WELLINGTON RACING CLUB’S SUMMER MEETING.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IV, Issue 182, 18 January 1894, Page 5

WELLINGTON RACING CLUB’S SUMMER MEETING.

The acceptances for the Wellington Cup of 4-oosovs, one mile ard a half, came to hand on Tuesday last, and what a falling off was experienced 1 Out of fifty-six nominations only twelve horses remain in the list. I certainly expected that there would be a considerable number of defections, but I was not prepared to see the list reduced to a dozen names. An acceptance list of about twenty horses appeared probable enough. Hippomenes at 8.3 had nothing to complain of, but as he is a bad traveller and is probably being reserved for the Dunedin Cup, his nonacceptance is not difficult to understand. I considered him the best treated horse in the handiaap. St. Anthony at 7.7 looked well in, and Lakeshell on her Middle Park Plate win should have been good enough to carry her 7.6 comfortably. From that weight down to the minimum of 6.7 only two horses remain in out of the 33 that were nominated. On the form displayed by Prime Warden at the D.J.C.’s Spring Meeting he must, if in similar condition on the 22nd inst., have a big chance against the eleven opposed to him. At the weights he should beat Rosefeldt 8.8, Clanranald 8 7, blit St. Katherine at 8.5 may be found a hard nut to crack. If she returns to the form which won the Anniversary Handicap at Wellington last summer with 7.11, wh6n she did her mile against good company in imin 44 3-ssec she will make the leaders run for it. Her two-mile win at Egmont in 3min 44|sec, and mile and three-quarter victory in 3‘min ssec at Wanganui last autumn should not be forgotten. It is said she is suffering from bleeding at the nose, but I nevertheless hold she will run a fine race. Pegasus at 8.0 will be a thorn in someone’s side, and North Atlantic

with 7.8 should beat Musket and Vogengang over the distance. Revolution at 7.8 has nothing to complain of, but he is said to have a ‘ leg,’ although Freeth’s action in withdrawing Revolt and leaving Revolution in the race does not give much support to such a suspicion. Retina has the same weight as she successfully carried last vear, and if in favourable condition will run close up. The light weight Kent has been showing an improving form amongst second-class company lately, and from what I hear from the seat of war this candidate may effect a surprise. To give the best five of the horses left in the race I name Pegasus, St. Katherine, Rosefeldt, Prime Warden and North Atlantic, and to give a place tip I take Pegasus 1 St. Katherine 2 Rosefeldt 3 With North Atlantic as the next best. Liberator, 9.3, heads the list in the Anniversary Handicap of one mile, but there are some, however, in the list whom I prefer. Dreamland has declined 9.2, but Johnny Faa has accepted 8.4 and would have a very big say if Vogengang who has been running into form were not so close up. Vogengang or Johnny Faa is my selection and the next best I take to be Krina.

Cajolery and Harkaway have dropped out of the Hurdle Handicap, two miles, for which Clarence, 11.1, now heads the list. Dromedary is next at 10.2, and was to give weight to Oaklands, 10.0, and Langley the Devil, 9.10, both of whom should beat Dromedary. The two candidates that I think will supply the winner are Langley the Devil and the top weight. The field for the Nursery Handicap has dwindled down from ten to six. Pom Pom, 8.10, has declined the journey, and so have Foreshore 7.12, Planet 7.5 and Miss Madge 7.0. Lyrebird, top weight with 8.5, will be beaten by Tartan, who will find most danger from King Wai, 7.12. Eight have been scratched for the Welter Handicap, one mile and a quarter. Musket’s withdrawal leaves Dreamland at the top of the weights with 10.10. Violence looks as well as anything in the race, and with Kent should supply the winner. For the Telegraph Handicap nine withdrawals have left a field of seven, out of which I take the best two to be Krina, 8.2, and Rebellion, who is top weight, 9.5. My knowledge of the hacks entered is too limited to warrant my attempting the task of picking winners. I can, however, strongly recommend the selection of our Wellington correspondent, who I see takes Meddler or Brookfield to supply the winner of the Hack Flat and Tenby to win the Hack Hurdles.