WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVIII, Issue 1057, 9 June 1910, Page 8

WELLINGTON.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, June 6. Racing enthusiasts have had a surfeit of racing this week with the meetings of the Auckland, Otaki, and Dunedin Clubs. The eternal battle still continues between the backers and the layers and the bagmen are reported to have com, out of the week’s ordeal with flying colours. The downfall of several well backed candidates sadly discomfited backers.

The Winter meeting of the Otaki Maori Racing Ciub which took place on Friday and Saturday last was productive of some excellent sport. The finishes in several of the events were of a keen description which bear tribute to the work of the Club’s handicapper (Mr. J. H- Pollock), who was deservedly complimented on the result of his labours- Taken ail round the gathering was a distinct success. The Euroclydon gelding Epsom Downs broke his maiden status at the Otaki meeting, by winning the Maiden Handicap of seven furlongs. The winner was turned out in capital trim by the Foxton owner-trainer, H. C. McPhee, who was warmly congratulated on his long overdue win.

The local owner, Mr. W. Smart, has a very promising sort in Merry Frank, a three-year-old gelding by Merriwee, from Valois and when a little more matured, he should make a valuable acquisition to the racing tracks- The name is very appropriate as the gelding is trained by Frank Higgott at the Lower Hutt. This trainer is of a happy disposition, hence the decision of Mr. Smart in the name.

Sunrose, who is owned by a popular Palmerston North boniface who races as F. Bowden, started at the Otaki fixture but he did not run up to expectations. Sunrose will now go into winter quarters and will not sport silk again until the Spring meetings come up for decision. The well-known local Solicitor, who races as P. W. Sarsfield, scored a first and a second with Royal Marine at the Otaki meeting. The winner was turned out in good condition by the Lower Hutt trainer, D. Nyhan and both owner and trainer were complimented on the gelding’s success. The Hunterville boniface, Mr. H. McManaway, has a promising hurdler in Mahuta, who won the two jumping events at the Otaki meeting. The black horse cleared the obstacles like an old stager and turf critics predict a successful career for the Mahaki horse, now that he has demonstrated that he is possessed of jumping ability.

Pikopo ran in a very slovenly manner at the Otaki meeting, but the big San Fran gelding should show to better advantage in some of the big ’capping events during the winter. The success of California in the RanKawa Cup was well received and both rider and horse were accorded an ovation on returning to scale. The big fellow ran a slashing race in the Huia Handicap on the second day and just missed winning that event by a very small margin. Now that California is evidently coming back to form he should be capable .of crediting the Hawke’s Bay sportsman Mr. Lagor with some more wins.

Mr. B- T. Bennett, of Halberdier fame, has a promising sort in St. Lumsden, who won the Otaki Hack Handicap. The gelding led from start to finish and paid the largest dividend at the meeting there being only 32 investments on his cnance in the total-

isator, which comes as a surprise after his good showing at Hawera where he paid a slightly larger dividend than was the case in his latest win. To show what a change of trainers will effect, the case of Sir Frisco is a case in point. This son of San Francisco has not done too well during the last few months and Mrs. Moore decided on removing her horse from Lowe’s stable at Trentham and placing him under the care of F. J. Carmont at Levin. In the horse’s first run under his new mentor’s auspices he put in a sensational run and won the Rangiuru Handicap by half a head from Gipsy Belle who is no slouch over her pet distance of six furlongs. The winner paid a very acceptable dividend which was not participated in to any extent by the owner of the horse.

Leolanter, credited the Palmerston North owner, Mr. T. F. Nolan with a win at Otaki, in the Birthday Welter Handicap. The winner paid an acceptable dividend. The gelding will now go into retirement until the spring racing season rolls round. The Kangipuhi gelding Rosegrove, gave an excellent display over thei battens at the Otaki meeting and finished in second place in his two initial attempts over the obstacles in public. The chestnut will sport silk at the approaching meeting of the Hawke’sj Bay Jockey Club and should run prominently in his engagements. Woodhey came with a fine turn of speed in the Huia Handicap and just succeeded in defeating California who was unlucky to lose as the big chestnut was slow in finding his feet, but when he did get going it was a treat to watch the good work he was putting into his strides. That he is coming back to form is beyond all doubt. Idealism scored the second win for the Hon. J. D. Ormond at the Otaki fixture. This Birkenhead gelding was ridden a vigorous race by F. Coleman and owing to his exertions this somewhat unlucky arrival was landed a winner.

Mr. R. W. Paterson, whose luck is proverbial, won a race on the second day at Otaki with the aid of Mon Ami. The Soult mare was in third place on her first day’s efforts and her second day’s success was anticipated by her connections who benefitted accordingly. ißy vigorous horsemanship, J. D./ Jones landed Amato a winner on the concluding day at the Otaki gathering. The winner’ was a warm favourite, hence the gelding’s success was well received.

The final event at the Otaki meeting was won by Bourbon, who is owned by Mr. J. Brett, the Dunedin sportsman and trained by Prosser at Porirua. This coming turf aspirant is a rising three-year-old colt by Louis XIII, from Felucca. A successful turf career is anticipated for Bourbon who appears to be gifted with galloping powers. Not a single favourite got home on the first day at Otaki, but on the second day things were not quite the same as out of the seven events on the programme, no less than three first favourites, namely Ascalon, Mahuta, and Amato, justified the confidence reposed in them by winning their several events.

C. Jenkins, A. Olliver, F. D. Jones, and W. Young, each rode a brace of winners at the Otaki meeting, other riders to salute Mr. Hartgill on one occasion were: C. Price, F. Cress, J. Griffiths, H. Carmont, F. Coleman and C. Emmerson. The Hon. J. D. Ormond, with £290 opposite his name, was the largest winnex- at the Otaki meeting. Others to follow were, C. L. Lagoi’ £275, H.

McManaway £l5O, Mr. M. Moore £l2O and R. W. Paterson £lOO. The other amounts were all under £lOO. The bookmakers contributed £382 10s towards the funds of the Otaki Club for the privilege of plying their calling at the recent meeting, which is £lO less than the metallicians contributed last year.

The turnover from the recent Otaki meeting disclosed a decrease of £2878 when compared with the similar gathering last year. The figures were 1909, £16,399; 1910, £13,521. This shrinkage is difficult to account for, but the bookies are blamed for a portion of the deficit. When Sir Frisco won his event he was ridden by “Tiny” Carmont, which was his first winner since the serious accident that occurred to him about four years ago at the Otaki meeting when Matariki fell with him at the last fence and the injuries sustained by Carmont, which consisted of paralysis of the brain and other injuries, made him an invalid until the present season. Judging by the splendid finish he rode on Sir Frisco Carmont has not lost any of his old-time dash. As Carmont can go to scale at 8.3 his services should be in keen demand for the winter racing season.

The failure of Mr. “Middleton Melrose’s” horses to win a race at the Auckland meeting was severely felt by stay-at-home supporters of Lowe’s Trentham stable, who, as a rule are singularly successful when away from home.