TURF TOPICS

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1617, 25 February 1903, Page 50

TURF TOPICS

(By “Advance/’) the woodville meeting. Record acceptances have been received for the autumn meeting of the Woodville District Jockey Club, to be held tc-day and to-morrow. Given fine weather,- the gathering is sure to he a successful one. The following horses may run well in their engagements today Hack Hurdles, one mile and threequarters—Westerly and Boko. Grand Stand Handicap, one mile — Hangman and ICowhete. Woodville Cup Handicap, one mile and a quarter —Bello Cole and Queen s Guard. Flying Hack Handicap, six furlongs —Matuku and Waikakaho. Borough Handicap, seven furlongs Shrapnel" Shell and Field Battery. Welter Hack Handicap, one mile and a distance —Waimoe and The Guesser. Electrio Handicap, five furlongs Gold Seal and To Taiaha. The Maiden Plate may go to Stepdaughter, and the Scurry to Glory. THE DUNEDIN MEETING. Owners made an excellent response to Mr Henrys’s handicaps for the Dunedin Jockey Club’s autumn meeting, which opens to-day, and is continued on the 27th and 28th inst. The following may run prominently in their engagements to-day First Hurdle Handicap, one mile and three-quarters —Southerly Buster. First Hack Handicap, on© mile—Lavalette. Dunedin Champagne Stakes —Machine Gun. Dunedin Gap—Orloff and General Symons. Publicans’ Handicap, six furlongs— Petrovna and Tsaritsa. Stewards’ Purse —Lavalette and Ardnarff.

EGMONT RACING CLUB. Tho autumn meeting of the Egniont Racing Club passed off successfully on "Wednesday and Thursday of last week. Tho attendance was satisfactory on both days, although on the second it rained up to within a few minutes of the start of the first event. The totalizator turnover for the two days amounted to £17,292. which sum represents an increase of £1305 compared with tho meeting held last year. Tho Flying Handicap, which opened proceedings, attracted seven runners. Tho ex-hack Shrapnel was made a slightly better favourite than Westguard. These two had the finish to themselves, the favourite winning comfortably by a clear length. Shrapnel, who is trained by Walter Raynor at Wanganui, is a four-year-old gelding by The Workman—Element, by Sou’wester —Snowflake, by Natator—Pastille, a fall sister to the jumping liorse Tayforth, who was sent to Australia. Shrapnel avou a double at the Rangitikei summer meeting, since AAdien he

lias been promoted from the back ranks. The Hack Flat Handicap, six furlongs, brought out the big field of sixteen, including Hakaria, a full brother to Full Cry, who finished in the ruck. There was £2O invested on Plillflower, who did not put in an appearance at tho meeting, and his owner was fined £2 for late scratching. The best-backed candidates were Matuku, Black Reynard and Waireka, who filled the places. After a ding-dong finish Black Reynard defeated Matuku by a nose. An accident which happened during the running of the First Handicap Hardies probably affected the result of that race. Rufus came to grief at the third fence, and brought down Waiwcra and Eclair. Notwithstanding the poor form shown by Rufus at Taranaki, be was sent out- favourite. The Hutttrained Kohunui won by three lengths from Miss .Drury, and paid the good ♦ r>rico of £7 12s 6d. The Fordell-trained Midia and Awa•huri were tho fancies for the Hack Hurdles. The former ran well and finished in a place, but Awahuri found the pace set by the light weights too solid, considering ho had the steadier of 12st 51b. The winner burned up in the Aucklander Lingard, who was in at tho minimum. Ho did not shape too veil at Taranaki, and consequently paid a good price. Lingard is a four-year-old gelding by Lcolantis —Orphan, a halibrother to Bellman and Hippovai. veilknown liurdlo racers. Tho Cup attracted seven runners, of whom Motor and Halberdier were the best fancied. Motor was in a good position throughout, and was never seriously challenged, winning by a length from Anchorite, whose position at tho finish came as a surprise. Ho was the least backed of the seven runners, and paid each of his thirty supporters £lO. Battleaxo was never prominent, and at present appears unlikely to reproduce liis form of last season. The Hack Sires’ Produce Stakes saw half a dozen youngsters go to the post. Tho best backed candidates were Kaharoa, Handsome Rose and Maureen, and they finished in the order named. Kaharoa. who won with something in hand, paid 30s. Bello Cole was a big favourite for the Welter, one mile. Dexterity, Hardwork and Reclaimer also received good support. The favourite won easily from Governess. She is probably the best of her inches in the colony at present, At Auckland at Christmas time she won three pony races, worth £245, and finished up by getting placed with lOst 121 b. She raced consistently at Taranaki without scoring, and may further add to her winnings at Woodville this week. Sho is by Lebel —Miss Cole, by King Cole —Tina mb ra, a full sister to Pegasus. Five of tho six runners for the Second Hack Flat Handicap, a mile and a furlong, were well backed. The Greytown North owned Tikirawa, who was taken to the Taranaki meeting without being started, and Kingman were the popular fancies. Tikirawa won easily in Imin 59sec. On the second day, Governess got the best of a bad start in the Waimate Handicap, seven furlongs, and making the best of her light impost, won all the way. Westguard, who would probably have scored had she got away on level terms, bad to be content with second place. In the. Hack Hurdles, one mile and three-quarters, Midia met Lingard on 2st better terms, but the Auckland gelding won without an effort. Awahuri split the pair, but there was no second dividend. The Third Hack Flat, seven furlongs, showed that the Produce Stakes winner was a cut above the hacks competing at the meeting. He carried 9st 71b, and won easily in lmin 30 2-ssec. The lot he beat included Black Reynard, Tikirawa and Prisoner, each of whom competed successfully at the meeting. The Atkinson Memorial Stakes, one mile and a quarter, brought out . the same number of runners as the Cup. Dexterity, Motor and Oingo were responsible for the pace, the latter winning comfortably by a length. Waiwera, who was ridden by Alick Hall, had a winning turn in the Second Handicap Hurdles, one mile and threequarters. Lady Bell led from the start until clearing the last hurdle. In the fourth Hack Flat Handicap, one mile and a quarter, Prisoner met Ringman on 61b better terms than when the latter defeated' him on the previous day. Corrigan’s gelding also had the services of C. Jenkins in the saddle. After a slashing finish Ringman suffered defeat by a nose. The Fcrdell stable presided over by F. Tilley, which has met with a fair share of success this season, had a winning turn with The Workman in the Normanby Stakes Handicap, one mile. Ho only defeated Belle Cole, whom he was -meeting on 191 b better terms, by a head. A protest on the ground of alleged inconsistency was dismissed, Hardwork having finished out of a place on the previous day. J. R. Corrigan also scored in the Hack Scurry, five furlongs, with Little Turk,, by Lakeshell —Osmanie, by Medallion— Auray. Glory, a three-year-old sister to Laureate, filled second place.

THE WANGANUI WEIGHTS. A good deal of interest was taken in the appearance of the handicaps for the Wanganui Chip, as to how Mr Evitt would treat Advance with the New Zealand Cup winner, Ha’berdier, and the Auckland three-year-old, Wairiki. Advance demonstrated as a three-year-old, and more recently, that weight do-es not trouble him over a distance of ground. At three years of age he carried /st 81b and won the Wanganui Cup in the record time of 3min 4scc. His stable mate, Tortulla, who afterwards won the New Zealand Cup, was second, five lengths away. In tlio autumn at Auckland he carried lOst 51b and won the Autumn Handicap, one mile and a half, in 2min 40 l-ssee. He made his reappearance in the Wellington Cup hast month, in which ho carried lOst 41b, and Avon in record time. ~ Had the distance at the Hutt been a mile and three-quarters, Advance would probably have finished by himself. The heaviest impost that has yet been carried to victory Avas 9st 2ib, by Duclu, who Avon the race three times, as a five-year-old. With such a brilliant horse as Advance lias proved himself to be, the Aveight is not a prohibitive one. If he is started ho is pretty certain to bo sent out favourite, even AA'itli list 3’.b opposite liis name. The stable has a second string in Ghocjjka. 7st 31b, but whether the Lochiel colk \a4ll be relied upon remains to be seen. If lie proves better than Advance at the Aveights and represents the stable on the day, ho is sure to have a big folloAving. Halberdier, 9st, has not scored a win since bis Riccarton victory, when ho carried Bst. He is meeting the top weight on 171 b better terms than ay hen he declined the Wellington Chip engagement-. The Aucklander, Wairiki, is said to be as good as Nonette avqs at the same age. Ho has received one pound more than Nonette carried Avhen he put up a record for the distance last season. Three-year-olds have been successful in Hie race the last three years. If Wairiki is quite at his best he should certainly put in an appearance at the meeting. He allows Orloff (Bst 71b) a couple of pounds for a defeat in the Derby at Ellerslie. Orloff is engaged at Dunedin. and should he Avin there he is liable to bo re-handicapped at 'Wanganui. It is hardly likely, howeA r er, that he Avill compete at both places, as the time alloAved is not sufficient. Mr Evitt had ocular demonstration of Strathavon’s ability at Takapuna and Taranaki. Ho journeyed homo after Taranaki, and may therefore not be intended for Wanganui. Mr Evitt. has taken no notice of the 'Wellington Cup form so far as Motor is concerned. He noAA r meets Advance on 71b and Hinetaura on 16lb AA'orse term®. The horses mentioned haA'o not met since they ran at the Hutt. Of the horses Motor beat at Haw-era ho iioav meets them on the following Averse terms: —Anchorite (second) 41b, TradeAvind (third) 81b, Ha 1berdier (unplaced) lllb. Of the lot that ran at Egmont I prefer Halberdier. Convoy'is reported to bo amiss, also Fleka. Hinetaura meets Advance on Sib better terms than when the black horse defeated her in the Wellington Cup. The top Aveight should have no difficulty in again accounting for her. The Shannon has so far this season been rather a disappointment. She has a nice handy impost- TradeAvind -represented the stable at Taranaki and Egmont, and The Shannon may be intended for Wanganui. She aa^ill want to be a good Beal better than the Sou’-Avester gelding to have a Avinning chance. Mars demonstrated at Taranaki that ho is still able to gallop. He is a stable mate of Strathavon’s. The winner is not likely to come from below the 7st division. The better of the three top av eights on the day should have his number hoisted. The first acceptance of 2 sovs is due on the 27th, and a final payment of 5 sovs on March- 2nd. In the Stewards’ Handicap, one mile, Lifebelt, who cannot win lier Avay out of the hack class, is placed above such winners as RaAviri, Belle Cole, ToroAA'ai, Good Intent and Mussel. This is surely a case AA'here an OAA'ner is entitled to an explanation. The only feasible one I can think of is that Mr Evitt had mistaken Lifebelt for some other horse. The three I like best are Oingo, Rawiri and Belle Cole. The latter may incur a 71b penalty at Woodville. The ex-hack Otairi has been dropped on in the First Hurdles, two miles and a distance. He won five races out of six starts, but lias not beaten anything that could be placed above the minimum. The longest race he has yet competed in Avas a mile and three-quarters. He has received lOst 101 b—about 101 b more than he is entitled to. He has only got to Avin once in open company to be amongst the 12st division. Royal Conqueror, Avho won a double last year, should take a lot of beating if ho puts in an appearance. Very feAV of the others engaged can get the distance.^ Lifebelt is used up in the Petre Welter Handicap, one mile and a distance, in being placed within 21b of Hardwork. RaAviri (9st lllb) is the pick of the handicap, and if he starts will just about win. In the Flying Handicap, six furlongs, the tAvo top weights, Achilles and Orloff, will probably be missing when the

acceptances appear. The Avinner should come L jni Ostiak, Westguarcl, Field Battc-ry or Full Cry. Deerstalker appeal’s out of bis place among the Bst division. The last time he aau.s handicapped in a sprint race at Riccarton he had 6st 71b. TAvcnty-threo horses are handicapped in the Hack Flat Handicap, a mile and a distance, of Avhom ten are on the 7st. Tho winner may come from Prisoner, Handsome Rc-se and Ora.

Lingard. Flanagan and Sir James may provide the winner of the Hack Hurdle Handicap. CHATTER. The thirtieth contest for the Dunedin Cup AA'il 1 take place this afternoon. The distance of the race was formerly tAAo miles and a distance. In 1894 it Avas changed to one mile and threequarters and 132 yards, in 1895 to one mile and three-quarters, and in 1893 to a mile and a half. C. Jenkins, Avho will again occupy a prominent position on the list of successful horsemen at. tlio end of the season. Avas associated AA'itli the A-ictories of Belle Cole. Oingo, Prisoner and Little Tyrk at Egmont. Air J. E. Hcnrys left for the South on Monday last to assist at the Dunedin Cup Meeting. Pari a, ay hose handling by Mark Ryan caused the displeasure Gf the Poverty Bay steAvards, Avon at Gisborne, boating Soultina, aalio Avas successful at the first-named meeting.

A southern paper recently referred to a remarkable performance put up by Germaine on the Porirua beach, in Avln.ch. the daughter of the Painter took part in three races in one afternoon. Such a performance Avas nothing unusual lor Porirua. At one of the first meetings the Avriter attended there the Day DaAvn. gelding Scrutineer ran second in tho Hurdle Race, two miles, second in the Cup, tAvo miles; second in the ItailAvay Plate, one mile; and third in the Consolation, one mile and a distance. Scrutineer aftei-Avards proved a good hurdle racer, and scored on several occasions in Mr David Scott’s colours. Ho was also successful over big country at Riccarton and Hastings. One of the best performances at Porirua was that cf Fabrication, aa'lio contested three consecutive races on the programme. Tho Shah avos another who sported silk in three flat races during an afternoon. During the Canterliury Jockey Clubs meeting at Riccarton last Ave-ek Mr A. A. McMaster, the owner of Tsaritsa, informed “Tho Probable” that lie was now hatung his horse trained at his own station, at Tokorahi, one of the station hands, W. G. McDonald, having charge of the work. Under the iieAv conditions Mr McMaster derives far more pleasure from the racing game than Avhen his horses Avere trained at Oamaru. Formerly he seldom saw them except at a race meeting, Avliereas he can now gei; 3 lot of enjoyment out of G\ r on their training gallops. I fancy he is secretly sorry that he parted AA'itli Petrovna. Ho has, hoAvever, another full-sister to Tsaritsa in La Russe. She is a fine big chestnut, fivo years old, and when put in training a couple of seasons back she broke down. She was put to Obligado, the result being a colt, Avhich promises ■well. The mare is now quite seund, and Mr McMaster intends to put her into Avork at once. Irene, the dam of these three mares,- lias a colt foal to Stepniak this season, which' her owner is confident Avill prove the best youngster she has ever thrown. That this blood nicks well with Stepniak is further proved by the deeds of Muscovite, Avhose dam, Aileen, is a full sister to Irene. In addition to Tsaritsa and La Russe, Mr McMaster has also got Florodora in work. This is a four-year-old mare by Stepniak—Rosespur, and thus half-sister to Goldspur. She stands seA r enteen hands high, and is very much like her elder relative. If she turns out as well as Goldspur her owner will bo hard to beat in the sprinting line. Wakeful suffered defeat on two occasions at Caulfield. The Newmarket Handicap is run on the 28th inst. A.8.N., the Avinner of the principal events at the Gisborne and Poverty Bay meetings, is named after bis breeder, Mr A. B. NeAvman. The son of Crackshot traces back through Mopnstone, May Moon, and Moonbeam to Moonshine, an imported daughter of The Libel. Motor has been entered in the Easter and Autumn Handicaps at Auckland, in which district he was bred. The Porirua stable is represented by Ostiak, Rawiri, Achilles and Ghoorka. A. Shearsby has engaged Westguard, Queen’s Guard and Oingo at Ellershe. The veteran Rubin, who was foaled in 1893, appears among the entries for the Horowhenua Cup. It may not be generally tno« ho .T r E V, b “ a ’ o ?Brien’3 Rubin canre mto Mr OBrre (Montague) Smith had no luck with Tim Whiffler, Hippodamia and Rubina. The latter was put in a Selling Race, which she won, and was purchased by Mr O’Brien for 220 guineas. Carrying her neAV OAvner’s colours she was started in the next event on the programme, tlie Flying Handicap, of 100 sovs, six furlongs. " Carrying 6st and ridden by

the late Percy White she won from Mr Smith’s Hippodamia. Tho nominations received for tin. annual meeting of the Horowlienua Racing Club, to be held on St. atnekDay, give promise of a successful meeiincr The two open events have idled well. The Porirua stable is represented by Ostiak, Rawiri, Ghoorka, and bxmoor. , Tho progeny of three sons of Lor/er (Syivia Park, handsome Jack, and St. C'onon) filled the places in the Earnout Sires’ Hack Produce Stakes. "Mr Harry Piper, who was assisting a,t the Poverty Pay meeting on 'Wednesday and Thursday o"f last week, passed through on Monday on his way to Dunedin, where he is engaged this The time record for the Qunecli n Cup since the distance was reduced to 12 furlongs is held by Advance, 2mm

STsec. „ , The distance of the Egmont C>;p has undergone several changes. From IoS2 to 1884 it was two miles. The followin" season it was two mhos and a distance. From 1880 to 188*1 it was tv, o miles. From 1806 to 3 898, one mile and three-quarters, atid since tuen one mile and a half. Mr R. J. Mason has rumen, owned and trained different winners of the Dunedin Cup. i Rufus was much better backed tor the Hurdle Eaco cm the first day of the Egmont Meeting in which he fell, than at Taranaki. Machine Gun will probably^score ms first win in tTie Dunedin Cluimpagne Stakes, /run to-day. The Yaldiiurst colours have in previous carried to victory in the race by Bombshell. Gold Medallist. Courtier and Menschikeff. . The going at Egmont suited Oingo and Lingard better than at Taranaki.

Mr. G. G. Stead has only won the Dunedin Cup once, with Gipsy King, in 1887. Or!off will represent tiic Christchurch sportsman this week. Westerlev, v.Tvo last season won the Wairarapa Hack Guineas, now runs in tlie nomination of W. H. Iveifh. He ran second in a hack hurdie race at Hawera, and may go' one better at Wc-odville this week.

A sale of thoroughbred stork was held at Hawera on Thursday last. Belle Cole was passed in. also 3-year-old by St. Com am —Vivat (the owner wanted 40 guineas, and the highest bid. was 16* guineas). Prisoner, with engagements, was passed in at 05 guineas, the owner’s reserve being 75 guineas. A 3-vear-old "by St. Con on-—Midnight*, fetched 17 guineas. C. Parker was the purchaser. A 2-year-old gelding, halfbrother to above, nominated for Hack Produce Stakes of 1904. brought 32 guineas, J. Tuck being the purchaser. Toiler, a three-year-old by Toledo — Workman mare, fell to Mr J. B. Corrigan at 16* guineas. Siamlra, by Recluse, with engagements brought lot guineas, W. Mantle being the buyer. Ping Pong, a two-year-old by St. Cyr— Skybird, only reached 15 guineas, and was passed in. A bay two-year-old filly by ITaere —Lady of the Lake was bought for 13 guineas by A. E. Laurent. A chestnut two-year-old filly by B.aere —Belle Cole fetched 10 guineas, J. R. Corrigan being the purchaser. Vivat, with ’ foal by St. Cyr, at 22* guineas fell to A. Quin. The F orb my .Park Racing Club stewards hold a special meeting and decided to adhere to the original handicaps. Winners since the weights were declared had been re-handicapped, but it was pointed out that the club had failed m its programmes to say anything about penalties, and, as at least one owner had announced his intention of not allowing his representative to be rehandicapped, it was deemed wise not to risk any unpleasantness and possible litigation. Matuku and Ringman ran consistently at Egmont, but without any luck. They may reward their owners with a win at Woodville this week. Mr G. T. Hall, who recently resigned the position of hon. treasurer to tho Woodvillo District Jockey Club, intends to take up his residence in Wellington. The half-brothers, Strathavon and Motor, won three Cups—Takapuna, Taranaki, and Egmont*—in as many weeks.

Necklet, the dam of the Oakleigh Plate winner (Pendant) is a member of the Musket —Locket family, to which Thunderbolt (sire of Footbolt) belongs. In transmitting the weights for the Woodvillo Cup by telegraph the name of Halberdier appeared instead of Hinetaura. In his anxiety to pick a hole in Mr Henrys’s work, “Spectator” fell in by making a comparison with the weights allotted Battleaxe and Halberdier 5 at Egmont. Halberdier was neither entered nor handicapped for Woodville.