THE TURF.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIX, Issue 25, 31 January 1910, Page 2

THE TURF.

NOTES AND COMMENTS. (By Sir Bedivere.) Uranium's success in the Takapuna Cup comes as no surprise. In winning the Salisbury Welter at Ellerslie on tha 30th of last month she gave evidence of being in good form, and, apart from Ngapuka, who was the early favourite for the Auckland Cup, but has failed to run prominently since the spring, her opponents were a very moderate lot. Mr. Norman Banks's mare, who is now eight years old, was not raced until she I was five. Altogether, she has scored on seventeen occasiops, the most valuable stakes that 6he has annexed being the Cornwall Handicap, of 300 soys; Avon dale Cup, of 250 soys; St. Andrew's Handicap, of 200 soys ; Auckland Welter, of 200 6ovs ; Avondale Handicap, of 200 soys ; Empire Handicap, of 200 eovs ; and last, but not least, the Takapuna Cup, of 400 soys. Uranium is -by St. Lcger's half-brother Leolantis, from a mare named Brownie, of whom no particulars are given in the Stud Book What a brown day Saturday was ! In the first place, the weathfer was brown. Secondly, C. Brown rode four of the eight winners, and was third in two other events. Thirdly, R. W. Brown was twice successful and twice second. Fourthly, the winner of the opening event was owned by a Mr. Brown. And lastly, the Cup winner was out of Brownie. Only those, in fact, whose names began with abr had a lookin, for Uranium was ridden by a jockey named Brady, and the hurdle race was won by a gelding out of Bracelet. Once again St. Leger's half-brother Leolantis is to the fore with two winners in Uranium and Leo. What a great sire he must have proved himself if he had ever been given a chance. Practicj ally all his stock have been able to gallop, and they can all jump and carry weight. Probably the best horse he ever h sired was Romeo, who unfortunately met ! with fatal injuries whilst contesting the Grand National Hurdles, whilst Leonator | may have been the next best. [ The stewards , of the Foxton Racing Club held a meeting last Friday to consider what action should be taken in i connection with the disgraceful scene j which took place in the jockeys' Toom at the club's recent meeting. Evidence i of a very contradictory nature was f orth- [ coming, and it was eventually decided that C. O'Neill, V. O'Neill, W. Young, and A. Attwood should each be fined £5. The matter has yet, of course, to come before 1 the metropolitan club. The nominations for the Ashhurst Hack Guineas of 1911 total 47, a record that has only once been exceeded since the race was inaugurated. No doubt the club will see reason to congratulate itself on the result, and will conclude that its decision to reduce the distance of the race from eight to six furlongs wa« a move in the right direction. But it is surprising that when such a decision was arrived at the committee did not see fit to change the name of the event. To call a race to be run over a six-furlong course a "guineas" is merely to abuse a title that has been in vogue since 1809, when a colt named Wizard won the first Two Thousand at Newmarket. The next tiling one may expect to see is a Hack Derby of 100 soys, nWe furlongs, or a Hack Oaks — why not Hoax for short? — run over half a mile. The club's persistence in making provision for a special weight event, in the face of the poor support its endeavours have been accorded 'in the pastj cannot be too highly praised, but there was ample scope for the display of some originality in this respect, and possibly if a stake of 200 soys wefe offered for an event to be decided over six furlongs, winners to carry penalties and maiden performers to receive allowances, better results would be forthcoming. Summonses have been served upon two prominent officials of the Wellington Pony and Galloway Racing Club for alleged tresspass upon the Trentham racecourse. The case will be watched with considerable interest. Owing to the heavy rainfall on Sat- ' urday the stewards of the Hutt Racing Club decided to postpone the club's meeting until Wednesday next. The appearance of the handicaps in connection with the Efemotit Racing Club's Summer meeting has given owners and others something to think about. Mr. Morse had quite a number of capable animals to deal with, and if the majority of them see the post the meeting should be one of the mosi successful held in the Hawera district for a considerable period. Only the other day I was commenting upon a letter from Mr. Gerald Stead regarding the question of apprentices allowances. It is a great pity that New Zealand owners are not more alive to their own interests with regard to this matter, for whilst it is daily becoming more difficult to obtain the services of a capable light weight, nothing is being done with the object of remedying the situation. Seemingly much the satite state of affairs as exists here also appertains in Australia, for I note that the Owners' and, Trainers' Association of New South Wales has ask«d all proprietary clubs in the metropolitan area to make it a condition in connection with races oh their programmes that apprentices who have not won five races be allowed to claim an allowance of 51b. At liiccartoh on Saturday morning the tracks were slow on account of the heavy rain. Martine ran ,six furlbngs ifa lmin 21sec; Prim, a mile and a-quarter in 2mln 16sec, very pleasingly ; and Flitaway beat Madame Madcap over six furlongs in lmin 17sec. Ingoda did the fastest gallop of the morning — niile furlongs in 2min O^eec. Faenakyte and Counterniirie did six furlongs in lmia 20£s ec, G/wendolina a pleasing mile and a-half in 2min, 47, 2-ssec, Tikifcefe and Nordoff a mile and a-qiiarter in 2min' 18sec, Tikitere finishing several lengths in front. Passion and Merry LacS ran seven furlongs in lmin 35 l-ssec, Passion conceding a lot of weight, and being under a strong pull from the home turn. Nominations for the Woodville District Jockey Club's Autumn Meeting are due to-night. TAKAPUNA J.C. MEETtNG. [BT TEMOBAPH — PBESS ASSOCIATION.] AUCKLAND. 29th January. The Takapuna Jockey Club's Summer meeting was continued to-day in wet weather, but the course was not greatly affected by the rain. C. Brown rode four winhefs. Bemfiirting results :—: — 4 Takapima Cup, one mile and three furlongs.— Uranium, 8.3, 1; Wauchope, 8.10, 2; Tahekaha, 7.9, 3. Also started —Ngapuka 8.11, Lochbuie 8.2, Ooromandel 7.10, Rimtock 7.8, Aristocrat 6.13, Azoff 6.12, Epsom Lass 6.10, and Elegance 6,10. When the terraces were reached, Uranium had charge, but a little further on Wauchope challenged, and the pair raced past the post locked together, Uranium getting the verdict-fey half a head. Tauekaha was three-parts of a- lengih away third, and then came Azoff; Coromandel, Lochbuie, Epsom Lass, and Ngapaka, with Elegance last.

Ngapuka was favourite, but" was never in the race. Time, 2mm 32sec. Ferry Handicap, five furlongs and a half.— Madame Soult", 9.0, 1: Rob the Ranter, 8.6, 2 ; Steplink, 8.5, 4 Also started — Castle Blaney 8.9, Captain j Soult 8.6, Flying Souit 8.6, Muscadine 8.5, Mary Anne 8.4, Monocle 8.4, Parawai 8.4, Aristos 8.4, Matarere 8.4, and Pairawaatu 8.4. Time, lmin 13sec. Orewa Handicap Hurdles, one mile and three-quarters. — Leo, 10.6, 1 ; Hoanga, 9.0, 2; First Barrel, 9.0, 3. Also started— Eangihaeta 10.10, Sabre 9.0, and King 9.0. Time, 3min 29sec. First Pony Handicap,- five furlongs. — Peggy Pride, 6.7,' I,• Miss Stella, 8.2, 2; Maika, 7.4, 3. Alm> started— Miss Time 8.0, Cryona 7.10. and Effulgence 7.0, Time, lmin 3 l-ssec. Stewards' Handicap, five furlongs and a half.— Sir Artegar, 7.4, 1; Tarina, 7.1, 2; Miss Winnie, 8.1, 3. Also started — Devonport 8.9, and Hohungatahi 8.4. Time, lmin 11 2-ssec. EGMONT B.C. WEIGHTS. AUCKLAND, 29th January. Mr. Geo. Morse, has declared the following weights for the first day's events at the Auckland Racing Club's summer meeting : — Egmont Cup, one mile and a half. — Sancfstream 9.0, Uranium 8.11, Wauchope 8.11, Advocate 8 9, Ngapuka 8.6, Mendip 8.2, Sir Prize 8.1, Lady Medallist 8.1, Muskerry 8.0, Waitapu 8.0, Koran 7.13, Milan 7.11, Loohbuie 7.11, Tiptoe 7.6, Carmania 7.5, Swimming Belt 7.5, Te' Pma 7.0, Bismarck 6.13, Astra ea 6.12, Aristocrat 6.9, and Marton 6.7. i Flying Handicap, six furlongs. — NorthEast 9.0, Taitoko 8.9, Sandstream. 8.7, Miss Winnie 8.1, Lochbuie 7.12, Golden Eagle 7.12, Koran 7.10, Kareroa 7.8, General Soult 7.8, Gipsy Belle 7.7, Hohungatahi 7.5, Lady Menschikoff 7.5, Cyrene 7.4, Wimmera 7.3, Lethean 7.0, Shannon Lass 7.0, Te Roti 6.13, Overtime 6.13, Nicotine 6.12, Clemoia 6.10, and Starboard 6.7. Whareroa Hurdles, one mile and a half.— Maidi 11.0, Playmate 10.11, Reumac 10.6, Mount Cook 10.5, Hautapu 10.4, Moose 10.0, Armagh 9.13, Showman 9.9, and Golden Glow 9.0. Okaiawa Hurdles, one mile and a half. — Waione 10.9, Anemone 10.5, Taupb 10.0, Celtic 9.10, Clemency 9.9, Kaurca 9.9, Maggie Paul 9.8, First Barrel 9.5, Nero 9.5, Prophet 9.0, Life 9.0, Kaiwaka 9.0, The Leader 9.0, and Mautoa 9.0. Meremere Handicap, five furlongs.— Te Roti 9.0, Te Kahuranga 9.0, Golden Loop 9.0, Mulga Bill 8.11, Toanga, 8.6, Aimwell 7.13, Redwing 7.12, ApoUiaaris 7.12, Timothy 7.11/ Kina 7.10, Bay Paul 7.10, True Shot 7.9, Hinekorangi 7.9, Langshan 7.6, Lady Heroine 7.6, Con tralto 7.6, Valentine 7.6, Billington 7.6, St. Taira 7.6, Whana 7.4, Miss. Park 7.4, Kildonan 7.3, Scarlet Woman 7.2, St. Kjildare. 7.1, Emblem 7.1, Castle Blaney 7.0, Black Watch 7.0, Solemn Stewardess 7.0, Clorinda 7.0, Lady Loo 7.0, Speedy Mac 7.0, St. Venton 7.0, Sir Tullock 7.0, and Idolatress 7.0. Waipapa Handicap, seven furlongs. — Perolina 9.6, Goodwin Park 9.6, King's Prize 8.6, Starboard 8.4, Chase Mab 8.3, Tarn Glen 8.1, Brilliancy 8.1, Taul 8.0, Attention 8.0, Redwing 7.8, Bay Paul 7.8, Waimoko 7.7, Lady Lu^in 7.5, Silva 7.5; Tsushima 7.4 Miss P.;rk 7.2, Scarlet Woman 7.1, Royal Youngster 7.1, Queen's Prize 7.0, Nukuhau 7.0, The Reiver 7.0, Waiariki 7.0, Voco 7.0, Rangiwheta 7.0, and Flying Cloud 7.0- .