TURF TOPICS

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1514, 7 March 1901, Page 39

TURF TOPICS

(BY ADVANCE.) WOODVILLE DISTRICT JOCKEY CLUB. The Woodville District Jockey Club tiad a capital meeting on Wednesday and Thursday of last week. The weather was favourable each day, the attendance was quite as large as any previous occasion, and the racing was interesting throughout. In fact, besides one dead heat on the first day, there were several close finishes on the second day, in which the judge (Mr H. D. Buchanan) found the position he occupied anything but an easy one. In the big event he declared a dead heat between Battleaxe and Will-o’-the-Wisp, but the general opinion was that the first-named had won by a nead. The official verdi'ct was followed by a good deal of hooting. .The judge is certainly in the best position to see, and he stated that Battleaxe dropped his head as he crossed the line, which position was borne out by Mr Bolton (president of the club), who was also'in the box. It . was the only unpleasantness that occurred at the meeting. Mr J. E. Henrys had reason to be pleased with himself for the manner in which he had brought the fields together. With the exception of Waterfly, the nine Maiden candidates were all backed. Muskotoon (Mousquetaire Miss Dargon), one of Mr Gollan’s breeding, received most support, and ran well considering he -was sore. Moreen (by Recluse), a five-year-old half-sister to Dante. was also well backed. The Wanganui©wned filly, Blackwing (Westmere Echo) held- a good position throughout, and won comfortably in fair time. paid the good price of 5 to 1. Mr Paul iwm not present to see the filly race, but supported her to win half a century.

Art Jewel was the only withdrawal from the ten acceptors for the Hack Hurdles. Dubious, a good cut of a gelding, by Wanderer —Soninas mare, made the running for the best part of the journey. Sudor (Somnus —• Nil Desperandum),. half-sister to Spreydon, came away in the straight and won cofiifortably. Hutana was a big favourite, and finished behind Arabi Pasha-

Tortulla’s sister, Ngaio, made her only appearance at the meeting in the Grandstand Hack Handicap, and won all the way. Dartmoor carried the Welter weight of lOst 21b (including a 171 b penalty for winning at Egmont), and ran into third place. Bona Fide, who was left at home on account ;of showing signs of soreness, was the only withdrawal from the Cup. Will-o’-the-Wisp went out a strong punlic fancy. The light weights, Waingawa and Dewdrop made the pace sound for about six furlongs, when they retired. Queen’s Guard showed out two furlongs from home, and, getting well into the straight before the others, had a decided advantage. Battleaxe answered in the gamest manner when Gallagher called on him, but he had two lengths to make up when the line was crossed. The favourite finished clos'd up third. Queens Guard was well ridden by T. Wilson, and paid the good dividend of £ll ss. Mr “F. Walcot” is reported to have had a faiiAwin. Blackwing had to put up a 101 b penalty in the Flying Hack Handicap’, and she was made favourite. Gipsy Jack was first into the straight, and looked all oyer a winner, but half way down the straight Pricel sat down on Blackwing, and made a dead’ heat of it. Wilson appeared to bo taking matters easy on Gipsy Jack. Gipsy Jack paid the good price of £9 4s for a dead heat. Now that the brother to Waiwera has broken the ice, he should soon put several stakes Le t J. Armstrong’s credit.

St. Mark shaped disappointingly in the Borough Handicap, and was not seen mt again at the meeting. The totalisat w pointed to the race being" won by either The Hempie or Laurestina, and they were separated by half a length. Jadco has not been up long, but was in front for a hit. Brilliantine got left at the start, but ran into fourth place. The Welter Hack Handicap saw Rags effect a surprise, and showed improved form on his running earlier in' the day. Grey Ribbon was backed as if she could not lose, but suffered defeat by half a length. Osborne, who was badly injured at Taranaki last selason, made his re-appear-ance in the Electric Handicap, running in Harry Peter’s name. He ran in winkers, and was in front for a bit, but was one of the last to finish. Laurestina won comfortably from Hiamoe. When they met at a difference of 101 b the following day Hiamoe easily turned the tables on Mr Campion’s mare. King's Bowman appears to have lost his pace. Dartmoor was supported down to less than level money in the Stewards Hack Handicap on the second day—he would have paid! £1 15s—but failed to concede Gipsy Jack two stone. The latter paid the good dividend of £4 in a field of four.

The two top weights were picked out; as the best of the jumpers, and although Hutana turned the tables on Sudor, he was in tuyn defeated by Kohunui, on whom Mr Usher was seen to advantage in a finish with F. Cochrane). Kohunui, who was psrominent at a mile and a half the previous day, was deserted for some reason or other and paid his twenty-nine supporters £lB 8s each.

Rags carried top weight in the Ruahine Hack Welter, and was made first favourite. He tailed off before half the distance had been covered and could not raise a gallop. Komutu was also well supported, and ran well, but was no match for General Wolfe, on whom McMorran was seen to better advantage than on the previous day. Mr Pilcher was not present the first day. He informed me after the horse had won that McMorran had complained, of interference by L. Robinson (rider of..R-ags) the first day, and he had brought the matter under the notice of the stewards.

Murmur shaped no better in the Autumn Handicap than he had done in the Cup, finishing last on both occasions. Sirius lost several lengths at the start, and when they entered the straight Will-o’-the-Wisp was the only horse in front, of him. It looked like as if these two would fight out the finish, but Battleaxe appeared on the scene, and the judge declared a dead heat. Volley, who had only ten supporters' out of 548, .finished fourth.

Punters would have nothing but Blackwing in the Telegraph Hack Handicap, hut Bst 101 b stopped her, although she made a good race of it with Sylvie, who was in receipt of 221 b. Both are not much over galloway height;, but Sylvie may prove the best weight carrier of the two. . She is trained at TauherenikaU,, and is by Petroleum—Barbary 11. St. Lyra failed to run prominently uqcier a light weight. * Assayer would appear to be a greatly overrated animal. . Of the sixteen entries for the Scurry, only half that number went to the post. Valkrye (Forester to Whano and Voltare, who has been going to do something for ,a long time*, was made a level money favourite. ■ He got a flying start,- and was never troubled. Nabochlish (by Haere), half-brother to Sudor, ran into-second place. The half-dozen starters in the High Weight Handicap were all backed, The Hempie coming in for most support. The Hempie and Brilliantine r were in front, for a bit, and the latter was first into the straight. The Hempie appeared right

out of it. She came with a great rattle in the straight. Gallagher fairly lifting her off the ground, and in another stride would have got up in time to make a dead heat of it.