NOTES ON THE RACING. THE WELLINGTON CUP.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXI, Issue 18, 23 January 1911, Page 3

NOTES ON THE RACING. THE WELLINGTON CUP.

So diverse were t the opinions expressed by tho&e who were present at Ellerslie as to the merit of * Miss Mischief's performance in the A.R.C. Handicap that her presence in the Wellington Cup field invested the race with peculiar interest. Some said she was a champion, whilst others maintained she was a squib, and that her sensational victory at the Auckland fixture was something in the nature of a fluke. There is nothing like forming one's own opinion with regard to the capabilities* of a thoroughbred, and those of us, who were unable to attend the Northern meeting have now had an opportunity of doing so. The result? Well, our views on the subject still differ. And not unnaturally. Of all the important races that we have seen decided that for the latest Wellington Cup was surely the most extraordinary. Talk about Noctuiform snatching victory at the last moment at Riccarton, just 'when everyone thought he was done to a cinder, why, it waD nothing to what, 1 , we saw on Saturday. The Midtiform colt simply drifted back until all chance of success seemed hopeless — and then proceeded to show us what bad judges we were by swooping down, on his opponents and winning as he pleased. But Miss Mischief ! Back,wards and forwards, backwards and forwards, like a shuttle in a loom. She made no less than three distinct bites at the Trentham cherry, and it was solely due to her sheer gameness and sterling worth that the fruit was ultimately hers. Either she was shockingly badly handled — and seeing that Gray was up this was not to be anticipated— or she was twice badly interfered with. Until the six-furlong post was past she was lying close in behind the leaders, and appeared to be going great guns. Mendip and Parable now raced to the front, however, and Miss Mischief immediately dropped back. Recovering herself, she again became well placed three furlongs from home, when back she went once more. Her chance now seemed practically nil, and Iranui, who shot out halfway down the straight, looked all over a winner. Laying down to her work in the gamest fashion, however, Treadmill's little daughter came again, and although she hung in, 'and Gray had to momentarily cease riding her and straighten her up fifty yards from home,' she got up in time to gain a memorable victory by a head. After she had weighed in keen followers of racing were fully prepared to hear of an enquiry being held, but, so far as I can learn, Gray was not asked to account for his mount's erratic behaviour. In the circumstances\she was perhaps a trifle lucky to beat Iranui, who might have succeeded had Ryan delayed asking her for a final effort for a moment | longer. - That the better mare of the two prevailed, however, there can be no sort of doubt, as had Mr. Greenwood's representative not lost ground more than once in ihe manner referred to. she must have scored decisively. Both she and the runner-up were turned out in, the perfection of condition, and so far as the eye could detect Goldfinder was also well served in this respect. California's young •* _ never once appeared dangerous, however, and was one of the last to finish. That he was not the horse he was in Auckland goes without saying, but personally I am fully convinced that he is nothing like so good a colt as Danube. Merrivonia, who as usual failed to 6tride out freely in the preliminary, ran a sterling good race, as, too, did Los Angelos. The latter was very anxious, and perspired freely ere he left the enclosure, and being a heavy puller, he will always show to most advantage over shorter courses. Lady Reina was also nervous, and is evidently of little account when it comes to racing over a lengthy journey. She it was who was mainly responsible for setting an extremely fast pace, the various distances being, according to the watch I held, run as follows : — Two furlongs, 25 2-5 sec ; four, 50 2-ssec ; six, lmin lb 1-5 sec ; nine, lmin 55 l-ssec ; twelve, 2min 31 2-ssec. From this it will be seen that the last mile was run in lmin 44sec and the last three furlongs in 39 l-ssec. THE TELEGRAPH HANDICAP. - St. Toney being the only withdrawal, a tine field of fifteen went out to contest the sprint event, the result of which was generally regarded as open. Full Rate stripped a mass of muscle, but what a nuisance he is ! Last summer he delayed the start for the City Handicap for about twenty minutes, and so kepi, tho supporters of Equitas on pins and needles, and on Saturday he was at his old tricks again. Gold Lace is not quite at her beat yet, and the race {mould benefit her. Maori King, how-

ever, was turned out in grand trim, and it was only owing to his inability to begin quickly that be failed to score. After being badly placed during the early stages of the contest, he shook himself clear of the ruck in the straight, and was finishing at a great- pace. Six fnrlongs i% too short a journey for him, but <<r?er a mile or ten furlong course he could probably hold his own with any horse but Danube now in commission. Polymorphous has, it is to be feared, seen his best day, and Formby has not yet succeeded in fulfilling the promise he gave last season. Sharpshooter, however, ran well, as did Obsono and Gipsy Belle, who is now carrying more condition than ever previously, put up the best performance of her career. Everything, admittedly, was in her favour. She was the first to leave the mark, whilst some of her opponents, including Sea Queen and Dearest, who are usually good beginners, were slow to move.. Still, she is a much improved mare this season, and is learning to run her races out better than she used to do. THE MINOR EVENTS. It was not surprising to see Rill sent out favourite for the opening event, for as the field walked around the weighing enclosure, she undoubtedly looked the pick of the bunch. Bracken stripped well; but useful gelding though he has proved himself to be, he is too coarselooking and heavily topped to warrant the belief that he would be able to stay on when the pace is severe. Hurdling or cross-country work should be more in hip line, for he- is up to any weight in reason, and with his nice turn of speed he would be able to dodge along quietly until the straight, was entered and then smother the opposition for pace. Aunt Sally is a useful looking mare, and was strongly fancied in certain quarters. She failed to see the journey out, however, and so both surprised and disappointed her owner-trainer. Laius, who was carrying considerably less superfluous lumber than usual, registered his best performance to date, and if his doubtfullooking joints do not again cause trouble he should win races this season. Those who saw Ario'm win at Ashhurst were not a little impressed with her performance, and on Saturday they benefited accordingly. She is a very nice filly indeed, and may be expected to further distinguish herself. In Medallist she met quite a useful horse, | who is now probably as good as ever he was, and in beating* him, albeit only by an exceedingly narrow margin, she registered a creditable performance. First Battery, who had the confidence of his owner, ran disappointingly, and that rather iiightly young lady Falsetto, promptly compounded when tackled by Ariom and Medallist. Tenterhook looked brighter and more muscular than usual, and many a hardheaded backer saw fit to support her for the Electric Handicap. Her chance of success was quickly extinguished, however, as she seemed to screw when the tapes roEe, and was one of the last to leave the mark. Sunburnt began smartly, but, *i?robably owing to his being a bit sore, he could not foot it with St. Toney over the first two furlongs. During the last quarter, however, he came with a great rattle and won easily. One of the most interesting events on tho card was the Nursery Handicap. The plain, but supple-looking, Bootle, who has been off the scene since he scored at Hastings in October, was among those saddled up, and many who held a high opinion ot him were anxious to see how he would shape. Bronze was a picture of condition, but the diminutive Lambton (half-brother to Ingoda), who was making his first public appearance, was evidently backward. Danube's half-brother, St. Petersburg, looked ' well and shows quality, but he j has not the power of his illustrious relative, in comparison to whom he is mean-looking. Byron is a far better sort. He is not ready yet, but he is a fine cut of a colt, moves well, and may be expected to distinguish himself later on. Counterfeit is another attractive-looking juvenile, and is a great improvement upon what her sister, Miss Mischief was at like age. In her Sir George Clifford owns a very promising filly — one that with more experience hbould hold her own in any company. Sinapis is still susceptible of improvement, but Rangiatua looked almost overtrained. Khamsin is a solidly-built filly that should win in her turn, and xVloha is a big one that, in common with Golden 'Ball, will be served by time. Bronze won quite easily, and is undoubtedly improving. She had an advantage over some of her opponents, however, in point of both condition and experience, and it is not unlikely that both Byron and Counterfeit, to name two of them, will at least prove her equal as the season becomes further advanced. In the meantime, however, she is a bold advertisement for Field Battery. Colleen Mary, whose dam is by Carbine and a half-sister to Seahorse, made mincemeat of her opponents in the Trial Plate, and may be expected to shine in better company, a remark that also applies to Zealand, who played with the opposition in the Ruapehu Handicap. Zealand, who hails from the Miss Flat family, has not been long in commission. He has lots of pace, however, and it is impossible to determine how good he may really be.