WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XV, Issue 895, 2 May 1907, Page 8

WELLINGTON.

WELLINGTON, May 1. The Manawatu Racing Club’s autumn meeting, following closely upon the Wellington Club’s fixture, was in consequence only sparsely patronised by local sportsmen. The race for the Manawatu Stakes was the draw of the meeting, and with that event absent from the programme the meeting would have passed off without much attention from Wellington sports. The Porirua horse Achilles always commands a good following, and some racing clubs will realise after his retirement from the turf that much of their success in the past was due to the presence on their racecourse of Mr. Monk’s star performer. For once in a way the Porirua horse did not start favourite, and backers at last seeming to realise that the gallant son of Medallion was incapable of carrying a welter weight and galloping with his youngei’ and lightly burdened rivals. Count Witte displayed an improvement on his C.J.C. Champagne form, and getting into his stride like a tradesman, quickly demonstrated that he is the best two-year-old seen out this season. Glenculloch and Elevation are a fairly evenly-matched pair, but with both really fit the latter should prove the better colt. Glenculloch’s trainer judiciously gave his charge a gallop at Trentham in the North Island Challenge Stakes, and this no doubt sharpened the Clanranald colt up, whilst Elevation, for the want of just such a gallop failed to run up to his C.J.C. Challenge Stakes form. The result of the Hawke’s Bay Stakes, which is the next classic event to be decided, will be awaited with interest. Glenculloch, Elevation, Count Witte and Downfall, if started, should produce a great race. Mr. W. Davies’ pair, Armamento and Ancycle, half-brother to Ballarat, cut a moderate figure at Manawatu. The latter is an upstanding lathy gelding, and will probably require considerable time ere he emulates the deeds of his speedy relative. With the exception of Achilles and Gold Crest, who were only engaged in the Manawatu Stakes, Prosser was not represented at the Manawatu meeting. Gauze and Swimming Belt, a couple of horses under the mentorship of the Porirua trainer, are owned by the Hawke’s Bay sportsman Mr. H. Gaisford. Prior to the nominations for the Wanganui winter meeting it was feared that the number of jumpers available for that meeting would be limited. A glance through the list discloses the fact that although it is fairly numerous quality is very poorly re-

presented. Has-been and patched up cripples seem to have been resurricted from all quarters. These, with the addition of some hurdlers, are left to do duty until later in the season, when probably some of the latter class will have become proficient over country. The Wanganui Steeplechase course is a capital one for beginners, the class of jumps being no more formidable than the hurdles formerly raced over on the same course.

Prosser has taken up Waitarere, but he is still somewhat backward in condition, and Pawa and Maui may prove the Porirua representatives for Wanganui. Exmoor has been engaged, but he has been for some time invalided owing to an injured knee, and he may not be taken to Wanganui.