WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IX, Issue 670, 8 January 1903, Page 13

WELLINGTON.

Wellington, January 4. The Wairarapa R.C. fixture was fairly well patronised by city sports on NewYear’s Day and tfie day following. The totalisator turnover showed a sligot falling off compared with last year, and may be accounted for by the fact that the open events were but poorly patronised, and of a verv uninteresting description. For the Wairarapa Cup there were only five starters. The finish was left to the . ex-hacks Pladie and Benefactor, who finished in that order. Hinetaura (who was a hot favourite. and whose chance after the Manawatu running looked, rosy) remained at the post when the barrier went up, arid, much to the disgust of her backers, took very little part, in the race. The stewards, it. is said, would not have exceeded their duties had they called upon the rider for an explanation. The principal event, the. R.C. Handicap, one and a-quarter miles, on the second day. brought forth two starters, viz., Plaidie, the first day’s winner, and the Porirua colt Ghoorka. The latter, ridden a nice race, won by half-a-length . in 2min lltsec. The amount on the machine being only £36, a race worth 150sovs should have been better contested. As the club’s handicapper, Mr Henrys, honoured the meeting with his presence,, the paucity of the fields for the principal events, is the subject of much comment.’ The open events drew forth ninety, nominations, of which only thirty-one faced the starter.. Of these Ostiak won each start, whilst Plaidie and Rioter were respectively winners and runners-up each day. Mr Peter s Pure Silver was the only horse outside the above three stables to participate in the 765sovs given by the club’as added money for the open events. Too many meetings on the same dates, will probably be .accepted as the most, feasible explanation. The hack events were better patronised, the Porirua stable being represented by Rawiri (full brother to Waiuku), Clovelly, Elibank, Sir Galahad, and Hamua. Of these only the former scored a win, although heavily supported in the totalisator each time of starting. The followers of the stable consequently could not have had a very good book on settling day. Rawiri, who bids fair to follow in the footsteps of his renowned relative, Waiuku, is a commanding colt, and in all his races never gave his opponents the slightest chance. His next appearance_will, I understand, be in open company. The other quartette are both over estimated by the public and the weight-adjusters, and are very unlikely to shine in good company. J An unpleasant incident during the WairaI rapa Meeting was the suspension of the

local light-weight Carmont. This rising jockey, who has the confidence of a number of owners, it seems was carpeted in conjunction with C. Jenkins for boring in on a hack* named Scrip in a back event. The pair were cautioned, and there it was thought the matter ended. .Later on, however, the stewards again went into the matter, and suspended Carmont for the rest of the meeting. Many thought it peculiar that Carmont was thus singled out, whilst Jenkins was allowed to ride. The caution to a -well-behaved lad like Carmont would, no doubt, have had the desired effict. As it was-, his patrons- were greatly inconvenienced, and had to witndraw their horses from their engagements for the second day, as they did not, care to trust the mounts to stable boys. West Guard’s followers were strongly in evidence on January 1, and money pouted into the hands of the local book's for Mishears by’s mare for the Christmas Handicap, at Hawke’s ..Bay. The layers allege that no money has been offered them on this mare since she won at Riccarton, and in consequence hundreds of pounds were refused, mulch to the disgust of the stable commissioners. Motor was also well backed for his Rangitikei events by his party. A heavy commission was afso worked in favour of Haxdwork for the Killymoon Hack Race at the same meeting. Right through the holidays backers were right on the spot, and the layers had hard work to hold their own. A local sporting scribe, who also acted as understudy for Mr Henrys, is being congratulated by racing folks for his second day’s Hawke’s Bay adjustments. It is said that the second day’s handicaps were a great improvement on Mr Henrys’ first day's productions. lan. 7. Mr Caadwick’s Wellington Cup Handiicap, which was declared to-day, bears evidence of having been carefully thought out. Advance 10.4, who has has been for some time in retirement, is not overburdened on his best form, but as matured horses are seldom got fit without public I will leave the “black demon” out of m(y calculations in endeavouring to select the winner. Cruciform 9.11 has quite recent form to recommend her, and judging by the manner in which she defeated' •H'4lbesdi(e(D at* (Wellington - when; t!hsy last met, I would take her to again defeat. the N.Z. Cup winner Achilles 9.6 defeated Cruciform in the Jubilee Cup, one mild, when in receipt’of six pounds, but with half a mile further to go, I doubt his ability to repeat the performance. Achilles meets Mr Stead’s mare on one pound better terms, and according to weight-for-age he will have improved five pounds, to concede, six pounds, for Cruciform’s defeat in the Jubilee Cup seems all in favour of A chillies, but I agree with, the handicapper that Achilles was well served by thel . shorter distance at Riccarton. Battleaxe 8>.12 has no recent form to recommend him, or I would have a good opinion of. his prospects.. Siege Gun 8.9 will probably be pounced on as the good thing. He beat such a poor lot in the Auckland Cup, and had' to be ridden right out to win, that one can only estimate him a moderate animal, and I would sooner stand Canteen &.8, than the Auckland. Cup winner. Both, however, are nicely handicapped. Orloff 8.7 hat lost a few admirers slince he went down before Wairiki in Iflhe. AuckfiaJndi Derby, ■ but if selected by the stable must be respected. Lady Lillian 8.0 meets Canteen on three pounds better terms than when she suffered defeat in the St. Andrew’s Handicap at Dunedin. However, under a lower scale of weights and two furlongs she may tjurn the table - on the Dunedin colt. The distance is too far for Okoari, whilst Porirua on. his Auckland form does not look enticing. Hinetaura 7.12 on her Manawatu running has an excellent chance. Melwood is a“has been,” and need not be seriously considered. The Shannon with 7.9, the same weight that she. ran second to St. Michael in last Wellington Cup, would appear to have a good chance,, were, it not for her poor showing at Auckland. Cannie Chiel on his last visit to Wellington ran stones below his best fortm, and if he regains it, I would look, to him to run at least into a place. Fieka on his best showing, is only a moderate horse, whilst Evelyn Wood is touched in the wind, and may not stay over a mile and a half, Pallas and Dundas I pass by, but Motor 6.13 is remarkably well in, and should beat everything below, him. Ghoorka 6.00 may be the repre-' sentafiivez of the Porirua stable, but I consider he is.' held .qujfte ; s'afo by’Motor whom I select to be the pick of the Handii cap. Danger may be expected from Mr , Stead’s selected, Canteen, The Shannon, and Hinetaura.

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