SPORTING NOTES.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XX, Issue 5513, 9 January 1885, Page 2

SPORTING NOTES.

(BY J •TjANEUK.)

"Martini," commenting on Tho Poet's Auckland Cup victory, o»d the miserable figure Administrator cut in the race, winds up thus :— " Far be it from me to hint that there hns bean any foul play in counectioa with the running of any hortes ; on the contrary, I am greatly impressed with tho high integrity of sportsmen. Butat the same time, let us woit patiently for th»t epoch in the dim, uncertain future, when no man will be allowed to stake money on his own horse's running — for then, and then only, it seeni3 to me, shall we sue horse-racing conducted honestly and oa its merits."

Of the five horses running in the Midsummer Handicap at Christchurch last Saturday, .and won by Wapiti, only one was bred io fTeV^Zsaiaud ; the wiuner being from the Glenorrniston^&tadt-aadL^ son of the defunct King Cole. Ike, tho runner up, was bred in New South Wales, acd is by Piscator, whilst Taiaroa, the other placed horse, is a Tubal Cain. Tasman, by St. Albans, was the other Australian bred horse ; Leodogran, by Leolinus, being the only New Zealand bred animal who faced the starter. This does not look well in a colony like this, possessing such stud gems ai Sylvia, Onyx, Pulchra, Steppe, Idalia, and many others of almost equal lineage ; and such sires as Musket, Leolinus, Auteros, Cadogan, Apremont, and a host of other well-bred and successful Btud celebrities.

The New Zealand Stud Company of Auckland have had a most successful sale of yearlings, but have not scived turfites in this colony very well, as they reserved the pick of the lot for sale in Sydney, where Mr Chbborn will submit a grandly-bred draft for sale on the 27th inst., when the following will pass under his hammer, viz., Chestnut colt, by Anteros (imp.) from Sylvia; brown colt, by Musket (imp.) from Rosette (imp.) ; brown colt, by Musket (imp.) from Realization (imp.) ; brown colt, by Musket (imp.) from Onyx; chestnut colt, by Cadogan (imp.) from Petroleuse (imp.); c. colt, by Musket (imp.), Lure (sister to Lurline) ; brown filly, by Musket (imp.) from L'Orient (imp.); bay filly, by Cadogan (imp.) from Steppe (imp.), half-sister to Hermit. Of the above, the colt by Anteroa from Sylvia is a beau-tifully-bred animal, and ought to be keenly competed for, as ought the colt by Musket from Onyx — Chrysolite, the latter from Juliet, who was ako the dam of Sylvia, and whose descendants have earned for her the highest place in Australian stud lore. Another gem of the first water should be the filly from Steppe, half sister to the great Hermit, and dam of Leed-, who has won several races in England lately. Steppe is also the dam of Russley, the winner of the Canterbury Middle Park Plate the other day. At the Featherston Knees on the 3rd, Princess Royal won the Maiden, and Pasha the New Year Handicap, of £35, as also the Featherston R.C. Handicap, of £60 ; in the latter race Gentle Annie, who was leading by several lengths, came down and First Water fell over her, leaving the race to Pasha and Pilgrimage. Kussley, the winner of the Middle Park Stakes at Christchurch on Saturday last, is a grandly bred colt, being by Doncaster — Steppe (dam of Leeds), imp. He ought to be a stud land-mark in years to come, if he lives to do his adopted country some stud service. His owner, Mr G. G. Stead, has done a lot for New Zealand in many ways, and in none more than his judicious importations of racing stock. lam glad always to see his name figuring as a winner, and hope he may have increased luck in the future.

Binemoa swept the board at Greymouth on both days, and her half sister Tigridia shewed what a good mare she was by bowling over the much fancied Ugly Buck, and others in the Auckland Derby last week f Both mares are daughters of Amohia j the former by Totara and the latter by Leolinus.

Some one is not satisfied with the present Marton-Rangitikei Jockey Club, and calls a meeting by advertisement in the local paper, for those interested in forming a Marton Jockey Club to attend at the White Hart at 8 p.m. on the 10th instant. As there is no name to the advertisement, I Bhould not think the attendance would be large, If there is anything wrong in the way the present club is being worked, there is a remedy and it would be better to use it than to multiply the already too numerous racing clubs on the coast.

The Marton-Raugitikei tryst passed off quietly, the weather the first day being v, et, but all that could be desired on the second, Of the different events, there is not much to be said, further than the double victory of Speculation was an eye opener for the general rmblic, who, even after her victory on the first day, got considerably astray on the second, fancing that Ahua was to do it ! I managed to place the horses exactly in the Flying Stakes, won by Parvenu, but although I mentioned all the placed horses in the big Handicap as likely to fill places, I did not arrange them properly, as my choice for the premier position could only get up into' second place. I was luckier in the Maiden for which 1 selected Maid of Eccleston, and she did all that was required. On the second day I was out of it iv the Derby, for which I fancied Dilke's son most, but he had no show with the son of Patriarch, who romped home an easy winner. I made a better shot at the Auckland Derby, for which I selected Ugly Buck or Tigridia, and the latter won. There was some dissatisfaction at the poor show made by Parvenu in the Railway Handicap at Bulls on the sepond day. The colt was warin.ly supported by the public, who thought the clever division were backing him. They found out their mistake just before the flag fell, when they saw the stable money going on to the black mare iv "tenners." A few such lessons will teach the public to keep their fingers out of the "pool," whore they are sure to fare ill under the present arrangement I The Rangitikei Handicap did not tell us much as to Sir Bedevere's quality, as he simply went to make a pace for his stable companion, and did it successfully, leaving the mare to come through when the others were pumped, which rose the dander of one trainer, and opened the floodgates of his speech, causing him to run a very narrow escape of being heavily fined and turned off the ground. I hope he will have better sense for the future than to let his feelings run away with his judgment. There is a very strong feeling against the Bulls meeting being again extended over two days, aeit is a tiase of " sweetness long drawn out," and gets tiresome. If the Club had a single day programme on New Year's Day, and a good Hurdle and Steeplechase meeting in the winter, I think they would be doing the district more justice. Rangitikei has long been noted for its cross country nags, and the Club should encourage their breeding by giving big stakes for jumping races.

philosopher, who met his death at Reefton on the same day as Sincerity, was half brother to the latter, both being from Fides, the former by May King.

I made a mistake in my last notes respecting Wanderer, late Carlton, whom I set down as half brother to Cheviot, instead of full brother to Nonsense and Oudeis. He is by Albany— No Name.

Alipk McCormick had a slice of luck at Bulls,' as he rode 6 winners, in fact all he started for.

At Greymouth the public were furious at the decision of the Stewards, by which Wanderer, who came in first for the Consolation Handicap, was declared distanced for having crosued the ultimate winner, Cardigan, to whom the stakes were awarded. The announcement was received with loud groans, and in a few minutes the stewards' room was filled by a surging excited crowd, who roared a good deal, heapiug abuse on the stewards and denouncing them in the most unmeasured terms. It took some little time before the crowd entirely calmed down. After about a dozen tickets had been paid at the totalisator, the crowd were in a most furious state of excitement, and one person proposed that they should " break the b y machine an,d smash it all to pieces," "Boys, let's wreck the machine," &c. Inspector Emerson and his men were promptly on the spot, and in order to make affairs smooth, they recommended that the rest of the money Bhould be paid out in town next day.

Mr Evett has declared the weights for the Foxton handicaps, and has taken a pretty accurate view of the respective merits of the different animals submitted to his judgment. As the acceptances close next Thursday, I

will wait till I see how many pay up be making any further remarks on tho subject.

I am glad Tommy Rowe has got a tpam in hand once more, as he is a steady, deserving trainer, and will leave no stone unturned to Set Bayard and Last Chance as fit as fiddlea. If he can win as many races with Bayard as his late trainer (Sam Powell) scored with the son of Tubal Cain a d Royal Heart, he will be a lucky man, as the company is getting very warm in the district now that Speculation, Sir Bcdevcre, Armourer, Parvenu, and Ringleader arc to be encountered at every meeting. Still, I think Bayard, if thoroughly fit and nicely ridden, is not to be dei-piac-a, especially at anythiug under 7st 71b. Mr Evett ha 3 let him in to the Wellington Cup with 6st 121 b, but I don't think even that Jight impost will induce his owner to send him so fir away from home this season.

Bob Vallance had a bit of bad luck at Auckland, as he could not start Turquoise who injured his foot ; aui to c»p his misfortune, the high pricad yearling colt by Musket— Pearlash (dam of Pearl), for which Vallance gave 140 guineas, broke its leg after delivery had been taken and had to be destroyed.

Fied Archer has had a sad loss, hie younf wife having died shortly after giving birt'i to her first child, a daughter. Mrs Arch r was if I remember right the daughter of Mat Dawson the celebrated English trainer. Fred is making a trip to Australia to try and forget his grief in the excitement of trouble.