WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1452, 21 February 1918, Page 12

WELLINGTON.

Wanganui J.C.’s Autumn MeetingBig Betting Coup—Notes on the Egmont Meeting—Jackson Stakes Contest Creating Wide Interest — Nobleman’s Failure in Egmont Cup —Dunedin J.C.’s Meeting Well Patronised by North Island Owners. WELLINGTON, Monday. , The Wanganui Jockey Club’s autumn meeting, which takes place on Thursday and Saturday next, is causing considerable attraction in sporting circles. Quite a large number of local enthusiasts are planning a trip to the river town, and the attendance, which will be made up of visitors from all parts, should constitute a record. The acceptances are very satisfactory, and some capital racing should be witnessed. The Wanganui Club’s hospitality is farfamed, so that visitors can rest assured that nothing will be left to chance, and their trip to Wanganui gives every promise of proving most enjoyable. The Masterton sportsman Mr. W. R. Kemball will be represented at Wanganui with Snub, Nanna, Hymestra, Livland and Fabisco. The horses named have, all come through a capital preparation at the hands of W. Hawthorne.

Quite a number of - well-informed critics will not hear of Snub getting defeated in the Wanganui Cup. Certainly the five-year-old son of Martian —Lady Disdain in being asked to carry 7.8 has been given every opportunity to distinguish himself, and though he will have a far more difficult task in front of him on Thursday than was the case when he led the field home at Pahiatua. he has only to display that form to take an active part in the 'finish of the big mile and three-quarter event. The bay gelding is a born stayer, and this fact will no doubt greatly assist him over the last half-mile. Menelaus, w r ho is to represent the Messrs. V. and E. Riddiford in the Wanganui Cup, has come through a nice preparation at Trentham. Since winning the New Zealand Cup the galloper named has been a disappointment, the only win secured by the son of Martian since then being the Wellington Racing Club Handicap, in which he created a big surprise, defeating three well-backed candidates in Nobleman, Adjutant and Red Ribbon. J. W. Lowe is hopeful that the gelding will win another decent handicap ere long, and he is not likely to be neglected in the betting on the Wanganui Cup on Thursday.

Wellington and its immediate district was represented in the Dunedin Cup on Thursday last with Miss De Vai and Devotion, but the pair were never dangerous, both finishing in the “also” started division. Better things were expected from them, and their abject failure to make a showing was naturally very discomfiting to their owners and supporters. A big coup was worked in connection with a certain race on the first iday of the Egmont meeting last week, and with clever ingenuity on the part of those concerned, who were fortunate enough to land the goods. Telephones were got to work and the amount of money invested away from the racecourse was fabulous. It is remarkable the degree of cunning that is displayed on such occasions, and more remarkable still how such malpractices escape the notice of the stipendiary stewards. In the particular instance under notice the horse concerned was a starter on the first day of the Taranaki meeting the previous week and was entrusted with £366 on the totalisator, and was never sighted on the journey. At Hawera it carried just double that amount of money and duly won. Several of the “woolbrokers” will not forget the win for many a long day to come. Otter ran a couple of excellent races last week, and looks like turning out a decent stake earner. The son of Kilcheran—Platypus has taken very kindly to the jumping business. Mr. E. Short, the Parorangi sportsman, was represented in the Egmont Stakes last week with Demos (Demosthenes —Jeanne D’Arc), who put up a fine race with Finmark, being defeated by a bare half length after he had made all the running for Mr. Lowry’s crack. There is no doubt about Demos being useful, and he will undoubtedly prove a worthy performer for his popular owner.

Sweet . Tipperary appears well placed in the Stewards’ Handicap at Wanganui. If well on the day the black mare should carry the Messrs. Dwan Bros.’ colours in a creditable manner. Mr. J. H. Prosser will be represented by a small team at Wanganui, the list including Portland Lady and George, both of whom should give a creditable showing in their engagements. W. H. Bowden, the Otaki ownertrainer, anticipates taking Probity to the Nelson meeting. This fine stamp of a sprinter, who is by Bezonian from a New Zealand Cup winner in Tortulla, should certainly break her maiden status at Richmond Park.

In Matty (the full-sister to Nanna) and Black Mark (All Black —Culprit), the Christchurch owner, Mr. H. G. Taylor, will have two worthy gallopers to carry his colours at Wanganui. Both horses can be depended upon to make a bold showing in their contests. Their defeat at Hawera need not be taken into consideration, as the fates were against them. Parewanui showed up well at Hawera on the first day, but faded out of his race on the concluding day. In a weak field in the Westmere Hurdles at Wanganui the son of Advance has been given a chance to earn distinction.

The meeting of Biplane and Hymestra in the Jackson Stakes, to be run at Wanganui on Thursday next, is causing no end of interest from one end of the country to the other. Both horses are to take their place in the field, and the contest between the pair should be worth while going a long way to see. Mr. T. H. Lowry still has Finmark and Estland engaged, while Mr. C. F. Vallance will have Chimera to carry his colours. This six-furlong race should certainly be the star attraction of the afternoon.

Silver Link should keep her opponents busy in the Juvenile Handicap at Wanganui. This fine stamp of a. galloper is one of the best of Achilles’ breeding that is racing just now, although Waimatao is really smart.

The Opaki racecourse of the Masterton Racing Club is the preparing ground of a couple of horses who claim an engagement in the Wiritoa Hack Handicap at Wanganui. They are Fabisco and Vascovia, and are of similar breeding, being by Vasco — Fabia. The former is a three-year-old colt and the latter a fcur-year-old mare. Both horses have shown winning form, and with ordinary luck

they should add to their total this week. • .

The writer looks to Nanna, Wrest-: ler and Moutoa Queen to give a good account of themselves in the Flying' Handicap at Wanganui, while, should’ the track be at all holding, the prds--pects of Hyginas would be second to hone, as the Hymettus gelding races best with the Sting out of the ground;

Elevate is hitting out in .attractive style, and should his rider . draw a good position at the barrier, the chestnut son of Elevation should show up well at Wanganui.

A popular win at Hawera last week was that of Astor in the Waimate Handicap, in which the aged gelding defeated a useful field of sprinters. Trainer C. Jackson’s many friends were glad to see him leading in a winner, and it is hoped that the success will prove a forerunner of many others. Now that the Coronet gelding has struck form he may go on winning races.

Nobleman’s defeat in the Egmont Cup last week was a severe facer for backers.. Owner “Bill” Phillips, of Sandon, and Trainer J. Coyle were quite sanguine that their horse would win, and the gelding’s failure to get amongst the money was a source of disappointment to all concerned. Nobleman was well placed, at • the bend into the straight, and had every chance to score had he been in the mood. The dual Cup winner, however, shut up like a book when the final pinch came to be undertaken, and his failure to respond in the fin-

ishing stages left the impression that his strenuous engagements of late had commenced to tell upon the St. Laddo gelding. Returned visitors from the Dunedin Jockey Club’s meeting, which took place at Wingatul last week, speak of the gathering as being very successful. The Dunedin J.C. Meeting invariably attracts a few North Is-land-owned horses, and last week’s meeting was no exception to the rule, for quite a number of horses from this side of the Cook Strait made the trip. The owners represented were Mr. H. Whitney. (Wellington), Mr. W. E. Bidwill (Rototawai), Mr. Eb.. Simpson (Trentham), Ngakonui McDonald (Masterton),. and Messrs. V. and E. Riddiford (Wellington). Patrons of the club from these parts speak in high terms of the kindness and hospitality of the secretary, Mr. H. L. James, who did all in his power to make their visit to Dunedin veryenjoyable. “

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