WELLINGTON NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3400, 14 May 1919, Page 45

WELLINGTON NOTES.

(Feom Our Own Correspondent.) May 9. The Manawatu Racing Club had a very successful meeting on Wednesday and Thursday. It was not expected the tote turnover would reach last years figures when there was a record crowd at Awapuni to witness the meeting of Desert Geld and Biplane. There are more unlikely things than Biplane, Gloaming and Desert Gold meeting at Randwick in the spring. The two races the latter ran came as a revelation. Most people were surprised at her being there. Had the Awapuni Gold Cup been run on the second day she might have won. Some people think Gray would have won on her. The rider named took no risks of getting beaten on Sasanof. He had the rails all the way and had a pipe at the mare as they swung into the straight. He had to put up a New Zealand record to get the verdict.

Cn the second day, Emerson, who rode Desert Gold on the second day, had to ride Hetaua, so Gray took the mount on the mare. She won in her best style and record time for the race. Her stable mato got second so there wae only one dividend. Warplane, winner of the North Island Challenge Stakes and Sires Produce Stakes, filled the other place. The mare got a great reception. She has raced and won at Awapuni for the past five years. Both the winners of the hurdle races are engaged in the Gi'eat Northern and do not incur any penalty. The success of Sleight of Hand came as a great surprise. He paid over £3O. That was why his stable mate, Reformation, came to be so well backed on the second day. He was the first beaten. Sleight of Hand was in at Egmont, but he was taken out before the weights appeared. The two-year-olds were considered the best of the Maiden Plate candidates, but they were beaten by Glentour (Glenanp— Contour), who, better handled, might have won again on the second day. Negligee (Hallowmas—Overall) beat Speechmaker (Demosthenes —All's Well), who was placed on the second day, and will win races next season.

Well handled by Gray, Vagabond won the big race each day. He was lucky to beat Nobleman, who went from last to nret in three furlongs on the second day. Gray also won the big sprint event each day and was in first-class form.

Warplane, ridden by Deeley, won the Sires Produce, beating most of the best two-year-olds in commission.

After his good form at Wellington, Pretty Bobby (Maniapoto—Pretty Helen) was sent out a good favourite for the Linton Hack Welter Handicap, and won with something in hand. Moutoa Ivanova was well backed and beaten on the first day and was not again produced. P. Tilley. who used to train her, said-the only time the sister to Sasanof ran true was at Marton on her first appearance whore she ran second to Matatua. When she won on tho first day Chimera put up 101b* penalty for the Wairarapa win. Tian'tiya and Demos were her nearest attendants. They were also in the places In reverse positions on the second day. Hurry Up won at seven furlongs the second day at Riccarton. He is evidently more partial to that distance than anv other, as he scored on the second day. The presence of tho Aucklander. "Fabrlquotto, made a good price for the Highden horse. Another horse racing out of his fovourite distanoo on the opening day was The Speaker. He ran last most of the way in the six furlongs. Next day at a mile and 65yda he won, but was perhaps lucky to

beat Glentour, who was ridden by an appren* tioe.

Murihiku ran up to her Auckland form on the second day when »hc won the Cloverlea Nursery Handicap brilliantly. Royal Stag was conceding Speechmaker nearly two stone and did well to get third, Tho Feilding winner, Wonder (Campfiro— Cecile), who i* only a pony, made her only appearance on the second day and was sent out favourite. She won in good style from Astinome, who was successful at Trentham. Wonder was the only winner engaged at the meeting that is in at Blenheim.