakes, Bst each, at the Waitara meeting, running five furlongs in limn 7sec. Later on, at the Taranaki meeting, with Bst 31b, he defeated Immolation (7 at 121b) by a length mi the Second Hack Handicap, and the time was odven as lmin 15 3-sth sec. The times recorded right through the meeting were, however, very fast, and presumably the track was in condition for horses to make fasti time.