OUR SPECIALS.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 9704, 17 April 1897, Page 4

OUR SPECIALS.

AUCB__AND. April 12. The acceptances for the Easter Handicap and Steeplechase, and general entries for the three days of the A.R.C.'s Autumn Meeting fell due on Friday night. Owners have made a satisfactory response in the matter of general entries, the different races, with the exception of the Pony Hurdles, having filled up well. A number of outside horses appear in the list, including the Champagne Stakes candidates, Defiant and St Conon, who arrived from Napier by the s.s. Manapouri. The New Plymouth owned homes, Pyroxylin, Donovan, Wai-iti.by The Australian—Eileen, and Kanaka have been entered, while Mr R. Harper, the Gisborne sportsman, nominates the , ex-Aucklander Three Star and the jumper Thelndian. It will be noticed that Lady AgnesJigures amongst jumpers, while newcomers in the list are Emerald, by Daniel o*Rourke—Wild Duck (trained by T. Hodson), Tauranga-owned Presentment, by Richmond, and _*___, by Woolbroker, hailing from Opotiki. The country-owned horses Cast-ashore, Yattenfeldt and Atlanta have also been entered. With only seven left m the Easter Handicap it most be confessed that the result is disappointing. Day Star, St. P_ol and Nestor have each done well at Ellerslie during the last few days, and I have no hesitation in saying that the trio will fight out the finish between them. The Steeplechase has secured an acceptance of ten and, all going well with those left in, I shall be prepared to see an interesting race. In summing np the matter of course Levanter has most claim for consideration on account of his favourable placing in the handicap, __ad the good form he has from time to-tame displayed over the Ellerslie course. However, there is plenty of material to bring about his defeat. Mozel is a much improved animal, and we must not forget what a good race he ran in the last Summer Steeplechase. Miss Nelson lost "some of her friends this week by refusing the obstacles on the course. ■ In some quarters Kingswood, who will run in the noD-iination of Mr H. H. Hayr, is a good deal fancied for the race. The payment for the Champagne Stakeis due at the post, but it is questionable if

Coronet, Miss Rose, Janet, Doneraile, or Mi&s Anna can bring about the defeat of Defiant and St. Conon. A question cropped up at the recent Rangiriri race 3 which ia unique, and is not provided for in the Rules of Racing. It appears that twelve horses started for the Flying Stakes, and two of the number, weighted at Bst each, ran a dead heat for first place. One of the horses, although weighted at Bst, carried 28lb over iv the race, and I am informed by one who was present declared it. In the run off only Bst was put on the horse that carried the overweight, with the result that he beat his opponent. Now the question is should the horse that won in the run off have carried 10st, as in the first contest, instead of 8s I. There is a diversity of opinion on the matter in conversation I have had with prominent racing men, but I have no hesitation in saying that the herse should have carried Ms overweight in the run off. To do otheryrise would only be playing fast and loose with matters that guide racing. I understand the matter is to be put before the Aubkland Racing Club. It is stated here that the 'chaser Despised will be shipped to Sydney shortly, he is doing well at Ellerslie. Sabretache is to be brought over here from Sydney shortly. At a meeting held at Otahuhu it was resolved to hold a race meeting next month without the totalisator. Tho sum of £90 subscribed in the room, which will be given in stakes. The A.R.C. will be asked to pass the programme. Mr Momn has weaned the Wellington Park foals. AU arc doing well. Perry, the jockey who rode Nestor to victory in the last Auckland Cup and Darby, returned from Sydney this morning. The two-year-olds Defiant (in charge of F. Davis) and St. Conon (in charge of R. Gooseman) came np from Napier in the s.s. Manapouri. They were on the course at Ellerslie this morning and cantered. Both looked well. R. Harper also brought The Indian aud Three Star from Gisborne in the Manapouri. Advices received here state that Mr T. H. Lowry, owner of St. Conon, is to be present at the A.R.C. Meeting with Mrs Lowry. At date, Mr Peroival informs mc, the following are left in the Champagne Stakes: — Canopus, Royal Conqueror, Doneraile, Eton, Coronet, Miss Annal The Owl, Brilliant, Blaircah'ig, Miss Emmy, Miss Rose, Defiant, Electra, St. Conon, Janet. -

It has been finally decided not to send St. Paul to Christehureh to'fulfill his C..J.C. engagement*. His.party are pretty confident of winning the Easter Handicap here. Nothing fresh has transpired iv connection with the alleged tampering of jockeys here, referred to in my recent wires. The committee of the Auckland B:C. have not met so far this month, but are to bo called together for one day this week. Th«it disappointing marc Anniversary was mated with Castor last season, but she is thought to be empty. Gipsy Prince has made a good recovery from his recent attack of illnes3,

HAWKE'S BAY.

Kafir**, April 12. A Western Spit resident has drawn Charge in TattersaU'fl sweep oh the Sydney Cap.

Moonraker has recovered from the slight mishap which befel him prior to the Hastiugs and Para Spring Meetings and is agaiu in work.

Defiant and St. Conon have gone to Auckland to fulfil their engagements in the Champagne Stakes. Whitaker will have the mount on St. Conon.

A wedding of considerable interest in sporting circles was celebrated at St. Johns ProCathedral on Wednesday, when Mr T. H. Lowry, owner of Orion's Belt, St. Conon, Bijou, Belford, Gondolier and others, was united to Miss Helen Watt, eldest daugher of Mr Jas. Watt, at one time one of the most prominent New Zealand racing men. There was an immense crowd to witness the ceremony, both bride and bridegroom being popular. The only one ot the Hon. J. D. OrmomV. team to make the journey to "Christchurch is Daunt.

Barshot and Tally-Ho have taken their departure for the Canterbury Spring Meeting and local backers will lose a pound or two if none of the priipe money comes this way. . . Tenby has cracked-?up badly and has been blistered and turned out.

Trentftltb, who was] some time ago served by Dreadnought, shows signs of being in foal, so it is probable thaf we (have seen the last of Trenton's daughter on the racecourse. There is a possibility of Rainbow being taken to Auckland I hear.

Forest Rose and Popgun have left Ellingbam's, and are now-located at Quinlivan's.

Peters has blistered Nightingale the two-year-old sister to Lady Somrius. The Trenton filly Girofla is on the sick list, and will be sent to her owner's station at Porangahau. Connop has a half brother to St. Kilda by The Musket—Agate horse, Flintlock in work.

Prince Charlie, the hurdler, has been removed from Quinlivan's care, and may go nto Con Boyle' 3 stable. A full brother to Mozel was out with the hounds last Saturday. A committee meeting of the Napier Pavk Racing Club was held on Thursday afternoon, Mr J. Close (President) in the chair. An interim balance-sheet of the Autumn Meetiug was presented by the secretary, and considered satisfactory. The steeplechase course for the May Meeting was laid out similar to last year. The following new members were elected:— Messrs A. C. Lewis, C. Caulton, and A. K. Dolbel, "Jua.

WELLINGTON.

April 12. J. Hunter will take Strath Braan to the Wairarapa Meeting, and he will be accompanied by his owner. H. Fletcher will make the journey with Sylph and Persimmon, and Clarke with Umslopogaas, .and A. Peters probably with Loveshofc and Raupo 11., should the penalty for whioh Loveshot is liable not be too severe.

Last week Leda was backed here to win the Great Easter and Autumn doable at outside prices. Her chance in the Eaßter is locally considered a remote one. I prefer her chanoe in the long distance event.

It is stated that Sea Serpent is a likely aspirant for the jumping business. Wm, Sharpe, formerly inMessrs Stephenson & Hazlett's employ in Dunedin, died here on Saturday last. It will be remembered that this trainer was suspended by the Wellington Racing Club on account of indiscretion. He was then with A. Peters at the Hutt, but after leaving his employ he appeared to lose control of himself, and has been going down hill fast ever since. Mr Lyon, secretary of the W.R.C., has guaranteed the funeral expenses, and A. Peters has taken charge of the funeral-arrangements.

Mr J. E. Henry was present at both the Marlborough and Nelson meetings, returning home on Friday. He leaves for Christchurch on Thursday for the Riccarton meeting.

It has come to light that some unthinking jockeys allow certain members of the "spieler" fraternity the use of their licenses so a. to avoid paying to" get into clubs' enclosures. Secretaries of club, should, therefore, be on their guard against such a practice. J. Prosser informs ms that Kaahu and Gaspard continue to give him a lot of trouble, owing to their unsoundness. Steel King's wind complaint prevents him being put in work at present, but he will probably be seen out during t-te winter. First Result continueto keep well, but tiie owner considers the handicappershave rather too highan opinion of him, therefore he is kept at home. Barshot is: a strong tip here for the Great Easter Handicap, and, according to reports which are being noised about, one would think he promises to turn out a regular Carbine.

The Nelson Meeting further showed what a really good horse Mr Prosser possesses in The Miser, and it is a pity that Jhis owner forgot to accept with him for 'the C.J.C. Meeting. He must have run forward in the big southern events, as he is so extremely well at present. He will now be eased in his work till our Antumn Meeting. Of the Hntt horses competing at Nelson, A. Peters was the only one able to score with one of his team, capturing the Cup with lioveshot, whose owner, Mr It. M'Rae, is a Nelson resident, and tbe latter was therefore highly pleased at his horse's victory. Austral and Raupo 11. failed to run at all prominently and are not forward enough, while Salute managed to obtain a second and a third. She is a disappointing mate, and her owner and trainer should be heartily sick of her.

April 13. I hear that Waiakn is in splendid fettle, and his connections are very sanguine of success at Christchurch. He is expected from New Plymouth to-night,

At the request of bis mother, who lives at \ Milton, Otago, the body of W. Sharps was j sent south by the Te Anau this afternoon. j

OTAGO.

Dcneuiw, April 12. The report sent you last week to the ofi.ct that Musketry was under a cloud, turns out to be but too true. A splint appeared in an awkward place, behind the knee, making him quite lame. The fire is now, however, out of it, and I understand that the horse will be working again almost at once. There is reason for gratefulness that the lameness is not in the knee which .has been under suspicion. That would bo seriou.. M'Ginness' team for Christehuroh will consist of Maremma, Lord Rosslyn and Felina. One ot Mar.rama's legs is nglylooking, and I do not fancy that tint* game and true galiopar will be quite at his best, especially if the track is hard. What he | wants is sott going, in which ease be would | have a chance in the Easter Handicap. Christehuroh people wilt, I think, like Felina when they see her, but she has yet to prova herself worthy of her excellent pedigi'ee —by j Artillery from Titania. j Messrs Stephenson *& Hasdett's yearling filly by Stepniak from Illusion has been I taken in hand by Bishop. She is a nice looking youngster. By the way, talking of this stable rem*ruh mc that it is as well to correct a rumour which ■is in circulation here to the effect that Hippomenes has been sold to Mr Friedlauder. I understand that the cause of this report is the circumstance that tlie old chestnut ran at the Dunedin Gup meeting in colours somewhat resembling Mr Friedlaoder's livery. If j so, the mistake can be easily explained. It ia ; this; that when Hippomenes' rider for the I race in question went to rig up, he could not i find the regular colours ia time, they having I been stowed away by some strange blunder, and in the rush for a jacket the lad took one that had been used by Mr W. Hazlett in a hunting competition some time ago. I do not think the owners would willingly part with | the gelding. The bad luck which lias pursued this racing partnership of late has been followed up by a death in the team. Van Buren, son of Vanguard and Wild Rose, died on Thursday. He had been out of sorts for soma time, but so far as I know, the cause of death has not been ascertained. Van Buren raced first for Mr W. H. Leech, of Canterbury, but without doing any good, only one small race falling to him. Then he became the property of Mr Sowell, of Oamaru, and it was soon found that ho could gallop, but he got the name of being unreliable, and after a lengthened trial, during which he won the Palmer-ton and Waikouaiti Cups, and a few other small races, and sold his party frequently, he was sold to Messrs Stephenson and Hazlett 1 i months ago, after winning a selling race, for 40 soys. For the Dunedin stable Van Buren won the Cliffs Handicap, the North.Otago Gup, the Taieri Gap, and the Spring Handicap at Danedin, beating in the latter a pair ot good ones in Skirmisher and ! Bay Boll,"and altogether ho returned in stakes to Messrs Stephenson and Hazlett close on £300, co that, with all - his .unreliability he could not have been exactly a losing spec ; for the stable. Personally, I have an idea that Van Buren was a fairish horee when quite well, but .difficult to ke.p at his best, and I know that Bishop had hopes of his J rising a step or two iv the equine world. W. Sharp, the jockey, whose death is reported from the North, was an Otago lad and served his apprenticeship with J. Cotton. The first time the public took • notice o£ him, though ha had ridden races previously, was when lie came home on--Adamant in the Dunedin Cup. The little chap was as sick ai a dog during the race, and may be the hor.. did rattier mora than his share of the business; bat the incident served to got Sharp talked about, and as he could go to scale at a light weight, and was a strong youngster, he soon had as much outside riding as Cotton cared about, and he had not been long in the ranks of the ' •recognised riders when he left his old employe**. He was for a long iimi connected with tho stable o! which Stewart Waddoll was the traiuer, and many a good race has he ,' ridden for the red aud white, one ot his prominent successes, being ori-Occident in the J Duuedin Oup. He was naturally a horseman; and at his best one of the strongest men in the saddle, for his size, that we have had. * ' April 13. ! Goodman has completed the purchase of ] Eurociydon, and is now sole owner of the big horse. Plotter is galloping remarkably well at the Forbury.