SPORTING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 14566, 31 December 1910, Page 9

SPORTING.

RACING FIXTURES. December 31 and January 7—Auckland Trotting Club. January 2, Auckland Racing Club. January Kihikihi Hack Racing Club. January 2, .s—Hawke'e Bay Jockey Club. January 2, "Wairarapa Racing Club. January 13, 14—Whaugarei Racing Club. January 14—Waikato Trotting Club. January 19—itatamata Racing Club. January 21—Papakura Racing Club. January 25— Huntly Racing Club. January 28, 30, and February 4—Takapuna Jockey Club. February 15 and Rotorua Races. February 24, 25—South Auckland Racing Club.

DATES OF COMING EVENTS. January 2—Great Northern Derby. January 2—Wairarapa Cup. • January 28—Takapuna Cup. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. SroRT. Newmarket. — Musket, the dam of Kins' .Soult, was got by B&lgowrio (son or Vespasian). Muskeri-n'a, tile dam of Lady Musket, was got by Musket. CONTUSED.— the Autumn Steeplechase, run at Kllerslie in April. 1897, Kingswood and Miss Nelson ran a dead, heat for first place. In the run off Kingswood won by three lengths.

WAGER, "Waihi.—Descendants of St. Leger won the New Zealand Cup on three occasions, viz., St. Hippo (1892), Impulse (1894), and Waiuku (1897'. St. Leger was bred in England, and was, brought out to Auckland when a foal. Lochiel was sired in England, and was foaled in New Zealand.

WAGER. — You are altogether wrong. Neither Stepniak nor Loyalty started for the A.J.C. Derby. The fact, that fhey were of different. ages places the possibility of their meeting in the Derby out of bounds. Probably you have confused the A.J .C. Spring Stakes with the Derby. Loyalty (3jn-s) and Stepniak (4yrs) met in that raco in 1893, Loyalty winning by a nock from Mr. Stead S horse.

BLUB RIBAND.—The stallion Cyllene changed hands 011 two occasions within a few years, at a sensational sum. In 1904 Cylleno was bought from his breeder, Mr. c' D. Rose, by Sir William Bass, for 30,000 guineas, and a couple of years back the latter disposed of him to a South American breeder for 25,000 guineas. Cyllene has sired the following Derby winners:—Cicero (1905), Minoru (1909), Lembers (1910). NOTES BY PHAETON. RACING COMMISSIONERS. Though racing in tho present season will remain undisturbed with those clubs having the right to use tho fcotalisator, curiosity in certain quarters appears to Iks at fairly high tension as to tho probable composition of the Board of Commissioners which is to be set up to allocate racing; dates and totalisator permits in conformity with j the rcoently-passed Gaming Act. Thero are, of course, some people to be found who could dispose of the question of racing c ' and totalisator permits. as the saying g>. •■_. in one act; but, though in somo cases the pruning-knifo . might bo applied without any pretence of ceremony, it. is highly essential that the whole situation should be carefully surveyed, and the decisions come to equal to withstanding the assault; of tho dissatisfiedof which thero are sure to ho many. Very much, no doubt, depends on the personnel of tho Commissioners whether the recently-enacted legislation will prove a success or otherwise; but it can also be said that much will depend on the attitude with which their actions are viewed, and whether the political pressure will intrude itself. That the Racing Conference regard the appointment of commissioners with an altogether kindly eye is not perhaps to be expected straightaway; but in the interests of the sport it is, I am convinced, highly desirable to diseourago anything savouring of hostility to the new order to which we are committed. That the time was ripe for a change to be made in the old procedure is an opinion widely entertained ; and tho appointment of commissioners should do much to relievo a situation which had grown unsatisfactory. While tho Gaming Act was before the Legislative Council the Attorney-General made it quite clear that the Government was fully alive to the importance of selecting tho right men as commissioners. That expression carried with it the proper ring, and we may expect that when the names are published there will be no fly in the amber.

ELLERSLIE IN SUMMER. y " Summer Cup day" is invariably counted one of the most pleasant of the season to spend at Ellerslic, and experiences on the second day of this season's summer gathering. it can bo said, had a strengthening rather than a weakening tendency in that respect. With an overcast sky, and rain falling subsequently, matters looked a little doleful at the opening of the programme; but the clouds dispersed rapidly, and with the sun shining brilliantly a scene every way in keeping with the season was brought about,. There was a fine healthy ring about every one of the eight events which came up for decision, and with King Soult, Auckland's main hope in the throe-year-old class, scoring a victory tipped with brilliancy in the leading event, there was much to make Summer Cup day, 1910, take a good piaoo with the most noteworthy of its predecessors.

THE SUMMER CUP. After King Soult had registered his vietory in the Summer Cup, I took a walk about in order to ascertain the estimate placed upon the performance of the brown son of Soult and Lady Musket. It not infrequently happens that people can readily bo found rc-gdy to dispute tho value? of a victory, and in doing so may be expected to cite with much called -up force bad luck attending other horses in tho contest as a reason for their argument. In the case of King Soult it was one unbroken view— the brown colt won his race like a highclass tradesman. I climbed to the top tier of tho main stand in order to witness the Summer Cup contest, and I reckon I was well repaid the trouble. King Soult -was tho magnet that caused me to climb those many sieps, and the brown colt, was the particular one I kept my vision focussed upon, from barrier-rise to the winning-post. About the centre of the bottom stretch King Soult seemed to get into some trouble with Goldfinder; but, though ho was quickly righted, the six-furlong post found him many lengths from the leaders, with the pace ever increasing. The brown colt breasted the hill in such stylo that hopes were' quickly raised, and the manner in which he streaked across that beautiful inclined piece of going from tlie half-mile post to the head of tho straight was a treat to witness. " Birkdale!" "Maori King!" " First; Wairiki!" were tho names excitedly called a3 the head of the straight was entered; but before the main stand was reached the cry was always "King Soult wins!" The rapidity with which the brown colt obtained a two lengths' advantage when tho stress of battle presented itself in acute form was a marked feature of his performance. Tho concluding effort for which King Soult was responsible was undoubtedly invested with a fino dash of brilliancy, and the son of Soult rolled into his task with such vim as to lead to the impression that he is destined to well maintain the reputation of tho great families to which he owes his descent.

entitled to the high enconiums that have been passed upon. him. Th© unfortunate accidcnt which befel Danube last month, and which kept him idlo for several weeks, must, 1 suppose, to some extent, hare affected him; but to the eye the bay colt looks in capital nick lo tackle his engagement at Ellerslie. In King Soult Danube will, I fancy, meet something above the class to which ho was opposed at Wanganut avid Iliccarton; and whether the Auckland colt he beaten or not ho can be depended upon to put up a good fight against the Southern crack. The Hon, «T. D. Ormond still retains a double string to his bow with Birkdale and Formby. It lias been a popular belief that if the Napier sportsman is to claim another Derby winner he Mould have to rely principally on Birkdale, who ran a decent race against Danube in the C.J.C. Derby, and who subsequently scored a meritorious victory over a milo and a-ha!f in the Si. Andrew's Handicap at Feilding. Birkdalo having been paid up for in the A.R.C. Handicap (which race is run on the same day. as the Derby) that would appear to point to Mr. Ormond relying on Formby in the Derby. Can it Iki that lormby, tho disappointment in Iho spring, is now held to lie a letter stayer than his stable mate? Ooldfinder lias demonstrated that he can stay, and if tho son of San Fran has not suffered from his severe races on tho first two days ho may bo expected to tako a place in the field on Monday. The meeting of King Soult and Danube will bo tho great draw in the Derby, and it is to be hoped that tho track conditions and other things will ho such as to ensure a reliable lino as to which island belongs tho credit of breeding the leading three-year-old of the seasoi^ .TOCREYSHIP IN AUSTRALIA. In the course of an article in. tho Melbourne Leader on jockcyship in Australia Mr. Mark Gawen says:—"Ask our jockeys and apprentices tho most rudimentary questions in relation to points of which they should have a reasoning sense, and it is astounding— bordering on the ludicroustho answers one will often' receive. The average jockey is little better than an automaton. Ask him tho simplest question 'Why should you keep your hands down?' The chances are his intelligence, so far as » scientific reply is concerned, finds its limit in ' Because you should.' "Ask him for an explanation of the many movements embraced in a single extended stride, and ten to 0110 his undoing is brought about at once. Question him with regard to , brium or momentary poise of tho body, and it is worso than Arabic to him. Has he anything more than the crudest notion of what respiration impeded by constriction results in? Docs he know why a liorso naturally extends his neck and head when galloping? lie may probably tell you, 'So that he can breathe well,' which reply in itself contains sufficient explanation. And yet wo see that samo jockey frequently doing all he can to prevent the animal from doing so. Why aro 'light hands' so valued a gift in a great horseman? To literally half-choke a horse, as so many jockeys do, simply destroys tho very meaning of 'light hands' if their method Iks tho right one." LEAVES FROM MY NOTEBOOK. Matters appear to be well in train for a new totalisator record so far as tho Dominion of New Zealand is concerned. During tho first two days of the A.R.O. Summer Meeting £51,ll(>j> has been handled at the machines, and as this represents an increase of £6147 on the corresponding days of last year's record (£90,765) largely exceeded. With tho sinews of war so strongly in evidence, it would seem highly probable that Ellerslio will first have the distinction of raising the totalisator record to £100,000.

The West Australian sportsman, Air. P. A. Connolly, has long lx'en credited as a favourite child of Danio Fortune, and in once again supplying the winner of the ricn Perth Cup that view is further emphasised. Mr. Connolly has the record of supplying the winner of the Perth Cup on six occasions in seven years, and when it is remembered that in the only defeat down against his colours in the big race during I lie period named his representative ran the winner to half a head, iho record is 0110 of the most remarkable associated with a big event of tho Australian turf. Tito horses that have carried -Mr. Connolly's colours to victory in the Perth Cup are Blue Spec (by True Blue), Czarovitch (by Little. Bernie), May King (by Posit&no), Post Town (by Positano), Scorcher (by Simmer), and Jolly Beggar (by Ayr Laddie).

Considering that Maxwell was only called upon to carry 6st 131b in the Waitemala Handicap, and that Soultoria ran him to half a length with 271b the worst of tho weights, thero may not, perhaps, be much reason to extol tho brother to Soultline's performance. Still, tho son of Soult has at least demonstrated that lie is not the duffer that :many were inclined to dub him after his disappointing performances in tho spring. Maxwell may never raise himself to the same place as Soultlino, but he is, I take it, a horse that age may bo expected to do something for, and he may bo found playing his part well in more high-class com;«iny than that which lie encountered when he lost his maiden certificate at Ellerslie on Thursday last.

Details of tho complaint lodged by tho Hon. George Lambton against Frank Wootton, concerning the latter's handling of the Trovaros colt in the Blakney Plate, at tlio Lincoln November meeting, now to hand, show that among the witnesses under examination were 11. Wootton, F. Wootton, Sir Charles Nugent (who trained the winner' of the Blakney Plate), and Hon. G. Lambton. Tho charge against Wootton was that of intentionally preventing his mount -winning in the raoe aforementioned. and the investigation was a lengthy one, extending over several sittings, but eventually the stewards dismissed the complaint, though they considered his conduct required explanation.

In referring to the Wootton ease tho Sporting Times says: Captain Machell once had the temerity to doubt tho honesty or skill of the accomplished Goorge Fordham. He had ridden a horse of the captain's called Pericles, on which there had been some heavy plunging in a selling race on the other side of the ditch, and was beaten after a close finish by a big, slashing colt called Prince Imperial, who subsequently became a bad roarer. Captain Machell in his dealings was somewhat arrogant, and he declared that the race had been lost through Fordham's riding, and he would prove _ it. Ho claimed, or bought, Prince Imperial, and after tho last race of the day tried the pair on the samo terms as before. The result was disastrous, as the winner won by a much greater distance than ho had done in the actual raoe, and the wonder ever afterwards was that Fordham got him so near as he did. When_the story of this trial, which was an insult, came to the knowledge of Fordham he at once sent in his cap and jacket, and to the best of our recollection never rode for Captain Machell again. He was at times on other horses trained in the stable, but never those of Captafo Machell.

In the Sporting Times Mr. John Corlett retells the story of West Australian and St. Leger. "The most, memorable occasion of a jockey being warned beforehand of what would be likely to take place in the event of his not winning was in connection with West Australian for the St. Leger of 1853. Notwithstanding that horse had won the Two Thousand Guineas and Derby in brilliant stylo, the betting against him for the St. Leger was of a most extraordinary character, and it was broadly stated that the famous Harry Hill had ' got at' Frank Butler, who was to ride the horse, as he had done in the previous races. Oil the morning of the St. Leger Lord Derby and General Anson, who were the principal masters in John Scott's stable, had Frank Bailor before them and explained to him. the position. Frank Butler was asked to explain, if he could. the reason why the horso was being betted so heavily against in a certain quarter with which lie was very friendly. The jockey vowed his innocence, and said that he had been cruelly maligned. ' Very well,' said Lord Derby, ' to shall not take yon off, as wo do not desire to cast such a silght upon you. The horso is well, and sure to win the race; if ho is beatfen, it will be because he was prevented from winning, and whatever may be the cost we will obtain, either by arrangement or purchase the horse thai has beaten him, and the two shall bo tried publicly over the course after the race, some other jockey riding West Australian." Whether or not Prank Butler contemplated playing an evil part in this matter was never known; but what is well known is that the victory of West Australian gave a certain maker a rare shaking."

I' Tho question of the control of racing*; 3 agitating the Australian States quite as m^ c h as it is in evidence here. The" New Eolith Wales Legislative Assembly is about to Consider a notice of motion "That, 11 .-the opinion of this House, an amedment • the Gaming and Betting Act is urgently nodded to provide that the Board of Control (.shall be constituted of representatives of tln£ metropolitan and country clubs, together.; with representatives of the public, and that; such Board shall possess all the authority ip racing matters now exercised by the Australian Jockey Club."

It need hardly be said that Glenofra Park his been strongly invaded by visitors during tho present week. With such a fine collection of yearlings by Soult housed' at the Papakura estate, it would be surprising to find Mr. W. Walters in anything else but a highly optimistic frame of mind regarding the forthcoming sale.

Jolly Beggar, who won the Perth Cup on Wednesday last, started a hot favourite for that event in tho preceding year, and was beaten half a bead by an outsider (Loch Shiel). As Jolly Beggar carried 9st 21b to victory in the Cup run on Wednesday last, there was a ileal of merit, in his performance. Jolly Beggar was picked up as i. yearling'for tho small outlay of 85gns.

Truly wo live in a remarkable age. A recent, incident, recorded on a racecourse ill Franco is well entitled to be placed in tlio category of the extraordinary. The trainer Barilier mistook the two-year-old colt Cigar:: V. for his sister, the filly Capri 11. 'ihe colt raced instead of tho filly, and won tho Prix do Villejust. The state of mind in which the French, trainer found himself on the blunder being pointed out can l>e better imagined than described.

Midnight Sun, the two-year-old full brother to Noctuiform, is apparently at present, a good bit away from first-class. Those with a knowledge of Noctuiform will remember him as a. chestnut. Midnight Sun is in colour a brOwn, which is closer to both sire and dam, who were both of the bay shade.

Last, year Auckland's unbeaten two-year-old, Ash by, met, with a mishap, and in consequence was not able to try conclusions with the visiting cracks in the Groat, Northern Foal Stakes. This year Auckland had another unbeaten youngster in the Soult. fill}' Miss Winsome, who, unfortunately was placed out, of commission on the eve of the Foal Stakes contest by an influenza attack.

One of the most consistently run out hurdlers during tho past 12 months has been tho young Kegel gelding Hoanga, whoso owner, Mr. W. Montgomery, has not experienced tho kindest of treatment at fortune's hands. However. Hoanga made somo amends on Thursday, when he scored in the Ponsonby Hurdles.

Though Maori King had to strike his colours in the Summer Cup. the son of Merriwee must bo given credit for a really good performance. With 9st tho brown horso had his full weight for age, and his effort up the straight was one of tho features of a highly interesting contest.

Prophet, was set a stiff task on Thursday, when ho was asked to contest the Ponsonby Hurdles under 12st. 51b, especially coming on top of his run of a few days previous in the Auckland Cup. On pulling up Prophet showed symptoms of soreness.

Of the horses seen out at Ellerslie this week nolle have displayed such improved form as Dazzling, the half-sister to California and Goldfinder. Dazzling won a mile race each day in dashing style.

The Auckland-bred filly St. Margaret, (by Soult—St. Edith) continues to pay her way in Australia. At the Gcelong meeting on the 17tli inst. she led the field home in the St. Albans Plate.

Antoinette was responsible lor .i very taking performance in tho Alexandre Handicap. Tho bay daughter of Soult was always galloping in fine style, and sho completed tho seven furlongs in tho fast time of lm. 275.

Black Buck, wl.o filled the rolo of runnerii]) to the English horse Mayfowl in the Viceroy's Cup, run at Calcutta, :s an Aus-tralian-bred equine by Ayr Laddie.

Nominations for all events to be run at the Waikato Trotting Club's meeting close oil Tuesday next. The Rotorua Racing Club will hold their annual race meeting on February 15 and 16. STUD NOTES. [BY rn,\KTON.I The Auckland Cup winner Waimangu is another .horso to lie entered up with the privately-bred division that, have captured tho big slimmer event at Ellorslie. Waimangu, it may l>e remembered, is another illustration of happy results attending tho mating of tho St. Simon and Musket families. Tho leading lines in the Cup winner's pedigree read as follows: — WAIMANGU. Sire: Soult, by St. Simon (eon of Galopin) from BeauJiarnais. by See-Saw [son of Buccaneer) from Josephine, by Birdcatcher 11. (son of Sir Hercules). Dam: Itoxana, by Cuirassier (son of Musket) from Vieux Rose, by Hippocampus (son of Dainty Ariel) from Rosarina, by Traducer (son of The Libel) from Yatterina, by Yattendon (son of Sir Hercules).

Holding an unbeaten certificate such as Culprit does, it need hardly _be said that the bay filly from the South is one of the much-discussed equines in evideneo at Ellorslio. Culprit can bo referred to as a bargain of tho sale ring. Her dam Culroy (in foal to Charlemagne XL) formed one of tho lots submitted to auction at the sale of the Yaldburst stud in the spring of 1908, when she was knocked down to Messrs. W. G. and G. L. Stead for 375gns. Culroy subsequently produced a filly foal, and the youngster who is earning fame under the title of Culprit, is her produce. The leading lines in tho pedigree of tho Great Northern Foal Stakes winner road as follows: — CULPRIT. Sire: Charlemagne 11.. by St. Simon (son of Galopin) from Perfect Dream, by Morion (son of Barcaldine) from Rosebud, by Pero Gomez (son of.' Beadsman}. Dam: Culroy, by Wallace (son of Carbine) from Hortense), by Gang Gorward (son of Stock well) from Josephine, by The Palmer (son of Beadsman).

Each of tho three placed horses in the Summer Cup decided at Ellorslie on Thursday last claim a dash of Musket blood. Kii g So tilt's grand-dam Muskerina is by the famous Toxopholite horse; Indian Queen, the dam of Maori King, is by Stepniak, a grandson of Musket," while Thame, the dam of Birkdale. is a daughter of the Musket mare Lady Mersey.

Descendants of tho defunct Soult are keeping the memory of their illustrious parent green at the A.It.C. Summer Meeting, and it is a good' shade of odds that tho St. Simon horse will once again he placed at the head of the winning sires list. With the Auckland Cup and Summer Cup down to the credit of respective descendants of Soult, a big total of prize-money has already been secured by Soult's progeny.

The dams of many good racehorses have been very indifferent performers on the turf, and a v, r riter in an English exchange mentions that Tragedy Queen (dam of the Melbourne Cup winner Comedy King) was one of that class. As a two-year-old Tragedy Queen ran once—in a maiden plate-—in which slio never got even within hail of the winner, and this ended her racing career for good and all. Prior to leaving England she dropped a brown colt to Desmond and a chestnut filly to William the Third. This latter, as Bitter Orange, won one or two minor events, but did nothing to compare with the achievement of Comedy King. Writing of Comedy King reminds me that though out hero wo have generally been under the impression that lie was not. foaled until May, the " Special Commissioner" says he finds 011 inquiry that the Cup winner was foaled on March 17. Perhaps, however, the scribe named may have erroneously written March for May.

Sir Walter Gilbey, who is an enthusiast wlvore the horse is concerned, has published a book entitled " Horse Breeding to Colour," the object of which is to explain the reason for tho increasing frequency of certain colours and the decrease of others. From Sir Walter (iilbey's hook it is learnt that tho Derby has been won by 34 chestnuts, 24- browns, 66 bays, one " bay or brown" (Volodyovski, 1901), one grey (Gustavus, 1821). and one black (Smolensko, 18131. Ikying Dutchman (1849) is not included in tho list. There seems to have been a difficulty in defining his colour. Flying Dutchman is described as " probably the best racehorse whose colour most nearly approached black." According to a painting by Herring, in Lord Rosebery's possession, Flyirg Dutchman wits Hack; but Sir Walter Gilbey distinctly says that " Smolensko is the only black horse that has won the Derby."

Jolly Beggar, the winner of the Perth Cut), traces to Musket 011 the dam's side, his dam being by Trenton (son of Musket).