SPORTING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7341, 30 May 1885, Page 6

SPORTING.

• RACING FIXTURES. Jane 6—Auckland B.C. Steeplechase Meeting. ' June 2&—H»wke'i Bay J.O. Steeplechase Meeting. ' ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. T.R.—The first rice Chandler ever started for la Auckland was a Hurdle Race at Takapun*, in which he no second. .•<-,- -•. « •.-' - , ■„,-.. ...... Qobhy -Sportsman ran third for the Auckland Steeplechase in 1879, »on by Agent, and In 1831 he al«o got second to Agent for the «tneirmce. _ , F.—<Jeurg* Willi»m« did not ride KinK Qoall wb*a he won the Auckland Cup. You must be tbinking of the Autumn Handicap run at the A.SO. Easter Meeting. i ■■:■■•-■ '.- ( v ' -'■ r ■■'" ! ,'" ". NOTES BY PHAETON. .'Thi'Weights for the Great Northern Steeplechase and Hurdle Race, to be decided at Elleralie on Saturday next, have been claiming most of the attention of Auckland turfites during the present week. When the handicaps made their appearance, the conclusion that I came to wan that the committee had succeeded very well in their unthankful task, and after miming through and comparing those engaged in the Steeplechase, my selection was—Director, King, and New Year as being the meet*: dangerous in that race. Mr. Marshall, however, was evidently not of the same way of thinking as myself in the matter, for on the day following the issuing of the weights, he ran the pen through King's name, so unfairly did he think the horse treated in the handicap. Now those who witnessed the race at Ellerslie on the 7th of last month, and look fairly at the matter, will, I think, hardly agree with Mr. Marshall in the decision he has come to on this subject, and I cannot myself help , thinking that he has acted a bit hastily in ' bringing the scratching pen into requisition. |- In the Autumn Steeplechase it will be remembered that King pat up lOst 121ba, and we all know that half-a-mile from home in 'that race he was sailing away in ' front of everything, when his jockey had the misfortune to run him inside a flag, and had therefore to pull up, otherwise nothing else coald have won but King. However, for the sake of argument we will just look at the weights the three first horses carried on that occasion, and those which they are now asked to put up, compared with King, and ascertain what is the result—

1 *

St. lb. et. lb. Macaroni .. 11 2 Macaroni .. 12 0 New Year .. 10 5 New Year .. 11 2 Director.. .. 10 0 Director- .. 11 7 Kiog .. :. 10 12 King .. .. 11 7

It will therefore be seen that in the Autumn Steeplechase King was receiving 41bs from Macaroni, who won, while he himself was conceding New Year 71bs, and Director 121bs, who finished eeoond and third respectively. According to the present handicap Macaroni has now to concede King 7lbs, while Director and he meet on exactly even terms (list 7bs each), and New Year reoeivei 51bs allowance from each. Therefore I certainly fail to see wherein Mr. Marshall's horse has been so unfairly treated. It is all very well for people to argue that it should not weigh with the handicappers what takes place half- • -mile from home ; but, according to my view, it is quite right that it should. I am quite of opinion that, as regards weight, King received fully up to his deserts; but I alao think, taking the form he has displayed on two occasions in cross-country races, run on the Ellerslie course, that he had a very fair show of winning the race under review ; and it therefore appears to me a matter for regret that Mr. Marshall should have struok him out. With King out of the road, Director and New Year appear to me to be the most dangerous. The Hurdle Race is very open, and it had perhaps better be left for future consideration, in order to see what are the intentions of the various owners.

"Vigilant," of the Melbourne Sportsman, has been taking the Nuw Zealand sportsman, Mr Pilbrow, by the'hand, and in some comments on that gentleman's horse Welcome Jack, aays that he could leave both Commotion and Malua oat of his calculations, and then pick three or four Australian nags to beat the Maorilander, at level weights, over any distance—either Sardius, Merlin, or Riogwood being, ho thinks, fully equal to the task. The writer concludes thus :—" Under these circumstances, Mr. Pilbrow complains very justly of the weight allotted his horse. Sardius, for example, who, on his Royal Park Stakes running, proved himself to be within a pound of Le Grand, was handicapped in the Adelaide Gup at nine pounds less than Welcome Jack, whose best performances would never justify such a concession. It is manifestly to the interest of the turf that owners from distant colonies should be encouraged to visit us and pit their cattle against our own, but the weight meted out to Mr. Pilbrow's representative, as compared with that allotted some of our own horses, scarcely savours of the fairest of fail' play." I don't know,whether these remarks will weigh very much with Mr. Barnard when that gentleman sets about making the handicap for the Melbourne Cup next month ; but this I do know, that Welcome Jack, with 9st opposite his name in that race, would see a very short price in New Zealand were he landed at the post in the same form as when he won the Great Autumn Handicap in 1883. Notwithstanding the threatening state of the weather on Monday last, the Takapuna Meeting was in every way a success. The gelds were large, the racing first-class, while the attendance of the public was much above expectation. The sharp turns in the course, combined with the slippery state of the ground, must certainly have been anything but inviting to the various horseowners, and much lesa to the riders in the various race* ; but though there were a couple of spills, nothing of a serious character presented itself to mar the afternoon's enjoyment. The ete wards brought the meeting off in first-class style, and they are to be congratulated on the success that attended the gathering. The enlargement of the course is, I am assured, being kept steadily in view by the stewards, and the work will be undertaken as soon as the necessary piece of land is obtained.

Winchester, the half-brother to Welcome Jack, has been claiming some attention in Dunedin for the approaching V.K.O. Derby and Cap. This colt, it will be remembered, wae purchased at the Middle Park sale when a yearling, by Mr. R. Ray, the well-known trainer, for 600 guineas ; but Ray, acting at the time in the capacity of trainer to the Hon. W. Robinson, parted with the oolt to that gentleman at the same price as he paid for him. It is said that Ray regrets .very much parting with the colt, and we may therefore presume that there is some prospect of the son of St. George emulating the deeds of his distinguished half brother. The colt is eaid to be a rare shaped-'un, and with a grand set of legs to pull him through a severe preparation.

~ Judging from the tone and length of a letter sect in to my chief, Mr. William D. Laxon appears to have been stung to the quick by reason of a little par. which appeared in my notes of last week, stating that old Lone Hand was still on his bad behaviour, and that he had stuck up at almost every fence ■ daring the run of. the Pakuranga hounds on the Saturday previous. Mr. Laxon denies this in toto, and states that the horse never once turned his head dnring the run. Now, had Mr. Laxon stopped there all would have been well ; bnt he has rather chosen to make an impertinent insinuation concerning myself, in the following strain: —"I am inclined to think that 'Phaeton' is actuated by feelings of regret at some of his losses when backing the hone, so that he cannot give oredit when due." This is indeed rich—taking one's revenge out on one of the dumb creation! I don't happen to know this Mr. Laxon, but however good a horseman he may pride himself on being, it is' quite plain from the above that he is evidently judging other people to be po«BHSsors of a headpiece similar to his own. For his edification, I may tell him that my information on the subject was derived from a gentleman who was present at the hunt, and who, I am quite sure, in making the statement was not actuated by hostility either to the horse, his owner, or his rider— Mr. William D. Laxon,

Tlso victory of Castaihore in the Birthday Handicap at Takapurta was quite aa great a boil over aa his owner, Mr. MoKinnon, treated us to on the same convincing ground a ooupie of years back, when Gilderoy won the Anniversary Handicap, though the winner on Monday did not pay 'anything like so big a diyidend as hie stable companion. Prior to the atari; the colt sweated most pro. f uuely, which circumstance frightened a good many off from investing on his chance, and probably none more so than hie owner, who only considered him worthy of support to the extent of £1 in the machine. The colt wi>n hie race in excellent style, and finished home as game as a pebble under the whip;'

With fair" lack, "Vigilant," of the M»l----bourne Sportsman, considers that Swdiui will have a ■ chance second to none for the Melbourne Cap, for which race hit party have already made a mow in hit favour Be has been backed for the Cup in conjunction with both Newstead and Nordenfeldt for the V.R.G. Derby to a good tune, and the leviathan wager of £10,000 to £50 wit recently written about him and New»tea<J for Cup find Derby, Ssrdios will be remembered - at! having run second to Martini. Henry for the V.R.C. Derby in 18*3, and he also finished fifth to the son of Musket for the Cap. Since then he hat been more or less in Queer-street, but in the recent Adelaide Cup, though a bit on the big aide, he came out in something like hie old form, finishing an excellent third to Lord Wilton and Anchorite.

It is said by not a few good judges that had the going been good on Monday, Cinderella would have won both handicaps at Takapuna. The daughter o* Javelin oonld not be got over to the racecourse in time to contest the Birthday Handicap, but she put in an appearance in the Winter Oats Handicap, in which race after running prominently for the greater part of the distance, she went down beiora Mystery. Being a long strided mare the heavy state of the ground was much against her, otherwise she might have woo. It is a well-known fact that Takapuna meetings have on almost all occasions proved disastrous to the wielders of the pencil, and it-therefore caused little surprise when on Monday they were all seen to be wearing the cautious cap. Matters in the paddock were almost &s solemn as a funeral, and there was a total absence of calling out the odds ou the various races. In the matter of betting the day was the quietest I have ever tern at Takapuna.

Mr. Balmain has, I understand, decided on placing the Musket—Rosette colt (Musk Ro«e), and the Musket—Atlantis (Mutke* toon) in H. French's hands to receive their preparation. Both colts are in splendid health, and so far as can at present be gauged, they each give every promise of developing into thorough racehorses. Acceptances for the Great Northern Steeplechase and Hurdle Race, and acceptances for the other events of the A.R.O. steeplechase Meeting, to take place at Ellerslie on Saturday next, are due on Monday first. Paradox, who, we have been informed by cabin, won the Two Thousand Guineaii, mmt have been a red hot favourite on the day fo, , that; race, for a fortnight before the race he was at 5 to 2. He was also a staunch favourite for the Derby at the same time. The lant-Eained race comes up for decUion on Wednesday next. In the Takapuna Steeplechase run on Monday last Quilp proved himself to be podseiieed. of a turn of foot that few people gave him credit for. When the old 'ohuer was seen to be oloso upon a oonple of hundred yards behind when he crossed the water the first ti'.ne, by reason of his having baulked at the post-and-rail fenoe at the baok of the stand, most of the onlookers considered bin chance gone; but he made up his ground in splendid style, and though he again bungled when taking the water the last time home, he got up and won in splendid style. Quilp was ridden by George Hope, who steered him like a true artist, and there can be no doubt that in l6ss accomplished hitnds Quilp's victory would never have been recorded. George Wright is also to be complimented on the manner in which he brought the old 'chaser to the post.

Nominations for the Melbourne Cup clou on Monday next.

A friend of the English (porting writer, "Rapier," in a few notes on the subject of the shape of horses, es.ys :—Don't you think that the truth of the matter is that the long and low are the beiit stayers over long courses, and the betwixt-and-between •• square'' animals the best for general raoiug purposes ? Suoh, at least, is the conclusion I nave arrived at after aocuntoming my eye by practice to take in, almost without conscious effort, the relative height and length of racehorses. Of course, it is abiurd to lay down hard-and-fast rules on any subject where Dame Nature plays an allimportant part, for she Is as likely an not to prove them by an overwhelming mua of exceptions; but, all the. same, there ii something to be learnt from loose theories. For instance, is it fair to lay down the broad proposition that long, low boraes go as a class best over flat, dead,galloping courses, or through deep going, and jump width best; whilst short, high horses are better on a hilly course, over rough ground, and at jumping height. We have only to lock back, and oompare the configuration and peculiarities of the various hunters we have ridden, and to mark the broad distinction that exists between the roll of winners of the Derby and St. Leger (there ie very little difference really in the distance of the two races), to soe that there is a good deal in these generalisations. If measured for height from the withers to the ground, and for length from the front of the breast to the point of th« quarters, nine horses out of ten will be found to be as nearly ai possible actually square, that is to say, they measuretheeamenumfreroffeeteitherway. It follows that relative length and breadth, according to popular notions, is in reality an optical delusion, and that the " short and high" iiainaal appears so only because it IB high on the leg, whilot the "long, low" horeu of the same number of hands makes up for being shorter in the leg hy being deeper in the ftirth. The longer the legs the longer the stride, and the greater the speed for a short distance ; the deeper the girth the greater the chest capacity, and consequently the staying powers. We all know with what ease Voluptuary won the Grand National last ye.ir over the trying 4J mileii of the Liverpool course. Voluptuary stayed so well because of his exceptional girth. Sachem is a well shaped horse, deep through the hoart, ac.d Voluptuary is, lam told, 6 inches more in girth than Sachem.

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS. The weights for the New Zealand Cap are due on Monday next. Mr. Filbrow has named the disappointing Musket—Wai-iti colt Fmilade.

Major George has selected the name of Antelope for the Apremont—Mies Kate filly. Noticing the arrival ef the Hon. Mr. Robinson's horses at Sydney, the Herald uyi they will eventually be taken to England. This is news indeed to New Zealanders.

At a country meeting in Canterbury w•eutly, the toUlisator paid £113 on the winner of the Trotting K»ce. Then w« only one investor on the horse. Mr. Bate's pair, The Poet and Minerve, are still in Wellington, and it is said that they will shortly pass into other hands, it being their present owner's intention to relinquish turf pursuits. Linwood, who was considered, such a good thing for the Grand National Steeplechue run at Christohuroh on Wednesday last, hid to put up with second honourn to Moody, who defeated him easily. It is now stated that the two-year-old colt Hermitage has not gone into I'an O'Brien'e ■table, and he still remains the property of Mr. Bradley. Several offers have, it ii said, been made for the colt. It is said that Mr. D. O'Brien intends to nominate both Tftsm&n and Trenton, for the forthcoming Melbourne Cup, but "Betoon' does not think that there is much chance of the pair leaving New Zealand. Heretaunga, who had for a good many occasions figured prominently in hardle races in and about the Napier district, was found dead recently. It appears the old fencer n*« been turned out for a spell in a paddock, *p< 1 his owner in riding round one day found him impaled on a w«re fence, quite dead. At the next foaling at the Bryan CLynn stud (says "Warwick"), on« foal of mow than ordinary interest is likely to come into the world. The imported brood maw evening Star, f;he dam of Co.iimotion, i* »o* in foal to Slanderer. Some time ago Thee. Corrigan, the well-known orose-conntty horseman, offered Mr. Phillips £600 for * Slenderer foal from Evening Star when we foal was weaned, and now there wouw appear to be every prospect of the contraci being completed. THE MANCHESTER CUP. '{SPKCUIi TO HUSS ASSOOIASION.] London, May 2J. The following was tlie result of the raoefoj The Manchestkb Cut, of 2000 sots., addoa to a handicap sweepiitakes of 25sov». each--10 ft j the second to receive lOOaovs., «>» the third 50sovs., outof the stakes. Aboui one mile and three-quarters. Mr. R. Jardine'a oh o Borneo, 4yre, by Adventurer—Lady Lucas . ... •■• Mr. A. Tiernan's b f Xem«, syrs, by o«* „ Battle-Seagull ... ' ... •" •- Lord laningham ns, l> or br o Cronv* boo, 4yra, byCambaUo--Kunhroiyne-»