WELLINGTON NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2663, 29 March 1905, Page 52

WELLINGTON NOTES.

By Oxlooxm*.

March 25,

The repoitcd sale of Black Reynard and! hi 3 transfer from J. Maher's stable to W. Davis, at the Hutt, were premature. There was some reason for the rumour. Mr Whitworth called at the- Racing Club's office to register an assumed name. One of W. Davis's s<tabl& employees went to Palnierston to take delivery of the horse, but, Mr Whitworth yesterday informed me, Mr Thomson had changed his mind, and would not sell. The new owners of Maniopoto were annoyed at the way the horse was handicapped at the Hutt, and wired scratching him for all engagements. The hnrdle races at Blenheim) and Nelson meetings have been notorious for yeais. It is surprising that they still appear on the programme, and that bookmakers take risks on them. Two well-known rideis were brought to book this week at Nelson. A. M'Conncw did a lot oi riding for a, local stable, and scored in the last Grandl National Hurdles on Medallion. George Laing is a member of a well-known family of riders. He trained' and rode Valkyrie for Yuile and Ryan, a local firm of bookmakers. Laing has 1 been at the game a long time. Yoiir correspondent first met him at Tasman's New Zealand Cup meeting, when he came from the North Island) in charge of Montagu© Smith's horses Tim Whiffier, Rubina., and Hip-po-damin. Ghoorka has incurred 1 slb penalty iix the Thompson Handicap, which increasesi his weight to 8.6. Gold Crown will have to put up °7lb extra, in whatever race he starts in on the first day. Maui, who won a double at Horowhenua, has missed a penalty. Although, the acceptances, for the first day's handicap events look fairly good on paper, ■they will probably b& somewhat reduced on the day. Kaharoa and Black Reynard are in three ©vents, and several others in two each. Three of the. eight horses in the Hurdl&s are ill the same stable. If Trumpery is beaten it will be by Rungarawa, who will make matters very interesting with 9.0 on his back. None of the others appear to have any chance with the pair named. Maui should have ' no difficulty in winning bo-th hack races. Ballarat looks the best of good th^^s fox the Railway. Gold Crown and Kaharoa. should each wim a race. The Thompson Handicap is fairly openBlack Reynard, Regulation, and Starshoot may fill the places. Nightfall shoiild win the St. Leger. snd Achilles the Challenge Stakes.

North Island-owned horses did fairly well at the Ne-'son meeting this 1 week. Tne Sou-ester horse Ngatarua, who is getting well placed, had nothing much to beat in the Cup. Defoe won the Hurdles each day, and paid great prices. Black Squall, who a short time back changed {hands at £50, won a race on the first day. The Harness Trot on the first day went to the Petone-owned Elsa Huon, a pacing pony imported from Sydney. Consistent Coxswain won a- double on the second day.

It is reported that Solution has "broken down, and was, in consequence, not accepted for at the Hutt. Mr Patei'son, to whom 1 mentioned the rumour, is unable to confirm it

Mr H. Brown this -weak received the -weights allotted to his horses at Onkaparinga. Moccasin has 11.0 in. the Siaepl&chase and 10.7 in the HurcVe Eace. Talune has 10.0 in both events. THoecasm, at his best, would have a chance in the Steeplechase, but Talune is not ~good enough.

Achilles and Machine Gun are both doing work at the Hutt, and' will meet in the North Island Challenge Stakes. The best gallop on Monday moming was done by Signalman and Kaharoa, who were associated over seven furlongs, run m lmin 31 l-ssee»

Black Reynard and Kaharoa are the earliest arrivals at Hutt. E. Cutts has arrived with Signalman, Chryseis, Golden Vein, Quarrynran, and Lady Wayward. R. J. Mason brought up Machine Gun, Nightfall, and Lady Lyonors. The latter and Lady Wayward are in the Champion Hack Race at the Manawatiui meeting.

V. Cotton will ride for Sir" O. Clifford's stable at the Hutt.