Turf Topics.

Free Lance, Volume VI, Issue 274, 30 September 1905, Page 21

Turf Topics.

By the "Old 'Un."

THE s.s. Mararoa brought Sydney exchanges containing full particulars of the running of the New Zealand horses at Randwiok. There was little to b© gleaned from a perusal of them to explain. Maniapoto's erratic performances. It was, however, made perfectly clear that his victory was not well received by the crowd. The Sydney papers state that, notwithstanding that the New Zealanders who attended Rand wick did not profit by his> victory, a lot of money was won. from the Sydney bookmakers over the race. Maniapoto was a strong ordei 1 just prior to the fall of the nag, and from bO to 1 he shortened m price to 16 to 1. The question tnat most interests the numerous New Zealanders who lost their money on Maniapoto in the Epsom Handicap, is . Who were the backers who stepped in at the last moment and prafitted largely by the New Zealand horse's win? Mr. Good has told his friends here that he was astonished wihen he saw his horse romping home in the Metropolitan Handicap, and he werut so far as to ask the stewardls of the A.J.C to hold an enquiry into the matter of his horse's remarkably linoonsisteait form. They however, were satisfied regarding Mr. Good"s bona fides, and took no action. _ The New Zealand visitors do not think, that the jockey (Jones) was responsible for Maniapoto's deplorable form in the Epsom. There is, nevertheless, much that as susceptible of explanation, and it would! be interesting to know who the individuals were who won heavily over Maniapoto's Metropolitan victory, and also who were their advisers. It is, of course, absurd to assume that Sydneyites would, in the absence of advice, back the New Zealand horse when the owner and those associated with him ignored his prospects. Horses will continue to run inconsistently to the end of the chaptei , and, according to New Zealand! racing law, inconsistency is not punishable unless corrupt practace can 'be proved against •fehose responsible for the horse's inconsistent form. No one suspects Maniapoto's owner, nor do eye-witnesses of the race find fault with the jockey, but the merest tyro in racing must know that horses can be prevented from showing their best form despite the honest intentions of their owners and riders. For the benefit of Maniapoto's numerous New Zealand backers, it is to bei regretted 1 that the stewards of the A.J.C. did not comply with Mr. Good's request, and hold a searching enquiry into Maniapoto's Epsom running. They might, perhaps, have discovered some reason for astute Sydney backers supporting Mr. Good's horse for the Metropolitan. The only explanation so far is the story about changing the horsed shoes. Mr. Mason's team will have reached Yaldhurst ere these lines are made public. It is needless to staite that the decision of the New Zealand Cup is considered by the bulk of backers to be in the hands of Mr. Stead. The prospects of other horses are almost entirely ignored, and were the Yaldhurst stable to declare in favour of any one of their team, their selection would quickly shorten in price and become the htottesft favourite on record!. There are always backers for Mr. Stead's horses to whom the odds on offer are immaterial so long as they can get accommodated by tihe layer. • • * The Wanganui, Hawke's Bay, Mailborough, Otaki, Wellington, and Masterton meetings will now follow each other in quick succession. As horseowners cannot patronise all these meetings, their favours will have to be destributed. The Hutt- trained horses will, apparently assist at Wanganui, Otak ; and Wellington. Hawke's Bay and Marlborough will not obtain many horses from Wellington, and this is rather unfortunate for the latter, as there are scarcely any locally-owned horses to assist to make the meeting interesting. The Wellington Racing Club have received capital nominations for their spring meeting. The principal handicap has filled well, thirty horses* being engaged, including the cup horse, Ma-

hutonga^ and Achilles, Gold Crown, Ghoorka, and Flamen represent the Porirua stable. The Hon. J. D. Ormond is represented by §|ir Trustiram, Lyrist, and Mobility. Messrs. E. J. Watt, T. H. Lowry, Sir G. Clifford, and other well-known owners have responded liberally, and, under favourable' circumstances, the last meeting on the Hutt Park raoe course should be a most successful one. The news that Sootty has been withdrawn from the New Zealand! Oup will not be welcomed by his numerous backers. Scotty was one of tlh© first h offset backed when the weights were declared, and all available odds were snapped up by his Auckland! supporters. About the same time a strong commission was executed in favour of Mahutonga. The

result was that the pair wear© quickly installed in positions of favouritism for the big November handicap. Mahutonga has retained bis position in the betting, and is now- quoted at 9 to 1. Mr. Stead's pair, Nightfall and Noctuiform, are quoted at 7 to 1. The reported backing of Mahutonga for the Melbourne Oup caused 1 a flutter amongst has New Zealand Clip supportens. There is, however, so far as I can learn, no probability of Mahutonga being sent to Victoria. His owners are certainly not so sweet about his New Zealand Cup chance since Mr. Stead's horses displayed l such good form at Randwdck, but I will predict that, all going well, Mahutonga 's supporters will get a run for their money in the New Zealand Gup.

A further payment of six soys. is due on October the 20th in connection witih horses engaged in the New Zealand Chip. No doubt there will then be a considerable weeding out. Amongst those that may be expected! to survive that payment should be : Achilles, Mahutonga, Stead's elect, Quarryman, Paritixtu,- Gold Cirown, Golden Knight, Tirole. and Flamen, and the best of these should prove the strongest opposition to t(he Yaldhurst team. "Tie C.J.C. Stewards' Handicap, the nominations for which are to hand, includes the finest lot of sprinters yet engaged! in a race of that description in the colony. Achilles, Machine Gun, Kremlin, Solution, Vladimir, Chivalry, Ballarat. Boris, Exmoor, Petrovma, Master Alix, Stronghold, Red Gauntlet, and the three'-year-oldis Sir Tristram, Glenowlet, Munjeet, King Bally, and Boomerang have each put up sterling, performances during the- past season. To leave six furlongs behind them in lmin 15see is quite within reach of tihe slowest of the above-named lot. Should the handicap* for the Stewards' prove a happy effort, one of the largest fields ever stripped 1 at Riccarton miay be seen facing Mr. Piper on the afternoon of the 4th November. * ♦ • In the absence of acceptances, it appears futile to offer a choice regarding the Hawke's Bay events which take place next Wednesday. The following, however, are worth watching: — Tomoana Hurdles. — Catspaw. Lady's Link, Sleepwell. King Edward Handicap. — Rose Madder, Boris, Boomerang. Pakowai Hurdles. — Daredevil, Comfort, Cavalry. Welter Handicap. — Barea, Outer, Benair. Waipatu Hack Handicap. — Captain. Shannon, Banzai, Perddta. Hawke's Bay Guineas. — Canuiform or Sir Tristram. * * * A writer in the Sydney- "Referee," alluding to the Melbourne Cup, expresses surprise that Warroo should, finish in front of Tartan for the Metropolitan Handicap. "The latter," he reports, "finished sixth, and, taking into consid!eration the way he has finished in both mile and a-half races, that distance would appear a bit too short for him. His opportunity may come in the Melbourne Cup, the distance of which is two miles." I recommend the "Referee's" remarks to 1 those New Zealanders who lost money over Tartan at Randwick.