SPORTING NOTES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXVII, Issue 8124, 22 March 1887, Page 6

SPORTING NOTES.

The Autumn meeting of the.lnvercargill Eacing Club will be held on April 11 and 12. The programme for each day comprises seven events, and the added money amounts to £222. The Invercargill Club, we regret to notice, retains that antiquated abomination—a qualification fee. There was a fair attendance at Lancaster Park on Monday week to witness the decision the Champion Trot. After the trial beats, the pony Shakspere and Jack were made favourites for the final. The former was just suited "by the conformation of the course, and won very easily, covering the three miles in Bmin 52sec. To beat this, Narrow Gauge, the scratch horse, would have had to put up a record of 7min 87sec. Jack, and one or two others that had been ridden right out in their first trials, refused to try on the second time of askir.g, and the consistent Energy and Billy were able to secure the place moneys. Jumbo, who won the Maiden Trot at New Brighton, and passed the post first in the Harness Trot at Lancaster Park on Monday, was said to bo by the imported Berlin, but the owner of the horse has desired us to contradict the report. Jumbo is a lengthy hay standing about sixteen hands, with soft looking legs, and peculiarly let down hooks. He is by no means a beauty to the eye, but in harness he has a rare stride, and gets over the ground at a good pace. A local paper has the following in reference to the Wanganui meeting:—There was considerable dissatisfaction over the way the Cup was run. The talent plumped their money on Silence in £2O to £3O, £4O and £SO lumps, and with a confidence which could only have been begotten by a knowledge, which the public did not share, though they "shrewdly guessed at its foundation. That a.mare like Waitiri with but Bst 121 b should be treated as though dead and buried by the knowing ones, hact a moat suspicions odour which was not improved by the very unobtrusive part she played in the struggle, if the race can_ be so described. Tigredia's mishap spoiled the only show there was of upsetting the pot, and everyone was sorry that so sterling an animal belonging to so straightforward an owner as Captain Bussell should have met with so serious an accident, the mare coming in with a. hip down. The victory of the son of The Mute was appropriately received in silence, not a ghost of a cheer being heard as the horse passed through the weighing enclosure. It seems probable that July has permanently joined the retired list, as the authorities at Chokebore despair of ever getting him sound enough to contest another race. Pew horses have been so singularly unfortunate as this son of Traduoer and Idalia —the last foal from one of the most successful crosses recorded in our stud book. He commenced badly by arriving in the world three days too early, and was therefore ineligible for the two and three-year-old events in which ,his brothers had distinguished themselves. He was offered at the Middlepark sale in April, 1882, but failed to find a purchaser, being passed in at IOOOgs. He was subsequently disposed of privately, and took up quarters at Chokebore. Ho made his first public appearance in the Free Handicap at the C.J.C. Spring meeting, 1883, when, with Bst 111 b on his back, he ran unplaced behind Jack (7st 121 b), Taiaroa (7at 91b) and Digby Grand (7st 31b). Later in the season be was seen out in the Dunedin Cup, running second with 7st 4lb to Lady Emma with Bst 51b. He then went into winter quarters, and made his re-appearance in the New Zealand Cup, finishing in the ruck with Bst 81b, behind Vanguard Bst /;f£>nora 8»t, and Ike 7at 91b. Trying hiaJortuntragain in the Dunedin Cup, he railed to gain a situation, and in the D.J.C. j next day was a long way befHnd that magnificent struggle! between On the of the meeting he : managed to run third to Nelson and Sou'wester in the Forbury Handicap, and then retired for his second season without a winning bracket. At the last Autumn meeting of the Q.J.C. he ran unplaced in the Challenge Sfakes, and this, the most inglorious of his failures, was probably his last appearance on the turf. The Committee of the Canterbury Jockey Club appears to have abandoned the idea of forming a wet-weather gallop at Biccarton. The proposed position of the track was pegged out early in the summer, but nothing further was done, and a grass fire which occurred on the course a short time ago completely obliterated the boundarymarks.

Fantasy pulled up so lame after running in the New Brighton E.C. Handicap that it was determined to give thefilly a lengthy spell, and she is now turned out. Her box is occupied by a three-year-old gelding by Young Traducer, out of Belle of the Isle, the dam of Templeton. This young gentleman is not exactly handsome, and his legs bear evidence to some rough handling; but he moves like a useful one, and we trust he may bring some luck to Armstrong. . Good horses come and go with such rapidity in these high-pressure days that many people had almost forgotten the existence of Stoneyhurst until the appearance of his name among the nominations for the next New Zealand Cup. We had a look in at the Canterbury Cup and Derby winner on Tuesday, and found him remarkably fresh and well; not loaded with flesh, but just as he should be after a summer at grass. The leg, however, which necessitated his withdrawal from last year’s Cup does not look just as we could wish, and it is very doubtful if he will stand another preparation. Corrie-Vic, the daughter of Leolinus and Belle of the Isle, who won a couple of races for J. Armstrong a season or two ago, has recently been nominated for trots, but we should think from the appearance of her understandings that she is not likely to take part even in contests of this description. We notice that Young Diomedes, who showed some form over country in North Canterbury a few years ago, has taken to the trotting business in Otago. The after quoting the notification issued Lower HeathcOte Eacing Club in respect of the exclusion of bookmakers from the Club’s enclosures, observes: “This is going a little too far.” W. M'Leod, the cross-country jockey,' has died from injuries received while riding Arganthone at Flemihgton. The weight allotted to Maxim for the Nursery Handicap, for which race the colt was scratched, was 9st 101 b, 21b below Abercom, and 31b above Sumatra. “Augur ” says. Tranter is a magnificent fellow, and will some day carry Mr Mxtchelson’s colours prominently in a big race. The same writer, referring to Maxim’s appearance in the Sires Produce Stakes at the V.E.G, Autumn meeting, says, Maxim, who is a rare-shaped colt, with the true Musket character about him, was the most admired of all the competitors, even though he was beaten. Navy Blue, the filly by Hornby—Malvina, ran unplaced in a Selling Eace at the Moonee Valley meeting on March 1. Tongariro, who won the Wanganui Derby from British Lion, Forester, Tornado, and Pandora, is by Castoff out of Peeress. Castoff is by Castaway out of Mavis, by Diomedes (imp)—Victoria (imported from. New South Wales). Peeress is by the Peer out of Lady Grey (Arab). Both . Peeress and Mavis were bred by Mr . J. S. Caverhill, of the Amuri, and '■ the former, we believe, was the dam of the well-known chaser Royalty. Nelson remains at Flemington in charge of Monaghan, to undergo ms preparation for the Sydney Gold Cup and other engagements. Brown, the jockey, has also stopped behind to ride the New Zealand champion. E. Cotta fend Clifford returned to Christ*

church by the express on Tuesday evening. Cutts is confident that Nelson would have won the Australian Cup but for dropping his whip at a critical part of the race. The horse was very well during the V.E.C. njeeting, but the extremely hot weather which prevailed in Melbourne at the time was against the New Zealanders. The Victorians were very spirited in the support they accorded to their champion sprinter, Hoctense, in the All-aged Stakes, and as the followers of Nelson were equally confident, a considerable sum of money changed hands over the event. Clifford informs us that he does not intend to leave New Zealand at present, and that the rumour of his engagement by an English stable was built up on the slightest foundation. We are pleased to learn that Mr Sydney James, the popular Secretary of the Dunedin Jockey Club, is improving in health.

The Albany—Tell Tale filly. Whisper, made her first appearance in the Nursery Handicap at the Hawke’s Bay meeting on Tuesday, and ran third to Lady Florin and Meta. This is not altogether a bad beginning, as the filly, who got off badly, is capable of some improvement, and met a real clinker in the winner. George Cutta took charge of the Hon W. Eobinson’s horses on Tuesday, and on the same day Mr S. Nosworthy took up his new quarters at Middlepark. E. Bay. we understand, will spend the forthcoming winter in Australia, and as it is reported that the Hoh W. Eobinson proposes to again try his fortune at Flemington during next season, the recently severed connection may be resumed. Mr J. Eutherford’s filly by Apremont— Waterspnte has been named Water Queeri. The filly is now in gentle work, and shapes well.

Sweet Agnes, the filly by Eama Eama— Fair Agnes, a half sister to Master Agnes, is. now an inmate of Mr J. E. Pilbrow's stable. She has grown a lot during the summer, hut shows very little quality, and although she pleases her trainer, we doubt her ability to go fast. Mr E. Eichardson has accepted the appointment of handicapper to the New Zealand Grand National Steeplechase Club. The beginning of the end has already commenced. A number of horses which have figured with more or less success during the season have been let down preparatory to their winter retirement. Artillery, who had the misfortune to beat Nelson by a fluke at weight-for-age, is among the number, and the colt looks wonderfully bright and well. Should his feet improve he will come up next season a great horse, and do yeoman service for the popular green and white hoops. In the Interprovincial Pigeon match, held at Napier during the race week, the Hastings Challenge Cap of £3O, was won by the Hawkes Bay team. At the Antumn Meeting of the Hawkes’ Bay Jockey Club on Tuesday, Miss Dargon, the half sister to Nelson, won the Eailway Stakes, but from accounts we have of the race it appears as if The Shah, who was; placed second, should have beaten the' mare. Lady Norah, notwithstanding her 51b penalty, won the Napier Handicap handsomely from a good field, and there is little doubt that this filly is about the best Cadogan we have yet had. Her sire and dam were imported and mated by Mr G. G. Stead, and her successes must be particularly gratifying to that gentleman. Lady Florin could hardly miss the Nursery, but both the Pearl Ash and Tell Tale fillies performed tolerably, and will doubtless be seen to greater advantage next season. A serious accident, described elsewhere, occurred in the Selling Race, hut ultimately Strenuous, Vinaigrette and - Charmer—all bred at Middlepark, by the way—filled the places. The Shah ran another good race in the Welter Handicap, under the crusher of list 61b, but to put up witii 271 b from the consistent son of StiQeorge. On the second day The Bard, a son of Isaak Walton, showed the way home to The Poet and three others in the Selling Eace. Talebearer, the favourite, puHsd up very lame. The game little Denbigh failedjn an attempt to concede a stone to Volcano in the Hurdle Eace, and The Pearl created a genuine surprise by winning the Burke Memorial Stakes. Singularly enough the winner was among the horses owned by the genuine sportsman,, who is kept in memory by the name of the race, at the time of his death. The other places were filled by Spade Guinea and Soudan. Lady Florin showed what a really good filly she is by giving lamps of weight and a beating to Whisper and Meta in the Nursery Handicap. Waitiri had a very soft thing in the Provincial Handicap, her halfbrother, Huata, being her nearest attendant.

Marion has not been going- on quite as well as her backers for the Great Autumn Handicap could wish daring the past few weeks. She looks in blooming health, but her legs have recently given Eoberts a lot of trouble, and her owner is not very confident about her chance. It is probable that her racing career will close with this season, and at present it is intended that she shall visit a Musket horse next spring—probably Martini-Henry.' We are pleased to learn that the injury to Fair Nell’s foot is not so serious as was at first believed, and, although it is by no means certain that she will stand a preparation, we should not be surprised to see her name among the acceptors for the Great Autumn Handicap, The sixth meeting of the Lancaster Park Trotting Club will he held on Saturday, April 9. The programme, which is advertised in this issue, comprises a Maiden Trot, of 20 sovs ; Selling Trot, of 25 sovs ; Pony Trot, of 15 sovs ; Autumn Handicap Trot, of 60 sovs; Novel Handicap, of 30 sovs ; Pony Trot, of 15 sovs; and Lancaster Park Handicap Trot, of 50 sovs. , Mr Wakely had a very near thing, says "Augur,” in the Australasian, ,to decide upon in the Newmarket Handicap, and though his decision did not give anything like general satisfaction, the “ man in the box " is the only one who can decide with anything like precision, especially when horses run wide apart. To show what differences of opinion exist under such circumstances, I may mention that Mr M. O’Shanassy and Mr H. Smith were on the Stewards’ stand, next the Judge’s box, [and the former declared that Abner had won, while the latter felt certain Lochiel just got home. Young Eedfearn, who rode Abner, declares that he won by a good neck, and Clifford is equally confident that he landed his horse a winner, and would have won by a length had he not been interfered with by Blairgowrie, who ran all over the course, and then finished close to the placed horses. The latter was undoubtedly the best three-year-old, and proved that he had lost none of the brilliant speed which pulled him through as a two. Lando must have astonished Mr Miller quite as much as Devotion did when she beat him at Williamstown. I never saw a fitter horse, and had he got his head home first. what joy there would have been in the ring ! Satyr’s position justified John Hill’s confidence, for at one time he looked just as dangerous as anything, but the great disappointment of the day was the flying New Zealander Mitrailleuse, who wasn’t in it at the finish. This could hardly have been her, form. Nor did Master John run up to the expectations of his friends, and Eichworth must have disgusted Mr Miller by the manner in which ghe ran, while Newmaster proved the next thing to a fraud. Considering the state of the course, the time given by Mr Gaunt was extraordinary, but there was a strong breeze up the straight, which doubtless materially assisted the competitors. Still, in every short race I thins it was too good to be true. Some of our , moat experienced timeists differed considerably with the official timekeeper. Although it was an

excellent betting race, Lochiel was a bad horse for the ring. His owner did not land a big stake,.but the New Zealanders consistently supported him, and when, a few days before the race, he ran a very merry six furlongs, he became first favourite, though he did not retain the position to the end of the chapter, for Newmaster had a slight call before the horses left the paddock.