SPORTING NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13701, 18 March 1908, Page 5

SPORTING NOTES.

[by phaeton.]

Details of tho Champion Stake;, to hand show that tho lAuekland-bretl horse Apologue- was tout out favourite for tho tliroomilo race, and that, too, despite tin; fact (hat lie. ran unplaced in t l "' Australia n Cup. When half tho distance was completed it was recognised thai, tho sou of Phoebus Apollo was in difficulties, and though ho struggled on gamely Peru beat him by nine lengths in srn. 50.-. Apologue pulled up lame, .and it was feared a!, first the breakdown was serious. Fortunately, however, tho unsoundness proved to be nothing more than a slight jar, and he was at walking exorcise again when tho last mail left. It is understood that Apologue's Australian racing career ended with his unsuccessful effort in the Champion Stakes, and all being well with him lie will ho shipped to India in the course of a few weeks. The Thames Jockey Club hold their ! autumn meeting on Saturday next, and ! should fine weather prevail there is every reason to anticipate a successful gathering at Parawai. The Northern Steamship Company announce an excursion trip, the p-s. Wakatcre being timed to leave Auckland on Friday afternoon at 4.15 p.m., returning from Thames at 7.30 p.m. on Saturday. With the return saloon fare fixed at 7» ud, that in itself should draw a big crowd to the goldfields township. The committee of the South Auckland Racing Club has fixed the fee for bookmakers' licenses at £10, but there is a condition that unless at least six applications are lodged the fee will be £20 per day. It is notified that all applications must be in th» hands of the secretary (Mr. W. 1. Conradi) beforo four p.m. on the 23i'd inst. Mountain King'is not to he given an opportunity to win equal distinction with his sire (Wallace) and grandsire (Carbine) in the Sydney Cup, both of whom won the and wick race at three years old. The A.J.C. handicappor, Mr. Daley, awarded Mountain King 9st 51b, and as he was withdrawn shortly after the declaration of the weights, we are left to infer that Mr. .McDonald considered his colt harshly treated. Tho veteran Scotty figures as an entrant for the Brighton Hurdle Race, to be run at Elierslie next month. The St. Legcr gelding ' also figures amongst the entries for the Autumn Handicap, which event is run over a mile and a-half on the fiat. Scotty is looking really .well, and on the score of condition he can be selected as one of the most eligible to tackle the autumn season. At the Ohinemuri meeting on Monday Foremost, the half-brother to Cruciform, managed to interrupt the long spell of iilluck that has followed him. Tho race to fall to the son of Phoebus Apollo was the St. Patrick's Handicap, in which he beat a field of four. The .three-year-old Master Foote (by Sir Foote), who cost 1600gns as a yearling, was sold by auction recently in Melbourne for 310gns. Master Foote managed to win the Caulfield Guineas, but he has failed every time in the interval. . In the cabled result of the Champion Stakes the timo in which the three-mile rae; was completed was omitted. Papers to hand show that Peru won his race easily in sm. 30s. One of the strongest nominations received for a minor hurdle race at Auckland is that for the Brighton Hurdle Race, which comes up for decision at the forthcoming Ellerslie meeting. On Friday next the Waiuku Racing Club and the Wairangi Racing. Club each pro-, mote a day's sport, and on Saturday the': Thames Jockey Club and Mauku Racing Club will respectively bring off gatherings. ' In framing the weights for the Sydney . Cup tho A.J.C. handicappor, Mr. J. Daley, assessed Mountain King to be. 1311) superior : to the, Australian Gup and Champion Stakes winner, (Peru. .• -• • •■ . .'• ,;-.:• It was understood that the turf career of l Georriie had been terminated last year, butthe son of Seaton.Delaval,was«set to again, carry silk at the ' Ohinemuri meeting, -,'ori Monday last. . . ~.,.,,. The Auckland-owned sire Gluten claimed a winner in West Australia recently in the shape of a galloway rejoicing in the title of Evolution. Tho three-year-old Advocate is training ou nicely at Elierslie. The son of Hotchkiss looks very well. Advocate is well engaged at the A.R.C. Autumn Meeting. Nominations for all events to bo run at tho Auckland Trotting Club's Autumn Meeting close on Friday next, at nine p.m. . , IXTERPROVIXCJAL GOSSIP. [BY telegraph.—own correspondents.] WELLINGTON. Tuesday. • i The Matiawalu Racing Club has engaged j Mr. J. Ames, of Wellington, to work the | totalisators at their forthcoming meeting. . The Manawafcu Club, it may be remarked, j has run its own machines for gome meetings. \ Mr. J. E. Henrys, the well-known handicappor, who journeyed across to Melbourne after the Dunedin meeting, returned from Sydney this week. He informed your correspondent'that Mr. Frank Moore intended to wait for the. A.J.C. meeting with Dusky Morn and Catapult. Splendid Idea appears among entries for the hock hurdle events at the Manawatu meeting. It is reported that her stable mate, Tho Stake, is to be tried as a hurdle racer, and that he will mako his first appearance at Feilding at Easter time, CANTERBURY. Tuesday. Glonculloch and Millionaire are back from Wanganui looking none the worse lor their trip in the Jackson Slakes. Since their return they hare; been howling along freely, as have all the other members of Cults' team. From present appearances 1 should say that this stable will win a few more good races before the season closes. Fleetfoot if standing up to her work well, which is good news in view of the recent form of Gravitation. Officious (by Finland—Busybody) has been sent home for a spell. This filly gave promise in the spring of developing into a decent performer, but so far sho has been a disappointment. T. Sheehan has sold a three-year-old sister to Hilarity (by Castashorc— Pleasuroseeker) to a Southern sportsman for 220gns. Aniboise, who won the Akaroa Cup for Mr. Buchanan, had not been successful for over 12 months. She won in good style, and she may be hoard of again shortly. WANGANUI. Tuesday. I noticed (luring ho week a nice-looking chestnut colt by Field Battery from St. Winifred being ridden about town by W. Price. Tho youngster is rising two years of ago, is owned by Mr. W. Davies, of the llutt, ami has a beautiful temper, and will be the first of the Hotchkiss horse's progeny to race. Tho colt is well put together, but resembles neither his sire nor dam as far as colour is concerned. A half-sister, five years old, to Handsome Rose was recently disposed of for 13gns. The daughter of Sylvia Park was very cheap at the price. A- throe-year-old filly by Phsethon from Marian!litis changed hand's last week for a trifle over £11, while a three-year old gelding by Phaethou from White Rose realised £10. F. Kind has again taken General Kuroki in hand. The sou of Fisko teems to' have greatly benefitod by his spell. The same trainer litis also the hurdler i Xaviier in commission, and, considering that | the Tasniaii gelding has done it fair amount i of racing within a short period, he is looking j very well. He will make his next appearj ante at the Taranaki J.C. meeting. Mr. W. Miles, owner of Bom bar do, informs me that ho intend,- taking tho son of Hotchkiss and Valentine to Australia. Mr. Miles anticipates being in Sydney" during Cup time. Although, comparatively speaking, a young horse is only seven years old—Bombai'do has left some really firstclass stock in this district, and there is no doubt they will be heard of later on. F. Tilley has again put Martello into commission, and the handsome sou of Hotchkiss | and Row of Wellington, if appearances go for | anything, seems to have greatly benefited j by his holiday. There is no doubt about this j colt'a pace when he in well. , ,