WELLINGTON

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IX, Issue 695, 2 July 1903, Page 6

WELLINGTON

Wellington, June 27

Wagering on the New Zealand Cup is of the most limited description, and except for a stray wager to some outside punter, there is nothing doing. The following of the Porirua stable are not likely to accept the cramped prices on offer against their representatives. , The top-weight, Achilles, is in no way favoured when asked to concede seven and eight pounds respectively to such proved stayers as Orloff and Lady Lillian. Sea Lion .is an unknown quantity, so far as Cup credentials are concerned, whilst Gold Crown has but little to recommend him to backers as a likely Cup winner. The other local candidates for Cup honours, Melwood, Ringman, Motor, Cure, and Volley, would be more at home in less aristocratic company. Ringman, in a weak field, mip have a chance, the others would not be a good investment, even at the most outside prices. Since Mr Henrys framed his weights for the“C;J.C. Great Autumn his opinions of the horses, he then handicapped have 1 been modified (with the exception of Lady Lillian) as under : Achilles 81b, Orloff 91b, Pampero 171 b, Pallas 131 b, Canteen 111 b, Cannie Chiel 41b, Motor Islb, General Symons 41b, Lavalette 21b. Lady Lillian, on the other hand, is raised 141 b, and is set to meet Pampero on 311 b worse terms than when Mr Henrys handicapped the

the Great Autumn. The owner-of Pampero will, no doubt, be pleased to find the handicapper admitting that as recently as th *ee months hack he had erred to such an extent in the abilities of his horse. The. owners of General Symons and Lavalette, whose horses only meet Lady Lillian on 181 b and 161 b better terms, may console themselves for the present, by noting that they are at any rate near the bottom of the handicap. The Hawke’s Bay Winter Meeting did not create much excitement in local spotting circles. The Hutt-trained horses, Pipi and Smithy, were entrusted with moderate investments by their followers, and the former, it is said, was going well when he fell ; Smithy, however, made no kind of a showing, and his party are about tired df him. Some backers who were in receipt of reliable information, had a good win over Kohu papa’s victory in the June Handicap. This horse’s showing on the first day was not such as would warrant backer's at a distance having a plunge on him for the second day, but, nevertheless, the local fielders were relieved of considerable sums through the win of Mr Richardson's horse.