Turf Topic

By 'Krect-Card.

The Doncasteir Handicap, run at the A.J.C. autumn meeting was appropriated by Rose Petal, owned by Mr. T. Brown. The winner is a three-year-old filly by Grand Flaneur— Roseclere, and must be something above the ordinary, as she was timed to run the mile in the excellent time of lmin 41Jsec. Rose Petal was fairly well backed her starting nnce being 7to 1. The actual favourites for the race were never prominent, the other places being occupied by two rank outsiders in Ban Ceontha, who is by His Excellence — Gift of the Gab and Marvel Loch, by Lochiel — Marvelette. Abundance was quite equal to settling his two opponents in the A.J.C. St. Leger. The son of Pilgrim's Progress went back in popular opinion after he contested the Australian Cup, which was won by Great Soot. The meeting of the two colts m the St. Leger was looked forward to as the result would undoubtedly settle the question of supremacy, and, from the account of the race cabled across, it appears that both candidates were eauaJly fancied. Balfour, the Hon. Mr. Mossman's candidate, who came from Queensland with a great reputation was the only otlher starter. Great Scot made the pace from the fall of the flaa, but at the back of the course Abundance drew level and a erreat tussle ensued rieht to the judge's box. victory resting with the latter bv a head. Balfour was beaten out of sight. The mile and three-quarters was traversed^ in 3min 6Jsec which is a record for' the race. * * * On the opening day of the A.J.C. autumn meeting, the Hon. Mr. Mossman was right out of luck. His oolt Balfour was third in the St. Leger, and his other representative, Cressy, occupied a similar position in the High Weight. In New Zealand, the hon. gentleman has not had the best turn of Fortune's wheel with his racing ventures and sportsmen generally throughout the colony would be pleased to hear of his success in some of the big handicaps on the other side. * * * The Easter fixture at the Wairarapa Racmg Club was held last Saturday and Monday, and was a great success The fields were fairly large, and the racing interesting The race for the Easter Handicap alone was worth going the distance to see. Speculation was brisk, the sum of £5145 being put through on the first day. What looked to be a serious accident occurred in the Flying Hack. Rounding the bend into the straight, La Torpedo fell when in the lead, and she brought down Dodona and Maminga. The rider of La Torpedo escaped with a few bruises, asi did the other iockey but it appeared at one time as if it was goinc to be a general smash-up. The club deserve credit for the way in which the meeting is manaeed, a.nd to the efforts of the secretary and officers this is in a great measure due. For the Easter Handicap, which was contested by a field of eight. Benefactor came in for mast support, the Stepniak gelding looking the picture of health. Next in popular fancy was Rebel, and his trainer was 1 confident that he would run well. That game little mare Volley looked none the worse for her trip to Nelson and she started third favourite. The outsider of the field was the subseouent winner, and as he also occupied the post of honour in the handicap, Mr. Henry must feel proud of his work. When, the barrier was raised Volley went to the front and she led the field at a sound pace passing the grandstand, her nearest attendants being Rebel and Tikirawa. No alteration took place along the back, with the excention that the latter improved his position. Rounding the bend for home, Plaidie came through and, catching the leaders opposite the outside enclosure, went on and won an exciting race by a long neck from Volley, with St. Lyra half-a-leneth away third. The favourite was fourth. The winner is an aged mare bv Quilt — — Jeuzad, and has annexed several good stakes for her owner, Mr J. Ma,cara. Singularly, too, her victories have nearly always been attended with ffood dividends In last Saturday's race she paid £10 7s. while her success in the Wairarapa Cup, on New Year* "Day, was attended with a £12 •-^idend. ~

Returned sports have a good word to say of Mr. J. Cotter's St. Leger filly St. Alba, who was making her first appearance in the racing arena. The race chosen for her debut was the Maiden Hack, for which she was second favourite. She was slow in leaving the mark, but was galloping faster than anything in the race at, the finish, and was placed third. She should be worth watching for future events. Somea'led, the Clanranald horse, who was just recently purchased from Sir George Clifford, made his first appearance in his new owner's colours in, the Telegraph Handicap, and ran a very creditable race. He was only just beaten in the last few strides by Shrapnel Shell, so that his new owner was very nearly getting back his purchase money on the first occasion on whioh he started. The surprise* of the meeting was the Hack Welter. Theire were sixteen starters, but at the ruse of the barrier, Rebellious went to the front, and he lasted long enough to win. by half-a-length. How the daughter of Rebellion was allowed to pay a £16 13s dividend I cannot imagine. Certainly, lately her form was not good enough to point to her as being the -winner, but when it is remembered that she has won over thei same distance on more than one occasion, and that the field opposing her was strong in numbers but not in quality, her starting price becomes more of a mystery. Although beaten out of a place in the Easter Handicap, the Stepniak — Chant\ gelding Benefactor was to the fore in the Open Welter, which he won comfortably. Nothing would go down by stay-at-home backers but Queen's Guard for the Tradesmen's Plate at the A.R.C. meeting. Shearsby's representative was backed in town as if she could not lose, but once* again was the uncertainty of the game illustrated. The daughter of Vanguard a,nd Juliet certainly looked well treated with Bst lib over a mile and aj-quarter, but sine, was never prominent in the race, and the metallicians were jubilant in consequence. Achilles, the Porirua sprinter, won the Century Stakes in a canter at the A.R.C. meeting, and there does not seem to be anything in New Zealand capable of extending him. The pencillers have had a rare innings during the holiday meetings. At the Wairarapa, the bie race was won bv an outsider, at Auckland the winner of the Easter Handicap — Golden Rose — was not seriously considered as having the remotest possibility of suocess , at Christohurch , Lady Lilian annexes the Great Easter Handicap from a red-hot "pot" in Orloff, and m the Champagne Stakes, which looked on paper a cakewalk for Mr. Stead's representative, Machine' Gun, victory rests with Sir George Clifford's representative Treadmill. The great trottine match is now a thing of the past. The contest was not so keen as was generally thought. The race was the best of fivei heats, and as the New Zealand representative, Ribbon wood, armroDnated the first three, he wins the match. In each heat he proved his superiority over Fritz in hollow fashion the Australian champion never seeming to be able to pace it with him. Since tin* maftch. an offer of £1500 was made forßibbonwood, but his owner contemplates trying other fields, and declined the offer. Awahuri annexed the two hurdle races at the A.R.C. meeting in fine style. For his victory on the opening day, he was raised a stone in weight,

but this did not prevent the son of Kaiwhaka from asserting his superiority. L. H. Hewitt, the jockey, who has been associated with the Yaldhurst representatives for the past two seasons, met with a painful accident last Friday. He was looking over the Addington workshops, and while watching a machine cutting iron a piece of tfhe metal flew up and struck Hewitt on the left leg near the thigh, inflicting a severe wound. He was removed to the Hospital, and is now progressing favourably. It is stated that Mr. S. Brown, of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, recently offered Mr. John Gubbins £15 000 for Ard Patrick, last year's Derby winner. The offer was declined, but. it is expected Mr. Brown will make another attempt to secure the son of St. Forian and Morganeifcte. When Cruciform won the C.J.C. Great Easter Handicat) for Mr. Stead, twelve months ago she had 21bs more to carry than her stable companion, Orloff, carried' into second place in this Peek's contest. What an old battler Roller is, to be sure. He was formerly owned bv the Hon. J. D. Ormond, but latterly he races under the nomination of Mr. S. Brown. On Monday last he appropriated the KiLdare Hurdles at the C.J.C. meeting, and paid a dividend of £4 18s.