THE TURF.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1334, 11 January 1912, Page 7

THE TURF.

■ « . V.R.C. AUTUMN MEETING. Bj I'elesraDh—Press Association—Copyright (Rec. January 10, 10.10 p.m.) Melbourne, January 10. The nominations for tlw Newmarket Handicap, to bo run at the Victoria Racing Club's autuoin meeting in March, total ninety-seven, and incluilo Sharpshooter, Chief Lochiel, and Sunburnt. Tho Australian Cup nominations total fifty-siv, amongst tho number being Gunboat. Oakleigh Plato nominations total eighty-two, including Sharpshooter and Sunburnt. KOATONUI STUD FARM. A trip to tho Koatonui Stud Farm is at any time an interesting outing, but, undor favourable weather conditions, it is specially so. Tho writer paid his second visit to the station in the interval between the Taranaki and Marton meetings. The roads havo been attended to since a previous visit made during tho winter, and were in really good condition, enabling tho car to run right up to the homestead. Field Battery and the first of his progeny wero under inspection four years ago. Tho place of the Hotchkiss horso is now filled by Harrow (Eton—Our Lady) and King Rufus (William Rufus— Arrowroot). Harrow mot with an accident on the station as a yearling, sustaining some fractured ribs and other injuries, and was in consequence never raced. King Bufus was imported to New South Wales by Messrs. Brown, of Newcastle, and was purchased inSydney last autumn by Mr. George Currie. He is a bay with black points, and shows much quality. Studgroom M'Grath remarked that both William Rufus and his sire (Melton) were purchased for big figures for Austria, and that both had been repurchased for England. Full-brothers to William Rufus at' tho stud in England commanded high fees. The first of the progeny of Harrow arc now yearlings, and some of them on the station do their sire credit. Mr. Currio has become a regular contributor to Mr. Chisholin's Sydney autumn sales, and will sond his fourth batch across in March nest. Provided nothing untoward happens in the meantime, sis will be sent—four fillies and two colts. They aro all well-, grown youngsters, the biggest of the' lot being the brown filly by Soult from Alannah (Salvadan—Cuirasette). A fullbrothel' to this youngster brought 300gns. at the last Sydney sales. These two youngsters aro the only progeny of Alannah, who was purchased by Mr. Currio at tho clearing sale of the late J. B. Williamson's horses. A bay filly by Soult— Keepsako (St, Leger—Bangle) is related to - Kapanga, Largesse, Montpelicr, Feathorston and other winners. With the exception of D.S.O. (Convoy's halfbrother), none of tho X'ield Battery youngsters sent to Sydney have made a name for themselves. He has had some good winners recently in Bronze, First Battery, Gold Battery, and others. Field Battery will be represented by a bay filly from imported Holly Rood (Symington—Lady Dunboyne) and a chestnut filly from Grandeur (Gipsy Grand—St. Florence). A full-sister to tho latter lot wont to Sydney with the first batch, and a half-brother (by Soult) sold for 400gns. at tho last sales. A filly from Moira Macroe (Cyronian—Cuirasette), half-sister to Alannah, and as well-grown as tho other youngsters, may also bo sent. The colts aro a brown from Our Lady (by Simmer), dam of Bronze, and a bay colt by Harrow—Merveilleux (dam of Aotea, Chinchilla, Lerida, and other winners). This will ho the first of the progeny of Harrow to go into a sale ring. By Eton (a good performer himself and son of a full-sister to Carbine) there is no reason why Harrow's progeny should not do well. ■ Other yearlings sired by him on the station are fillies from Vexation, halfsister to Irritation (a recent winner , in Victoria) and Vane, dam of Scotch, a winner-in Auckland, and the first of the mare's progeny to race. With abundance of l'eed on the station, the brood mares and foais~could hardly look anything but well, and tho latest addition to the stud are (for their age) considered the best batch that have yet been reared there. "'St- Evelyn. (St. Leger) has at her side a sturdy chestnut colt by King Ruins, who will be one of the next Sydney batch. Moira Macree's contribution is a chestnut filly by Harrow. A visiting Recluse mnre has also a filly by the same sire., The King Rufus— Liquify (Scaton Delaval—Liquidation) colt has a double cross of Melton. Dear Dolly (Brigadier—Dolly) has a filly foal by Maniapoto. Tho King Rufus—Alannah colt will be one of the next year's batch sent across the water, 'l'he second foal of imported Holly Rood (also never raced) is a filly by Harrow—Eulolo (Salvadan—Minola), and Grandeur each have fillies to the same sire, l'he beautifullybred mare Roscommon, by Common— Rosimonde, by Hermit, has probably the most prjzed progeny on the dark brown, or black colt foal by Traquair, who died recently in Victoria. The first batch of Traquair's progeny included Ventura (a double . winner at Randwick) and Deeside (a winner in Victoria). After Traquair was in the slings his owner refused an offer of 7000gns. for him. St. Aida (St. Leger—Confidante), (lam of Crown Pearl, has a filly by King Rufus. The dam of Snip ami Enroto (a Natator mare) has a youngster by Harrow. Convoy's dam, Squib,'is too'old to breed, and lias been pensioned off. One of lipr progeny, led (by Tho Possible— Squib) is used us a station hack. The other matrons on the place include Coralie (Quilt—Tho Brook), First Water (Waiulcu—lphemide), Cutsfly (Cuirassier —Lady Moth), Cintra (Eton—Cyreuse), and Keepsake (St. Leger—Bangle). Mr. Currie lias become a regular visitor to the Auckland meetings, and was 'at Ellerslie at the time of the visit of the party which included Messrs. S. Geo., Nathan, G. li. Hull, and W. Crichton. of Wellington. The manager of tho station, Mr. E. Pattuelo, and Mr. E. M'Clrath (studgroom) helped to mako the visit to Koatonui one to be remembered. NOTES AND COMMENTS. [BT Glkncoz.] Acceptances for the first day's events at the Wellington Racing Club's summer meeting close to-morrow night with the club's secretary, Mr. A. E. Whyfce, l'he southern trainer, G. P. Murray Aynsley, has booked four boxes at Tnentham for tho Wellington Racing Club's summer meeting. . At a sale of privileges held by Messrs. J. B. Harcourt and Co. yesterday in connection with tha Wellington Racing Club summer meeting, tho inside and outside booths were purchased by Mr. M. J. Hodgins, of Lower Hutt, for <£265. A successful jockey is always a popular idol (says a Homo paper), and at tho present time jfc may saiely be said that Frank Wc-otton, who heads the list of winning jockeys during tho flat race season just concluded, is regarded by thousands as one of tho most important personages in the United Kingdom. At (be period when l'rcd Archer was at the height of his fame, a discussion was held in somo paper as to "the most popular man of tho day," and the readers were asked to vote on the question. Archer came out at«ihe head of the poll, a long way in front of the' Prime Minister and other politicians, doctors, artists, and philanthropists. Sir Georgo Clifford's horses, which are to compsto at the Wellington Racing Club's meeting, will numher eight, and will rrach Trentham on Monday next. The Trentham trainer, J. W. Lowe, recently paid a visit to Rototawai, where Iranui has been sent on a visit to Elevation.- Lowe speaks very highly of three of the Elovatiuu youngsters, which ho saw during his visit. G. Price is expected to reach Trentliam from Awapuni with the Highden horses on Tuesday next. Julia (dam of Waiju, Speybank, etc.) has visited Applegaiih, by Treadmill— Goldleaf (full brother to Sir G. Clifford's crack two-year-old colt Autuinmys). The ancient daughter of. lngomnr and Sylvia is a half-sister to Gold.sborough and Mar-tini-Henri (winner of the Melbourne Cup and V.R.C. Derby). Effort is recovering from her cold, but may not bo well enough to compete on the opening day of the Wellington Racing Club's meeting. Her stable-mate, Mira, is now suffering from cold also, and is not likely to ba seen with tho colours up at I Trentham. Tho brother to Irajiui is certainly a rather unfortunate colt. So far

the two-year-old Obligant, who shelters under the samo roof as Effort and Mira, has escaped the prevailing complaint. Mr. T. M'Grath, who for many years (rained horses in Masterton, arrived by the Moeraki yesterday from Melbourne where ho lias been resident for the past soven months, lie loaves for .Mastortou to-day and, after transacting some business there, will return to Melbourne in about a fortnight's time. Just before leaving Melbourne, M'Grath sent Tumut to Bacchus Marsh for a spell, but he has Zealand iri work at Caulfiokl, and also Gunboat, who now carries the colours of Mr. li. A. Connolly. After reading the results of recent meetings in the Dominion Jt'Grath has adoptedtho prevailing opinion that form in New Zealand is poor at present. Regarding the agitation for the totalisator in New South Wales, he says that there appears to be some chance of the machine being installed there, but it is not asked for in Victoria and there would bo no chance of legislation to establish it there being car. ried, The Porirua team, consisting of ten horses, will bo ■ railed to Trentham on Saturday' next. For the first time for many years this stable is without a representative in the Wellington Cup. Hawick ha 3 become rather badly affected in the wind, and is to bo thrown out of work. He is to be returned to Bulls to-day. Gipsy Belle, who was left behind at Ellerslie when the remaining members of the Porirua team were railed home, arrived back on Saturday last, and looks nope the worso for her exertions at the Auckland meeting. The little bay mare is to make the trip to Trentham. In connection with the Telegraph Handicap it is stated that Ireland has come in for strong support and at the present time there is indication that Mr. E. J. Watt's colt will start favourite in that race. Were it known that Bliss would start in the Telegraph Handicap backers would no doubt be inclined to favourably consider Mr. Hunter's mare. Taking Kicearton form as a guide she appears to be well treated, but as it is known that Trainer R. Gooseman has hopes of turning Mr. Hunter's mare into a stayer this is acting as a deterrent to those who assess her chances highly in tho principal sprint event at W.B.C. meeting. FIXTURES. Jan. 20, 22, and 24—Wellington S.C. Summer. Feb. 1 and S—Gisborne R.C. Summer. Feb. 1 and 3—Canterbury J.C. Summer.