THE TURF.

Evening Post, Volume LV, Issue 137, 11 June 1898, Page 3 (Supplement)

THE TURF.

NOTES. [By Austeaii. I ' Prosser's luck ' has ILia season become rafcber a byword, tho success of the horses trained by the ' Squire of Porirua ' having been remarkable. Ho led off with Boreas, wjho captured a largo numbor of races, including th 0 Stewards' Handicap at Ricoarton, which was worth 300 soys. Thou Titolri ciuvio to tho fore, winning four events at Wanganui and Woodville. His successes wore followed by Toroki and Opsii at Napier, eaoh securing a double. And now Opai, after winning the Hurdlo Race at Wanganui, has crowned all his efforts by landing the big North New Zualand Grand National Hurdle Race in a very decisive mauuer. Tho accuui ts of the race show that for the last mile there wore only two in it— Opai and Dummy, and the former fairly wore his opponei.t down from the home turn, winning with something in baud by a couple of lengths. This last victory of the son of Somnus was his soventh consecutive win, five having been accomplished while under Prosser's care. He baa thus proved himself a rare bargain to Mr. 'Johnny' Maedonald at £155, the figure paid to Mr. M'Carthy, of Pnlmerston, for the big horse. To Prosser is due the greatest of praise for tho improvement effected in the horse, who was only a few months back not capable of winning a hack hurdlo race. Prosser dearly loves a jumper, and T am sure there were few prouder men at Ellerslie last Saturday thau ' Josh ' when his charge was led back to the paddock the winner of such a principal event. His Steeplechase candidato, Toiiki, to whom was entrusted the hopes of the Btable to land the heavy double wagers, unfortunately refused the water jump, and failed to negotiate the cour.se. I was afraid that the fall which ho received at Porrrua would shake the confidence which it is essential for a 'ohaser to possess in himself in negotiating big country, and co it proved. However, half a loaf is better than none at all, especially as the ' half ' which was w<on means £332, besides straight-out bets on the first ' leg,' I must add my congratulations to Prosser on such an important victory, and truss that it is only the forerunner of similar successes, for a pains- j taking man like the Porirua trainer richly desorves to get on. The policy adopted by the Auckland Racing Club of making the final payments of the National Hurdles and Steeple at tho ! post ib generally condemned. Why not fix them to be made a few days previous to the races? This would give some idea as to the probable starters, and would also minimise the risk of the public ' falling in ' by backing candidates who do not intend to compete. At present the only purpose served in withholding the final payment* till the day of tho race is that the public aio hoodwinked And this should bo avoided. Although Mr. ¥. Watson failed with his trump /card, Dummy, iv the Northern National Hurdles, he had a ' jolcov ' up his sleeve for the Steeplechase, for his Foulshot mare Muscatel appears to have had little difficulty in repeatinghor Wunganui Slfl- piechase peiformauce. P Jphuson, the New Plymouth jookey-trainer, cauget his horses as well us the besit of them. The performance of a young man like him, in riding and training the winner of a big race like the Great Northern Steeplechase, ib full of merit, and he must «be complimented on his success. Anyone seeiug Mu»carel losing bo much ground at her fenoing as she did at the Hutt only a few weeks back would bardly have thought that t*he would land tho Wanganui and Auckland Steeplechase double. But hurdle raoing and .steepleohaaing are entirely difi'oreut. It'e the pace that hurdlers go at which often spoil tho chances of good, honest jumpers. The local bookmakers wore a long way on the wrong side of tho leduor ovor tho Auckland Meeting. Besides having heavy losses at post betting by tho victories of The Sinner, Opai, Record Roign, and Anita on tho first clay, and Kanaka, Ttecruit, Muscatel, and Crusoe on Monday, very few escaped without writing the winning double. One firm was struck for £200 by a New Plymouth backer. Another bookmaker lost the same amount to a local client, while a third laid the successful combination for £100. Several of tho smaller fry who had books on the events fared the same. After continued applications Adam M'Morran has at last had his jockey's license renewed. Everyone will admit ho luih been sufficiently punished, and I am pleased ho has been tfivon another chance tr> display his powers in the saddle. He was a fair horseman in his day, and no doubt he will readily obtain mounts during the winter months. 'Terlinga' has been on a visit to Mr. W. K. Wilson's St. Albans Stud. Of the horses in training, he says: — 'Mr. Wilson has a very fine-looking Derby colt iv Renown, by Trenton from Elsie, by St. Simon. He is very backward, and with Bobadil to look after the stable interests in the spring, I don't suppose Renown will be seen at his beat until the Autumn. Renown is not a giant, but ho stands out from tho rest of tho St. Alhaus coirs in the matter of size and is a nice even mover. Resolute is now over tho attack of rheumatism which put him out of the A.J.O. meeting, and he never looked better. His foot, which were such a trouble, are 'quite sound now, and up to a mile and a quarter he would probably beat any old borse in Australia. Bobadil, whose coat was standing the wrong way in Sydney, is now a picture of healthy condition, and although only 15.2 and not nearly ho stout as Aurum, he is a wonderfully true made little horse. Action curries, weight, and no hon>e over galloped with gnator ease to himself than does Bobadil, but fast as he has shown himself, I am not ytt prepared to renounce Aurum in favour of Bobadil. I admit that ' Bobby,' as he is called at home, may be faster over a short course thau Aurum was, but I doubt if be will ever approach Awuin's Melbourne Cud performance. How* vor, Bobadi) will probably win another Derby for Mr. Wilson, and that is the particular race tho ownei- of St. Albans hankers after. His backers may take it for granted that '< the stable has never sheltered k sounder horse or a better doer than Bobadil, and I do not think thero is the least chance of any of his companions proving good enough to otter any serious opposition to him. Symmetry is quite over her nri\hap, and she will strip a remarkably fine mare next season. She looks quite as good a thing for the Oaks as Bobadil does for the Derby.' Conoerning tho rising two-year-olds he writes: — 'Auric looks a fine horse rather than a yearling. He seems to me to take moro after Aura than Trenton, and although bigger now in every way than Aurnm there is no lumber about him, aud should he stand training his turning out a weight-for-age horse is as nearly a cortaiuty as you can get in raoing. Then there is a thioksot, powerful lictle sistor to Bobadil, which takes very much after She. Trenton's filly from Insomnia (sister to La Tosoa) is a well-grown, active-looking brown that is not at all unlikely to be heard of in October, and a tallish light bay, by Trenton from Umilta, is another smart one. The other is a colt by Tronton from Waterlily, a well-grown bay, Three very fine colts that will be kept for tho autumn are Argonaut, by Amphion from Sandfly ; Auric, by Trenton from Aura ; and a bay, by Bill of Portland from Emmie. The English colt Argonaut, a lengthy, olose-to-the-ground black, with plenty of substance, is tho paddock crack at St. Albans. Mr. WUbou tells me that when all tho colts were in tho big paddock this black fellow led tho others quite as far as Wallace used to do in his yearling days.' Headford is in blooming health, and this sturdy son of Foulshot ought, in the event of standing up to his work, win a race ere the winter ia over. The stable N.Z. Cup candidate Boreas i is at present as fat aB a bullook, I

Umslouogaas, Oft" Chance, and Huntingdon have been taken to Riocarton by F. lliirgott. Thoir departure from tho iliitt was decided on owing to superior schooling facilities at Riccurton, and also to onablo Huntingdon, and probably Oil' Chanco, to qualify as hunters. R. Wellor, who is loft in charge of Prossor's team at Porirua in tho absence of the ' boss,' was last week giving tho Stopzikk—Mins Betty gelding his initial lessons. Tho guiding is a compact little chostnut fellow, with white hind fetlocks aud a nice set of legs. .lie has a game, intelligent head, has most power behind, and is a very nice mover. lie is engaged in the Riccarton Welcome titakos. Tho Artist, who has joined tho team, has been brought to Porirua with tbo object of finding out whether the Bandy beach will allow him to receive a thorough preparation. His continued soreness has prevented him being wound up properly on other courses. At present, however, his logs are muoh enlarged, but it is to \be hoped tbe experiment will prove successful. Indian Shot's full sister, rising three-ye'ir-okl, is a very powerful filly, black in colour, and much resembles The Brook, although built on somewhat lighter lines. Kteel King has been sent to J. Green, of Marton, to be qualified as a hunter. At Tattereall'n (Sydney) races on the 2Slh ult. Lochiel's progeny' was again to the iVrt, one of his sons, Strathroy, appropriating the Flying Handioap, beating Sailor Boy at a difference of a stone, while Flodden, a threo-year-old colt claiming the ex-New Zeahinder as his sire, won the Winter Stakes at tho Adelaide Meeting on "the 28th and 30th May. Three other Lochiels (Lochaber, Paul Pry, and Barton) each faeoured a raco. Ayrshire, Cherry, and Vedette, and the ponies Bandicoot and Mabel have left Melbourne f >r India. Patron (Grand Flaneur— Olga) has been purchased for btud duty in England. The Dunedin Jockey Club has given notice of motion to the Chairman of the Racing Conference of several alteratious in the Ruies of Racing. The club wishes to make the rule relating to the Unpaid Forfeit List more definite, and desires it to read as follows: — 'Forfeits which have been published in the Official Calendar must be paid directly into the Rrgistry Office of the district where due, and until so paid they shall not bo removed from the list.' This would make it clear that anyone ow-ing money to any club, and for which the debtor has been placed in the Unpaid Forfeit List, would nor, be eligible to nominate a horse for any meeting until he had paid tho amount of his indebtedness direct, to the club with which ho had contracted it. An outcome of the decision of the Chairman of the Racing Comereuce with reference to the appeal of the owner of Lobo is to be found in the club's desiro to have what are 'questions of fact' tset forth in the Rulfs, and the embodiment o: ! . part of Rule 100 of the English law.s of racing with reference to appeals. This provides for decisions of stewards being subject to appeal to tbo Jockey Club 'so far as relatos to points involving the interpretation of these Rules, or to any other than a question of faot, on which thore shall be no appeal unless by consent of tho stewards.' Kraft, tho Ashurst trainer, has three youngsters in hand for tho Ashurht Hack Guineas to bo run i'or next December — viz., Mr. D. H Roberta's Derringo, by Derringer — Tohuri ; Mr. J. Cotter's b iilly "by Derringer- Nectarine ; and a gelding by Strepbun — Young Dinah. J. Maher, tho well-known Hawkes Bay trainer, has arrived at Palmurston North to take up his residence there. Maid Marion has* joined Maher 'a team. Phew ! Opai has caught it hot from Mr. Henry in his Hawkes Bay handicaps, raising the gelding 2st 31b (!) for beating a rather weak field at Auckland. 1 hardly think 12st 31b will tempt Prosser to take the horse to Hasting* to take part iv the race. Plum Bill is woll iv at 12st 81b, but he may be reserved for the Steeplechase, worth 100 soys more, and run on the second day. Opou, to my idea, posH^sea areal good chance. In the Steoplcchaso Plaiu Bill is nicely handicapped, and he and The Sinner ought to provide the whlnor, the former for choice. Although The Sinner finished third at Ellerslie last Monday, and Toreki failed to gain a situation, the latter now meets Tho Sinner on 71b worse terms, which dirposes of the Porirua representative's chance. A local botiifaee who had accepted a wager of £100 to £2 about Opai and Muscatel for the Auckland double was much surprised to receive a telegram from the bookmaker with whom the bet was made juat previous to the Hurdle R,ace being decided statiug that as the £2 had not como to hand ho had scratched the wager. The bonifate, however, forwaided the £2 to the layer, and informed him that he held him responsible for tho wager, which he subsequently won. I understand that an attempt will rightly be made to make the bookmaker pay, a 8 the backer contends he should have received 24 hours' notice, so as to enable him to settle the amount before the firbt ' leg ' was decided. ' Phaeton ' is urging the reinstatement of the Auckland Plate in the summer programme. Sultndor is in work again, having recovered from a recent accident. At tbo request, of the V.R.C. Committee the Ep«om stewards reconsidered their disqualirlcatio7i of R. Batty aud His Grace, with the ris-ult that Batty'w explanation was accepted, and tho disqualification therefore lalls to the ground. The ex-Ringitikoi oross-country rider J. Cameron leceiuly had the bad luck to break one of his shoulders in Victoria. An Auckland writer says that 'Mr. M 'Donald 'b colours ;ire very pretty — cardinal and anther hoops, which can 'be seou di tinctly.' The i-criiie is somewhat astray, for thcvt> are Mr. ' Jo.>h ' Prosser's colours, who allows Mr. M'Douald to use them. The nc minations received for the New Zealand Cup are rather poor, being the leaht iceeived'for year«. However, some good canle are engig-ed. and if Mr. Henry cau bring Multiform, Waiuku, St. Paul, Swordfish, Starshot, Zanella, and Nestor to the post it would provide a keen contest. Thirty -three owners are represented, and there is about an equal tiumber of the horaeß entered located in each island. The Hon. J. D. Ormond ■ with five, Mr. D. O'Brien with four, Messrs. G. G. Stead, M. Hobbs, and S. H. Gollan with three each are the largest nominators. One of Miss Nelson's legs filled, which accounted for her withdrawal from the Great Northern Steepleohase. Mr. Alfred Joseph, of Melbourne, has received a letter by the English mail, dated 21st April, from Mr. Joe Thompson and Mr. J. D. Marks, who write: — ' We never had worse luck in our lives than we had yesterday. We made a book for Newhaven 11. for the City and Suburban Handicap,' and he ougl:t to have won by a street. Ho was absolutely left at the post, and the field had not got a quarter of a mile before he was hopelessly in the roar — at least 100 yards behind. You cau imagine our feelings when the ring (who knew we were going for }Tewhaven II.) laughed at us, and offered 1000 to 6 against him— and that was at the turn for home. Every horse with tho leaders was in turn proolaimed tie winner, but Newhaven 11. was never thmght of, and not till about 200 yards from home was ho sighted in ' Tatt's ' ring, when ho came with such marvellous speed that if the race had been 100 yards further he was suro to have won by a length or two. It was one of the most marvellous pe'formances ever seen, and the people were Jl talking of Newhaven 11., and novor tientioned the winner, Bay Ronald, who started as good a favourite as anything, You can imagine our feelings — £20,0J0 difference to us. Tho field was a' real good aud select handicap one, aud the performance of Newhaven 11. stamps him as a {linker.' ♦