THE TURF.

Evening Star, Issue 12398, 11 January 1905, Page 3

THE TURF.

G0re;......... January 18 and 19. Wellington., _ January 21 and 23. _ January 23 and 24. [Gossrp By Old Identot.] "W. M'Donald has been installed as trainer for the Hon. G. M'Lean at Wingatui." The team in work will be strengthened by several yearlings after the Dunedin Cup meeting. The Dunedin Jockey Club's Committee hold a special meeting to-morrow evening to consider the Waikouaiti appeal. Mr Jeffs thinks of sending Pipi to Sydney for steeplechasing at Easter. A. R. Ward has taken up the three-year-old Aid Reigh, by Conqueror, from the St. George mare British Queen. The Messrs Hazlett have placed in J. Ruttledge'B hands the two-year-old brother to Petrovna and Master Alix.

The Tahuna Trotting Club offer £9OO in rtakes at the meeting to be held on 23rd February and Ist March, an increase of £l4O on last year's total. The class has nlso been raised for the leading events, the Cup being for horses that can do 5.15 or better, and the High-class Handicap made a 5.5 race. The club's efforts to popularise the sport of trotting are worthy of commendation and support. Major Loder. owner of Pretty Polly, has resolved not to accept the challenge of the owner of Presto 11. for a match between the pair l —at any rate this season. A wager of interest was made recently in Perth. Mr W. Davis was laid 500 to 1 that lie bad not in his stable at present the winner of 1905 Perth Derby. Mr Davis mentioned two —Forest Charm and theHova colt which he imported recently. He is to finally name either of these on the day of the event.

Sixteen horses have accepted for tlw Wellington Cup. Achilles heads the list with 9.12. He wfll need to be at his best to win with that weight. Mahutonga has 8.13, or lib more than lie bad when he won the Auckland Cup, but the company at Wellington promises to be better. Convoy has a chance at 8.12, and I understand that Red Gauntlet (8.5) is intended to start, in which case he must not be forBut the next on the list, Nightfall (8.21, is my.choice straight out, and ray tip is that if she starts she will win easily. As to the Telegraph Handicap, whatever beats Petrovna will win.

Smarting under the impression that hanilicnppers hold too exalted an opinion of the capabilities of horses racing in his name, Mr R, W. Paterson has, says " Lochiel," decided to dispose of his string of horses and retire from the ranks of owners. Lissa has consequently been transfered to Messrs Telford 8r05.," who will in future race the son of Leths—Miss Gertrude. Solution has been leased to Mr Mackay, of Stratford, and will probably find her way into Til!ey J s stables. Other members of the team are under negotiation to other patrons of the turf.

Advance is now an inmate of J. Maber's stable at Palmerstou undergoing a preparation for the Manawatu Stakes-. Black Reynard, Mr Dugald Thompson's latest purchase, has also joined Maber's string. The time put up for the A.J.C. Summer Cup by Cato <2min 50-Jaec) on Boxing Day was the fastest on record for the race since the distance was altered in 1900 from the previous distance of a mile and threequarters to a mile and five furlongs. Caledonia won this race in 1901, his time being . 2n>iTi 50£ sec, while la>--t year's winner (Bridegroomj took 2mm 52sec. The Great ISTorfhern Derby, run at Auckland, is thus described by the 'New Zear land Herald':—When the numbers went up for the blue ribbon it was found that the field had been reduced to five by the withdrawal of Drmmore. Mr Stead claimed a double string to his bow with Nightfall and Savory. The daughter of Multiform carried the first colors, and her condition being voted qtffte satisfactory, it was always certain, that she would be a strow favorite. Gladstone carried himself well, and it was a popular prediction that he wculd nmt a goocf race. The quintet all acquitted themselves well in the preliminary gallops, and there was quite a simmer of excitement as they ranged up at the post. Signaiman delayed the start for some time, but at length the starter got them away well together. The pace was immediately cracked on by Boris and Savory. At the end of five furlongs Nightfall ran up to Boris, who was in front, and that pair forced the pace along the back and past the half-mile post, where Savory and Gladstone dashed up, and for a few strides- the quartet ran in line together. A stirring battle seemed mminent; but just as expectations were at their height, Nightfall w«s seen to lose her feet and fall. Gladstone showed the way into the straight, and despite the vigorous challenges on part of Boris and Savory respectively, the Fan of Seaton Delaval was never seriously threatened, and he came on and won his race by two lengths from Boris. The mishap to Nightfall was much to be regretted, for, in addition, to it depriving the finish of interest, it leaves a doubt as to whether the Derby instpna went to the best horse. According to Hewitt's statement, Gladstone, when making his run bumped Nightfall, which caused the latt?r to fal! back, and, jiu-t when she was dashing up to regain her positon, Gladstone closed m, with the result, that a collision took place, by which Nightfall was brought T™' rf T Stea * s *"*? going wen it-hen the tmfbrttmate accident happened i JS. 2" r *r bnl T sportsman entertams no doubt but that she would have scored' a The times for the various o. the imrrney were as follow:—Two fur Joiksj, 273 se c: three ftrrlorors, 40sec- <*iv furlongs, lmm 22* ec: ««. mi]e . \ min xhaTf: ; £Sc. 2mJn2^ ;^eand