WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume VII, Issue 334, 17 December 1896, Page 8

WELLINGTON.

Leda at Masterton — Other performers, and Masterton items—The scratching of Stead’s horses—The Ashurst Guineas ’ —Lady Zetland’s retirement. Wellington, December 14. Leda carried 41b penalty in the Masterton Cup for winning the Manchester Handicap at Feilding, which penalty brought her weight up to 9.1. P. Butler was present at The Hutt, and purchased the three-year-old gelding, Challenger (The Dauphin — Caller Herrin’), whom the veteran trainer has put into work at Riccarton, Leda had little or nothing to spare at the finish of the Masterton Cup. It was the biggest burden (9.1) the little Castor mare has yet borne to victory, and the performance (ten furlongs in 2.12) is a good one for the Masterton course. Leda was not started on the second day. There have been several enquiries about her for the Welling-

ton Cup, and she is likely to see a short price on the day, and by her Masterton victory she is liable to be re-handicapped. Leda’s popular owner, who recently successfully contested the Wellington Suburbs seat, is, I undertand, at present on a holiday trip to Auckland. Come Again, who ran second to Ruby Twist at The Hutt, was made a strong order for the Maiden. He is trained by J. E. Pilbrow, and had the services of Percy but was beaten by Derringcotte, trained by James Reid. The latter is one of the first of the Derringers bred in the Wairarapa He started in the W airarapa Hack Guineas last month, but was then backward. He is a nice colt, and is from Mascotte (dam of Porepo)), by Bundora — Mireille, by Traducer —Opera. The colt was somewhat neglected, and paid £l6 4s. Later in the afternoon he accounted for the Scurry, four furlongs, in 51 3-ssec, the Blenheim mare, Coin, being second. By these victories Derringcotte loses his 71b maiden allowance in the AVellington Stakes, to be run at The Hutt next month, and puts him on on the same mark as Marquis of Zetland and St. Paul. Uniform and Multiform have already incurred the full penalty for the race, in which I like Blazer. Fairbrother, who has ridden Torpina and lhe Shrew in their races this season, has left Mr Moelle’s stable, and leaves for the West Coast on Wednesday to ride Tutanekai in his engagements. Fagan only went down in charge of the horse. Local punters who sent their money to Masterton for the first day’s races were somewhat disappointed at the second day s acceptances not coming to hand, there being, therefore, no chance of a recovery. The secretary should have made arrangements in the interest of his clients. I would like to thank Mr Thos. Duncan, acting secretary, for the Press privileges accorded. The meeting was very capably conducted. Barring an occasional trip to Auckland, Napier, Dunedin, and perhaps Wanganui once a year, Mr Stead is a poor patron of clubs outside of Riccarton. The colours of Yaldhurst are so seldom seen at The Hutt that it was not surprising when the news came that Mr Stead had withdrawn “ all his horses” from the Wellington Cup. I presume, therefore, that Uniform and Multiform will be missing when the three sovs acceptance for the Wellington Stakes is made on January 15th. His Lordship will probably score his second win in the Ashurst Guineas on the 29th inst. Tricky Jack (by Emir Bey) had a couple of easy victories in the hurdle races at Masterton, paying the good dividend of £2 14s on the first occasion. Nuts (by Early Bird) acted as runner up on each occasion. What a good performer Hillstone is he showed by winning under 9.8, on the first day, and running a mile and a quarter in 2min 15sec ; he paid £3 16s. Nero, who was made a great pot of and in receipt of 341 b, was second and Roseleaf third. Over the same distance the second day Hillstone carried 10.0 and got third to Goulburn (6.10) and Alpha (7.2).' There were only five starters, and yet the winner paid £29 14s, and £lB 18s for 10s. On the second day the club made the outside machine 10s, an innovation in this Island which was no doubt greatly- appreciated by patrons who could not afford more. Goulburn is the chestnut colt by Palo Alto (Robinson Crusoe—Maid of Avenel), bred in Victoria, and had previously run without success at Carterton and The Hutt. May be he is a well-bred colt as he looks it. King’s Bowman had an easy victory in the Flying Handicap on the first day under 8.13 ; he carried P. White and paid £1 16s. Porepo (7.9) and Seabreeze (7.11) were placed in the Telegraph Handicap, also six furlongs, on the second day. King’s Bowman failed to concede No Wonder 3st, Seabreeze being third in a field of four. No Wonder paid £2B 8s and £9 9s. No Wonder is the Perkin Warbeck gelding that Patsey Butler used to win selling races with down South ; he is now owned by the Masterton Maoris, this being his first victory in this island. Another good dividend was paid in the Consolation, for which three started. The public again supported the Blenheim mare Alpha, but she was beaten by Lady Agnes (Sister Agnes’ sister) and can be of no account; the latter paid £8 and £3 10s. A more useful Blenheim candidate is Sing Song, who acted as runner-up to On Dit (daughter of Rumour) on the first day and pulled off two events on the second —the Electric Handicap (six furlongs), Crescent and Kiaora being placed, and the Hack Welter (one mile), Coin and Slumber being placed. Sea Serpent was unfortunate at the meeting. In the Cup he was only beaten by a neck, and in the Racing Club Handicap, on the second day, he was only beaten a head by The Miser; a protest entered against the latter for inconsistent running was dismissed. The Miser has been a most consistent performer over all distances and on all courses. I was somewhat surprised to hear that Mr A. W. Cave, owner of Sea Serpent and president of the Masterton Racing Club, had signified his intention of resigning on the stewards decision being given in favour of the first horse. Kingsman ran disappointingly ; he may or may not be a brother to Florrie, but he does not shape like one, neither has he the appearance of O’Brien’s mare. The news that Lady Zetland had been withdrawn from all her Hutt engagements caused disappointment. It was thought that the N.Z. Cup winner would sport silk again before she retired. Messrs Bright and Morrison, of Greymouth North, have sold one of their starting machines to the Greymouth Jockey Club. The purchaser of the gates at Masterton made a charge of sixpence per “head” for bicycles. Captain Jack Sutton writes me from Invercargill that he has been the recipient of a valuable present from Frank Hewitt, who is, I presume, the once well-known pedestrian. The gift takes the form of one of Musket’s teeth mounted in gold and inscribed “ To Captain Jack Sutton, from F. Hewitt, Invercargill, December 4th, 1896,” also the date of Musket’s foaling and death on the band around it.