THE TURF

« — «» FIXTURES. May 13 and 14,—Egmont R.C. Winter May 21 and 23.— Wanganui J.C. Winter. June 3 ahd 4.— Otaki Maori R.C Winter. NOTES AND COMMENTS /By Sir Bedivere.) Acceptances for the Wanganui Steeplechase, the' Century Hurdles, and other events are due on Monday. A prominent local sporting medico is sending to J, Ayres a two-year-old brown filly by Martian from Black Bess, and a four-year-old gelding by Ghoorka from the same mare. Black Bess is by San Fran, from Lady Bevys, dam of Mediterranean and Top Note, by Sir Bevys— Rugeley, by Beaudesert. Dorando, who met with some injury about a month ago, is not to be trained this whiter, and may be retired permanently. 'Chasers nave a wonderful knack of bobbing up again', however, and the chances are that whtm next autumn comes round Gordon will give him another trial. Peary is being schooled ovet steeplechase fences at Karamu, and is said to be shaping well. He should make a high-class 'chaser. Fashion Plate is to be given a chance to distinguish herself between the flags this winter, and on Saturday, when schooled over the steeplechase fences at Trentham, she shaped well. She is engaged in the hack and hunter events at Otald. The New Zealand-bred Seal Rock (San Francisco— Miss Gladys, dam of Gladsome" and Apologue) was represented by a winner at the Boolaroo meeting on 2nd May in Booy-amcurra, who took the Welter "Mile. He is also the sire of Quisita, who won a sprint event for Mr. J. A. Buckland,. of trotting fame, ,at Mudgee, on Ist May. Trugamni, who is now nine years old, was successful in the High Weight Handicap at Murrumbidgee on 28th April. She carried 9.2, won easily by four lengths, and completed the seven furlong course in lmin 29-iaec. Bon Reve is engaged in the Newcastle Cap, of 1000 soys, one mile and three furlongs, to be decided next Saturday. The top-weights are Posinatus 9.12, Aurofodina 9.12, and Aurifer 9.3, whilst Mr. W. G. Stead'h representative will have to carry 9.2. According to report, J. Tuckerman, who had been Mr. Earnshaw's foreman for some time past, is likely to take over the control of his late masters stable. Mr. H. R. Denison has already promised him five horses, and if Woorak and Trusti should also be entrusted to his care he will have a nice team to start with. Sister Radius started a good favourite for the Flying Handicap at Warwick Farm on 2nd May, but after being prominent for a while, she faded out and finished seventh in a field of twelve. She was ridden by J. Olseni The southern horseman, Len Hegarty, is expected to leave for Melbourne either this or next week in charge of Con the 'Shaughran and Icarion. A^boMin-g l ;M"!P^ti^rom the South, R. J. M4s'oh' iMkeiytb leave for Sydney about a fortnight hence in charge of some of Mr. G. ■< t). Greenwood's horses. This being so 1 his team will presujmably consist 1 - of Eraperado?, Cherubihi.'and some. tfsirig';^V»*year4Mds. There is a lot of 'talk going on in trotting circles jufit noV? about, the conditions of next season's New Zealand Trotting Cup. It seems that when, framing these' the committee of the Metropolitan Trotting Club were desirous that only horses which had shown themselves capable of, doing 4min 38sec m public should be eligible to compete. This in order that the field might be kept within reasonable proportions. Un* fortunately, however, it has not been specified in the conditions attaching to the e-v&it whether the time mentioned have been put up in a race or merely against the watch under official recordmaking circumstances. Many horses are, of course, quite capable of going 4min 38sec with a pace-maker to assist them, no opponents to go round, and the track and climatic conditions exactly to their liking, but they are quite incapable Of making the same time in a race. Several owners of 'such, are repotUfll *> be going to send them against an officially-held, watch so that they may qualify for entry and this is where the trouble is going to begin. In travelling round the> ( various meetings it is interesting to watch the working of the totalisator at the different placeß. Of course (writes " Whalebone "), as far as the registering is concerned there is nothing near Elterslie, but in other respects Manawatu is an easy first. The posting of the dividends in particular was a, revelation, and they were on the board actually before the horses were back in the paddock. The paying out was also a long way in advance of most places, and altajgether the arrangements were an object lesson to the majority of much larger clubs. Ladas, who won the Two Thousand and the Derby for Lord Rosebery in 1894, died during the last week m March at the Mcntmore Stud. He was unbeatpn, as a three-year-old, but the following season Isinglass proved his master in both the Prince of Wales Stakes and the Eclipse Stakes, and, to the surprise of almost everyone, a rank outsider in Throtle put him down in the St. Leger. In all he won stakes to the value of £18,558. On being sent to the stud he commenced well by siring Epsom Lad during the first season, and other noteworthy sons or daughters of his were Oriolo, who took the Coronation Stakes at Ascot ; Montem, who won the Now Stakes and the July Stakes at Newmarket ; Polka, who carried off the Royal Hunt Cup; Long Tom, winner of the Great Metropolitan ; Gorge*, who won the Two Thousand; and Troutbeck, who won the St. Leger. Ladas also scored a brilliant jumper in Indian Runner. His stock have won 196 races and earned nearly £97,000. There is very little of his. blood in this country, but hie daughter, Mall, is the: dam of Marble Arch. The present season is now concluded as far as two-year-old racing is concerned, and the Referee's Turf statistician is already out with his winning list. The fourteen young horses at the head of this are :—: — Races Names and Pedigree. Won. Amount. Rencontre (Obligado — Tourna- £ ment) 3 1830 Downham (Downshire—'Seashell) 3 1149 Charmilla (Charlemagne 11. — Armilla^ 3 1090 Pariform (Boniform— -Pawa) 2 1012 Ilyettus (Hymettus— Asiatic) 2 1010 /Reputation (Martian—Stepfoldl) 3 930 Mulingnr (Marble Arch — Romola) - 3 870 Chime (Royal Fusilier—La Cloche) i 3 811 Balboa (Varco— -Nerve) ... 3 770 Tete-e-Tete (Royal Fusilier— •• Gossip) #.j „a .., 1 765

Hymettius (Hymettus— Derelict) 1 760 Bee (Martian—Lady Disdain) 3 530 Fabrikoff (MenEchikoff— Fabia) 2 500 Bold Stroke (San FranciscoBrave Heart) .' 1 465 Last season Soltano topped the pole with £2190 to his credit. Mowbray (£1725) and Poronilla (£1595) being in second and third place respectively.