SPORTING.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 8542, 24 March 1908, Page 2

SPORTING.

NOTES. (By " Geeaint.") Tho Stake is being schoolccl over hurdles, and will shortly bo seen cut in public. Sincc tho season commenced the ranks of tho jumpers, which were greatly depleted, have been augmented by several recruits from amongst, the flat racers, but Splendid Idea and The Stake are quite a notable pair. The former should prove an adept, all tho Webbs taking most kindly to tho jumping game. The Stake, if he -shows any aptitude, should bo more than useful, possessing as he does plenty of pace and weightcarrying capacity. Ghoorka and Scot-ty aro also rcccnt additions to tho jumping

brigade. Horses are cheap at Wanganui. Recently a five-year-old half-sister to Handsome Rose was sold for logns, a three-year-old filly by Phacthon from Marianthus, a mare that raced successfully on this Coast a few years back, realised £11, and a tlnee-year-old by Phacthon from White Rose was let go at £10. They were no doubt- thoroughbreds of sorts. Crucinella. whose price was lOOOgns at the . Manawatu Summer Meeting, is now trained at Wanganui. J. Peachey, who removed from Feilding to Wanganui, is getting a good team together. He has Mahoe, Bclario, a half-brother to Mahoe by Mahaki named Taraniea, a five-year-old halfsister to Beau Ideal, and it is probable Daisy Paul will also bo placed in Poachev's charge. Dusky Morn and Catapult will not return from Australia till after tho A.J.C. meeting. Thero was a time, and that not so very long ago, when the Champion Stakes, run annually at Flomington, excited a very keen interest all over Australasia; but though some of those who claim to be unswerving in their loyalty to "tho sport of kings" will in these days ply tho question, "What won the Champion?" it is in a languid air. It is a long hark back to 1878 —the year First King won —but though 30 summers have como and gone since the beautiful son of King of the Ring beat the equally stout-hearted Chester, his winning feat can still be counted upon to stir up enthusiasm when mentioned in circles abreast of the facts. Mr Ettio de Mestre, who trained Chester, had tried tho son of Yattendon very highly, and he was sanguine as to the result, confiding to Mr James Wilson, the trainer of First King, that his colt was sure to run the distance in smin 30sec (which it may be remarked, was 4isec below the record at that time). The trainer of Chester had not long to wait ere he was ill at ease so far as the probable issuo of the race was concerned, for Mr Wilson replied, "My colt will break 5.25 if ho is required to." First King beat Chester in easy style in smin 26sec, and when at an interval of a year "the King" again emerged triumphant the feat gave his large army of followers additional room to burst into enthusiasm in regard to his prowess. For many years "Augur," the talented contributor to the Australasian, stoutly maintained that First King was the greatest horse Australasia had produced; and it was not until- Carbine put all previous records in the shade by carrying the welter weight of lOst 51b to victory in the Melbourne Cup (in the decision of whioh event the bay son of Muskot put up a fresh time record against the greatest field that over contested the Flomington race) that he altered his view. Tho contest that eventuated in the Champion Stakes of 1883 stands out as one of the most exciting in the annals of the tree-mile race. The three-year-old Guesswork, who carried the colours of his breeder, the late Sir Thomas Elder forced tho paco at a great pace on a scorching hot day (tho race was run in summer in the early eighties), and ho held command until tho last stride, when Commotion got tho best of him and won by a short head in time equal to that put up by First King in his first victory. The time record" stood at smin 26scc, until 1894, when Portsea galloped tho three miles in smin 23isec, but tho rccord put up by the gallant son of Neckersgat was not destined to long remain unaltered, as in 1896 it was reduced to 23isec, when Wallace and Quiver ran their celebrated dead heat. The fact that Wallace was got by Musket's greatest son, Carbine, and that Trenton, another of Musket's mighty scions, was responsible for Quiver, is an interesting fact bound up in the history of the Champion Stakes of 1896 that Aucklanders will not readily lose sight of. What a wonderful record is associated with Carbine's name in connection with tho Champion Stakes.' Twice he claimed tho attention of the judge in the three-mile race ; then, came the dead heat of his son Wallace (whom he begat in his first season), followed up by a victory of his other son, Amborite, who yas followed home by another descendant in Bundook. Then came tho dual victory of the stoutheartod daughter, La Carabina, followed up by a victory for Emir, who was sired by Wallace. Those who keep the run of Champion Stakes contests can find much to interest, them; but, as before remarked, there is not that keen concern in tho great race that once was so pronounced.

That thore are lucky and unlucky men ongagod in racing as in other walks of life, many illustrations aro to be found. In giving some instances in the carecr of Mr/James Brennan, "Milroy," of tho Sydney Mail, shows how Damo Fortune at times tucks a favoured child under her wing. The Sydney writer says: —"Mr Brennan, of this city, is as astuto racing man and an extremely fortunate one—fortunate in the possession of good horses and a clever trainer to select them for him. Though well known as a prominent bookmaker for now nearly 20 years, he did not como into prominence as a horse-owner until some five years ago, when ho bccamo the owner of Pendant, who, I think, was the first racohorso he owned. Pendant was solectcd as a yearling out of a Hobartville draft for an owner by A. W. Barry, who was not long in discovering hor worth, but when coming to her best sho was sold to Mr Brennan. When the mare changed stables sho came down considerably in tho weights, and got into the Carrington Stakes with 7st 51b. Sho won in a tantor, and Mr Brennan threw in for a big stake. Then, crossing over to Caulfiold, another big win was collected over the Oaklcigh Plato, which the Far Niente mare won with Bst. Sho was then put by. and got into tho next Carrington Stakes with 9st. Sho won again and more gold came to Mr Brennan. In 1904, Mr Brennan narrowly missed a big coup, when Pendant carried 9st 121b into second place behind Marif. Two years later Pendant made full amends by carrying 9st 71b and winning the Newmarket easily. This time sho was the medium of heavy betting on the part of tho stable, and it is said that her owner won a fortune. Pendant then made way for Isfcria, who was backed for tho Nowmarlcet of last year before the weights appeared, but did not run up to the expectations of her trainer, who looked upon the race as tho softest of snaps for this very smart daughter of Haut Brion. A pot of money was lost on her, but this was pulled back with big interest over tho Bourko Handicap, in which she beat Scotland. Scotland's performance on that occasion evidently impressed Istria's trainer, R. O'Connor, and Mr Brennan bought the colt for 600 guineas. Istria then came to Sydney and won the Doncaster Handicap. This time tho public did not want her, and Mr Brennan and his friends had a splendid market to themselves, and they took every advantage of it. To win two Newmarket Handicaps, tho Oaklcigh Plate, the Carrington Stakes twice, bosides several minor events, with a team of horses that seldom exceeded three, i.n a space of five years, is something like a rccord performance, but the prize money gathered in. over these events is insignificant compared to the money taken out of the ring. The A.J.C. Autumn Meeting will probably conclude Mr Brennan's career in Australia, for,

somo months ago, he decided to sell out all his racing stock and return to his native London.

AUCKLAND WEIGHTS. FORDELL, March 21. Mr Gcorgo Morso has declared tho following weights for tlio Auckland Racing Club's Easter meeting : — Easter Handicap. — Marguerite 9.4, Zimmerman 9.3, Gold G'mst 9.0, Master Dolaval 8.8, King Billy 8.6. Frisco 3.6, Mahuta 8.5, Multifid 8.5, Sir Tristram 3.4, The Lark 8.3, Tangimoana .8.3, Uranium 8.2, Cambrian 8.1, Uhlando 8.0, Dawn 8.0, Moloch 7.12, Veronica 7.12, All Red 7.12, Soultino 7.11, Celtic 7.9, Swimming Belt 7.9. Loenator 7.9, Arc Light 7.7, Downfall 7.6, To Aroha 7.5, Ballarat 7.5, Montigo 7.5, Carl Rosa 7.4, Advocate 7.3, Taiinamipo 7.2, Helen Portland 7.2, Landlock 7.1, Rauparalia 7.1, Delegate 7.1, Loongana 7.0, Pohutu 7.0, Certainty 6.13, Miss Winnie 6.13, Uonuku 6.13, Golden Eagle 6.12, Lady Ilohina 6.12, Gay Paris 6.7, Ravinia 6.7. Autumn Steeplechase.—Kmtere 13.3, Inniskilicn 10.12, Irish 10.7, Loch Fyne 10.3, Cinque 10.1, Silicia 9.13, Pierre 9.13, Khama 9.12, Moeraki 9.11, Capitol 9.10, Tarakihi 9.9, Kapakapa 9.9, Good Faith 9 7. Brighton Hurdles. —Shrapnel 11.10, Cuiragno 11.9, Paritutu* 11.6, Maui 11.6, Hautapu 11.3, Lady Htinc 10.11, Le Beau 10.11, Kiatero 10.4, Dolores 10.4, Ataahua 10.4, Oinati 10.2, Ghoorka 10.2, Cachuca 10.0, Claremont 10.0, Playmate 9.11, Scottv 9.8, Moeraki 9.8, Ironmould 9.3, Silicia 9.3, Loch Fyne 9.3, Ranana 9.0, English 9.0, Kapakapa 9.0, Good Faith 9.0.