WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIV, Issue 813, 5 October 1905, Page 8

WELLINGTON.

Wellington, October 3The Porirua stable was strongly represented at the Wanganui meeting, but only annexed one race—the Spring Handicap. This was effected with the aid of the useful Gold Crown. Ghoorka, Flamen, Aorangi, Marguerite, and Devonia also ran, but with the exception of Aorangi failed to pay a dividend. With the exception of the latter the team returned to Porirua on Saturday. Aorangi and a couple of two-year-olds, Moscow, by Stepniak—Coronal, and a filly by San Fran—Maud (Mahutonga’s dam) have gone to Hawke’s Bay to fulfil their engagements there. Frank Higgott captured a couple of small races with his Multiform filly Petticoat. The latter is a cast-off from the Yaldhurst stable. She has the gift of galloping, and in both her races gave none of her opponents a chance. Petticoat is a neat filly, and should prove profitable to her owner. Shrapnel Shell, in the same stable, was somewhat overweighted, and failed badly in both of his efforts.

Sir Geo. Clifford’s team, consisting of Cannie Chiel, Glenowlet, Gay Spark, and Clanchattan, all claiming Clanranald as their sire, displayed very poor form at the meeting. The older horse has probably seen his best day, but Glenowlet was unable to extend King Billy, and the colts Gay Spark and Clanchattan would have to show improved form to win even a hack race. H. Cutts took the quartette back to Riccarton at the conclusion of the Wanganui meeting. Sir Geo. Clifford’s colours will thus not be seen out at the Hawke’s Bay meeting. Several Cup candidates were seen out at the Wanganui Spring Meeting. Gold Crown, Melodeon, and Boomerang displayed the best form, but backers were not sufficiently impressed with them to accept the odds on offer. Several backers who have wagers about Paritutu for the Cup are anxious to unload, although it is understood that Mr. George’s horse is a sure starter.

Mr. J. R. McDonald, the well-known Manawatu horse-owner, was present at the Wanganui meeting, having just returned from Australia. He saw the Randwick meeting, and solidly supported the Yaldhurst horses in their engagements. Mr. McDonald was not one of Maniopoto’s admirers; he thinks him a useful handicap horse, but not up to weight-for-age form. He mentioned that Maniopoto compared unfavourably with the Yaldhurst horses. Maniopoto, being of a nervous, excitable temperament, sweated freely prior to his races. This no doubt militated against his chance of success, and caused Mr. McDonald to leave him severely alone in his engagements.

With a few notable exceptions, the Australian horses seen out at Randwick were, in Mr. McDonald’s opinion, a very moderate lot; horses of the class of Achilles and Mahutonga would tower above those racing in the Commonwealth stables. Asked as to the prospects of the New Zealand horses in the Melbourne Cup, Mr. McDonald replied that he would like nothing better than to see Mahutonga fit and well at the post for the big Melbourne Handicap. He considers that there are no Australian horses whose form has been exposed that could trouble Mahutonga over a two-mile course with his Melbourne Cup impost. At the time of writing reliable information leads me to believe that Mahutonga will not leave these shores. His connections are, I understand, of the opinion that it would be unjust to the horse to send him to Melbourne thus late in the day. Mahutonga is doing capital work at Hastings, and will be given a run in the King Edward Handicap at the Hawke’s Bay meeting. Should he prove victorious he will incur a penalty for the Melbourne Cup. On the other hand, should he be defeated by the weak opposition he will meet there, it will be evidence that he is lacking in condition. Viewed in this light the prospect of his competing in the Melbourne Cup would appear to be somewhat remote. During and since the Wanganui races Nightfall has come in for considerable support for the New Zealand Cup. After 200 to 30 had been accepted, 100 to 20‘ was closed with, and nothing better than that price is now on offer. Astute backers are loyally supporting the Yaldhurst mare in preference to the colts. Mahutonga and Achilles are nominally quoted at 9 to 1, Melodeon has hardened somewhat since Wanganui, and is marketable

at 100 to 7 (taken). Paritutu is quoted at 100 to 6 (offered). The double, Cup and Stewards, is the medium of considerable speculation pending further developments.