WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IV, Issue 206, 5 July 1894, Page 5

WELLINGTON.

June 30. The always reckoned dangerous Morag has placed the Hawke’s Bay Steeplechase to Jhis owner’s credit; and I was right glad ! fo hear it. The win would be a most popularone in Napier, where the; horse‘and those connected with him< are well known. When I clapped my eyes! on Morag when he was first put into work by Hickey at Hastings I didn’t then think of associating the big fellow with a Hawke’s -Bay "Steeplechase later on, nor did his then owner, who made the mistake of selling him. People often give money away ‘in this fashion, only they don’t knoW ‘it at The time. After Fred. Collins took f the son of Swindle in hand he commenced to improve -wonderfully, and not only was be taken up the country to run ‘in fiat and hurdle races, but he went over* to the other coast. He won a few nice little stakes, and at a ‘ later period T- saw him contest the big hurdles in preference to the hack hurdles at the Napier 1 ark. His'great jumping-power served ‘ him well! He has not Taced since until’ Hastings owing to having -sustained an injury' to one of‘his degs. 'When the weights’for the Trial Steeple at Wanganui ’Came out ; I-said- Morag would win if he went -over, ' but he was not sent. He has now won the Hawke’s Bay Steeplechase easily, and if .he keeps .sound I think he will prove one of the best horses across country that we have in New Zealand. ' Mt W. Hutchison, M.H;R., is moving in the opposite direction to Sir Robert Stout in the House. The latter wants to check gambling and limit 'racing, while 1 the*former is moving to abolish the ma- - chine altogether. This will evoke considerable discussion in the House, and 1 the opponents of the measure will no doubt endeavour to'talk it'out. Two years ago Captain ‘Webb was 1 given-7.10 in ; the Melbourne Cup, while : Sternchaser 'had 7VI • and Gulloden 6.12. We i know' how the two last-named have improved, but, of ’course, it doesn’t -say that the handicapper’s estimate of > the (two -was ’correct. ■ -This year ’Captain Webb'has 7.8 in the Caulfield Cup, a half-mile 'less in distance. Why should ! not Diidu’s half -brother have a • chance ? Skirmisher lias been well‘backed here ! for‘the "New Zealand Cup. There was some surprise expressed here at Lady Hamilton winning the i Ladies’ Bracelet at Hastings, and, indeed, at seems, 'according’to the dividend, that the victory of Nelson’s ‘full sister • was mot expected there -either, Leontine being thought <to f be the correct article for the The win and the dividend reminds one of the surprise effected by another of Mr Gollan’s horses, Jet d’Eau, at Napier Bark some years ago. (Kapua 'must*be a really good horse to I give Melinite so much weight 1 and beat i over a* two mile hurdle course as he did at Hastings. It was a close finish, it ds ’true, but the son Of Uira got there, and ithat is enough. Kapua won this identical race last winter. A Wellington gentleman, who takes a (great interest in horse racing, recently came back-f rom the other side with a really good tip for the Melbourne Cup—The Trier. His friends clubbed together and backed the anima! for over £3O, and the day after the weights came out they had the ‘ mortification of seeing a cablegram in 'the : papers to the effect that the * horse had'beenscratched. 1 Prince Charlie, -who paid-eight guineas in hewon nt the Hunt Club’s meeting, is awery- useful*sort bf>a horse; and will win many a good raqo, How he

was allowed to pay such a dividend I cannot understand. Kulnine and Norton are not going to Australia., It is very improbable that any of the New Zealanders weighted for the Melbourne Cup will take part in the race. Outside horses wori every event at the ‘Hawke’s Bay Trotting Club’s Meeting, except in two cases, when Fisk and Chips, local horses, got home. I"BY WIRE.] July 3Nat. Nathan, the well-known bookmaker, secured a verdict of in his libel action against the Wairarapa Star. The subject matter of the libel related to his conduct at a theatrical performance! when a lawyer jumped Nathan’s seat. Mr Gollan’s yearling colt Cuirass, by Maxim —Florence McCarthy, and filly named Freda, by ‘Maxim — Fajr Nell, were shipped to the other side from here this week. The pair are well enough for any-, thing. A meeting of the stewards of the United Hunt Club was held last evening to enquire into the reason why the rider of Timothy in the Open Steeplechase was not able to draw the correct weight when he returned to the scales. Mr >H. D. Crawford was in the chair. After taking some evidence the enquiry was adjourned in order to enable some witnesses absent in Napier to be present.