SPORT AND PASIIME.

Evening Post, Volume LXX, Issue 37, 12 August 1905, Page 14

SPORT AND PASIIME.

3Me Turf. [lit LOCHIEL.] YUCtXQ FIXTURES. -A\\sftM J5, 17, and 19— New Zealand fei\4Vs<) National Meeting. > p.rmber 6 and 7—JNlarton7 — JNlarton Annual dumber 9, 11, 13, and 16— Austral, tatt \>i>ring Meeting. i'optember 20 and 21 — Rangitikei Spring Meet tug. Racing interests are concentrated on the Canterbury Grand National Meeting, which commences on Tuesday next, and there seems every prospect of the . past records of this popular fixture being fully maintained. The fields are largo, and the quality of the horses engaged is representative of the colony's best. It is expected that fully a dozen will go to the post in the big Steeplechase. Kiatere is still held in great respect, but the reports from the training track are not quite so favourable as admirers of the horse would like. On the first occasion he ran round the second fence at the double, and in the second attempt, so the telegraphed report stated, he struck the post and rail heavLy, and dislodged his rider. According to experts who witnessed the display, much importance need not be placed on the top-weight's lapse, as his subsequent performance has been more reassuring. He will certainly require to be in the best of form to be successful in such a big journey, and I am still confident that he will make a brave showing. Haydn is said to be an improved horse — and bears a better-trained appearance than he did last year. Slow Tom, on the other hand, has not been himself since he fell while schooling a little over a week ago, and his prospects axe not too bright. Phaetonitis and Inniskillen are two candidates who are expected to run prominently. The former is a clean jumper, but his ability to stay the distance is open to question. Should he do so he must undoubtedly be classed as dangerous. Of the two, however, I prefer the chances of Inniskillen, despite his failure at EUerslie. Nor'-west and Pipi are two others who are likely to be there or thereabouts. To sum up, the possibilities point to the positions being filled by HAYDN, KIATERE, and INNISKILLEN. The Winter Cup also comes up for decision on the first day, and as some very capable inilers are engaged it requires no great prescience to predict an interesting race. To locate the winners is, however, an infinitely more difficult task. Kremlin, on whom many are confidently prepared to trust their spare cash, has not been seen out in public for some time, but he is described as being very fit, and if that is the case he must be counted in. Next to him, the chances of Tirole and Master Alix commend themselves to the writer. If one of the three horses mentioned is dispossessed Wet Reef, who is much favoured locally, will probably fill the place. Romeo, as the possible winner of the Hurdle Race, which will be run on the second day of the Grand National Meeting, is a much-discussed horse. He made his first appearance on the training track at the end of last week, and his form then, and again this week, has been highly creditable. He apparently still shows a desire to run down the obstacles, but he is a fine stamp of a hurdle racer, and I shall be surprised if he is not in a leading position at the end of the journey. The Mohican, whose chances at the outset- looked rosy, is suffering from dental troubles, and there is said to be some doubt as to his starting. Trumpery is another candidate that has not increased her circle of admirers, and recent displays seem to justify the assumption that she will not be prominent, although- more unexpected results have happened. Next to Romeo, Tupara and Newtown commend themselves aa being likely to share the prize-money. The other races may finish as under: — First Hunters' Hurdles: Bill Perkins or Early Van. Trial Hurdles: Romeo or Durable. Tally-ho Steeplechase : Agitator or Wild Bill. Jumpers' Flat: Hydrant or Creusot. Enfield Steeplechase : Lurcher or The Guesser. Hack Handicap : Blythemaid or Pa Tuna. R. J. Mason arrived in Sydney on the 3rd inst. from New Zealand with Nightfall, Sungod, Noctuiform, .and Isolt, the property-- of ■ Mr. ' G. G. Stead. The quartette are all by Mr. Stead's oncefamous racehorse Multiform, and, notwithstanding a very rough passage across the Tastnan Sea, the horses (says a Sydney paper) 'landed in excellent trim, which speaks well for the qualities of the steamship and the care bestowed upon' the horses by their attendants. The last 48 • hours of the voyage the horses travelled under battened'hatches, aB the 'sea ran very high, and frequently broke aboard. On looks Isolt is (adds the same writer) the pick of the" party. She ia a , lengthy whole bay filly, with ■ most ■ perfect shoulders and a' splendid length of style, but is a trifle light in the back ribs. Isolt las never raced, or been away from home before entering upon the trip to Sydney, but fltie behaved herself as became the lady she looks, and even set "•her more experienced mates an example in deportment 'both on and off the boat. A Melbourne .exchange states that the Caulfield trainer F. Musgrave having written to Mr. G. G. Stead, the former owner of Grand Rapids, that gentleman has procured from the proper authorities and forwarded a certificate of identification of the horse named. Mr. Stead mentions in his letter that he regards Grand Rapids as harshly treated by the, handicappers in Melbourne. Ib is intended, all going well, to send him over to Sydney for the A.J.C. Spring fleeting. Mr. H. Oxenham won more money in stakes than any other owner last season on the Australian turf, and yet. he had but a single winner, Acrasia, who accounted for the Melbourne Cup and ran second in Caulfield Cup, places which yere worth £5382. Mr. S. Green is next on the list, with £4319, bub he ■won 13 races ; while Mr. F. Foy with nine races of the value of £3571, is third. Then follow Emir's owner, Mr. B. Clarke, five races, and £3169 ; Mr. J,, Wilson, jun., eight and a half races, and £2988; Mr. J. Wren, three races, and £2880 ; Mr. J. Macken, three races, and £2801 ; and Mr. J. Chambers, £2774. These, however, are very small figures compared with the £11,455 which Mr. G. G. Stead won in New Zealand last season, and they do not compare with the Australian winnings of the season 1903-4, when Mr. J. Mayo had £8849 to his - credit, and Sir Rupert Clarke won £7291. Mr. Oxenham and Mr. S. Green are not (says the Telegraph) she only bookmakers who won large stakes during the past season. Mr. Wren also comes under the same head, and another layer of the odds. Mr. E.' Kelly, won £1299, so that the bookmakers had a good year. One follower of the game— an Auckland backer— who took 700 to 5 several months ago about the Grand National double Haydn and Romeo is feeling pleased with himself. The combination ban since hardened considerably. Mr. J. McCombe, who rode Canteen when he won the New Zealand Cup in 1903, will ride Tirole in the Winter Qiig.

Tirole, who is a full brother to CaptainKettle, was bred at Mangalarata Station. As a youngster he was (says "The Squire") under the tuition of Percy Martin at Hastings, but being found wanting was sent back to his birthplace. Later on he was sold at Waipukurau by public auction for £18 to a Palmerston Nortn buyer, who passed him on to Mr. W. Tenett, a well-known sporting , writer of that place. He won several races with him. Owing to some disagreement with Holmes, who trained Tirole, Mr. Tenett took the horse away from Holmes and sold Captain Webb's son to Mr. George Payne, a. new Christchurch boniface, in whose interests he will do battle in the Winter Cup next week. Referring to a statement recently published to the effect that last year's Caulfield Cup winner, Murmur, had been heavily backed for the coming mile and a half race of the spring at Caulfield, his owner has written to the Melbourne Argus disclaiming all knowledge of any such commission, and asserts that as the horse has not done any strong work since he broke down prior to the last Melbourne Cup, it would not be wise for backers to invest any money on Murmur's chances until they have an opportunity of seeing him run in some race before the middle of October. Lochiel, according to the statistics prepared by the Sydney Mail, heads the list of winning Australian stallions, with 52 winners of stakes amounting to £17,552. The figures include the whole of racing in Australia and the winnings in New Zealand of the progeny of Australian stallions. Since 1898 Lochiel has held the star place on four occasions, was second thrice, and third once. In 1898 he topped the poll with £15,570, hi 9 nearest attendants on that occasion being Carbine, Trenton, and Gozo, who finished below the son of Prince Charlie in the order named. At the finish of the following year, Lochiel was second to Gozo, with £12,209, or nearly £600 behind the Tucka Tucka. stallion, who, it is to be regretted, has joined his old ant-agonist in the land of shadows. In 1900 Lochiel made his big record of £18,109, tho value of 141 races, Gozo on that occasion finishing fifth. Lochiel was again on top in 1901 with £14,686, beating Gozo, who finished second, by nearly £1000, while Trenton filled third place. The year following, however, Gozo came to the surface and. headed the list, with Trenton second, and Lochiel third — the latter nearly £3000 behind the premier of the season. Thanks to Abundance, Pilgrim's Progress beat Loehiel for first place in 1903, by £650, and his (Lochiel's) stud mate Grafton came out on top last year, bearing the old horse by nearly £4000/' This year Grafton fills second place, over £2500 below the son of Prince Charlie, and the position of this pair establishes a record for two stallions in the same ownership, being first and second twice in succession. During the eight seasons touched upon, Lochiel's progeny have won 1013 races, and £112,448 in stakes, which is the biggest record yet made by in Australian stallion, the next being Trenton. The Mail list shows Grafton second with 48 winners of 108 races, worth £14,911, while Wallace is third with 18 winners of 38 races, valued at £12,721, and Gozo, who had no young horses running for him, follows the Victorian horse with £12,049. Except that Simmer has come up into sixth place, while Haut Brion has dropped down the list, there is not much difference in the positions of the leading stallions to those held last year. Positano having lost his best son, Lord Cardigan, has dropped from third to twelfth place, and that consistent sire of winners Medallion has come up from eighth to fifth, place. Medallion beats all opponents except Lochiel for the number of races won, and the number of winners, while he has improved upon last year's position by over £4000 in stakes. Simmer has improved upon his last year's total by over £5000. Bill of Portland, since his return to England, has dropped from fifth to ninth place, while the defunct Malvolio holds a, somewhat similar position to that of last year, and Pilgrim's Progress has improved his by over £1000. Local speculation on the Grand National Meeting still continues . brisk. Mr. A. Law reports the following business: — 500 to 74 Kiatere and Durable. 700 to 7 Kiatere and Huku. 300 to 6 Kiatere and Rungarawa. 500 to 20 Kiatere and Mohican. *• 750 to 10 Kiatere and Outer. 300 to 15 Kiatere and Romeo. 500 to 10 Kiatere and Waiwera. 250 to 24 Kiatere and Heroism. 900 to 12 Slow Tom and Newtown. 1000 to 25 Slow Tom and Romeo. 500 to 10 Slow Tom and' Mohican. 950 to 5 Haydn and Valima. 700 to 21 Haydn and Mohican. 400 to 4 Haydn and Huku. 600- to 24 Haydn and Trumpery. 200 to 10 Haydn and Romeo. 600 to 4 Haydn and Magnificent. 1000 to 10 Haydn and Levant. 500 to 2£ Comfort and Hydrant. 1200 to 4 Comfort and Daredevil. 1000 to 5 Comfort and Heroism. 1100 to 7 Comfort and Bagpipes. 700 to 7 Comfort and Creusot. 400 to 10 Comfort and Romeo". 500 to 10 Nadador and Trumpery. 1000 to 4 Nadador and Outer. 600 to 2 Koha-tu and Heroism. CRICKET REVIVO! Dear Mid, — Patrons, enthusiasts, and ■all cricketeia aro indeed exceedingly pleased .to learn that under the able supervision of .the veteran cricketer and umpire, Mr. "Ashbolt, sen., the Basin Reserve is in such an admirable- state of preservation for 'the coming season, by the careful and scientific 'treatment of groundmen Twist and Redgrave. Woo be to tho ground for -recreation! if cricket were to .bo removed from it, ,oentrally situated as it is. Thero is not a more eligible and finer locality in -the whole province for championship matches when the ramshackle pavilion is Temoved, and an up-to-dato edificeerected by the fountain on the east sido of the Reserve. Its present site would do admirably for bath and dressing rooms, and other necessary conveniences, as well as the caretaker's dwelling. — I am, etc., 1 ' D.C.L. (Oxon.). 10th August, 1905. At the Guy's Hospital sports meeting Morgan, the Welsh international footballer who toured New Zealand last year with the British team, won the Veterans' 150 yds Handicap off the scratch mark in 16 2-ssec. Matters in connection with the Brown Shield Competition are not as far advanced as they should be. The Council of the' New Zealand Football Association recommended that the tournament be hold in Auckland. Otago agreed to send a team up north on condition that Auckland gave a guarantee towards expenses. At the timo of writing the Secretary to the Now Zealand Association had not heard what the Auckland body was prepared to do in the matter, consequently everything is at a standstill. In all probability New Plymouth will be invited to enter a team for the competition. The game appears to have madeconsiderable headway in the Taranaki district, and it is hoped that Now Plymouth will branch out into the wider sphere of interprovincial football and send a representative eleven to the tournament. 1 The competition field amongst teams in . and around New Plymouth this scuon has been won by Woitara.