WANGANUI.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIV, Issue 842, 26 April 1906, Page 8

WANGANUI.

Wanganui, April 25

D’Nil is all right again, and is putting in some excellent work on the local track in view of the Egmont meeting next week, May 2 and 3. The gelding strained a muscle just prior to the Feilding meeting, and it was therefore decided not to take him down there. In the Waihi Handicap at Hawera the son of Crackshot has been allotted Bst 121 b, and it will take a good ’un to beat the half-brother to Kuroki over the mile.

Nominations for the Wanganui J.C. winter meeting close on Friday, 27th inst. Weights are due on May 12.

W. Price rode five winners at Feilding, and was second in four other races at the same meeting. W. Higgins made his reappearance in the saddle at the Feilding meeting, and had the mounts on Kremlin and Shrapnel. He was accorded a round of applause on steering the latter to victory. A few years ago Higgins had no superior over sticks, and it is safe to say that he will quite hold his own with any of the “ boys” riding

now. He should have a good innings with two such dandies as Kremlin and Shrapnel to start with. A great deal of interest is being taken here in the Wellington R.C. Autumn Meeting. It may be that King Billy or Gold Crown will win the Thompson Handicap, Gawain the Railway, and St. Lyra the Hurdles, while Poly caste should score in the Waiwetu Handicap. Achilles’ win in the Challenge Stakes at Riccarton was well received here, as it deserved to be. There were many who contended that Porcelain was unlucky to lose In the Jackson Stakes, but they overlooked the fact that Jenkins never seriously called on the son of Medallion until Mr. Stead’s colt was beginning to get a bit too close. The result would have been the same, as I pointed out at the time, had Porcelain got away with the flying chestnut. After a long series of failures Martello, the high-priced son of Hotchkiss —Rose of Wellington, has at last scored a win. as he annexed the Trial Plate at Feilding, and, moreover, did it in such a manner as to lead one to hope that, having broken the ice, he will yet return his connections some, if not all, of the money which has been lost over him. Such a grandlybred colt ought to win some good races, and as he is only a three-year-old he should have ample time to prove worthy of his aristocratic breeding. He is engaged in the Hawera Cup, run over a mile and aquarter, at the Egmont meeting, and as the class of horses engaged is very moderate, there’s more unlikely things than a win for the son of Hotchkiss being recorded. Pluck, a nice-looking brown gelding by Merriwee —Victoria Cross, was made a hot favourite for the Trial Plate at Feilding, and ran so well for about six furlongs that it looked as if he was going to score: However, just then Martello and Rendrock, another fine-looking two-year-old colt, cut Pluck down. The latter should win a race or two next season for his owner, Mr. E. J. Watt. Truce put up a most attractive performance in the Mangaone Handicap, but all the same was very lucky to get up on the inside like she did, and slip past King Billy just at the post. The latter ran a great race, as he had 9.3 on his back, and on the second day finished second, carrying 8.10. to Flamen (7.8) in the Easter Handicap, one mile and a-quarter. The time registered in the lattei’ race was 2min 10 3-ssec, and as the Mangaone Stakes was cut out in lmin 16 l-ssec, it will be seen that the son of Indian Queen is in good form, and should be hard to beat at Wellington in anything in which he is started. The feature of the hurdle races at Feilding was the form shown by Kremlin and Shrapnel on the first day in the big hurdles and hack hurdles respectively. The former did not win, but he jumped well, and covered much more ground than any other horse in the race. It is safe to say that, barring accidents, the Stepniak gelding will land some of the big jumping events during the winter months.

If Kremlin made a good impression, what can be said of his stable-mate Shrapnel, who was also making his first appearance in public over the battens? True, he had only two opponents in the Hack Hurdles, but he won with ridiculous ease by something like a dozen lengths. After being under a strong pull for the first round, “ Shrappy” was let loose, and went past his opponents like a flash, jumping in capital style. He fairly bolted with W. Hiergins, and went on for nearly a quarter of a mile after passing the post before he could be pulled up. Alick Hall has certainly got hold of a pair of wonderfully good hurdlers in Kremlin and Shrapnel, and all going well Hall should have a very strong hand in the Grand National Hurdles, as either of the pair should be equal to landing that event. Their performances set some people discussing the question as to which was the better over the sticks of the two, but while all admitted that Kremlin was apparently a great hurdler, there was almost unanimous opinion that Shrapnel was even greater. It is freely stated that in their track work “ Shrappy” always asserts his superiority. They would be a nicd' pair to take over to Australia, and it is quite on the cards. I understand, that they will eventually be given a chance in the Commonwealth of distinguishing themselves. It is safe to sav that of the many sensational runs nut in by Melodeon at the finish of his races, the electrifying dash he made over the last 100 yards or so at Feilding in the Cup was

the most brilliant. Half-way up the straight Douche looked to be winning easily, while Melodeon was lengths away in the rear, but with a whirl-wind-like rush the son of Medallion shot past the field as if they were standing still, and catching Douche a length from the post, won by a head. Whittaker appeared to be taking things a bit easy on Douche after running into the lead at the bend for home, otherwise it is very doubtful whether Melodeon would ever have got up.

Aeolus scored a double win at the gathering, landing both hack welters. The Euroclydon—Santa Katarina gelding is a medium-sized but com-pactly-built four-year-old, very muscular, and has a fine dash of pace. He should not be long in getting out of hack company.

Fred. Tilley scored a double with Clementine, the four-year-old daughter of St. Clements —Ika, who got home in the Onga Hack on the first day and the Rewa Hack on the Tuesday. In the former event she put down both Ellerton and Armamento, two very strongly-fancied candidates with great reputations. The winner hopped off the mark like a shot out of a gun, and never gave anything else a chance. She should score again soon. Ellerton put in a fast run at the finish, and is evidently very slippery.

Another dual winner which should be worth keeping an eye on in future is Sardonyx, who won on the flat on the first day and over sticks the second. He is exceptionally fast, and jumps well. Polycaste annexed the Makino Welter in fine style, and as she appears to be in the acme of condition, the daughter of Nestor ought to score again before long. In the latter race Science met with an accident . which terminated his career, as he broke his shoulder when running prominently at the turn for home, and had to be shot. Unfortunately, when he came down Walter Raynor got a nasty spill, and broke his collarbone. This was exceedingly cruel luck for this popular trainer and rider, who has put in a lot of time' in getting Science into nick, and now, just when the gelding seemed likely to score a win again, such an accident to happen. The many friends of Raynor will join with me in hoping that he makes a speedy recovery, and that he has the good fortune to get hold of another good horse or two.

It is freely stated that Mr. S. L. Parsons was recently offered £5OO for the half-brother to Shrapnel, but declined to sell. It is understood that he had a very tempting offer on the day of the accident, and no doubt will now wish he had accepted same. The son of Somnus was a five-year-old, and the way he won the double at the recent Wanganui meeting proved that he was endowed with a lot of pace. Unfortunately he was inclined to hang at the barrier, and this lost him a race or two at Stratford. He was engaged in the Thompson Handicap, and had he kept well would have had a few backers, as he was let in that event at 6.9, at which he would have cut out a very merry pace for a mile. Science was a fine big gelding, and I fancy he would have made a name for himself over hurdles. Much sympathy has been expressed for his. owner at losing such a valuable horse. THE PATEA MEETING. The Patea Easter Meeting was a most successful one, the weather being gloriously fine and the attendance very satisfactory. The racing was good, and the arrangements were well spoken of. Mr. R. W. Hamerton (the club’s secretary) worked very hard to make the gathering a success, and he is entitled to great praise for the able manner in which he carried out his duties. The Hurdles provided a very interesting race, Rangiwhenua eventually winning from Valkyrie and six . others. The grey was assisted materially towards success by the fact that two or three of the hurdles were knocked down for him. A gelding which shaped well and gives promise of better things was Haereroa, who ran third. He is a son of Haere —Gauntlet.

In the Flying Handicap, Showman won after a good race and paid £5 2s. The Farmers’ Plate fell to Mooshen, an aged gelding by Lakeshell —Kate Hayes, which galloped in capital style, and, judging by appearances, ought to be able to jump. Brown George, a six-year-old Castor gelding, ran third, and is another which would probably do well over sticks. Claremont was made favourite in

the big money, but the winner turned up in, Slavey, a Daystar mare, who came through at th’e finish 4 -and won comfortably, paying £5. Dear Dolly was sent out faveurite in the Kakaramea Stakes, but did not run up to expectations, Rotoiti winning handily and paying £8 3s. There were 12 starters.

Miss Dancelot ran second in the Flying, and then, annexed the Borough Stakes from Recreation and four others. The winner is owned bw Mr. T. Quinlivan. Nero, the winner of the Alton Highweight Handicap, is a four-year-old gelding by Nestor —Australian mare, and is evidently very fast. Bagatelle beat Cyrene, White Star and eight others in the Final Stakes, paying £ 7 12s, after paying £ 5 for second place in the Kakaramea Stakes.

The Egmont R.C. Meeting takes place on Wednesday and Thursday, but there is not a great amount of interest being taken in the gathering. Without having the acceptances to guide me, I should say that the following may run prominently on the first day:—Railway Handicap: Gleam. Tawhite Handicap: Waipa and The Dane. Waihi Handicap: D’Nil and Maharanui. Hack Hurdles: Sardonyx and Mawhiti. Cup: Grenade or Martello. Mokoia Handicap: Waitapu and St. Cyress. Telegraph Handicap: Clementine and Dear Dolly.