HIPPONA'S NOTE-BOOK.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 184, 4 August 1900, Page 3

HIPPONA'S NOTE-BOOK.

For some little time past there has been a dispute between Mr Dan McLeod and Mr Harry Franks, In reference to the two-year-old colt by St. Leger—Janet, named Scotty, and legal proceedings were threatened, The matter, however, was amicably settled this week, and the colt has been transferred to F. J. McManenun's stable. This trainer now has the Diggest team in training at head quarters, totalling thirteen.

The Pakuranga Hunt Club pay a visit to Tauranga, being due to arrive on 22nd August. The club get £30 "for expenses. Ten members of the club have guaranteed to go with the Master, huntsman and whip, and horses and hounds. The members of the Hunt Club are to be entertaln Icd by the Tauranga people.

Referring to the V.R.C. Derby colts at St. Alban's, which are to be auctioned on Friday next, "Terlinga" writes: A colt that people interested In the Derby are very anxious to see is Barragunda, by BUI of Portland from Melodious. Except for a white near hind fetlock and heel he Is a whole black, standing fully 16 hands,, and he is a big, massive colt in every way. What Mr Macdonald thinks of his Derby prospects I cannot say, but he Was put into training last November, and has worked steadily on ever since. He is nice and clean,, now, and whoever gets him will be able to go straight on with him. Kingllke. by 'Wallace from Bonnie Rosette, is quite a possibility for the Derby, although not to be compared to two-year-olds like Aurum and Bobadll. He may not be up to the standard of some St. Albans Derby candidates now, out he is just the sort to Improve, and I am quite satisfied that he can be fairly Put down as having a chance in the next Derby. A better than Kingllke on form is Debenture, another Wallace gelding. He won. two races in the easiest possible style when right off his feed, and one of them was over seven furlongs. The trouble with Debenture was that he was delicate, and would not s.tand work. Now he, looks twice the horse he was,) and It may be that he has got over his early troubles, and will continue to thrive. In any case his easy win in the autumn, ■when he had not been out of a canter

for a week, shows that,in his case very little galloping is necessary to lit him for a race. He comes /from the famous White and Blue family, which has produced, so many good horses, and it is quite on the cards that he will prove the best of his year.

The. old timo Auckland trainer, M. Carmody. had a win at V.A.T.C. July Meeting at Caullield by the aid of Seaport, who won the Lillimur Two-year-Old Handicap. He is a bay colt by Portsea from Opera, a mare well known on the turf a few years ago by St. Albans from Normn (dam of Pollio, who won the Australian Cup in ISS2). On the death of Milling, Opera, with Seaport at foot, was sold at auction by Messrs \V. C. Quille and Co. Seaport ia trained at Caullield by M. Carmody. He is not engaged in the Derby. A short time ago Seaport was bracketed for the "two Cups" to the tune of £40,000 by his owner. He started favourite for the Caulfield race.

"Terllnga," who recently visited St. Albans, writes of that great mare La Carabine: Then we came to La Carabine, the queen' of the lot. The improvement this mare has made is quite extraordinary. I saw her run in the Adelaide Birthday Cup—which she should have won by lengths—and wondered then at the improvement she had made since March. That improvement has been continued, and she is certain to be better this season than ever she was. Those who remember La Carabine as a hungry looking leggy filly would not know her now. She must stand close on IS hands, and it would be .hard to imagine a more perfect specimen of the high class thoroughbred. Her legs look like standing for ever, and she is in grand condition. With an Australian Cup, a Sydney Cup, and the A.J.C. Plate to her credit, La Carabine was the bt. Albans sheet anchor this season; and It she remainsl in Australia she should have no difficulty in winning the long distance weight for nge races in Sydney. Oi course, there will be plenty of buyers for La Carabine, and even if there are no strong commissions from England she may bring 1500 guineas. Apart from what she may still win on the turf, her breeding: would bring more money in England.

Training operations at Ellershe are now active in view of the Avondale Jockey Club Spring Meeting next month, and mentors are not sparing their charges on Sfyday the weather proves favourable. No* doubt some of our best local equlnes will be given a public test at the gatherins in View of later engagements at Hawke's Bay and .Riccarton. Wrights charges, including Explosion. Ambition, and Rosella are doing well, and Seahorse and Zealous continue to please the course watchers. Hengist and Formula are being apportioned plenty of strong work, while Miss Delaval and La Gloria are striding along in nice style.- Coronet is also a regular track attendant.

Owing to Advance being withdrawn from the Melbourne and New Zealand Cups some curiosity was aroused as to whether he was sound or not. A Wellington' scribe who visited Porirua the other day says he was never better in his life, and that he has furnished. The reason why the colt was withdrawn was because the trainer and lessee were of opinion the handicap in each race was more than he was entitled to. It is proposed to race Advance in the Canterbury Cup and Jubilee Cup at the C.J.C. Meeting.

The New Zealand Stud Book is in the hands of the printers, and will be issued shortly. The estimated cost is £500, and the profits, after payment of expenses. Sir George Clifford stated at the RacingConference, will be divided between Mr Wanklyn, compiler, and his assistants, who have had a great amount of work vo do in connection with the production of the volume.

There is no inducement whatever to start Record Reign in the Maiden Race Handicap on the opening day of the N.Z. Grand. National Meeting, for, if he won that event under his 12.12 impost, he would have a penalty, which would raise his weight to 13.1 for the Grand National Hurdles, set down for decision on the second day. I should say under the circumstances Record Reign will not be seen out in the Maiden Hurdle Race

At the annual meeting of the Feilding Jockey Club the chairman, Mr Sanclilands. said that the club was to be congratulated on the fact that it was the first club to appoint Mr J. E. Henrys as handicapper and Mr W. H. Hartglll as judge. The former had established a reputation, while the latter's ability as a judge was beginning to be recognised in various parts of the colony

At the Racing Conference Sir G. Clifford said he thought that classic races had greatly benefited the Wellington Racing Club. The South Canterbury meetings were not what they were when the Guineas race was on the programme, and he regretted that the Wanganui Club had discontinued the Two-year-old Stakes. The Dunedin, Greymouth, Wanganui and Timaru delegates stated that their clubs had found classic races did not pay.

The Ellerslle trainers this your sire determined that the watchful eye of the tout will not ascertain the ability (if r.ho two-year-old division under their enre. The majority of the trainers are spu^r'n? fhe.'r juveniles and doing any fast wo/lc ii; v;irious paddocks during the afternjon. A good flald may he expected to face the ba.'t'lor .In the Avondale Stakes on September .15, icr the leading owners of Auckland lio-'sts li.ye representatives engaged. The forfel: is due on August 31.

The annual meeting of the Avoudalt! Jockey Club is fixed to take nlace on Friday next. The following is the rcpcrt cf tho committee to be presented at tho meetlug:—Your committee have aiuo.'i pleasure in again presenting to you the annual report and balance-sheet for the year ending 31st July, 1900. It Is gratifying to chem lo put before you a statement of receipts and txpecditure which clearly shows the gre.it strides the club has made diirin? the paai few years, and more particularly the seuson just concluded. In perusing the figures in the balance-sheet you will notice a considerable Increase In revenue from all sources, notably totallsator £018, nominations i' 273, gates, booths, etc.. £113; members' U>ts, etc, £60. During the season we liitve «(• a our usual Spring and Autumn Afoenngs. elr'ag added money to the mnonnt it fITOO 10/ net, being an Increase of i4lB over The previous season. The amounts passed through the totalisator were £22.845,. as against £15,072 last season. We have spent £222 In Improvements to our buildings, etc., the benefits of which have been much uppreclated by our patrons. Owing to the success of the classic events placed upon the programme last season, your committee have again decided to continue the Avondale Stakes for two-year-olds and the Avondale Guineas for three-year-olds. Members will note that after writing off 10 per cent, for depreciation, we have assets amounting to £2271 12/4, and our liabilities nil, showIng an Increase over last year of £1111 6/9. The"oalance-sheet shows a balance in bank of £978 12/4.

The racing season of 1900-1001 will be opened by the Avondale Jockey Club Spring Meeting which Is fixed to take place on Saturday, September 15, and Wednesday, September 19. The good sum of £1400 w'll be given in added money. A feature of <:'jc racing will be the Avondale Stasea ••>. iflO suvs (for two-year-olds) and the Avoudale Guineas of luOsovs (for three-year-nlds.i. Nominations .for the Avondale Cup of 3LO so?« li mile, and Plumpton Handicap of 151'scvs one mile, close on Friday, August 17,' by 6 p.m., with Mr H. H. Hayr, Highstreet.