WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XII, Issue 740, 12 May 1904, Page 8

WELLINGTON.

Wellington, May 8. Mr J. Hogg, the owner of the hurdle mare Levant, recently purchased the three-year-old mare Delight. The latter was sent to Marlborough for the sprint events but again failed to catch the judge’s eye. Delight has shown his trainer some good trials on the Hutt track, but fails to reproduce them in public. Her late owner parted with her as hitherto she has been weighted more on private than public form. Hydrant and Waikakeho were also raced unsuccessfully at Marlborough. The former was evidently given every chance to win, as he was set to meet Sandy on 321 b better terms than when the pair met last month at the Wellington Meeting. It is refreshing to find weight adjusters taking due notice of recent form. Owners in the past have complained bitterly that their horses were persistently kept up in weight notwithstanding that for months their public form had been wretched. The diverse views of weight adjusters is’ looked upon with favour by owners for they argue that it is only fair to occasionally shuffle the cards thoroughly. The Soult —Lorelie horse Sandy, has proved a small gold mine to his present owner, Mr Solomon. Sandy was sold to his present owner by Mr Watson for some 35 guineas. I have mo doubt but that 200 guineas could easily be got for him now as he won the two principal events at Marlborough without once being extended. On his first day’s form he could easily have been penalised a stone and a half but being only risen iolb the race was a moral for him and the dividend, under the circumstances, was a good one, viz., £1 12s od. The class represented at Marfborough was mostly second and third-rate. A number of the entrants were somewhat backward in condition and ran very

green. They declined to face the barrier and when they did start ran oft the course, and generally made a burlesque of “the sport of Kings.” The Hon. Geo. McLean has paid Mr W. Davis, the veteran Hutt trainer, a high complimertt by sending him a couple of highly-bred yearlings to educate and train for their next season’s engagements. They consist of a colt By Lord Rosslyn—Escopeta and a filly by Lord Rosslyn—Komuri. The same owner has ah additional four yearlings which will receive their education at the hands of J. McGuiness, at Wingatui. With the exception of Ballarat, Kohunui, Levant, Shrapnel Shell and Sierra, who will probably go to Wanganui, the Hutt-trained horses will be freshened up .for the Otaki Meeting, which takes place on the 3rd and 4th of next month. The Maori executive have issued a most liberal programme, the added money amounting to £l2OO. There are two open? races each day, the principal event being the Raukawa Cup of 170SOVS. Nominations for all events close on May 19th. Messrs C. H. Ohavannes and J. H. Pollock act.in the respective capacities of starter and handicapper. The declaration of the handicaps for the Wanganui and Auckland Steeplechase Meetings remind us that the fiat racing season is nearing its close. I have hitherto made a few comments on Mr Evett’s winter productions, and possibly your readers like to know how they are received at this end. The handicaps for the Wanganui Jumping events are considered fairly equitable adjustments. Cannongate and Hadyn are no doubt in a class by themselves, but are not overburdened. The latter with list 91b fell at the Wanganhii double jump last year when going well, and subsequently' won the Great Northern Steeplechase with list 61b beating Cannongate, i2st 71b, by ten lengths. The latter now meets Hadyn on 131 b better terms, which should bring them closer ogether, albeit I would prefer Hadyn, who, it will be remembered, ran a good third in the C.J.C. Grand National Steeplechase with I2st 41b, and a couple of days later won the Lincoln Steeplechase with I2st 91b. Cannongate has run well over hurdles quite recently, but over a distance of country will fin’d it difficult to concede Hadyn sip. Pipi, who just beat Hadyn in the C.J.C. Grand National, now meets the Auckland horse on 141 b worse terms, which I fancy will settle his chance. Slow Tom, I am told, is a most proficient chaser, his former owner, Miss Button, frequently rode him over all descriptions of country, and at. lost 111 b has a handy weight. Of the others, Killarney, Pharos, and Hutana, have pace and jump well, and with their handy imposts should keep the topweights moving. Hadyn, Slow Tom, Hutana and Killarney please me best. The Century Hurdle Handicap finds the veteran Waiwera top-weight with 21b more than he was beaten with last year. The heaviest burden Waiwera has carried to victory in a first-class hurdle race is list 41b under which impost he won the C.J.C. Grand National Hurdle Race last August. He was beaten out of place at Wanganui and Auckland with list 51b, and after winning the Grand National he made no sort of a showing when set to carry I2st 91b in the Sydenham Hurdles won by Huku. Spalpeen is a young improving horse, and with i2st 61b he won the Ponsonby Hurdles at the Auckland Summer Meeting. He is rightly placed at 12st 41b, but as he is a couple of. pounds better treated at Auckland his owner may not risk a journey to Wanganui. Slow Tom, list 21b, is well enough handicapped from the top-weight, . but may have most to fear from those placed below him. Hadyn, lost iolb, has a. tempting weight for a Grand National Hurdle race winner. Killarney will also be hard to beat, whilst if Ranana has had sufficient schooling he should win outright, with only 9st iolb io carry. Slow Tom, Hadyn, Killarney and Ranana are worth following. The Connolly Handicap does not bear evidence of having been carefully compiled. With 41b more than Mr Evett sets him to carry, Convoy won a mile and a quarter handicap on the second hay of the Feilding Easter Meeting. He then gave Shrapnel 121 b and heid him safe a furlong from home. On S’b worse terms Shrapnel seems badly treated, especially as the pair have not appeared in public since. Full Cry is also hardly dealt with, for too much notice has been taken of the latter’s Egmont win as he beat nothing of much class there. Last time he met Canuie Chiel he failed to concede him 31b. How he is going to give him 51b in the race under notice is a puzzler. Exmoor is about in his place, and had he not run a couple of good seconds at the Wellington Meeting, would probably have been placed several pounds still further below Shrapnel and Cannie Chiel. Most racing men will agree that the public form of the lattex pair is considerably better than that of the Porirua colt.

Grand Rapias' second in the Great Autumn Handicap entitles him to his impost, but Gstiak would not have looked well in had he been placed iolb lower down the list. Shrapnel gave him 141 b and beat him last time they met, and I should say it is very improbable that they will meet now. Black Reynard certainly defeated Cannie Chiel at Manawatu over a mile and a distance when in receipt of only 51b, but considering Cannie Chiel’s form the day previous, I must ignore his subsequent performance, and consider Black Reynard hardly dealt with in being placed within 21b of Sir Geo. Clifford’s horse. Fleka, Float, Halberdier, and Dexterity all might have been placed further away from Cannie Chiel, Grand Rapids and Co. Ballarat has a nice weight if she can stay a mile and a distance. Tomairanga and Manawaru have at least 121 b too much weight and on performances should have been placed below Plaidie, Shrapnel Shell and Rehua. Those who appear to have the best prospects are Cannie Chiel, Grand Rapids, Exmoor, Ballarat, Plaidie, Paritutu and Rehua, The Flying Handicap contains the names of a number of horses engaged in the Connolly Handicap. Shrapnel, Black Revnard, Ballarat, Delania, Lass o’ Gowrie and Paritutu will run well if started. . Double books are open here on both the Wanganui and Auckland Jumping events. For Wanganui Hurdle and Steeple, Slow Tom, Killarney, Levant and Evening have been coupled with various horses in the Steeple. Business on the Auckland double is quiet. Spalpeen, Up-to. Date and' Slow Tom are favourite selections for the Hurdle Race, while Cannongate, .Hadyn, Princess of Thule and Kartaka seem to have most followers in the Steeplechase.