SPORTING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14581, 18 January 1911, Page 4

SPORTING.

NOTES BY PHAETON. Everything points to tho Wellington Cup of 1911 being responsible for one ,of tho strongest favourites that has contested any race of ■ like importance in tho Dominion. Miss Mischief's record-beating performance at Ellerslio .has causcd tho daughter of Treadmill to bo brought under the limelight in a very pronounced manner. Presumed morals at times have an unhappy knack of going wrong, and it. will bo highly interesting to note the nature of Miss Mischief's performance at Trent,ham on Saturday next, tor it seems only a question of Treadmill's daughter being landed at tho post in proper form to settle the question of favouritism. A . pleasing feature of the Wellington Cup acceptance list is that Los Angolos, __ who was awarded top weight, lias been paid up for. The soil of Sail Francisco i 3 credited with being able to run out a mile and a-half in high-class style, and by all accounts ho is in rare fettle to tackle his Trentham engagement. -

Soultlin© having led off with a brilliant feat over seven furlongs early last month at Calcutta,' it was considered highly probable that the Auckland-bred gelding would repeat his winning performance in the Trials, run a few days prior to the Viceroy's Cup. Soultline was a raging hot, favourite, but he riiet with an unexi>ected defeat, the winner turning up in the English-bred horse Fizz, the favourite finishing third. ,

The Papakura Racing Chili's meeting, to lie. held on Saturday next, may be expected to draw a good crowd to tlio old place. The handicaps declared by Mr. i:. W. Edwards should load to satisfactory acceptances, and be followed up with good fields.

Monoplane, tho three-year-old daughter of Monoform and the Soult mare Lycia demonstrated at Ellerslio last month that she was on the up-grade, and, by capturing the two leading events at the Wanganui Racing Club's meeting, she gave further evidence of improvement.

Tui Cakobau has been very sore since lie wound up at Eilerslio in the early part of the present month. The Cuirassier gelding is carrying a good percentage of lumps on his legs as a result of his contact with tho timber, and looks very much as though ho will have to be turned out for a protracted spell.

The long spell of dry weather hits, I am told, had a very hardening effect on the Takapuna course, and even, the plough track does not relievo the situation for t.hoso who have horses in training oil the North Shore ground.

■' Tho well-known jockey W. H. Smith has been retained to rido for Mr. Fred. Morton at a salary of £500 a year and the usual winning and losing fees. This, it is reckoned, is a record feo for Australia.*

. Acceptances for the Takapuna Cup and also for the minor events to be run on the opening day of tho Takapuna Jockey Club's Summer Meeting closo oil Friday next at nine p.m.

• Mr. Jas. Hill's pair, Armagh and Castlo Rlailey, havo resumed work at Ellcrslie, both being attached to J. Williamson's stable.

Master Sly, who is trained by «T. Chaafo, jun,, carried a bag of money in his brace of starts at Whangarei on Friday, but finished" second to imrod each time. On the second day he triumphed in the Maiden Plate, again going out as a favourite.

The Soult gelding Hyperion proved equal to winning the Bushmen's Purse at Whangarei, but later on in the day was beaten easily by the galloway Front-ine, from whom ho was in receipt of 31b.

Miss Lenore (Bst 41b) was inadvertently omitted from tho Hack and Maiden Handicaps to be dccidod at the Papakura Racing Club's meeting.

Uranium, who figures at the head of tho list in tho Takapuna Cup with 9st, won that, event last year under Bst 31b.

The Otahuhu Trotting Club's summer programme will require attention at.' the hands of horseowners on or before Friday next, on which day at nine p.m. nominations closo for all events.

Acceptances for all events to be run at, the Papakura Racing Club's meeting close to-night at nine o'clock.

The Matamata Racing Club hold their annual race meeting to-morrow.

Acceptances for nil events to be run at the Huntly Racing Club's meeting close tonight at nine p.m.

INTERPROVINCIAL GOSSIP.

[BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

WELLINGTON.

Tuesday.

Tho small acceptance for tho Wellington Cup did not; occasion very great surprise, as many of- the defaulting candidates are at the present time knocked up with recent racing, and others have engagements in the Telegraph Handicap, while the majority of those at the bottom of tho handicap were looked upon as having no chance with such as Goldfinder and Miss Mischief. The latter is one of tho hottest favourites ever known in the history of the race. Some who profess to know say that if Lady Reiua gets through her track gallops satisfactorily Miss Mischief will be scratched, but it hardly seems likely that. Mr. G. D. Greenwood will scratch such a hot favourite. At this - stage perhaps t.ho most noticeable defection from tho Telegraph Handicap is Effort, who was very well supported in doubles last, week, but her stable companion Gold Lace is still in tho race, and as she is the stable elect sho will have to be favourably considered now.

AJerrivonia and Iranui, tho local candidates for the Wellington Cup,' are both doing well in their preparation, but tho chanoes of Penza, another Wellington candidate. are not at present treated seriously.:

0. Price will arrive on Wednesday with Bronzo, Allurement, Polymorphous, and Kilosteri; but Boanerges will bo left, at Awapuni.

' CANTERBURY. Tuesday. Dr. Fullerton, who was killed in a motorcar accident in Soutland last week, was an enthusiastic racing man. A few years ago he held office as president of the Southland Racing Club, ana at the time of his death ho was vice-president arid treasurer of tho Southland Trotting Club. Ho was also an owner and breeder, racing tinder the ■ asoumcd name of Mr. C. Sefton." He had not experienced much luck in racing for somo time, but he was as keen as over, and one of his latest ventures was to purchase tho North Island horso Swimming Belt. Some timo ago ho engaged tho well-known cross-country rider H. Carr as his private trainer, and tho horses under his care now are Ngawora, Lady Margate, Invincible, and a couple of young ones. Tho mares at tho stud include Mawaery (by Gipsy Grand Ambush), Laxly Ronald (by - Olanranald— Itody Agnes), and Bombyx and Silkworm. Altogether Dr. Fullerton was tho type of sportsman who can ill bo spared in Southland. r. From what can 1» seen at present thore will bo a fairly strong team of South Island horses racing at Trentham this month, though tho number may not be so largo as was expected. R. J. Mason will take Miss Mischief, Orton, Lady Reina, and Directoiro to represent Mr. Gri>onwood; Messrs. Stead Bros, will probably have Sunburnt and Culprit; and R. O'Donnell will take Los Angolos and Formless. 11. Cults has Sharpshooter, True Knight, Tenterhook, and Countermine, and will be joined by E. Cutts with three or four more. I hear that tho : Ota go horso Obsono is also booked for tho trip. The scratching of Danube and Perle d'Or for their 'Trentham engagements did not occasion any stir. Danube will bo,givon a short rest preparatory to valuable engagements lator on, including the Great Autumn Handicap and the Now Zealand St. Lcger, whilo as for Perle d'Or, 1 am afraid sho is not much good.

A report has been current that Sharpshooter broke down in Auckland, but I think it will bo found tho Clanrnnald horso is all right. Somo criticism has- been caused by the action of tho N.Z. Metropolitan Trotting Club in changing tho dates , of its summer meeting from February 9 and 11 to January 26 and 28. Ostensibly tho change was made to provont a clash with the Floral Fete on February 9, but it is significant that the new dates enable the club to secure bookmakers' fees again. Furthor than that the

club has now ■ jumped tho _ dates of two country clubs, both of which havo abandoned their meetings in consequence. While tlio action of tho club has boon adversely commented on, the severest criticism has been levelled at the Trotting Association ' for sanctioning thd now dates. It appears that tho programme was approved by the executive of the ' association, and tho president (Mr. Selig), at this week's meeting, ' shouldered all the blame, but his explanation was rather unconvincing. He admitted thai ho had probably failed to give the matter of clashing of dates sufficient consideration, while the question of bookmakers had never crossed his mind. Mr. Selig is admittedly a good administrator, but in this instance ho has failed lamentably. In tho big trotting club's report it was ludicrous to read of Mr. Sclig's indignation over tho application of a small country club in Otago which applied for a change of date to January, and openly stated that it wished to secure bookmakers' for its meeting ! Horses booked to leave for Trentham this week aro i'asnakyle, lzdubar, Los Angelos, Formless, Genius, All Guns, Medallist, and Outlandor. Of the privately-trained teams Franks will take Culprit and Sunburnt. Mason's team will consist of Miss Mischief and Lady Re in a, with Peireno, Orton, and Byron as other probables. WANG AN UI. ■ . Tuesday. With stake money ti> tho extent of £3350 down for competition at the Wanganui Jockey Club's Autumn Meeting that may ,bo said to strike a high key for a. highly successful gathering. Nominations for all events close on tho 24th inst.

, It is understood that, negotiations are in progress which may lead to Shannon Lass changing hands. She showed attractive form at Stratford, and one or two inquires were made as to what, Mr. It. Narelle would sell tho mare for.

It is stated that Mr. H. McManaway has given Mahuta to Mr. W. Homes, of Bulls, until such time as the horse's racing career is finished.

I'rsefectus is to be taken to Wellington, •■whore The Officer—Perfection gelding, on his form at New Plymouth and Stratford, should do well, as ho is evidently possessed of more than average pace. Tho Lark is • engaged in f'ho hurdles at Foxton on the 21st inst. The little son of Nestor is expected to shape well over the little sticks, providing ho keeps sound. Fred. Tilley intends taking Attention, Midian, and Gabc/. to Foxton.

There is a very good class of horses engaged at the Karioe meeting, the weights for which have made their appearance. Tho Cup should ho a good race, with such horses as The Native, Singer, Master Laddo, and others amongst tho likely starters.

WELLINGTON RACING CLUB'S

SUMMER MEETING.

TRENTHAM TRAINING NOTES.

[Br TELEGXIATfI.— ASSOCIATION.]

Wellington, Tuesday.

At Trentham this morning Countermine held Nithsdale safe at the: end of half-innile run in 51s. . Big: Blast covered live furlongs in lm. 45., but did not finish strongly. Obsono left the same distance, behind in, lni. 2s. Sinanis and Lanit-on sprinted half-a-mile in 50 l-ss. Iramii, Lady Medallist, and, Goldfinder were associate! in a. mile and a-c|uarter gallop, finishing- iri that order in 2m. 12 l-si?. Iranui was a length ahead of Lady Medallist, with "• Uoldtlmler eight lengths away. Gold Lace beat Effort over six furlongs, the last four tailing lrn. 4s Elfort pulled up bleeding- at. the nose. Septimus finished in front of Succession in a half-mile sprint, run in 50 l-ss. Hereward covered the same distance in 49 2-53.

HUKERENUI RACES. [.BT TELEGRAPH.—OWN COKP.ESPONDEST.j

WHANCAItEI, Tuesday.

The following handicaps have been declared for the Uukerenui race meeting, to be held on Thursday :—

TROT HANDICAP, one mile and a-half.—Kiri-kiriroa scratch, Fiery Cross 65., Flipflap 245., Casket 275., ArrjDtii 29»", Marsden 235., Benny 403., Lady Member 405., Nance 405., Flirt, 40*., Pasha 405., Kiripaka 455., Miss Castaway 465., Miss Ethel 465., Clumsy 455.

MAIDEN HANDICAP.—LochIea 96. Kamo Lass 9.0, Sending Day 8.7, Wairua. 8.0, Kitty 7.0, Bill 7.0, Towai ,7.0.

GUl'.—Nimrod 9.6, Nervine 9.0. Oniati 8.7, Peregrine 8.0, Sapper 7.5, Belle Napier 7.4, Luros 7.4, Loohlfja 7.4, Pride 7.0, Manoeuvre 8.4.

TROT HANDICAP, two miles.—Kirikiriroa scratch, Fiery Cross Hs., Flipflap 285., Casket 315., Marsden 33*.. Aronui 435.. Nance 445., Flirt 445., Benny 45.=., Lady Member 45}., Pasha 45?., Miss Castaway 455., Kiripaka SCs., Miss Kthel 505., Clumsy 50s.

FLYING HANDICAP.—rod 9.10, Nervine 3.3, Omnti 8.13 Manoeuvre 8.6, Belle Napier 8.0, Peregrine 8.0, ■ Lochlea 7.8, Luros 7.6, Sapper 7.2, Pride 7.0, Melba 6.7.