MISCELLANEOUS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXV, Issue 149, 23 June 1894, Page 3

MISCELLANEOUS.

It is needless to say that with local racemeetings ab an end for the saason, everything is very quiet at Elloralio jueb now. Of course if the handicaps are favourable no doubb some of our trainers will take some of their nominated representatives either to the Gisborne Park gathering, or the Chrisfccburoh Grand National Meeting. Interest at the head-quarters of racing will be centred during the winter months in tbe juveniles and the New Zealand Cup candidates Pegasus, Lottie, Royal Rose and Grenadier. Bye-the-bye, it turns out that the last-named is nob entered for the Melbourne Cup. The Hotebbiss —Rose of Wellington colb, purchased ab Mr T. Morrin's last yearling sale on behalf of Mr A. Hook, of Sydney, has been named True Blue. Matchbox is an unfortunate colt. After running second to Ladas in both tbe Two Thousand Guineas and Derby, the cable now brings us word thab he occupied a similar position to Baron A. de Stickler's colt Dolma, in the Grand Prize of Paris run at Longchamps on Sunday last. Baron Hirsch gave £15,000 for Matchbox only the other day, no doubb with a view to winning the gifjab French race, and ib is hard luck for him bhat his representative should have met with defeat. Ib is tbe custom of Baron Hirsch to give his winnings in stakes during the year to the poor of London, so thab they will miss a very substantial sum by the defeat of Matchbox. The weights for tho Melbourne and Caulfield Cups are due to make their appearance on Monday. Tbe English stallion Roseberry, by Speculum irom Ladylike, by Newminsfcer, lias been destroyed. He made a name as being the first horse to accomplish the feat of winning the double event of the Cesarewitch and Cambridgeshire. This he did when a four-year-old, in 1876. In the longdistance race he was weighed v ab 7ab 51b, and, in the hands of the late F. Archer, won in easy style by four lengths, afterwards successfully carrying a 141b penalty for the Cambridgeshire, in which he was steered by the late Harry Constable. Referring to the running of Mr W. Douglas's jumpers at the A.J.C. Meeting, the Sydney " Referee " says : — " Both Waterbury and Mutiny fenced splendidly, and the latter galloped in great style. I am very partial to Waterbury. Ib is the .first bioie I have seen him, bub if he nob a real good one over the fences I am much mistaken. Randwick is a peculiar steeplechase course for a horse that has never been over it, and ib is always advisable to school fresh horses well here before going for a win on them. If the New Zealanders race over, a country as fasb as Mutiny wont, their horses musb be uncommonly good stayer.". The time—7min 13sec—for the three miles was, I believe, the fastest on record for Randwick. Sneaker was only second through a slice of luck." The Committee of the Victoria Racing Club are evidenbly of opinion that an improvement is necessary in the system of starting horses at Flemington, and have decided to give Champion's starting screen a public trial ab bhe V.R.C. Grand National race meeting. The Sydney sportsman, Mr S. Hordern, has named his young stock as follows:— Ch g Toreador, by Chester or Abercorn— Tempe; eh g Coolalta, by Abercorn— Copra ; bl c The Skipper, by Robinson Crusoe—Lady Marden (imp.); eh c Vivian, by Abercorn—Lady Vivian (imp.); b c Cravab, by Castor (imp.)— Necklace ; b or br f Rebel Queen, by Nordenfeldt—The Queon ; b or br f Dispute, by Nordenfeldb — Deborah (imp.)j ,b or br f Golden Ray, by Nordenfeldb—Golden Fleece ; bor bl f Miss Nora, by Nordenfeldt—Lady Nora. Eight clerk.* in bhe Melbourne audit office drew Florrie, the winner of the Birthday Handicap ab the Sydney Turf Club's Meeting recently, in Tatbersall's sweep. The first pme was £4,500, and as the syndicate did not lay off any of their money, they received £562 10h each. One officer who had subscribed to the sweeps regularly for two years stood out on this occasion. Mr D. O'Brien has named his purchases of Australian-bred rising two-year olds as follows:—B c Ilcheater, by Abercorn— lolanbhe : b g Bob Ray, by Welcome Jack (N. Z.)—Gage d'Amour. Owing to there being a rule of racing in Victoria sbipulabing that horses over one yonr old musb be described by name when being entered, a question arose respecting the validity of the unnamed nominations made, in Sydney a few days ago for tho V.R.C. young races. The Committee of bhe V.R.C, however, decided to receive them, recognising, doubtless, thab a horse is nob " over one year " old unbil he is two years o'd. Mr D. A. M'Leod's br c Osculator, by Hotchkiss — Pungawherawhera has been liberally entered for the young races of the Australian turf which closed lately. A cablegram from London to the " New York Herald" under date, London, May 12th, says:—lb is understood that Lord Koaebery will retire from the turf if his horse Ladas win* the Derby. Many prominent Liberals regard his connection with the turf and obber sports as a source of weakness bo the party and would hail his retiremenb from these pursuits with delighb. There may be Bomebhing in this statement, for we bad cable advices since the decision of the Derby that Ladas haa been scratched for all engagements.