SPORTING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15649, 1 July 1914, Page 5

SPORTING.

. RACING FIXTURES, July 2, 4— Gisborne Racing Club. July 15, 18—Wellington Racing Club. DATES OP COMING EVENTS. New Zealand. July 36—Wellington Steeplechase. AUSTJIALIA. July V.R.C. Grand National Hurdle Race. July U-'V.R.C. Gri.ud National Steeplechase. August Australian Hurdle Race. . August B—Australian Steeplechase. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. St. Descendants of St. Legor won the Auckland Cup in three successive yearn, viz.. Bluejacket (1869 and 1000) and St. Michael (1901). T.J.W.. Romuera,.-In 1906 Paritutu- won the A.R.C. Handicap under Sat 21b, and the Autumn Handicap under 9at 2lb. The official time (2m 87 2-sa) was the same in each I case. Waoeb.— There wero only fivo races on tho I programme of the Auckland Racing Club's initial winter meeting. 2. Macaroni, who won the first Great Northern Steeplechase, won the Hawbi's Baj Steoplechliso in tho same month. NOTES BY PHAETON. The Gisborne Racing Club will open its winter meeting to-morrow, and will continue the same on Saturday. 'Ihe loading event is the Gisborne Steeplechase, in which the following horses are en-gaged:-Sir Lethe, list 61b; Napper Tandy, lOst lllbj Golborne, lOst 10|b; Tho Chief. lOst 81b; Stroller, 9st 121b; Fond Memory, 9st 101b; Game, 9st /lb, Reservoir, 9st 71b. Tho Auckland-bred stallion, Don Hannibal, by Explosion-H'- .tia; has been sold to the Australian cattle king, Mr. S. Kidman, who intends using him as a station sire. On the strength of a brace of victories which he registered hi tho autumn of 1909, Don Hannibal was bought-in Auckland by the late Mr. W. Lyons, who had sanguine hopes of capturing a big race with him in Australia. The purchase of the Explosion horse proved most unsatisfactory. Don Hannibal proved untrainablo, and ho never earned a shilling .of the £700 which he cost Mr. Lyons. Sardanaple, who, as tho .winner of the Prix du Jockey Club and the Grand Prix do Paris, stands out as the crack of the French turf, is unfortunately not engaged in the English St. Lcger, so that, so far as this season is concerned, ho is unlikely to bo seen contesting on tho English side of the channel this year. Mr. H. Duryea, who furnished tho winner of the English Derby with Durbar 11., is credited with having backed his horse heavily. It is, however, stated as a fact that the American sportsman had no solid intentions of sending his colt across the channel to contest in tho big event at Epsom until it was made quite clear that The Tctrarch would not be amongst tho field. Durbar H., tho French-bred colt, having been twico decisively defeated in classic events decided in the land of his birth since ho registered his victory in the English Derby on May 28 last, the three-year-old form at Epsom, never hold to bo high this soason, cuts a very poor figure. At least one bookmauer in England was a trifle unluckv in connection with Tho Tetrarch. At "Newmarket the day prior to the scratching of the grey for the Derby, he found lie had overlaid him, and, for covering purposes, tried to get £4000 to £1000. He failed, and wired instructions to London. He received a reply tho following morning stating the commission had been executed, and an hour later Tho Tetracb'was struck out. The disgust of that bookmaker can well be imagined. At a trotting meeting held recently in West Australia a lady jockey Mrs. Kelly, rode a couple of winners, Snowfoot and Nell Gwynne, in successive event*. Tho fair one got a cordial reception on returning to scale on each occasion. Mrs. W. Blight owns Snowfoot, a bay mare, four years old, and started from 70yds behind scratch in a field of 13. Mrs. C. J. Kelly is tho owner of Nell Gwynne, who was on 30yds, and beat 15 opponents. Both winners were outsiders, and paid the highest dividends at the meeting. It was apparently a fortunate thing for the bookmakers who peppered The Tetrarch for tho Derby that "tho flying gray' failed to stand training. That he would have proved equal to coping successfully with the field that contested the race is an opinion widely entertained. Admiral Soult is in great heart just at present, and ran away from King Soult at the business end of a circuit on tho Band at Ellerslie yesterday -morning. Bleriot joined in tho effort in the lead the latter part, and Tho Admiral almost got on terms with the Soult mare at the close. Coleman's charge is a distinct fancy for tho Winter Hurdles at Trentham. Bluestono has stood up to the racing indulged in at Ellerslie in great stylo, and seems morewound in limb than over to undertake the Southern campaign mapped out by Trainer Thorpe. The son of Bluelight is, chosen in the Smith with Chortle as favourite for tho Winter Cup, also with Portraiture and Pursefiller as the first selections for the Parliamentary Handicap at Trentham.

With Kelly in the saddle, Tragedy King cleared tho pony hurdles at Ellerslie in good style last Saturday morning. Kelly had his foot bruised when Recap fell with him the same morning, and now has to get about with the aid of a stick. Kelly has had- more than his share of misfortune while schooling horses at headquarters,

It cannot bo said that Jack Dclaval is harshly treated in the Melbourne Cup, but whether Mr. F. Stenningwill send the little fellow on such a big mission is open to question. He is such a delicate customer that I prefer to think ho will bo found at Ellorslio next November, not at Flemington.

Captain Jack is being eagerly inquired after in connection with the Wellington Steeplechase Ho is booked to leave with La Reina and Chris next Monday, and has improved, if anything, since competing at. EUerslie. Whether ho will be as successful over flat country as at Ellerslio remains to be proved. Admiral Soult has a handy impost in the Winter Hurdles at % Trentham, and when schooled at EUerslie last Saturday in company with Ngatiruanui, gave evidenco that he h&s improved, if anything, since competing at EUerslie, when he won a treble. Just at tho present time the gardeners at Ellerslie racecourse are particularly busy uprooting old shrubs and transplanting new varieties of evergreens and flowers alongside the entrance pathways and laws. Caretaker Hill also has his general staff very busy effecting many improvements. King Soult is nominated at Wellington, but it depends how he shines in the meantime whether he will be taken South. Besides exercising at Ellerslie, the son of Soult is being indulged in hill work, and maybe he will stand a fair preparation. Most of the Aucklanders engaged at Trentham are billed to leavo early next week for the South. Te Onga, Admiral Soult, Captain Jack, and Ingenkender can almost be counted on as certain competitors at the fixture. Ngatiruanui is intended for Riccartou, and is being kept up to solid .work at Ellerslie. He has been schooled of late with Conway in tho saddle, and has given a good exhibition. According to Southern advice, Morning and Grey King in the Grand National Hurdles, and The Spaniard and Peary, ui the Grand National Steeplechase, are the favoured combinations for the big Riccarton fixture.

Ingenkender has been kept up to solid work at Ellerslie, and will be despatched South next Monday with E. J. Rae's team, owing to Mr. W. Scott not, being able to spare the time. \ —-—

Merry Roe is in great fettle lust at present, and had no difficulty in showing out from La Reina in the early stages of their training task at Ellerslie yesterday morning.

Toreador is still wearing bandages, but is moving freely enough in his work at Ellerslie to suggest that his days of usefulness are r.ot numbered yet awhile.

Both A. Julian and J. Buchanan had riding engagements to fulfil at Gisborne this week, but had to decline, owing to the delay of the Monowai in leaving Auckland.

Maisey Pop is amongst the most forward rising three-year-olds in work at Ellerslie, and is getting through very useful exercise at Ellerslie each morning with Trainer Mark Ryan in the saddle. Royal Arms is said to be clearing obstacles in great style at New Plymouth, though Cheddar's efforts have been faulty. Both are to complete Wellington engagements. Ruse de Guerre is being hacked about tho roads a lot of late, the idea of Trainer J. Lambess being to try and quieten the chestnut mare somewhat by that means. Muilingar has not grown much, but is moving with all his old freedom on the Ellerslie tracks) and is certain to bo heard of as a three-year-old. W. Mohberly is keeping both Revelation and Devastation busy at headquarters, and evidently intends to get the best out of the pair at early spring meetings. A five-year-old full sister to Paisano arrived by train last night, and goes into K. Hsaton's stable. NAPIER AND WELLINGTON NOTES. [FROM OCR own correspondent.] Tho Napier Park Racing Club must bo given credit for issuing a very up-to-date race card, provision being made for every little detail of note, even to the jockeys' position at the post. As a mark of respect to the club's late president, Mr. McVay, a dark border adorned the front page of the cards issued in connection with last week's meeting. The reason why Grey King was not entered for Wellington was because he is engaged at Gishorne, and his party wish to givo the son of Strowan. every show to get over recent efforts before the big Riccarton fixture. Grey King.is a deceiving customer, being of the lengthy, raky ordeT; but there is no doubt as to his pace. In both hurdle events which he won during the past fortnight, the results were hardly ever in doubt, though ho rappod quite a number of his fences. As a Grand National candidate, he is to be considered, if only because of the pace and breeding that he claims; but there is reason to believe that the Gishorne-owned grey would develop into even a better horse next season if given the opportunity to fill out. He is not a horse that .would impress any keen judge as a weighty carrier.at present; but, of course, is not pitted against anything of note at Gisborno. • Sir Lethe gave a great exhibition of fencing at Napier Park last week, and there is no doubt that his great pace in the early part of his races must havo somo detrimental effect on some of the other candidates, for their 'horsemen can be noted displaying uneasiness long before thero is any necessity. Of course, it may be disconcerting to see a competitor well out in front; but reputedly patient horsemen should not be found bustling their mounts, as was noticed at Napier Park when Sir Lethe put big breaks on his field in the early part of his races. Both A. J. McFlynn and J.' Tilde:, who were present fulfilling engagements at Napier Park, arrived back North by Saturday morning's express, and were out riding work at Ellerslie after breakfast. McFlynn went off to Gisborne the same afternoon. Tilsley is not engaged at that fixture, but leaves with Te Onga for Trentham early next week." With the increased attendances at race meetings Napier Park Racine Club will havo to consider the advisability of providing more space for the public. At last week's fixture sportsmen were all too cramped, both inside and outside the enclosure, especially round the vicinity of tho :.otalisator house. Several youngsters were exercised at Napier Park last week between the _ races, and tbo Elysian representative in #F. Davis's care came in for most attention. The Auckland-bred youngster is expected I to mak) a name for nimself when his turn comes to grace the raeepath. -

Like Captain Jack, who is being largely fancied for the Wellington Steeplechase, tho paw of The Cliief has improved with age, which, by the way, is very often noticeable in the case of geldings. To keen followers of tho turf who were present at Hastings, The Chief's victory in the Napier Steeplechase came- as no surprise.

Sir Antrim, full brother to Lord Soult, is to be taken in hand by T. Lloyd, the Marton mentor. Sir Antrim has enjoyed a spell in the paddock of something over two years, prior to which the son of Soult —Lady Antrim was a good performer in iandicap events up to a mile and a-quar-ter.

During "the Napier Park meeting last week it was reported that Exotic had changed hands at 750gns, but such turned out to be inconoct, though thero-was a desire on both sides to come to terms. Exotic is now well up in the handicaps, and would be well sold at the figure named.

Immensity, which captured a hack hurdle stake at Napier Park, forms one of H. Hickey's team, and won in such decisive fashion as to make it c'sar that she will be heard of again. Immensity is a f.mr-year-old mare by Multified--Im-mense aikoff.

Rumour is afloat that when put to & ! schooling task Last week, Peary absolutely refined to negotiate an obstacle. It does not always do to lend a kind ear to rumour, and probably when Peary again sports silk he will give the lie direct to thf>"f> who contend he has lost hia fencing ability. Foraby had no right to be saddled up at Nipier, as "his - chance was hopeless with irueh an unsound limb. He got over very few fences before being pulled up, a.ud is not likely to stand a preparation. In all probability this son of Birkenhead ! will go to stud duty next season. Diavolo has improved in his jumping siuce Aucklanders observed him fail badly at, Takapuna last spring, and his third to Immensity a Napier Park last week suggests that the half-brother to Theodore will be seen in a more formidable position later on. Chatmoss, engaged in hack scurry events at Gisborno, shewed a lot of pace out in front of a hack field at Hastings for five furlongs— nice which Portraiture won from Pursefiller. Some of the horsemanship witnessed at Hawke's Bay meetings was crude in the extreme, and all the good cross-country horsemen operating in the Dominion at the present time could bo counted on two hands. Old Highden, the trotter, who has won races at Alexandra Park, is now owned by Arthur Oliver, and is quartered at Awapiini. Morning was produced in a hack event at Napier, but did not, look anything near ready, and ran accordingly. A. J. McFlyun is to ride Grey _ King in his engagements at Gisborne tliis week, also Golborne. Goodwin Park is said to be receiving a special preparation for the Grand National Hurdles.