SPORTING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9142, 25 August 1888, Page 6

SPORTING.

RACING FIXTURES. September 8 and Hawkesbury Spring. September 22, 26, 27, Australian Jockey Club. November 8, 7, B—Canterbury Jockey Club November 8, 6, 8, 10—Victoria Racing Club. November 9, 10—Auckland Racing Club. . December 20, January I,2—Auckland Racing- Club. DATES OF COMING EVENTS. September 12—Doncaster St. linger. September 13—Hawkesbury Guineas. September 15—Hawkesbury Handicap. September 22—A.J.C. Derby.' ■i' r v.t; September Great Metropolitan Stakai October 9Cesarewiteh Stakes. October Caultteld Guineas. October 20Caul field Cup. October 22—Cambridgeshire Stakes. 1 November V.R.C. Derby. November 6—Melbourne Cup. November o—New Zealand Cup. November 7—Canterbury Derby. December SO—Auckland Cup. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. E.S.J.—We know nothing to the contrary, but you had perhaps better write to the Sydney Referee on the subject. J.B.—We do not remember Papapa being taken to Australia. Sportsman.— Billingsgate, and Piscatorious were all foaled in the same year. As three-year-olds they won the following amounts in stakes: —Libeller, £536 ; Billingsgate, £420; Piscatorious, £345. Taranaki.— 1 and Vanguard each carried Sat 91b when they won the New Zealand Cup. Nonsense was favourite in Tasman's year. NOTES BY PHAETON. Tiikrk seems to be some doubt after all whether the A.R.C. will revert to the committee system of handicapping this season, and from what I can learn there seems now some prospect of Mr. Evitt being re-ap-pointed to the post. The committee were to have met on Tuesday last for the purpose of dealing with the question, but owing to the illness of the chairman (Mr. T. Morrin), a postponement was rendered necessary. The matter will probably be settled during the coming week, .when the question of appointing a starter will also come up for consideration. ' ! The recent rains have made the private track at Kohimarama in such a heavy state that Kean's string have now to do almost all their work at Ellerslie, and even the tan gallop there is very heavy going. The team are all looking well, but owing to Kean not being able to send them along, they are getting a bit on the big side. Yesterday morning Leopold and Cuirassier were sent a couple of circuits at a sound pace, and the former appeared to hold his big opponent safe all through the journey. If the brother to Trenton does really possess any of that brilliancy so noted in his relative, he has up to the present failed to show it on the track, and as he seems to be getting into a. very sprawling kind of action, be fails to impress one with his three-year-old prospects. Escutcheon was treated W> twice round, at the finish of which he appeared to tire a little, and some are of opinion that pace is more his game than staying.

In chronicling the great sale of thoroughbreds held recently in America in my notes of last week I find that I omitted to state a very important fact to the effect that King Ban, whose stock have made such a great name for themselves, and whose yearling son at the recent sale brought the enormous price of £7600, is a son of the Now Zealand Stud Company's mare Atlantis, and therefore in their stallion St. Leger the Sylvia Park authorities possess a half-brother to the great American sire. St. Leger is, I may remark, furnishing into a really nice horse, and so far as looks are concerned his stock show very great promise. Got by Doncaster (who himsflf was a Derby winner, and afterwards begat the mighty Bend Or) from Atlantis, who is a daughter of Thormanby (also a Derby winner) and Hurricane (winner of the One Thousand Guineas) by Wild Dayrell (Derby winner) from Midas, St. Leger can boast of a pedigree that would get him a front place amongst the greatest thoroughbreds in the land, and with the deeds of his half-brother, King Ban before us, and the promising character of his took, there seems a good prospect of the son of Doncaster ere long having his name enrolled amongst winner-producing parents.

It is feared in Christchurch that there is a danger of a very large increase in trotting meetings, which being unamenable to Tiibe Metropolitan Clubs can ring the totalisator incessantly throughout the year without hindrance. Discussing the question, the Canterbury Times says : "Some one must 'come to the rescue, or the efforts of the Metropolitan Clubs will only result in diverting speculation from legitimate sport to a very poor imitation. V\ e have no objection to trotting, nor are we particularly Opposed to the totalisator being employed in an effort to extricate a Sports Ground Company from its financial difficulties ; but we do protest against the indifference which allows the very worst features of totalisator gambling to continue without let or hindrance."

, Captain Walmsley was in hopes of getting away to Calcutta with the New Zealand Stud Company's shipment of horses to-day, but it is now expected to be Tuesday before he takes his departure. During the present week the Captain purchased the wellknown racer The Cab, and he will also be taken to India. It is as yot doubtful whether the Musket horse Fusillade will be taken over.

It is quite plain that some one burnt their fingers over Maxim for the Melbourne Cup. When he passed out of the New Zealand Cup, it was evidently cabled to the other side that he was a probable starter for the great Flemington race, and fully £10,000 was accepted about him at 100's to 3 and 4. When he passed out on the following Monday, it is needless to say that the faces of his backers were a picture to behold.

Heavy rains have interfered a good deal with training operations at Riocarton of late. Carbine continues to do exceedingly well, and moves with great freedom. Cults has been slipping the work into St. Clair, and the little spn of Musket seems to thrive on it, while Springston is getting rapidly into shape. Artillery lias been moving well in company with his stable-mate MAn ton, and he requires very little galloping to have him thoroughly strung up. Rae's team are all doing extremely well, Exchange and Chainshot being voted the two most forward horses at Riccarton. According to the Referee, Artillery and Springston are equal favourites for the New Zealand Cup at 100 to 15, Lochiel and St. Clair coming next at 100 to 12, while Carbine and Sextant are quoted at 100 to 10.

The directors of the New Zealand Stud are, I understand, negotiating for the lease of The Dauphin this season, but up to the present the business has not been brought to a head. The Dauphin was got by Traducer from Maria Therese, by Rataplan —Marie Louise, by Gunboat—Marie Agnes, by The Cossack, so that on breeding lines a lot might be said in his favour, and mated with Musket mares, he certainly should make a name for himself, if his owners elect to let the Sylvia Park authorities have his services this season. Captain Walmsley informs me that one of the finest yearlings he saw during his recent visit to the West Coast was a colt by The Dauphin from the imported mare Sissie, and if the son of Traducer's stock have any fault, the Captain considers it to be that they are too handsome.

Pour mote foals made their appearance at Sylvia Park during the present week, Ouida (dam of Artillery), andPulchra (dam of St. Clair), each producing a colt to Nordenfeldt; Steppe (dam of Lady Norah), has produced a filly to the same sire, and Titania (dam,of Puck), a colt to ILeotinue. Mr. Stead's mare Marion (by Maribyrnong —Peeress), which came up to Auckland last year on a visit to Is ordenfeldt, unfortunately produced twins on Wednesday last, both of which died.

From Australian papers to hand, I gather that Nordenfeldt's brother, Enfilade, is doing extremely well at Flemington, and as is also the Hon. Mi?. Mitchelson's Whaka* wai; but I can find no mention of Niagara's doings. At RandwicK Abercorn, Canyon, Aberdeen, Aristocrat, The Australian Peer, Arsenal, Volley, and Ensign are amongst those doing the best, work, and all are voted very forward for the time. I gather that business on the big events of the spring is beginning to improve, though up to the f>res6Qt no horse has been backed for any axge sum. In Connection with the Melbourne Cup, thousands to fifty have been accepted freely about Malua, Carlyon, Abercorn, Australian Peer, and Matador, at which price the market) was cleared Of all the money offering about Malua, and he left off at 100 to . 6. Tranter also found favour, 1000 to 20 being taken three times, supplemented by wagers

of 1000 to 25 and 1000 to 30. Bravo was supported to win £7000 at 100's to 3 and 4, and. left off at 100 to 5. Commenting on the support accorded to the latter, a Sydney paper says " The fact of Bravo being heavily backed for the Melbourne Cup is gome sort of guarantee that Mr. W. T. Jones's representative has recovered " from the injuries which have, for such a long time, been a bar* to his distinguishing himself. When in Mr. Royds'possession, this eon of Grand Flaneur was } next to Trident, the best of his'year,' and the manner in which he ran , over Oakleigh more than once, after the latter had won the Caulfield • Cup, proved beyond doubt lihat he could not only gallop fast • bub ■ stay a distance." 1 Volley still nolds the pride of place in connection with the V.R.C. Derby. The best; price on offer about the daughter of Musket being 4 to 1, Lonsdale coming nektat 6 to 1;-A 5 ' •••*

- Qeorge Wright had been slipping the work ; into Artillery's sister, Hilda, under the impression that she was engaged in the llawke's Bay Guineas ; but it transpires that she was never nominated for that event., though Mr. Sommerville's other representative, Teksiim, is in the list. The non-entry of- the filly is much to be regretted, as she is undoubtedly a gem of the first water.

H. Hickton, informs me that the owners of the thoroughbred sire Grip have decided on sending him up to Auckland ,to stand this season, and he will be at the service of breeders at Green Lane. Grip was got by Slanderer from Awatea, ana will be remembered as having won the treble— C.J.C. Handicap, Queen's Plate, *vnd Canterbury Cup—at the C.J.C. Spring Meeting in 1881.

News comes from India that Musket'"? son, Matchlock, has been destroyed. The Indian Planters' Gazette has the following re this cast-off of the Hon. James White stable " The ill-luck which attended him from his arrival has studiously followed him; and in spite of the most assiduous care bestowed on him by Perrett, one of the best and most careful trainers in India, his days had to be abruptly ended." The disease from which he suffered is known as " kumri," very prevalent amongst thoroughbred horses in India at the present time. Matchlock will be remembered for his sensational, victory in the V.R.C. Champion Stakes of 1886, in the colours of the Hon. J. White, in addition to which he also won the V.R.C. and A.J.C. St. Legers. At the close of that season he was purchased from the Sydney sportsman on behalf of the Maharajah of Lahore for 1000 guineas, but he never succeeded in handing back one shilling of the money expended in his purchase.

The Melbourne correspondent of the Canterbury Times writes as follows concerning the Auckland bred-u»is in training at Flemington : — Silver Prince, who is in rare buckje, went steadily. Tranter is coming on nicely, but I am inclined to think that next autumn will have to come round before we see this fine son of Pungawerewere at his best. Whakawai has furnished into a magnificent colt, and possibly the son of Lure will tender a good account of himself in the Caulfield Cup, and as he will be best ridden by Quin, one of South Australia's foremost jockeys, the backers of the black colt may rely upon every justice being done them. Waterman, Whit worth, Firelock, Beryl, and Forest Queen are all coming on nicely, which remark also applies to Enfilade. Niagara, I am informed, is doing as well as his best friends could wish."

A recent visitor to Auckland contributes a very chatty letter to the Canterbury Times, setting forth the . charms of this province, turfy and otherwise. Of Nordenfeldt he says:—"Never having seen his sire, I was not able to draw any comparison, but if this horse is not a success at the stud, I am no judge. A long, low-set, good-boned horse, of exactly the right colour—a rich brown— immensely powerful quarters let'down on to a clean, shapely pair of hocks, he is the picture of what a racehorse should be. I have no doubt Major Walmsley and his friends are sincere in asserting that Nordenfeldt is far before his sire in most points, and in the measurement of bone in particular."

On July 2 last a very important sale of blood stock was held at Newmarket (England), those to realise the highest prices being Camilla (granddam of Ayrshire), by Macaroni—Feromw., with a filly by Tristan? Mr. Barrow, 1750p;s ; Hirondelle (granddam of Hampton and Sir Bevys), by Adventurer —Lady Langden, with a colt by Wenlock, Lord Rodney, IfsOOgs ; Court, by Hampton —Blood Red, Mr. Cunnington, llOOgr (for France) Canoe, by Hermitßarchettina, Mr. Cloefce, 1150gs ; Purgatory (yearling), by Robert the Devilßide-a-wee, Mr. R. March, 1350gr; and Delwal, by Master Kildare—Miss Middlerick, to the same buyer for 1700gr. Another yearling, by Sterling from Merry Duchess, went to Captain Machell for 2600grs, and Mr. D. Baird gave 2300gs for one by the same sire from Hypatia.

While the English ' turf boasts of the jubilee plunger', in the person of the erratic Mr. Bertzoh", It also is patronised by a gentleman whose desire is to go the pace much more leisurely, at any rate as tar as his betting transactions are concerned. An English paper, speaking of him, says "Mr. McCalmont, who gave either £6000 or £6000 for the Ascot Cup winner, Timothy j. with Castlenock thrown in, is an officer in the Scots Guards, and when he fancies a horse very milch he has £2 ort'"«iady," and if it does not win he reduces his stake to £11. <; From this it will be gathered that he is not likely to get broke rapidly, and he is sure to outstay Mr. Bcnzon. X have all the more confidence in expressing this opinion from the fact that when his grand-uncle died a short time ago he left him the trifle of three millions sterling, which, however, he will not come into for live years. He is a man sternly devoted to his profession, and on the night of his great victory he was not to be lured into staying in London, and midnight daw him at the GuardsdepotatCaterham, where he is adjutant."

From statistics compiled in Victoria it is gathered that Malua has won in stakes alone a total of £8522, or £816 more than is credited to the most popular- horse in Australia, Commotion. Towards Malua's winnings the chief contributors were Newmarket Handicap, £1276 ; Adelaide Cup, £2000; Melbourne Cup, £1787 ; Australian Cup, £1090; and Grand Na-tional-Hurdle Race, £1087, which is, indeed, a great > and enviable record. And Commotion's biggest " firsts" were :— V.R.C. St; Leger, £950; Champion Stakes, first time £1410, second time £11250; and Town Plate, £490. Prior to winning the Grand National Hurdle Race, Malua, it will be remembered, had gone through a season's stud duties.

The deterioration of the Australian thoroughbred (says "Augur," in the Australasian) is all moonshine. I can safely say that during the past five-and-twenty years Australasia never possessed such a grand lot of three-year-olds as were seen at Randwick and Flemingtop last season ; and on Saturday last we saw; a thoroughbred horse of nine years of age, who had been victorious in several of the ' great equine contests of the colony, including the Melbourne Cup, come forth and win the Grand National Hurdle Race; and a thoroughbred mare, 11 years old, carry 12st 71b, and win the Grand National Steeplechase. Facts like these upset all that nonsense which is so often spoken and written about the thoroughbred horse degenerating. No doubt there are hundreds of weeds and email hordes bred annually, but no breeder tries to raise a weed. The biggest are not the best, and we had an exemplication of this in the Grand National Steeplechase, for Ruby is little, if anything, over 15 hands, and she carried more weight and outstrayed the giants opposed to her, merely from superior quality and breeding.

Malua is another instance of a great horse being sold for a mere song as a yearling, and although the exact price paid for the sOn of St. Albans is not quoted, the Australasian states that it was under . 100 guineas. As a three-year-old, Mr. J. O. Inglia paid 500 guineas for him, and that gentleman has certainly, no cause to regret the outlay, for he has won him in stokes alone over £8000. It is said that it would tako fully 5000 guineas to induce Mr. Inglis to port with the great son of St. Albans.

The Lord Chief Justice of England declined to allow the - jockey C. Wood his costs in the libel action against the Licensed Victuallers' Gazette, and in which Wood gained a verdiotf for id. It is reported that Wood made a,,second application, for a renewal, of his license, but was again refused. His expenses in the libel action Are set down at £2500.

It lis said that Charles Wood, 1 the famous English jockey, is worth £250,000. Captain Webstar id to be given a show of distinguishing himself at the illegitimate game... * , 4 The erstwhile Ailcklander, Cinderella, is striding along in capital style at Randwiok. , <• f• > ."• ". t •; ' The Napier Steeplechasers Chemist and Uranus won respectively in stakes !a»t season £784 and £580. Malua does not incur a penalty for the Melbourne Cup by his victory in the Grand National Hurdle Race. .. A full brother to the mighty Malua is amongst the yearlings to be offered for sale during the coming season. Sardius, who ran second to MartiniHenry for the V.R.C. Derby, was sold in Melbourne recently for 110 jjuinaas. The first two-year-old stake of the present season was decided at Geelong on the 9th instant, when Savamake (a son of St. Albans and Sea Spray) won. \ After being knocked out to 33 to 1 for the St. Leger, on the ground of unsoundness, Ayrshire came into favour again, and by last accounts was quoted at 7 to 2. The s.s. Both well Castle has left Melbourne for India with a shipment of 360 horses selected by Mr. C. Baldock. Of this lot 250 are for the Bombay Tramway Company. From Melbourne word comes to the effect that the proprietor of the St. Alban's breeding establishment has been offered a profit of £30,000 on what he gave Mr. James Wilson for that property. Gates by has been tried over the small sticks on one or two oocasions, and as he has acquitted himself very well, he may be seen out in the new role of the hurdle racer during the ooming season. It is now stated that Sextant is by no means the cripple that has generally been supposed, and that there is a good prospect of the son of Robinson Crusoe being Mr. Stead's representative in the New Zealand Cup. - " Nemo " (Sydney Mall) thinks that the winner of the Metropolitan Stakes is among the following half-dozen : —Aberoorn, Cardigan, Pasha, Frisco, Touchstone, and Bernardo.

Rumour hath it that the V.R.C. Grand National Steeplechase winner, Ruby, was once purchased by Mr. John Crosier for £10. How many tenners would be asked for her now is a question that her owner is alone able to answer.

Australian backers are apparently getting the full benefit of the open character of the V.R.C. Derby and Melbourne Cup, thousands to five being laid in Sydney about Volley and Abercorn, and the same price about Lonsdale and Abercorn.

Magazine (the three-year-old brother to Arsenal), for whom Mr. W. Gannon paid a high price as a yearling, has proved untrainable owing to bad feet, and it is now stated that he will fulfil none of his spring engagements, but may be seen out in the autumn.

Rumour hath it that the thoroughbred stallion- St. Albans, sire of Malua and many other great winners, is still suffering from what is termed a " mysterious ailment," and it. is considered by good judges that his services as a stud horse will not be much longer available. America can now boast of the highestpriced thoroughbred yearling the world as ever seen. Some years back 4100 guineas was paid for Maxmilian, but the £7600 paid recently in America for the colt by • King Ban pubs thf former record entirely in the shade. That great patron of the Indian turf, Lord Beresford, has purchased the English horse, Fullerton, from Sir G. Chetwyna, in order to cope with the Australians. Fullerton has proved himself a capital performer on the English turf, and if he retains his form in the land of the Rajahs will stand in need of a lot of beating. " Nemo" concludes a review of the Melbourne Cup in the Sydney Mail of last week thus —" Had Ito select a dozen and one from amongst the acceptors they would be—Abercorn, The Australian Peer, Niagara, Cardigan, Silver Prince, Tranter, Spade Guinea, Aristocrat, The Jewel, Pasha, Matador, Venture, and Meteor. It will perhaps be interesting to know that Ruby, the winner of the V.R.C. Grand National Steeplechase, stands but 15 hands 1 inch, while Mernder and Royal Oak, which finished in the other places, topped 17 hands, and it was owing to this as much as anything else that her victory at Flemington on Saturday was so well received. Here are some of the latest stories anent young Benzon, now known in the sporting world of England as " The Jubilee Plunger,", but whether they are founded on fact is another matter :— " His winnings over Minting and Ayrshire were somewhat depleted by Crowberry's defeat at Paris; but whilst in the French capital, he broke the bank and completely cleaned out the habitu/uioi a gambling club, walking home one morning with £16,000 in hie pockets. This exploit was followed by a lucky Ascot week, Mr. Fry alone losing upwards of £20,000 to Vim. Benzon dearly loves to be talked about, and, consequently, affects the eccentric. " One of his vagaries is never to wear a shirt twice. Duclos, of Bond-street, sends him home fourteen shirts every Saturday—one for morning and one for evening dress fpr every day of the week. These he wears once, and then casts away, his valet, no doubt, selling them back to Duclos. The other day a lady insisted on paying Benzon a £10 bet she had lost to him. He took it at last, but sent her jewellery subsequently, worth £900."