Turf Topics.

Free Lance, Volume VI, Issue 291, 27 January 1906, Page 21

Turf Topics.

By the "Old 'Un.'

THE Wellington Racing Club's new racecourse, at Tientham, may be said to- have, received) its "baptism of fire" ou Saturday last, and "Trentham racecourse" will, to the sportsman, become as much a household •word as is Riccarton, Randwick, or Flemington, to the residents of Canterbury, Sydney, or Melbourne. The race-going citizens of the Empire Uty can refer with pride to their racing olub, the executive or which, &av,ngput their hands to the plough, must not -turn back. The loyal moral support accorded 1 to the olub's officials by members of the club, has, in no small way, assisted the former to overcome what a few mianths ago appeared to be insurmountable ■difficulties. The openly -expressed opinion of member,* of the club who, tor the first time, set eyes on Treuitham was one of amazement and pleasure, and the success of the recent meeting should result in a large influx of new members to the present list. The minor inconveniences attendant upon the occasion of opening a new course were taken by the club's in the most good-natured manner. Obviously, no level-headed person could take serious exception to the arrangeiments mad© for their comfort under the •circumstances. Such things will have disappeared ere another meeting is held, and what was practically a ■first rehearsal will, in the future, blossom into a well-staged performance. That the Wellington Cup race would be an exciting contest was predicted on all sidte by the keenest of racing experts. Those privileged to witness the struggle will admit that the prediction was well-founded, and the roar that rent the air when Achilles led to the distance-post will not soon be forgotten. The inevitable and disposed outeider came on the scene, and what promised to result in frantic enthusiasm ended in a painful silence. The favourite was beaten. When the club's official tune-keeper disclosed the time of the race (2min 33sec), the public began to realise what a great nace Achilles had 1 rum. As is invariably the case, critics were found taking exception to the manner in which Jenkins allowed his mount to force the pace, but this criticism was denounced by those immediately connected with the champion, knowing as they do that Achilles cannot be held with his field during the early stagies of a raca without injuring his prospects of success in causing him to fight with his rider. Jenkins hadl thus no option "but to allow him to rum along in front. The terrific pace set by Achilles •quickly settled the pretentious of some of his opponents. Nevertheless, at the turn for home quite half of the runners appeared to have a winning chance. The Yaldhurst mare, Nightfall, at that stage flattered her backers, whilst Paritutu, Armistice, Melodeon, and Solution were within striking ■distance. The severity of the pace, however, told its tale, amid only the lightweight, Ropa, couldl challenge the ■champion, who answered 1 gallantly but ineffectually, and the judge hoisted the numbers for the irrst Oup ever ruin at Trentnam — Ropa 1, Achilles 2. The sums invested on various Cup candidates make an interesting study, and demonstrate that public opinion was divided 1 as to the probable winner. Investments were as under : — Nightfall and Delaware (coupled) 913. Solution 684, Melodeon 431, Vladimir 418, Achilles 416, ArmdstLce 334, Paritutu 298, Martian 278, Putty 147, Lyrist 118, Ropa 96, Spoil 76, Clanbura 44. Ropa's dividend 1 was £29 18s. The minor events of the first day were, in most cases, well contested. The victory of Boris, in the opening -event, was well received, C. Jenkins, bis rider, receiving the gold-mounted riding whip presented by Mr. W. H. Turnbull to the rider of the first winner on the new course. Wellington race-goers are very loyal to Jenkins, and throughout the two days his mounts were heavily supported. I/etherin, the second horse, paid) £9 Is for second place, and had he won his supporters would have received 1 the nice dividend of £27 3s. The Australian-bred filly, Tunono, was sent out favourite for the Hack Flyin" 1 but she made no kind of a showing, the contest being between the

Waiiarapa mai'e, Declination, and the Gdute.buiy filly, Czaieyna. The latter was oirongly ranci-ed by Southernc s and, although she failed! to wiin, returned her backer^ the nice dividend of £i 14s for second place. Mr. Proaser's hardier, Waitarere, vvao considered a "good thing" for the Trentham Huidle Race, but he failed to ooncede 211b to the common-looking, but useful, Geologist, who won all the way, and paid £4 18s. The Telegraph Handicap was won by t le Dunedin mare, Ailsa, who* had the services of Jenkins, and, in consequence, was made a strong favourite. Although Petiovna, Petticoat, and Sir Tristram had a host of followers, the favourite only paid 1 £1 15s. Ailsa's owner was not present," but visitors from the South were much surprised at her improved form. They almost to a main selected Petrovnai in preference The Australian-bred Glenul'len was the good thing whispered about for the Tongariro Hack Race. F. Tilly, however, had a rod in pickle in Apa. a nice-looking colt by Add'inigton — Murawai, who drew out at the end of the race, and won nicely in lmin 43 l-sth sec — not bad time for a hack racer. The C.J.C. Welcome Stakeis winner, Ivan off , was looked upon by the cognoscenti as an absolute moral for the Nursery Handioap, and would not have paid even money. One© more the clever division were at fault, and at the end of three furlongs the Porirua pair, Kurawaka and Moscow (owned reflectively by A. L. D. Fraser, M.H.R., and the Hon. W. W. Jotoniston), were seen fighting out a great finish. The filly (who is half-sister to Mahutonea) lasted long enough to win by a couple of lengths, in 49"cc and paid' the capital dividend of £16 14s. The speedy ex-Ponrua gelding, Chivalry, was installed' favourite for the Electric Handicap, owing to Ail&a and Petrovna being withdrawn. Chivalry never gave his backers much unea&iiness and won nicely in the fast time of 60 3-sth sec for the five furlongs. Space will only permit of a. brief review of the principal events of the second day. First, it may be mentioned that several owners had perforce to discontinue their horses' engagements owing to the solid state of the course. The owners of the Southern horses Vladimir, Martian, Nightfall, and Delaware decided to leave tiheir horses im their boxes on the second day. Armistice, Ingleneuk, and Petticoat also displayed tenderness and were not again saddled up. The second day's racing seemingly provided backers with some nice problems. They started off boldly by selecting Boris, Tikarawa, and! Rose Madder as a trio likely to furnish the winner of the January Handicap. Olanchattan, the property of Sir Geo. Clifford, however, defeated) the favourites, as also did the rank outsider, Dulcenia, who paid £5 18s for second place. Kurawaka was then made the medium of a plunge for the Fitaherbert Handicap, only to succumb to the Hawke's Bay oolt, Lo<ftus, who was nicely handled by Geo. Price, and paid l a dividend of £4. For the Metropolitan Handicap, Black Reynard was entrusted with £442, Ailsa £436, Petrovna £411, and Sir Tristram £371. Backers were again all astray, as none of these were placed, the winner turning up in Stronghold, who beat Chivalry after a good race, and paid a dividend of £4 17a. Next came the event of the day, the Racing Club Handicap. The Porirua horse, Achilles, was considered to have the race at his mercy, and! money fairly poured into the totalisators on him, Ropa being next in demand. For the fourth time disaster waited upon enterprise, and the ex-hack Letherim ran borne a winner, with Lyrist in second place. Achilles, who obviously felt the effects of his Cup race on the first day, faded out of the contest at the distance, whilst the Cup winner, Ropa, struggled home third. Sir Geo. Clifford's fine-proportioned mare, Lady Wayward, broke the spell for backers by annexing the Poneke Hack Handioap, Apa, who started second favourite, running a good second. This put backers in a better temper, and they set to work to find 1 the winner in the Mungaroa Hack Hurdle Handioap. Wind, Geologist, and South Star were each most evenly backed. The first day's winner ran badly, and Waitarere, joining the other pair, the trio flashed past the iudge with only necks between them, Wind, who carried £64 more coin than South Star, just puilJing his backers through, and! paying £3 10s. Great interest was centred in the appearance of Mr. Gep. G. Stead's unbeaten oolt, Conuiform, who was saddled up for the Wellington Stakes. The son of Multiform was greatly _ admired, and, with Hewitt for his pilot, was quickly made a strong favourite. Moscow and Ivanoff were strongly supported.l by those who expected them to pay a second dividend. Moscow had the advantage of a maiden allowance,

whilst Ivanoff carried a 121b penalty. This was greatly in favour of the Hon. W. W. Johnston's colt, who ran a sterling race, and, to the surprise of most race-goers, hung on to Mr. Stead's colt until Hewitt had to shake 'him up to win. Clanchattan also ran a good race, and finished third. Aotea was sent out favourite far the Pencarrow Hack Handicap, but ill luck again attended backers, as the Porirua horse finished unplaced, th© Wairarapa mare,, Deolinatipn, with nearly two stone more weight, winning nioely by a length and a-half from Th© Seer. Thus ended an interesting day's racing, and winners and losers may well look back with pleasure on the Wellington Racing Club's opening nueeting at Trentham.