TURF GOSSIP.

Auckland Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 54, 2 July 1887, Page 2 (Supplement)

TURF GOSSIP.

[By Hipfona.]

The weights for the Melbourne Cup duly caino to hand in timo for publication in Tuesday's daily papers, and carefully looking through tho compilation, I havo come bo bho conclusion thab ib is aboub bhe mosb " flattering" effort bhab has emanated from tho hands of the Victorian handicapper. Ib seems to me bhab the three top weights, Trenton, Nelson and Trident.have little to complain of, for the handicap being commenced on a low scale must favour their chance, and considering that Tridcnj. is an improving horse I would sooner stand him than a vast number of those engaged The performers in tho three-year-old division, I -think, have not been well treated, for it takes a wonderful horse of this ago to win a Melbourne Cup, wibh anything over 7st. For proof of this wo havo only to go hack to Trident last, year and Nordenfeldb in bhe year pre vious. Both of them, though admittedly brilliant animals, could nob geb closer to the winner than fourth. We hear thab racehorses in Australia are in thoir prime ab bhis age, bub even admitting thab bhey are, ib bakes, as I said above, a wonderful animal to win this race when bhey have bo compete against four, five, and six-year-olds wibh feather -weights on bheir back. Mr Barnard has, bo my mind, treated the New Zealand division most favourably, if wo except Disowned, and bhe way bhis colb has been " slaughtered "is out of all reason. When bhe weights first came bo hand, ib was thought bhab bhere musb be some mistake in the matter, but when bho Australian papers come to hand containing bhe weights, I think ib will be found bo be correct. At this.stage, it is almost folly attempting to pick out the likely winner, bub nevertheless baking public form as a guide, among bhe Australian division who stand.oub as having a likely chance are Trident (9sb 81b), Silveraiine (Bsb 31b), Frisco (7s. 31b), Bohemian (7sb 131b), All Gold (7sb 101b), Crossfire (7sb 91b), The.Levite (7sb 31b), Ben Bc-lt (7st 121b), itib'awa (7sb 111b), and Lord William (7sb 71b). .. The besb treated of the Now Zealand division I take to be Thunderbolb (7sb 81b), while Pasha (7sb 121b), Spade Guinea (Bsb 61b) and Silver Prince (7sb 31b) each have .a. taking appearance on paper. The firsb forfeib for the race is due on the Ist of August.

I journeyed out to Green Lane on the day previous bo Too Sboon and Queenie being shipped bd Sydney for bhe purpose of having a final look "at bhehi in bheir old quarters. Both were looking bhe.verypicbure of health dud condition. It was some time before I could leave the box occupied by Too Soon, and without any gtisb I bhink it cart be honesbly said he is one of bhe finesblo'oldng horses that have ever left Auckland. Whether liis deeds on the race-course will be commensurate therewith remains to be seen, but personally I think they will. What better pedigree could be wished for than that possessed by Too Soon ? He is by Anberos out of Steppe (halfsister to the mighty Hermit), and riot only was she a good performer herself, but her progeny, notably Leeds and' Rye Grass in England, and the local mare Lady Norah and Mr G. G. Stead's Russley,have each shown that they cduld race. Too Soon's only appearance in public with the silk up was on the second day of bhe Auckland Racing Club Aubumn Meeting, so bhat bhe greaber number of burfibes are nob familiar wibh him. He is a beautiful blood bay, vvibh black poinbs, and stands jusb 16.2. Although bhis height, he is in no way leggy, and a more commanding and even-shaped ono it would perhaps be hard bo find. He has a good honesb head, excellenb fore-arm, and a real wear-and-tear seb of legs, but bo find a fault, he is nob so well let down behind as might be wished. Excerjbing his quarters, Too Soon is more of bhe Muskeb bype of horse bhan Anberos, and ib is quibe plain bhab he bhrows back bo his dam. Queenie is. well-known bo race-goers, as she sported silk ab bhe A.R.C. Spring, Summer and Aubumn Meetings, but she failed to claim theatbention of bhe judge. At the Wanganui Meeting, in March, however, she had a couple of winning brackets, but I shall never expect tosee her j shine except under handicap conditions. Wibh anybhing under 7sb 121b and properly placed she should win a good race for her owners. Considering that Queenie stands orily 14.2, she stands over a, wonderful lot .pf, ground, and she has improved in every way since I looked over in April lasb, It has been

arranged that Too Soon and Queenie are to be prepared for bheir Australian engagements in the Hawkesbury district, and they will be under the charge of Mr N. Peyton, a well-known light in New Soubh Wales turf circles. Carmody deserves no end of praise for bhe way he had the pair looking when they were shipped, and although it is somewhat annoying to see promising horses go out of bhe counbry, I hope bhab ib may be my duty ere many months have winged bheir flight bo chronicle a big victory for tho " blue jacket and whibe cap."

Saburday's racing ab Onehunga proved the most disastrous day local backers have experienced during the whole season. Favourite after favourite wenb down, and ab bhe conclusion of bhe day I noticed a great number of very long visages. Tho opening event of bhe clay, the Maiden Plate, saw Antolopo beat tho greatly-fancied Tupaki and Weazel ; and Coral proved equal to winning the Hurdle Race, Victory (who many thought could nob lose) nob even gaining a place. Sirloin was selecbed favourite for tho Selling Sbakes, bub he had to be content with acting as runner-up to Yankee, and the big Steeplechase saw the little-thought of Orangeman triumph over eleven others. Huntsman who was most fancied, fell. Snake and Friendship were served up very warm for the Winter Oats Handicap, bub The Cab being on his besb behaviour defeated tho pair and five other ninnors, whilo Whalebone unexpectedly turned up trumps in bhe Selling Steeplechase, and to wind up tho proceedings backers met wibh another facer by Friendship beating the two favourites, Catesbyand llewi. Taken altogether, it was a day bhab the groat bulk of turfites cannot look back to wibh pleasure, and a very unkind conclusion to tho Auckland racing season of ISS6-87.

Ab a committee meeting of the Auckland Racing Club this week, a sub-committee was appointed to go through tho Metropolitan rules, with a view to adopting them here, thus having one sob of rules in force throughout bhe colony. This is a stop in the right direction, and j hope bo hear of bhe members adopting thorn when tho time for the annual meeting comes round in August next.

Mr J. Munn evidently possesses a good cross-counbry animal in Mangaohane, for ho appears to have won both tho Hawke's Bay Jockey Club and Napier Park Sbeopleohiu.es in a mosb easy fashion. In bhe presenb great dearbh of iirsb-class jumping horses, the advent of an animal like Mangaohone is to be welcomed, and I hope to see him pitted against the Southern cracks in tho Christchurch Grand National. Pohokura, bhe sire of Mangaohone, is dead, bub looking up his breeding I find bhab ho was got by Pacific, dam Vilctte, by Young Pioneor out of Ada, by /Ether. Owhaoko was also sired by Pohokura.

Leeds, by Doncaster trom bho Now Zealand Company's mare Steppe, (dam of Lady Nornhund Too Soon) won theFulwell Stakes at tho Kompbon-park Jubileo meeting.

From Christchurch I learn that Nelson has put on a lot of flesh since his return from Australia, bub the son of King Cole looks as sound as when he made his first appearance on tho turf. Mr D. O'Brien's colt Carbino, by Musket—Mersey, whose hocks have given his owner some trouble, is making rapid progress wibh his educabion, and is now sound and well.

Amidst the greatest expressions of good feelings, Mr W. Lyons left for Sydney on Wednesday last to try his fortune on the Australian turf. Quito a crowd of wcllknowii figures in the racing world assembled on the wharf to bid him good-bye. During the great number of years Mr Lyons has resided in Auckland he lias never failed to como up to time, despite many hard knocks ho lias received, and his figure will be much missed on our local racecourses.

I noticed a couple of youngsters at Onehunga on Saturday in tho shape of Mr J. Enko'w colt Puschka (by Musket—Lady Ruvonsworbh) and bhe filly by Leolinus— Moonlight (half-sister bo Tamora) owned by Mr J. Lcnnurd. They were being ridden bo get used to the crowd, and are both promising looking.

Now that Messrs Lyons and Blaikie havo given up racing in Auckland, tho connection between the popular pencillors and M. Carmody is severed. Since Carmody has been here he has proved that he thoroughly knows his business, and ib is hard lines for him bhab Too Soon and Quoenie have been taken to Sydney. Excepting this pair and Pcbroloum, the horses ho has had under his care were mere " leabher flappers," so bhab he had nob the pleasure of leading in tho winner of a big race. Ib is quite probable bhab Carmody may sbarb braining on his own accounb, and such a careful and painsbaking man, should nob bo long wibhouba beam under his charge.

J. Kean, who. accompanied Mitrailleuse to Melbourne in February lasb, reburned bhis week. He suffered very severely wibh an affection of the eye while in the Victorian capibal, and ib was bhought atone time bhab he would have losb his sighb. Ho is now all right again.

In a recent issue 1 published a paragraph in these notes giving an insbance of whab abuse handicappers have bo contend against at bhe hands of irabe horse-owners when weights appear, and referred bo bhe running of Friendship in bhe A.R.C. Winber Handicap as a case in poinb. "Sir Laiincolot," after quoting my commenbs, gives some of his experience in the mabbe'r, and this, is what he says':—There is no more-abused gentleman bhan bhe average handicapper, arid even the " aristocracy " of our racing circles are nob above denouncing in no mealy-moubhed phrases {when it mats them to do _o); handicappers who have had bo deai wibh bheir horses. Those who were presenb (I was among bhe party) when bhe Hon. W. Robinson, in bhe Grand Hotel, at Dunedin, during the progress of bhe lasb D. J.C. Aubumn Meeting, expressed hisibpinion bhat Silver Prince was " disgracefully " treated in both the Porbury and Flying Handicaps, " smole " a big smile next day when bho colb named won both bhe handicaps. Carrying my mind back to the C. J.C. Autumn Meeting of 1882, I can remember bhab When blie weighbs came oub the public thoughbSalvage badly breabed ab 7st 71b, and on public form lie certainly had a lob bhe worsb of ib, seeing bhab he had only previously run once, when, with 6sb 61b in bhe Saddle, he was beabert by a head by Hilda for the Wellington Cup. Nabator was engaged irt bhe Great, Aubumn Handicap at 9sb lib, and in the face of Mr Robinson's complaint, in the hearing of several members in TabbersalFs Club Rooms, bhab Salvage was " disgracefully" breabed by Mr Griffith, bhe then adjuster of Weights, arid the fact, thab Nababor was. bhen as good a favouribe' as anything, it was funny to find Salvage firsb favouribe on bhe day of the race. And how did he win? Why,- in a canter, with Luna second and Libeller third, ' Natotor being unplaced. Then again. I have, In the days of Canard, King Arthur, &c, heard Mr H. Lunn denounce the handicappers' treatment of Ids horses, but I mind me .of times when Canard has won more than one good race on the declaration of the weights for which his owner had affirmed thab he was " disgracefully" breabed by bhe handicapper. These cases are on a par wibh bhe Friendship case in Auckland. Ido nob wish it to be inferred thab bhe Hon. W. Robinson and Mr E Lunn are solibary examples of bhe "grumbling owner." Far from ib; bhab species of genbleman exists far and wide in New Zealand as well as in a good many other places, but, nevertheless, ib is a source of amusement to a turf scribe to hear tales of woe poured into his ear by owners who, as subsequent events prove, have, a real good thing in; the- animal bhey aver bhab bhe handicapper has breated badly.

The New Zealand Cup weighbs came bo hand too late for notice this week.

Australian papers state that the well known jockey " Brickey " Colley contem plates a brip to New Zealand.

Ten yearlings from Mr S. Gardiner's Bundoora Park Stud were pub up for sale in Sydney lasb week, bub oub of bhe number only bwo were sold,viz., brown colt, Heidelberg, by Motea-Magnolia, Mr T. Cook, 25gs. ; and chestnut colb Ivanhoo, by Motea —Bertha, Mr Anbhony, 20gs. Ab bho same sale, a brown yearling filly, by Robinson Crusoe—Sunshine, full sisber bo Mr D. O'Brien's Soxbanb, was knocked down bo Mr J. Dykes for Sogs.tf

Mr John Crazier, the well-known Australian sbud-master, has lately refused an offerof 2,000 guineas for Robinson Crusoe.

Uranius, the winner of the Maiden Steeplechase ab the Hawke's Bay Meeting, is a half-brother to Volcano, and from all accounts will be heard of in bhe fubure.

Stewart Waddell, the Dunedin • trainer, had a narrow escape bhe obher day. While engaged breaking in the Lapidisb-Peb yearling, he was kicked in bhe face. Ab bhe time Waddell was standing a few feet away, and drew back his head, so bhab bhe force of tho kick was partially spenb : sbill he got an ugly crack on bhe nose. A foob nearer, and he would probably have been killed. The colb was ab bhe time of bhe accidenb being senb round in a circle, held by a rope and halter.

In Sydney (writes " Augur,") the run on bhe double evenb, V.R.C. Derby and Melbourne Cup, has been principally made on Abercorn and Trident, and starting at 1,000 to 5 the admirers of Mr White's colt havo gone on to 1,000 to 12. One Victorian member of tho ring at presenb in Sydney has laid 5,000 to 25 against Abercorn and Trenton, and Niagara and Trenton, and the same colb for bhe Derby has been baken ab the same price with a number of other horses for the Cup.

Tho Hon. W. 'Pearson inbends bo bring on bhe vexed question of raising bhe minimum weight in handicaps bo 6sb 71b, ab tho next goneral meeting of the members of bhe Vicboria Racing Club. Should bho motion bo carried, horseowners will be relieved of bhe greab difficulby now experienced in securing efficienb jockeys of bhe requisibe weighb.

The Hon. James Whibe has sold the maiden 2-year-old Ponbifex bo Mr J. Dykes, and bhe colb has joined Alsopp's sbring.

Questions aro often asked as to the authenticity of Bendigo's mile record for the Lincolnshire Handicap of 1885. Bendigo is said bo have run bhe distance in lmin 36 4-ssec, which, it will be seen, is hardly an appreciable fracbion under lmin 37secs. The record does not seem to be generally accepted, especially in Australia, but " Rapier," of the " Sporting and Dramatic News," does not doubt it. "Buccaneer's mile in lm 38s ab Salisbury," he says, "is generally quoted as bhe besb performance known ; bub this is nob an easy course, and on a course which was easy Buccaneer would very likely havo done a couple of seconds or so better."

When Stanley changed hands bhere was somebhing like a mystery surrounding him. The Hawkesbury Handicap winner, however, figures in the nominations for the Flat Race run at the V. R. C. Grand National Meeting, and is entered in the name of Mr D. M. .Johnson.

Up to April 30 C. Wood was at the head of winning jockeys in England, with 28 successes oub of 9-1 mounts. G. Barrett, 18, was second on the list, F. Webb 16, third, and J. Fagnn, E. Martin, and S. Loabe., wibh 1 _ each, divided bhe honours of fourth place.

A Napier paper state's that ab the recent meeting of bhe Hawko's Bay Gun Club " Brasher " Woods, the well-known horseman,- caused some amusement. He pulled both triggers ab once when firing, killing his bird, and nearly bhrowing himself bo bhe ground.

Alex. Taylor, the -Manton trainer, has been in great form in England up to bhe present .time. With Oberon he won the Lincolnshire Handicap, The Cob won tho Great Metropolitan Stakes ab Epsom, Carlbon won the Chester Cupand the Manchester Cup, Revo dOr won tho One Thousand Guineas and the Oaks ; and, besides these important events, several minor races havo fallen to his lob.

Mr J. A. Scarr, the A. J. C. handicapper, has just retired from the position of shorthand wriber bo bhe New South Wales Parliament afber a service extending over bhirty yfears. He Was presented with a testimonial.:

Mr John Mayo has been obliged to turn out Highland Mary forn rest, and ib is more bhan probable bhab she will be relegated to bhe sbud.: The' daughter of Grandmaster and The Novice has not been a success on the turf.

Mr Robert Howott, .writing to a friend in Australia, states thab he was so satisfied bhere was some advantage in running horses withoub plates, that when he returned home he adopted bho Australian plan, and had won three races with horses who were barefooted.

Mr D. F. Mackay, of Dulcalmal, Whittingham, near Singleton (N.S. W.), is dead. He owned the celebrated sire Grandmaster for many years, and bred several good horses.

Mr James Oreig, an old Tasmanian racing man,- Was found drowned in the River Tamar recently, having, it is supposed,' accidentally walked into bhe waber during the night. Deceased owned several racehorses at one time or other. Blink Bonny was bhe one which gained him mosb fame. She was purchased at Mr John Field's Sale of 1881, for ___5, and won Mr Greig somebhing like LSOO in sbakes, a big suriv in Tasmania, and was then sold to Mr R. G. Talbot for LSO-0 ; and a good bargain she proved, as she carried the "claret and Eton bide " to the fore in the Caulfield Cup.

■'. Robert ,Hesp, bhe trainer of the famous Hungarian mare Itincsem, died recently in Vienna. Hesp was a native of W.ibheringsea. and left England in 183.. The death of Tt. Thomas, who rode Lord Lyon to victory in the Two Thousand Guineas in 1866, is also announced.

After bhe race for the Jubilee Handicap ab Canterbury Park, Ellis, who had bhe mount on Leichardb, was called before bhe sbewards bo explain why he dwelb ab bhe post after the fall of the flag, and did nob play his part in bhe race, Ellis's explanation was to the effect that he did not see the flag drop, and consequently did not know that a start had been effected. r The stewards advised him to be more careful in future.

' The imported pony stallioh Prince, the property of Mr T. G. Hewitb, of the Clarence River (N.S.W.), died recently from some internal complaint. He was imported wibh Gregory's circus, from America, and as a sire of good well-paced ponies has had few equals.

Racehorses are very eccentric in their likes and dislikes. Tom Brown's favourite companion is a black cat which comfortably cuddles ibself bebween bhe horse's forelegs as he lies stretched in his box. The great English Waxy was never happy unless there was a rabbit in his paddock. Old Wanderer (bhe English one) would never allow anyone to catch his eye or see him lie down after he was put out of training. Chilperie used to amuse himself by kick: Ing his box to pieces until a goat was placed in ib wibh him, and he soon grew quiet and fond of his companion.

The Neurzoti or Hungarian Derby Avas run at Pesth on May Day, and was vrr* by Zsupan, who is the property of P de Rothschild. The winner is " bred horse, by Peter out of P:.