Turf Topic

Free Lance, Volume III, Issue 148, 2 May 1903, Page 25

Turf Topic

By 'Krect-Card.

The Wellington Racing Club were favoured with excellent weather on the hist day of their autumn meeting, and there was a splendid attendance. The sport, provided was good, the fields fairly laige, and speculation brisk. The meeting of Achilles and Treadmill, in the North Island Challenge Stakes, was no doubt the draw" card, but this did not Eventuate the former declining the contest, ow ing to injuries received the previous day. Regret was expressed on all sides at the champion three-year-old's non-appearance, and it is hoped that he will make a speedy recovery. The race resolved itself into a duel between Sir George Clifford's colt, Treadmill, and Mr. J. Brett's colt, Red Gauntlet. Both horses kept together for four furlongs, when the former forged ahead, a.nd, gradually increasing his lead, won easily by three lengths. St. Denis carried the bulk of the public money in the Waiwetu Handicap and he was closely followed in public estimation by Exmoior. In the race' neither flattered their supporters at any stage of the journey, the winnner turnm<z up in General Symons, who rewarded his backers with a £6 odd dividend. Pure- Silver and Narcotic both ran races but the winner was just a bit too good and they could make no impression on him. Mr. W. Davies representative, Wind, by Sou'-w ester — Baletta, appro^ priated the two Hack events on the first day's programme in excellent style. In the Silverstream Handicap., run over a mile, he had to be shaken up ait. the finish to stall off a late run by Hydrant, but in the Tinakon Handicap, oven- a six-furlong course, he won with ridiculous ease. The Sou'-w ester gelding was well supported by his connections, and it is reported that their winnings over his success run into four figures. The large field of eleven horses faced the barrier to contest the Thompson Handicap . Favouritism was bestowed upon last year's winner, Ostiak, who looked very fit. The Canterbury mare, Scylla, occupied the position of second favourite, with the ex-hack Shrapnel next in demand. The latter was making his first real appearance amongst the "big guns" of the turf, and, despite that fact, there were many who had witnessed liis performances in more moderate company who said that he would make a creditable showing. C'anr me Chiel and PaJlas looked trained to the hour, and no fault could be found with the appearance of Terrapin. Scylla is a compact little mare, by Stepniak — Whirlpool, and came as a strong Southern tin for the race. Shrapnel Shell and Ringman were the outsiders of the field. The race itself does not require much description, for Shrapnel waited on his field until half the journey had been traversed, and then came in by himself.

Nothing was able to pace it with him, and when it is considered that the time lecorded was lmin 41 2-sthseo it must be admitted that he is a racehorse all over. To beat such a select field so easily is sufficient justification for his admirers styling him a second Oarbme. On the second day, with an additional fifteen pounds to carry, he annexed the Hutt Handicap m good style. Bellman, pursuing his usual tactics, went to the front at the start 121 both the Hurdle Races. On the first day, over a mile and three-quarters, he was overhauled by Lady Bell a quarter of a mile from home, but over the 1 sihofrteir course, on the second day, he won from end to end. The favourite, Light, ran indifferently in both of his essays, and Waiwera would have been more at home over a longer course. Aide-dc-Camp fell at the first hurdle, breaking a leg and had to be destroyed. Smithy ran creditabrv on the second day, and, with a little less condition, would have troubled the winner more. Lady Bell is only a hamdful, but she is as game as they are made. The extra weight on the second da,y stopped her. Old Rubin' led the field at a rare bat for seven furlongs in the Heretaiunga Handicap, but he was done with when the business-end of the journey was reached. Porirua came through, his field when the straight was reached, and won by two lengths. Kelburn came with a late run, and secured second honours. Oni the second day the positions were reversed. In the St. Leger run over a mile and threequarters, the field ran bunched until the straight was reached, where Porirua came through, but he wais strongly challenged by Kelburn at the distance post, and the latter easily beat his opponent m the run home. Tsantza, ridden by Jenkins, was installed favourite for the Railway Handicap-, and she justified the confidence replaced in her by winning easily. Lolah and Petrovna ran well for a time, but they were unable to withstand the challenge thrown out by Tsantza when the straight wasi reached. The winner is built on more compact lines than her sister Petrovna, but both have a very taking appearance 1 . C'annie Ohiel broke his long sequence of seconds by appropriating the Autumn Handicap on the second day. The race for the event in question was the prettiest seen on tihe Hutt Park for many a year. At the entrance to; the straight, Terrapin, Scylla and Cannie Chiel singled themselves out from the remainder 1 of the field, and they had a battle royal right "up to the winningpost. The latter won by a head from Scylla, while Terrapin was only ai head away third. The excitement was intense, and when the victory of Sir George Clifford's representative was hoisted, there was tremendous enthusiasm. The unlucky horse at the meeting was Waitoto, Mr. J. Freeth's representative. She finished im all hecr races like a bulldog, but there was. always something just a little bit too good for the Sara.oen — Wairoa mare. Doubtless, with age she will improve, and properly placed will reward the veteran trainer for his perseverance. The veteran gelding, Ixia, ridden by Jenkins, annexed the Belmont Hack Handicap, on the second day, and paid a£9 odd dividend. Prior to the race, he was purchased by Messrs. Barry and Harris, of Wellington, so his new owners soon got some of their purchase money back. The meeting wound up> with one of those surprises which make racing the

uncertain sport it- is, and which gives it a great amount of fascination. In the Suburban Handicap, backers went for a recovery. Tsantza, Red Gauntlet, St. Denis WindwhistJe, and Pallas were about equally supported, the other starters not being considered good enough to have the slightest chance of success by the majority of backers. At the rise of the barrier, Tikirawa and St. Denis went to the front, and led the field along the back. Rounding the bend the latter was done with, and when the straight was reached Tikirawa was out by himself. He was strongly challenged by Shrapnel Shell and Pure Silver at the distance post, but he maintained his position till the -judge's box was reached. Tsaritza was fourth, but the other "guns" were nowhere. Thus the places were filled by the three outsideis of the field, whose chance® of success were so lightly thought of that the winner paid a dividend of £13 4s, and the second horse £3 16s. Mr. Stead has sold the Stepniak colt, King Log, and the Hotchkiss colt, Evelyn Wood to a South African buyer, and they will be shipped to their newhome very shortly. The; former has some fair performances to his credit, and. if properly placed, should win some good races for his new owner. Amon*?st the yearlings sold recently at Sydney were three which are booked for New Zealand. Mr. G. F. Moore gave 70 guineas for a colt by Haut Brion from Rufine, and Mr. J. F. Reid purchased a colt by Wallace' from Eleusis for 80 guineas. The latter also secured a filly by Haut Brion from Nineveh for 150 guineas. Mr. H. Friedlander, the well-known Ashburton SDortsman, who went Home to consult Professor Hoffa, of Berlin, with regard to an injury to the spine, has returned to the colony much beinefitted by the treatment. The success of Wind in the hack races, ait the Hutt, so the story goes, was anticipated by the pencillens on the course, and they one and all had a share in his success, some of them having as much- as £30 on him on the machine. On the way home they were congratulating themselves on the good win they had had over one of Billy Daviesi 1 horses, as it is generally recognised that that trainer is a pretty shrewd gentleman, and that when, one of his representatives is considered to have a good chance of success, the dollars are staked in earnest. Sometimes it has happened that the information has leaked out, and then everyone wants to have their bit on the pood thing, and the oencillens have been sad for many a day after. But, this time the latter were all right. They had got the benefit of th© "good thins:" themselves, and they were in consequence very jubilant. Imagine their surprise and consternation when, or reaching town, one of the Pencillers' representatives informed his principal that he had' laid £30 of Wind on his first start, so that instead of the pencdler having made a rise out of Wind's success, as he thought, he was considerably out of pocket.