WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XV, Issue 872, 22 November 1906, Page 9

WELLINGTON.

WELLINGTON, November 21.

Mr Paterson, erstwhile owner of Solution, seems determined to relinquish racing. His pair of mares Tupono and Kaiuku were disposed of last week for less than 100 guineas to Mr W. Smart, a local sportsman, and will in future be trained by Frank Higgott. Destruction, the half-brother to Gold Crown, who was taken across to Sydney last September, if not already sold will be disposed, of in Sydney by J. Lowe ere he returns to Wellington. This will leave .he Soult—• Satanella filly and Prism, the Stepniak— Rainbow colt the sole occupants of the boxes presided over by Jack Lowe. These promising youngsters are, it is understood, for positive sale, after which their owner’s colours will be folded and laid away.

An epidemic of influenza has reached the Porirua stable. Men and horses have alike been laid low by this troublesome disease. Several of the lads were so seriously ill that in one case life was dispaired of, and others were removed to an hospital ; Mr Prosser found a state of chaos reigning when he returned from the C.J.C. Meeting, and has had an anxious time both with bipeds and quadrupeds. All are now reported to be on the mend, but the Porirua training tracks have been deserted, most of the horses being indisposed. It is improbable that the stable will be strongly represented at the forthcoming Feilding Jockey Club Meeting. Mr W. Davis brought back from Christchurch the highly-priced Stepniak —Madder filly which was secured at Mr Reed’s annual sale by a local racing man.

Ballarat is all the better for her racing at Riccarton, and will probably be seen out at Feilding.

Kohinui, Sardonyx, Bandmaster and Levant are engaged in the hurdle events, and at least two of them will represent the Hutt.

Frank Higgott’s pair Liberator and Petticoat, are also engaged at Feilding, but they ran so poorly at Taratahi that their owner may elect to leave them in their boxes and await less aristocratic company.

The weights for the Auckland Cup and Railway Handicaps have been the subject of discussion in sporting circles since their appearance. The opinion is freely expressed that Achilles with 21b more weight than his owner declined to accept with last year will be absentee f rorrt the Cup acceptor. It is pointed out tMt Achilles was beaten with 9.6 in the Wellington Cup, 1-J miles, and has only been engaged in short races since. Paritutu’s admirers declare that he is the pick of the handicap, as he meets Star Rose on zolbs better terms; whilst Multifid and Armistice each meet the Castor gelding on 181 b worse terms than in the N.Z. Cup. Should his trainer effect the im provement in his condition that was ob viously needful when he stripped at Riccarton, the Taranaki horse may yet prove to his admirers that he is the horse they thought him; but stripped in the same condition as at Riccarton he jnay again be defeated by inferior animals through sheer superiority of condition. Armistice is such a genuine stayer that even w’th 8.6 she must be held in respect. Cambrian has a nice weight for a three-

year-old of his class. Boomerang, Zimmerman, Ghoorka and Ellerton are considered nicely treated, and a good acceptance should result. The favourite selections for the Railway Handicap in double wagers are Multifid, King Billy, Munject Cambrian, Huascar, and Sir Tristram, the two latter having most followers. The me allicians have small books open on the Auckland Cup. Multifid, Armistice and Boomerang are quoted at 7 to 1. Double quotations — Cup and Railway Handicaps range from 100 to 2 to 500 to i. Very little business is reported, layers seemingly being anxious to obtain settlements over the recent N.Z. Cup wagering. , , Mr “Timi Kara,” who has been down during the last three weeks with a severe attack of influenza, was sufficiently recovered to leave Gisborne during the week. After attending to some business he contemplates “doing” Rotorua, and will probably drop down to Auckland in time for the Cup Meeting.