WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XV, Issue 868, 25 October 1906, Page 10

WELLINGTON.

WELLINGTON, October 21. The Wellington Racing Club are to be congratulated on the successful result of their first spring meeting at Trentham. The increased totalisator turnover totalled no less than £9199 for the meeting, while the attendance on both days was excellent, and included His Excellency and Lady Plunket, Sir Joseph Ward, Sir Wm. Russell, Sir Geo. Clifford, Hons. Geo. McLean, J. D. Ormond, J. Carroll, J. Millar, numerous M.H.R.’s, and flocks of gaily-costumed members of the fair sex. The club for the first time ran their own totalisators, and notwithstanding that the staff were new to their duties, the public were well served, as the increased sum handled denotes. The club’s secretary, Mr. Whyte, was warmly congratulated on the result of the arrangements, which, judged by the smooth way in which everything in connection with the meeting moved along, were practically perfect. The remainder of the club’s stipendiary officials got through their duties with their accustomed efficiency, and can look back on the meeting with pleasure. The racing was especially interesting owing to the large number of horses being engaged that will be seen out at Riccarton next month. Boomerang cut up badly in the Wellington Handicap of one mile and a-quarter, when only carrying the identical impost allotted him for the New Zealand Cup, and it is not surprising that Mr. Watt has since al-

lowed Boomerang to forfeit his Cup engagement. The Meriwee horse was given another run on Saturday over seven furlongs, and again failed badly, and has evidently made no improvement since last autumn. Ghoorka ran a couple of fair races with about his Cup weight up, but he finished less resolutely than one would expect from a horse claiming pretensions to gallop two miles, and will have to be vastly improved during the next ten days to look formidable.

Martello, own brother to these good horses Royal Artillery and True Blue, accomplished his task with ease, but as he was followed home by a couple of hacks, his performance had no merit in it. Still he could do no more than win. The Wanganui horse has filled out nicely, and if he fails to play a prominent part in the Cup it should not be for lack or condition. St. Joe, stable companion to Martello, ran in the race won by the latter, but his effort need not seriously be taken into consideration. Judged by his run with Armistice at Wanganui that mare should easily prove his superior in over two miles. Nevertheless, a well-founded rumour is in circulation that St. Joe is vastly superior to Martello on the training tracks. Landwern and Star Rose were given a couple of runs during the Trentham meeting, and judged by their efforts would seem to be out of their element in such a contest as the New Zealand Cup.

Of the candidates for the Stewards’ Handicap, the most promising performer saddled up was Mr. Ormond’s colt Golden Gate. The son of San Francisco met with moderate opposition in the Flying Handicap, which he cut out in Imin 16sec, but h’s effort in the Nainai Handicap was more meritorious, and Ballarat, Contender, Aboriginal, and Petticoat can have but little prospect of defeating Mr. Ormond’s colt in the Stewards’. Seekers after the C.J.C. winning double were disappointed to find King Billy a non-starter at Trentham. The Merriwee horse was considered equitably weighted when set to meet Ballarat at a difference of only 81b in the Nainai Handicap. King Billy is greatly fancied by backers, who remember his victory as a three-year-old with Bst 81b in the A.R.C. Railway Handicap. Zimmerman’s performances were an improvement on his Hawke’s Bay form. His rider (W. Price) has been blamed for being over-confident at the finish of the Wellington Handicap, wherein Clanchattan snatched a lucky win in the last few strides. Zimmerman is not possessed of the best of tempers, and gave the starter a deal of trouble on both days. He has a nasty habit of rearing at the post, and in the Pearce Handicap reared and lost half-a-dozen lengths just as the barrier went up. He rapidly made up his lost ground and joined the leaders at the turn, but the effort was too much, as he compounded when the distance post was reached. All going well the C.J.C. Derby looks a fair thing for him unless Mr. Stead’s colt Seal Rock is someth’ng out of the common. Another of Mr. Ormond’s team that displayed good form was the Birkenhead —Industry filly Intelligence. She is a powerful racy-looking filly, and defeated a lot of useful horses in her Wellington engagements. The C.J.C. Oaks, should, with her assistance, fall to Mr. Ormond. The Wellesley Stakes winner Eona was an easy first amongst the two-year-olds, and should stretch Boniform’s neck in the Welcome Stakes. Elevation, Goldbeater, and Gold Crest will do better before the season ends. Elevation is a resolute mover. The teams representing Messrs. Ormond and Watt leave for Riccarton forthwith. F. Tilly’s charges will also be shipped South early in the week. Mr. Prosser contemplates seeing the Masterton meeting through, and will ship his team South on Monday week. Achilles, Ghoorka and Exmoor will, I understand, comprise his team. Some of the Porirua Handicap horses may be engaged at the Taratahi-Carterton meeting. During last week Messrs. J. George and Dan O’Brien passed through on their way to Riccarton, the former with Paritutu and O’Brien has Multifid and Grenade under his care. Paritutu’s owner witnessed the first day’s racing at Trentham and appeared undismayed by the doings of any of the Cup candidates saddled up there. Multifid’s owner mentioned that while Multild’s leg has occasioned some trouble, he hopes to get him to the post for the Cup. He remarked, however, that if Paritutu was stripped in

last year’s form, owners of other candidates might as well stay at home. The further payments for the New Zealand Cup has had the effect of still further shortening Paritutu’s price. Indeed layers absolutely decline to quote the Taranaki gelding. Considerable business is being done on double betting (Cup and Stewards’) favourites with Paritutu, being quoted at 100 to 5. Cross Battery, Munjeet, and King Billy are still popular selections, whilst Red Gauntlet, Sir Tristram and Golden Gate are nibbled at. Declination and Eden are a pair of mares that have supporters, and generally the Stewards’ is considered an open race.