Turf Topics

Free Lance, Volume VI, Issue 278, 28 October 1905, Page 21

Turf Topics

By the "Old 'Un."

THE dements appear to be in league with tin© anrta-racdaig folks, as whenever there is a race meeting proceeding inclement weather arrives. The executive of tiie Welkngton Racing Club were somewhat unf ortanate in having to hold their spring racet> at the eind of a wet week. 'l"he xaoetrack was sodden, and' h.&aviiy-weigiHted horses were at a decddedi disadvantage. Notwithstanding that Fiiaay morning was not the kind of day to entice' folks to go a-xaoing, there was a fairly numerous attendance. The fact thac tihe meeting was the last wibach will be held on the Butt Park course may 'have induced many to take a iiandl nn, the Wellington Racing Club's dosing meeting. Many sensational struggles havti taken place on the Hutt Park dnnung the last forty years, amdi the "Old 'Un" has not "missed a Wellington Cup race since Mr. Dan OBrien won with, Tambourine in 1874. The distance was two miles, and Tambourin©, nddlen by has owner and, carrying 9st 131b, won in 4m in ssee. The rough state of the track was, of course, responsible for the slow time made. Amongst the equine giants, in addition to Tambourine, who have their names enrolled amongst the list of Wellington Cup winners are . Guy Fawkes, Foul Play, Natator, Tasman, NieJsoni, Pasha, Dudlu, Gynisica, Unaform, Renown, Advance, and! Nightfall. Mr. Donald Eraser's black son ot Vanguard (Advance) was undoubtedly the best horse that ever started for a Wellington Cup. Advance , carrying lOst 41b, won for Mir. Douglas Gordon (who held the horse under ,a lease) the oup of 1903, in 2mdn 34 l-sth sec. Such . a feat has never been equalled in the colony. Witih tine New Zealand Oup. onrty a fortnight off, the racing public were looking forward to some interesting displays at the W.R.C. sprang meeting. The sodden state of the track, however, ups^t all calculations, and 1 the form displayed by the Cup representatives cannot be accepted as much, of a guide. That Achilles would have run better in the Wellington Handicap had the course been dry is generally adsmaibted. Mr. Monk's horse mald!e a gallLanti effort on the second day, in the Pearoe Handicap, and when Jenkins drew the whip on him he responded 1 generously and finished as straight as a dart. Malhutonga, who met Achilles in the Pearce Handicap on 21b better terms than he will do in the Ntew Zealand Cup, was finishing the faster, and had the contest been one and) a-rhailf males both would 1 ihave caught and passed Veneer. Which wouldi have stayed the longest must be a mere matter of conjecture. Judged by appearances, the Porirua horse is the better-oondataoned of the pair at present, and 1 should Mahutonga continue to improve he may turn the tables on Adhiilesi an tte 4th of November, at Riocarton. The acceptances for the New Zealand Cup disclose the fact that the Yaldhurst stable have still three representatives in the race. The Poriurua stable have paid up for Achilles and Ghoorka. The latter has incurred a 71b penalty, andl will now carry Bst lib. The proceeds of Veneer's victory in the Pearce Handicap, added! to 'his preivious winnings in Canterbury, entaa] a 101b penalty, bringing his impost up to 7st 101b. Mel odeon's party have been able to give the son of Medallion some useful public gallops, an di escape a penalty. His weight consequently remains at 7st 101b. On past form, Melodeon should easily hold Ghoorka andl Veneer, and I still adhere to my previously-expressed opinion tihat he may be the hardest hiorse that Mr. Stead's representatives will have to beat. Golden Knight is an unknown quantity, but his winter displays will have to be wiped out by some sterling track gallops ere he- impresses me as a likely Cup winner. The Stewards' Handicap oandiidates, Sir Tristram and Ballarat, were given a run at the recent meeting, and neither impressed me as* probable winners of the big C.J.C. sprint event. Solution and Chivalry were galloped' on the training tracks, and the pair look in capital condition. ' The latter is a good beginner and should defeat everything sent from the North Island.

The defeat of Maraiapoto in the Caulfield Cup was only what might be expected by those, who are judges of racing Even without being hampered by a cold, Mr. Good's horse's weight, which included a penalty of 14Lb, was such as would have caused thoroughly-experi-enced racing men to have withdrawn the horse from the race, and reserved him for less pretentious company. It is more than probable that Maniapoto will run through the V.R.C. meeting without gaining a victory, and then find his way into some Australian owner ;s hands. I baiye no doubt that he will pay his way if properly placed 1 . Marvel Loch, winner of the Caulfield Cup is a most consistent performer. Her second to in. the Graven Plate and second to Toralh m the Caulfield Stakes pointed to her beotng a likely Caulfield Cup winner, and) students' of form should have had a good win over the Lochiel mare. I might here remind my readers that Gladsome has always held Marvel Looh safe at weieht-for-age, and I again recommend her as a good investment for the Melbourne Cup. Recent Australian papers chronicle the fact that Gladsome's owner has supported her heavily for tihe Melbourne Cup. Wairoo, owned by Mr. J. Samuels, an ex-New Zealander, has been, somewhat unlucky to run second for two. such valuable stakes as the Metropolitan Handicap and Caulfield Cup. Lance readers will remember a paragraph alluding to some Randwick impressions, of the well-known horseman, George Price, who mentioned that Waroo was one of the best handicap horses he had seen during his two months'' sojourn at Randwick. The popular light-weight's opinion has been well borne out. The stewards of the RoseJiall Jockey Club (Sydney) recently reviewed the running of a red-hot favourite at their meeting. Bonnie Elsie, the mare in question, started at 5 to 2 against, but, after rumnung a few furlongs, she retired to the rear, and 1 finished last. The stewards' dlecision, reads : "We aire not satisfied as to the cause of Bonnie Elsie losing her position at the turn. . . We consider that the rider, Ernest Woodgate, if he rode to win, showed no judgment, and are satisfied! that he did not persevere with his mount after she lost her position. We recominendi the cancellation of his license to ride." The above example might well be followed by many of thus colony's clubs when similar tactics are adopted by riders. The proposed trip to the Wellington Racing Club's new course at Tremtbam did not eventuate, visitong racing folks having apparently other engagements. The "Old ; Un," however, with a few sports, ran up on the morning succeeding the Hutt races, and all were slurprised to find the improvements so well forward. The stewards' stand is completed, and the grand and people's stands are nearly so, and the sate of the afternoon tea house has been, excavated, and the building will be shortly under way. A walk over a portion of the reoeaitly-sown-down race track disclosed 1 the fact that the grass was coming on spleaididly, and, unless we have too much hot, dry weather, the new turf will be formed ere the sun causes the* ground to bake and become hard. Adjoining the racecourse, the railway people have put down an extensive siding, which, from appearance, must have, 'cost a lot of labour and money. Apparently, the executive of the Wellington Racing Club mean to do things thoroughly, and will well deserve the patronage of Wellington raoe-goeTs. The betting market is still quiet, Mr. Stead's trio puzzling backers. Melodeon is a quiet tip in well-informed quarters, whilst Achilles and Golden Knight have many firm supporters).