WELLINGTON NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 4029, 2 June 1931, Page 54

WELLINGTON NOTES.

(From Our Own Correspondent.’) Twelve months ago Stanchion acted as runner-up in the Masterton Cup, and this year his full-sister, Cessation, was similarly placed. The gold cup presented by Mr A. M’Donald attracted two first-class performers in Lady Pam and Historic to the meeting, otherwise the class was poor. It was thought Red Fuchsia’s entry was complimentary, as he had not been in work a fortnight, but he not only put in an appearance, but scored a lucky’ win from Dull Mark, whose rider was fined £2 for careless riding. It’ was appropriate that Red Fuchsia should win, as he is burned by the president of the club, Mr C. F. Vallance. The Kahumingi Hurdle Handicap is named after Mr Vallance’s station. His father bred horses there in the bld days, and at the stud dispersal Rose d’Amour was purchased by- Douglas Brothers, of Hawke’s Bay, who bred a New Zealand Cup winner (Rosefeldt) from her. Neither Red Fuchsia nor Full Mark took part in the jumping event on the second day, when the Woodville-trained Tonbridge, last on the opening day, scored. Staghunter made his first appearance, and "ot third. M r E. V. Riddiford started two in the Novice Stakes, and they finished first and second. The pair were Acis (AcreMinona) and Granado (Limond-Graci-osa). Mr W. R. Keinball started three in the Trial Plate on the concluding day. but the only one to get in the money was Actaeon (Hunting Song—Crisis). The winner was Thrasher (Hunting Song— San Fran mare), who runs in the colours of Awapuni trainer R. E. Hatch, who also broadcasted the running of the events at the meeting. The Trentham-trained Ephialtes (Thomond —Rose of Athens), who had beaten Historic in a gallop before the meeting, beat Pewa, who was conceding his. opponent 191 b in the Lawn Handicap. Later in the day’ Ephialtes was brought out again, carrying 9st, but the effort was too much for him.

The going stopped Historic and Lady Pam in the Cup. Chopin, who had a great run earlier in the season through being favourably' handicapped, beat Cessation, the Marlborough Cup yvinner, and Charmaline,’ runner-up in the Hawke’s Bay Cup run at Trentham. Portray, who noyv races in the interest of his trainer, won the open sprint each day. What poor class his opponents were is evident by the fact that he carried 8.13 on the concluding day. Portray paid his way for his previous owner.’ He ran first and a dead heat at Wairarapa at New Year time, and at Pahiatua was first, and second, being narrowly beaten by Ridgemount.

The Ayvapuni-trained Senechai (Chief Ruler —Elevcnt) scored in the Grand Stand Handicap, seven furlongs. H. Gray yvas present on the opening day, and had three mounts. The nearest he got to bringing his total up to the century yvas when Golden Shadow ran second to Cook (Lackham —Noisy), oyvned and trained by Fred Davis. Beverage, a stable mate of Cook, yvas favourite on the opening day', but failed. On the second day he beat all but the Trentham-trained The Sun (Sun Cure — Porsianello),,yvho did not score but of his turn. ; Favoured yvith light’ imposts. Royal Game and The Dove fought out the finish of the big race bn the second day'. Chopin failed yvith top weight. Royal Game does not win out of hie turn. The Dove was produced again tyvo races later in the day, and ran fourth in a field of five. Her next appearance will be at Westland and Hokitika meetings.

There are not many worse places than the opaki racecourse on a yvet day. It could; be pretty bad dorvn by the sea at Rangiuru in a howling southerly. The Masterton Club struck bad weather on the opening day, and although the conditions were much better on Saturday the money yvas not there. The tote went dow’n badly. They only did £12,569 for 14 races.

The three brothers Pritchard, viz., C. (The Sun), H. (Royal Game), and T. (Portray), all trained winners at the Masterton meeting. With the departure of the latter for Trentham the Opaki course yvill practically be deserted yvith the exception of B. Burgees. A few years back Opaki was rather an important training centre when Mr C. F. Vallance had his team there and J. T. Jamieson was among the public trainers quartered there. T. Pritchard has done well with Autopay this season. His two owners reside in Wellington, and that is probably the reason why he has decided to make Trentham his headquarters. Another reason may be yvhen he leaves for Sydney with Autopay and Maypay he can leave the rest of his team in charge of one of his brothers. It may not be generally known that the South Canterbury breeder of Autopay sent the colt to the Melbourne yearling sales. He failed to reach the reserve, and yvas brought back. In the meantime the breeder had taken up his residence in the Wairarapa, and that was hoyv Messrs Aitkin and Wood came to get Autopay, her full sister Maypay, and the dam Trebelli 11, yvho is in foal to Lord Quex. There is no three-year-old, because she was not served after producing Autopay. Most of the Paper Money tribe are sprinters, but it yvould not be surprising if Autopay got middle distances, as his dam (imported) is a daughter of Thrush. He got seven furlongs at Riccarton in Imin 25sec, and his connections are of the opinion that next season he will run out a mile journey. In Vol. XI of the New Zealand Stud Book Autopay appears as Autopsy. That is only one of the numerous errors and omissions, and before another volume is issued the work should be revised and corrected. Mr J. J. Gorry is such a great patron of racing that it is a yvonder he did not engage any of his team at Otaki. Horses that raced at Masterton yvent home to Blenheim on Monday. Perhaps it: yvas an oversight. The race Make Up had in the Century Hurdles at Wanganui improved him. He carried top weight and scored in the jumping race at Te Kuiti on Saturday. He has only been’ rehandicapped 21b in the Great Northern. Black Duke failed in the big event at Te Kuiti with 9.10. He failed to. give Havering 111 b. It is only a few yveeks since the latter yvas racing as a sprinter at Trentham. Havering was coupled with Vandyke (Gray’s other mount), who was beaten. During the afternoon that horseman had six rides for three firsts, two seconds, and a third, and brought his record up to 102. There is no doubt he is a great horseman. Messrs J. M. Samson and J. TrOngrove, Dunedin sports, were on a business 1 visit to the city this week. Mr W. T. Hazlett was rewarded for sending Paris and Apache from the: far south to the north by yvinning the hurdle race on the concluding day at Te Arolia with the last named. As Make Up, the first day’s yvinner, was only put up 21b, Apache may not be rehandicapped. Singleton, a champion on the flat up the East Coast, was the unlucky performer at Te Arolia; He yvas runner-up 1 each day, and on the concluding day met Apache on half a stone yyorse terms. Singletori will have his chance at Ellerslie yvith the minimum weight. At Te Arolia he was conceding Apache, but at Ellerslie the Southlander is giving-21b. Zippor was in the Great Northern Hurdles yvith 9st. For his three wins he has been rehandicapped a stone and a-half. If he can yvin with that he is entitled to it. For the three wins at Egmont and Wanganui his owner only got 340sovs in stakes. The Ellerslie race is worth lOOOsovs to the owner of the winner, and it looks as if the owner of Zippor did not shoyv good judgment in bothering about the poor stakes offering at the West Coast meeting. There are a number of useful performers in the Great Northern on the minimum or within a few pounds of it, and your correspondent will not be surprised to hear. of Zippor being beaten. He certainly beat nothing at Egmont, but at Wanganui finished in front of Perle de Leon arid Carinthia. Perle de Leon comes in on 151 b better terms at Ellerslie, and he for one should beat Zippor. At the annual meeting of the Marton Jockey Club it yvas resolved that this club vieyvs yvith alarm the ever increasing annual ’ cost of racing in New Zealand, and urges the New Zealand Racing Conference to cut doyvn expenses and economise in everj' way. ’An example yvas brought under your correspondent’s notice by a West Coast official at the Nelson meeting. The Racing Conference stipendiary steward acted for the trots at the galloping meeting on Thursday and Saturday. At the trotting meeting on Friday one of the Trotting Conference stipendiaries came from south to officiate, yvhile the other official was uneiriployed. It yvould have been better to save the Nelson Trotting Club the expense, yvhich the club cannot afford. The Opunake Racing Club usually holds a one-day meeting about St. Patrick’s Day. This season it got one of the floating permits and held a meeting l on Wednesday. Waverley formerly, used it, but it was wangled ayvay to Taumarunui, yvhich. is holding a tyvo-days’ meeting at Ellerslie to get out of 'the financial bother- it got into. The permit was again offered to Waverley, but the officers of that club yvjsely decided not to accept it unless it yvas made permanent. Opunake put through nearly £6OOO, and as the stakes amounted to £7OO it is unlikely they will bother about a “ floating ” permit next year. A more appropriate name would be “sinking”, peririits. H. Gray yvas at the meeting, and rode three winners, and was in the money in another event. Each of his four mounts yvas best backed. He scored on Orby’s Choice, a winner at Wanganui, in i-the Oeo Hack Handicap. His next , success was on Paitonu, yvinner of the principal flat event at Egmont, in the big handicap. On Little Doubt he yvon the Pihama Hack Handicap. Ori the Wanganui ’ winner, Banbridge, he could only mariage to get , third in the Te Kiri Hack Handicap.

Banbridge also ran third in the race won by Little Doubt. Callapat, runner up to Zippor on the concluding day at Egmorft, scored in the Rahetu Hurdles. The Wanganui double winner, Richfield, was most fancied for the Flying Handicap, but could only get third to Royal Finance and Chief Link. Orby’s Choice .was saddled up again for the Oaonui Hack Handicap, carrying 9.7, but he could only manage to get third to Moatoa. He made the third winner at the previous Opunake meeting to score, the others being Orby’s Choice and Little Doubt.