Totalisator Turf Topics

Free Lance, Volume XVI, Issue 839, 28 July 1916, Page 22

Totalisator Turf Topics

By Torpedo

THE owner of Bisogne deserves a pat on the back for pulling his colt out of the 'Winter Cup on time. There has been too great a tendency of late for some owners to feed the books at the expense of the backers of doubles. Cherry Blossom should bloom now. in the market. Watch Heeltap in the Winter Cup. Coral King has reached Riccarton safely, and should win a race ere the meeting is over. Wafted up from the south on the wings of a recent zephyr that Ogier is doing great things on the track, and will be hard to beat in the Winter Cup. I am among those who have turned him down for good. The death is announced in Australia of Mr. J-. R. Mackenzie, well known in sporting circles in OtagOj having raced a number of useful horses, the best being Paillas. Dr. Mackenzie, of Wellington, is a brother of the deceased. Idealism is greatly fancied for the Steeplechase. In my last week's notes I referred to the "tale" of injury, etc. Shrewd punters take this as "the chat." Some double backers are nibbling at Marconi for the National Hurdles with a persistency that must soon make him a favourite. He is a great stayer and jumper, but he will have to be at his best to out-stay and out-jump Sir Solo. Multifual, despite his 11.1 impost, is the ruling fancy for the Winter Cup. The Gisboroe horse will cover himself with glory. if he scores. With Ben Deeley up he will be carrying nigh on four stone of dead weight. Heeltap is a horse that appears to be always in some sort of trouble. It will be remembered two or three meetings ago at Trentham, a policeman's neddy gave him a nasty lack prior to the race, but he flew in. Now it is reported he has had a splinter in the frog of his foot, on the eve of the Winter Cup. Fagot has heaps of friends for the Steeples, "heads" declaring that the San Remo gelding well make light of the big fences at Riccarton. We will see. There are just as good jumpers in the race as Fagot, and I just reckon that New York and Wirokino aTe amongst them. , The best-way to make money out of racing—keep away from it. Had a chat with Mr. Lam. Dwan, who was over in Australia last month.

Lam. is a close observer and a thorough sport. While away he met several of Australia's leading sporting writers, and he doesn't sound the tocsiix in favour of some of the leading New Zealand sporting scribes, whom he describes as "shirking" when it comes to exposing "rooks." He,told me that Charlemagne 11. was a favourite sire over the other side, and that Machine Gun's stock were in great favour, winning frequently. Sweet Tipperary is wintering under the care of F. Carmont. She-is looking lusty, and when the Oaks come along at the November meeting of the C.J.C., alii being well, rli'e black filly might give us another taste of her quality. Mr. J. 33. Reid has disposed of Kilboy,_. who will go over and bid for the A.J.C. Derby. A well-known local sport cabled for the price about this coilt to So.. Green, the leading bookmaker in Australia. "Fives to one," was the reply. Sol got a reply; it was: "Rub it in your hair." Don't talk about our prices after that! Messrs. Dwan Bros, possess a yearling of great promise. She is well grown— an aristocrat from the tip of her tail to where some jockey will one day operate on her—her mouth. Got by Masterpiece out of Roseshieild (watch this breeding), who was full sister to True Blue, Screw Gun, and Royal Artillery. Don't forget that Roseshield was by Hotchkiss out of Rose of, "Wellington. I used to be good on nomenclature. I once named a fitly for John Tennant, owner of Glenelg-, a horse that created a, surprise at Christchurch one meeting. He had a filly entered in the Win ton Guineas and he wanted a name for her. She was by Remembrance out of Reflection. "Call her Dinna Forget, John," said 1, over a wee drappie o' it. He did, but the filly didn't fulfil eaiily promise, and he wouldn't hearken to me when I wanted to name another. But this is by the way. I want to suggest that Messrs. Dwan Bros, call their filly Rosary. In that name we will have the first name of her graniddam as the first syfllable, and the second syllable will be the last syllable of Tipperary, where the Dwan Bros.' pere came from. This Friday is general acceptance night for the C.J.C. National Meeting and doubtless double backers will open their Saturday morning's papers with interest. Judging by southern files there is a lot of horses putting in an appearance at Riccarton from afar, and indica 7 tions point to a heavy acceptance list. Word comes from Hawke's Bay that Braeburn is recovering from the kick he got, and is in work with the object of giving him a go at Riccarton. I don't like his chance in the big Steeples, after being interrupted in his preparation, but he might snare an event at a later stage of the meeting. Some of the "heads" are nibbling at Art for the National Hurdles. His Wellington performance was not impressive, but some folk allege that he made the trip to keep Crib company.