NAPIER.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume V, Issue 232, 3 January 1895, Page 8

NAPIER.

December 31. That good hack Prince Charlie is on the sick list, the hard state of the tracks having rendered him for the time being hors de combat. Vasco, in the same stable, has also succumbed to the same complaint, and Leontini is another invalid. Lagor, who trains Prince Charlie and Vasco, is to be sympathised with at losing the services of these two useful horses in the busy season. The Hawke’s Bay horses returned from Manawatu without having added much to their owners credit balance at the bank. Princess May was whispered about as a certainty for the Palmerston Cup, on the strength of a big trial she had run with Dreamland. Munn, however, was quietly confident that Rosefeldt, who was in much better nick than at Christchurch, would effect a surprise, but both our representatives met more than their match in the ex-hack, Irish Twist, who put up nearly 2st more on the second day and again triumphed over his field. The son of Ingomar —Torori, is evidently a good one, and his victories emphasize the folly of handicappers putting well-bred and really well-performed horses who have been running in hack company in at the minimum weight, when competing against animals of supposed higher class. Kangipuhi, Irish Twist, and Golden Plover are a trio of good ones who first made their debut in hack company.

Rosefeldt is a bit stale after her Palmerston campaign and Munn has wisely decided not to start the mare at the Napier Park meeting on New Year’s Day. Golden Plover and North Atlantic will also be non-starters, as they are being specially reserved for their Wellington engagements. Both are worth backing at outside prices. Local backers who occasionally take a shot at outside events hailed the result of the Auckland Cup with gladness, as the game and constant little mare was the public fancy here. The only other horse backed for money was Mahaki, our racing men holding the opinion that Prime Warden would fail to carry his burden to the front in a stiff two-mile journey.

Like every other district in the colony we are as usual flooded with racing at this season of the year. The Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club’s meeting, particulars of which I wired you, was held on Boxing Day ; on Thursday the Waipawa County Pacing Club had a race meeting; and on Friday the Onga Onga Racing Club provided a day’s sport. Racing men rested on the seventh day, or Saturday, as enjoined by scripture, but they will go at it again on Tuesday at the Napier Park meeting. No performer of very striking merit has appeared at any of the meetings so far. North Atlantic's win in the Summer Handicap, at Hastings, was gained so easily that it has called attention to his chance of annexing the Wellington Cup, in which he is handicapped at 7.8. Golden Plover, too, who at Kaikora, with the steadier of 9.1 on his back, simply made hacks of his field, and with a stone less to carry he must have a show at Wellington. The quality of the opposition in each instance was weak, however, and consequently we have no reliable guide by which to estimate the chances of either candidate. Searchlight ran like a non-stayer in the Welter Handicap at Hastings, and I am afraid this speedy daughter of Maxim —Iris is better at six furlongs than beyond that distance. Tiritea practically walked over for the hurdle races at both meetings, and he has quickly made his way in the handicaps from 9.7 at Kaikora to 11 10 at the Park. Ipbimede, a well-bred and handsome daughter of Nordenfeldt — Iphigenia, made her first appearance in the Maiden Flat Race at the Kaikora meeting and scored a very easy win.