WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XV, Issue 894, 25 April 1907, Page 8

WELLINGTON.

NOTES ON THE WELLINGTON R.C. AUTUMN MEETING. The Wellington Racing Club’s Autumn Meeting opened on Wednesday last. Although very little inclement weather was experienced at Trentham during the two day’s preceding the first day’s racing, steady rain had fallen in the city, and many racegoers remained at home under the impression that it was raining at the racecourse. Those who braved the elements were agreeably surprised to find fine weather prevailing at Trentham, although slightly cloudy overhead. The course was in splendid order as was evidenced by the fast times put up. Black Reynard established an Ausralasian record by running one and three-quarter miles over hurdles in 3m. 14 l-ss. The Thompson Handicap was also a fast race, the time, lm. 41 2-55., equals that put up by Shrapnel during a dry season on the old Hutt Park racecourse, when he won the same race in 1903; Although the attendance was not up to that of last year, speculation on the totalisator was exceedingly brisk, £12,842 being invested with the Club’s totalisator. This sum included £2Oll on the double machine which paid the lucky backers of Mr. Moore’s pair (bracketed), Helen Portland and Fontenoy with Lady Annies, £32 18/. The total sum handled on Wednesday was £373 in excess of last year. This, considering that the threatening weather had kept many townspeople away from the meeting, must be considered highly satisfactory. Prominent among the visitors were the Hons. Jas. Carroll and J. A. Millar, Sir Geo. Clifford, Messrs. A. L. D. Fraser, M.H.R., W. L. Clifford, H. D. Vavasour, Geo. Hunter, T. H. Lowry, W. J. Douglas, J. F. Buchannan and W. E. Bidwell. Other interested spectators included Messrs. J. E. Henrys, and Geo. Morse, handicappers, Danvers Hamber (editor “Referee”), and numerous well-known racing men from the provinces. There were only three withdrawals from the Thompson Handicap—Pink ,’Un, Munjeet, and Lord Soult. The former was not brought up from Christchurch, and Mr. Stead’s trainer cancelled Munjeet’s engagement on finding that the mare was out of sorts, not having recovered from the attack of strangles from which she had been suffering prior to the C.J.C. Easter Meeting. Lord Soult’s party favoured his chance for the Railway Handicap. Thirteen were thus left to contest for supremacy, and from a study of the totalisator figures it will be observed that Jenkin’s mount Marguerite was slightly the best favourite. St. Joe, Pas Seul, and Mahuta would each have returned their backers close upon £6, whilst Sherlock Holmes, the outsider, would only have paid a little over £9. The betting thus denoted that the partisans of each of the thirteen runners were fairly confident of success. The story of the race is easily told. The light-weights Fontenoy, Helen Portland, Mahuta, and Sherlock Holmes made play at their best pace with Marguerite, Contender and Mystification in handy positions. Fontenoy and Sherlock Holmes had shot their bolt at the distance post, and Mahuta appeared to be winning from Helen Portland, when the latter, by a supreme effort got up in the last few strides, and was declared the winner by a nose, much to the surprise of Mahuta’s supporters, who thought their horse had secured the verdict. Chatterer headed Mystification and Marguerite during the last furlong, and the Porirua mare was never nearer the front than fourth. Pas Seul, Submarine and The Lark were amongst the last to finish. The Railway Handicap was another slashing race. The whole field were running abreast two chains from the judge’s box. Lady Annie’s rider then called upon his mount, and she came strongly on the outside and won by a length and a-half from Medal-

list, who just headed Volume in the last stride. The Plunket Nursery Handicap was an easy victory for Zimmerman’s fine looking brother Oxton, who romped home in front of a pair of moderates in Happy Maid and Fairland. Followers of the Porirua Stable, with a courage that does them honour, wagered odds on the ability of Achilles to carry his lOst lib home in front of the three speedy two-year-olds Glenculloch, Downfall and Gold Breast. The first-named, however, was in his best humour, and drawing away at the distance post never gave the Porirua champion a chance, winning comfortable by a couple of lengths. Jenkins could not get the veteran moving as smartly as the youngsters when the barrier rose, and during the first furlong ran something less than a couple of lengths in the rear of the two-year-olds. This, however, did not affect the ultimate result. The minor event* produced good racing, the Hawke’s Bay owned horses Grand Slam, Swimming Belt, and Erl King each winning a race in good style, the former pair paying capital dividends. SECOND DAY. Fine weather was experienced for the concluding day of the W.R.C. Meeting. The attendance was quite up to the average, and betting was spirited, £4828 being handled by the totalisator in excess of the sum put through at the corresponding meeting last season, the total for the two days being £30,704. The railway and other arrangements worked well, and there was not a hitch during the two days. Messrs. Whyte, Pollock, Piper and Hartgill, the club’s stipendiary officials were deservedly complimented, and to them is due much of the success which attended the meeting. The Hurdle Handicap was won . by the Porirua horse Pawa. Leeside, who came with a great run over the last two furlongs, and brought Pawa to the whip, was at one stage of the race some thirty lengths away from the leader. Ridden with more judgment the Riccarton horse must have won. Mahutonga’s half-sister Kurawaka beat an even money favourite in The Lark, a horse whose admirers up North expected him to fly in in the Thompson Handicap. Moloch gained a long overdue victory in the Muritai Hack Handicap, turning the table on Swimming Belt, the first day’s winner. The Autumn Handicap resulted in a well-contested race. Sir Tristram was established favourite, with Mahuta and Clanchattan next in demand. Marguerite got away with a flying start and led for the first six furlongs, when Mahuta and Helen Portland headed her. Mystification and Sir Tristram came strongly when once in the straight, and the former staying the longest won by a length. Marguerite finished fourth. The fine field of twelve saddled up for the Suburban Handicap, for which Pas Seul was made favourite, Medallist being next in demand. The latter looked like winning half a furlong from home, but Lady Annie came with a well sustained run and achieved the only double win during the meeting. Medallist faltered in the last few strides, and Contender secured second money by a neck. Sir Geo. Clifford was to the fore in the next event, the Pacific Handicap, his three-year De Wette defeating the three-year-olds William and Chicane, and that smart pair of two-year-olds Gold Crest and Oxton. The New Zealand Sir Leger was voted the best of good things for the Yaldhurst colt Seal Rock. The race was, however, run at such a muddling pace that it is extremely doubtful if the best colt won. The trio only cantered for the first ten furlongs when Jenkins, on Volume, suddenly jumped away from the other pair, and before their riders realised it he had a lead of quite eight lengths. McCombe and F. Davis put on full pressure, but although they made up a lot of ground Volume maintained his advantage until the judge’s box was reached. Grand Slam was finishing the stronger of the trio, and would probably start favourite were the race run over again. The time is the slowest in the history of the race. The final event, the Belmont Handicap. went to the St. Clement’s gelding Clem, who being on the move when the barrier went up slipped his field and lasted long enough to win by a length from the fast-finishing Gauze. The following is a list of winning owners: —Sir Geo. Clifford, £730; Hon. J. D. Ormond, £450; Mr. G. T. Moore, £360; Mr. J. Goodwin, £335;

Mr. J. T. Crosse, £140; Mr. J. Clarke, £130; Mr. R. Weller, £120; Mr. H. Gaisford, £120; Mr. A. L. D. Fraser, £100; Mr. G. Cork, £9O; Mr. P. Rogers, £8.5; Mr. J. Monk, £7O; Mr. H. McManaway, £4O; Mr. G. Hunter, £3O; Mr. T. H. Lowry, £25; Mr. G. G. Stead, £24; Mr. J. W. Taggart, £2O; Mr. J. McLaughlin, £2O; Mr. J. Armstrong, £2O; Mr. J. H. Prosser, £2O; Mr. P. Soames, £2O; Mr. H. Liskirk, £10; Mr. A. Stewart, £10; Mr. F. Tilley, £10; Mr. R. Knox, £10; Mr. J. Thomas, £lO. Total, £3OOO.