SPORTING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15849, 20 February 1915, Page 4

SPORTING.

RACING FIXTURES. February 20.—Dunedin Jockey Club. February 20South Auckland Racing Club. February 24, 27—Otahuhu Trotting Club. February 25. 27.—Wanganui Jockey ClubMarch 6, —Te Aroha Jockey Club. March 12, —Napier Park Racing Club. March 17. 18.Ohinemuri Jockey Club. March 18, 19—Masterton Racing Club. March 24, 25—Rangitikei Racing Club. April 5. 6—Canterbury Jockey Club. DATES OF COMING EVENTS. New Zealand. February 25.—Wanganui Cup. March —Napier CupApril 3—Great Northern Champagne StakesApril 3—A.R.C. Easter Handicap. , April Great Northern Oaks. April s—St. George's HandicapJune 3—Great Northern Hurdle Race. June s—Great Northern Steeplechase. Australia. February 27—V.R.C. St- Leger. February 27Newmarket Handicap. March —Australian Cup. March —Champion Stakes. April 3—A-J.C. St. Leger. April Sydney Cup. NOTES BY PHAETON. At latest King George's nominee for the English Derby, to be decided in June, was doing remarkably well at Home, having wintered particularly 'well and grown into a fine stamp of a Derby colt. Should Friar Marcus, who was unbeaten as a two-year-old, carry off the great classic honours at Epsom, there will be unheard of rejoicing throughout the British Empire, rejoicing which will extend even to the allied trenches on the Continent. When the son of Cicero and Prim Nun concluded his two-year-old career the critics were not found declaring in his favour so far as developing into a typical three-year-old was concerned; but these writers now contend that Friar Marcus | is a striking example of the most extra- [ ordinary improvement from two to threei years known in modern years.

The New Zealander Di Gama has created quite a lot of discussion since his survival in the Sandown Park Plate, almost every turf writer of note in Australia devoting space to the speedy son of Vasco —Teacup. Concerning the race in question "Xallyrand," in Melbourne lable Talk, lias to say :— In a veritable day of surprises not the least unexpected item was the production of Di Gama in the six-furlong plate—an event which was generally regarded as being quite beneath the notice of such a champion. But that was the clever part of it, the result being that backers ot Di Gama got twice the price they would have got in a race, say, at Flemington. Another thing, there was an impression abroad that be was not ready to back after his lengthy spell, but results proved that he was forward enough to see out the distance, even though ho only scratched home by ' a whisker" at the finish from the improving Jullundur. "Perhaps, after all, the Jullundur party were lucky in getting as close as they did to the brilliant New Zealander, who was giving near y everything a big start from the home turn, and even then lost ground by having to come round his field." Speaking of Di Gama'a trainer the same writer refers to G. Delaney "as a really smart young mentor, who apparently; knows more about getting his horses fit than some of the older hands, and also | when to support them, though in the case j of a horse like Di Gama, this latter part iof the programme is not difficult, of course."

A Thames correspondent writes stating that Loyal Ai-ch was bred by Mr. Peter Maxwell, who at present owns her dam, Ladv Minnie, having bought her stinted to Gluten at the dispersal sale of Mr. Richard Percival. Besides having thrown to the turf Loyal Arch, Lady Minnie was the dam of Mon Emma, while both Gluetanus and Lady Middleton are also halfsisters to Loyal Arch. The breeding of Lady Middleton, as it appeared on the Te Kuiti card was incorrect. Lady Maurice should have read Lady Minnie. My correspondent also points out that Mr. Maxwell was also the breeder of Discoverer,- Brownie, Uranium, Soultline, Soultbine, and Maxwell, and is known to be one of the oldest sportsmen in the district.

Prior to Wednesday last Orleans had shown up well this season, and Southerners, who had witnessed his victories at Feilding, Foiton, and elsewhere had little doubt that he would silence the opposition in the Woodville Cup, but this he failed to do, presumably because he failed to see the 10 furlongs out satisfactorily. He is by Conqueror, who has never given a real genuine stayer to the turf. The dam of Orleans, Jeanne D'Arc, was a good performer over middle distances.

Land of Song, whose name is to be found among the entrants for the Sydney Cup, is said to have cost Mr. Norman Falkiner 4000gns iij England, and he ought, therefore, to be •well worth seeing. He is by Llangibby from Aliena, and was in the same stable as The Tetrarch. Last season Land of Song ran six times, being nowhere in Greennam Stakes, with the top weight, 9st 41b; fourth in Two Thousand Guineas, third in Burwell Plate, nowhere in Hurst Park Yearling Plate, and first in Irish Derby, and again in Wiltshire Stakes at. Bilburv. Land of Song has therefore claims to be considered a horse of some class.

Those who have followed Sir Alba's career on the turf experienced no surprise when the chestnut carried off the Woodvillo Cup prize on Wednesday last. The son of Sir Laddo has credited his Hastings owner with several hack races in the past in good style, and always gave evidence of staying on well over a journey. In fact, most of Sir L&ddo's stock are stayers. Under a light scale of weights, Sir Alba may be expected to add further to his laurels in the future. Quite a number of experienced racing followers were found expressing the opinion that Troublesome should turn out useful over hurdles, so that it occasioned little surprise to learn that F. McCabe has taken the gelding across to Melbourne with the idea of giving him a trial ft the illegitimate game. His career in Victoria will be watched with interest by Aucklauders. No less than 364 nominations have been received in connection with the approaching race meeting at To Arolia on March 6 and 8. This constitutes a record for a two-days' country meeting in Auckland Province. Many improvements have been carried out at Te Aroha. racecourse since the last meeting, and the club can look forward to a very successful gathering.

Black Northern began his erratic pranks at Ellerslie once again on Wednesday morning last. He had already completed his schooling task over five fences successfully, and was being exercised on the sand when he showed a distinct dislike to galloping, and stopped suddenly on two different occasions near the old mile post.

The loss of Exotic will remove one of our promising fencers from the steeplechase ranks this winter. He was being exercised at Trentham last week when he dropped dead. Exotics most important victory last season was in the Hawke's Bav Steeplechase. He won a total of £1015 over the big country.

Word comes from Wairoa of an encouraging nature regarding the prospects of D. Porter eventually recovering from the effects of the accident which befel him at the recent race meeting ; but nevertheless it is not likely that any attempt will be made to remove him from his present quarters for some time.

Nominations for the Ohinemuri Jockev Club's annual meeting for all events of both days close to-night at nine o'clock with Mr. F. D. \onge, Vulcan Lane, Auckland, or the secretary, at Paeroa.

Tripoli, who went very sore after racing at Botorua, is at present enjoying a spell it the country.

It is more than likely that Popinjay - has done racing, says the Sydney Daily Telegraph. He was a starter in the Challenge Stakes and shipped the field in. During th© week on© of Popinjay's legs filled, and it went further in the Challenge Stakes, so that the position the horse occupied at the finish of the race is easily accounted for. Popinjay did not break down, and, therefore, his case is not absolutely hopeless; but his trainer, Mr. T. Payten, does not think that he will ever, be raced again, and, in any case, his Victorian engagementsOakleigh Plate and Newmarket Handicap— will be forfeited, as well as-others that are awaiting fulfilment. In return for the 625gns he cost Mr. A. Knox a yearline Popinjay won:—Tatter sail's Juvenile Stakes, £240: "V.A.T.C. Windsor Handicap, £250; Moonee Valley Ngarveno Handicap, £100; V.R.C. Linlithgow Stakes, £830; V.A.T.C. Futurity Stakes, £1500; V.R.C. Alleged Stakes, £784; A.J.C: Villiers Stakes, £996; Tattersall's New Year's Gift, £382; V.A.T.C. Oakleigh Plate, £1000; Rosehill Rawson •Stakes, £300. In addition to these amounts Popinjay picked up a lot of prize money, and therefore has done well.

A point in connection with the insurance of jockeys which may prove of interest to owners cropped up at the Woodend. meeting, says the Australasian. Before the race the owners of Pticca and The Spec insured their respective riders, and the pair ran a dead-heat* When they went to weigh-out for the run-off another premium was demanded, on the ground that the risk for which they were originally insured had expired, and that the run-off constituted another risk, and the jockeys should be re-insured. The owners, however, decided to accept the risk themselves, and did not pay the second premium.

Land of Song, who won the St. George's Stakes at Caulfield last Saturday from Mountain Knight and other first-class performers, is the English importation racing in the colours of Mr. N. Falkiner, of Melbourne. Prior to leaving the Homeland, Land of Song placed the Irish Derby and other races to his credit. He is engaged in the Futurity Stakes at Caulfield this afternoon, and will probably measure strides with Di Gama in weight-for age events at the big Australian Cup meeting, to be commenced on Saturday next, February 27.

The -wife of John Coates, a jockey now interned in Germany, has just returned to England, and states that the few trainers who were let out to look after the valuable horses at Graditz will have to return to the camp owing to complaints made by some of the authorities against their being allowed freedom. She also corroborates the reports of the Germans' bitter hatred against the English. She has had all her luggage taken from her, gold exchanged for paper, which is useless, and is without means.

Another smart. English horse is coming to Australia, Mr. Leslie English having secured from Mr. E. Hulton, through R. Wootton, the Marcovil horse Flippant. Flippant, is almost a brother in blood to Bronzino, being by Marcovil (son of Marco) from Flitters, by GaJopin from lerne. by Hermit from Shannon, by Lambton from The Mersey, by Newminster. Bronzino is by Marco. Flippant was a good performer. ** — It is not generally known that Erin's King, who figures as a nomine® for the Otahuhu Trotting Club's ."meeting next week, is by the can-bred Hal Zolock. who won the big event at - the Auckland Trotting Club's summer carnival. Erin's King- bails from Canterbury, and won the Trial Handicap' at the recent Hutt "Valley meeting. Jack Ashore, Our Aggie, and Lady Tempest are also expected to make the "trip from the South in charge of J. Bryce. Although Di Gama figures as top-weight in the Australian Cup, he also claims a classic engagement on the same day. Per-' haps it will depend on how he shapes in the Essendon Stakes on Newmarket Handicap day, which race his party will elect to contest on Tuesday, March 2. t The high price of feed for horses is likely to be responsible for several secondrat© horse being thrown out of training in the near future. The fact is, trainers complain that they will find it impossible to carry on unless fees experience a considerable rise in value. Crescendo has arrived at Ellerslie, and is to again form one of the team presided over by P. Jones. It is to be hoped her owner will experience a tarn of fortune's wheel with the big daughter of Crecy to compensate him for the loss of Credo. Lord Multifid figured on the card for the big Caulfield meeting now in progress. This is the son of Multifid who boasted a great- reputation when P. Coffey took him across to Australia a month back from Haw era.

Taringamuto, ■who won amongst the juvenile class in good style at Trentham, has been with drawn from his Jackson Stakes (Wanganui) engagement, owing to the injury to his shoulder being more serious than at first supposed. The Otahuhu Trotting Club's forthcoming meeting promises to be a great success. The acceptances totalled 110 oat of 133 nominations. Horses from all over the Dominion are taking part. The Christchurch horses arrived yesterday morning. J. N. McGregor, having quite recovered from his accident, intends to resume public riding. * He has been granted his jockey's license by the Y.R.C. committee. Accommodation has already been booked at Wanganui for Sauci and Bonny Rigg, which makes it certain that Mr. Gerald Stead is to be represented at the Cup fixture. Latest advice received from Victoria is to the effect that G. Delaney is still retained as trainer of Di Gama. also that he is taking Paoli in hand again.

J. Tilsey, the local hurdle horseman, has accepted a position with the owner of Flingot and Co. at Hastings, and intends leaving for the South shortly. Clarence O'Neil, ex-New Zealand horseman, rode three* winners over fences in Tasmania recently. STUD NOTES. [BT phaeton.] Di Gama, who has tad a run of continuous victories in Victoria, is bred on beautiful lines, combining speed with staying abilities. Through his sire, Yasco, he gets tlire-e crosse§ of Stockwell, while he also gets a double cross of Galopin through his dam. Tea Cup. The leading lines in his pedigree are :— DI GAMA. Sire: Vasco. by Velasquez (son of Donovan') from Sea Breeze, by lst>nomy (ton of Sterling) from St. Marguerite, by Hermit isor. of Newminster) from Devotion by StockwellAlcestis. Dam : Tea Cup, by Chevening (son of Orion) from Loving Cup, by Melton (son of Master Kildare) from Sterling Love, by Sea Saw (son of Buccaneer) from True Love, by —Carime.

In a reference to fashionably-bred stallions whose services are available in England at low fees, the Special Commissioner of the London Sportsman says:—" Crift'el who stands at an inclusive £9 19s fee, is a seven-eighths brother to Cicero, for he is by CvlleneTmt of Corposant, by Sheen (son of Hampton) out of Illuinmata (dam of LadaS and granddam of Cicero), by Ro<=icraician out of Paraffin. Criffel showed good winning form in his brief turf career, and he is warranted sound. Friar Marcus (by Cicero) will probafclv will the nest Derby, and then what will not be the value of a stallion bred like Criffel' Cicero's fee is 300gns., Criffels £9 19s. Verb. sap. Then there is Ampelion at £9 19s, This is a really absurd fee, for the horse is brother in blood to Sundridge, whose fee is 400gns. Ampelion won good races, and is one of the very few Ainphion horses remaining in this country. His 3am, Vetch, was sister to Sierra (dam of Sunaridge), and has, moreover, proved hereelf to be a good brood mare by producing such as Misfit and Amulet,"-