Turf Topics.

Free Lance, Volume X, Issue 476, 14 August 1909, Page 21

Turf Topics.

By "Te Ngaio."

fb HE wiiinter mooting of the GanteiI buiy JoLkoy Club opened ait Riccarton on Tuesday last, and 1 will bo brought to a concOiusDOiii to-moiriow (batuicLu) The hekk for tne uaffeuent evtntb \\ 01 c of more than a\ erage size, and some good racing was witr.essLd. The Mai ton Jockey Club have received splendid nominations for the^ sprang meeting, to take place on September Ist and 2nd. Mi. Morse's weights are due on the 18th inst. The Wellington Pony and Galloway Racing Club are getting their popular tiyst ng ground in oidcr for the opening of their season on September 4th. Ali. Lagor has scratched California few t/he A.J.C. Metropolitan Handicap, at Rand wick. Good accounts reach me of Mr. E. J. Watts' Mernwee — Indian Queen colt, Maori King, who is looked upon as one of the most promising three-year-olds of this season. Tom Qumlivan ha? the colt well forward in anticipation of the Hawke's Bay Stakes and other classical laoes. Mr. J. H. Nixon, ex-manager of the Bank of New Zealand, and treasurer of the Wanganiui Jockey Club for many yeats, died at Wanganui on Thursday last. The deceased gentleman underwent a serious operation ait the hands of Dr. Ewart, in this city, two months back, but that dread disease, cancer, had such a hold of its victim that recovery was hopeless. Mr. St. J. Buckley's All Red heads the list of winning horses for the past season, the amount standing to the credit of the Stepniak— Madder cort bemg £3230. Sir George Cliff ord, president of the Racing Conference, is at the head of winning owners for the past season, the amount of money won by inmates of his stable being £6757 10s. The descendants of Soult credited that sire with £16,000 of stake money •during the season just concluded. Stepniak was second on the list, with £12,976 to his credit. The "Special Commissioner" of the London "Sportsman" is a great believer in, the Carbine horse, Spearmint, who won the English Derby m 1906. He concluded a recent complementary reference to him by saying "I repeat now that Spearmint, im whom I have no sort of interest, is the best horse we have seen an this century, and 1 it is question able whether anyone has ever seen a better." Mr Gardner has leased his Conqueror mare Blue Bell to a Canterbury sportsman, and she has been pllaced in T. Kent's hands to tiaim for future events. L. Proctor, piivate trainer for F. S. Easton, of Foxton, has in, hand! for future events a. promising fiUy by Soult which is highly spoken of. Notorious and Sir Antrim are doing well und-ei Alf. Wrights guidance, at Foxton. Probability and Thetis are bemg hustled along by F. Carmomt at Levin, and the pair of them should soon be ready to giye a e;ood account of themselves wLen the sipring races coane up for decision. Te Ru, who won at Trentham, was bought cheaply for fifty-one guineas at the sale of Mr, G. P. Donnellys batch at Palimeiston North un February, 1906. Te Ru should turn cut a very profitable purchase, as he is possessed of lots of pace. Aeolus, who was taken to Sydney, has been turned out as untramable. The Hon. J. D. Ormoind's Audax will piobably be a competitor in next year's Liverpool' Gramd National Steeplechase. Another New Zealandbred animal in Moifaa has already won that event, so history may repeat itself. Aborigine, who is mow in Sydney, is reiporfced to have filled out into a fine type of the thoroughbred!. The som of Merriwee is getting through his tasks in an attractive manner, and should seen be giving the Australiamts a taste of his quality. New Zealand-bred horses are well advertising the place of their birth, the latest to make a name for himself being Black Reynard, who left a mile

behind him in 1.44, and worn veiy easily at tlhe recent Canterbury Park meeting, at Sydney. A lot of money has been taken about California's chance m the New Zealand Cup, so it appeals that this massive chestnut wiil be a competitor at Riccarton. Few steeplechasers are better known than the old steeplechaser, Dingo, who won a race on the old Hntt course years ago. The veteran's careei came to a disastrous conclusion at the recent Sandoiwn Park (Melbourne) meeting. The old fellow came a cropper, and, breaking his back, was instantly killed. D. J. Price continues to hiaye bad luck with the New Zealand' jumpers m Melbourne- m his liable, but Bribery continues to wi-a races, and this helps 'to. pay for the up-koep of the inefficients, of whom Dave has one or two. Te Ai aL was priced reoenttly by a would-be Sydney buyer, but the price asked — 700 guineas* — did not lead to business. Bridge is spoken of as one of the best thi ee-yea.r-olds> ohl the track at Hastimgs. Being built on stout lines, and a big horse, he should make a splendid stayer. He ha® alreadly demonstrated that he can, gallop. Perolina, the imported mare by the King's weULknown sine Persimmon, wiH shortly be put into work at Awapuni. Being bred on such classical lines, she should turn out well. The stake for the WangaTmi Guineas this year has been raised to 400 guineas.

Binks tried to cure a nasty cold By sampling whisky stiorig and old, And when for home he made letieat, His legs went zig-zag up the street ; And when a motor knocked down Binks, And squeezed out all those nasty dunks, So warning take, strong drink adjuie - ' Cure coughs and colds with Woods' Gieat Peppermint Cuie.