Inter-Provincial.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume VI, Issue 305, 28 May 1896, Page 4

Inter-Provincial.

WELLINGTON.

Pyrites broken down —Ongon backed in Wellington — Death of the ex-New Zealander Pasha—A lucky hotelkeeper —The Otaki meeting—Death of Mrs McNab.

Jim Hathaway, of Bulls, has been unfortunate with the promising cross country horse Pyrites. One of his legs have given trouble for some time and last week he broke down and was then scratched for his Wanganui engagements. On Saturday a commission was worked here in. „ favour of Ongon for the Maiden Hurdles at Takapuna, and Panoply was also reported for the Birthday Handicap, but I am not certain the commissioner got all his money on, as the local bookmakers have great respect for Geo. Wright. From New South Wales I learn of the death of the stallion Pasha (The Mute —Rose d”Amour), brother to Aphony and half brother to Rosefeldt, from inflammation. He was a brilliant horse in his day, and commenced his winning career as a two-year-old. He was generally raced twice a day over long and short distances under heavy weights. He often had the late Wally Clifford’s services. As a five-year-old he was downed on several occasions by bis four-year-old half-sister (Rumour) and he ran unplaced in Spade Guinea’s New Zealand Cup, and won the Metropolitan Stakes at the same meeting giving Lochiel 11b and a beating, and an hour later the same afternoon he was a good third to Forester and Russley, receiving thirty-two and eighteen pounds respectively over five furlongs run in Imin Isec. As a four-year-old he won the Hutt Park Spring and Wellington Racing Club Handicaps. The following season Pasha ran unplaced to Rumour in the Spring Handicap, and won the St. Andrew’s Handicap the second day, Waitiri, who generally had the worst of any encounters with Pasha, acting as runner up in both events, and he carried top weight (8.4) when he won the Wellington Cup and ran two miles in 3min 38sec. He was shortly afterwards sold to Alfred Drake and taken to Australia, but had a somewhat , chequered career on the turf there, but managed to win the Yan Yean Stakes at Flemington, and the Wagga Wagga Gold Cup, then an important event. His owner and trainer in this colony is a resident of Wellington, and a well-known local penciller, has a lively recollection of Pasha, in whom he had a half share. His partner took the horse to Australia and the local man cabled to put twenty-five pounds on him in the Yan Yean Stakes, and Pasha started at 10 to 1 and won, but the money was not invested. It is generally thought here that had a decent horseman been on Light in the Otaki Plate that he would have won. A protest was entered against J. McTaggart for blocking the youngster on Light, but was dismissed. 800 1 les and Man-o’-War, who won at Egmont, were picked by a Hawera sporting bonaface for the Steeple and Oats double for a century with a local bookmaker, Slaiden only got home by a nose in the Stewards’ Handicap at Otaki, and Mystical who was second was paying one hundred and ninety pounds dividend, and Bonafide, who was third, one hundred and twenty-two, and Springtime, who finished fourth, about sixty. Tokatea (owned by Mr J. R. McDonald, of Levin), who was supposed to have cleaned out everything in Homes’ stable, at Bulls, was made favourite, but finished in the ruck. Indian Shot, who won the Trial Handicap, is one of Mr Douglas’ breeding by Torpedo —Honeysuckle, and owned by Mr Tom Scott of Rangitikei. As usual the Porirua stable (Jos. Prosser’s) was en evidence securing two firsts, one second, and one third. Visitors to the Hutt meetings, who have been hospitably received at McNab’s Gardens during many years, will be sorry to hear of Mrs McNab’s death, which occured suddenly on Sunday last.

MANAWATU. There was fine weather and a large attendance at the Otaki Maori Meeting on Monday, and good fields and excellent sport were the features of the gathering. ' The principal event was won by the Hawera representative, Crimson Streak, whose victory was due to the horsemanship of J. McTaggart. Had the second horse, Light, been judiciously handled, there is little doubt the positions would have been reversed. The Stewards’ Stakes provided a most exciting finish between Slaiden and Mystical. About one hundred yards from the post Slaiden appeared to have the race in hand, but Mystical came with a great rush, and the pair passed the post locked together, the judge’s verdict being in favour of Slaiden by a nose. Had Mystical been returned the winner the sensational dividend of £l9O would have been paid out, there being only three tickets on him on the machine. Hawera scored anothei’ win in the Flying with Errand Boy, who just beat Titoki in the last two strides. Hawkes Bay secured a win with Tenby in the Second Hurdles, after- an interesting struggle with Tell-Tale. Rangitikei Carried off the Trial Handicap with Indian Shot. Slaiden’s win represented Wairarapa’s share, of the prize money, and the local district was fortunate enough to appropriate two races with Steel King and Gaspard, both of which were fairly easy win. The stewards were called upon to consider one protest, that against Crimson Streak in the Otaki Plate for interference, and they very properly dismissed it. The sum of £3,896 was put through the to« talisator during the day.