THE TURF.

Evening Post, Volume LXII, Issue 114, 9 November 1901, Page 6 (Supplement)

THE TURF.

[By Cbackshot.] { RACING FIXTURES. November 6, 9, and 13— Auckland R.C. Spring. November 9 and 11—Taratabi-Carter-ton R.C.s Annual. November 21 and 23— Wellington R.C. Spring. November 28 and 30 — Dunudin J-C Summer. November 29 and 30 — Feilding J.C. Spring. December 26, 28, and January 1 and 2— Auckland, R.C. Summer. January 1 and 2 — Wairaxapa R.C. Summer. NOTES. The unexpected happens far more in horse-racing than in any other branch of sport, and for a striking illustration one cannot point to anything better than the result of the most important handicap 1 event in this colony — the New Zealand Cvp — which Tortulla won last Saturday. Last year the black mare was tried very well at Porirua, and on the strength of her work was solidly supported by her connections, and also the general public, who, by the way, have a strong likmg for anything coming from the Porirua stable ■with Jenkins in the saddle. Well, in last year's race Torpedo's daughter showed up well to the home turn, but afterwards bad no earthly chance, and was one of the last to finish. Some people thought she was not herself, but that could hardly ne, ' as she afterwards ran a couple of good races at the meeting and then came on to Wellington and won the Wellington Handicap very comfortably. To me it appeared as though her defeat in the New Zealand Cup last year was purely on account of her failing to stay, and that is why I would not stand her for this year's race. After her success at Wellington she went rf through the season with only one 'victory, that being in the Autumn Handicap at the Taranaki Meeting. She, however, had previously run a good race in the Summer Cup at Ellerslie, only just dying out of the contest in the last bit when tackled by Hob.oro. Tortulla went into winter retiremerit after the Wellington Autumn Meeting, and on Advance going amiss was put into ' strong work. She came on so well that a few weeks Erevious to the Cup her trainer respected er chance. Still, her connections" doubted her staying abilities, and were satisfied to let her run for the stake alone. When she left Wellington wharf Tortulla wag far more fancied for the Cup by her party than on the day, for in the meantime the mare finished rather slovenly in a gallop, and it was thought that she would not get to the end of the journey. ' This opinion,- I might say, was shared by all the supposed good judges at Riccarton, who considered that her chance was a hopeless one. Nevertheless the mare won all right, but it is questionable whether she would have done so had the pace been made solid in the first part of the race. The race could not have been better to suit the winner. She was ridden a nice race by Jenkins, being kept near the rails behind a bunched field, thus saving the wind pressure. When Jenkins brought her out approaching the home turn she was full of running, and soon had the leaders in difficulty. Coming on in front she had little difficulfcy in keeping her position, although Jefflkins moved on her just passing the distance post, where Melwood and Sirius were feebly challenging her. To find anything in favour of the. Melbourne Cup-winner Revenue one has to go back nearly three years. He was, in Mr. Dakin's opinion, equal to any two-year-old of his year, Chesney, Parthian, and Reviver being bracketed with him at the Bead of the three-year-olds in the Melbourne Cup of 1899. Since then Revenue has done nothing in public. StiM Mr. Macdonald was content to give 725 guineas for him (as a gelding) at Mr. Wilson's sale, and the other horses he bought were Regained, Wakeful, Aurous, and Kinglike, all winners of races since. A man would hardly give that price for a gelding unless he thought he knew a good deal in his favour, and Mr. Macdonald's judgment has proved correct. Revenue was not seen even to canter since this" time last year, but as "Bleys," of "Bell's Life in London,' the most successful man at solving big races in his own or any other time, remarked anent Don Juan and the Cesarewitch of 1883, " People who stick slavishly to public form and will not take a tip from the market occasionally are (if they back horses) liable to find themselves walking about without boots." .Don Juan, like Revenue, .had no claims for consideration an recent public running, but he, like Revenue, started favourite and won easily. His not having had a race for a year was an argument that was used against Revenue, but Lapdog, Savanaka, Romula, Arsenal, Nada, and others were sent to the post fit enough without being raced' right up to the day, and in Revenue's case, it turned out all right. Don Juan and Ga,ulus are two Melbourne Cup winners that only had one -race before winning the Cup. No doubt a horse like Hymettus mu»t be raced into condition, but there are plenty that can be got ready in the way Mr. James Wilson got them ready 25 years ago. • Revenue's success must have cost the Australian bookmakers heavily, for a great deal of money must have been piied on to the favourite to bring him down to the startling price of 6 to 4. It is the shortest pr.ice that has even been taken about a Melbourne Cup competition; in fact, the second favourite, San Fran, was at shorter odds than even the people's idol Carbine started at when he won. While Revenue put up a decent performance in winning, yet the honours of the race go to the Gogo four-year-old San Fran, who carried 9st 71b so meritoriously into second . place. But for incurring a 101b penalty by winning the Metropolitan Stakes in Sydney San Fran might have beaten Mr. Macdonald's good thing. The death of Tom Hales, news of which reached usi this week, was quite sudden, as the great jockey was looking really well on Caulfield Cup Day. All the years "Terlinga" knew him, Sales suffered "from asthma and bronchitis. He came by these complaints through sleeping out on wet nights while travelling to Adelaide with horses for" Mr. E. Stockdale, of Robe. This was when he was quite a lad — long before ho became known as a joclrey. Joe Thompson's definition of how Hales compared with other jockeys is the best I ever heard. Joe said of him, " I never saw Hales lose ,a race once he had it won, and that is more than I can say of any other jockey I have seen ride." That was a very happy way of putting it. Hales rode all sorts of races, and as a "kidder," he never had an equal in Australia. Who will ever forget how he won the Derby on Ensign? Another of his finest efforts was on Trident in the Australian Cup ; but a race he often spoke of as one of his best was on Ambition in the Gelding Race at Flemington. " I ought to have been a bad third, and I won," he used to say. > The Admiral and Dreadnought were not such soft things for the Derby as many supposed. Both wanted careful handling. Dreadnought's feet were t>o bad that' Tom Payten was , very dubious at one time about getting him to the post. The Admiral, owing to teething troubles, waa short of work, and required a slow race. This Hales managed to secure for him. There can be no two opinions about Hales having been an ornament to his profession.

Always a little gentleman, he rode for over 30 years without his honesty being ever questioned, and that is a very big thing to say about a professional horseman — there are probably more temptations in the calling than in any other. Although a martyr to asthma, Hales rode in all sorts of weather right to the end of his engagement with Mr. White. Many and many a time, unable to lie down, he had to sit in a chair all night, but no matter what the weather was he was on the track in time to ride work. His end must have been very sudden. Only a few days before the Caulfield Cup I met him at the theatre, and he seemed very well. He told me he had £250 to £10 on Hymettus for the Caulfield Cup, and he was going to put a little on Wakelu'i. "Then," he said, "I think I will have the winner." Hales could always hold his own at backing horses, bub he was a very modest investor until very near tie close of his riding career. According to Mr. Henry's little book, Hates- rode 16 1 8 races from 1872 to 1894. He won 496, was second 332 times, and third 195 times, the total value of the stakes won being £168,340. The announcement was made lately that Mr. Whitney, the owner of Volodyovskl, had decided not to race in England next season, and that all his horses were to be sold at the end of the season. The reason stated was that t the recent disqualification of certain horses in America had drawn Mr. »\ mtney's attention to the regulations about partnerships in England, and that on looking these up he had discovered that as his partnership with Mr. Madden had not been registered in England at the time his horses were entered there would probably be objections on technical grounds. Mr. Whitney has since confirmed the above statement. Must dissatisfaction was expresxad with the riding of L. Reiff in the Doncaster Cup, for which Merry Gal and Sidus ran a dead heat, by almost every one present {writes "Robin Hood"), and it certainly seems absurd for a jockey of his class to be shut in in a two-mile race, and with such a small field as four. When Re - ff first came over iere he invariably foJlowed the American style of coming right through from the start, but latterly he has quite changed his tactics, and prefers the waiting style. Thus twice within two days did he get into trouDle, I*l c first time (in the Lcger) with dvon' aiore disastrous a result than in tue Cup. In this latter race Reiff could easily, and certainly should, have taken up the 'outside position on coming round the final bend, thus making certain of a clear course, and had he done this an easy win for Merry Gal would have resulted. Mr. G. G. Stead seems to have a stronger team than tver ibis season, £>nd the W.F.A. races of the colony appear at his mercy. At the time of writing, Mr. Stead's winning account for the CiJ.C. Meeting stands at £2930, and this might be increased before these notes appear. His cheque for the meeting will compensate the Canterbury sportsman for his plucky purchase of youngsters, and no one can grumble at his success, for he purchases the best money can buy, and does not stop at a few pounds. Royal Artillery turned out quite' as good as I expected, and his performance in the Stewards' Handicap was a most impressive one, and will not be forgotten by those who saw it. The big colt accounted for the Juvinile Plate or the second day in easy fashion, but had his wings clipped by old Blazer in the Electric Plate on Wednesday. I understand/ however, that the , colt's defeat was due to the erratic course steered by Hewitt. Royal Artillery gives -one the impression of being a stayer, and he might be wanted for some of the Cups later on in the season. Menschikoff, of course, had things his own way in the Derby and Canterbury Cup, and Cruciform had little difficulty in defeating Windwhistle in the Oaks. Orloff, the winner of the Welcome Stakes, is a neat colt, and won his race in easy style. San Remo was not ready for the Maiden Race, but, nevertheless, ran well. He lost ground at the start, and Hewitt made it up too soon. But for this he might have had a good chancg of defeating Goldenmere. Field Battery has grown into a nice colt, and he is worth watching in the future — in fact, Mr. Stead's team should be held this season in greater respect than ever. It is such a strong one that I would not be in the least surprised if his winnings this year beat all bis previous records. "The little gentleman," Melwood, would have done his owner-trainer and connections a good turn had he won the Cup instead of getting only £SsOO for running second, some ±>/sOOO being held by, the stable about the colt. He looked really well on the day, and his trainer credit for his condition, especially as he had to work unue'r so many disadvantages as regards the state of the training tracks at the Hutt. The tracks were so unsatisfactory about a month previous to the race, owing to the bad weather, that Davies was afraid to work the colt on them, and had to be content with allowing his charge to trot for an hour or so around the golf links. But for that stoppage in his work Melwood might have been able to come on with Tortulla from the distance post. One thing about Melwood which I admire is his thorough gatoeness. It seemed as though Sirius had him settled in the straight, but Geo. Price made a final desperate effort just on the post, a£ the same ' time throwing himself forward on the colt's neck. He was rewarded by having Melwood's number hoisted second, but it was a very close thing. Had the jockeys been reversed on the horses, Sirius would have been second. Melwood had plenty of weight to carry in the Jockey Club Handicap being raised' a stone for' running second in the Cup, while Tortulla, the winner of the Cup, was sent up 10.0. Melwood unfortunately met with bad luck at the start, and he finished out of a place. In the Ranfurly Handicap to-day he has Bst, and although Ostiak at Bst 61b and Glenogle (7st7lb) look well in, I expect the Hutt colt to show a bold front. On Battlqaxe's form in the Cup his success in the Metropolitan was not looked for. In the Cup he never flattered his backers at any part of the race, and his improved form in the Met. cannot be accounted for, unless on the supposition that the pace set in the Cup was too hot. The Met. was responsible for another great surprise, Kahuwai showing a bold front and ultimately finishing second. In the Cup she seemed absolutely outclassed, and was never in the hunt when the field began to gallop. Kahuwai A* a handsome mare, but seems an in-and-out customer, and requires to be in the humour to gallop before she does her best. A. Shearsby had a welcome turn of luck by his mare Westguard winning two events on Wednesday. He had the brown mare in capital fettle, and I was pleased to hear of her success for Shearsby's sake. There was a lot of money put on the mare in Wellington for the Avon Welter, but she was neglected in her second victory. My selection for the Cup, Palaver, ran consistently in her three engagements, and had her rider not been so anxious with her and saved her for a final twofurlong run I think she would have been closer up in both the Cup and the Metropolitan. Hewitt undoubtedly made too much use of the mare in the Cup, in which she was taken to the front seven furlongs from home after being 'prominent all the way. Palaver, however, gave her backers a win in the Jockey Club Handicap, and paid a very fair price— £s 9s. Hewitt rode the mare when she won, and in this race seems to have displayed better iudament.

The Porirua horses with the exception of the Cup winner Tortuila, have not been doing any too well at the meeting. Porirua ran a couple of decent races, but he is only a fair two-year-old. Hamua has had a couple of runs without gaining a situation, and the Tainora filly Ora was an unsuccessful competitor in the Nursery Handicap on Vvednesday. Ostiak had his Stewards' Handicap chance spoiled by losing ground at the start. Of Mr. Baldwin's team, Jemima and Fashion have each only started once, while Benefactor and Stepina have not faced the starter at all. Probably they | have not been competitors owing to soreness. The Jemima "boom" was pricked when the mare got such a drubbing, by Mr. Stead's three-year-old Field Battery, who was conceding the much-vaunted Jemima 51b. Jemima is a fair sort, but ia not near as good as she was painted. A constant attendant at race meetings for years past informs me that he has never before witnessed so much enthusiasm on a racecourse as was displayed by the public when Blazer defeated Royal Artillery in the Electric Plate at Riccarton on Wednesday. The people cheered themselves hoarse, and continued cheering and throwing their hats in the air for several minutes.' It was a royal reception which they gave Blazer, and it was richly deserved, for when apparently beaten a furlong from the post he came again and just squeezed past Mr. Stead's handsome colt on the post. H. Jackson, Blazer's trainer, rode the old horse, in the race. Canteen's fine form in the Derby and Jockey Club Handicap was another proof that the Cup running was all wrong. Canteen appeared to be the first horse beaten in the Cup, yet in the Derby he seemed fo be threatening Menschikoff in the straight, and then Cruciform came to light. On Wednesday Canteen and Cannie Chiel cleared out by themselves in the Jockey Club Handicap, and it looked odds on one of them being returned the winner, but the pace they had set told its tale in the last bit, and they tired when Palaver tackled them. The latter mare ran right across Cannie Chiel at the finish, and Palaver's backers can congratulate themselves on the fact that Sir Geo. Clifford owned the second' horse, ' as otherwise a protest miglit have been entered, and probably upheld against the winner. Sir George^ however, considered that his horse could not have won had the crossing not occurred, and therefore refused to enter a protest. Cruciform showed such a turn of speed at the end of th» contest for the Derby that s,he should account for the Jubilee Cup this .afternoon, notwithstanding that there is only 131b between the filly • and Boreas. ' The biograph picture of the finish for the New Zealand Cup, which is being reproduced* at the Opera House, is a very good representation, and there is much excitement among the audience as the horses gallop up the straight. The judge's verdict in the race was a bare length victory for Tortulla, with Melwood half a head in front of Sirius. R. Mason's success with young horses is phenomenal, and he is a long way ahead of any other trainer in the colony in bringing out youngsters. The condition of his horses at the C.J.C. Meeting was remarked upon on all sides, and if his untried youngsters were handicapped a stone above other drainers' lots there would be plenty of backers willing to take less than even money about Mason's charges.