WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVI, Issue 929, 26 December 1907, Page 7

WELLINGTON.

The Manawatu Meeting—Elevation Puts up a Great Performance —Merrie Rose Wins the Summer Handicap—A Promising Hurdler—An Overdue Win WELLINGTON, December 24. The Manawatu Racing Club opened its summer racing carnival on Saturday. The attendance was poor owing to the time being unsuitable for business folks. Only four of the smaller fry of bookmakers paid a license fee, and were but poorly patronised by the public. The victories of the outsiders Splendid Idea and Merrie Rose gave them practically skinners over these races, but on the day they could not have done much good. It is not thought that with the totalisator paying two dividends that the metallicians will prove a serious menace to racng clubs. They will probably have to lay very liberal prices to entice wagering. The racing was full of incident, and Elevation’s performance in the Palmerston Stakessetthe hall-mark on the. littlp chestnut’s deeds this season. After the start, which was not a happy effort, Elevation stumbled and lost fifteen or twenty lengths. Meantime Oxton and Sir ’Frisco were making a bee-line for the winning post, and it looked any odds against Elevation ever catching them. Sid Reid, however, showed supreme confidence in his mount and refrained from bustling him. Reid then set down for a stern chase, rounding the bend, and he was seen to be overhauling the leaders very rapidly, and one in the straight he sat down to get every ounce out of the champion. Elevation repeated his Feeding Stakes performance, and got up in time to snatch a victory from Sir ’Frisco by a heck. The time for the race was officially clocked as im. 175., but this was an obvious error, as many private watches recorded im. 15s. To present 2ilb in weight, and a tremendous start to a smart colt like Sir ’Frisco, is an extraordinary feat, and it would require an exceptionally brilliant horse to have any chance against Mr. Bid will’s slashing colt! s " n> , kThe Summer Handicap saw eleven go to the post, and the Wairarapa division wou’d have nothing but Merrie Rose, who had been responsible for some excellent track work. Grand Slam did not move

very freely in his preliminary, and is Evidently feeling the effects of his Riccarton campaign. Stratagem, Sandix, and William were the commoners of the field, and it is time that William be less harshly dealt with by handicappers. The race proved a runaway affair, for Merrie Rp.se quickly, put six length of 'daylight between herself and. the field. She was going smoothly, and freely all the way, and finished the. last furlong, strongly. Mr. Henrys has rehandicapped Merrie Rose for the Manawatu Cup, and she will now, carry 7.4. Tfie other events can be briefly dealt with. The winner of the Highden Hurdles, Papatawa, had been doing good work at Woodville;, and she was well backed accordingly. Papatawa is a fine bold hurdler., possessing plenty of pace, and she Won her race in a 'manner which suggested that further distinction will await her. Kaipetipeti was anchored by his 12.3, and, moreover, struck a hurdle. Compass arid Pardon still jump badly. The Maiden Hack saw a couple of racy-looking three-year old fillies to the front, and both Truganini and Crucinella (half-sister to Nonette) should have a Career of usefulness ahead of them. A big bay, Penates, made the pace a cracker,' and only succumbed at the distance. Mon Ami, by Soult—Satanella, St. Paul’s dam, got away badly, and the effort to make up her ground took the sting out of the black filly. St. Albert won the Tiritea Hurdles very easily in 3m. 46 2-5, the St. Andrew gelding gave a finished exposition of hurdling. Lull would have paid only a short price had he succeeded. Sen Sim was left at the post, and Gold Dust nearly clouted his rider out of the saddle. But for this mishap Gold Dust might have troubled the winner. Black Reynard was finishing very strongly. It is over twelve months ago since Splendid Idea won, and in the interim the Captain Webb mare has been expected to capture a stake or two, but consistently failed. However, she compensated by easily winning the Awapuni Handicap and paying a very long price. Ballarat showed that she has not lost her old brilliancy, and just succumbed to Lord Soult’s srong run at the finish. Dusky Morn is a solidly-framed bay whose track work was a general theme. However, the horse got a bad run, and under the circumstances he did well to finish fourth. Buoyant and Tan San had the finish of the Hack Welter to themselves, and were lengths in front of the third horse Gauze. The Rand had the services of S. Reid in the Himatangi Welter. The son of Gold Ref— Pearl Shot was easily? the most com-manding-looking candidate. Martyrium turned into the straight with a slight lead, and it was only by dint of most vigorous horsemanship that Reid landed The Rand a winner.