WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IX, Issue 445, 2 February 1899, Page 13

WELLINGTON.

A commission—E. Cutts —The Ethel case —Returning horses—Auckland athletes —Percy White —The Rockwood case — Prosser’s bad luck — Fulmen’s form —Bluejacket. Wellington, January 30. On Saturday last there was a commission here for Halberdier and Doctor at Takapuna Mr E. Cutts journeyed to Auckland after the Wellington Racing Club’s Summer Meeting. The Masterton Racing Club are endeavoring to trace the ownership of Cupid (alias Virgil), and find out how the pony came to be disposed of. Jim Harris passed through on his way South last week with Deadbeat, who con peted unsuccessfully at Ellerslie. The Auckland athletic representatives for Dunedin passed through yesterday. In the morning they were at the Basin Reserve, where W. Madill did good work with the hammer, and also at the high-jump. D. Wilson had a few rounds, but was not quite himself on account of the sea trip. George Smith hud a few sprints and a jog r uud. Te Paa was not seen with the pole but put in some running exercise. Were the Dunedin meeting two days instead of one this quartette would win the banner. It seems ridiculous the local club swamping the events with men with no credentials to championship form so as to get third points. During the northerner’s stay here they were taken in hand by Alf. Patrick and Harry Goodwin. Percy White, who rode Crusoe at the Hutt last week, has never ridden a Wellington Cup winner. When Dudu won he rode s ul an, who afterwards won the Dunedin Cup. T. Taylor was the only horseman engaged in the race last week who had ridden a previous winner, being on Mahaki when he won in 1896. Bob Derrett, who was riding at the meeting, has ridden the winner no less than six times, starting as far back as Foul Play in 1880. “ Dad” Kingan ma: e his re-appearance on Lady Agnes at the Hutt. At a meeting of the North Island Trotting Association, held at Palmerston North on Friday last, delegates representing all the principal clubs were present. The appeal lodged against the dis qualification of Hr. H. D. Limbrick’s.horse Rockwood and the rider (Edwards) for inconsistent running at the Petone Trotting Meeting, was allowed, and it as unanimously d< cided tlia’ the inve=tigation into the circumstances surrounding the running of the horse by the stewards of the Wellington Trotting Club was altogether irregular, and that a flagrant breach of the rules of trotting had been committed. The decision of the association in the above case is to be brought before the 'Colonial Secretary, who will be requested to withdraw the Wellington Trotting Club’s permits until the management of the club is in different bands. The disqualification of Rockwood and M. Edwards was freely c mmented upon by southern papers as scandalous. T. D. Yuer, an old-time Wellington penciller, has returned here after a lengthy absence in Australia. I fancy Brisa would have beaten Bush Rose in the Anniversary Handicap had she i ot ran wide at the entrance to the straight, and thereby allowing Bush Rose to slip up on the inside. The Ponrua stable hau exc<edingly hard luck in running up against another of Ike James’ good things in the Second Hack Race at the Hutt Last time he beat Prosser with Trask, and this time with Rata, on both occasions upsetting Prosser’s g< od thing. Prosser will not, 1 believe, be represented at either the Taranaki or Egmont meetings. Sabreur (Cuirassier —Martyr) winner of the Second Hurdles, had a big leg at Willington, but I think it was caused by a blister, or ilse

Holmes would not run the risk of breaking him down. Holmes informed me he had no chance with such a leg and would not put a cent on him himself, but he got very close for a horse without the stable money on, running second to Social Pest, who beat him by l-a’f a length. Sabreur won easily the second day, and still had his bad leg. Fu’men’s New Zealand Cup was the best race he will run for some time, I fancy. Tupuhi, W. Holmes’ crack sprinter, did not run up to his form at the Hutt, but I think he will be worth watching at Egmont or Wanganui. Advance had not quite got over his lameness at the-late Wellington meeting and therefore was not. seen at his best, but will be heard more of before long. Bluejacket was the favourite in town for the Takapuna Cup, and if he had won would have given the bookmakers a bad time. Mr R. ’ errett, who bred Courtier, and sold him to Mr G. G. Stead at a satisfactory figure, was exceedingly pleased at his victory in Wellington in the Wellington Stakes. Courtier is a fine big bay colt, by St. George from Adulation, and is bigger t han Screwgun, and I think more will be heard of him shortly. Screwgun, who has now quite recovered from his stiffness, was shipped for the south last week in company with Courtier, Cannonshot, Brisa,. Fulmen, Nantes, and Nihilist. Cannonshot was galloped on in the Wellington Cup, getting his hind legs cut. Liberator, who broke a small bone in his fetlock, has been left at the Hutt in Mr W. Davies charge until he is fit to be taken home, which will not be for a couple of months at least. It was first thought he had put his shoulder out but that is not so. Great dissatisfaction was expressed over the judge’s decision in the Telegraph Handicap at the Hutt the first day, and it is the opinion of many who were in a position to judge, that Titoki beat Amoureaux by a good head. The judge puts it the other way and says Amoureaux won by a length. Gallagher rode a desperate race on Explosion the second day, he having to keep the whip going for nearly the whole mile and a quarter, and is to be congratulated on his win.