WELLINGTON

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XII, Issue 747, 30 June 1904, Page 8

WELLINGTON

Wellington, June 28

The Wellington Racing Club have received capital nominations for their Winter Steeplechase Meeting. The Steeplechase candidates are, with the exception of Haydn, The Guard, and Plain Bill much of a class, and the latter pair have been laid aside so long that it is unlikely anything approaching their best form will be displayed. Estimating the pair as back numbers, Haydn is left a class by himself. Papatu, Comfort, Moccasin, Slow Tom, Aka Aka, Eclair and Crespin may be expected to show improvement as they become proficient over country, while Pipi, Papanui, Rowlock, Victory, Princess of Thule, Kaitere, Star and Towhatu are clever fencers, but are not endowed with sufficient pace to cope with a number of hurdle horses lately put to steeplechasing. Even under light imposts they can have nothing more than jumpers’ chances. The Guard and

Plain Bill in their best day would hold «uch horses safe at a difference of three stone, but their present form, however, is merely a matter of conjecture. The Parliamentary Handicap, the principal flat event on the programme, has drawn a good nomination. Cannie Chiel, Exmoor, Regulation, Kremlin, Putty, Fleka, Durable and Shrapnel Shell are useful handicap horses. The Hack events have filled well, and include a number of well-bred horses that under the present rules will shor . : be out of hack company. Owing to the recent wet weather local horses have been unable to do much fast work, and unless we have some fine weather the visiting horses will have a decided advantage in respect to condition. The caretaker of the course is doing his best to provide working ground for trainers, and with a few days drying weather fast work can be resumed. The substitution of hack hurdle events for the Hack and Hunters’ Steeplechases has proved a step in the right direction. The twenty-five nominations include several new aspirants for jumping honours. Positure, Clovelly, Little Turk, Rungarawa and others will make their maiden efforts over hurdles.

Under careful tuition it is astonishing how quickly flat racers become proficient over hurdles. In the Hack Hurdle Handicap at the Hawke’s Bay meeting Ostiak, la and Warwick made their first public appearance over hurdles, and the trio jumped cleverly. Ostiak was only Erevented from winning owing to his eavy impost. la, the winner, gave a capital exhibition of jumping, as did Warwick, who finished third. The latter has not done a great deal of schooling, but Arnott, who rides him, has however ouickly taught him to jump both quick and cleverly. A visitor to Hawke’s Bay speaks highly of Creusot, who, according to all accounts, ought to have won on the first day. He was kept to far out of the race and was going much faster than the winner after crossing the last hurdle. On the second day he won without an effort. As he is built on weight-carrying lines, he should soon earn a position amongst the top weights. Roseshoot is reported in a bad way. He cut one of his legs at Wanganui, and this interfered with his Auckland preparation. On his return to Hawke’s Bay his leg was swollen right up past the stifle and he will require to rest for a while.

Mr Chadwick’s Handicaps for the Wellington Winter Meeting were declared today. In awarding The Guard 12.6 the handicapper has been guided by past deeds, but I have no doubt that a public performance of Mr Prosser’s horse will satisfy racing men that The Guard is too infirm to stand a preparation. Haydn, 11.3, is nicely treated with 31b less than he carried in the Wanganui Steeplechase, which he won easily. Eclair, whom he defeated then, meets Haydn on 91b worse terms. Although Eclair subsequently finished in front of Haydn in the Winter Steeplechase at Auckland, I prefer Haydn when meeting him. on 111 b better terms. Plain Bill, like The Guard, will have to demonstrate that he retains some of his form ere his chance is worth discussing. • Slow Tom, 11.0, is given the impost he had when he fell at the last fence in the Winter Steeple. As he meets Haydn on 51b worse terms the Wellington Club’s Handicapper must have been much impressed by his running. Nevertheless, he is not so well treated as Haydn. Kiatere ran prominently in three events at Auckland, but defeated moderate horses only, and is rather close to Haydn.

Moccasin has been penalised for his lucky win in the Great Northern Steeple. Haydn, Papatu, and Cannongate fell, whilst Slow Tom was ridden in an illjudged race. The first-named pair and Slow Tom should beat Moccasin should they meet over the Wellington course. Aka Aka has a nice impost, and if he negotiates the Hutt course may prove Haydn’s most dangerous opponent. Pipi and Princess of Thule could not have been placed nearer the minimum. Comfort, Midea and Evening have handy imposts, but will rquire more experience.

Victory is a good fencer, but has only a jumper’s chance. Those below Victory are moderate performers, and on Hawke’s Bay form must be held safely by Mr Brown’s old plodder. From the above it will be gathered that Haydn, Slow Tom, Papatu, Aka Aka and Victory are five that should include the winner, and I prefer the first three in the order named, with the proviso that Aka Aka should beat them if he fences cleanly. The Winter Hurdle Handicap is framed on a flattering scale. Few will cavil at Waiwera being dropped in the scale of weights. Slow Tom, Aka Aka, Catherine Gordon, Creusot, The Guesser and Talune should prove Waiwera’s most dangerous opponents. The Flat Handicaps can be discussed in your next issue.