SPORTING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 12931, 29 July 1905, Page 6

SPORTING.

• RACING FIXTURES. i 11 17 19— Canterbury Jockey Club August 10, G Marton Jockey Club beptcmbc , Avondale Jockey Club SffibE 20, 21—Hangltikci Jockey Club Septem , 2 fc->Wanganui Jockey Club Ocff t o—Hawk,e's Bay Jockey Club Oetober 10,' 11—Napier Park Racing Club ■ October 11, U—Dunediii Jockey Club October 18, 21— Wellington Kacing Club November *, 9, U-Auckland Racing Club November -i, 6, 8, 11-Canterbury Jockey Club DATES OF ' COMING. EVENTS. .■> ■NEW ZEALAND. Anainfc is_if.Z.. Grand National Steeplechase August 17—N.Z Grand National Hurdle Race. September 16—Avondale Clip. September IB—Avondale Makes. September 20ATondalo Guineas. • , AUSTRALIA. August s—Caulfleld Grand National Hurdle Race. August 12—Caulfleld Grand National Steeplechase. September 9—A.J.C. Derby. , answers TO. CORRESPONDENTS. . Spout, Hastings Moifaa carried lOst 71b when he won the Liverpool Grand National Steeplechase. Kirktand (lOst 101b) was second, and The Gunner (lOst 41b) third. ■ ■ . . Old Spout, Hukerenui —Seaton Delaval was got by.Melton (son of, Master Kildare), from Rosedale, a daughter of Rotherill and Moss Rose, by King Tom. 2. Vieux Rose was got by Hippocampus fronl Eosarina (daughter of Tradncer). She won two or. three small races. Yal Rosa is tho best performer she has thrown. NOTES BY PHAETON. A NEW ZEALAND TEAM FOR . RANDWICK. The pleasing;' information cornea . to hand that the Canterbury sportsman, Mr. G. G. Stead, has. decided Ito once again throw down .the gauntlet at the Australian Jockey Club's Spring Meeting, and with that end in view R. Mason will leave for Sydney on' Friday next with a team of four, oonsisting of Nightfall, Sungod, Noctuiform, and Isolt. An interesting fact in connection with the breeding of Mr. Stead's quartette is that they are all descendants of his old favourite, Multiform. . Nightfall can,. I think, 'be safely termed the " star" of the team. That she is a high-class mare she has proved by winning the C.J.C." Derby, C.J.C. Oaks, and Wellington Cup, and all going well with her when she gets to Randwick we can, I think, : safely reckon l on her playing a leading part in the decision of the Spring Stakes and Craven Plato, which events are run under weight-for-ago conditions over a mile and a-half and a. mile and a-quarter respectively. Sungod and" Noctuiform, who are engaged in the A.J.O. Derby, both commenced well, but they each lost caste at the back end. I suppose, however, wo may safely conclude that the. two, colts have shown promising form of late, or Mr, Stead would not be sending them across to Randwick. lsort has not yet made her debut under silk, so that she is quite an unknown quantity to those outsido Yaldhurst. If either Sungod or Noctuiform proves good enough to win the' Derby Mr. Stead will no doubt regard himself fully repaid for his action in undertaking an assault oil Randwick for the third year in succession, and it may be taken as quito certain that a victory in the blue riband would not be begrudged to the yellow jacket by tho turfites of New South Wales, for they quito reoognise the pluck displayed by the Now Zealand sportsman. ; A FRENCH SUCCESS IN ENGLAND. , England's crack colt, Cicero, who had the distinction of holding an unbeaten certificate for over 12 months, was compelled to strike his colours last week to tho Frenoli-bred colt Yal d'Or, who defeated him in the Eclipse Stakes of 10,000sovs." The race in question was run over a mile and a-quarter at ■' Sandown ' Park under a scale of fixed weights, with' penalties, and though Cicero, with tho maximum penalty of- 101b, which brought his weight up to 9st 41b, was ,no doubt conceding his rival something, it may be that it was not more than 3lb, for if a two-year-old race which Yal d'Or won last year is counted in (and the conditions of the race appear to include it) ho would be harrying 9st lib when lie was set to measure strides with Lord Rosebery's colt last week. When tho details.of tho race come to hand we may expect to hear that the defeat of Cicero came as a surprise to the great bulk of Englishmen, but wo may, I think, also expoc-t to learn that M. Edmond Blanc entertained some hopes of his colt.coping successfully with' the Derby winner. The French sportsman had the full strength of .Cicero when his colt Jardy (who, by . all accounts, was not quite himself) ran the son of Cyllene to, half-a-longth for . the Derby. The fact of Val d'Or being selected to meet Cicero 1 in tho Eclipse. Stakes in preference to jardy would appear to show that ho had proved' himself superior to his t stablemate, and if M. Blanc was really in a position to know that in Val " d'Or he held a superior colt to Jardy the viotory of his colours would not come as a surprise to the French sportsman. In the St. Legor Stakes, to be run in September, Cicero will have an opportunity of wiping out the defeat that he met with at the hands of Val d'Or, as both colts arc engaged in th© Donc&stor nice.

THE juvenile DIVISION AT ELLBSLIE.

Assisted by fine' weather and the privilege of being able to give them ,an occasional sprint on the course proper, Ellerslie trainera with youngsters in their handß have been enabled! to make progress iu training their juveniles, and! on Saturday afternoon last there was quite an extensive muster of youngsters at the raoeside. La Mascotto a son of, Menschikoff and Miss Quail, who was recently ■ sent .down from Waiuku to John Gainsford, was fie first to oatoh my eye, as he was taken over to the double to have his clothing removed. Ho is a sturdy little follow, and considering that he has only been up a short time ho shaped nicely in a spurt with the oolt by Menschikoff from Marjorio. Tho latter is on the small side, but he knows how to use his legs. Loongana (by Ouraeoa) ia one of the youngsters, that it is always an easy matter to pick out, for he is prone to show himself off; and this does not always take an attractive form, for he is inclined to , get on to his toes," and tho gyrations he performs when required to learn'striding would lead one to conclude that lie is a bit high strung'. The chestnut■■ filly by Menschikoff from Dressy- has shaped so nicely in her initial studies that some, flowery language has been bestowed upon her, and she certainly looks very smart. She has, however, a promising stable mate in the shape of the bay colt by Cyreniaii from Sappho, and I liked, the manner in whioh the latter was striding along at the end of a two furlongs' spurt with Mensobikoff's chestnut daughter. The colt by Mensohikoff from Mysterious, and the colt by Seaton Delaval from St. Marguerite, are a pair of well-grown youngsters; but both will, I fancy, require time. Tho colt by Phoebus Apollo from Janet, is a shapely little fellow, and one that is cast on lines that should not make it a matter of difficulty to train him early; but there are, I think, several in the same stable that are likely to beat him in the'Avondale Stakes. With a laudable -consideration for a stoutly-built youngster, F. Storming has deoided not to attempt anything serious with the San Franciscd—Lady Moth colt San Teigne, until the, bade end of the season, and the half-brother to Hohoro js not being bustled along... Stenning has, .however, determined to give the chestnut colt -by Cyrenian from Sparkling Water a'chance to earn' early distinction, audi lie promises to be quite ready for; the frayin September. When sold as a yearling the Sparkling Water colt cut a rather poor figure; but he has improved out of recognition, and it is. quite, evident that his trainer has put in some good work with him. The Australian-bred pair bought by Mr. J. J. Craig,at the New South Wales sales in April last were out learning their paces. The filly, by Grafton from Dona is a well-grown youngster, and looks promising; but I was somewhat disappointed with the colt by Simmer from New Star, who at present, on appearances, certainly does not bear out his high breeding. John Thorpe's .youngsters were not amongst the batch I witnessed at sprinting work during my recent visit to the raoeside. He is credited with having' something pretty smart in his hands, in the shape of the bay daughter of Soult and' Princess Alice. It is no surprise to me to hear this, for the youngster in question, who, it maybe remarked, claims full sistership to Avalanche, looked as sharp as the proverbial needle wheal a yearling.

THE C. J. C. GRAND NATIONALS. Acceptances foil due last night for the New Zealand Grand National Steeplechase and Grand National Hurdle Race, and from the lists ■ appearing in another column it will he seen that 16 horses have been paid up for in the first-named race and 27 in the latter. It was considered probable that there would be a pronounced tailing out for the cross-country race, but matters have turned out much better than anticipated, and "altogether the C.J.O. has good reason to be satisfied with the outlook. The top weight, Iviatere, it is pleasing 'to find, is still amongst the number engaged, aiid, judging from the tone of telegrams received from the scene of action • (which the Auckland horse reached over a week back),' he is doing as well as his best friends could wish for. Notwithstanding the fact of his having been apportioned the steadier of 12st 51b, ICiatere's chance is held in high esteem — deed, it may bo said that ho is the ruling favourite in all centres. Most Aucklanders appear to be of opinion that with 12st 51b the Castor gelding has received the uttermost ounoo in the . Canterbury race, but keen judges who witnessed the manner in which he cut down the light weight Waitarere in the last stage of .the Wellington Steeplechase do not consider, that Mr. Henrys has acted harshly towards him in calling upon him to carry an impost 71b in excess of that whioh ho triumphed under at the Hutt • on the 12th inst. Haydn, who follows Iviatere in the handicap with list 81b, has been.sent South with a view to fulfilling his engagement; and the fact that lie meets his Auok-, land rival on 231b more ■ favourable terms than when ho was forced to succumb to him in the Great Northern Steeplechase is in itself sufficient to give his party reason to entertain a good ray of hope for the success of the veteran. Haydn was in capital nick when he was shipped to New Plymouth on Thursday, and he can be ticked off as one of the most likely to, line up qt the post on the 15th of next month. Auckland claims a third representative in- the shape of In-, niskillen, who figures in the race with the handy burden of 9st 131b. . Though the son of Fraternite . disappointed his party rather badly at Ellerslie last month, he is, I ' understand, to be given a chance to retrieve his .character in the big event at Riccarton. That Inniskillcn is equal to something very, considerably in advance of his Ellerslie exploits I have no, doubt, and if jCharles Weal can get him to reproduce the same form as that whiph he displayed ill May last in the win-, ning of the Takapuna Steeplechase. L should regard it quite, safe to. assign him a place amongst the dangerous division at Canterbury. The chief development in connection with . the Now. Zealand Grand National Hurdle Race is the favouritism displayed for the chance of Romeo. If we are to accept what is freely stated, ,we mar take it that the parties connected with the : i big son of Leolantis _ are in earnest with regard to giving their horse a chance to earn Grand National honours at Riccarton next month. Romeo is credited with jumping his hurdles most proficiently iii his schooling work at Paeroa, and without allying myself with those who are heard summing the race up as a "good thing" for the Auckland horse, I can say that I hold, him to have an excellent chance. Of course, we have to bear in mind that Romeo has never yet been out in public in , a hurdle race, and with a crowd of horses around him eager to race for a position at the first obstacle matters will, of course, assume quite a different aspect to galloping up to a fence with a stablemato at an easy gait. It can, however, be said for Romeo that ho is a fine cut of a hurdle-racer, and if ho wins over the battens at the first time of asking it will only be the fulfilment of a prediction offered by many keen judges. Auckland will' not be loft-to depend solely on Romeo in tho Grand National Hurdle Race, for 0. Weal is now on his way to Riccarton with Newtown 'in order to contest the race. This _ son of Muskapeer is decidedly well in at 9st 121b, and if his trainer can keep him on his logs and get him to show his best form lie can, I think, be depended upon to take a hand in the settlement of the question./ Newtown can get over a hurdle in the most approved style, and it is to be hoped that his unsound log, whioh has beforo sent him into retirement, will stand the test necessary to fit him for the struggle at Riccarton on the 17th of next month. In looking down the list of horses engaged in the Grand National Hurdle Race one can find plenty of material to support the view • that Romeo and Newtown will require to bo at their best to win, for the field looks'like being a record one.

NEW ZEALAND RACING STATISTICS.

i The . full batch of interesting statistics for which i" Pontagraph," the statistical contributes to the Referee, is responsible, are now to '.hand. As stated in my notes last week, Stopniak (by. Nordenfeldt—Steppe) heads lie siros' list with a total of £8785, which is the product of 36 races in which his descendants have earned nlaced money. beaton Delaval (by Melton—fioscdale), who headed the list last year, is runner-up on the present occasion with £6713, which is £2070 below the sum credited to his descendants last season, but still it has to be borne in mind that his most brilliant descendant (Gladsome) raced throughout last "season in Australia,' and if her winnings in stakes aro added in the winning total of the Aucklandowned sire ho would bo well up to his record of the preceding season. Soult (by St. Bcauharnais), who occupies the same position (third) as in the previous year, has secured third place with £6409, which is a little over £400 below his best. record. / Con. sidering that boult's most doughty performer airiki) was placed hors de combat in his first race in the spring, the Papakura horse way be said to havo won his position in the sires' list under disadvantages. Clanranald (by St. Leger— Lassie) is a decent fourth with £5314 to his credit, and the imported Gold Reef (by Bond Or—Crucible) has with a good bound gone up into fifth placo with £4592 opposite his name. Of the young sires, Multiform (by Hotchkiss— Formo)_ attains first position, and he is well up in sixth place with a total of £4471. Considering that Multiform has boon kept almost exclusively to the mares at his owner's private stud, it must be said, that his record is a meritorious one. Though SI. Loser has been dead nearly four years, the defunct son of Doncaster and Atlantis is found in eighth place with £3694, which is slightly above the _ sum won by his descendants in the preceding season. In the case of Hotchkiss (by Musket—Petroleuse) there is a shrinkage of nearly £2000, the sum of £2945 being the amount credited to his _ descendants last season, as against £4837 in the one preceding. Amongst the winning owners', Mr. G. G. Stead is found at the head of the list with £11,456, which is £5631 above the sum credited to him in the preceding season. Sir George Clifford, who headed .the list of winning owners last year, _ ocoupies second position on' this ' occasion, but his total (£5540) is £420 below his previous record. 'Mr. C. W. Wallis is found in: third place with £2997, which is almost entirely due to the doughty performances of Mahutonga. _ Mr. J. Monk is fourth with £2725, which is slightly below the sura credited to him in the preceding year. Mr. E. J. Watt, who was third last yoar with £3887, is fifth this year with £2305, while the Hon. J. D. Ormond obtains sixth plaoe this year with £2165, which is the largest sum credited to him for four . years back. "Pentagraph" publishes the following interesting comparative statement, which shows at a glance how matters come out under the respective headings during the past five seasons:—

AN UNLUCKY PURCHASE. Mr John Buckley's purchase of Convoy }ooks like proving a bad speculation. The Vanguard, gelding was purchased by the Southern sportsman just prior to the Wei- /" Januai ;y last for something like £600, but, as we all know, he ran badly in that event, and m the interval he has SSL°M VID a « mgrace - Xt wasthe « decided to give the horse, a chance to win Grand National Hurdle. Race honours, and he showed such' an aptitude in his initial schooling work over the battens that there seemed a very reasonable prospect of his earning distinction as a jumper. However shoulder lameness having asserted itself, 'it was deemed advisable to put the pen through his name for his C.J.C. engagements, and lie lias been sent into retirement. Mr. Buckley has shown himself to be a plucky buyer and one could wish that his purchase of Convoy had turned out well instead of a disappointment. ■

LEAVES FROM MY NOTEBOOK. Advices to hand from Wellington state that Maniapoto is all right 'again. It appears that the ' horse pulled off a shoe while at exercise, and slightly injured one of his feet,-but the trouble was soon got over. It is stated that the question lias not yet been decided as to whether the Soult horse is to be given a chanoe of distinguishing himself in Australia in the spring, but if he trains on satisfactorily it will be surprising if his party allow the Epsom Handicap to slip past without making an effort to win that event at Rand wick next month, as he is nicely weighted at Bst 51b. bo far as the New Zealand Cup is concerned, however, it would , seem pretty safe to conclude that the parties connected with' Maniapoto have an eye on that event, for . from Canterbury comes news to the effect that he has again been made the medium of tome strong support. Maniapoto is credited frith matin considerable improvement since he has been in J 11. Pressor's hands, and a prediction is offered that he will win some high honours for Soult during the coming season.

The scratching of Up-to-Date for all. ® cements at the Victoria _ Amateur Turf Club's Grand National Meeting, which was cabled from Melbourne on Thursday last, would appear to point to a screw being loose with the Auckland horse. Maybe, however, the withdrawal of the horse from his Uaulfield engagements is due to bis having run down a bit since he was in Victoria. An ex- ~nder, who saw Up-to-Date contest the V.R.C. Grand National Steeplechase three weeks back, tells m© that he was drawn very fine at that time, and that he was a different-looking horse to when he raced over fences in Auckland. It may be remarked that there are a brace of steeplechases of the respective value of 300sovs to 400sovs to be decided on the New South Wales side in September, and possibly Mr. Lyons has deemed it advisable to allow the big fish to go by in the hope of landing the smaller fry.

If' Haydn lines up at the post at the forthcoming C.J. C- Grand National Meeting, and it may be said that everything is well in train for the veteran doing so,. he will have the record of being on the scene in August in five successive years.. In 1901, the Sou'-wester gelding won the Grand National Hurdle Race, under list; in the following year he soored in the Grand National Steeplechase under lOst 91b, while in the latter race, in the following year, under 12st 41b, he finished! third to Awahufi (list 31b) and Pipi (lOst). Last year Haydn, who was weighted' at 12st, was sent out second favourite; but he fell early in the contest. S. Fergus has ridden Haydn each time he has contested the crosscountry race at Riccarton, and as he went South with the veteran again this year, he may be expected to again put on Messrs. Macmanemin and Davis' jacket and cap when the race comes up for decision on the 15th of next month. -

Another of the old identities of the Australian turf passed away on the 13th inst. in the person of Mr. Samuel Gardiner, who died suddenly at his residence, Preston. Mr. Gardiner, who was for many years a member of the V.R.C. Committee, was the founder of the Bundoora Park Stud, where lie bred many well-known racehorses, including that_ great colt Darebin (the V.R.C. Derby winner of 1881) and many other noteworthy performers. Mr. Gardiner won the Australian Oup with the New Zealand-bred heroine Lurline, but he was not a lucky man on the turf. The last horses of note he raced were Loyal Stone (who ran second to Vengeance in the Caulfield Cup), Loyalist, and Submission. \ '

Mr. Kerry Maitland, handicapper to the Victoria Amateur Turf Club, evidently holds Marmont in high esteem as a crosscountry candidate, for, notwithstanding that the son of Wellington has never yet been over the big fences in public, he awarded him the steadier of 12st 131b in the V.A.T.C. Grand National Steeplechase, or 101b above Bellis (winner of the V.R.C. Grand National Steeplechase). . , .

' Lord Eosonery's colt. Cicero is not engaged in the Jockey Club Stakes, the next 10,000sove stake to be decided on the English turf this season. M. Edmond Blano has a double string to his bow with Val d'Or and'Jardy, and with Cicero out of the way it looks very much as though the French sportsman holds a big mortgage on the Newmarket race.

The Frenchmen having produced a oolt equal to beating the Britishers on their own ground:, some curiosity ; will no. : doubt _be evinced as to the lines of his breeding. Though -V d'Or, the vanquisher of Cicero, whs raised on French soil it can be said that he claims a through English pedigree. The following' are the headings in the respective pedigrees of Val d'Or and Oioero: — >

■ VAL D'OB. Sire: Plying Fox, by Orrne (grandson of Galopin) from V umpire, by Salopin (soil of Vedette) from Irony, by Iloaebery (sou of Speculum). . , Dam: WandOra, by Bruce- (son of See Saw) from Windfall, by Favonius (son of Parmesan) from Christinas Pare, by Plum Pudding (son of Sweetmeat). " CICERO. • ■ Sire: Cyllene, by Bona Vista (son of Bend Or) from' Arcadia, by Isonomy (son of Sterling) from Distent Shore, by Hermit (son of Newminster). Dam: Gas, by Ayrshire (sou of Hampton) from Xllnminata, by Bosieruoian (son of Beadsman) from Paraffin, by Blair Athol (son of Stockwell). MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS. The, 0.J.0. Derby winner Orioff was, it is stated, recently sold for £102. The Wellington trainer, J. H. Prosser, has 22 horses under his charge at Porirua.' Achilles and Maniapoto are both reported to bo looking well forward in condition. Maniapoto is again reported to have been strongly backed for the New Zealand Chip. Stepniak was the most successful sire in New Zealand during the past racing season. Nightfall, who' was privately bred by Mr. G. G. Stead, won in stakes last seaeon £2351. It is understood that S. Fergus will have the mount on Romeo in the Grand National Hurdle Race. Achillea is stated to bo looking hearty and well, but he has been led in his exeroiso during .the past three months. Nor'-west is stated to have lost a deal of his oondition, and, according to report, the veteran now presents a somewhat tucked-up appearance. The Bllerslie trainer F. Macmanemin has 23 horses under his charge, 13 of whioh are eligible for two-year-old events next season. The English Derby winner Cicero was defeated by the French oolt Yal d'Or in the Eclipse Stakes, run at Sandown Park on Friday last. 0. Weal took Inniskillen and Newtown South on Thursday. Both horses were in capital nick when, shipped to Now Plymouth They, mil probably reach Ricoarton some time to-day. . Ijft dy Huile s leg ailment is evidently proving troublesome to C. Weal, and the bay mare has been allowed to drop out of her engagement in the Now Zealand Grand National Hurdle Race. The young Menschikoffs in training at Ellerslie are shaping nicely, and it would seem safe to offer the prediction that the bay son ol btepniak and Pibrooh will become a very popular sire. At the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company's Durham Yards yesterday Mataura (by Sylvia Park— was sold to Mr. L. Coates at 26£ guineas, and Mangaroa, 4yi's, who is bred on the same lines, was purchased by Mr. W. Gall for 23£ guineas. P. Jones brought Romeo down from Waikato to Ellerslie by Wednesday's train, and: on the following day he was shipped to New Plymouth, en route to Canterbury, to fulfil Ins engagements at the C.J. C. Grand National Meeting. The Leolantis gelding was Auckland health when he way shipped' from Auckland. v^ to and , by the last mail show that Val dOr, who defeated the English crack Ucero last week in the Eclipse .Stakes, was a runner in the Grand Prix de Paris, won by Finasseur. Val d'Or was favourite at 7to 4 but could only got fourth..-. It was stated that Val d Or was suffering from the effects of a cold. ,

Though up to Saturday last Irish had not left'his box since ho was led into it on th« 10th of last month, suffering from the painful accident which befell him whilo contest"lßtbo Great Northern Steeplechase, J. B Williamson informs me that the Ebon gelding baa made a mo st satisfactory recovery. Should, no complications arise it is expected that Irish will shortly be ridden to exercise.

Ihe brood mare Lady Antrim died at Glenora Park a few days back. Got by Nordenfeldt from Erycina, she was something more than a half-sister to that good mare Mitrailleuse, but she was in no respect to be compared to her relative, for she was a failure as a racer, and' her stud record is a poor one.

Since 1889 the French sportsman, M. Edmond Blanc, baa made no' less than six attempts to capture the English Derby, but the best he has been able to do is ran second on three occasions, which he did with Gouverneur, Vinicius, and Jardy. With the last-named M. Blanc appears to have been particularly unlucky, as the son of Flying Fox ran a great second, although suffering from a cold. 6

■ : :\W STUD NOTES. THE FIRST FOAL THEORY. [by phaeton.] The past season in Now Zealand, it 2* interesting to note, has seen two first foala hailed as important winners—Nightfall," the heroine of the C.J.O. Derby, C.J.O. Oaks and Wellington Gup, and Irish, who cap. • tured the Great Northern Hurdle Race, being the particular equines to gain distinction. One does not in these days hear so much of that old-time prejudice against first foals; but still there are those of the old school who will rather chance the . later offspring of a,-'-mare than her first foal. It is somewhat difficult to: say on what grounds such an . absurd prejudice got its start. The English Stud Book furnishes .quite a number ; of', marked instances where the first foal of a"' • mare has proved of great value' • and illustrious names that come readily to mind are Touchstone, Castrel, Sultan, Buccaneer, Wild Dayrell, Sir Hercules, Vedette, The Baron, Pocahontas; Barcaldine, and Bendigo. Of Wild Dayrcli it has. been recorded that ho was so feeble at first that he had to be wheeled about in, a barrow, thus causing his owner to observe —ho had never bred a thoroughbred befoja —that if this was the class of animal he had gone in for raising lie had better go back to crossbreds, for he was sure he could never make up his mind to have his foals wheeled about in barrows. Yet this, sickly foal eventually grew into a fine horse, and, trained by his owner's groom, lie won the Derby! Daniel O'Rorke and Favonius are another pair of first foals that son blue riband honours.

Well, just let us take a look through the New Zealand Stud Book, and see how the first foals have come off in this part of King Edward's dominions. In the " A's" we find that good horse Grip as the first contribution to the volume by the Ravensworth mare Awatea, while Pungawerewere is found at the head of Ataianta's record. Then in the "B's" we have that little marvel, Tcmpleton, entered as Belle of the Isles's first produce, while in "0" we find Campania responsible for Miss Delaval. Elfin's'first foal was Strephon, while Erycina (who was herself a first foal) threw a good one in Mitrailleuse in her first season. Dudu was Fame's first foal; Fancy claimed Foul Play; Fanny Fisher was responsible for. Kingfisher; Formo threw Forme (dam of Cruciform); and then comes "the noblest Roman of them all," in the shape of Trenton, who was the result of Frailty's first ' 1 mating with Musket. Somnus was Hammock's first foal, and Hilda threw Antares. Betrayer was Idalia's first contribution, while Scotty goes down to Janet; and Lottie was the first offspring of Ladybird. Hohoro heads Lady Moth's record, while Fishhook is to be credited to Laurol. Mer-

maid's first foal was Waterwitch; Perkin Warbeck 11. came in Miss Kate'-s first season, while Waiuku ranks as Musket Maid's initial contribution. Martian is Otterden's: first foal, while Artillery was Ouida's first " contribution. Petroleuse threw Leos. A great first foal was Mata, who is to be credited ! to Raupo, while True Blue was Rose of Wel- , lington's first produce. Scottish Lassie threw; Clanranard in her first season. Tiraillerie. claims Tirant d'Eau. as her first foal,, while . "Whaitiri goes down to Uira, and Yatterina's; first foal was Libeller.

A rapid glance through the Australian > Stud Book also furnishes some striking evi-, i" denco of success falling to first foals. A. quartette of Champion-winners com'/ig under that heading are to be found in Richmond,Wellington, Portsea, and Wakeful. And fittingly may a note of exclamation be put up in mentioning that doughty quartette, for. > every one of them was endowed with grit» . . and stamina to a marked degree. Turning - • to the Melbourne Clip, we find first foals re-, presented on the winning list by Chester, Darriwell, Sheet Arichor, and Malvolio. In ' this particular bearing it may be mentioned on passant that Chester and Sheet Anchor were got when their dams were two' .i year old, and Cranbrook, another doughty: performer, when his dam was twelve' : . months older. There is no ; need ~ at this time of day to sing the praises of Chester, ' for his worth both '-. .. ; as a racehorse and as a sire is writ i'i'.'Ji large _ in tho records of the Aus- : : tralasian turf. The V.R.C. Oaks supplies a wh«le host of , first foals in Florence, Rose d'Amour, Gaslight, Maid of All Work, Royal Maid, Melita, The' > Nun, and Uralla. Another first foal that, put up a fine record as a racehorse, and a.still greater one at the stud, was Golds-. brough, who was Sylvia's initial contribution V : to a remarkable stud career. ' . Enough proof has, I think, been adduoedv to show tho absurdity of holding ,i prejudice against first foals. No" doubt when 'it',' mar© has been heavily raced for several sea- '■» sons, and then hurried away to the stud, good reasons could be advanced for being 1 ' sceptical as to a happy result attaching to aVfirst foal; but when a mare has been considerately treated, or, as in the case of the, •, , celebrated- Frailty, never raced at all, the first foal of a healthy dam is , every bit, as ~ likely to bring distinction. to its parent as . her succeeding produce. ~, • *

i Taking into account thai in. his last season at, Wellington Park St. Leger got few foals, '• > matters did not look at all hopeful for the; ' defunct Doncaster horse to. figure with the A?' first dozen in the sires' list four years afterhis decease. However, his descendants (led ~ •. by Scotty, who captured' £1635) managed to.Yn:' pile up £3694, and the addition of that Bum . to the amount credited to his descendants in V. previous seasons brings up the total earnings / of his stock to date to £85,217. This is the - J result of 15 seasons' racing, and, considering -i i-Si that at the outset of hie stud career the chest- - nut son of Donc&ster and' Atlantis was not . extensively used', and that he had' subsequently to battle his way in the face of some : * opposition, the record has a right to be re- ' garded as a remarkable one.

So nit g total in the winning sires' Kst con* ■ ■ tinues to mount steadily upward l . From the fat first descendants of the son 1 ' ol yt Simon cam« on the turf, six seasons vr ''J l}. avß >"' I find, won in stakes in •. * New Zealand £21,320. To thus sum can be added at least another thousand for the victories of his stock in Australia, South Africa, and India, so that it may be said that the.. , Weoiora Park sire is now well up to tho.. horaes whose stock have wen £25,000. What a bargain Soult was at 115 guineas, when. bought out of tho salo ring in England in 1896 by Mr. J. O. Hay ward. Satanedk (the dam of St. Paul), who will Miter on her 25th year on August 1, and who last season threw a filly to Soult, is \ again in foal to the St. Simon horse. Sata- " 1886 ' k " ' THE CANTERBURY JOCKEY CLUB'S GRAND NATIONAL MEETING. ACCEPTANCES FOR PRINCIPAL EVENTS. [ST TELB6KAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Christohtjrch, Friday. The following is a list of the acceptances received in connection with the C.J.C. Grand / National Meeting, whioh takes place at Kicoarton on August 15, 17, and 19:- .-j J

NEW ZEALAND HORSES FOR AUSTRALIA. . [BT telegraph.—-press association.] Chkistchurch, Friday. . n R- J- Mason left this afternoon by the Mjokoia for Sydnoy with Mr. G. G. Stead s: horses, Nightfall, Sungod, Noctuiform, and Tsolt. They will take part in the Australian • Jockey Club's Spring Meeting in September.

WINNING SIRES. 1900-1. 1901-2. 1902-3. 1303-4. 1901-5. & £ £ & £ Stepniak ; ... 6,960 7,627 8,098 . 6,397 8,785 Seaton Delaval 5,200 10,345 5,438 8,783 6,713 Solllt ... 617 1,700 5,611 6,827 6,409 Olauranald ... 2,185 6,014 3,354 4,697 5,314 Gold Beef ...' 361 1,233 1,550 2,882 4,592 Multiform ... _ _ _ 925 4,471 Quilt ... 972 1,977 2,026 1,883 4,348 St. Leger ... 9,999 11,327 6,445 3,683 3,694 Sou'-wester 3,837 2,658 4,445 2,981- 3,334 Hotclibiss . .,. 3,979 5,673' 6,780 4,837 2,945 Medallion ... 1,755 1,632 3,745 2,193 2,945 Castor ... 2,923 2,456 2,810 2,636 WINNING OWNERS. 1900-1. 1901-2. 1902-3. 1903-4.1904-6. £ £ £ £ £ G. G. Stead 7,135 12,325 7,145 5,825 11,456 Sir G. Clifford 1,544 4,505 4,420 5,960 5,540 C. W. Walliu _ _ _ _ 2 997 J. Monk ... _ 620 3,730 2,540 "'725 E. J. Watt ... 3,680 2,650 2,460 3,887 2,305 Hon. Ormoiid 5,552 ' .1,346 1,050 1 775 2*165 Simmelhig and ' • '■ » Jackson - 1 . 1805 J. H. Prower 895 1,215 375 < 625 '■ 1,'6S5 D.. Stewart ... _ ... 80 , 525 680 1,635 R. Han noil ... 426 500 1,334 310' 1,491 J. George ... , 1,010 370 955 917 1 450 r. H. Lowry 180 390 . 855 1,920' 1 445

WINTER COT of 596aoTi. One mile. st lb 'st lb Mmoor 11 0 Wet Beef 10" 3 Shrapnel Shell ... 10 12 Veneer 10 2 £ «mlin 10 12 Durable 9 12 ' Bed Gauntlet ... 10 11 Full Cry ... ... 9 11 den Vein ... 10 8 Royal Crown ... 9 3 Golden Knight ... 10 8 Ability 8 2 i ,role 19 0 The Stake ... 9 2 Cannie Ohiel ... 10 5 Sardonyx 9 0 Rose Madder ... 10 i Brighton J 0' Master Alii ... lo 3 Somaroff » 0 Shrapnel 10 3 GRAND NATIONAL STEEPLECHASE HANDICAP of 760sovs. Three miles and a-half. st lb st lb . . Kiatere 12 5 Pipi 9 12 Haydn. ; 11 8 Catherine Gordon 9 9 , Slow Tom 11 8 Bums 9 8 Comfort 10 13 Victory 9 7 ; : Phaetoniti* ... 10 11 Manazona 9 7 Nadador ... ... 10 8 Kohatu 9 7 Nor'-weet ... ... 10 8. Grand Jury ... 9 7. , Inniskillen ' ... 9 13 Morchu ... ... 9 7 GRAND NATIONAL HURDLE RACE of 750i«rs. ; About two miles.' st lb ' • ' st lb Borneo ... ... 11 0 Levant 9 10 . ■The Mohican- ...10 13 Wind ... ■ ... 9 10'" Crcusot ... . ... 10 13 Heroism 9 * Trumpery 10 9 Itungarawa ... 9 7 < . Comfort 10 7 Inniskillen 9 4 Regulation ... 10 C Repulse 9 3 Cavalry 10 , 3 Hydrant • 9 3 Waiwera 9 13 Magnificent ... 9 2 Durable ... ... 9 13 Bagpipes... ... 9 2 Tupara 9 12 Daredevil 9 0 ■ Catherine Gordon 8 12 Outer ... ... 9 0 Newtown 9 12 Valima 9 0 2nku 9 11 Taxpayer 8 " Wonderful ... 9 n Magnificent arrived from Wellington today.