SPORTING NOTES.

Press, Volume XLVII, Issue 7495, 10 March 1890, Page 2

SPORTING NOTES.

By Spectator.

My Taranaki. correspondent writes:--Takapua, the winner of the Takapuna steeplechase, was bred by Mr W. Black, of Tikorangl, who is still part owner. Takapua is by Izaak Walton, out of Physio, who was imported from Sydney many years ago, and she has this season visited Flintlock, the Musket—-Georgia entire now located at Waitara, and consequently he is only half-brother to Sylvio. I have also seen Mr W. Elliott re the breeding of Kneecap's dam. He says the dam was by Voulenteer, who stood a season in New Plymouth manyvearsago, and out of a Nutwith mare. Vbulenteer was then the property of Mr Lingard, who could furnish you with Voulenteer's pedigree. The attention of the stewards of ithe Canterbury Trotting Club was drawn on Saturday to the face that a jockey who is under a penalty of suspension in Australia was riding at the meeting. The rules of the Metropolitan Trotting Association give power to the stewards to forbid the {>resence on the ground of any person who s under a penalty Of suspension and who has been found guilty of fraudulent or corrupt practices. The stewards met and considered the case in question, and decided to allow the jockey to ride. What the grounds were upon which they based this decision Is not known. They may have been good ones or they may not. It will not do, however, for {the rule dealing with cases of the kind to be lightly regarded by clubs racing under the Association rules, otherwise a fresh field will be thrown open to persons whose room has been found by racing clubs to be better than their company. We are glad to be in a position (says the Sportsman) to announce a very flattering acceptance for this year's Derby, which will be decided under the new conditions.

The original entry was 235; 63 of whom paid the minor forfeit of -210 on the first Tuesday in January, 1889. This left In 17_, of which number upwards of 60 have finally accepted, the remainder having paid £26 forfeit on Tuesday last. For the first time in the long history of the race'the winner of the " blue riband of the Turf" will be guaranteed the-sum of £5000, which, is considerably in excess bf the average of late years. The following are the revised conditions under which the Derby will be rah on Wednesday, June 4th:—The Derby Stakes of SOOOsovs for the winner, SOOsovs for the nominator of the winner, dOOsovs for the owner of the second, and -OOsovs for the owner ol the third; colts Ost, fillies Bst 91b,. then three-year-olds; by subscription of 50sdvs each, h ft if declared by the first Tuesday in January, 1890, and lOsovs only if declared by the first Tuesday in January, 1889; any surplus to be paid to the winner. About a mile and' a. half, starting at the High Level starting-post. Writing on the Derby, a correspondent says that what is known as "the same old bet," namely, even moneyagainst four, namely, Surefoot, Le Nord, Heaume, and Riviera are recorded dally. People begin to think that the fielders "know something,*' for at present it looks like pioking up money to back these four on public performances. It may be that they rely upon the Australians taming up trumps, or It may be that the rumours with regard to the uncertainty of Surefoot's temper have some foundation, whilst it Is no'secret that it is quite possible Baron de Rothschild will reserve Le Nord and Heaume for their rich French engagements. Added to this there Is a vague rumour that Riviera when seen in public will be found to have made little Improvement. Anyhow, .the takers of a 100 to 6 about Mr White's colts will have none the worst of the deal on the eventful day. However, I would advise caution In backing them, and it would be better to take a shorter price later on when we know more about them. <Matthew Dawson says that he has a true Derby line in The Whaup, which will be his trial horse, and when a question Is asked I shall be _ure to know it, and will duly advise your readers. It must not be forgotten that Matt, has also in his care several other splendid 3-year-olds, which are also entered for the. Derby. One of . these is Water Mint, a full sister to Minting, and one of the finest fillies I have seen. She Is almost as- big as her Illustrious brother was at her age, and consequently it was thought advisable to give her time, so she did not fulfil her two-year old engagements. It is believed tkat she possesses the racing qualities of her celebrated relative,'and if so she will have to be reckoned with as a formidable opponent. There are also two beautiful fillies, the property of Lord Rosebery.of which Dawson holds a high opinion. Taking it altogether the veteran trainer holds a very strong hand, and it is not Very long odds that he does not lead in the winner of the Blue Riband. While exec-tin* a splendid gallop at Flemlngtou last Saturday morning, writes " Asmodeus," Don Giovan came into violent collision with Rich Ruby, the lesulfr being that Mr Loughlin's Newmarket Handicap horse received a severe Shaking. His trainer at once took steps to reduce inuammationby the application of fomentations, and the erratic Don has sine.-reappeared on the training track. It Is not my intention (says " Augur") to enter into the discussion anent the scientific breeding of thoroughbred stock, but I cannot allow my old favourite. Fisherman, to be traduced as he has been by one or two of the contestants without saying a word in bis defence. Mr C. B. Lowe, who has a " o@6 in his bonnet" respecting the breeding Of thorough bred stock, evidently does not think much of the Fisherman blood. I should like to ask him what has the Hobarcville stud done since old Maribyrnong died? In the days when this grand old Son ot Fisherman was the chief lord of the harem at Richmond, he sired such celebrities as Richmond (one of the best racehorses that ever a bridle), Bosworth, CUlanila, Woodlands, Cap-a-pie, Palmyra,- Ssgenhoe, lolantbe (the three last-named being winners of the Maribyrnong Plate), BargO," and many other good performers. The giory of the old stud departed when Maribyrnong died, ana notwithstanding the introduction of Grand Flaneur and numerous other stallions, I doubt if anything really first-class has been produced of late years. The best of Grand Flaneur's stock, Bravo, was not bred at Richmond. Mares of the highest lineage were also imported from England, and even the mighty Lowe's services were called into requisition to select a few mares in England, with what result ? Maribyrnong did beget first-class horses, but his successors all put together have never during their sojourn at Hohartville Stud sired a horse to be compared to Richmond, who, as a sire, promises to keep up the reputation of the family, whose head is now being carped at by " faddists " troubled with the cac&ethes scriben&i. Had Grand Flaneur and his associates produced winners of Derbys, St. Legers, ChamEion Races, Maribyrnong Plates, Melourne Cups, and Australian Cups, as Maribyrnong did. the Hobarcville or Richmond Stud would have still held its high position among the studs of Australia, and dear old Andrew Town would not harto had to leave his home to die of a broken heart. In Madbvrnong's days there was ao difficulty la obtaicins from 500 to 1000

S guineas for several of the yearlings, bu* j such has not b&e_v the case of late years. Mr | Lowe- seems ■fe cdnvenlently forget "that woodlands, a grandson of Fisherman, beat Chester fair and square for the A.J.C., Derby, and- C_J*H_*ple also a grandson of Eisherraftn.defirused Mr White's crack for the A. J.C. St Leger. It makes my gorge rise to see the old Heron horse sneered at. for I know that his goodness and stoutness have been transmitted to many of his sons and daughter*, and he did as good service to the thoroughbreds of Australia as any horse ever imnorted. It is the old story of the live asses kicking the dead lion.