MISCELLANEOUS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXII, Issue 247, 17 October 1891, Page 3

MISCELLANEOUS.

The Auckland Trotting Club Committee yesterday adopted the programme for the Summer Meeting. The leading items are the Pony Cup of lOOsovs, Handicap Pony .Race of 60-ovs, Steeplechase of 50sovs, Auckland Trotting Cup of LOOsovs, and the President's Handicap Trob of lOOsovs. Dogged and persistent) bad luck attends the owners of Cuirassier. The big son of Musket pulled up quite lame after racing at Mordialloc recently, ami I shall be quite prepared to see his name%iissing from the Melbourne Cup final acceptors. With reference to the new totalisator stamp duty the Premier has informed the Hawke's Bay Club that it was never intended the duty should be added to the ten per cent, commission charged on totalisator investments. Mr Thos. Moron's Balista (full sister to Hilda) has produced a fine colt foal to Castor at Wellington Park. The attention of horse-owners is directed to the programme of the Takapuna Jockey Club which appears in to-night's Stab, j There are eight events, the principal being j the Devonport Handicap of 40sovs (five and j a-half furlongs), Hurdle Race of SOsovsj (one mile and three-quarters), St. Andrew's Handicap of SOsovs (one mile and a-half), Handicap Steeplechase of SOsovs (about three miles and "a-half), and Spring Handicap of 50sovs (six 1 furlongs). Nominations are due on the 6th November. Alf. Kelly has a couple of horsos in training near Avondale that were brought down from Cambridge the other day, viz., lima (by Anteros—Kit), and E.A.V. {by Fusillade—Kit). The last-named is a promising two-year-old. . 1 learn from Cambridge that Mr Wm. BreakeU's Kit (by Dainty Ariel—Lady Julia) has dropped a fine bay colt to Natator, and Leila (by Anteros—Kit) a chestnut filly to Ingomar.

Tradition, who ran second in both the Caulfieid and Melbourne Cups, was submitted te auction in Melbourne lately, by Messrs W. C. Yuille and Co. For the big son of Bridal Wreath 600 guineas was the best offer, and as the reserve was not reached the horse returned to his owner's place. Chemist (12st 31b), Orangeman (list 91b), and Darnley (lOst), are engaged in the Steeplechase of 300sovs, run ab Caulfield this afternoon. Mr L. D. Nathan's matron La Dauphine (by The Dauphin—Brassalis) has dropped a filly foal to Nordenfeldt. At the Ballarat Hunt Club races, Mr W. T. Jones won the Bracelet with Gresford, 12st 41b, the race proving merely an exercise canter for him. It is stated the son of The Drummer is rather big just now, but, with a little more work, he should be heard of in a more important race. Darnley, owned by Mr S. H. Gollan, started in the Hurdle Race ab Epsom (Melbourne) races lately. The horse ran badly, and failed to gain a place. Fraternifee was scratched yesterday after noon for all engagements at the forth coming C.J.C. Metropolitan Meeting. According to "Spectator," Whisper is the best of the New Zealand Cup candidates that started at the Hawke's Bay meeting, and should she go to the post with her light weight backers will get a good run for their money. It is all moonshine to say she cannot stay. So far, the stable rely on Cynisca, whom I havo never seen looking to well. There are always plenty of grumblers at inaccuracies in turf registers. The proprietors of the "Weekly Press and Referee" are setting the right way to work to prevent even the captious critic from finding fault, for they have issued a circular to each racing club secretary to be good enough to forward by post after each meeting an official report of it, so as to assist in compiling racing statistics for the season and the " New Zealand Turf Register, 1891-92." It is requested that colours, pedigree, ages and owners of placed horses, all jockeys riding at the meeting, totalisator investments on each horse, dividends on each race, total amount pasaed through the totalisator, and an official race card, be sent, which I think should be only a labour of love, especially to paid secretaries. Molos, when he ran in the Randwick Plato (says " Cranbrook"), had the bad luck to get ono of the plates on his hind feet twisted, and with it cut the heel of one of his fore feet. That waa how the little son of Melody was knocked out at one time for the Melbourne Cup, in which race, I firmly believe, he will, at any rate, beat Megaphone. During the progress of the Hawke's Bay Spring Meeting, "Spectator" states that £1,000 ab hundreds to six was accepted about Hippomenes and Thane for tho New Zealand Cup, and Hakimana was backed for £600 at 100 to 2. Cynisca finds most favour amongst Napier backers, and hundreds to twelve would be taken to a good amount. Major George's Florence has dropped a colt foal to Nelson, and Mr B. Thompson's Phantom a filly to Nelson. ,Mr D. O'Brien is reported to have got three clinking two-year-olds in Launceston, Captive, and a sister to Flinders. Crackshot was given a rasping mile and a-half gallop (says lasb week's Christchurch " Prßssand Referee"), brought home over a mile by Cheshunt. There is no doubt ho is improving every day, and there are more unlikely things than a win for him in the New Zealand Cup of '91. We of ton hear discussed " Which is the besb sire Australia has known ?" (says a Sydney writer). Old fogies swear by Yattendon, Ace of Clubs, and Panic, according to fancy. The present generation, apt maybe to be led away by the success of the liour, go for Musket and Grandmaster. Oddly enough, the lowest in the list is St. Leger; bub it is to be hoped he won't bo such a disappointment as the other Doncaster horse, Moorethorpe. In fact, Miss Letty, a filly by St. Leger'out of Necklace, has a chance of commencing the season by winning the Maribyrnong Plato nexb month. "Sir Launcelot " visited Yaldhurst a few days back. He writes:—" If ever a colt did. credit to his high lineage, it is Stepniak, tho two-year-old son of Nordenfeldb and Steppe, for whom Mr Stead gave 620 guineas ab the New Zealand Stud Company's clearing sale. Few .youngsters could be found with such level quality all through. He is, indeed, 'as pretty as a picture,' Steppe has bred some good 'uns before to-day, but I shall bo surprised if Stepniak does not turn out the best of the bunch.