THE TURF.

Evening Post, Issue 153, 29 December 1908, Page 2

THE TURF.

MANAWATU MEETING. NOTES. (By Our Special Reporter.) PALMERSTON N., This Day. The hard state of the tracks is beginning to find out the wean, spots in many horses, and for the concluding day of ths Manawatu meeting tho fields were naturally small ; still, that fact did not make the sorting out process any easier, and three favourites only caught the judge's eyes. Tho club's enterprise in including a raco of the importance of the Sires' Produce Stakes hardly reaped the succesa it deserved, only five two-year-olds goin^ to the post. This race is the most valuable of its kind in the racing calendar, and Mr. E. J. Watt, who bred the winner — Maori King — received £797 as his share of the stakes, this amount, including £125 accruing to him as the nominator of Merriwee, who sired Maori King. Expansion was not quite himself, as, after competing at liiccarton,- the gelding had to* bs eased in his work, owing to an attack of influenza. However, during the last few days he picked up sufficiently to justify Mr. Bidwill giving him a run. The nuggety Kilwinning had created such a good impression by the mahner in which he carried his big weight into second place behind Boanerges on Saturday, that he was always at a short price.' Daybeam did not move too freely on the hard ground, and GoJd Battery, whose first race in public it was, was' obviously not tuned up for such a severe test as a six furlong journey. A well-informed section, who were aware that Maori King had galloped six furlongs on the plough" in lmin 17sec, benefited by that knowledge, for the colt paid a very liberal price for so small a field. Mr. Pratt effected a really good start, Expansion shooting away with the lead, which he held until the turn for home, where Kilwinning deposed him, the latter in his turn being cut down by Maori King, who ran home a remarkably easy winner. Don Carlos was first choice for the Hack Hurdles, but good money came for Aotea, who was ridden by W. Young. Aotea galloped and jumped in rplendid style, bis performance being in marked contrast with what he ehowed on the firct day, when he finished last to Dnil, Commander, and Coy. The stew-irdd held an inquiry, but the e;:planttion proved satisfactory. Coy's saddle slipped, and although he finished well, he is not seasoned enough yet. The Welter resolved itself into a match between Probability and Sandstream. 1 The latter was not ridden very artistically, and it was only by dint of most vigorous riding that the San Fran gelding got up and beat Probability on the post by the narrowest of margins. Aboriginal likes the going somewhat softer. Eclogue was considerably freshened up by his gallop on Saturday, and the big Sylvia Park colt was made favourite in the Christmas Hack, and there was good money for Osiris and North-East. Eclogue was slow to move, until Price got to work, and in a couple of i'urlongs he. ran from last to first place. Osiris, on the other hand, got .well away, but lost his position, and had to come up on the outside. North-East galloped strongly up to the distance, where his condition failed him, and Osiris took up the pursuit, but he failed by a neck U> i-each- Eclogue. ' The Te Matai Hurdles looked a real good thing for Lull, as the Handsome Jack gelding had been doing great work on the track. Capulet is not. the Capulet oi old, and Tonderghie— the only other starter— lacks finishing power, although in Lull and Aorangi he has bumped up against a pair of slashing hurdlers. Lull was always odds on, and he justified the confidence reposed in him by winning with the greatest of oase. There was a select field of six in the I residents Handicap. Crucinella looked all the better for her race on the first day, and the stable would not hear of her defeat. Apa was a picture of condition, and Truganiiii, despite all the racing she has hud, was as bright as a star. Waitapu was backed, but his owner was just a little doubtful as to whether tho Gipsy King gelding was iorward enough for a contract of this description. Trugnnini was out in front tor the greater part of the way, and, as she was galloping so freely, it 'looked as it at last her wearisome record of seconds would be brightened by a first. However, once more disappointment was to be tho portion of her owner, for Crucmella came on the scene with an irresistible run, and for the tenth occasion out of fifteen starts Truganini's number was hoisted in sscond place. Moloch and Vasa ran woll, but Apa seemed to come in for a, lot of trouble on the journey. His two runs in public at Awapuni may doubtless benefit him. Waitapu went well for a mile, but he does not appear to- finish with his old resolution. Longner had the substantial load of ten stone in the Westbury Hack, and had, moreover, got into a barbed wire tencc the previous night, and was slightly cut about. Notwithstanding these disabilities, ho was backed heavily. Cute was first away, but was quickly joined by Longner, and the pair ran together to within a few yards from the judge's box, where weight told, and Cut* gimWd tho verdict by a head. Aberbrothock, who got badly away, was finishing faster than either Cute or Longner, and this lengthy half-brother to Sandix looks like doing Mr. D. Buick good service. Cardiff, an own brother to Mahoe, is a bif chestnut with four white legs and a white face. Ho was amongst "the starters, but is inexperienced at the barrier. Rangipapa was piekod out as a real good thing in tho Kawau Stakes. Ballarat, who was only accepted for on the off-chance of a small field, was quite neglected in Hip betting;, despite her comfortable win in the Fitzhorbert Handicap. Tumut and Golden Eaglo came in for plenty of support, and this fourhorse raco provided one of tho most exciting events of tho wholo meeting.* Rangipapa, who ,is becoming a slow beginner, lost, several lengths at the start but at tlj« dislnncc ho had nlmost drawn' lovel with Bnllarat, upon whom Price was nlreiidy hard nt work. Just when everybody expected JJnlkirat to fail, the blnok nuiro commenced to battle out ovory yard of the way, and. finishing strongor than over before. Davies's olo* slave, socurod the veedk-t by a neck. Tumut ran a good race, but in some way got blockutl in tho straight. LOWER VALLEY NOTES. Tho annual meeting of tho Lower Valley Jockey Club was concluded at the Mnvtinborongh vaco course yesterday in flno weather. The attendance was up to tho nvovaijo for j> second day. Three bookiunkejs were licensed inside and the *wne number outside. Diplomatic and Ready Money weie piUlad out of the hurdles, only four •U\\tinft. Lebf coio shaped no better than QU tho previous day, finishing last.

Straban led for a mile, where Lerida ' ran through and won comfortably. The withdrawal of King Post reduced the field for the Aorangi Hack Handicap to four. Swallow led to tho distance •where Glen challenged. In the last hundred yards Thera shot out and won by a> clpar length. Gaelic was pulled out of the Martin Memorial, five starting. Tupono was favourite, but could only finish third to Skyc, Mataari being a good second. Lerida was saddled up again for the Necklace. Knight Commander (Knight Errant— Lord Jlandevills mare) ridden by J. Tilyard, won all the way. Lerida could only manage to finish a moderate second. The County Hack Handicap brought out half- a dozen runners. Sweet Lethe(R. Hatch) was most fancied. She carried on the running with Purekau to the distance, where Oblivion (Sir LancelotLullaby) challenged, and won by a clear length. Gaelic (F. Langstono) stumbled after going nine furlongs in the Huangarua Welter and dropped back laet. King Post was ,in front for five furlongs where he gave way to Prism. The latter had to be ridden out to stall off a long run by Gaelic under punishment. The latter was unlucky to lose. Glen and Retinue (R. Hatch) were most fancied for the Kehcmane Hack Welter. The winner -turned up in Diplomatic, a stable mate of Oblivion, both being owned by Mr. H. Hodge, and trained by J. Gravestock. The Hack Scurry went to Tainui, and gave R. Hatch his sixth winning ride.