WELLINGTON

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IX, Issue 683, 9 April 1903, Page 14

WELLINGTON

April 6. H. Fletcher, a Porirua trainer, who nearly scooped the pool at the recent Horowhenui Meeting, took a large team to the Nelson J.C. Meeting, which took place on Wednesday and Thursday last. Dauber easily repeated his recent performance, winning the hurdle face by twenty lengths from Plainstone. Betsy also cantered home in the County Hack Handicap. Spun Gold scored very comfortably in the Grandstand Handicap, and Betsy, with a penalty, again cantered past the Judges box for the Hope Handicap. Dodina, trained by Fletcher, failed in tue Nelson Cup, which was won comfortably by A. Rore’s Hinekoa, a Marlborough double winner. Recent form was thus most strikingly exemplified. The reason is not far to seek, for Mr Henrys, through being engaged at Hawke’s Bay, was unable to attend and witness the Horowhenui racing, and further, had to frame the Nelson Handicap prior to the Marlborough Meeting. The result was that the events were mere processions, and the dividends rangeu from 28s to 50s, the average for the first day being £1 16s, a record. The adjustments for the second day (except for the trotting race) were an improvement, and the racing more interesting. Osborne, a sure starter on the first day, just got home in tne hurdles from the first day’s winner, Dauber. Volley who was galloped on, and seriously interfered .with in the Cup, got a clear run, and won' the Richmond Park Stakes nicely. Romanoff, a C.J.C. Welcome Stakes winner, and a cast-off of the Yaldhurst Stables, carried 101 b overweight the first day in the Grandstand Handicap, and as the circumstances pro-

bably escaped the handicapper’s notice, he got nicely treated in the Waimea and Farewell Handicaps, both of which were soft things for the son of Stepniak and Ranee-Nuna. > Tne surprise of the meeting was the dividend in the FareweH Handicap—£s 2s in a four-horse race, for a Welcome Stakes winner in a hack company is somewhat extraordinary. The followers of Fletcher’s stable, however,, owing to their recent successes, would not hear of defeat, hence the good prices obtained by the backers of Volley and Romanoff. Levonia ran much below her -form, whilst Blue Spur and Spun Gold were unable Io act under their weights. The meeting was an enjoyable one for visitors, the weather being capital. Several Wellington sportsmen were present, and were most hospitablv treated by the Officials of the Club.' Mr Roa Mcßae, a popular and longstanding Steward of the Nelson J.C., was the unlucky owner of the meeting, his horse Cumulus by Sou’-wester out of a Stonyhurst mare, running second each time of starting, viz., in the Cup, Richmond Stakes, and Waimea Handicap. The Porirua team for Riccarton will consist of Advance and Ostiak. The former is now only engaged in the Challenge . Stakes. Ostiak claims engagements in three minor handicaps, and a Selling race, the Addington Plate, for which he is entered to be- sold for nil. 1 This event is run at the conclusion of the Meeting, and the probabilities are that the son of Stepniak fails in earlier events, he will ( be given a chance amongst the Selling Platers. C. Jenkins, having no riding to do for the Porirua Stable in the principal handicaps, has consented to ride fols the Hon. Geo. McLean ; during the Meeting his Wellington admirers will most probably follow him with their investments. “ Jim McGuinis,” the mentor of Pampero, Vladmir, and Red Gauntlet, holds a strong hand in the Easter Handicap, and the one selected for Jenkins to ride will carry a lot of Wellington money. The local metallicians are busy booking doubles, Petrovna, Red Gauntlet, and Pampero are favourite selections for the Easter, and Pallas and Lady Lillian for the Great Autumn. Orloff, however, is selected for the Autumn by some shrewd judges of form.