THE TURF

Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 22, 25 July 1918, Page 5

THE TURF

NOTES. AND COMMENTS

(•I "81R LANCELOT,")

Mr. Arthur Way, secretary of the Marton Jockey Club, was in town this week farewelling his son. Mr. A. Alexander, owner of Bisogne, was down from Taranaki on a similar mission. Mr. Alexander informed me that Bisogne had a dicky leg, and it was very doubtful if he would stand another preparation.

The North Queensland Derby was won by Rymer, by Cooltrim—Dumpling, by Sir Foote—Praleen, by Grafton—Piecrust, by Martini Henry, a successful Australian family. Imported Clydeside (Glasgerian—Elflock) was also among the winners at the Charters Towers Meeting. The withdrawal of Parisian Diamond from the Winter Cup did not come as a surprise, because H. Gray, who rode the Charlemagne 11. gelding in most of his races, had accepted a mount on Hydrus in the same race. This leaves Volo top weight in the race. The impost he will have to carry, 11.5, is 71b heavier than has yet been borne to victory in the race. It will certainly be an excellent start for the new season if Volo can begin with a win, but tho chances are that some of his light-weight-ed opponents will beat him.

White Rose, dam of Cobram, winner of theV.B.C. Grand National Steeplechase, was sired by Mana, a New Zea-land-bred son of Musket. Cobram is thus rather inbred, as his sire, Bundook, ■was also sired by Musket.

Kilmaine, who soored his first win in a Maiden Handicap at Kembla Gr&ngo (N.S.W.) this month, is a five-year-old gelding by Kilbroney-Fasnalde, and was bred by.Mr. H. Friedlander. Fasnakle (Clanranald-Teredina) had a oolt a yeai- older by Charlemagne II namedTugelheim, and after missing in 1914 was served by Bonifopn. Kilmaine is in the Epsom Handicap and the Metropolitan with. 6.7. Last season he was engaged in the same events, also the two cups. ...

The tying of a mare's tongue at Townsville brings to mind an incident many years ago, in which a trotter's tongue was tied, but without cruelty, tho effect being quite the opposite to that/intended, in the Townsville case. Harold 8., a trotter, who had the reputation of being second only to the. great champion Fritz in the mattw of speed., was a noted bolter. He passed' .through the hands of E. Arnott, of Newcastle, J. Joynton Smith, and E. Bowra, and in every- instance there was a smashup. Bowra was a noted man with rough horses, and after toying all sorts of powerful bits and fixings, sold him in disgust to .the late Harry Knight. Knight . found that thel horse got his tongue over the bit when he bolted, and to prevent this he took a turn with, a piece of tape round Harold B.s tongue, and tied 1 the ends under his chin. The device had the desired, effect, and taking Mm to Bathurst, Knight drove him with a plain rubber, bit, his tongue being tied down as stated. Harold went most kindly, and won the double in fast time.

The pedigree of Chal, winner of the Two-year-old-Mile at the V.R.C. Grand National Meeting; will interest New Zealanders. He was sired by Maltfield from Piatello, by Flavus, from imported Saucer, by Sorcerer—Angola. Saucer was imported from England by the late Mr. G. G. Stead, and at the Yaldhurst Stud produced Cream Jug, Cymbiform", and Crown Derby. At the clearing sale of that establishment Saucer was purchased by Mr T. Longworth, New South Wales, for 360 soys. In New South Wales she produced Satsuma (by Multiform), Piatello, and Lord Laddo (by Sir Laddo). Banzhead (Birkenhead —Banzai), who was among the winners at the Sandgate (Queensland) Meeting on the 13th inst., is a full brother to Banian.

Sleight-of-Hand's withdrawal from the Grand National Steeplechase only means that he will contest the Grand National Hurdles, if he trains on all riijht. Since the race was established in 1890 Liberator is the only horse to win the race on more than one ocasion. The previous winners engaged this season are Art and Slcight-of-Hand. Mr. -F. Armstrong also won the race in 1913 with Morning, when The Spaniard was. beaten a head by Bercola in the Steeplechase.

The well-known Sydney Turf scribe, "Milroy," has been visiting the Victorian Studs, and writes interestingly of: the places he visited. At Sherwood, Mr. Ben Chaffey's estate, he saw All Black, who is referred to as follows:—Mr. Chaffey, as most breeders know, ■ has leased Bright Steel from Mr. J. S. O'Keefe, of Yamina, and he began by leasing Desert Gold'e sire, All Black, from Mj\ E. J. Watt, but since" the horse arrived in Australia he has purchased him right out at a high figure. He and Bright Steel have excellent quarters at Sherwood Park, and both live the simple life. All Black has the length and reach of the average Gallinule, but he is a brown, while most Gallinules are chestnuts. He is one of the Collarit sort, a very big-boned horse, very powerful, with a lengthy head and neck. He gets over a lot of ground in a 6tride,iand is a bold, hardy sort. All Black ran thrice in England as a two-year-old, and began.by dead-hoating for eecond place in a, very big field for the Plantation Plate at Newmarket; then he ran third -.n the big field for the Khedive Plate, after which he ran Traquair to a head in the National Breeders' Produce Stakes. That proved him the possessor of extraordinary speed. Next year he won the Aacot. Derby, the Select Stakes at Newmarket, and the Free Handicap Sweepstakes of £600, also at Newmarket, and was placed in four other races. It may be mentioned that AH Black has sired many other winners besides Desert Gold in New Zealand, though his chances with good mares were limited.