TURE TOPICS

Free Lance, Volume I, Issue 4, 28 July 1900, Page 16

TURE TOPICS

By Seahorse.

Ask J. B. how Cyrenian is bred. Dingo is going to fulfil his Grand National engagement. Hauriri's sister Marina won the Final Hur.He Bace last year. Crusoe and Lasting are to fulfil their Christchurch engagements. Dan OBrien has got rid of Peerage, who is now owned by C. Stratford. W. Davis is taking Ruby Twist to Biccarton, also Kent for some of the shorter races. Plain Bill^ is going down for the Grand National* and whatever beats him will win. Tom Clark has turned Cornea out. She is undoubtedly fast, but does not run up to her form. The weight carried by Plain Bill (12st) is the heaviest yet recorded in the Wellington Steeplechase. James Cotton, the well-known Dunedin trainer, is to have charge of the Hon. H. Mossman'a horses at Ellerslie. Warrigal (not Billy) Higgins is the name of the jockey who rode Taplow and had one of his legs broken at the Hutt. Frank Cochrane, who rode Plain Bill in the Wellington Steeplechase, rode Hangfire into third place last year. The Guard and Record Reign have been backed by connections of the Porirua stable for the Christchurch jumping double. Mr J. T. Blake took Sylvanus, Daphne, and Tally Ho home from the Hutt, and they will not compete at Christchuich. Plain Bill has been awarded 12st 81b in the Grand National Steeplechase, the same weight that Norton carried to victory. The two-year-old filly White Heather (Souwester Kosalind) made her first appearance in the Maiden Hack Bace at the Hutt. From an esteemed correspondent at Ellerslie I learn that it is doubtful if Explosion will start in the New Zealand Cup. S. Pigott, who rode the winners of the Melbourne Cup in 1874 (Haricot) and 1877 (Chester) was riding at Brisbane this month. Plain Bill and Record Reign have been backed to win the Grand National Steeples and Hurdles by the latter's connections. Boxes have been engaged at Riccarton for Quiltina and Falka. The latter will probably start in a six furlong selling race on the first day. Mr J. H. Prosser started six horses at the Hutt and won one race with Leah. Sentry was brought over from Porirua, but was not started. The first acceptance for the New Zealand Cup is due on Friday next. On the same day, forfeits are due for the Welcome Stakes, Oaks and Challenge Stakes. Sir George Clifford, Messrs HoodWilliams.E.B. Guinnessand W.H.E.Wanklyn, who were here on Bacing Conference business, returned South on Monday last. Roller and Woodlander will not fulfil their engagements at the C.J.C. Grand National meeting. The Hon. J. D. Ormond's team will consist of Morag, Ideal, and Sir Lancelot. Dan McLeod laid the following New Zealand Cup wagers last week :—lOOO: — 1000 to 50 Strathnairn, 1000 to 50 Military, 1000 to 80 Malatua, 1000 to 30 Tortulla, 1000 to 20 Explosion. Wait-a-Bit is not to do any more hurdle racing until«after the Melbourne Cup, to win which race he has been backed for £15,000. How would the two Malua's do for a double, viz., Wait-a Bit and Malatua. Chevalier will again have to change his name. The Chairman of the Bacing Conference informed Mr Harris that the name already appears in the Stud Book, and cannot be retained under Bule 51. Record Reign has been awarded 12.5 in the Grand National Hurdles and this is 12 lbs. more than he got at Auckland, where he did not accept. Wait-a-Bit was awarded exactly the same weight in the Victoiia National Hurdles, but did not accept. He, however, started in the Maiden Hurdles, two miles the same day (7th inst.) He started a level money favourite in a field of eight with 10.3 up, and won in a canter in the fast time of 3.53.

Tarquin is pleasing the touts at Bandwick. The top weight was the first horse withdrawn the New Zealand Cup. There was not a single South Island competitor at the local meeting last week. Kaiser Myers is now in the employ of Mr Eoulston, breeder of Becord Eeign. The Hutt running decided the top weights to be Biccarton Grand National Double. W. Holmes was riding Ruby Twist. J. Gallagher and C. Jenkins only went out the first day. Crusoe, who ran third in the Parliamentary Handicap last week, won the race two seasons back. Sons of the owners of WUI-o'-the-Wisp and Crusoe rode those horses in the principal flat races. Mr W. McKenzie, secretary of the Taratahi-Carterton Eaeing Club, was among the visitors at the Hutt. The Hutt-trained horses — Hauriri, Dr. Bill, and Quiltina — won their share of the prize money this meeting. Mr George Morse is to succeed the late Mr. John Coyle as handicapper to the Marton Jockey Ciub. Will-o'-the-Wisp, who won the Parliamentry Handicap, was unplaced in the Maiden Hack Bace last year. The owner of Dr. Bill had £50 on the horse away from the course when he won. He thus secured a good dividend. The Hon. James Carroll, the late Colonial Secretary, was a guest on the Stewards' Stand at the Hutt. What price the two Bills — Plain Bill and Dr Bill ? Most likely they will be in evidence again at Biccarton. Tortulla was backed for the New Zealand Cup last week. Perhaps that is the reason why her stable companion was withdrawn. J. E. Thorpe shipped Record Reign and Chevalier to Christchurch on Monday last. The latter has been going short, and is a bit sore. Jack Chaafe returned to Auckland on Sunday last with St. Peter, St. Ursula and Nor'west. The latter will not fulfil his Biccarton engagements. The Porirua stable has won the Maiden Hack race at the last two winter meetings of the We lington Bacing Club with Ostiak and Leah. Marina was raised 121bs for not starting the first day. The most any other horse was raised that did not start was 3 lbs. Perhaps Mr. Evitt considered it was a good thing for Marina the first day. The amount put through the totalisatois at the Hutt last week £17,628, an increase of £3,479 on last year. These were only seven races per day this year against eight per day in the previous one. Hauriri and Menaderva shaped the best and Norwest and Kaiuhakaroa the worst of Souwester's stock at the Hutt. Dingo shaped well in both his races. Five miles across country is a big afternoon's work. The name Abel, bestowed upon the Hotchkiss colt in training at the Hutt, will have to be changed. The Conference passed a rule last week, that any owner runninga horse in an- unregistered name shall be fined £2. La Marquise hurt her stifle badly in the first hurdle race, and did not compete on the second day. A veterinary surgeon had to be called in to attend her. She was sufficiently well to be taken home on Monday morning. The Auckland Racing Club has agreed upon the following dates for their meetings next season : — Spring, November 7, 9, and 10 ; Summer, December 26 and 28, and January 1 and 2 ; Autumn, April 8, 9, and 13 ; Winter, June 8, 10, and 12. Mr Northland J. Gould, for many yeais Flemmgton correspondent of The Austialabian, died this month. The deceased gentleman purchased two Musket yearling colts (Firelock and Whitworth) for the late Mr W. Pearson the same day that Carbine was sold. Percy Johnston informs me that Dummy will not be taken down for the Grand National. He got all right after returning from Auckland, but his leg filled very badly, and he will requiie a twelve months' spell. Percy Johnston goes south about a week or ten days before the meeting to ride Chevalier. Stuart McGuinness informs me that Taplow jumped well in his schooling work at home. Charlie Cochrane, who is in McGuinness employ, rode the hoise the first day when he fell, and Cochiane received a cut lip and face. When the second day came Cochrane received permission fiom his employer to let Higgins ride the horse, which was agreed to. The horse did not fall, but at the last fence but one Higgins tiied to get Taplow up on the inside of Cceur de Lion and struck the rail with his left eg and fiactuied it. Higgins hails from Dunedin, where he rode St Denis, Milord and other horses.

Canet's brother, Dum Dum, twice missed by one. Menaderva gave gave Bob Arnott two winning rides. Fred Barry took Ruamahunga South on Thursday. Frank Higgott is taking Hauriri and Lady Agnes to Eiccarton. Now that Advance is scratched what about Seahorse for the Cup ? The Hon. J. D. Ormond had only one representative at the Hutt each day. The Miner is still at the Hutt, and it has not been decided whether he will go South. Dave Munn is now training for Mr W. Robinson, and has charge of Lady Lome, etc. Mr Leonard Marshall owns a powerful colt by Ascot— Eomp, full brother to Norton. Captain Russell's buff and black colours were borne unsuccessfully at the Hutt by Coeur dejjion. Dum Dum, who ran second in the Maiden Hack Eace at the Hutt last week, was third last year. The St. Albans stud — dispersed a few seasons back by Tattersall— will be auctioned on August 10th. James Hickey is now a public trainer at Newmarket. Australian Star and Cranberry are members of his team. Mr P. Selig, editor of the Referee, and The Admiral (Dunedin Star) were among the visiting pressmen at the Hutt. The colt by Lochiel — Russet, engaged in the two-year-old races at the Hutt, is trained by J. McGuinness at Dunedin. Arthur Neale, who won several important races in the colours of the Hon. J. D. Ormond, has entered Mr E. J. Watt's employ. He will ride Nobility in the New Zealand Cup if the colt is started. Chitchat (Neckersgat-Ada) won the Winter Handicap of 150 soys, on the first day of the Victoria Winter Meeting, and the Biaybrook Handicap of 150 soys, on the second day. In the latter he carried 8.5, and ran a mile and a half in 2min 39sec. He is a full brother to Newstead and Annesley. The Wellington Trotting Club has been recommended by the Trotting Conference for three permits next season. They are thus put on a level with the Auckland, New Zealand Metropolitan, and Tahuna Park Trotting Clubs. With the additional two days racing and increased stakes, trotting matters in this district should be interesting during the forthcoming year. Five members of the Board of the New Zealand Trotting Association were present at the Conference, viz., Messrs P. Selig, G. H. McHaffie, A. L. Myers, D. McLean, and C. S. Howell. Mr T. H. Davey, who declined to stand for re-election on the new Board, is sporting editor of the Canterbury Times. Messrs G. Bissett and W. G. Garrard, the new members of the Board, are contributors to the same paper.

Gooseman took Coeur de Lion home on Monday morning, and he will not journey to Eiccarton. Will-o'-the-Wisp is under offer to Jervis George for £250 and £50 out of the first win. Falka may be taken to Christchurch for a six furlong sefHirig -race there next month. Record Eeign may be started in the Grand National Hurdles in preference to Chevalier. The Hutt caretaker has some work in hand getting the tracks and the saddling paddock and lawn in order. Sundial is going down for the Winter Cup, and Kauri Gum for the Grand. National (Steeplechase. W. Clark went South on Monday last, and will ride Eecord Eeign in the Grand National Hurdles should he start. Mr W. H. E. Wanklyn, secretary of the Canteibury Jockey Club, informs me that he received the scratching of Advance for the New Zealand Cup at 5.30 p.m. on Sunday last. Stuart Waddell took Temeraire and Morag home on Monday morning. The latter was a competitor in the Open Steeplechase at the Hawke's Bay Hunt Club's meeting on Wednesday. Messrs E. W. Alison (Takapuna), J. 0. Evitt (the well-known handicapper), H. H. Hayr (totahsator proprietor), and W» Percival (secretary ot the Auckland Earing^ Club), left for Auckland overland, on Tuesday morning. Stuart McGuinness shipped The Friar South on Monday last, in charge of C. Cochrane. McGuinness took Taplow home on Tuesday morning, and brings Kaimate down on his way to Christchurch later in the week. Although Advance has been withdrawn from the New Zealand Cup, he will probably be seen at Eiccarton in November. He will be in the two weight-for-age races,, viz., The Canterbury Cup of 500 soys, the distance of which is to be reduced to a mile and three-quarters, and the Jubilee Cup of 500 soys, one mile. Malatua was backed to win the New Zealand Cup last week by the right people,, and is thereiore unlikely to go to Sydney. It looks as if this colony will not be represented at Eandwick in the spring, as Mr G. G. Stead's Formosan and St. Michael, and Sir G. H. Clifford's Somerled and Cannie Chiel have been withdrawn from their Derby engagements. Nothing looks better in the Grand National Steeplechase than Plain Bill (12.8). Dr. Bill (10.6), The Guard (10.6) and Diugo (10.0) might have a possible chance of beating him. In the Hurdles, J. E. Thorpe will probably start Record Eeign but not Chevalier at a difference of 3lbs. Of the others, Hauriri (10.5) might win. Eecord Eeign (12.9) may also start in the Winter Cup, one mile. Crusoe (11.8), Euamahunga (10.11) and Female Franchise (9.12), appear to have chances of the others. In all three events, it is a case of whatever beats the top weight.