WELLINGTON

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIV, Issue 810, 14 September 1905, Page 9

WELLINGTON

Wellington, Septembei' 12. The re-elected executive of the W.R.C. held their first monthly meeting on Monday last, when sub-committees for the year were appointed. The secretary drew attention to the fact that Fridal, October 20, had been declared a holiday for the celebration of Trafalgar Day, and the committee decided to alter the first day of their spring meeting from Thursday, the 19th, to the following day, Friday, the 20th, thus suiting the convenience of those holiday-makers who will be free on Trafalgar Day. The appointment of the club’s stipendiary officers and other important business was adjourned for a fortnight owing to the unavoidable absence of a number of members of the committee. The number of horses engaged at the opening meeting of the season, the Marton J.C. annual, augurs well for a successful racing season. Several Welling-, ton-owned animals were included in those that performed at Marton. Tupono and Tekauni each secured a second place, whilst Coxswain was third in the principal event on the opening day. Truce, owned by Mr. Mitchel, an Otaki resident, secured the Trial Plate. Truce, by Grafton—Navarine, is one of five yearlings imported from New South Wales by Mr. L. de Pelichet 18 months ago, and sold to her present owner at the Palmerston North horse fair for 150 guineas. Tupono, by Medallion—Patrie, is another of the quintette. The latter brought top price at the sale, and fell to the bid of Mr. R. W. Paterson at 180 guineas. Both fillies display plenty of quality, and should pay their way this season.

The Hutt training tracks are in fair order at present, and local trainers are busy preparing their charges for the numerous forthcoming meetings. Rangatiki, Wanganui, Otaki, Wellington, and Masterton meetings follow each other in quick succession, and the trainer who cannot score a win or two must have a poor team indeed. Messrs. W. Davis, T. Pritchard, F. Higgott, and W. Jorgenson have the most of their several charges well forward. Of these, Kudu, Hydranth Tekanui, Coxswain, and Alexieff are engaged at the Rangatiki meeting on the 20th and 21st inst. Mr. Henrys’ handicaps for the above meeting have been declared, and from a hasty glance 1 should expect them to produce good fields. Kiatere is allotted a bit of weight for the Steeplechase, but those opposed to him are only moderate. The hunters, Playfair and Wi Waka look a pair that should play a prominent part in the contest. Nonette, with 9st 91b in the principal flat event, would make hacks of any of his opponents if in his four-year-old form, but in his present condition he will probably find Ngatarua and Whakawehi a pair whom he will have to follow home. The Australian Jockey Chib’s Spring Meeting has attracted a lot of attention during the past few weeks. On no previous occasion has so many good performers represented this colony at a Randwick meeting, and the sporting residents of this city have recently retricted their racing chat to the problem, “Can Maniopoto win the Epsom?” At the time of nomination the Soult horse was backed with Australian metallicians for some fairly large sums. The appearance of the handicap and the intimation that Maniopoto’s owners had decided to send their horse to Sydney induced numbers to cable for wagers, and in Wellington alone backers would have benefited to the extent of at least £lO,OOO had Maniopoto proved victorious. That excitement ran high on last Saturday afternoon goes without saying, and for an hour before the result was posted at the local newspapei’ office a considerable crowd waited and discussed their possibilities of success. Whilst waiting, the result of the A.J.C. Derby was posted, and the announcement was

received with applause, and many complimentary remarks were heard re Mr. Stead’s sportsmanlike action in going so far to meet the crack Victorian colt Charles Stuart, with his pair of Multiform colts. The success of Noctuiform was taken as a prelude to Maniopoto’s victory, and few anticipated that the placed horses would not include his name. However, such is the uncertainty of racing, and the crowd dispersed feeling that there are no such things as “ certainties” in horse-racing. One of Maniopoto’s keenest followers outside his immediate connections was so sanguine of success that although he stood to win over a thousand at liberal odds, he, on receiving reassuring odds, took a further 10G to 33, and also invested a fair sum with the local S.P. men, in addition to wagering a level 50 sovs that Maniopoto would run into a place.

Subsequent to the victory of Noctuiform in the A. J.C. Derby,' there was a run on him for the New Zealand Cup, and all money up to 100 to 7 was taken. One hundred to 10 is now the best offer, and it would not be surprising to see even a shorter price accepted ere long.