TURF GOSSIP.

Auckland Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 279, 26 November 1887, Page 2 (Supplement)

TURF GOSSIP.

Auckland Cup, of 750sovs. Two milefi and a quarter. —Nelson, 9st 121b ; Necklace, Bst 101b; Maxim, B=t 71b; Tetford, Bst 61b ; Waibiri, Bst 31b ; Fusilado, Bsb 21b ; Pearl, Bst ; Artillery, Bst ; Foulshot, Bab ; Sextant, 7st 12lb ; Lady Norah, 7sb 121b; Turquoise, 7sb 111b; Victoria, 7sb 101b ; Friendship, 7st 91b ; Clogs, 7sb 81b ; Lorraine, 7sb 81b ; British Lion, 78b s!b; Lady Florin, 7sb 41b; Tamora, 7sb 41b; Bangle, 7st 21b; St. Clair, 7sb 2!b; Balißtft, 6sb 131b; Patrician, 6sb 121b; Wakatipu, 6Bblllb; Mokoia, 6st 101b; Cruchfield, 6;?b 101b; Carbineer, 6st 91b; Fusee, 6sb 91b ; Formo, 6sb 71b; Britannia, 6sb 41b ; Pikau, Bronbo - , W. E. Gladstone, Miss Alice, Cannon, FitzjameS; Memorandum, Sir Walter, Leorina, and Torori, 6st.

A.R.C. Handicap, of 400sovs. One mile and a quarter.—Nelson, 10st 21b; Necklace, 9sb 31b ; Cinderella, Bst 131b; Totford, Bsb 121b ; Friendship, Bsfc 121b; Pearl, Bsfc 121b ; Fusibulo, 8s b 111b; Waitivi, Bsb 111b ; Artillery, Bsb 101b; Foulshot, Bsb 91b ; Turquoise, Bst 7lb ; Sextant, Bsb 61b ; Lady Norah, Bsb 61b ; Victoria, Bst 41b; Clogs, Bsb 21b; Lorraine, Bsfc; British Lion, 7st 121b ; Wapiti, 7sb 121b; Tamora, 7eb 101b; St. Glair, 7sb 81b; Antelope, 7sb 71b; Balista, 7sb 71b; Pretender, 7st 61b; Patrician, 7sb 61b; Cruehfield, 7sb 51b ; Mokoia, 7sb 51b; Carbineer, 7et 41b : Wakabipu, 7sb 41b ; Paddy, 7sb 41b; Fusee, 7sb lib ; Formo, 7st; Tennyson, 6st 111b; W. E. Gladstone, 6sb 101b; Bronte, 6st 81b; Gipsy, 6st 51b ; Miss Alice, Torori, Cannon, Memorandum, and Leorina, 6st.

Auckland Steeplechase Handicap, of 300sovs. Three miles and a half.—Faugh-a-ballagh, 12st; Owhaoko, list 101b ; Feter Osbeck. list 51b ; Isaac, list; Guy Fawkea, 10sb 101b ; Silvio, lOsb 71b ; Falcon, 10sb 71b ; Magnesia, lOst 31b ; Orangeman, lOsb ; Uranus, lOsb; Huntsman, lOsb; Kangaroo, lOsb ; Allegro, lOsb; Blueboll, 9et 121b ; Manukau, 9st 71b ; Exchange, 9st 71b.

The weights for tho throe principal handicap events of the Auckland R.C. Summer Meeting were telegraphed up last Thursday by Mr Evitt, and I did not have timo to give them any attention, or my readers my opinions thereon, last week. Since the weights made their appearance Necklace, LadyFlorinandPeterOsbeckhave been scratched. Taking theCuptiret, Nelson, as heading the list With 9st 121b, at onco claims attention. All who saw Nelson with 9at 81b up spread eagle his field in this race last year will admit that, on the terms he then met the others, he had close on half a stone the best of them. On his running then and his subsequent performances in Australia, he is fully entitled to the impost ho is asked to carry in the coming Cup, and over two and a quarter miles he holds more than half of his field safe. It is not'every horse than can go the distance, and there are very few indeed in Auckland that can do so in decent company. It is said that Nelson is at the present timo a lump off; that may be, but his running in tho C.J.C. Spring Meeting does not bear out that supposition. One Canterbury scribe goes so far as to say that though Nelson waa beaten by Maxim

in the Canterbury Cup, he then showed the very best performance he has ever done. Provided he trains on, and with the fast going all in his favour, I expect Nelson to saddle up one of the favourites on the day. Necklace gone, Maxim is next on the list with Bst 71b, and on his performances the son of Musket is not asked to carry a pound too much. Some are inclined to question the justice of giving a throe-year-old such a weight to carry on a long journey, but Mr Evitt having seen Maxim win each of his five races this season is tho best judge of the colt's calibre. I think Tetford has been rather harshly treated, and VYaibin, with Bsb 31b, holds him safe. The mare might have very well been allotted the weight Tetford is given, and vice versa. Taking her past performances into consideration, 1 consider her the most leniently treated in tho race, and if her "leg" does not develop she will see a very short price before the flag drops. Fusilado has been under suspicion for. close on a year, unci has not appeared in public for some considerable time. Whathecando nowisamere matter of conjecture but I doubt if ho is equal to the task of carrying Bst 21b over two miles and a quarter. I < think the distance will be found a bit too far for Pearl. Artillery's weight in the New Zealand Cup was Bst 41b, and if he had not broken down it is doubtful jf Lochiol would have won. At present he is under a cloud, and will probably not see the post; but if ho does, and is fit and well, there aro few in the race I like better. Foul Shot may bo dismissed without notice, as ho has gone to tho stud. Before Sextant wont "off" good judges of a racehorse would stand him against Maxim for > any money, and it tho son of Robinson Crusoe comes up this far in good fettle he may reverse the result of tho C..1.C. Derby, and if he started in the Cup I doubt Maxim's ability to give himQlb. Lady Norah ran nowhere la.sb year witli 6sb, and I think Air E% r itt has treated her rathor harshly in awarding her 7st 121b. Mr Eyibt lias ovidently a very high opinion of Turquoise's ability, and he never forgets to stick on tho weight. I doubt if he will see tho post with 7sb 111b. Neither Victoria nor Friendship have, in my opinion, much chance over the distance at the weights. Clogs ran third last year with 6st 121b, and at her present weight appears to have a very good outside show. Lorraine, British Lion, Tamora, and Bangle will be all out-classed if they start. St. Clair, with 7st 21b, will stand some watching, but the other light weights aro, bar Carbineer, Fusee, and Bali ata ,aye ry mcd iocre crowd, and unless one of the three-year-olds develops exceptional powers I expect not one of them will be in it at the finish. Tho half-dozen I consider best in tho Cup aro : Nelson, Maxim, Waitiri, Sextant, Artillery, and Clogs.

There is almost certain to be a good field start for tho A.B.C. Handicap, though tho 51b penalty incurred by winning may possibly keep out a number of Cup candidates. Waitiri, Bsb 111b : l'eai-1, Bsfc 121b ; Antelope, 7sb 7lb ; and Fusee, 7st lib, aro this horses I like best in it.

Silvio'slight weight in the Steeplechase is at onco noticeable when we turn to that ovonfc in which ho is bracketed with Guy Fawkes at lO'Jt 101b. Last; year ho won the Qrcab Northern Steeplechase wit!) list 61b, but when ho went to Napier did not run up to form. -Many arc inclined to think there is nothing in ifc but, him, .still id is an open question which h the better at; even weights— Guy Fiiwkcs or Silvio—und knowimr what a grand horse- Guy Fawkea has proved himself to bo, I should noli care to .separate them until I saw how t hey wore progressing in their preparation. But there are others engaged who may be deemed equally dangerous. If Owhaoko comes up and is fit, list 101b .should not prevent him runninsr up prominently, while Orangeman and Kangaroo, at lO.st, are nob badly treated, and in fact I have a particular liking for the iirst named with his impost. Faujjh-a« bnllajrh, the Grand National winner, Isaac and Uranus, all seora fairly handicapped, Falcon carried lOst 51b to victory last year, and has nothing to complain of in two pounds more this year. The aecond day's racing of the Spring Meeting of the Auckland Kacing Club was not so well attended ns might have been expected, bub I am glad to be able to statp that the Club were able to carry over a very substantial balance from the whole meeting. The racing was on tlio whole very good. The ball was set rolling with tho Spring Handicap, seven furlongs, for which Antelope was greatly fancied, and she justified public confidence by winning easily from Balista and Gipsy. In bho Spring Nursery Handicap, Man Friday had the best of a straggling start, and kept the lead to tho finish, winning easily. The eolb looked very much improved since the first day's racing, though I fancy Braemar would have troubled him if he had gob away on even terms. Peter Osbeck won the Hurdle Knee very easily from Orangeman and Coral, Magnesia running last. Lady Norah was made a warm favourite for 'she City Handicap, but Antelope proved tDO good for her, and after a fine race won rather easily at the finish. Wideawake had no difficulty in disposing of his six opponents in the Selling Hurdles. The Corinthian Stakes fell to British Lion, who was well ridden by Mr W, Hayn

One of the most peculiar and most barefaced swindles ever perpetrated on the Now Zealand turf has been unearthed, and deservedly punished, down South. At the South Canterbury J.C.s Spring Meeting, held on October 25th, a mare named Miss Ariindel was entered by the brothers Hugh and Malcolm Kerr for one of the races. She ran and won, when a protest was lodged against her that she was Princess Royal, by Cassivellaunus, well-known in the district, and formerly owned by Mr G-. Rutherford. An inquiry was held by the stewards of the club, at which Sir Rutherford swore that Miss Arundel was the animal her owner entered as, and that Princess Royal had been dead some time. Several others swore to Miss Arundal being Princess Royal, and a great deal of contradictory evidence was taken, but Mr Quill, owner of Princess Royal before Mr Rutherford was positive that the mare in question was the one formerly in his possession. The inquiry was adjourned three times, the last time in order to allow of two of the stewards viewing the body of Princess Royal, which Mr Rutherford stated was still lying on his run. When the Committee endeavoured to view the body they could not do bo, owing to Mr G. Rutherford not rendering them assistance as he had promised, and at the next meeting of the stewards they reported this. Several new pieces of evidence were then brought forward, all pointing to the fact that Mies Arnndel and Princess Royal wero one and the same animal. After considerable discussion the following resolution was unanimously carried,:—" That the stewards having taken all available evidence in the case of the identity of the mare Princess Royal, they (tho stewards) are quite satisfied that the mare which ran at the late meeting of the South Canterbury J.C. as Miss Arundel is Princess Royal, and do hereby disqualify Mr George Rutherfood and the mare Princess Royal for life; and the brothers Kerr during the pleasure of the Club; and, further, that a copy of tho evidence be at once sent to the C.J.C. for their guidance; also that the Press be allowed to publish the evidence." "Seven," in the "Weekly Press," writes : —"I doubt very much whether we did not see tho best three-year-old in Maxim that has ever stepped Now Zealand turf, an Ormonde of the South, and now that Musket has joined tho majority, whero can we look for "such another. In general contour I do not think him so handsome a horso as Trenton was afi the same age, but so massively muscular a colt I have never seen at his age. He is a somewhat lowstanding horse in front, only measuring 15 hands lj-inches on the wither, but I should think he stood a trifle over that on the croup."

Her owner informs me that Tatnora has been turned out for a spell. A colt foal to The Dauphin, from Sissy, has been appropriately named Egalite. British Lion is to be shipped to Greymouth next week. He i 3 engaged in the local races there.

Kangaroo, the well-known steeplechaser, arriveff here by the Taraweni last Monday. Kangaroo is engaged in tho Auckland Steeplechase under an impost of lOat. Tho Hon. W. Robinson, Messrs Pilblow, Ray, G. Cutts, and Cochrane, the jockey, returned to New Zealand by the last steamer from Melbourne.

Artillery pulled up very lame after tne Now Zealand Cup, having severely lacerated his injured heel during the race, and will probably not bo seeu out again until the autumn. Allegro, who has been allotted lOst in the Auckland Steeplechase, won the Hurdle Race at the Wunganui Spring Meeting a fortnight back. Hho is a "a well-shaped daughter of Opawa." A movement is on foot in the Wanganui district to get up a Hack Meeting next month if the course can be secured, and the VV.J.C. authorities will pass the programme. Blue 8011, who is, engaged in the Auckland Steeplechase, got a rather nasty cut on one of the forelegs through hitting one of tho hurdles ab the recent Wanganui meeting. It will bo some time before she will again appear on the turf. An English jockey named Sam Shcrley is coming out to Australia, to take up his residence there. Hβ is said to be a good judge of all points appertaining to tho horse and a fine rider, especially clever at schooling young horses over jumps. Up to September 30th C. Wood had won 117 races out of 382 rides. G. Barrett was second with 86 and J. Watts third with 85 respectively to their credit. Then came S. Loatos with 74 and Barrett with 58, while T. Cannon has been successful on 46 oceassions. Mr Allan McLean's General Thornton (Apromont—Nelly Moore), half brother to Lochiel, is on the sale list. It will be remembered that this racehorse met with an accident last year, which it was thought at the time would prevent his ever racing again. Under skilful veterinary treatment he has, however, recovered, and is now as fit as ever he waa, and ready to go into training. With the declaration of tho weights for the Auckland Summer Meeting, the local pencillers have been kept a wee bit busy during the past week. The following are the quotations in tho Cup :—Maxim, 4 to 1 (taken) ; Waitiri and Nelson, 5 to 1 (wanted); Sextant,B to 1; 10 tol to 20 to 1 any of tho others. On the double, 100 to 8 is wanted on anything, but 10 to 1 is the best oiler on tho doubles wanted.

Mr Gault has nob been long in winning back the purchase money of Victory, as at the Winton Meeting on tho 9th and 10th hist, ho had no didiculty in annexing the two principal handicaps with him. The Winton Cup of 40 soys., two miles, he won from four others with 9st up, while in the Prince of Wales' Handicap of 25 soys., Vj miles, with 121b more, he put down three others. Victory is entered for the Hurdle Kuco at tho Dunodin J.C.s Spring Meeting, i/i which she is allotted lOst.

Some men have made themselves famous by their ability to get away from the post quickly, others have gained great reputations for their knowledge of pace, while many have won famo and fortune by their final rush. No man, not even Nafc Flatman or Fred. Archer, ever rode a grander raae than did Ed. Ganison on Swift. Desperation was written all over his face, and there was no effort to gain plaudits from the Grand Stand. He wanted the race, and finally gob it, though ifc was won in tho lasb stride.

The following letter speaks for itself :—. " Dear Saunterer, —Permit me a little space to call attention to the miserable odds that are invariably ottered by Auckland bookmakers on local races. A friend of mine, a thorough-going sport, asked tho price of tho double, Coral and Victoria, for the first day of tho recent Spring Meeting. The bookmaker, a noted 'dry hash,'offered 10 to 1. My friend struck out for 12 to 1, and no business l-esulted. This was a day or two before the race, mind, with the chances of ' scratching ' or ' stiffening 'in bookie's favour. The backer took his pound out to Ellerslie, and invested it on Coral— £B div. Then he put his net winnings, with the original pound, on Victoria, £4 odd div., and won over £32 —just 200 per cent, better odds than the penciller offered him. Moral: Don't back doubles on local races.—l am, A Backer."

Ganison, the American jockey, is in the first (light of riders in the United States, and lately " The Snapper " did one of the finest pieces of riding ever seen. While riding swift, a well-known racer, one of the other horses ran into him, and literally knocked hiinoutof the saddle,and in trying to prevent his leg from being broken Ganison had to lift his foot on to hio horse's head. In doing this he lost his stirrup, and had to pull up. He leaned over his horse, and got his foot back in the stirrup iron again, but when he got righted he found himself a bad last, and with very little prospect of getting through those in front of him. Instead of getting rattled he set about overtaking those in front of him, but it looked like a forlorn hope even when he was half-way down the home stretch, but using his legs, arms, whip, and spurs he gradually pic\ed up his horses, and in the last few str.ies really carried his horse home to victory.