TURF GOSSIP.

Auckland Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 160, 9 July 1887, Page 2 (Supplement)

TURF GOSSIP.

[By HirroNA.]

'The timo that these nobes are required bo go bo press prevented mo from giving my impressions of theNeAv Zealand Cup handicap lasb Aveek. This circumstance, lioavever, has given me plenty of time to carefully look OA rer tho compilation, ancl I have come to the conclusion that it is a great many removes from being a good one. Take Mr E. Mitchelson's filly Torori for instance. Now, on what grounds or performances could bhey ask her to concede Aveighb nobably bo Gipsy King, Bangle, and Lady Florin. ? Torori is cerbainly a year older, bub Avibh any weights up I am certain the trio mentioned could beat Torori from half-a-mile bo bAVO miles, and concede her aboub 281b. Then again, anyone bhab looks inbo bhe handicap will agree bhab Tobford is very harshly dealb Avibh. His public perform, ances do nob warranb him 'giving away Aveighb to Lochiel, and several horses beloAV him.- Silver Prince in my opinion is also badly used. The handicappers may have some reason for awarding this half, brother to Martini-Henry _st 81b (61b under his Aveighb-for-age) bub I don'b bhink bhab he is enbiblcd to such an impost. In bhe Forbury Handicap 1^ mile,' on bhe lasb day of the D. J.C' Autumn Meeting, he carried 6st 13_lb, and in bhe Flying Stakes, 1 mile, run on the same afternoon^ ho had 7st 91b in bhe saddle. From all accounbs he certainly Avon both races in a ridiculously easy fashion, but what Avas behind him ? Anobhei. thing is it fair thab Silver Prince should give Aveighb bo Disowned. Sboneyhurst is simply crushed in being placed next bo Nelson at a difference of 81b, and in giving the last-named 9sb 101b the handicappers have evidently made a bid .to keep him in Noav Zealand this spring. Ib is always a pity bo see a good horse crushed out of a handicap for the sake of a lot of third-raters, but eA-en bearing this in mind I don't think that the framers of the Aveights Avould have erred, bad they asked the son of King Cole to carry at least 21b more. Anobher very Avell-treated horse is Lochiel, who, on bheir lasb NeAv Zealand Cup running, meets Nelson, on 4lb bobber terms. Those Avho haA-e seen Silence race Ayill ab once pounce on him as one of bhe good things of bhe handicap, and I prophecy that if all goes Avell Avibh this Napier-owned one he , Avill see a shorb price before the eventful day. In the Easter Handicap ab bhe A.R.C. Aubumn Meeting when he acted as winner up to Spade Guinea, it Avill be remembered he was carrying Bst 131b—or 101b less than he has in the , Ncav Zealand Cup. I look upon Silence as the. besb horse Aye haA'e at present locabed in bhe Norbh Island. The crack youngsbers, Sexbanb, Maxim and Niagara, wieh 7sb 61b each are fairly handicapped, bub if Gipsy King wibh 71b less, is as good as I am told, and improves in the meantime, he musb bake spmo beating. ,Bobh Bangle] and Lady -florin are decidedly Avel in wibh 6sb 121b and 6sb 91b respectively, but there are a lot of promising and wellbred horses bhrown in wibh equally light Aveights, and fib may be thab the Avinner will come from one of this dark division. This the handicappers have in their favour. To pick three out of the lot, at the present bime bo supply bhe winner, my choice falls on Silence, Nelson and Lochiel. , ,-.

Scot Free, Avho put his hip out while baking parb in bhe Napier Park Meeting lasb March, was bought back in company with Silvio on Monday _a'sb. Those who Saw Scot Ffeo tell, me that he would scarcely .be recognised mow, randis ft perfect wreck in appearance,

Fusillade, bhe New Zealand Cup winner of 1885, is being exercised regularly, ab Ellerslie, and is now almosb as good as new. Ib will be remembered bhab he was broughb up here from Christchureh bo bake part in bhe A.R.C. Summer Meeting, bub going amiss before bhe gabhering he was nob seen out. He underwent a course of blistering and was turned out, but some weeks,back was taken up again and is in George Wright's hands. His impost in the New Zealand Cup is Bst 71b, exactly the same Aveight as he was asked to carry last year.

Excepting Petroleum, who is turned out at Mr D. McKinnon's farm at Rangiriri, Messrs Lyons and Blaikie have now disposed of their horses. Pipi has passed into the hands of one Of the local cash bettors at L2o, and a well-known tradesman has purchased Woodpecker for LlO. Catesby, Avho is now in Harry Harrison's hands, was bought by Mr T. Henwood, of Mangare, for LIOO.

Since the appearance of bhe NeAV Zealand Cup a. eights, local backers have indulged in a bit of speculation. Silence is greatly in favour, and B's to 1 have been booked against him, Avhile both Nelson and Lochiel have met with support at 10 to 1. Maxim has found a taker avlio accepted 100 to 8 about him, and 100 to 6 has been taken about Lady Florin. For the Melbourne Cup, the best price on offer against Trident is 100 to 5, Awhile Thunderbolt, Pasha, and Spade Guinea have each met Avith support ab 100 bo 2. Among the Australian division. Matador nnd 'Frisco are in the greatest: favour among backers, and have also been coupled in various doubles on Derby and Cup.

I think Mangahaone and Owhaoko are tho two best treated in the handicap for tho Grand National Steeplechase.

" Mazeppa" has compiled the folloAving interesting table, which shoAvs at a glance how backers haA'e fared during tho season in the 2. leading races enumerated :—

-• j OOOffIOOOOOOOOOOOtOOOOOOOOO _ . NOtOOXO<DOOO>OMQO . HO> .. NWHWIOOO (_ UoMocoffiio>-<^i»e__iN_(N_!.:_ _j---(cq—'roc-i sh • . a. '•.•'•'••'•'..'.'.'. a '• '• '• : • •' •cs « fi- - -9 (3 w •. _i _i » . _ 'a 8 _•. . _. ~C_ . a fci S- " c—' ■_ CS.S «._,_.-« o oCS i^aSilt . ats-sSe.Mt._j- .ort-e . -_<Scj Z— _ c_3- J _ 3Js » c>—■_. 03k. rf p.._:^__ d—* Pc. p. _ X .-KO . owe.—!-. <ooo««>•-cstaco^~t-t-oo■^4F-©l--03 g: • : ::: •■:: •■: •':: :gg :g ::: :g I •'SS'g .8 ..■% ■ .3-c .| .I ■_ > fi "I S«.S§ d 8 S § B__ <3_3 «*__ i! 3 OpH-3 fi.OO r - . t_ ■* m" H _ -** Se.._J.-^U-«SJ» h—< tf i>aQ_.Q^H<.g^:ap-&<t>&i_c-a2toOHxao'(g :.::::: tp,::::::.:.:: ?: ::: : .a ws'g . . .g. p, W rt l3M_ "o ' ft _ n ft£ 9 W; p.::::|.-I:: :_ : : :8 : : :||§l ■:? lift o|i " 1 isla . So.-0 >-&<*s hOo _ P i_c=. •T_ac _ 3"W •s al sal ail s IM.l M.^ a |si 3^--< w i

All the New Zealand horses in training at Flemingbon are reported to be getting on as Avell as the sloppy state of the bracks will permib bhem. Nothing bub good is heard of Niagara, ancl Trenton is said to be once more shoAving a bit of that form he exhibited previously.

From an account of a Adsit bo Mr G. G. Stead's stables, at Yaldhurst, which appears in the '' Canterbury Times" I condense the folloAving items of interest :—We found Maxim looking bright and Avell, and a good deal bigger than Avhen he cantered away from a couple of our best two-year-olds in the Champagne lasb April. Under cover bhe colb strikes one as having groAvn a bit, ancl certainly has lost nobhing of his good looks. Should he prove bo bo a stayer and keep sound— two " if's" Avhich involvo issues of considerable interest to others than Mr Stead —he is bound to have a great say in more than one rich prize next season ; but still, Aye should like to have more information with regard to the movements of one or tAvo of- his possible opponents before supporting tbe colt at his present prices. HoAvever.his backers, may draAv some satisfaction from the knowledge that the colb is sound and Avinbering well, and ib is likely bhab more than one formidable rival will be remoA .d from his path before the spring. " May he be as sound next November as he is now," is Mr Stead's expressed wish as Mason closes the box. The appearance of Beresford, Avho has .received substantial support for the Noav Zealand Cup during the past.few weeks, should satisfy his mosb infatuabed backer, and with the additional adA'antage of being able to gauge his handicap weight Avithin a couple of pounds, his friends have ,np present cause for alarm. Lochiel, who just noAV is taking his ease in a paddock adjoining the stables, Avas brought in as Aye moved bOAvards his box. Patched Avith mud, and somewhat low in condition, it Avould have been difficult bo recognise a less distinguished gentleman than the NeAVmarket Handicap winner ; but his size and aristocratic appearance are not every-day gifts, and are not easily mistaken. The son of Prince Charlie has been lightly blistered in front, but will be pub bo Avork again immediately bhe Aveabher permits, and, Avibh his conquerors of lasb year oub of the Avay, may after all, not be a bad investment for the next Ncav Zealand Cup. Russley, too, has been on the sick list since the Dunedin Autumn Meeting, a bad cold being the origin of the trouble. We could never discover much likeness between Russley and his sire, Doncaster, while the former was in training; but Mr Stead's horse has tilled out a lot during his rest. Marion, Avho'at last has succeeded in getting the stable into some trouble, is ab grass preparatory to the commencement Of her stud duties, and Sierra, who has groAvn into a really nice-looking mara, is keeping the daughter of Peeress coinjiany.'

It is said that, financially, there will be but little if any profit'over the recent HaAvke's Bay Steeplechase Meeting, Avhile lasb year bhe Club cleared nearly L3OO, and in 1885 ib was upwards of LBOO bo bhe good OA fer bhe meeting.. The increase in stakes has not paid the Club. :'

The nominations for the Grand National (writes " Sir Lauhcelob ")" are remarkable for the number of members of the Rutherford family whose names figure as nominators. -Thus Mr JV-.S. Rutherford is responsible; for Canard, Me 11. Ru.her_.rd for Faugh-a-Ballagh,; andr...Seoretary, Mr-G. JiutßvTforcl iw. Bredonbill, and Mr W,

O. Rutherford for Mainboom, Avhile Mr D. Rutherford has entered Irish King in the Maiden Plate and Tally-ho Handicap. And what is more, all the members of bhe family love bo race againsb one anobher, and bhe mosb perfect spirit of rivalry in racing matters between them exists. This is as it should be. Would that we had a feAV more of their stamp sporting their .colours on our racecourses ! Then the turf would be in a healthier state.

Referring to the Marion disqualification case, " Senex" Avrites :—On Monday last I was fortunate enough to see Mr Moss, the Southern bookmaker, Avho was passing through Christchureh, en route for Melbourne. I Avas anxious to see him, as I had been informed that he Avas the bookmaker at the late Dunedin races Avho had been " raked doAvn" by the Marion stable for " some hundreds of pounds" over the Birthday Handicap, and 1 wanted to hear Avhat he had to say about it. He told me that there Avas nothing at all in it, that certainly he had losb Ll7O over bhe race, but all that he had laid the stable Avas L 5 to the jockey Jackson and L 2 to Mason. He further told me that Snider had backed the mare with him for LlO, and that five other persons unconnected with the stable had taken a pound's Avorbh each Avibh him. This corroborates what I Avrote as to. the amount invested by the stable on Marion.

The London "Sporting Times" comments on Bendigo's win in the rich Jubilee Stakes at Sandown Park in the folloAving glowing terms : — " It Avas a trulyrun race, for right from its commencement thelightly-weighted di vision cameaAvay from their more heavily-burdened and distinguished rivals, and as the fateful bend Avas neared it became a question of moment amongst the cognoscenti whether the ' class ' horses would OA'er be able to get on terms Avith their more leniently treated opponents. Ab bhe bend bhe sighb was more bhan prebby, as bhe splendid cavalcade commenced bhe burn in singularly compact order, and until ' heads' Avere fairly burned for home none bub bhe mosb discerning eye could discover Avhich animal still held the lead. When fairly set for home, Tyrone and Martley, bhough on opposite sides of the course, led bhe van, Avhilsb even noAV bhe colours of Bendigo, Annamite, Violoncello, St Mirin, and Fulerton began to assert themselves distinctly in front of bhe others. Thedistancewasreached.andTyrone and Marbley were fighting out the battle of supremacy, but ere it Avas passed Watts steadied the great horse he bestrode, and getting him fairly 'balanced,'he set Bendigo going like the giant he undoubtedly is. Horso and man, moving in perfect unison, fairly swooped doAvn upon the leaders, and in another instant the ' hero Of many fight 3' had strode past the post again victorious, and the name of Bendigo Avas wafted on the winds to tho farthest end of the course as tho Avinner of the Jubilee Stakes. It Avas in truth a great victory, in which horse and jockey claimed a nob unequal share, whilst bhe trainer, C. Jousiffe, Avas not forgotten, to be sure, in the general jubilation. Bendigo's return to the paddock Avas a veritable triumphal procession, and Watts, usually tho most imperturbable of jockeys, could not restrain a smile of satisfaction as he dismounted, and returned to Aveigh in. Lamblike ancl cool, as if at home in his box, Bendigo submitted to the frequent patting to which he Avas subjected, and altogether unknowingly comported himself like a hero in the hour of victory." Bendigo Avas bred in Ireland, and as a tAvo year-old Avas sold to Mr T. Connolly for 70gs, boing the following year disposed of for 850gs to his present owner. The races bhab have fallen tp his share are the Cambridgeshire of 1883 (value L 1.672). Lincolnshire Handicap (L 1,724 los), and HardAvicke Stakes (L 2,727) at Ascob in 1885, tbe Eclipse Stakes at Sandown Park (L 10.000) in 1886, and the Jubilee Stakes (L 2.850). This gives an aggregate of L 18,973 15s.

It Avas thought (says an English writer) that after Fred. Archer's deabh bhe owners-cum-jockeys ring Avould have been broken up, and bhe English burf purged of one of ibs greabesb scandals. Nob so, however, sad to say, for the proceedings at recent meetings have shown thab ib sbill lives and flourishes like a green bay tree. At Epsom I witnessed some sbrange contradictions of form ; bub bhab was as nobbing Avibh what occurred at Newmarket lasb woek. The law of libel prevents me from giving any special instances in point ; for one dare not print what one hears, or record what one sees. Anyone who noAvadays atbempbs bo back a horse by bhe look or relies upon recent form is only fib bo become an inmate of a lunatic asylum. The proper thing to do—and hundreds make a good thing by doing it; —is to discard " form" altogether, not to Took at the board at all to see Avhat jockey is up on a particular horse, but to Avatch carefully what is doing in the ring, and when the "right peopie" put the money down simply folloAV suit. Of course sometimes the best-laid schemes "gang aglee:" and Tom Cannon or some other honest jockey Avill upset the good thing. But, as a rule, it comes ofi' all right. To look for the greater sinners we must not go very low down the social scale; for it is the " savclls " who are most barefaced in Avorking these SAvindles, and Avho do not hesitate to suborn and corrupt jockeys for the purpose of fleecing the public, Avho are induced to back false favourites, and thus supply the perennial , fund out of which the bookmakers aro able to pay their losses to the clever division Avithoub Avincing. If the outsiders Avere to cease to bleed the game Avould soon be' up, for your bookmaker is no fool, and Avhile he is willing enough to pay out of his left-hand pockeb ben shillings, Avhile putting a sovereign inbo bhe righb, bhe momonb bhe golden bide ceases to Aoav he Avill close hia book and say to his "cleA-er" friends,; "No, thanks ! Not to-day, baker." Thesje barefaced SAvindles —for that is the only term for them-are perpetrated Avith impunity at the Mecca of racing, under the very eyes of the steAvarcls of the Jockey, Club. Yet not a voice is raised against bhem, though no one doubts their existence. Busybodies and fossils are ready enough to vote for any absurd proposal to shut out the competition of Irish or French horses. But when ib comes to a question of sweeping !a.vay a gross scandal, they are both blind and dumb. But as long, as the publije bears with it, as long as bhe Jockey Club is managed as ib is, bhe state of things will continue bo exisb, to the serious detriment of the best interests of the turf. ~..".

Quite a scare took place all over English sporting circles on the morning of May 17, Avhen the telegraph conveyed the neAvs thab Enberprise had met Avibh an accident ■'while ab exercise, some reporbs: going so far as bo say bhab the Derby faA rourite had broken down. That this Was: believed to be the case Avas to some extent confirmed by the markeb operations at the London clubs, as much as 6 to 1 being offered against the Tavo Thousand Guineas Avinner for the Derby. As the day Avore on, however,'the neAvs from NeAvmarket proved of a more hopeful character for the son of Sterling, and at the close of business offers .vere plentiful to take 4 tol. That the followers of Enterprise have no great occasion for alarm, said the "Sportsman," may be gleaned from the folloAving telegram received from our NeAvmarket correspondent, which states: the full facts of thej case :— " When starting this morning to gallop Avith Bird Of Freedom on the Limekilns, Enterprise, who Was very fresh, Avas frightened by somebhing, and swerved bo thelefb across the Norwich road into a field on bhe obher side. He Avas immediabely. brought back by Warne, and complebedjbhe mile and a half with Bird of Freedom. ; On land-ingacross'-'the-road, however, he slightly Wrenched himself, but I have authority for saying thattf&'mes Ryan has every oonfid.nco that the injnry to the Derby dandidate is of a trivial nature only."

In estimating the totalisator dividend £1 is taken all through as tho value' of the ticket.where it was £2 tho dividend has been halved ; and it may be further explained that the figures represent the average dividend where separate machines were run independently of each other. This is the best way to calculate the dividend. The outcome is, that if a man had put a sovereign on the first favourite in each of the above races he would : Mave received' £%i Is Bd, and, deducting his £24 invested, would have come out a winner of £10 Is 6d. Tho moral is—back first favourites. This has been an exceptionalyearfor favourites—they nearly swept theboard until the autumn,but I think we may take it as a general proposition that it is more profitable for a poor man to follow the judgment of the exports than to prospect for outsiders on the off chance of a big dividend."