WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume VI, Issue 289, 6 February 1896, Page 10

WELLINGTON.

The Handicapping of Skirmisher— Lady Zetland’s Win —The Brooklet Protest.

[by wire.] February 3.

The Castor—Lioness filly, purchased at Wellington Park and shipped South, was not bought by Mr J. P. Curtis, of Wellington, but shipped to him as forwarding agent. The buyer was Mr F. D. Pelling, a sporting boniface at Ekatahuna. According to Lady Zetland’s running in the Midsummer Handicap at Christchurch on Saturday, I maintain she would have won the Cup here had Hobbs sent, her instead of Saracen.

In justice to Mr J. O. Evett as to the alleged harsh treatment of Skirmisher in the W.R.C. Handicap, it must be stated that the last time he and Saracen (winner of the race) met over a mile and a quarter in the St. Andrew’s Handicap at Dunedin, Skirmisher conceded Saracen one pound in weight and beat him by a length and a half comfortably, and in the Wellington Cup Skirmisher had the race won at a mile and a quarter, and actually led up to the distance. His inability to finish was most probably the want of a sound gallop over the distance. On the second day Skirmisher was asked to concede Saracen only 41bs, and had he gone to the post would certainly have been made favourite, and probably would have won handsomely. Skirmisher was made favourite f:r the Midsummer at Riccarton on Saturday, but, they say, had the appearance of a big meal before the race, and was never prominent. Lady Zetland’s running shows that she would have been prominent in the Wellington Cup had she gone to the post. Murray Hobbs put up a record by winning the Craven and Midsummer double two years in succession with the same horses. He is unlikely so long as he follows his present occupation to have three such wear and tear consistent as Prime Warden, Saracen, and Lady Zetland in the stables at one time. Returned visitors speak wcP of Bisley (by Chain Shot), half-brother to Barmby, who won the Hornsby Welter, and look favourably on his Publicans’ Handicap chance. Harry Piper arrived from South yesterday, and journeys to Woodville to-morrow, where he is engaged on Wednesday and Thursday. The Wellington Racing Club stewards met this afternoon and considered the protest of Mr Allen, owner of Saracen, against Brooklet receiving the Wellington Cup stakes. The protest was disallowed.

An inquiry into the fire at the stables of Messrs. K. McKenzie and Cress Bros, at Tauheremkau, on January 22nd, was held at Featherston last week. The jury returned a verdict that the stables were wilfully set on fire by some person or persons unknown. George Cooper, jockey, was arrested at Featherston on Friday on suspicion of having set fire to McKenzie’s stable. He was brought before two justices and remanded until to day, bail being allowed, accused in £lOO and two sureties of £5O each. Cooper, owner and rider of Much Ado, was disqualified at the Wairarapo Racing Club’s Meeting on New dear’s Day for Ihree months for suspicious running. At Featherston this morning Cooper was further remanded until the 11th inst.