SPORTING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13193, 2 June 1906, Page 6

SPORTING.

RACING FIXTURES. ■Tune 2, 4, and Auckland. Racing. Club. Juno 2 and Dti'nctiin. .Jockey 'Club. June 4 and Otaki Maori Racing Club. . .Tune 20 "and 21—Hawke's Bay Jockey Club June 27 and 23—Napier Park Eaciuc Club. July Gisborne Racing Club.

DATES OF COMING EVENTS. NEW ZEALANDJune 2—Great Northern Hurdle Race. June 4—Great Northern Steeplechase. June 21— Hawke's Ba.v Steeplechase. June 27—Napier Steeplechase.

AUSTRALIA. July 7—V.R.C. Grand National Hurdle Race July 14—V.R.C. Grand National Steeplechase.

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.

NAVL'TOKA.— was got by St. Lcger from Atalanta. Tamorn is a daughter of Musket and Moonlight. Kegel is sire of Aka. Aka. Favona, Regulation. anil Annoyed. Tamora threw the Auckland Cup winner to St. Leger.

READER.—Wakeful won in stakes from four-vear3-okl to so en-years-old .£16.695. Up to the present Gladsome'"-; winnings in stakes amount to £11,054. Gladsome -was raced at two-vears-old. and she is now rising six-years-old-'Shf has been racing four seasons. WAGEF..—-The Guard fell at the second obstacle* in the Great Northern Hurdle Hace of 1900. won by Cavaiiero. The fact that the race at that time was only two miles may have confused you. The hurdle near the half-mile post in the two-mile and a--fmarter distance ranks third obstacle. St. Pinion was lour years old when he carried 12st. l?lb to victor-.- in the Ellerslie race ,of 1897. brum Major was only three years old at the time he ran third to Shylock and Nt>r'* west. NOTES BY PHAETON. THE ENGLISH DERBY. The 127 th Derby has gone into th-s records, and colonials will retain pleasant recollections of the contest that , eventuated in the time-honoured racVi'fSught. out on Epsom Downs in -the- summer of 1906 by reason of the victor. Spearmint, claiming as his parent the illustrious and stout-hearted' Carbine.. There arc far more valuable races -.run on t'be turf than the Derby, but the Ep'-om race is still regarded as the blue riband- of the turf, and though it may be o'er topped on the score of money by other events it is still the race which, from His. Majesty the King downwards, there is a solid ambition* to capture. Sir Tatton Sykes. who supplied the winner of this year's Derby contest, had the' additional distinction .of breeding the victor, and the latter circumstance, we may bo quite sure, would bring a big dash of joy to tho Yorkshire baronet, for lie is one of tho most enthusiastic breeders to which the Old Country can lay claim. Spearmint was only saddled up on three occasions as a two-year-old, so that, he takes rank amongst, the youngsters that have been considerately treated. A colt of commanding physique, with a decidedly game appearance. Spearmint's Derby prospects were well spoken of all through, and the fact of his winding tip second favourite furnishes evidence that he had satisfied the trainer, Mr. Gilpin, in bis training work. Sir Tatton Sykes has his own ideas as to placing his horses, and thus we find that, he did not accord Spearmint ; a nomination for the St. Leger,, and as the, son of Carbine was not included in tho entrants for the. mammoth stakes he is thus debarred from putting up what could be termed a great'stake record ill his three-year-old career. A VETERAN OF THE AUSTRALASIAN . TURF. ' '\Whakawatca_wiiis another race." There is -not much in such a line to arrest the attention of the ordinary racegoer; but its appearance at. the present time would catifce. most New landers . to recognise that la, victory had bs-en credited to one of the sturdiest veterans that ever, carried a racing saddle in Australasia, for it was in dear old Maoriland that, the bay son of Apremout and Becky Sharp first saw the light. Foaled as-far back as 1889, Whakawatea is lio|w bordering on 17. years old, ..arid .though it was only a small race at..Queanbey.an (New South' Wales)."that fell to him a week- dif two back, it is, all the same, a most interest-' ing incident- that at his advanced time' of life he should- bo found capable- of leading■d, field past the judge's box. When woj come to consider that Whakawatoa was call-' j ed upon to contest no less than 21 races at two years old, and that, his travelling record when' a youngster 'constitutes a ' record for this colony, if not for Australasia, his long sojourn on the turf is truly'remarkable. In. looking up incidents in : connection with the career .of Whakawatea,. J. find that , the Apreniont, gelding ran his first race in 'October, 1891, so that it will be seen lie was required to toe the mark early in his two-year-old days. And what a listing up he did receive when a youngster! Whakawatea was .taken to. Australia at four years old, and he scored some. valuable races for Mr. W. T. Hungerford. What would, 1 suppose, be regarded as the most brilliant feat, of Whakawatea while racing in Australia was his victory in the Oakleigh Plate at Caulfield in 1.394, when ho defeated a great field under the steadier of 9st 131b. In making up a statement of Whakawatea's performances, I find that the veteran has started in no less than 164- races, and his record comjeS. out- as follows: —

164 28 17 20 99 (Did not run at 13, 14, and lb years.)

AN UNLUCKY RACE FOR FIRST FAVOURITES.

The (treat Northern Hurdle Race set down for decision on Saturday nest will mark the fifteenth contest that has taken place for that event, and in looking up past records in connection with the Ellen-die race the pointed little fact is brought out

hat. favourites have had a bad time, falls

iii a good number of cases on tlio pai-1 of pronounced favourites being chiefly responsible for sensational victories, In 1592 Couranto .was made a strong favourite, but be

tad to strike his colours to Belmont; while

in the race of the following year Ivulnine, who was the popular fancy, came to grief entering the straight the last time. In 189+ Melinite started in the post of honour, and she gave her followers a good crumb of comfort by silencing the opposition. Liberator, the popular fancy in the following year, scored all right, but in the succeeding contest, for which ho was also made favour-

ite, the Betrayer gelding failed to gain a situation. Annabelle was favourite for the race of 1897, but she had to strike her colours to : St. - Simon. Opae, who -won in the following year, carried most money; but the next year was destined to see the favourite go down and a victory recorded for the greatest outsider of the field. Marina, who was a strong fancy, fell, while the despised Shy lock scored over Nor'-west and DrumMajor. The race of 1900 found a strong favourite in the shape of The Guard on the scene, but he went out at the second hurdle, and Cavaliero supplied, the winner. In the race of 1901 Cavaliero was the one most strongly backed, .but he came home third to CYeur de Lion and Hairtrigger. re sham was the popular selection in the race of the following year, and when the seventh hurdle was crossed it looked all right for the followers of the Cat.esby gelding to handle a dividend; but just when victory appeared certain he fell, and Royal Conqueror sailed home in front. In the. following year Tresham was again made, favourite; but - he could only get third to Battleaxe and Haydn. In 1904- Roseshoot was made favourite, but his backers had the mortification of seeing him fall at the second fence: and in last year's contest Cavalry, who ruled the popular fancy, got into difficulties at the" sam« fence as that which beat Roseshoot in the preceding year. What is'to be the record this year? '

' THE MOST SENSATIONAL GREAT - •; NORTHERN STEEPLECHASE. ; Monday will witness the 22nd contest for the Great Northern Steeplechase. What changes have been wrought since we assembled at Eilerslie in the winter of 1884 to see Macaroni score a victory in the initial contest for the big cross-country event! A strong train of interesting incidents are invariably interwoven with a big steeplechase, and it\ cannot be said that the Great Northern is at all barren in that respect, for quite a number of big surprises are bound up in its history; and the old saying " a race is never lost- till it's won " probably never received a more pointed demonstration than at Eilerslie in the winter of 1893. Only 13 years have sped their flight since that bleak and showery winter afternoon when the one-eyed Despised came homo in front of his field: but so many stirring incidents are connected therewith that the story and facts bearing on his sensational. victory will no doubt, prove interesting to my readers, especially at the present time, when we are once again face to face with the big cross-country event of the winter season. On the day when Despised took his place in the Great Northeril Steeplechase for the first time he ruled the greatest outsider of the field, which comprised 11 horses, and of £1205 invested on the machines only £21 was opposite the name of the Cap-a-pie gelding. The Wanganui horse Booties carried most money, but Shillelagh (a stable-mate to Despised) was almost as good a favourite. Booties flattered the hopes of his admirers until the run down the hill came to he undertaken for the second time, at which point Despised (who, it may be remarked, had fallen on landing over the stone wail at the head of the course the first time round) dashed into the lead. Despised brought the field along at a slashing pace, and leading over the stone wall lie was first to the sod fence, and negotiating the double flight of hurdles in proficient style, he was still in the van when i.ho stone wall opposite the mile post was reached, and was going so' really well that it began to dawn upon _ the onlookers' (hat the despised" outsider was in it up-to the tips of his cars. The trappy old water jump underneath the willows was negotiated in safety, and then it became even more plainly demonstrated that Despised would probably claim the attention of the judge, for as they sped up the back stretch he- placed a gap of over a dozen lengths between himself and the second horse (Scalthecn). This advantage he still held when the post-and-rail fences at. the - ton of the hill came to be negotiated. Then came a little sensation ! In leaping the first fence Despised misjudged his distance and fell, and with the greatest outsider of the field down it seemed to be at least a thousand to. one against his again securing the lead. There was, however, to be a sensational denouement. " Koss " Heaton, his rider, escaping unhurt, he quickly remounted his horse and gave chase tc those in front. When they jumped the stone wall on to the course the names of Scalthee-n, Nero, and Chester resounded through the air as probable winners, but. as they drew up to negotiate the last hurdle opposite the Derby stand Despised came on the scene as though he had dropped from the clouds, and the one-eyed son of Cap-a-pie bounding over the last obstacle as fresh as though he was commencing his task, he ran. homo a winner by three lengths in front of Scaltheen amid a scene of intense excitement. People could scarcely believe their eyes when they saw Despised sail past the post, for when the. Cap-a-pie gelding fell three-quarters of a mile from home he was quite obliterated both from sight and memory. ..There are men who can never be brought .to believe- that Despised jumped the, second post-and-rail fence after he fell, and it really does seem a little difficult to think he could have made up his ground without cutting a corner off. 1 never came . .across ; one man who could say that he saw Despised negotiate the second post-and-rail fence, but. 1 think it only right to also state that 1 never found one who was prepared to say straight out that saw his rider make the short cut down the hill. This all goes to show how- completely the outsider was allowed •to drop out- of sight when he fell! The victory of Despised was brimful of sensation. After competing unsuccessfully in the Takapuna Steeplechase (run a couple of weeks before the Great Northern) he was submitted to auction at the Hayniarket ,by Messrs. Bnckland and Sons, but. failing' to bring the reserve (100 guineas) he was passed in, to be subsequently sold privately ■on the. same afternoon to Mi. T. Wyley for ■ £60. . The question of accepting for' Despised in the Great Northern Steeplechase ( aC Ellerslie 'then came up; and had it'not ;hern for the late -Mr. Willie Caverhill, who .had the one-eyed candidate running for him ill a .doubly,- offering to pay up for him the ■ cli an res are that he would have been allowed to. drop out of the big race. The • fact- that Despised failed in the Maiden Steeplechase, run on the. first day of . the A.B.C. meeting, added the extra bit to a •sensational win; and from the incidents related above it will lie seen that there is much, in a steeplechase contest at least, to accept as an article of faith the old saying, . "a race is never lost till it's won." ; LEAVES FROM MY NOTEBOOK. The Glenora Park stud master, .Mr. W. Walters, is congratulated all round on the purchase of the. English sire Gluten, and there is, judging from rematks penned, a consensus of opinion -amongst Australian writers that the Auckland breeder is a most fortunate man in securing such a horse as the son of Thurio and Bran Bread outside of England. While Gluten was awaiting shipment at Sydney to Auckland " Milroy," of the Sydney. Mail, who can be termed one of the first authorities in Australasia, on the .thoroughbred, looked him over, and the following paragraph from his pen appeared in the Sydney Mail:—''Gluten is made of the stoutest material, and it is . quite evident he deserves all the enco- . milims bestowed upon him by the manner in which his stock sold at- the Melbourne yearling sales, when they topped the market. Gluten is chockful of the never-say-die Weatherbit—Sheet Anchor blood, to which Goldsbrough and Robinson Crusoe mares owe their strength; and Mr, Walters is fortunate to secure such a good performer, bred on such lines, so close to home, to cross on St. Simon—Musket fillies. Gluten is a beautifully-shaped, dark chestnut, stands about 15.3, carries a game, in- ' telligent head on a superb neck, let into perfect shoulders, possesses great power behind the saddle; lias excellent bone, and legs as clean as on the day he was foaled: while quality is well in evidence, and lie is as docile as the proverbial lamb."

The- agitation that set in in Victoria some few months back, with a view to endeavouring to bring about a return to the old order of things, allowing two-year-olds lo race prior to October .1, has not made any headway so far as obtaining an alteration of the rule .is concerned. In replying to the prayer of the petitioners 011 the subject the committee of the Victoria Racing Club stated that the question was settled and that no alteration ean be made. TheV.Il.C. and A.J.C. •authorities- arc, at all events, quite in accord on the question of prohibiting the racing of youngsters prior to October 1; and so long as the two big clubs remain united in the matter the pot-boilers aro unlikely to make any headway.

The New Zealand rider F. D. Jones, who went to England .some months back under engagement to a leading sportsman in the Old Country, has cabled to his old employer, Mr. G. (J. Stead, that he rode two winners at the Salisbury meeting, held last week. In a recent letter to his father Jones stated that Noctuiform might possibly race at the Epsom summer meeting, which is now in progress. The race that Noetuiform is likely to take part in is the Durdans Plate Handicap. a race worth £1000, run over a mile and a-quartei.

In returning thanks ■ for his election as president of the North Island Horseowners' Association, -Mr. C. E. Major, M.H.R., said he believed the institution had come to stay, and that it ivould do permanent good not only for owners but for racing generally. .The association was going to be of great influence for good. He declared that the association, so far from being antagonistic to the Racine Conference, desired t<? work in unison therewith. There was much which could bo done to improve the disabilities which owners at' present laboured under. He said that those appointed ,to the conference were not appointed by horseowners. By reason of unity owners • will ba allpowerful.

The Carbine colt Spearmint, who won the Derby on Wednesday last, is credited with being built on very massive lines, and further that he resembles his sire in a remarkable degree. He is said to be taller than Carbine, but otherwise he is very like his sire in colour, . markings, and general conformation, while some of those who have seen father and son race aver that the action of the son and the manner in which he runs his races are very strongly reminiscent vl his sire. ' >. ' •>-

• The.death is .reported of the Chester.horse. Carlyon, who was destroyed recently in South Australia.- Some time back -.Carlyon met with a. bad accidcnt, and it was deemed merciful to shoot him. Carlyon; who was from Moonstone, was bred by the late Hon. Jame") White, and wort a number *of important events in the colours of til© New South Wales sportsman, which included the Australian Cup. " Milroy.'' of the Sydney Mail, furnishes some interesting incidents bound tip in the turf career of Carlyon, from which I clip the following" Mr. White, who was a royal bettor when in the mood, secured a big stake over the Essenden Stakes, won by Carlyon in the autumn of 1883, at which, time the bis: son of Chester ranked as a three-year-old. That good horse Nelson was over from New Zealand, and was followed by a shipload of moneyed sports', who moved in the same circle as CarlyOn's owner. * It was whispered at the time that some after-dinner betting took plate in the Melbourne Club, as a result of a. discussion concerning the merits of the New Zealand champion, and Mr. White accommodated all-comers to any amount at even money that Carlyon would beat the crack front Maoriland. Followers of form laid substantial odds on Nelson, but Carlyon beat him easily, and increased his owner's bank credit by many thousands, of pounds."

In the contests that have eventuated for the G.N. Hurdle' Race, run at Eilerslie in the winter during tho past. 14 years, a different sire has each year claimed the winner. The list of winners, with their sires, to date i.-i as follows:—Belmont (by King Quail). Mutiny (by. Mute). Melinite (by NordenfekltK Liberator (by Ben-aver), Hop-

garden (by Daniel O'Kourke), St. -Simon (by St. Leger). Opa»> (by. Somnus). Shy Jock (by Wapiti), C'avaiiero (by Cuirassier), Cceur de Lion (by Dreadnought). Royal Conqueror (by Flintlock). Battieaxe (by Hotc'nkiss), Aka Aka (by Regel), and Irish (by Eton!.

A Wanganui writer remarks:Eurus will probably never experience in his. future raring career such. a. streak of luck like that, which ended in his winning the Wanganui Steeplechase. There is no doubt whatever that when Defoe ran off at the last jump he had his field well beatenone. had only to see him pulling double at the finish to be convinced of that. There was a chance, ton, that Playfaar, who ran off with Defoe, would also have been in the reckoning, a suggestion that is strengthened by Ins victory over Phaetonitis and Nadador the next day. MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS. Mensehikoff is reported to be training on .splendidly in Victoria. - Twenty-three horses started for the English Derby this year. The I'akuranga hounds meet on Wednesday next at Orakci. The English sire Gluten, purchased by Mr. W. Walters for - 'Glenora, Park, is 13 years old.

The French sportsman. NT. Edinond Blanc, has 110 less than 53 horses in training this season.

The estate of the late Mr. W. Bailey, who died at Balls rat this month, has been proved at £220,000. •

It is now stated that A. Hall's contemplated trip to Australia this, winter with Kiatere and Co. lias assumed an indefinite shape.

Mr. W. McLcod has purchased, the stallion Rambler for 100 guineas, through the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company. "

On each- day of the Great Northern meeting the first race is' timed to be started at noon, and the concluding event at half-past four p.m.

Versailles, the sire of Gold Guard, winner of the Balgownie Handicap at Wanganui, is by Chainshot. so'that lie ranks as a grandson of Musket.

The Northern Wairoa. Racing Club has decided to hold their summer meeting at Christmas. The metropolitan . club has agreed- to the alteration.

/By all accounts Defoe,' the half-brother to Moifaa. would-have won the Wanganui Steeplechase had lie come on properly and negotiated the last hurdle. - •"

The reason of Hautapu's absence, from the acceptance and entry lists connected with the forthcoming Great,-Northern Meeting is duo to his having struck himself while ga110ping.,....-.,. •

'• The erst Auckland-owned steeplechasers Up*f« ; Date-i and Dingo, r are'. now .stablemates at Randwick.' both being included' in the list of horses'under the care of P. J.Gough.

Cartouche, the dam of' the Century Hurdle Race winner Hydrant, is a three-parts'sister to- the Now Zealand Cup winner Manton. She was got.:by'Nordenfeldt from the Traduccr mare Tres Deuce. .... *.

It is stated hat/ prior 'to Mr.' August Belmont, of America, buying Rock Sand for £25,000 from the executors of the estate of the late Sir James Miller a French breeder offered £21,000 for him.' .

The programme, framed (in connection with the Gisborne Racing Club's Winter Meeting will require, attention at, the hands of horseowners to-day, nominations closing for certain events at- nine p.m.

Soult-fisli, .the disappointing son of Soult and Fishgirl, who has Jyxni off the eerie' for sortie time past, is once more in a. racing stable. The half-brother to Swordfish was last week handed over to Dennis Moraghan to train.

Desmond, the well-known New South Wales show high-jumper, is credited with winning 110 less a sum than £2538 in prizemoney. The capture of many a high-prioed racer has fallen far short of the sum captured by Desmond. .

Florio was scratched for the Great Northern Hurdle Race yesterday at eleven a.m., and the names of Meda-llius and Lady Hune were -erased from the list of horses for the same race at a-quarter past four p.m. and five minutes to night p.m. respectively.

There is a strong diversity of opinion as to what horse will start favourite for -the Great Northern Hurdle Race. During yesterday a louder note w»,s probably being struck in favour of Cavalry than any of his rivals.

According to the cablegram announcing the result of the English Derby, the Carbine colt Spearmint put up a fresh time record for the Epsom race, by traversing the distance in 2m. 36 4-5?. Cicero's time in last year's race (2m. 39- 2-55.) was the best previous record.

• Another English-bred sir© is destined to find a home in Australia. The New South Wales breeder. Mr. W. Brown, recently purchased the five-year-old Bursts, a son of Childwick (by St. .Simon) and the Bend Or mare Bendlot, and the horse is now on the way out from England.

The Eton gelding Irish ha? stood up to his work so satisfactorily as to cause a move to be made in his favour for the Groat Northern Hurdle Race. Irish has not. had a race in public since this time last. yea,. He went off the scene owing to an accident lie received while contesting the Great Northern Steeplechafe.

Already there is (writes the Referee) a. keen desire on the part, of backers to take a. long shot about Boomerang for the New Zealand Cup, and it is tolerably certain that this coif, will be tile winter favourite—if -demand creates the favourite. The only difficulty backers have is in getting the long shot-

In referring to the starting at the Waliganui meeting the Wangantii Chronicle says : — Mr. Chavannos' despatches in the jumping events were excellent, but some of his efforts in the flat events were not nearly as successful, and the results in one or two races may. possibly have been influenced by the starting."

The fact of the Hon. Mr. Ormond having struck all his coming I liree-year-olds out of all engagements at the Australian Jockey Club's Spring Meeting points to the Hawke's' Bay sportsman entertaining a solid opinion that he may. for the present at least, concentrate all his attention to the New Zealand turf with the Birkenhead family.

When Cavalry came to Ellerslie some five weeks back he was so very much on the big side that there did not appear much prospect of his being ready for the fray on the opening day of the Great Northern meeting. The. son of Light Artillery has come on in quite a remarkable manner, and having acquitted himself most proficiently in his schooling work his party have been encouraged to support him solidly for the Great Northern Hurdle Race. In the season of 1904- Mr. J. Wren sent the Goldsborough . mare Melodious over to New Zealand to be mated with the Nordenfeldt horse Stepniak, and last spring she threw a colt foal. During a recent visit to Elderslie " Sir Bedivere " had a look at the youngster, and refers to him thus: "Like Wallace, ■ he is a chestnut, with a white j blaze on his'face. His clam has reared him { splendidly, and his career will be watched j with the greatest interest." .. |

Pakuranga Hunt Club Meets.—June 6. Orakei: June U. raws; June 14. Pukekohe: .Tune 16. Green Mount: June 19, Pukekohe: June 21, Waoku; June .23," Criterion Hotel; Jtuie 50, Pise on Mountain.

* Including 51b penalty.

Races. 1st. 2nd. 3rd. Unplaced. At 2yrs ... 21 9 7 4 1 , At 3yrs ... 12 2 . 2 2 6 At 4yra ... 11 10 2 8 . At 5yrs ... 20 5 0 1 14 At 6yrs ... 15 .1 1 1 12 At 7yrs ... 6 0 0 0 6 At 8yrs ... 15 1 "2 2 10 At 9yrs ... 22 4 2 5 13 At lOvrs ... 14 1 1 3 9 At llyrs... 16 2 • 1 1 . 12 At 12yvs ... 10 > 10 18 At loyrs... 2 1 1 0 0-