WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume III, Issue 128, 5 January 1893, Page 6

WELLINGTON.

[by

WIRE.]

Tuesday. Mr W. Best’s Osman, syrs, by Crawford Priory—Ruth, who ran third in the Hack Race on the second day of the last Wellington Spring Meeting with gst up, made a successful debut in racehorse company at Lower Valley on Boxing Day, winning the principal race easily with 7.12 in the saddle. He is a fine cut of horse, and can stay very well. A very promising hack that ran at the meeting is Mr C. R. Bidwell’s ch m Halia, 4yrs. by Premier —Medora. She won the Maiden at Paratahi on November 9th, and at Lower Valley had 8.0 and won the Hack Handicap with a lot in hand. Reek, who won the Maiden Handicap, is a four-year-old bay filly, by Remington —Makora, and belongs to Mr K. McKenzie, of Tauherinikau. She is a nice, level, well-made mare, but is rather light in the bone.

At Masterton-Opaki, Mr W. Freeth as usual had his horses Revolution and Rebellion in splendid condition. Curiously enough, Rebellion lost two races which he should have won, and Revolution won a race which he should have lost. Rebellion was beaten a head by Comet, both in the Waipipi Handicap, one mile, and in the Telegraph Stakes, % mile. I think the issues would have been different had J. Reed (who has hitherto always ridden the horse) been up on this occasion. There was a slight disagreement beeween Freeth and Reed some weeks ago, causing them to part, and Mr T. Ray, owner of Comet, at once secured his services for the meeting., That the disagreement has been healed was shown by Freeth giving Reed the mount on Revolution in the Opaki Stakes. In this race Mr Tancred’s Senator, a beautiful chestnut roan colt by Administrator - Fair Agnes (dam of Master Agnes), was well ahead when it is said something went wrong with his bit, and he began to run all over the course, going for some distance on the plough gallop, which is on the outside of the track This caused him to lose fully three chains, but when Connop straighted him up he made up his ground in a wonderful manner and again got into the lead. The effort,' however, took too much out of him, and Revolution beat him in the run home. Mr. Tancred won the Hack Hurdles with Oddfellow by Premier —Misdeal, a hack who is almost at the top of the tree both on the flat and over hurdles. Kakaka, who was his only opponent, jumped very badly, and staked himself so severely at one of the jumps that it is not likely he will run again this season, even if he recovers at all. The same owner also won the Consolation with Senator. His filly Princess of Whales by Piscatorious —Princess Royal was thought before the meeting to have a great chance in the two short Handicaps, but she utterly failed to come up to expectation, and could not get a place. In the Maiden Hack Race there were several very promising animals. The winner turned up in a horse that was supposed to be altogether short of work, and on this account was not backed by his owner. His name is Sea Serpent, and he is a three-year-old gelding belonging to Mr R. W. Cave, the club’s president. He is by Piscatorious from Rumour, who used to be a companion of Pasha in Mr T. H. Hill’s stable, and was afterwards raced by Mr J. Leopold. Sea Serpent got away badly, but he came chrough with a rush in the straight and fairly romped home a three lengths winner. This youngster has a magnificent frame, and should turn out a real good one. Another smart one is Mr. McDonald’s mare Waikino, who led from the start to within fifty yards of the post, when Sea Serpent came and smothered her. Waikino is by Puriri, and like most of that horse’s get is fast but shifty. Mr

H. Cutts’ Paraki, by Premier —The Field (dam of Mahara) started favourite in this race but ran very badly. Her form was too bad to be true, and better things may be expected of her later on. The Handicap Hack Race fell to Makomoko, 7.12, an aged gelding by Admiral —Makura, who has recently shown very good form. Oddfellow, 8.12, was a good second, and the top weight, Brookfield, 9.3 (who was favourite), third. This race was a very* interesting one. Mr Cave’s Ahitangi, another scion of Piscatorious, led for over a mile, and then when looking all over a winner suddenly collapsed in the straight. The Wellington horse Angler started in the Waipipi and Telegraph Handicap, but could not get near the front. His owner, Mr Hamilton, was so disgusted with his running that he altered his mind about leaving him up for the Wairarapa meeting and had him taken home at once. 1

At Palmerston North the Wellington candidates Retina, La Petite Fille, and Luna failed to score a win in the Palmerston Cup, and in the principal race on the second day —the President’s Handicap —Retina was a hot favourite. Liberator beat her fairly on the first day, but if her heart had been as big as an egg she ought to have won on the second day, as she led by three lengths into the straight and shut up like a knife when Rangipuhi collared her. She has been scratched for the Rangitikei Meeting, and been shipped back to Christchurch, where I expect Cutts will try and get her well for the Wellington Cup. Whether owing to the disqualification of Mariner in the hack hurdle race at the last Wellington Spring Meeting or not I do not know, but it is announced that his owner, Mr W. B. Buick, an old racing man in the Masterton district, is about to sell off a large number of his horses (thoroughbred and draught), and it was noticeable that he had nothing representing him at the Masterton— Opaki Meeting, though Mariner ran at Lower Valley and finished second to Cyrus 11. in the Hurdle Race. The Wairarapa Racing Club’s Summer Meeting on Monday and Tuesday was the most successful yet held by the club, and should result in a large balance to profit. The improvements made since the last meeting were much appreciated, especially the new stand and totalisator house. Mr M. Bock, the secretary, was indefatigable in discharging his onerous duties. The sport was excellent, and great enthusiasm was caused by the victory of Viola II in the Wairarapa Cup, the owner being a very popular Featherston resident. The Hurdle Handicap fell to Playboy with Jacob second and Mariner third. Dividend, £4 12s. Nuts won the Hack Hurdles, beating Welcome Charlie only and paying £1 2s. Rebellion won the Flying Handicap with Legislator second and Comet third. Dividend, £2 18s. The Hack Handicap went to The Toad. Dividend, £8 18s. The Wairarapa Cup brought out four runners, and Viola II won by three lengths from Senator, with Osman third. Dividend, £4 7s. The Hack Handicap was won by Dromedary; dividend, £3 3s ; and the Welter Handicap by Legislator ; dividend, £3 17s.

At the second day of the Wairarapa races £3,302 went through the totalisator, making a total of £7,033. The Hurdles fell to Mutineer, paying £8 3s; the Hack Hurdles to Dromedary, paying £2 2s ; the President’s Handicap to Legislator, with Viola 11. second and Tuhitara third, dividend £2 lOs ; the Hack Flying Handicap to Donovan, paying £4 3s; the Racing Club Handicap to Violence, with , Senator second and Comet third, dividend £2 9s; Valley Hack Handicap to Dromedary, dividend £2 12s; the New Year Handicap to Viola 11., dividend £1 16s. The five-year-old mare Jenny Lind, by Grand Duke, has been purchased from Mr W. Whiteman by a Hutt sportsman. The unruly members of the Wairarapa Racing Club who created a disturbance on Monday were to-day called before the stewards, and warned that if the offence were again committed they would be summarily expelled the club.