Turf Topics.

Free Lance, Volume III, Issue 131, 3 January 1903, Page 22

Turf Topics.

By 'Krsct-Card.

The summer meeting of the Manawatu Racing Club was commenced on Boxing Day in very disagreeable weather, showers of rain, accompanied with a southerly wind, falling throughout the afternoon. Notwithstanding this, there was a record attendance, visitors befog present from all the 'country roUnd. The racing was good, and the fields quite up to the average. Thfe, race for the Manawatu Cup was a splendid one, victory resting with Mr. Richardson's mare Hinetaura after an exciting struggle with Convoy. The totahsator returns showed an increase of -£600 on the opening day on the sum handled at the corresponding meeting held last year. The officials of the Club worked hard to make the meeting a success, and to their efforts and those of the Secretary, Mr. Johnston, are due the credit which the Club has attained amongst visiting sportsmen. Proceedings commenced with the Telegraph Stakes, which brought out a field of six starters. Perfection, on Feildmg form, was voted the pick of the handicap, and he came in for most support on the machine. Westguard and Rangitata were also in good demand, and Ostiak also had a host of admirers. From a good start Ostiak and Perfection assumed the lead, and they were in front along the back stretch. Rounding the bend Ostiak and Whirlwind retired, and when heads were turned for home Perfection was in front, his nearest attendants being Rangitata and Laureate. Half way down the straight Rangitata came with a rattle, and, easily settling the leader, won somewhat comfortably by two lengths. Laureate was third a length behind Perfection. The winner paid £4 10s, and the second horse 19s. The race was run in 1 mm. 20 3-sths sec, which was fairly good considering the state of the course. A field of six faced the starter for the First Hurdles, Waiwera being a slightly better favourite than Roer, with Kohunui next in demand. Smithy went to the front at the start, and he led the field for a mile and a half, followed by Haunri, Roer, and Waiweraf^with -Kohunui last. Going along the hack for the last time Smithy retired beaten, leaving Roer and Hauriri in the lead. Rounding the bend the field closed up, and when the straight was reached Waiwera and Roer weie a length in front of Kohunui. The latter overhauled the leaders at the distance post, and coming on, won by three lengths from Waiwhera, who was a length in front of Roer. The winner lan the two miles in 4 mm 6 sec, and paid a dividend of £4 ss, while backers of the fa\ounte had to be content with 15s. The next event of the card — the Manawatu Cvp — attracted a field of seven starters, Hinetaura being a little more in favour than Dexterity and Convey, although all of the candidates were well supported. The field moved off together at the start, but when fairly in their stride it was seen that Roseplot and Motor were in front, closely followed by Kahuwai, the favourite last. Along the back Roseplot began to tire, and Halberdier made a forward move. Rounding the bend Convoy was in front, with Kahuwai and Halberdier as his nearest attendants. Convoy was first into the straight, and his victory was being londly proclaimed, when Hinetaura shot out from the ruck, and catching the leader at the people's stand, won an exciting race by half a length. Kahuwai was three lengths away third. The winner ran the mile and a half in 2mm 47 3-sths sec, and paid a dividend of £3 6s, while backers of Convos received £1 2s, second money. The Gryphon and Aroha declined the contest for the Hack Hurdles, which was contested by a field of six. Waitohi and Beau Idearcame in for most support, the rest of the candidates being evenly backed. From a good start Flanagan went to the front, and never being troubled won easily by three lengths from Waitohi, who was a length in front of Beau Ideal. The winner traversed the mile and threequarters in 3 mm. 36 sec, and paid a dividend of £5 19s, while backers of the second horse had to be content with 16s for every pound invested.

Nine horses faced the staiter for the Maiden Hack run over furlongs, Noneen being the populev choice. Ballarat, a black mare by Gold Reef out of a Dreadnought mare, came in tor a lot of support, and he justified the confidence or his "backers by gaining a rather fiuky win, The field moved otf together and when a furlong had been covered the favourite was in front closely attended by Wairere and The Gift. Round the bend Noneen retired, and when heads were turned for home Ballarat was about a length m Iront ot The Gift. The leader looked to have everything settled in the race, but opposite the people's stand Maureen made a brilliant run and only suffered defeat by a nose. The Gift was third a length away. The seven furlongs was run in the good time of 1 mm 30 3-5 sec, and the winner paid £3 10s, and backers of Maureen received £2 3s second money. A field of six lined up to contest the Grandstand Handicap run over a mile, for which Oingo came in for most support. The son of Torpedo-Como amply justified the confidence replaced in him by winning by half a length from Ballyneety. From a good start The Rioter rushed to the front and along the back stretch was three lengths in front of Perfection. The field closed up rounding the bend and when heads were turned for home the whips were all out and it appeared anyone's race. Half way down the straight the favourite and Ballyneety singled themselves out and a ding-dong struggle ensued to the post, the former winning by half a length. The winner paid £2 2s and the second horse £1 15s. The Hack Flat brought out nine starters., Hamua and Elibank, bracketted on the machine, being the popular fancy. Rajah, Mussel, Lilssa, and Covenant Maid were about evenly backed. Rag ah and Mussed were in front after the field had ?one a furlong, and they carried on the running round tihe bend and along the back. No alteration took place till heads were turned far home, and then OtaiO had joined t!he leaders. A good straggle down the straight saw Otaio pass the post half-a-lengtih in. front of Rajah, with, Mussel close up third. The winner paid £9 ss, and the second horse £2 4s. The public sorted out Exmoor as the pick of the Nursery lot, and they sent ham out a hot pot.. But, once agaan was' the uneertiaintty of racing illustrated, for Gold Seal, getting the best of the start, never left the issue in doubt, and romped home the easiest of winners by three lengths from Gold Dust, who was half-a-length in front of Secret Society. The winner paid £7 3s> and ran the five furlongs in lmin 6sec. * * •* Better weather was experienced for the second day's races, and there was again a large attendance. On exhibit on the lawn was a tanned hide of Muskeit, New Zealand's champion sire, and it came in for a lot of inspection. It belongs) to Mr. R. S. Abraham, one of the stewards of the club. Sport commenced with the Summer Handicap, for which there were seven starters. Torowai found most favour with backers, although Rangitata and Perfection weire also well supported From a good start, Ostiak went to the front, and led the field along the back, his nearest attendants being Whirlwind and I/aureate. Rounding the bend, Rangitaita improved her position. Once in the straight the rider of the latter set sail after the leader, and, overhauling him at the distance post, came on, and Avon a good race bv a length. The favourite was amongst the last to finish. Tlie winner ran the six furlongs in lmin 19sec, and paid £2 14s, while backers of Ostiak received £2 9s second money. The large field of twelve lined out to contest the Hack Flying, for which Ballarat, Maureen, Rajatti, and the Ponrua double — Rawiri and Ekbank — wetre about evenly supported. A quiet tip m the paddock was Bounce, and he very nearly effected a surprise. From a good start, of which Ehbank and Bounce got all the worst, Rawin and Oreusot carried on the running, attended by Wairere and Opaeae. Rounding tiuei bend, the field were spreadeagled out, with Bounce and Elibank making up ground. Rawiri was first into the straaioiht, and he lasted long enough to win by half-a-length from his stable companion, who iust beat Bounce bv a head. The winner, who is a full-bro-ther to Waiuku, gives promise of doing something better when he becomes more seasoned. Only one dividend was panid out, backers receiving £3 12s for supporting either of the stable representatives. Waiwera was looked upon as the one most likely to succeed in the Second Hurdles, and he was made a slightly better favourite than! Kohunui. Smithy cut out the pace for the first mile, but he was done with when tackled bv Roer and Waiwera. The two latter were racing, neck and neck when the home stretch was reached, and it was only twenty yards from the winning-post that , Waiwera forged ahead, and won an ex-

ceEent race by half-a-length. Kohunui was third, two lengths away. The winner ran the, mile and three>-qu artel's in 3mm 28sec, arid paid £2 16s. * All of the ten acceptors lined up tio contest the President's Handicap, run over a male and a-quarter. Convoy was most in demand, and he was followed m public estflimation by Dexterity, Hinetaura, and Ghoorka, while Halberdier and Kahuwaa came in for a lot of sunport'. The field werei despatched to an excellent start, and when a, furlong had been traversed, Roseplot was a length _in front of Dexterity and Ghoorka, with Oingo last. " Along the back, Roseplot' retired, and Halberdier was being- ridden to keep his position Ghoorka. and Oonvoy were in front when the straight was reached, and the latter, stalling off challenges from Dexterity and Ghoorka., won somewhat, easily by a length and a^half from Hinetaiura, who came' fast at the finish, and beat Ghoorka for second money. The dis^ tance was carved out in 2min 18sec, and the winner paid £3 6s, while backers of Hinetaura received £2 8s second money. Waatiohi was made the medium for much speculataon in the Hack Hurdles, but he again disappointed his numerous backers. The winner turned up in Awar hura. who won a good race' by a length from, Beau Ideal. The favourite was third two lengths away. The winner, who only recently came into Shearsby's hands, is owned by Mr. G. P. Donnelly, and his win was very popular. Backers of Awahuri received £5 3s, and Beau Ideal returned each of his supporters £1 14s. The Juvenile Stakes ; a® on the opening day , was the mean® of effecting anotiher surprise. The public siorted out Gold Dusit for the medium of their speculations, while Gold Crown was also well supported. The latter went to the front at the start, and, when the straight was reached, was a length iki front of Auratus. The latter made his effort opposite the people's stand and. forging ahead, won by a length. Gold Dusit came fast at the finish, and. although he overhauled Gold Crown, he could not reach Auratus. The winner paid the best dividend of the meeting — £10 18s — and that in a field of four. The Christmas' Hack was contested by a field of seven, Comfort and Dick Turpin being about equal favourites. The field ran bunched the whole of the way, and, when heads 1 were turned for home, the whips vrere out on all. In the last few strides, Comfort succeeded in forging ahead, and he passed the win-ning-rjost half-a-length in front of Otaio. The winner paid £2 13s.