Inter-Provincial

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IX, Issue 678, 5 March 1903, Page 14

Inter-Pro vincial

(From Our Own Correspondents.) O” Dunedin. March 3. The weather and attendance for the opening day of the Dunedin J ockey Club’s Cup Meeting was really splendid, but if the success of a meeting is gauged by the amount of money put through the totalisator, the gathering cannot be said to be such a success as it promised. The totalisator was badly worked, and several hundred pounds must have been lost to the club by the dilatory methods of the officials. During the three days the sum, of £16,630 10s was invested, as against last year’s total of £18,529. The racing on the whole was interesting and some good sport was witnessed by the club’s patrons. Orloff’s performance in the Cup was full of merit, for in the race he was always handy to the leaders, and at the business end of the journey he came through, and won full of running. Lady Lillian and General Symons made the pace a cracker, and cut the first half-mile out in 50sec. Up to a mile and a-quarter Cannie Chiel, who had been vigorously ridden over the last half-mile, passed the pair when heads were straightened for home, and his victory was no sooner proclaimed than Orloff, running wide on the outside, raced past and soon had him settled. Lady Lillian finished a good third, but the solidity of the pace in the early stages of the race settled both her chance and that of General Symons. During the race Hewitt had his left foot bad'ly bruised, and Mr G. G. Stead lodged a complaint against J. McComb, who was riding Vladimir. It was alleged that McComb deliberately opened up from the rails, and then closed on Orloff, but McComb drew the inside berth at the start, and raced, on the rails throughout the race. The mishap occurred when four furlongs bail been traversed, and Vladimir was pulling McComb out of the saddle up to a mile, and hisi rider states he was not justified in leaving the rails for any horse who was ip behind him. From what I saw of the race, arid' glean concerning, it, 1 am of the opinion that Hewitt took one of the charices of the game, and it went against him. The stewards held an enquiry, and arrived at the conclusion that whilst they were sorry for the accident, they had not sufficient evidence to take action in the matter. On Orloff’s form in the Cup he should have a decided chance _at Wanganui, if he retains his form. St.; Denis won the Publicans’ Handicap frpm end to end. Blazer, whose preparation was interfered with two or three days before the meeting, finished second, blit nothing in the race has a chance with the St, Clair gelding. Machine Gun, who is affected in his respiratory organs, is a great colt, and romped" home in the' Champagne. He stands about seventeen hands high, but fiis excellent conformation detracts from hjs size, and though at a casual glance be

j appears to be on the leggy side, he improves on closer inspection. Mr Stead says he is one of the best in the. land up to four furlongs, and it is a great pity he is affected in his wind, but it is quite evident that he can run out a good six fur- ! longs. ! On the second day of the meeting Pallas, who was favourably handicapped, was looked upon as a rod in } ickle for the race, and the good thing duly arrived, although a bump he received in the first few strides after leaving the barrier did not improve his chances. Pallas was out on his own after a couple of furlongs, and won with the greatest of ease from' Terrapin, who. put in a good but hopelessly late run at the finish. On the third day, however, Terrapin made amends for his defeat by winning the Anniversary Handicap, after appearing to be clean out of the race at the home turn. He finished under punishment over the last three furlongs, and ran a very game race, R. King, who rode him, must be classed as one of our best lightweights, as he is very energetic for a light boy, and rides a nice cool race. Two accidents occurred in the Hurdle Race on the third day, and R. Wilson, who was riding First Shot, was badly shaken. His mount swerved after taking off, and striking' the rails toppled over on to the plough at the third fence. Dartmoor took off with the Earl (on whose quarters he was lying), and landed on the top of the rump. Up to the time of wiring Mathie, who was riding the St. Leger gelding, is still unconscious, but is showing signs of | coming round. He was struck on the head ] and chest.

Red Gauntlet sported silk once at the meeting, and scored a win. If he trains on up to the C.J.C. Easter Meeting, he should repay watching. Quarryman should furnish into a good sort of a three-year-old. After his race with Machine Gun he lathered freely, and was evidently far from being fit. He shows plenty of quality, and is a nice cut of a horse, with plenty of size. Welbeck scored in his race on the third day very easily, and was not nearly so much distressed as he was after his race in the Publicans’ Handicap. His trainer probably was too generous with him after his race at the Forbury Meeting. Muscovite is evidently getting back to form 1 , judging by his display in the Farewell Handicap. Petrovna won her race by a narrow margin, but her rider delayed his effort until a very late stage of the proceedings, so much so that the mare was lucky to win. Evening Wonder’s name figures amongst the entries , for the Onkaparinga (S.A.) Meeting, held on April 13. At present the Wonderland gelding is looking healthy and well, but not doing a great deal of work on the track. Kathlinda, the dam of St. Denis, was only a pony, and won a pony race at Tahuna Park before the galloping events were deleted from the club’s programmes. She also won a pony race at one of the Otago Hunt Club’s meetings. In his races at the Cup Meeting Vladimir did not produce results which could reasonably be expected from his gallops on the track. The son of Stepniak has a will of his own, and required not a little coaxing to get him up to the barrier for his third race at the meeting. Terrapin’s 2min llsec for a, mile and a-quarter is a record for the Wingatui track. Lady Lillian put up 2min 11 l-ssec in the same race last year. The totalisator investments on the Wingatui Stakes for the last twQ years has been nil, and the collective total of starters in the race for three years amounts to five. A remarkable thing in connection with the D.J.C. Cup Meeting was that nineteen winners out of twenty-four traced back to Musket. Of these thirteen were descendants on the male side, and six received the strain through their dams. In addition to the above, twenty-two place-getters have the strain coursing in their veins. H. Donovan headed the . list of winning horsemen at the Cup Meeting, and steered no less than seven winners during the three days. J. McComb comes next with five,, while L. H. Hewitt, W. Holmes, and R. King had each two wins, and each of the following a single winning ride H. Carr. L. G. King, A. McKay, A. McKensfe, A. Godfrey, and J. McCluskey. Last year’s total was £18,511, and the totals of the two preceding years were £18,387 and £16.931. In 1899 the total reached £20,006. As the result of forward Guard’s breakdown at the Lawrence meeting, it has been found necessary to destroy him. When the Vanguard gelding broke down he splintered one of his can-

non bones, and his case was a hopeless one. St. Denis is frequently alluded to as being out of a hack mare, but his grand dam Kathleen won the D.J.C. St- Ani drew’s Handicap in 1874 in Mr H. Goodman’s colours, and that gentleman informs me that she was evidently a wellbred mare, but the pedigree of her dam was unknown. Kathleen was by Roebuck (Sir Hercules —Miss Rowe), and Kathlinda, the dam of St. Denis, was got by Betrayer, the full brother to Sir Modred, j. being by St. Clair. St. Denis is well i bred enough on the male side of his ; pedigree.