HIPPONA'S NOTE-BOOK.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 52, 2 March 1901, Page 3

HIPPONA'S NOTE-BOOK.

Sporting men in Auckland will eagerly await the cable this evening which announces the result of the Newmarket Handic.'.p. The great Autumn sprint takes place this afternoon at Flemington, and after the Melbourne Cup is probably the biggest betting race of the year. The presence of Advance has of course greatly intensified the interest taken in the six furlong race, and as from alt accounts the son of Vanguard has been doing most satisfactory gallops it looks as though he will make a very bold bid for victory. Should such be the case the win will be ,one cf the most popular that has taken place for years, fpr sportsmen not only In New Zealand but in Australia will appreciate the spirit which tempted "Mr Douglas Cordon" to take the crack over to the other side and take up the gauntlet in the big race, even although asked to carry a weight under which no horse has ever yet been successful in the race in question.

The Australian Cup comes on for decision at Flemington on Tuesday. At pre T sent the crack Victorian three-year-old Malster is a good favourite, but although the son of Bill of Portland is beyond question a first-class racehorse, yet I think that the exceptionally heavy impost of 8.11 may find him out at the end of the 2i 'miles. Although we have no actual evidence that Advance is able to stay such a long distance, yet he has never shown anything to warrant the supposition that he cannot do so, and personally I prefer his chance to that of the Australian champion. Lancaster is well spoken of, but his failure in the Melbourne Cup rather detracts from his winning prospects. Finland has many good deeds to nis credit, and with 7.12 is, to my mind, one of the picks of the handicap. Of the others the Caulfield Cup winner, Ingliston, and Vocalist possess chances; but I shall expect to see the first three horses to catch the judge's eye will be Finland, Advance and Malster.

Encouraged by the success of Sloan, Reiff and Co., in England, during the last season or two, there promises to be a perfect invasion of the Old Country this year by American knights of the pigskin. So many have expressed their intention of crossing the Atlantic that the coming .hegira of jockeys in the United States must have a somewhat disastrous effect on racing in that country. English horsemen, especially the lesser lights, have not been having too good a time of it of late, so that the promised increased influx ot Trans-Atlantic visitors cannot be viewed by them in any other way than with open hostility.

The Joker, who won the Trotting Cup at Potter's Paddock last Saturday, also showed consistently good, form on the second day of the Otahuhu T.C. meeting; but although he trotted in tine style, going rignt through his field from a back mark, he was not quite able to reach the Winner. Ihe .bay ge'ding is one of the speediest trotters that we have In the northern district.

The race for the Dunediu Cup was one of the most exciting ever seen in the Southern city. Pampero made most- of the running, followed by Paladin and Strathnairn, but the hitter soon after assumed command. At the home turn Pampero was again in front, but Jupiter gradually closing with the Hon. G. McLean's colt a desperate battle ensued up the Straight. It was anybody's race up till fifty yards from home, when Ju\>iter seemed to guL a fraction the better of the tussle, and, staying it right out, won by a short halfhead, while Nihilist and'Glenalaaale were locked together three lengths further back.

Backers of Lady Desborough must have been on good terms with themselves at Potter's Paddock on Saturday and Wednesday, for the half-sister to Lady Howitzer started on three occasions, and in each race proved successful. There is a rumour, however, that the daughter of Retrenchment will be unable to get under the standard, in which case it will be her tast appearance in the pony races.

I notice that the Tasmania]! Turf Club intend in the future paying two dividends on the totalisator. The winner of any race ■will receive 75 per cent, of the investments, while the balance will go to the second horse. This may possibly increase the size of the Held, but I should hardly think that it would be very popular with owners, and already there is a considerable outcry against the innovation.

The Wanganui Jockey Club will hold their nutuuin fixture on Thursday and V riday next, when, as acceptances have rtilen large there should be some capital sport. The Wauganui Cup is of course the chiet item, and' will be decided on the opening day There arc 12 horses left in, with Renown at the top of the list: and even with S 13 1 cannot see what there is to beat the crack three-year-o.d. The Hon. J. D. Orntond lias, however, Ideal entered, and it is just possible that she may be slipped In the interests of the Napier stable. Coeur de Lion is n stout-hearted customer, and inav be expected to run prominently, while SUobeloffi, N'obilitv. Dayntrec, and Queen s Guard should run well. Given a start.however. Renown looks like being able to carry off the 7i3osovs.

Mr V. Harris had very hard luck to lose such a good horse as Paladin. During the race for the Dunedin Cup the chestnut gelding fell and broke his leg, and was .subsequently destroyed. Paladin was a Aye-yoar-old gelding by St. George from Nellie, and was a very fair performer. His more recent wins were in the Ranfurly Handicap, run on the second day of the Dunedin Spring Meeting, in which he carried (.10 to victory; the Flying Handicap at the Goro meeting, which he won very easily, carrying the top weight of 9.5; the Federal Handicap at the Dunedin Slimmer Meeting, which he won by three-quarters of a length from Brisa; the Summer Handicap at the Manawatti Summer Meeting, in which he had 8.13; the Wairarapa Club Handicap, which lie won by a neck from Volley; tinGore R.C. Handicap, in winch he heat Back and Red and St. Ouida; the Domain Handicap at the Dunedin Autumn Meeting, in which he defeated a fair Held very easily; and Anally In the Flying Handicap at the North Canterbury meeting, in which the son of St. George carried the top weight of 0 4 and won by v length from Lapiduij.

Tito English racing authorities are commencing a vigorous crusade with the object of purifying the Turf. A recent enactment deals With one crying evil, and is as follow_:_"The stewards of the Jockey Club give notice that licenses will only be grantId to jockeys on condition they. are not owners of, or part owners of, racing horses The stewards having on previous occasions observed that many jockeys have been in the habit of betting on horse races and receiving presents in connection with races from persons other than owners of tut horses they ride in such races, give notice that such practice will not be tolerated. And any jockey who may be proved to their .itisfaction to have any interest n any racehorse, or to be engaged in any betting transaction, or to have otherwisedsregarded this notice, w.ll have his dcense at once withdrawn. Any person knowiuglj acting in the capacity of part owner or trainer of any horse in which a jockey possesses any interest, or making any bet with or on behalf of any jockey, or otherwise aiding or abetting any breach of the-orders of the stewards, will be warned off Newmarket Heath." it is sincerely to be hoped that the powers that bo in the colonies will follow the excellent example set them.

Mr G. G. Stead is always very deadly in classic races, and therefore it came as no surprise to And that he had curried off the Champagne Stakes at Dunedin with the aid of Menschikoff. The son of Stepniak was challenged in the straight by Wimlwhlstle, but direct,y Derrett shook him up he came away and won by a length and a quarter from Sir George Cliffords filly. The .aldhurst colt was.a red-hot favourite, carryin"- three times as many investments as all the rest put together, and consequently only returned the small dividend of £1 4/.

American horses won £39,201 in stakes last year in England, and of this amount the Domino pair, Disguise 11. and Running Stream, secured £7925. Forty-three American stallions were represented, and their produce, to the number of 70, captured Ui races.

Jupiter, who just managed to win the Dunedin Cup, is a six-year-old chestnut gelding by St. Clair from Evening Star, ami belongs to Messrs El.is Pros. His best deeds consisted of winning tiie Winter Cup, in which, with 0.0 in the saddle, he beat a very big field, running home three lengths ahead of Benzoin; the Otago Cup, in which with 7.10 up he put down Pulmen, Dundus, and outers; and the P.J.C. Handicap.which he won by a length from Nihilist ami Pulmen. Jupiter was not greatly fancied for the Dunedin Cup, and returned a dividend of £10 '.)/, the favourite beiug Pampero.

Battleaxe was considered to bo a good thing for the Woodville Cup, but he had to strike his colours to Queen's Guard, who returned the useful dividend of £11 5/. The winner is a six-year-old grey mare by Vanguard from Juliet, and has been a fair performer in hack company.

After the series of victories achieved by Hcrmosa as a two-year-old, she appeared to have a great future before her: hut on being sold to a Southern sportsman She went: off. Latterly, however, the daughter of St. Loser has been more than paying fother oats, her latest win being in the Publicans' Handicap, which race. Mr Uriel's marc carried off after a desperate struggle with Brisa.

At Chiltern (Victoria) on January 2 a mare running as Gooramadda won the Galloway Handicap, but as it was noticed her legs were painted it was naturally concluded she was "rung in," and the stakes were withheld pending inquiries as to her identity. The matter was further gone into at a meeting of the stewards last week, and, says an exchange, after a lot of evidence had been considered, showing that the pony was identical with Music and Melody, who ran at unregistered courses, J. W. Truskett, the nominator, announced that ne would make a clean breast of the affair. His statement was taken down for the club by Mr C. W. C. Hodgson, solicitor. The statement showed that Truskett was a tool in the hands of others. It was resolved that j W. Truskett and the bay mare Gooramadda (late Music, etc.), be disqualified for life for fraudulent nomination, and that R. S. Henry, of Melbourne, be summoned to appear before the stewards on February 15 to explain his actions in connection with such nomination.

After the second day's racing of the recent Taranaki Jockey Club's Summer Meeting the handicappers (Mr J. O.- Evett and Mr R. G. Pardy) were highly congratulated on the splendid success of their work. Mr Pardy, in particular, made some excellent adjustments, with the result that most exciting finishes took place. At the invitation of Mr Standish, President of the club, three cheers were given for Messrs Evett and Pardy.

The two-year-old filly by Grafton from Grapin which Mr Dan O'Brien recently brought over from Sydney is a regular attendant on the Riccarton tracks, and it is stated if appearances go for anything She should be heard of before very long.

The autumn meeting of the Thames Jockey Club takes place on Monday next, and given line weaher the iixture promises to be a great success. There will be the usual eight events to be discussed, and very fair acceptances were received last night. The principal race jon the programme is the Miners' Union, Handicap of 60sovs, 1 mile, and of those I engaged Honesty (B.loi reads with a 1 winning chance. In the Railway HanciiI can 1 like Honesty or St. Una, while for I the StccDlechaso Tarrisan may be tlic i safest 10 trust. The starting machine will be used on the course for the first ; time. Quite a large number of Aucktanders have signaled their intention at taking a run down '..? the golulield. ana me Northern S.S. Company have placet on a s.eckti boat, wh.ch ie.vcs me wharf : to-morrow at midnight, returning home Monday nisrht.

The Christchurch sportsman, Mr G. G. Stead, has sold the two-year-old gelding Diplomat, by Stepniak—Adulation, to Mr W. Tatham, of Carterton. The youngster in question is half-brother to Bracelet and was the subject of a good deal of news-

paper correspondence in the South as to the manner in which he was handicapped with other untried two-year-olds.

Worked out on the Bruce Lowe figure system, Mr W. Allison selects Revenue to win next year's English Derby, Good Morning for the Two Thousand Guineas, and Revenue for the St. Leger.

Speaking of Bill of Portland, the "Sporting Times" (London) says:—"St. Simon sires appear to be worth their weight in gold, and their earning power is enormous. That being so, we are not surprised to hear that longing eyes have been cast on the evpatrlated Bill of Portland, who has been one of the great successes of the Australian turf, three successive Derbies having fallen to his progeny. In each of his first throe seasons at the stud he has sired the best colt of his year, viz., Bobadll, Merriwee, and Maltster, and no horse has ever equalled that record. He is only ten years old, and the change back to England will probably benefit him as it did Melton. He is all but full now, and will soon be full for three years. He will for the coming season be limited to twenty mares.

The speedy Blazer, who recently met with an accident while competing in a race at Christchurch, is to be given a spell until next November. Blazer was examined by Mr T. G. Lillico, M.R.C.V.S., on the Monday following his mishap at the C.J.C. Meeting, who states there is not much wrong with the horse, although his near shoulder was considerably Injured through coming into contact with the rail.

"Although Advance is not so stroi.2 an ord-i." for the Newmarket HandL-ap as he was a few days ago," says the Sydney "Telegraph" of Monday last, "recentlyarrived New Zcalanders appear to be very swoe+ on his chance of winning. As was pointed out before, Advance has done but very little work during the last fortnight, and must therefore be considerably handicapped, according to the generally accepted methods of training; but those who know the crack best (and some of them are good judges) think, even witli that against liim, that he will win the big sprint event on Saturday next. 'Better tiiau Carbine,' as he Is dubbed, sounds like a very large otuer to people who knew how great that Horse was; but even allowing that op.mon to be correct. Advance can nardly be seen at ins best on Saturday, unless lie is one of thoiC animals Which do best on a very light ptepi-.ration. All accounts, however, agree in Miying that Advance does well under any .conditions of travelling, for he readuy adup:s himself to circumstances, and never misses a meal. Money speaks in cases of tins kind, and the fact of much New /eu-

iiuiil capital having been placed in his favour makes Advance out to be a duiker, at least in the opinion of his countrymen, ins worth will be discovered in tue nest tuv: days, and it will ■>■ interesting to sec now he shapes under mb in tue Newmarket I-laiiUicap ana ...a 71b in the Australian Cup."

I believe the question of Messrs Weatherby's refusal to register Newhaven 11. in the Stud Book is about to be re-upened. says the "Special Commissioner" of the

"London Sportsman," for there can be no sort of doubt that It is a monstrous thing to favour the American Stud Book as against the colonial one. Newhaven JL, it must be clearly understood, is in tho Australian Stud Book right enough, but comes of one of those families which cannot be traced back to the Imported ancestress. There are many imported mares in the first volume of the Australian Stud Book whose subsequent records are lost, and it used to be no uncommon tiling for bushrangers, in the earlier clays of the colony, to carry off bloodstock; but Mr Yuille, of the Australian Stud Book, wrote me some time ago that Newhaven 11. is certainly thoroughbred. The ' American position is much more doubtful, fur fully one-half of the "tap-rbots" there are outside the purview or pur Stud Book altogether, and yet Messrs Weatherby admit these without a murmur when any of that sort are imported to 'England.