WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVI, Issue 940, 12 March 1908, Page 8

WELLINGTON.

WELLINGTON, March 11. Another important New Zealand handicap has been decided, and once more a lightly-weighted horse has prevailed. Owners of good horses are complaining that the best horses are continually made to suffer defeat in the interests of second raters with the result that thos? owning the latter class are annexing the most valuable stakes. Reference to the last New Zealand Cup handicap discloses the fact that Maniapoto gst, Master Delaval Bst gib, Ma-guc-rite Bst 71b, Paritutu and Armistice Bst 31b, all on their best form, both prior

to and since the accession of the New Zealand Cup, were very much over-estimated. Of the five horses mentioned, two —Paritutu and Armistice —have retired into obscurity, whi’st Maniapoto, after defeating a poor lot at the Feilding Spring Meeting, was raced unsuccessfully under prohibiting imposts until he became a wreck and may never saddle up again. Master Delaval’s owner, with an amount of enterprise worthy of a better cause, continued racing the son of Seaton Delaval only to be defeated time and again by animals much .00 leniently treated in the matter of poundage.

Marguerite s owner, recognising that too high an estimate was formed of his mare, decided to al’ow her a well-earned rest. This, however, did not tend to bring her down in weight, as she received an extra pound for the Wanganui Cup as compared with her New Zealand Cup

impost. The performances of the top weights in the Wanganui Cup are proof positive that their weigh- carrying abilities have been much over estimated, and if owners of the best class horses are to be encouraged, much more favourable treatment must be meted out to their nominations. There are sufficient second class handicaps on the various racing club’s programmes to satisfy owners of second class horses and our best horses should be given a chance to win the most valuab’e handicaps. If the executors of racing clubs would intimate to their weight-adjusters that '.hey preferred to see a moderate field of first-class horses starting for their valuable handicaps in place of a larger number of second and third rate animals, handicappers might treat the best performed horses with more consideration. Too much stress is p'ac.ed upon seeing numerous acceptances and large fields. The fact appears to be lost sight of that big fields are too often obtained at the expense of the better class who, to draw in leather-flappers, are crushed out of handicaps. Any true sportsman would rather witness a genuine race between half a dozen top notchers, than view a race between twice as many second and third rate animals. The Porirua stab’e is noted for sending to racecourses only horses that are fi: and well to do battle for '.heir owners. Marguerite, Gold Crest, Swimming Belt, Maui and Ataahua were each stripped in the pink of condition at Wanganui and the stab’e’s score was five wins out of nine starts, Gold Crest and Swimming Bel. being each raced once during the meeting, whilst Marguerite ran unsuccessfully in the Cup and Taitoko in the Juvenile Handicap. W. Davis had a weH-deserved win with Ballarat in the Farewe 1 ! Handicap. His old favourite looked very well indeed and wi h the aid of George Price, who beat the starter a couple of lengths the daughter of Go’d Reef placed the too sovs to Mr “ Ross Alien’s” credit. Yosami, a stable companion to Ballarat, was less fortunate. The Officer mare ran each day, but is apparently scarcely class enough for first rate hack company. Uenuku’s full brother, Prism, ran so badly on the first day of the Wanganui meeting that his owner, Mr R. W. Paterson. disposed of him to Frank Higgott for a small sum. The latter ran him in his interest on the second day in the Farewell Handicap with the poor satisfaction of seeing him finish absolutely last. Saga, another Wellington-owned animal, cut a poor figure in the Cup and her trainer might now realise that less pretentious company would suit her better. The daughter of Soult ran a good honest race when amongst her own class, and the tasks she has been set this season are so far beyond her abilities, that it mar result in her turning jade. Satanella’s daughter, Mon Ami has grown into a nice filly. She did not discredit her dam in the race for the Ma- ; tarawa Hack Handicap and will do better when more forward in condition. Amongst 1 those who watched her being saddled up were Messrs W. Walters who owns her sire and bred her dam Satanella, and J. H. Pollock, who purchased Satanella as, a yearling at Mr Walter’s first annual yearling sale. Both of these gentlemen, observed that they recognised in the filly

a striking likeness to the Slander filly (afterwards Hippodamia) a mare who won a number of races for Mr Pollock in the early eighties. The recent rains have had a good effect on the pasture a; Trentham, and in the course of a month, the course and tracks should look well again. The additional accommodation for trainers’ assistants is nearing completion and no doubt will be duly appreciated.