WELLINGTON

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XII, Issue 736, 14 April 1904, Page 8

WELLINGTON

Wellington, April 10. Hutr-trained horses had a fair innings during the Easter meetings. Frank Higgott sprang a surprise on the public at Feilding with the three-year-old Cyrenian—Silk colt, Cyrus. His owner, Mr G. W. Smart, when on a visit to Auckland, got the colt knocked down to him for seventy guineas, and he subsequently learned that the owner, Mr Friedlander, considered himself well rid of Cyrus, who it appears was inclined to show a lot of temper. Higgott, however, mainly through kindness and patience, reduced the colt to reason and, as he showed on the track that he could both gallop and stay, he was left in the Wanganui Cup, and in that race was well with the leaders a furlong from the winning post. Finding the colt doing well, he was tried prior to the Feilding Cup, and as he answered the question in a fairly satisfactory manner, his owner and connections threw threw in for a good win over the race. Higgot well deserved his success, as it was his humane treatment more than anything else that brought the colt on. When first placed in his hands the colt was terrified at his own shadow,, and on his attendant approaching him, he would rush to the end of his box as if fearful of being abused. Mr W. Davies had his customary win with Ballarat and Davies’ followers quite look for him to secure a race each time his charges fulfil their engagements. Ballarat is a real good bit of stuff, and although well up in weight may manage to score again ere the close of the season. I am sorry to learn that few of the other horses in Davies’ large team are likely to trouble the j’udge for some time. Motor, Field Battery, and several others are in the sale list ; the pair mentioned would make capital sires, as from their conformation they would be hard to beat in any show ring. Melwood is rather ponified for a sire, but his owner considers him one of the best he ever owned and will probably give him some of his Own mares next season. Of the trio mentioned Field Battery is engaged at Wellington, and if he stands a gallop or two will be a starter at the meeting. Harry Goodman took a team to the

Wairarapa meeting, but failed to secure a race. Manawaru and Matuka were somewhat overweighted, which may account for their non-success, while Ringlet got a second place, and ran for the last time in Mr Paterson’s colours. She pulled up lame, and has left the post for the paddock at Heatherled, and will next season be mated with Conqueror. A. Pritchard managed to secure a race on the second day of the Wairarapa meeting with Black Squall, whilst Delight, another of his charges ran a couple of seconds. This mare seems to me to be somewhat over-rated by weightadjusters. She is a free goer and is apparently always ridden out, and for that reason alone should be given a chance to win. Levant, another occupant of Pritchard’s stable, was sent to Canterbury for the hurdle events. She was in a prominent postion on the first day when she struck heavily and fell, and as she was sore next day she was not started. Her owner had a good sum invested on her when she fell, but as he has had several good wins with Levant during the past few months he can afford to bump against a reverse once in a while.

There is some comment in local racing circles as to the manner in which Ghoorka was handicapped in the tot. George’s Handicap for the second day of the Auckland races. Ghoorka and Romeo had both finished out of a place in the Easter. The former’s weight in the longer event was increased by one pound, whilst Romeo’s impost was reduced by four pounds. The latter, as might be anticipated, easily defeated Ghoorka, the result of the race being a dead heat with the Easter Handicap winner, Regulation. Ten of the occupants of Mr Prosser’s Porirua stable will be submitted to auction on the 22nd of the month. The list includes Ostiak, Sea Lion, Rawiri, Position, Whangamoana, Clovelley, and some of the lesser lights. T am advised that the lot are for absolute sale, as Prosser must make room for a number of youngsters that he will shortly have to take in hand. Rawiri, Clovelley, Position, Whangamoana, and Sea Lion are engaged at the Wellington R.C. meeting, and will be raced on the day prior to the sale.

Mr Chadwick’s handicaps for the Wellington R.C Autumn Meeting were promptly declared and are now a subject of discussion in local racing circles. In the Thompson Handicap the favourite selections are last year’s winners Shrapnel, Grand Rapids, Starshoot, Bulawayo, Black Reynard, and Martian. The Wellinton weight-adjuster has taken a great liberty with Shrapnel in alloting him the same impost as he won the Thompson Handicap with last year. Shrapnel carrying 7.12 won comfortably by five lengths, running the mile in Imin 41 2-5 sec, and he demonstrated the following day that Mr Chadwick had treated him much too leniently in the Thompson Handicap by carrying 8.13 and winning the Hutt Handicap from a good field in Imin 42 l-ssec, thus confirming his first day’s form. His owners subsequently raced him out of his distance and also out of condition, but it must not be assumed that he is a stone worse horse now than when he carried 8.13, and won the Hutt Handicap this time last year. We have evidence that he, at any rate, was well a couple of months ago, as at Taranaki he won the Stewards’ Handicap, seven furlongs, with 8.9, from end to end in imin 23 2-ssec. Full Cry, to whom he was there conceding lib, being a poor third, so his present chance can De estimated when it is noted that he is only allowed lib for that beating. Shrapnel’s form at Feilding was fairly good, as he was only beaten by Melodeon by a head for third place in the Easter Handicap, one mile and a quarter, run in 2min 9sec. He then carried 8.8, and although the race under notice is two furlongs shorter, he has been reduced in weight by 101 b. Regulation, Cannie Chiel, and Exmoor are all badly treated in comparison with last year’s winner, the latter pair especially so. Cannie Chiel was badly beaten last time he ran at the Hutt with 7.12 in the Cup and with 8.10 in the Racing Club Handicap. LaL'r on he was defeated in the Dunedin Cup with 8.3, and in the Wanganui Cup with 7.8. For the Canterbury J.C. Easter a handicap framed on a much higher scale than Mr Chadwick’s adjustment, he was only given 8.0. In the event under notice Sir George Clifford’s horse is given the same impost, but Canteen is dropped 41b, Full Cry 71b, Field Battery 21b Grand Rapids (runner-up in the Great Autumn) 11b and Quarryman 61b. Exmoor was most absurdly treated when the Canterbury J.C. handicapper gave him 8.10 in the Easter, and Mr Chadwick has also dealt harshly with Mr Monk’s horse in placing him above Grand Rapids and Shrapnel. It will be noted that whilst he alloted Shrapnel the same impost as he did for the Wellington Cup he has given Exmoor an additional 51b, Shrapnel having won a good race during the interim. Exmoor on the other hand was soundly beaten over six furlongs at Wanganui by Black Reynard, whilst the latter was only in receipt of

31b. Black Reynard now receives an additional 41b, although he put Up a couple of capital performances at Feildißg last week. Mr Henrys, for reasons which I have failed to fathom, has formed a very exalted opinion of Exmoor's weight-carrying abilities, and Mr Chadwick is evidently inclined to adopt his iellow-handicapper’s opinion. 1 contend that Exmoor’s best performances do not warrant his being handicapped more heavily than Black Reynard over a mile course. Indeed, on the Wanganui running it would appear that Black Reynard is his superior at level weights even over six furlongs.. After a careful analysis of the handicaps, I would advise readers to discard all those horses weighted above Starshoot, for the reason that the Hutt track being nearly a circular one the horse that wins over a mile must have a weight that will enable it to take up a prominent position early in the race and hold it. This few heavy-weighted horses have been able to do, and I look to the medium weights to provide the winner. Shrapnel, we know, can adopt the above tactics, and if as well as last year should win just as easily. Canteen although nicely treated, begins too slowly ; Romeo has run well of iate, but I do not feel inclined to recommend him. I also discard Field Battery, Exmoor, C-annie Chiel, Welbeck, Full Cry, Madrigal, and everything lower down than Black Reynard, save Martian. This leaves me Starshoot, Bulawayo, ■Grand Rapids, Shrapnel, Dexterity, Ghoorka, Black Reynard, and Martian, and without going into detail will take Shrapnel, Stead’s elected, and Starshoot to supply the winner, with the remark that Shrapnel has only to be as fit as last year to make no race of it. The Railway Handicap has been framed on very flattering lines. Machine Gun with vst 91b has a nice weight for a horse of his calibre, and if at his best on the day, should have the race at his mercy. I well remember him as a two-year-old carrying tost 21b and winning the Canterbury J.C. Autumn Nursery, by four lengths, in imin 2 4-ssec, for the five furlongs. Subsequently he won with Bst 91b in a comfortable style the Canterbury J.C. Stewards’ Handicap, time, imin 15 2-ssec ; and at the same meeting with lost 71b just got home in the Randolph Handicap, running the five furlongs in imin 2sec. Were I certain Machine Gun were well and a sure starter, I would not trouble to look further for the winner. Vladimir, Starshoot, Ballarat, Petrovna, Black Reynard and Kremlin should, in the absence of Machine Gun, furnish the winner. After the acceptances, I will make a selection for the minor events. The Wellington R.C. Challenge Stakes promises to result in a match between horses owned by Sir Geo. CliSord and Mr G. Stead. The former has Treadmill, Quarry mart, Signalman and Chrysies engaged, whilst Mr Stead is represented by Martian and Golden Lily ; Machine Gun is not engaged, and Silkworm is reported lame. The Porirua champion Achilles, is an unlikely starter owing to his rtot having quite recovered from the ailment that prevented his putting in an appearance at Auckland to take part in the Century Stakes. The New Zealand St. Leger Stakes should be an easy thing for Mr J. B. Reid’s filly Gladsome, if started, while Treadmill, Melodeon and Starshoot are those likely to furnish the winner in Gladsome’s absence. Filial payments for both the Challenge Stakes and St. Leger fall due on the 14th instant.