WELLINGTON NOTES. By Onlooker.

Otago Witness, Issue 2642, 2 November 1904, Page 55

WELLINGTON NOTES.

By Onlooker.

WELLINGTON, October 29.

The Masterton Racing dub was most imfortunate in the weather experienced for the j opening day of its spring meeting on Fiiday last. With an average of 12 acceptors for the eight events on the card, it looked as if the club would have a record meeting. It had rained steadily for about a week prioT to the meeting, and the course and enclosures were in a terrible state. A meeting was held in the morning, and the stewards decided wisely, I think, to go on with the meeting. Postponements are bad. zs you not only lose the horses, but the outside visitors and their money. There were a great many scratchings. In the Publicans' Handicap only four of the 12 acceptors went out. Owners who are known to have a good bet on theix horses when they fancy their chance would not start eith&r day. On the opening day £3918 was passed through the machine, which must be considered satisfactory, although about £1700 behind last year. The going did not suit Moeraki in the Hurdles, and he was beaten before they had gone a mile and a-half. Grand Jury (by Ascot), halfbrother to Matakokiri, a beginner at the jumping game, made the pace all the way, and was only just beaten by Raeina (Forester — Ruth), owned by a vice-president of the club. Grand Jury should be useful at the Carterton and Lower Valley meetings. The Hawke's Bayowned Cavill was iancied, but ran last. Had the goiiig been fom, Moeraki would probably have won. Catsp&w did not begin in his usual style in the Flying Hack, and finished last. Hinerewa Petroleum) was in front j throughout. Sho is locally-trained, and shaped well at the Hutt, but was not good enough for the class met there. The Dannevixkeowned St. Louis struggled through the mud at the finish, and beat Laertes (favourite) for second place. Of the others, the Porirua- castoff may do better at Carterton. The Hawke's Bay-owned Te Hauke (Torpedo — Watercolour) and Saraband, who shaped well at Blenheim, were the fancies for the Maiden. Wilson got the first-named well j away, and ran in company with Jolly Friar, who won easily at the finish. The winner is owned by his breeder, John Cotter, at present on a visit to the Melbourne dip meeting. Jolly Friar is by St. Hippo — Merry Maiden (darn of Jolly Roger) ; a sister and brother to Apprentice (Fancywork and Variation) finished third and fourth respectively. Bounce and J Tyrone were the only withdrawals from the ] Cup, nine starting. Bowman (whom Mr C.^E. • Major went up to see race) was the first to show out, then Pure Silver took a turn, and three furlongs from home Armistice had charge. Before the straight was reached Asteroid was in fiont. and sailing along in the mud won by three lengths. Piaidie was making most progress at the end. and beat Sea JUion a length for second place. La Torpedo lost her rider (T. Carroll) at the turn. The rider was brought in on an ambulance, iiaving sprained his ankle, but was able to ride later in the day. The winner is owned in Napier and trained by F. Tilley at Fordell. She -demonstrated in the Wairarapa County Cup at Oarterton last November that she was good in mud. Anadega, with Paddy Neagle in the saddle, received most support of the nine lunners in the Hunters' Hurdles. After Snooker and Van Tromp had caa-ted the field a^long at a good pace, Anadega took their measure and won easily from Van Tromp. Te Konru was kept a long way off diumg the first part of it, but decreased the gap at the finish. Waitoa — Waiting, who ran a good race in the Marlborough Cup, beat a bad lot in the October Handicap. Woodleigh, the best of the others, cut tip badly, and came in >last. Waitoa is a strong-built horse, and ploughed through the soil better than the others. Old Blazer was made favourite for the Pub-

licans'. Promotion got a great break on in the first tew furlongs, and i£ any good should have won. He stopped tc nothing at the finish. Immersion jumped back at the start, and lost several lengths. But for this she might have won, as she was close up to the others at the right end. Sea Lion was evident.}- better £oi the gallop earlier in the day, as he had a good deal of space to spare at the finish from Blazer.. Sea Lion paid the great price of £5 3s in a field of four. Pure Silver would have been better placed in this race than in the Cup. The Dash Hack was considered a good thing for St. Albert. St. Ludlam, a strong colt, trained at the Hutt, was in front shortly after the start, but closed up at tho distance, wheie St. A.beit appeared to have him settled. This* pair were battling it out under punishment when Silvrie (Sylvia Park — Sirius) dashed up on the rails and just got there, necks separating the three. W. Brown came up from south for the Masterton meeting. He had two mounts, and was second on The Ruler. W. and G. Price scored two wins each.

After the good showing he made the previous day Grand Jury was sent out favourite for the Hurdles. The pace was too solid for him. and he was never nearer than fourth, which position he occupied at the finish. Van T'romp and Valkyrie were in front all the 1 way, first one and then the other appearing* to have the best of it. In the run home from, the last fenca Valkyrie beat the Kempenfelclt-. gelding for pace The winner was makinghis first appearance in the colours cf Messrs' YuiLle and Ryan, a Wellington firm of pencil--" lers. Te Hauke made most of the lunning in the Tradesmen's Hack Handicap, but DaredeviP beat him comfortably at the finish. Both horses are owned in Hawke's Bay. Daredevil"' being a cast-ofE of the Hon. J. D. Ormond's. He was the least fancied, and paid the great price cf £3 19s. Bounce and Pure Silver pulled out of the President's Handicap, five starting. Asteroid and Handsome Rose in Tiiley's stable carried most money. They were prominent throughout. Handsome Rose,, carrying 10lb over, won easily from St. Alba, who beat Asteroid in the Jast hundred yards. Handsome Rose did not start the previous day . St. Winifred was taken to Masterton, but was not started on account of the heavy go--icg. - Had it been fine she would have had no difficulty in winning the two hack races on the first day. The nominations received for tiie TaratahiCarterton meeting on November 9 and 10 are very large, and a successful meeting is sureto result, provided the weather is fine onthe holiday. Last year *c turned out very boisterious. Wairarapa- visitors will be able to get two da;rs at Riccarton this year, and leturn in time for the Carterton fixture.

October 31.

At the Masterton Racing Club meeting there was a big turn up in the Ladies' Bracelet, one mile and a-quarter, which took 2.48 to run. The grey mare Grevgown (Petroleum—Lady Grey) led throughout, and struggled home from Ngttitoa. Greygown* had not raced for two seasons-. She won hex' last race at the same meeting three yearsback. She paid 14 supporters £24 19s each.' After running fairly well earlier in th day,-' -Laertes (Soult — Lady Emmeline) w^s deserted in the Scurry Hack, and was allowed,to pay £7 Is. St. Albert, who is better over', five fnrlongs than any other distance, was:, favourite, but finished "in the ruck. In the Electric Hack Catspaw and Sylvie were the' fancies, but St. Albert won, s/nd paid £8 9a' in five ruiineis. The Porirua cast-off Hamua scored his first win for Mr T. Ray' in the Welter Hack Handicap. The The distance was too far for Daredevil, and the others he beat were not much account. Pi emotion put down Jeanne D'Arc and Pure Silver in the Stewards' Handicap, and paid £2 12s. The sum of £3238 was passedthrough the totalisator, making £7254 for the meeting; this amount- is £3226 behind last year. Fleka went south on Friday last. T. Carroll will ride him in the New Zealand Cup. Coxswain will be taken to Christchurch for the Auction Stakes, five furlongs. The chestnut can run the distance fa-st with 7.7 on his back.