THE TURF

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 69, 21 March 1912, Page 4

THE TURF

FIXTURES. March 38 and 29 — Masterton J.C Autumn April 6 and B—Auckland8 — Auckland R. C. Autumn. ■ April 6 and B—Wairarapa8 — Wairarapa R.O. Autumn. April B—Waipukurau8 — Waipukurau J.C. Annual. April B— Patea R.C. Annual. April 8 and 9 — Canterbury J.C. Autumn. April 8 and 9— Feilding J.C. Easter. April 17 and 20— Wellington R.C. Autumn. April 24 and 25 — Manawatu R.C. Autumn. May 1 and 2—Hawkesßav2 — Hawkesßav J.C. Autumn. May 3 and 2 -*- Marlborough R.C. Autumn. NELSON MEETING. [BT TELEGBAPH — PBESS ASSOCIATION.] NELSON, 20th March. The Nelson Jockey Club's Annual Meeting wa6 continued to-day. The totalisator investments totalled £6691, against £4009 for the first day last year. Remaining results: — Handicap Trot; two miles and a-half. — Stella Leigh, 50sec, 1 ; Ding Dong, 25sec, 2; Wairau. 50sec, 3. Also started: Eclat 13fiec, "Major Election 206 ec, Maud Allerton 23sec. Tarawera 25sec, Tomtit 30sec, Treason 30sec, Lord" Rothschild 46sec, Crab 48sec, .Takaka 53sec. Time, fanhi 1 2-ssec. Telegraph Hack Handicap ; five furlongs. — Portland Lady, 8.3, 1; Mount Victoria, 7.0, 2; Bridegroom (carried 7.9), 3. Also started: Long Tom 7.7, King 'Aphis 8.7. Time, lmin lsec. Grandstand Handicap ; sir furlongs. — Sinapis, 8.10, 1; Curator, 9.3, 2; Seraphic, 743, 3. Also started : Wild Bird, 7.11. Aema 7.1. Time, lmin 15sec. Welter Hack Handicap; seven furlonge.—Portland Bill, 9.6, 1; Mediterranean. 9.7, 2; Ocean Bird, 8.6, 3. ALso started: Greystone 8.11, Terakohe 8.9. 'Time, lmin 31sec. NOTES ON THE RACING. | fax TET.EGBAPH.3 (From Sir Bedivere.) i NELSON, 20th I." :rch. The first day's card was run through in delightfully fine, weather. For some time past there had been a feeling j locally that the Nelson Jockey Club's meetings were scarcely in keeping with bo large and important a centre. The committee, several members of which have been reqently elected, then determined to strike out on bolder lines and make considerable additions to the value of the various stakes. This go-ahead policy bids fair to be amply justified. Though the fields were yet small, they were noticeably larger than has been the • case for several seasons past, and there was a corresponding increase in totalisator turnover. The attendance, too, was greater than any present at the Richmond Park course during recent years, and the meeting may already be regarded as an assured success. Since the last annual gathering a new set of rails has been erected on the inside of the straight,, and further improvements, aonie of which are badly needed, are now under contemplation. The going was fast, but not in such good order as it should have been, for there was a nasty sheep'track around the top .turn. This year it is not, as in the past, a case of going dry, for the club wai> fortunate enough to prevail upon the local authorities to grant a temporary license.. Whilst "being led around the paddock prior to contesting the Hope Hack Handicap, D&unton, whose attendant had repeatedly warned people . to keep clear, laehed out and kicked 'Mr. Haggitt. a local contractor, full in the i face. Mr. Haggitt's nose is believed to have been broken, and he was unfortunately rather severely injured. "Mr.R. Harley, wljb made his first appearance at Richmond Park as a starter, got his fields away on even terms and was heartily complimented. The great feature of the afternoon's sport was the success of the northern horseman, Deeley, who had five mounts, four of which he landed vvinnerc. The Hutt-trained Mediterranean had the largest following for the opening event, but he never looked a winnoi, and only managed to finish fourth. Amberstone, who carried Emerson, was soon^ in front after a good start, and, leading throughout, lie scored decisively by two lengths, Bridegroom being a length away third. The winner, who i» by the defunct St. Ambrose from YellowBtone's daughter Marstone, had a poor lot to beat, and his form was really nothing to boast about. The Handicap Trot proved the best of good things for a heavily-tupported candidate in Chinaman, who was 1 early in the lead, and won, pulling up, by 60yds. Major Election was 50yds farther away, 1 followed .by the Hutt representative Grattan Chimes, who scarcely peared to be handled to the best advantage. , Waipunui had the call in the betting for the big event, and justified his position as favourite by ■winning cleverly by a bare length. Beacon, who stripped in good trim, was in front up to the distance, _ when he commenced to tire. Astonishment *was also well fancied, and at the home turn she looked dangerous. She failed to maintain her fun, however, and was beaten for second honours by four lengths. Ladrone was 'made a slight odds-on favourite for the Hope Hack Handicap, and the good thing duly eventuated, for, after indulging Daunton, who has never looked in better condition, with the lead until the straight was entered, Hatch gave the Sir Laddo gelding his head, and he ran in the easiest of winners by a length. ' The Second Trot fell to an outsider in Stella Leigh, a loughish -looking mare that has, "it us said, done three or four years' service between the shaft* of a milk cart. She was ridden by her owner, Mr. C-i J- Ruffell, who was heartily cheered upon his success in landing her a winner by fourrlengths. The favourite (Ding Dong) lost his chance -during the fh"3t halt ot tht" joar uey by breaking., Tom Tit, who had run second and paid a nice" dividend' earlier in the day, again performed •« credits bjy, and finished fourth. Portland Lady, a well-grown, rangy filly of u'ce proportions by Achilles from Portland Lass, Avas a good favourite for the Telegraph Hack Handicap, which she won by two lengths. She and 'Mount Victoria were the quickest to begin, and none of their opponents ever had a look in. Some Eeople think Portland Lady won easily, ut, personally, I am convinced that she was doing her beat at the finish, and though she has a fine turn of speed she has not yet learned, to stay. The rider of King Aphis broke a leather and pulled* his mount up. Sinapis was generally regarded as good for the Grandstand Handicap, and *o matters turned out, for, after Seraphic and Curator had carried on the running until heads were turned for home, Sinapis came fast tra the' onfside, and cutting them down, scored easily by three length*. Curator gave considerable trouble at the post; Portland Bill was backers' elect .for the concluding, event, for which, howevei% Mediterranean, "who was saddled 'up for the second time, also had plenty of friends. The 'pair raced praqtically'\on terms until the distance was approached, wjheu .Portland Bill, who had^ evidently had the issue in safe keeping throughout the trip,- drew away and -won as he liked by four lengtliH. The form was, of comt.o, mudentt?, but .Portland Bill, who is * big r&kiug geldu)tf>. j$ tta 'paly

one of Conqueror's progeny that has yet shown any pretensions to being able to clay. The Soult — Lady Htiter colt, for whom an offer of 700gne was refused when he was submitted to auction in New- Zealand, says a Sydney writer, is now on view at Messrs. H. Chisholm. and Co.-'s stable, Randwick. He is a stoutly -built brown, and evidently of excellent disposition. "The most intelligent yearling I ever had anything to . do with'," is what his attendant says of him. * Writing about Major E. Lcder's hordes, "Vigilant," in the LondonSportsman,, says : "The 'lucky* Major, in. particular, has a fine record to his credit, thanks in great measure to the splendid' performances of Pretty Polly, heroine of the One Thousand Guineas, Oaks, and St. Leger in 1904, and of Spearmint, V?ho, two years later, won first the Derby, and then the Grand Prize of Paris— a grand double event, though tlie French race proved his undoing, for he never could be trained again. The mare was bred by her owner, but not so Spearmint, who was purchased out of the Sledmeie team of yearlings for the modest sum of 300gne, though the actual credit of having bred the Fon of Carbine and Maid of the Mint belongs properly, I fancy, to Sir James Duke, who sold the mare in foal to Sir Tattoti Sykes. Strange to say, Pretty Polly has so far proved a failure at the stud, but not so Spearmint, who in his first season can boast four such smart "descendants as Javelin, out of Full Cry ; M6untain Mint, out of \Adula; Coriander, out of Admiration; und Lance Chest, out of Chestnut Sunday, the first-named the property of the Duke of Devonshire, and the others approximately belong to Major Loder. That Spearmint will perpetuate the Tacing form by distinguished success as a sir« there can be little doubt, foi* the best of mares will naturally be selected for him, and his coming two^year-olds are said .to be <most promising, while his subscription list at 250gns is again full for 'the* current season."