NOTES BY HIPPONA.

Auckland Star, Volume XXI, Issue 4147, 13 October 1883, Page 4

NOTES BY HIPPONA.

The Spring Meeting of the Hawke'g BayJockey Club on Tuesday last appears to have furnished Borne excellent sport, while ' good fields were the order of the day. Leonata justified the confidence of her party by a Jiead victory in the big handicap, but from private telegrama to hand I learn that the judge's verdict would have been ia favour of Leonora had she not got jammed close to the rails. This opinion would appear "to be justified too, for in the Flying Handicap run soon afterwards Leonora got away and was never headed, beating Mischief by two lengths. By Leonata's win, Mr P. Martin secured the Spring Handicap for the second year in succession, ho having won with Mavis last year. Although tho Hurdle Race resulted in a turn-up, Doubtful was not without friends in local circles, for a couple of tho knowning ones did not fail to have a bit on the winner. Captain Russell's filly Escopeta, who made her debut, evidently had two easy victories in the Guineas and Maiden Plate, thus fiving a lift to her sire Musket, while the lew Zealand Stud Company are also to ba congratulated on now owning Leolinus, the sire of the first and second horses in the Spring Handicap. Up to the time the mail left last week, betting on the Melbourne Cup had been rather quiet, but it would seem from the quotations supplied by Reuter during tho week that a change had come o'er the scene, for Nicholas and First Demon now divide the honour of first favourite at 12 to 1. Santa Claus, who has been backed to win £40,000, has also come to the front, while Le Grand's name has disappeared from tho list, probably owing to the dispute over his ownership, and the support accorded Calma, cne_ of Mr D. S. Wallace's other representatives. As there has evidently been some mistake in the transmission of the Derby quotations, it is useless publishing them, but the prices on the Cup are as follows:— 12 to 1 agst. First Demon 12 — 1 Nicholas 14 — 1 Despot 11 — 1 Santa Claus 33-1 Martini-Henri While out in the direction of Green Lane on Saturday last, I called in at the boxes where Rowlands has Mr Bobbett's horses located, and found them looking healthy and well. The two-year-old Musket— Pungawerewere colt Tetford has grown and improved a lot since I last saw him, but he has still a bit too much daylight under him for my fancy. The unfortunate Maoriland, who was cast in his box when a two-year-old, looked very well; and though his trainer has been giving him a good bit of work lately, his hip, so far, has not interfered with him, but I believe he is a very ogly goer. Rowlands has effected a good deaf of, improvement in Musketeer and should he get him in good nick, I think he will contribute a little towards his oat bill before the season is over. The gentlemanly little - Libeller looked particularly fresh and well, and despite all the hard work he has done during his career, his legs appear to be . quite sound. The Victoria Amateur Turf Club Meeting: was to have commenced at Caulfield to-day, and will be continued on Saturday next when the Caulfield Cup, a one-and-a-half-; mile spurt, will be run off. The accept-, ances are not due till Tuesday, but according to latest information the in-and-out rvinnor Yately and Footstep still retained the pride of place in the betting market at 100 to 8 each. I learn that the New Zealand Stud Company have definitely decided upon shipping' a dozen youngsters to Australia shortly, i where they will be sold by public auction, ■ Those that will probably be sent over are a colt by Musket—Bergere, colt by Musket —Onyx, colt by Musket—Realisation, colt by Slusket— Locke*;, colt by MusketLyra, filly by Musket—Sylvia, filly by Muskot—Sister Agnes, filly by Musket— Pearl Ash, filly by Cadogan—Titania, colt by Cadogan—Naiad, colt by Leolinus— Petroleuse, and colt by Cap-a-pie—My Idea. All of the above have been nominated' I for the leading Australian two-and threeyear old races, so that it will tend to make them all the more valuable. Training operations are now in full,' swing at Flemington and Caulfield, and atlast advices most of the horses from the sister colonies had reached the convincing, grounds, while the remainder were to arrive, this week. Contrary to the usual custom,: Mr DeMestre's team are being worked in public, and consist of Navigator, Nicholas, * Aide-de-Camp, Iko, Waxlight, Copra, Olgt,;; the Cocoanut colt Coir, and two or. three other two-year olds. Amongst those reported to be doing particularly good work are Santa Claus, Calma, Conmotion, Coulston, Bordeaux, Pollio, Coriolanus, Footstep, First Water, Lesbia, and Yately, while at Randwick First Demon, Le Grand, Despot, Sardonyx, and Sir Modred are all pleasing the touts. What a grand fellow tho English horso Tristan, got by Hermit from Thrift, must be, for we learn by cable that he is again to the fore, having got home first in tho Champion Stakes run at the Newmarket October Meeting, the Doncaster St. Leger winner Ossian being second, and Dutch Oven third, Tristan, who has done good sen-ice over all courses for tho " tri-colour'' of Mr Le Fevre, also ran a dead heat with Thebais for the Champion Stakes last year, afterwards walking over and dividing; while at the Ascot Meeting in June las* he covered himself with glory by winning the Hardwicko Stakes, 1J mile, with the thumping impost of Ost 121b in the saddle, covering the distance easily in 2mins. 37secs. He also got home first in the Gold Cup, about 2J miles, carrying 9st 41b. Tristan Is a very vile-tempered animal, and, strange to say, always shows a dislike to any other jockey but the veteran Fordhara, who would -c probably ride him. At last advices, Martini-Henri still con- j tinued to do good work on the training ground at Randwick, but most likely ere this he is being subjected to the critical eyes of the Flemington watchers, for the Hon. J. ; White's team were to leave Sydney after , the Turf Club Meeting, which took place last Saturday. A friend of " Warrior's," writing to him from Sydney, says MartiniHenri poßsesess all the attributes necessary to the composition of a Derby horse, and that he has a very striking resent? - bianco to tho late Robin Hood and the' veteran Goldsbrough. He has seen MartiniHenri very recently, and he shows no signs, of ill-health, and he sincerely believes that , if the New Zealand-bred colt starts well and-, fit, the Victorian Derby of ISS3 is all over, bar-shouting. This is all very well, adds "Warrior," but how often has Mr "■' White attempted this feat with certainties and failed? Realisation (Wapiti's dam) dropped a brown coH to Musket at Sylvia Park this" week, while at Papakura old Peeress has produced a filly to the same horse. It is stated in Christehurch that Mr H. Lunn's well-known steeplechaser Canard has broken down.