SPORTING.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 8794, 9 February 1909, Page 3

SPORTING.

NOTES.(By "Gekaint.") It is a somewhat peculiar fact that The ■ Officer, who departed this life at Feilding last week, is referred to by many sporting writers as being by Robinson Crusoe, and, stranger still, he was advertised in stud notices as being by that horse, instead of by The Admiral. The actual cause of The Officer's death was kidney trouble and dysentery, and his late owner (Mr A. Walker) attributes the affection of the kidneys to getting caught in an intensely cold rain-rstorm whilst travelling on the road during the season just ended. Mr Walker has been singularly unfortunate with his stud horses. As stated in these columns a few days ago, it is only a year or so since he lost Explosion, and during the last season it was a touch-and-go with Vladimir, whom lie purchased to replace the Auckland-bred horse, an accident resulting in a broken fetlock, and it was only by a bit of luck that it did not prove fatal. Under the circumstances, it is quite easy to understand Mr Walker's declaration that he has had enough of sire horses. Australians are not favourably impressed with Signor, and consider him rather on tho small side, but, all the same, they keep backing him, and if well the New Zealander will very soon give them a taste of his quality. In Melbourne, Penates and Soultline for the Newmarket and Signor for the Cup are ruling favourites. It was hoped that Mahutonga would stand another preparation, j but as soon as the old fellow was ' put into work again at Rand wick his j lameness re-appeared, and, it being j quite impossible to train him, he ; will probably be returned to his own- j er at Gisborne.

Tho Hon. J. D. Ormond's cast-off Wallasey, by Birkenhead —Aphrodite, who raced unsuccessfully in tho Land of the Moa last season, is now running in the x >on y ranks in Australia, and at the recent Ascot meeting lumped 9.0 into second place, being beaten by half a length in a fourfurlong scramble run in 49sec. The ex-New Zealand gelding Chivalry got amongst the winning division at Calcutta on December 5, winning the six-furlong Eraser Plate from 12 others.

It is stated that the trustees of the estate of the late Mrs A. M. Coonibe have entered an appeal against the Auckland Racing Club's decision to pay over the stakes to the owner of Royal Soult, who won the Railway Handicap at the A.R.C. summer meeting, the contention being that his qualification as a competitor was not good at the time he was permitted to start.

The death of Mr "Kenny" McKenzie has left some doubt as to the real ownership of the hurdler Sen Sim. At the coming sitting of the District Court at Masterton more light will bo thrown on the matter. Meanwhile the Chief Commander gelding is enjoying the freedom of the paddock at Tauherenikau. Needlework, St. Albert and Merriwai are in work again at Hastings. The latter struck himself the other morning, but fortunately no serious trouble is expected from the mishap. Mr A. F. Douglas expects to be able to get a team together to do battle for him in the other States during the coming winter. Owing to Moral having gone slightly amiss, he has given instructions to cancel his engagements in tho Australian Cup and Champion Stakes. It transpires that the Bantock that finished third in the Viceroy's Cup this year is, after all, not the New Zealand-bred one, as so in the Melbourne Argus, Australasian and other papers, from which the information was obtained in New Zealand, which led to Mr Leslie assuming that his gelding, which he had long believed dead, was still in the flesh. The duplication of names often leads to confusion, and Mr Leslie's assumptions, taking his information from the extracts sent him from the Australasian papers, were natural.

Mr H. Chisholm won the First and Second Hurdles at the A.J.C. Anniversary meeting last week, English and Pretty Maid scoring easily. English was second favourite in a field of four in the First Hurdles, and led all the way, winning by four lengths from Mainspring, who is trained and ridden by T. Cahill. Pretty Maid had onfy one opponent m the Second Hurdles, and the pair jumped indifferently, Mainspring losing his rider after going a mile and a-half, and the New Zealand mare was left to come in "on her own." . Good stakes are offered for hurdle races in Australia, and thero is money in the game for the man who takes across a top-notcher to "do" the summer meetings.

WOODVILLE MEETING. (Per PflEsa Association.) WOODVILLE, Feb. 8. The following are acceptances and j entries for the autumn meeting of j the Woodville Jockey Ch'-b : — . ACCEPTANCES. Hack Handicap . Hurdles, of 85 sovs; 14 miles. —Rookby 11.3, Commander, Don Carlos 10.13, Bullworth 10.5, .Whatakura 10.2, Grenade 9.12, llosegrove 9.12, Scenery 9.6, St. ' Amelia, Reumac, Stormlight 9.0. Whariti Hack. Handicap, of 75*, sovs; 7 furlongs.—Vi 8.9, Voetgang 8.4, Miss Vera 7.11, CastigUonc 7.9, Taumano 7.5, First Mate 7.3, Routin? 7.3, Robin Link .6.13, Diplomatic 6.9, Svlvia Maid 6.8, Doloo 6.8. Woodville Cup, of 200 sovs; 1'- : miles.—Moral 9.13, Moloch 8.2, Vasa, ' White Lie 7.11, Woodhey, _Snndstream 7.9, Glenulliu 7.5, Loiret, Sen ton. Dale 7.0, Anemone 6.7. Courtv Hsick Handicap, of 75 s:-vs; 6 'fin-bugs.—Spb-h 9.0, YTaioviki S.d\ Genuine 8.3, Tvei.so, Lucretius 5.2, Burton 7.11, Shannon Lacs 7.9. Bonnie Doon, Awlia, Humpty Duinpty 7.8. Royal Maid 7.4. Notorious, Tuatahi, Marton, Aberbrothock . 7.0, Steady 6.10, Kimmorian, Vinco 6.7. President's Handicap, of 100 sovs; 7 furlongs. —-Merrie Zealand 9.11, Osiris 9.9, Waikaraka 9.5, Aboriginal 9.2. Silken Rein 9.0, Rangihacta j 8.13, Moscow 5.12, Toa Tulii 8.11, ! S,an Fernando, Erl King 8.7, Hii;hden, Borengaria, Investment, Chamois 8.5.

Victoria Hack Handicap, of 75 sovs; 1 mile. —Windage 9.8, Xavier 9.3, Sealer, Buoyant 9.2, Grand Poplnr, Mildura 8-9, Kaolin 8.8, Liquid Air. M'-irnthon, Quandary, Fincsscur,. Roval Youngster 8.7.

Telephone Havd'eap. of 100- sovs; 5 furl.Tigs.— Lord S-utlt,_9.o, Sunho--.-ret 8.7, A.boW<rinal. Kareroa 7.1-° i, Merri". Rose 7.12, Gold»n Gntc 7.9, Mns.'oi '7.7. ' Vr'7.4. Lothair 7.2, Lochiel:--. 7.0, Axite, G.lo,'.,Hydraulic, Steady 6.7.

; _... ENTRIES. Maiden Plate. —Valoma, Colossus,

Dolce, Merry Messenger, Rangikapu, Waiwareware, Stevens, Pikiho, Leolanter, Finesseur, Icel, Seraphic. Nukumaru, Valentine, Lady Fathom, Vinco, Waipuhui, Happy New Year, Projectile, Paione. Hack .Scurry (Second. Day).—Valoma, Manaia, Rangikapu. Waiwareware, Pikiho, Leolanter, Valentine, Official, Kimmerian, Nukumaru, Toanga, What-for, Lady Fathom, Vinco, Waipunui, Happy New Year. POVERTY BAY ACCEPTANCES. GISBORNE, Feb. 8. The acceptances for the Poverty Bay Turf Club are as follows: — First Hurdles, 1J miles. —Reservoir 11.10, Te Ari 11.7, Te Kainui 10.5, The Stripper 9.0. Turanga Stakes, 1-1 miles.—Chantctiso 8.9, Dardanus 8.5, Hinetiania 8.3, Ballyheigh 8.0, Moutigo 7.12, Munga Motio 7.8, Gladsmuir 7.4, Paisano 6.11. Flying Handicap, 6 furlongs.—Auldearn 8.13, Maiora 8.3, Rock Ferry 8.2, Millenial 7.11, Wharekura '7.10, Lady Rohina, Pearl Reef 7.9, Pluck 7.7, 'Martyr King 7.3, Ardfert 6.9.