Turf Topics.

Free Lance, Volume VI, Issue 269, 26 August 1905, Page 21

Turf Topics.

By the 'Old 'Un."

THE result of the C.J.C. Grand National Huidle Race wa& a facer to mast of those who bad indulged in double wagers. Quiite a munlbeir had "legs in" with Inniskillen ; lia fact, few horses weie not coupled) with ham. Oreusot, owing to adverse reports, was not much fancied, consequently the metalhciains have beea saved a lot of coin. One luoky backer struck a double of 150 to 1, and' also picked Mr. A. Law's treble and 400 soys for his outlay of os. The owners of Romeo and Trumpery were unlucky indeed. It was bad enough to miss their chance of winning a good stake, but to lose two of the moot valuable horses thait started is tihe very essence of ill luck. "Witnesses of the raoe state that Romeo and Trumpery were going so strongly when they fell that it looked aJinost a certainty that one of the pair would win. Romeo was making his first effort in public over hurdles, and probably misjudged the distance, and "took off" too soon. Trumpery, being in has wake, feJd over him, and broke her back, and Romeo broke, his leg. The pair were put out of their misery by a friendly bullet. Old "Wiaiwera gave a surprisingly good, exhibition in the Grand National Hurdle Race. He led over the hst hurdtej and it was only Oreusot's superior pace that prevented Mr. O'JhisooU securing the coveted prize for the second time with his old favourite. The o'd horse was we'll supported, and would have received <a ereat reception had ho been able to stall off Oeusofs fmi rusih. Waiwera was ridden by TV. Price, a rider who successfully piloted Handsome Rose at Hawke's Bay. In addition to securing the three principal evenits of the meeting, ihe North Island horses accounted for ip aill seventeen events' at the C.J.C. meeting. The stakes won amount to £3495, the winnings of the South Island horses totalling £875. Sir Geo. Clifford and Mr. G. G. Stead had several horses racing, but failed to secure a stake. The bulk of the win/nintgs go to Auckland and Hawke's Bay. Mr. J. Cotter picked up a couple of races wath the useful Jolly Friar, an.! Te Kohau, the property of another vvVrarapa sportsman (Mr. Vallamce) secnr ed the Enfield Steeplechase. Both horses are trained by John Gravestone, formerly trainer for Mr. P. F. Tancre.l. The Hutt-trained 1 horses were not qui f e class enough for the company assem'ileJ at Riooarton and consequently returmrd without earning their passage mo:i3y South. The Porirua horse, Exmoor, ran up to his best form, and, although the only representative of the stable, managed to annex a stake. He returned with a slightly enlarged knee, and will probably be given a respite from work for a few weeks. C. Jenkins, the Porirua jockey, has started the season, well, having had four winning mounts. Those interpid sports who backed Maniapoto for the Epsom Handicap prior to the horse's trainer ad!vrising has owner that it was wise to take on the A.J.C. meeting, will feel safeir now that Mamapoto is on his way to the scene of (action. • * * The Union Oompaniy's Monowai should have landed Mr. Good and hds horse in Sydney ere these lines are published. Charlie Jackson, who formerly trained far Mr. Major, M.H.R., was intrusted with the care oi Maniapoto. Jackson is a steady man, and only lately was on a visit to Sydney. He is, therefore, no stranger to Randwick. It is understood that Mr. R. Mason will keep an eye on the New Zealand horse during his sojourn at Randwaek, and we may ' hear of Maniapoto doing has gallops with Nightfall. : A look over Maniapoto just prior to his being Shipped demonstrated the fact ! that he had built up muscle since I saw ' him last April. His quarters have fill- \ ed out, and Randwick experts will not find much fault with hisi propelling ] power. A curb on his near hotok will be taken exception to, but I understand that the house has suffered! no ill effects i from it, although his trainer has given i him a considerable amount of sharp i work recently. Maniapoto will be a i fortnight in Sydney before racing, and 6 will be able to put in a few good giallops c there ere the A.J.C. meeting com- 1 mences. j

The veteran steeplechaser, Haydn, was also taken, to Sydney by the Monowai. Sam Fergus goes in charge and r will ridie him in the steeplechase events at the A.J.C. meeting. Haydn looked bright and well after his racing at Rdcs cartton, and, should the weight adjuster S not take a too-exalted view of his New Zealand! performances, he will take a power of beating. With Mr. Stead's team, Maniapoto, and Haydn, New Zealamders will have 5 an especial interest in this season's A.J.C meeting, and training reports (which will, no doubt) be furnished by wire) will be interesting. » ■» * Mr. Henrys' weights for the New Zealand Cup having been declared a few remarks thereon may assist Lance readers in their search for the probable winner. Poo- the Oup of 1904, the C.J.C. handicapper commenced his handicap with Achilles at lOst. The latter horse, according to weaghtr-for-age scale, is presumed to have* improved lib, consequently Achilles is 71b more leniently treated than last year. _ Running down the list of horses handicapped last year, I find the following horses reduced! in weight as under: — Nanette 51b, Convoy 111b, Roseal 91b, Bulawayo 71b, G-hoorka 51b, Shrapnel 91b, General Symons 51b, and Me'lodeon lib. It is apparent that this year's haindioap is framed on about half-a-stone lighter scale all through. Few will take exception to the handicap on account of the scale being lower, and I feel sure it will prodluce better final payments and a larger field than started last season. Not/withstanding that no horse has ever won the New Zealand Cup with over Bst 91b on. his back, the three top-weights appear well enough placed, and may break the spell. _ Mahutonga might, without jeopardising his chance, have been placed one pound) above instead of one pound below his weight-for-age, thus meeting Nightfall on even terms. According to the conditions of the programme, the New Zealand Cup candidates can incur no penalties beyond their weight-for-ap?e. Thus means that Achilles and Nightfall can not be further penalised, and Mahutonga and the Yaldhurst three-year-old, Noctuiform can only be raised lib, irrespective of how many races they may win. Space will not permit, my reviewing the chances of all the horses enigaged, at least two-thirds of which can be< dismissed as not class enough far a race of this description. Nonette, Orloff, Patronus, Convoy, St. Michael, Bulawayo, Jeanne dAre, Melwood, and General Symons are all more or less unsound, and unlikely to stand a Oup preparation. The following horses, together with the three top-weights, comprise the sound l division that are likely to undergo a preparation that would] fit tihem to run, a strong two miles 1 : — Vladimir, Quarryman, Maniapoto, Gladstone, ( Scotty, Paritutu, Gold Crown, GhioorJka, ' Veneer, Flamen, andl Tirole. Melodeon and Roseal have disappointed their connections so often that they may wedl be left alone until nearer the day of the race. The three-year-olds are not included in the above lost. The most promising of them are the Yaldhiurst pair, Noctuifarm and Sungod. Sir Tristram and Boomerang are also nice colts, and the best of the four might trouble the older horses. Noctuiform and Sungod will give an exhibition of their staying powers in the A.J.C. Derby, and Sir Tristram and Boomerang will meet in tihe Hawke's Bay Guineas. Backers will then be in a position to form an estimate of their merits. * * # From the above remarks it may be concluded that the horses at the tail end of the handicap do not impress me as likely winners. This, however, is no Fault of the handioapper, as, if owners of second and third-class racers will engage their horses in first-class handicaps, they must take the consequences. A. glance through the list of winners fails to discover that any of that class jver prevailed in a New Zealand Cup. En fact, I cannot call to mind any that aver ran prominently. I learn, on good authority, that Malutonga will not continue his Austral- — an engagements. He will be trained it Hastings, and take part in the EEawke's B*ay and Wellington handicap jvents, prior to the C.J.C. meeting. Che Porirua horses may also be given a •un at the same meetings. Most /raiders consider that a few races in rablio are necessary to fit a horse for a iwo-mile journey. Since the appearance of the weights or the Cup, some spirited 1 betting has laken place. Mahutonga was backed it 100 to 8 for all the money available, in-d Scotty was the medium of solid upport at 100 to 5. The following dds are now offered : Mahutonga 100 to 0, Achilles 100 to 8, Sootty andl Mania>otolooto7; others dlown to 500 to 1. _