SPORTING ITEMS.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 9928, 6 January 1898, Page 2

SPORTING ITEMS.

«• Weekly Prest and Referee. ,,

TWO-YEAR-OLD FORM IN ENGLAND.

("Magnet," in the Sporting and Dramatic Sme* of Sot. 6.) Now that the last important two-year-old contest of the season is over, namely, the Dewhurst Plate, the period is an opportune one to glance over the juvenile form, and the bearing it has on the prospects and probabilities of the classic events of next year. It is many years since the Two Thousand Guineas and the Derby presented such an exceedingly open aspect, and winter speculation, especially on the Bine Riband, bids fair to be of a particularly animated character. A very remarkable feature in connection with the great race at Epsom ia that each good performers a> Cylleoe, Champ de Mars, Cap Martin, and Ninus, j are not entered for it. The last-named ie, fortunately, nominated for the Two Thousand and St. Leger, but the other trio are not so, with the exception that Champ de Mara figures in the entries for the great race at Doncasfcer. It is particularly regrettable that Cyllene should have been omitted from the Derby, as this handsome son of Bona Yisto and Arcadia is, in my opmion, the beat of hi3year, and would have j had a splendid chance of winning Mr C. D. Rose his first Blue Riband. Out of his five essays be was only defeated once, that being the last occasion, and it was surely no diegrace to just fail by three parts of a length I to successfully concede 101b to the Duke of colt Dieudonne , for the Imperial Produce Stakes at Ketnpton Park last month, the race being worth close on 3000 soys. The last-mentioned ia a son of Amphion out of Mod Droit, and prior to the event just alluded to he had run unplaced in the Champion Breeders' Foal SUkes at Derby on the last day of August, when the three leading positions were filled by Disraeli, Champ de Mars, and Dunamase, the second conceding the winner 121b and being beaten a length and a half. After his success at Kempton won the Middle Park Plate the following week in the moet decisive, not to say brilliant, style, and had he then retired from public life he would have been a very great winter Derby favourite. Such was not to be, however, for a fortnight later he completely failed to reproduce that running over the extra farlong in the Dewhurst Plate, a race which still further complicated the already puzzling character of the two-year-old form. Hawfinch, a son of the expatriated Goldfinch, out of Chalk Hill Blue, came from Kingsclere with such a poor reputation that in a field of only half a dozen he started at 20 to 1, and yet fairly wore down Ninus and Dieudonne, winning by a neck from PrinceSoltykoffs colt, who was a leng& in front of the Middle Park Plate winner. Admitting that Hawfinch was in receipt of 41b and 101b respectively from Ninnsand Diendonn6, he certainly displayed more stamina than either; but he is a dreadfairy plain colt, and I cannot stand him at all as a likely classic hero, although he may turn out relatively a better three-year-old than Ins one solitary public performance in the Dewhurst Plate would indicate. Ninus is svvery nice racing-like, home-bred colt by Sheen out of Nina, who was struck out of the Middle Park Plate ia error, bat he made a-successful first appearance in public when he won the Great Sapling Plate a fortnight ago at Sandown Park by a leagth from Nun Nicer, who in turn was three parts of a length in advance of Sheet Anchor, JFhat form was not particularly gay, bat, as already mentioned, Ninus divided Hawfinch and Dieudonne in the Dewhurst Plate contest, and he is sure to be a much fancied candidate for the Two Thousand, but, as I hevo stated, he is not in the Derby. Disraeli, a son of Galopin and Lady Yardley, has only run three times in public, but that was enough to display the same in and out form which has been such a distinguishing feature of the performances of others. He is the property of Mr Wallace Johnstone, and started his public career by winning the Champion Breeders' Foal Stakes at Derby, beating Champ de Mars and ten others, a race to which I have already alluded. Disraeli next carried colours for the Middle Park Plate, and finished second three lengths behind Dieudoone at oven weights, beating the strongly-fancied Wildfowler, who was in receipt of 31b, a head for second money. That was a very creditable performance, but his next essay was a sad failure, as he finished a very moderate fourth to Ninus, Nun Nicer and Sheet Anchor for the Great Saplinc Piste at Sandown Park. He was certainly, easing up in the last 200 yard* or so, when further perseverance was found to be useless, and was giving the winner 131b, but to my thinking he did not ran his race with tii9 dash be displayed in the Middle Park Plate. He is a good-looking, well-set-up colt, and I am pleaeed to say he is engaged in both the Two Thousand and the Derby. Wildfowler, an Irish-bred son of Gallinul* and Tragedy, is the representative of the Gsltee More stable in the elsaric events of next year, so that he has the opportunity of following in the footsteps of his illustrious companion by carrying off the triple crown as represented by the Two Thousand, Derby, and St. Leger. Wfldflower made his first acquaintance with a public racecourse at the Newmarket First July Meeting, when, palpably very green and backward, he finished a bad third behind Lucknow and Stream of Gold for the Plantation Stakes. He did not ran again till Doncaater, when he was in perfect condition, and gained a decisive victory ia workmanlike style over the smart fli. Ia and nine others in the Rous Plate, ran on the six furlongs track. At Manchester a fortnight later he won the Autumn Breeders , Plate in smart fashion from Nan Nicer, The Wyyern, and four others, following this op with an equally meritorious triumph for Uμ Rutland Stakes at the Newmarket Pint October Meeting. Then came his third, beaten a head by Disraeli in the Middle Park Plate, so that while not being quite at the top of the tree, Wildfowler is so close op with the best form as to ensure his being aetrongly-fancied winter candidate for the great three-year-old races of 1898. In addition to Hawfinch, Kingsclere has other wpceamtativea in both the Two Thousand and Darby, and the best of these I take to be Batt, a son of Sheen and Vampire, the property of the Duke of Westminster, who won the Criterion Stakes and Heughton Stakes at Newmarket last week, the lastnamed being by far the best performance. Bridegroom 11., an American-bred son of Rayon dOr and St. Bridget, is a good-looking colt, and although he did not win either of tt» three races for which he has started, he is sore to show vast improvement with increasing age, or I am mistaken, and is sore to be backed for the Derby. The only transactions on the Blue Riband that have corns under my notice thus far, has been the backing of lots of three and four against the field, which at once shows how very open the race is. A few days ago & backer took Dieudonane, Hawfinch, Disraeli, and Onnathwaite asuinet the field for a thousand pounds. Gflfce last-named is a "dark" colt, the property of the Prince of Wales, by Orme oot of Marguerite, who was so very backward that he did not fulfil any of his numerous two-year-old engagements, but is likely to turn out a real good colt in my estimation. I had several opportunities of seeing him at work during my sojourn at Newmarket this autumn, and he is a fine upstanding colt with beautiful action, who is sure to do good service next season. It will thus bo seen how very open the great three-year-old races are, but in selecting one as my winter champion I shall take Dieudonne*, with a strong reservation in favour of the Prince of Wales's colt Onnathwaite, for both the Two Thousand and Derby.

TROTTING TALK.

(Bt Spectator.)

The InvercargiU writer " Sir Modred " saya:—l am told that an animal of the trotting class was landed at the Bluff recently, and has since disappeared into the interior, a door by which many another atranger has left this district. F.B. haa been served by Wildwood, having been sent from Wellington to visit the Messrs Kerr's horse, as well as to compete at the Canterbury Trotting Clnb'a Meeting. Both Imperious and Ha-Ha are horses that this eeaaon hare left a larger proportion of colts than Elliee than is usually the case. For many years the Palo Alto Stock Farm colte were never permitted to be worked with a view to educating them to pace, even if ttAy exhibited the natural gait. Trotting was their business pure and simple, bat of ££nt year. Mr F. V Covey, wto ha. b«n Juperintendent of the etad, hu rMOgniMd

that it'hi well to have the youngsters educated to the particular gait that comes most natural to them, and as colts and filbes intensely bred for trotting will, however, sometimes show an inclination to pace, and take more kindly to it than the trot, the old rule of the stud has been abandoned. As far back as last March Mr Covey was interviewed by a representative of the Hone Rtvieic on this subject, and informed him that the plan had always been to breed away from the old time raeker, but the modern trotting-bred pacer is certainly a great harness horse. We are training several fast pacera now," said he, "amongst them a colt by Azmoor out of a mare by Wildidle and another by Palo Alto, both fast and parepaited pacers." From a recent issue of that, paper I notice that the Azmoor —Nadine three-year-old colt has paced an exhibition mile in 2.061, the first half mile being paced in 1.05, and he is the first pacer trained and raced by the Palo Alto establishment. Aznioor is the sire of Messrs Kerr's Alice Azmoor and Nadine is by Wildidle. thoroughbred, who sired the dam of Good Gift, who in turn sired Wildwood, our mile record holder. The name of the pacer produced from this combination of trotting blood is Betonica, who it is reckoned is "a sure enough candidate for the firsc place in the first flight," and the paper from which I quote says "hU fast last half mile, 1.013, stamps him as a wonder." Seeing that there are such worthy representatives of the same families in New Zealand in Wildwood and Alice Azmoor, the future of this colt will be looked forward to with much interest.

Direct, who first brought the pacing record to 2.06, is now being worked as a I rotter, and is said to be going fast too. If he keeps sound it is thought likely that he will reach a fast mark.

Flying Jib, the great pacer, is said to have carried about 18oz on each front foot when pacing at his best, and Plant, 2 04J, a trotting-bred horse that was taught to pace with hobbles, is said to carry more weight in front than any pacer since Flying Jib's day. As a rule pacers are very lightly weighted. After the stewards had decided that Bed of Stone was not eligible for the three races she had started in at the Canterbury Trotting Club's August Meeting, several ChriatcQurch bookmakers paid out over that mare to investors, but the money was in most cases returned to them. Some backers even went so far as to forward the amount of their investments on Linda, who I am informed was not so largely supported with Christchurch layers as with some pencillera in other centres. Bed of Stone was only backed with the bookmakers for trifling sums away from the course. Mr Mace informs mc that he did not breed many of his trottingmarea last season, but allowed the foala to run with their dams somewhat longer tban usual. This plan has been adopted with success by breeders anxious to have their stock come early and to save the mares as much as possible, but Mr Mace's main object was to allow breeders to have the use of his siree outside for a season or two, and not to overrun his farm with too many youngsters. Mr Mace continues to purchase good mares for his stud, and by this means should always be able to play a strong hand in the juvenile races that are introduced.

Long before we had any horse? that had trotted better than a 2.40 gait to the mile, I advocated the introduction of class races, bat was invariably met with the contention of stewards that such races would not pay. I am sure that, had clubs in Canterbury fjone in largely for class races on the basis aid down, it would have been to their advantage aa well as to that of horse-owners. No horses should be eligible to compete in certain classes until they had established their right by putting up performances of such an order as would qualify them. All horses should be eligible to compete in other classes until such time as they had records that would act as a bar—we should long ago have put trotting on a much more satisfactory footing. It is a crying shame that any maiden candidates whose form has been concealed should be worth more money than the best-performed horses we have. The whole tendency of the system that pertains at present of having so many handicaps is detrimental to the true interests of the sport. The proved good ones are not catered for, and consequently their owners, rather than go to expense in vainly trying to capture races from back marks, prefer selling them at prices absurdly low by comparison with their achievements. We have been told that Mr Buckland intends bringing the champion gelding Fritx to New Zealand in the autumn. Let us hope that he may, but for goodnes3 sake don't let us have any more of these so-called class handicaps, i.e., races stated to be 2.40 class, 2.50 class and so on. They are a delusion and a sham, since I or anyone else who may happen to own a horse that has never trotted a mile in public in 2.50, but who might be capable of trotting 2.35 or better, would be certain to get such a start of Frite or any other of the fastest horses that they could have no possible show of winning. This is what is called class racing by the powers that be. Now, I hope that the clubs will stick to short limits, where they do not go strictly in for races all off the same mark according to class. There is a vast difference between a so-called 2.45 class race and a 20sec limit, as the owners of the good ones find out. And the experience of the past should lead the programme committees of our dabs not to introduce races of such a kind that common sense should tell them cannot be won by scratch horses unless they have more than ordinarily good luck in meeting a bad field. It would be good business to lay twenty to one meeting after meeting against scratch horses in au such events, when it is very often odds on a limit candidate.

Strathbell, an American mare, furnishes an example of how some horses improve all at once so to speak. In the middle of August, according to the Hone Review, ■he was unable to pace a mile in 2*40, bat she has trained on fast, and being a naturally good gaited one, by the end of September, in six weeks be it noted, was beaten a neck in 2.10£. Here is something for those who talk about inconsistent form to ponder over, but then some horses improve seconds every race or trial. Star Pointer, less than a fortnight before he pot up his 1.592 record, could not do better than 2.9 in a race. Those who know more about inconsistent running than the lookers-on at the game, are the unfortunate owners who

have backed their horses on the strength of private trials they have {ailed to run up to in "public Many an owner could tell of ! inconsistency of form in thif way, bat after all how many consistent horses have we, and j how can we look for consistency in cross or i common bred horses when we find the crackI jacks, as they are ca*!ed in America, varying many seconds in their mile goes. We may hope for greater uniformity in the speed of our hor3e3 when they are trained to trot and repeat, and when we have tracks where they all get a chance of exhibiting their speed without interruptions, !as are invariably experienced on small ! coarses. Horsemen, breeders, and the public most all long for the day when tracks three times round to the mile and indeed half-mile tracks are no longer in use for harness racing. A half-mile track would ,' no! be so baa for a small field or even i exhibition trotting, but where horsea have Ito pass each other in sulkies a fair amount of room is required, and the limit horses not only have the advantage of long starts, but a position next the rails or pole, while the I back notchers have ever so much more I ground to traverse, as they have to pass on ! the outside. SiDce writing my notes re the duties of judges of trotting at meetings I have perused an American paper of a late date in •which appear some comments on the very subject. Says the authority referred to :—" This matter of patrol judges is one that too many track officials overlook, yet it is of vital importance, if racing is to be clean and to rule. With the work allotted to. competent men, every illegal act of every driver can be reported to the judges, and there will be no necessity for falling back upon the testimony of those engaged in a race, who might be unwilling or unable to give an accurate version of anything they may have seen." The article goes on to say :—" The report of a patrol judge should be accepted in preference to any other statement." I am sure we should have fewer cases of inconsistent running and allegation of, and of, actual foul riding, if the stewards of meetings would appoint their officials to watch the running particularly from different points of vantage and not from the people'n stand. The suggestion is no new one on my part. I have time and again urged it upon the attention of the powers tbafc be. I shall supplement the report of the Canterbury Trotting Club's Meeting, or, that is to say, the first day's running thereat, by such comments as space this week will permit. Manton went in better style than his opponents in the Maiden, but he failed to catch the pacer, Garryowen, who won. Bonnie McGregor showed more pace than either, but broke repeatedly. Gwynne, a daughter of Lincoln let, was one of Angus'* best of good things, and had the easiest of wins in the Pony saddle race, though Mary, from the same mark, got right away from her in the first half-mile, which she covered in 1.26, Gwynne taking 1.32. In the next half Gwynne showed her speed, reaching Mary, who covered the first mile in 2min 52sec. Gwynne maintained her speed to the end of the third half, and then eased down, finishing the two miles in smin 44sec. Mary, whose pace likewise diminished, took 5.52, this pony being all out. Come Again probably trotted her beet race in this event, but barely reduced her handicap over Mary, and the scratch ponies had no chance of lessening the gap. The Oamaru horse, Stirling Lad, on the strength of private form, and speed he was displaying in hie preliminary, went out a very warm favourite for the Boxing Day Handicap, but he started very wildly, and smashing up going down the back overran himself and, breaking badly, took no further part in the race. General Luck passed Billy Buttons after the first turn, and Three Cheers failed to leave the mark. For quite three rounds General Luck was in front, and Shamrock, entering upon the home stretch for the second time, and Mallow, on the third round, were disputing the lead with him. Stonewall Jackson, who trotted his first mile in 2.30, was the only one showing anything like previous form of the others, who kept breaking up, and going very fast he reached Mallow half a mile from home. Soon after he headed him, and his victory was loudly proclaimed, but Stonewall Jacksoo'* earlier effort had told severely, and Mallow coming at him in the home ran got past him. Stonewall Jackson made a last effort, but Mallow, ridden right one, succeeded in keeping his head—though only his head—in front, and won a most exciting race. Stonewall Jackson took 2.38£ to trot his last mile, but Mallow covered the whole distance at an even pace throughout, doing the last half mile, however, in 1.21. Allerton moved very well in his preliminary, but failed in the race. There was great enthusiasm at the finish, and Mallow paid the fine dividend of £57 4e, his owner having three tickets on him. Stonewall Jackson would also have paid a big dividend had he got home. Mr Brinkman must have been pleased at the way in which the race terminated. Had Stonewall Jackson trotted right up to his best previous time, the result might have been different. Mallow was perhaps the only horse that trotted up to his best performance. The limit colt, Design, a son of Specification, with hie long start, appeared the best of good things for the Banfurly Stakes, and it looked as if lie would never be caught. Breaking badly, however, Scrutineer reached him and then Candidate ; and the latter showed rare pace once more and won cleverly. Design will hold his own later on perhaps. He ia a good sort. A Blackwood—Abdallah mare called Royana, and Mannar, another mare by the same sire, divided the betting in the Progressive Handicap, but the next beat backed, Mies Annie, was always adjacent, and the places were gained by the trio. Murmur, however, went the faster, and gave Royana her smm allowance and another 3sec* beating. Miaa Annie went well throughout for a small one. The Addington Handicap was another grand struggle, keener, indeed, and just as close at the finish, between Monte Carlo and Sam Slick, as was the race between Stonewall Jackson and Mallow. Monte Carlo, for once in a way, had all the best of the lack, and Sam Slick, through breaking at a critical moment, the worst, as he lost inside berth, and being displaced had to come on the outside. He was travelling the faster of the pair as they raced home down the straight, bat failed to quite get up. Monte Carlo conceded Seecs, but he had to go a great pace to get on terms. His consistency and dash, however, enabled him to win the race, which was the best of his career. The win was very popular. Ritastatted favourite. She looks bigger than when racing a year or more since. Little Willie trotted well, bat in the last half mile tired away. Rosewood was not at her best, bat Ascot ran about up to his usual form. Stirling Lad showed what he might have succeeded in doing in the Boxing Day Handicap had he not smashed up early, by annexing the Electric Handicap in the hoUowest fashion. It was only a mile race, bat still be showed so much speed and travelled so well that he must have had a rare look in "the bigger event had he displayed the same form. As related elsewhere a protest was entered, and, pending the decision of the South Island Trotting Association, the money is locked up. F.B. and Kentucky Maud, of the others, were travelling the best at the end of three-quarters of a mile, or even seven furlongs, when August got up through their breaking. Berlin Maid won the Dash Handicap, bat had there not been a false start The Baron, who was third, might possibly have won that event. Berlin Maid started badly in the first and The Baron well. In their last essay matters were the other way about, which makes all the differ* ence, and from this another lesson is to be learned as to how races are sometimes won and lost through such little lapses. The Australatian of December 18th says that negotiations are in progress for a match between Fritz (New South Wales) and Calista (Victoria). Major, winner of the mile trot at the Melbourne Driving Club meeting on Tuesday, hails from the Mortlake district (says the same paper), and is by the thoroughbred sire Skipper, sire of the steeplechaser' Floater. He won very easily from Alista, who is the first of the Osterleys to appear in public. Her dam is the crack trotter Calista. Don Cleve, who won the two-mile trot, has fashionable trotting blood on both sides of his pedigree, as he is by Frits's sire, Vandeve, from Moonbeam, by Childe Harold. Don Cleve was recently sold by public auction for 150gs.