SPORTING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 12818, 18 March 1905, Page 6

SPORTING.

RACING FIXTURES. March IS—Northern Wairea Racing Clnb March »'.'Waipawa County Racing Club March S3, Kelson Jockey Club March 25 —Thame? Jockev Club March Oxford Joek-v Civ.. March 2?, .T.t-.XeUon Jockey Cli;b March SO and April I—Wellington Baring Cub April •>. 6—M.'tr.awatn Baring Cudi April J. S— Avondale Joekev Club April *. 10—H«.elt,.ri Jo'lev <!: April 12, .Southland Baring Ciub April 12, 13—South C*nterbi:rr Jockey C!:ib April 13, 11— \Uv.«r;..;i Hiring Club April -'-. 24, Auckland liaciusr Club April 21. 25 Canterbury .Took'?" Club April 21—Taicri AmV.eti! Turf Club .■-"' April 21—I'.itcu Baring Club April 21—Be (union: Jockey Club April 23, Kay 3. 6— Auckland Tro'tin; Club My 20 24—Takapjna Jockey Club

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. i .'. A. V.'., Paeroa.—The? inipht '<« referred to a« j linlf-sister* on the sire's side: but the custom is to i limit such reference to case* where animals are from ! the same mare. By so doin? it prevents confusion, I and enables the line.- to !>e better kept, i Musketeer.— l. Bobadil won a race «n each | day of the Y.I.'.C. Autumn Meeting '!> l-s' 1 . tie J event* to f..!l to liii.'i beinjj the St. Letter Stakes, ■ Australian Cup, Chtmpioo Stakes and All-a^eJ I Stakes. 2. Seven hone* fell whoa contesting the i CatilSeld Cup of li'j'j. H.w.. Poasouby 1. \-y. to the end <■;' la>tseason descendant* of Sea'on Delaval had won *13';..",52 in stakes. The amount down to the credit of .Stepniak's descendants at the jam*" period was £33,771. Stepniak's first crop of yonnri-UTs raced a sea'on i's front of those sired by Seatoa Delaval. ". The J placed hone* in the Sew Zealand Cap of IMS I were Ha'.l*rdi.r iS.-l), Welberk (7*-. i'.hy aud ; Canteen Git i'lb).

NOTES BY PHAETON. The New Zealand St. Logcr. which event was established some eight years back by the Wellington Racing Ciub. has never once claimed a strong field, which is not perhaps. very remarkable, seeing that by the time lie autumn rolls round the three-year-old form is so well exposed that the winner can. as a rule, be safely indicated, and horseowners do not, a- a rule, cam about travelling their quadrupeds with certain defeat I staring them in the face. This year's .St. ; Leger, which is set down to be run at the ] Hint on April 1, has still a good number engaged; but one that can, it is said, be safely counted out is the Auckland-owned Gladstone. The brother to Gladsome has inado a good recovery from the recent ailment that came against hiui in. January; but ins owners deem it inadvisable to exact the trip to Wellington from him, seeing that lie could not, without some ri-k be brought up to concert pitch in time for the Hutt race. The defectiotr of Gladstone from the St. Leger will, therefore, deprive Nightfall of the opportunity of showing whether the Derby insignia went to the proper quarter at EHerslic in January. Sir George Clifj ford has Signalman and Stronghold still en- ! gaged, and one or the ether of the Clanranald colts can be safely hooked to challenge Mr. .Stead's filly, even though the prospects of success may not bo considered bright, for with true sportsmanlike instincts the New Zealand baronet likes to see his colours sported in a classic race. Boris is the only colt housed at Porirua with any pretensions to classic form, and though lie managed to capture the Great Northern Guineas in the early spring, his subsequent performances went to considerably discount his winning achievement, and to leave a doubt as to whether the victory that wont down to his credit at Ellerslie last November was genuinely obtained. The New Zealand St. | Leger of 1905 ha- all the appearance of be- | ing a "'good thing" for Nightfall, ami in j the event of the Multiform filly being fount! j in a position to register her best form on i the first of next month, we may expect to see the scratching pen so freely i,.»d a- to make th» field assume very -mad dimenj sions. Now that Uotchkiss has been numbered , amongst the defunct, the results of his stud career crop up frequently as a topic for di--cussion. During the present week I found, a number of well-versed students of racing conversing on New Zealand-bred sir,-?, and the question turned on the interesting and much-debated point us to whether Hotchkiss is entitled to a place amongst horses ( that can legitimately be. included in the ' category of the great. The point cannot be disputed that Hotchkus was accorded splendid and exceptional opportunities to make a name for himself during his career at

Wellington Park, and it must be candidly admitted that the winning record of his descendants, though a good one, fell somewhat short of what might have been expected. Hotchkiss' claim to ii position with the great sires rests chiefly upon hi-; being the parent of Multiform. Royal Artillery and Machine Gun—undoubtedly a doughty trio, and it will, 1 think, be conceded each was fitted to play a part, in high-class company. No doubt a good percentage of Hotehkiss' gets were disappointments, and the poor success of Ids daughters, both on the turf arid at the stud, gives those who question his right to a place amongst the great sires a strong point to argue from. .Strictly speaking, it would be more correct to refer to Hotehkiss as a successful sire rather than as a great one.

In the foregoing paragraph 1 have mentioned the three mo-t noteworthy descendants of Hotrhki-v. If a question were to be asked which of those three was the best, there would, I fancy, be a pretty solid vote east in favour of Multiform. The bay son of Forino bus often been referred n> as the best horse that Mr. Stead ever owned: but though 1 know he estimated him highly, I never heard the Southern sportsman express the view that ho conceded him first place. Indeed, I may say that 1 question it he ever did so. I once caught Mr. Stead at the Auckland railway station (I think it was in the spring of 1903), and while waiting lor the train to move, he plied me with the pointed question: "Which is the best three-year-old you have seen at lillerslie?" 1 fenced the question by replying: "Well, 1 have a recollection that someone once told me [it was Mr. Stead) that there was only one Maxim ever foaled.'* The Southern sportsman was quick to recognise that 1 had a recollection of a previous conversation with him, and he smilingly added:

Oil, that was in the back ages. Well, I will toll you. Royal Artillery is the best three-year-old you have seen at Ellerslie." Mr. Stead went on to toll me that the big colt had never been tested as an out-and-out stayer, but he showed him a wonderful mile and a-half, and he appeared to hold no doubt as to his ability to get over a long- journey. Unfortunately, Royal Artillery proved untnrinablc at. four year* old, so that his career was cut short; but I thnik that Mr. Stead would give first place to Royal Artillery a- against Multiform. Tin: fact that Royal Artillery came in the same season as those two smashers, Mensehikoff ami Cruciform, and that tho trio were trained together at Yaldhurst, would enable a very strong lino to be obtained, and if, as is believed, Royal Artillery could smother the bay hod of Stepniak and tho chestnut daughter of St. Roger, well, then, it- would not bo remarkable to find Royal Artillery voted Hotchkiss' greatest ton.

The win registered by Dividend in the V.R.C. Champion Stakes once again advertises the Musket strain, ami it is interesting' to note that in the last ten contests for the great threemile race nine of the horses that have played a loading part in the settlement of the question trace to the celebrated Toxopholilo sire. In 1896, Quiver (by Trenton) am! Wallace (by Carbine) ran a dead heat, for first honours: Amberito (by Carbine) was first home in 1893; and in 1399 IJobadil (who i- out of the Xordeufeldt mare, She) scored. La Carabine (by Carbine) followed in her .-ire's footsteps by twice capturing the great rare, her wins being registered in 1901 and 1202: Wakeful (by Trenton) won in 1903: and then Knur (by Wallace) scared, followed this year by Dividend, who i.> out of Lady Trenton (by Trenton). This he- a right to ho termed a v»v remarkable record, and if another such i- to be tound in a leading event of the Australasian turf I should very much like to he.-.r of it boinv cited.

It was expected that .Mr. W. Lyons would endeavour to get back in Auckland a portion of the 400 guineas he expended in the purchase of Lp-to-Date in January last, and seeing that a 300sovs steeplechase this rear figures on the A.K.C. autumn programme, such a policy had something to support it. However the. knight of the beofc and pencil decided on giving the Ellerslie meeting the go-by, and according Record Reiki's half-brother a chance to distin-"i'i-li himself straight away in Australian company, and the bay gelding was shipped to Sydney on Monday last by the s.s. Victoria. it is Mr Lyons' intention to nominate Lp-ro-DatVfor jumping events to be decided at the Australian Jockey Club's Autumn Meeting, which take? place next month, and everyone will be pleased should the popular penciller have the satisfaction of seeing his horse score a triumph over the big sticks at Hand wick.

During the present week Mr. Chadwick issued the hr>t batch of weights for events to be run at the Wellington Racing Club's meeting. In the principal event —the Thompson Handicap—Convoy figures at the head of the list with 9st 4ii>, and it can he argued that the son of Vanguard has been weighted right up to his deserts'. I am inclined to look for the winner lower down the list. The three-year-old Savoury iSst 4ln| has, I think, a good winning chance, hut the pick of the handicap, to my mind. is Star-hoot (7st 12!b). The little son of Uotchkiss can run out a mile really well, and if caught at his best I think he can be depended upon to play a very prominent part in the settlement of the question.

It is stated that there i= something more than a fair probability of the New Zea-land-bred mare Trumpery being transported to the Old Country with a view to her engaging in jumping contests. Trumpery is owned by that genial and good Irish sportsman Mr. George Donnelly, who returned from a trip to the Old Land a few months back, and lie is credited with a strong wish to go one as good as Mr. Spencer Gollan in claiming a winner of a big jumping contest in England. By all accounts Trumpery is a very fine stamp of mare, anil who knows but that with her Hawke's Hay has bred a second winner of the Liverpool rand National?

The totaiisator agent ha- become a source of evil in South Australia, raid a method of extinction has been adopted by the two big clubs in Adelaide. On a small rare day a big percentage of the attendance is mode up of bookmakers laying "tote"' odds, and so successfully have they established their business that the receipts on the machine have fallen away to the extent of £59,000 in a year. Some of these agent* do an enormous business. The clubs have now joined hands with th.» police, and by virtue of the power of the Totalisator Act. auv person found acting as an agent for the totalisator. with or without reward, will be removed from the. racecourse, and on a second offence prosecuted.

Ghoorka will this season take rank as a dual Cup winner, by reason of his successes in the Dunedin and Napier Cups. The Lochicl gelding had not a very bright lot against him on Wednesday lait when he was set to tackle the Napier Cup, and though on paper he appeared to have his fullest desert; in being called upon to carry S.-t 91b, lie showed up the opposition in colours that must be termed the reverse of attractive, for he won his race without an effort. Ghoorka was originally weighted for the Thompson- Handicap with S-t lib, but ho will have to put up a penalty for the Hutt race as the result of his win in the Napier Cup.

Dividend, the three-year-old half-brother to the defunct. Lord Cardigan, is proving himself a worthy relative to the dual Cup winner. It is true he had his wings clipped in the Australian Cup with a good pull in the weights, but still he managed to get over the Champion c-our-e last Saturday in n manner that enabled him to win the time-hon-oured race in very decent style. Dividend is evidently quite at home over a long distance, and we may expect to hear of him again, in the event of his going on the light way.

The close finish between Piayaway Hi.'d Lord Ilia's Daughter in the Newmarket Handicap recalls to mind the- three* memorable struggles of their sires at the V.R.C. Autumn Meeting of 1889. Alter finishing second and third respectively to Sedition in the Newmarket Handicap, Ixxhiel and Carbine again mot in the Australian Cup,-with the result ■that the former won by a length and a-half from Musket's great .son. Two days later they -met at weight-for-age>.over two miles in the Loch Plate, Carbine, with a. 141b penalty having to meet his acred rival at » difference of Mb. As in the Australian Cup. Loehiel went to the front early, and led at the home turn, where Carbine, came at him on the outside. Then wa.s witnessed a struggle worth going mile? to see between these two doughty champion?, who bitterly contested every inch of ground to the winning-post, looked together, the verdict of the judge being in favour uf Carbine by a neck. In the autumn of 1900 La Carabine, who was Carbine's greatest daughter, won the Australian and Sydney Cups. It will be interesting to note if Loehiel*.i doughty representative. Lord U'lin's Daughter, succeeds in nutting up a like record in the autumn of 1905.

A long-since defunct hero of the colonial turf for whom a strong word is invariably spoken to this day when the. doughty ones are under discussion is the Dead Shot gelding Mnta. who. in the opinion of those qualified to speak, was a great galloper. In his "Random Hating Reminiscence?," appearing in the Melbourne Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News, "The Special Commissioner" makes reference to the New Zealand-bred horse as follows:—" One of the most remarkable, and certain!}' not the least sensational, horses that ever carried a racing ja<(ket in Australia was the New Zealander Mata. To this coarse-look-ing, sturdily-built gelding all distances were alike. Hr. could sprint live furlongs,' or see out a severely-run two miles, and the state of the going never troubled him in the least. The day Mata defeated Progress in' tho Adelaide Birthday Cup the course was very heavy, while the ground was like a macadamised road when he won tho V.!!.('. Handicap at Remington. After winning the la-t-nau-' i.i event .Mara ran in the Royal Park Stakes, and put up such a suspicious performance that the stewards disqualified him for life. Mr. Dairy Prince, who bought Sonimis, Sir Modred. Hilarious, and other cracks from New Zealand, owned Mata, and Bob Kay trained him, but tutor the disqualification the gelding was transferred to Harry Haines' stable at South .Melbourne. At that time the two leading .South Australian racing clubs were at loggerheads, and while the S.A.J.C. promptly endorsed Mata's disqualification, the A.R.C. refused to do so. hence the New Zealander's appearance in the Adelaide Birthday Cup field. On the 'old course'—as it used to bo known, now called Victoria Park—Mata one clay during tho A.R.C. meeting registered u performance that; has been seldom equalled, find, to the Ik?su of my knowledge, one never surpassed. In a seven-furlong weight-for-ago race he ran a dead-heat with Koh-i-nor, a smart two-year-old. Carrying the crusher of IGn 51!;. Mata then won the next evonr, the .May Handicap, a Caulfield Cut) winner in Blue. Ribbon running .second to him. Then came t\uj run off. Without getting any breathing time, Mata was at once saddled up for the deciding heat, and this time lie defeated Koh-i-nor, and landed his party the large stake for which he had been backed for the double event. To run three races right off the reel without, 10.-ing one of them constituted a pretty good afternoon's work, and no wonder the Caullield trainer, Jack Williams, who rode Mata in Adelaide, still has a warm spot in his heart for the cast-iron Now Zealander. Sad to relate, both Mata and his owner came to an unfortunate end. Mata, when in the '.-ere and yellow." met with a fatal accident in a Inn!; race in New Zealand, while Harry Prince, poor fellow, died in a lunatic asylum. Harry Haines often told me that Mata "could beat Camballo over the first mile, and then down Cremorno oyer the next, half of a twomile journey, which will give some idea of what a great horse the New Zealander must have been."

Under the heading "Lucky Purchases," "Milroy," of the Sydney Mail, says:—i'layaway was bred in 'Kngfaml by an Australian. Mr. William Cooper, brother to Sir Daniel of that, ilk, and was purchased when a yearling by .Mr. Foy during one of his visits to England in connection with his extensive business. About the time Playaway was purchased Mr. IT. V. Foy lxjuglifc Muiillo's dam, Balsam, at auction for 60 guineas, and subsequently arranged with Lord Rosobory for the service of Velasquez, and Murillo, with whom lie won the Maribyrnong Plate, was the result of the matin«'. During other visits to the Old Country Mr. Francis For purchased Vovou, April Fool, The Irish Horse, and His Reverence, as well as several mares and fillies that are now at The Monastery, hi- stud near Parke-, and among ih»m i- Farthingale, the dam of Lord Uilitfs Daughter, winner of the .Australian Cup. Once upon a time .Mr. Fey entertained an idea of racing Australian horses of his own breeding in England, and with this end in view he sent eight mares to Loohiel to be served to English time. Farthingale was one of the eight, and her foal i- Lord Ullin's Daughter, with whom her breeder had bright hopes' of winning the last Caulfield Cup, but the mare did not train on satisfactorily, and failed to strike form until midsummer.

When Mr. T. H. Lowry silenced the opposition at Wellington Park in the summer of 1903 in the bidding for the Hofchkiss Janet colt, who went down to him at 550 guineas, a. good few considered that the Hawke's Bay sportsman had the makings of a high-class horse. Royal .Fusilier has not, however, yet succeeded in winning back the amount that it cost to buy him as a yearling, and it would seem as though lie will have to take a place amongst the moderates. At the Napier Park meeting Royal Fusilier was seen out twice, and though he managed to win the Flying Handicap on the opening day. he had to strike his colour? on the second day to Wet Reef in the settlement of the St. Patrick's Handicap: and the fact that the winner was conceding him 41b, is the stamp of inferiority on his form.

According to a cablegram to hand, the Auckland-owned Seotty has been allotted 8-t 21b in the Sydney Cup. All things considered—and I mean to be included the tendency of Australian handicappers to award horses from Maoriland the uttermost ounce —the impost allotted to the St. Leger gelding is about: what might have been expected: but with an unplaced performance down against Scotty's name in the Wanganui Cup (in which he had but s!b more to carry, and the distance more to his liking than the Sydney Cup), there is not a great amount of inducement foi Frank Mactnanemin to attack the race on the other side of the Tasman Sea. and I fancy that we shall rind Scotty next month making an effort to pay his way at Elier.slie rather than nt Randwick.

A good few seemed to think tiiar when Charles Weal invested 100 guineas in the purchase of Desdemona last November, that he did not have the best of the deal. The Ellerslie trainer has. however, good reason to rejoice over his purchase of the chestnut daughter of Hotchkiss anil Dunoon, as she has credited him with no less than six races within the pan fortnight.

Horseowners made a good response last night in the call for entries for the minor events of the Avondale Jockey Club's Autumn Meeting, and the gathering to be .held under the auspices of that popular body, on April 5 and 3, should be provocative of some very interesting racing. A further batch of weights in connection with the meeting is due from Mr. Evett on Monday next.

In the decision of the Ohura Hurdle Race, on the opening day of the Stratford meeting, the Auckland-owned gelding Irish came home in third place: but when he came to tackle the Makuri Hurdle Race on St. 'Patrick's Day he appropriately came home at the head of the field, and his owner, Mr. d. B. Williamson, who hails from the land of the Shamrock, no doubt lead his horse, in under most happy surroundings.

The Thames Jockey Club hold their autumn meeting on Saturday next, and in the event of the present beautiful weather continuing a good number can be depended upon to make the journey to the goldficlds township in order to assist at the gathering. a= everything augurs well for a most interesting meeting. The Northern Steamship Company will. I understand, make special arrangements so that. Aucklanders who attend the meeting can return the same night.

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS. The Avondale Jockey Chin's Autumn Meeting opens on April 5.

A New Zealand liorseownnr has claimed the title History of Ireland for a quadruped by Bay King.

Lord Ullin's Daughter, who scored a victory in the Australian Cup last week, has won five races this season.

St. Michael, who ha* not. I think, contested a single race- since lie left Yahiiiui.-r. is reported to be again in work.

Mr. Rvett will declare the weights for the Easter Handicap, Brighton Hurdle Race, and Autumn Steeplechase on Wednesday next.

Charles Stuart and Scotland, two appro-priately-named sons of Wallace, ran a dead heat for the Select Stakes at Elemington on Saturday last.

Gladstone continues to carry himself well, and there, seems every reason to predict that ho will be ready to fulfil hi? autumn engagements next month.

Bluejacket's half-brother The Middy is looking big and well, and he can, I think, be booked to fulfil engagements at the autumn meeting with credit.

Silica, who recently went into D. Monaghau's stable, carries an improved appearance, and I shall be prepared to see him lose his maiden certificate at an early date.

A Melbourne writer says that if there ever was a profession in which it pays to go straight it is that of a jockey. Those who try the opposite plan have rarely got anything.

In referring to the mares that have won the Australian Cup in my notes last week the name of La Carabine was omitted. The Carbine mare scored in the long-distance handicap in 1900.

United States, the half-brother to Hova. of whom much was expected, but who has proved a perfect disappointment, is not to be further persevered with, and he will go to the stud next season.

Trenton's son Revenue, who has been off the tcne for two years owing to an accident that befell him while contesting the Australian Cup at Fleming-ton in the autumn of 1903, has been put into work again at Caulfield.

New Zealand last year lost two of the three sons of St. Simon which she claimed by the respective deaths of Cyrenian and Phcebus Apollo, and the purchase of St. Ambrose this week for Maoriland is therefore a matter for congratulation.

A statement is current to the effect thata motion will be proposed at the next meeting of the Racing Conference to limit the number of races on programmes, six being the number that those agitating for the change have in their rninds.

The crack English jockey, W. Lane, who was very badly injured in September lastby a fall he received while following his profession, was removed to his own home last month. He is still far from well, and is not permitted to see visitors.

The Romeo party are evidently intent on picking up as much as possible with the gelding, even if that means attacking the small meetings under 'ig weights. Romeo was started for the Waiiii Cup on Saturday last, and he won his race under lOst Sib.

The latest move of the redoubtable Mr. R. S. Sievicr i- to endeavour to float his recently established journal, the Winning Post, into a limited liability company. Tho modest capital required i* £50.000, and a special line in the prospectus is that Mr. Sievier's services will be retained as editor.

Though there was only a field of four to congest, the Champion Stakes on Saturday last, that did not apparently prevent a scrimmage for places. R. Lewis, the crack Victorian rider, who had the mount on Emir, was forced on to the rails, and as a result had two bones of one of his legs fractured.

Two steeplechases—one- of "iOOsovs and another of 400sovs —figure on the Australian Jockey Club's autumn programme, so that the Auckland-bred Up-to-Pate will have a good chance of taking his winning record to over £1000 this season, in the event of his getting to the post all right a; Randwick next month.

The Maivolio colt Munderah won three races at the V.R.C. Autumn Meeting, and though he failed to run into a place in the Australian Cup under a weight-for-age impost (BsO he subsequently won over a mile and a-half with est 121b in the saddle in excellent time, which makes him stand cut as a good colt at twelve furlongs.

A gold chronograph, valued at 20 guineas, or a cheque for that sum, is to bo presented to the trainer of the most winners at. Belmont Park (Perth) during the 12 months which commenced or February 1. A gold-mounted whip, worth five guineas, or value, will be presented to the jockey riding the most winners during the same period.

Gladsome's inabilitv to gain a situation in tho Newmarket Handicap was (says the Australasian) the surprise of that event. The chestnut mare did not jump eft" well, but she was finishing much faster than anything el«e over the last furlong- It is stated that Harden, who rode the Auckland mare, says she lost her chance through blundering at the first tan crossing.

In referring to the Champion Stakes winner, Dividend. "Terlinga," of the Australasian, says:—The half-brother to Lord Cardigan has been a long time coming, but he ha- arrived with a vengeance, and Mr. Whitehead may well l>e proud of him. He is still very lnucli on the leg, but lie i- gradually furnishing out. and there is no telling how much he will improve.

The "Special Commissioner" of the London Sportsman, after hi' usual review of the three-year-old colts of iiu> coming season, selects the French colt .lardy, by Flying Fox —Airs and Graces, as likely to prove? the best of the year. Next to him he takes Rouge Croix, by Rend Dame Agenta. It is on ali hands admitted that M. Lomond Blanc has an excellent chance of landing the English Derby wiii .lardy.