SPORTING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 17853, 6 August 1921, Page 12

SPORTING.

RACING FIXTURES. August P. 11, 13—Canterbury Jockey Club. August 24—Dannevirk» Hunt Club. August 31—Egmont-Wanganui Hunt Club. September 3—North Taranaki Hunt ClubSeptember 7—Marton Jockey Club. September 10—Raugitikei Hunt ClubSeptember 17—Manaw'atu Hunt Club. September 17— I'akuranga Hunt Club. September -o, 24—Ashburtou County Racing Club. September 23. 24--Wunganni Jockey Club. ANSWERS TO COftIiESPOX DENTS. " Wairer." Mitaitai. -No horse owned by Mr, 1,. Ba'tcn won a race at the Oyiotiki ireeting iie.d either in 1916 or 1917. and no mention is made ol a horse being killed mere. Cynic' —Since recording his victory in •lie Croat Northern Hurdle Race of 1919 ( vtiic has won three races, viz., Jumpers' I :at Handicap at Treiilhaiu, Jumpers' Flat '" Kucarton. and Spring Handicap at verty Bay. Cynic was not raced last setson. W.W.. Te Arch*.—l. On several occasions i lie summer meeting of the Takapuna Jockey i ib extended over three days. The seven < ays under which the body in question raced m the penod najned wore distributed as k-llows:—Spring, two days; summer, three •nays; winter, two days. 2 No steeplechase event bas been run at Takapuna since May 1908. " Wanderer." Hamilton.-At the Auckland Racing Club's Summer Meeting of 1901-2 Nonette contested a race on each of the four ib'ys at the gathering in question. Nonette (S.O) ran second to St. Michael 7.1} for the Auckland Cup. won Summer Cup under 9.0 and S.R.C. Handicap under 9.4. and under Sl/D ran second to St- Michael (96) in the Grandstand Handicap. At the period named Nonette ranked as a three-year-oid and St. Michael as a four-year-old. NOTES BV PHAETON. REVERSALS OF FORM. A Question that has at times formed the subject of much discussion is that bearing on reversals of form, and whether a rule should cot be formulated enabling stewards to impose disuualiucation without appeal in such cases if the circumstances ruling are deemed to warrant the drastic step. At one time stewards did not hesitate to mete out disqualifications when the performances of a horse were open to a challenge on the grounds cf inconsistency, regarding *be same as a Question of factj." However., since a different interpretation was made, whi<h gave an i owner tie right oi appeal in such '. < a3es. stewards hive, in most instances, been content with an inquiry. On the sub- | lect of objections the New Zealand Racing j Conference some years back passed a rule, j which read as fellows:—"The finciug of the j stpwards as to any question of fact shall be conclusive, provided that a ' question of fact' j ihall bo construed literally: e.g., short weight, i a cross, or an obvious pull, would be questions of fact: while, on the other hand, in- J tcctionally inconsistent running, not marked by obvious pulling, would be a matter of opinion, and any objection or charge on such a ground would require confirmation and corloboration from surrounding circumstances, suih as the pecuniary considerations involved, the character of the parties, tho char-, acteristics of the borse, and any other special' elements in, the case." The rule in question was subsequently recast, ;and as it now : : tuoods makes no reference to inconsistent running. In a recent discussion Mr. L- A. Nolan, a delegate to tbe Racing Conference, considered that the tame was ripe for a rule ; on tbe subject, but Sir George- Clifford ' Pointed out the difficulties surrounding the Question, and the president did not, it must bo admitted, overstate the case- No doubt in-and-out running is at times deliberately connived at. but then again quite a number of cases occur where horses reverse their form in a manner that is nothing short of astoundin'- when every one of tbe stable connections may be quite innocent of questionable tacticsHorses, like the human family, are not always up to their best form, but tbe equinea are not sifted with speech to state the case. So long as racing lasts we are likely, to bave reversals of form —some actively connived .at and some quite devoid of chicanery. In considering matters connected therewith it is always well to avoid hasty conclusions, for the innocent may suffer. " Better let the guilty oscspe rather than that one innocent should suffer' is a pronouncement long since made, tho spirit of which, I am full sure, still lives witn us. AUCKLAND RACING CLUB. Tho programmes passed by the committee of the Auckland Racing Club in connection with the four meetings to be held at Ellerslie during the season just about to be entered on .ire cast on auch lines as to bring that body into further marked prominence. With tho large sum of £73,100 allotted in prizemoney to the 11 days - racing some very striking- figures are submitted for the consideration of owners, and with the value of tho Auckland Cup raised to £3500, nc less than 24 other races carrying loux-figure amounts ranging from £2000 and no race of a less varne than £500, the standard all round is high. That further popularity will come to the A.R.C. and Eilersiie as a result of ttio bold policy which this season's programmes demonstrate so powerfully can be. anticipated, and "another record year'' may once- again surmount the account of the operations at Ellerslie when a comparison cornea to be- made in June next. NEW ZEALAND GRAND NATIONALS. The Grand National Steeplechase cornea up. lor decision on Tuesday next at Riccarton. A. field of 13 has been left in to contest the cross-country race, and it seems to be well assured that the top-weight. Coalition, will go to the post in the position ot a very stronu' lavourile, and it must pe said that matters carry me bright tint lor me i'atronus gelding to play a very strong part m the settlement ol the question. The Auckland gelding Corogleu UO-91 has a good lollowuigi ai.a. it he Oe touna equal to mastering tne R.ccarton lences properly, he snouid, with -bio tne best of tne weights, prove a thorn ! in the aide of the tavourite when the whips come out. A horse that figures in tho race oiijw the 10.0 division that it may be as veil to keep in mitii is Sturdee (9,i:i). The son of Advance was racing wed when he sipped arid came down m the Wellington Steeplechase contest, but for which misttap, it is stoutly argued, he would have taken a prominent hand in the settlement of the (.liestion when it came to real businesa in tn< atraigbt. ."he Grand National Hurdle Race is the leading item on the card on Thursday, and, v.it.h H horses engaged, there is material lot a contest o'f tna high order. Judging from advices to hand from the South, H is ' in ado cienr that Alteration HO.8) commands more admirers than any of tne others engaged in the hurdle race, but. all tne same, in.- lisue is properly rega-ued as open With the rang lo the liking of Thrace, the .o.istralian-lired gelding should be equal to throwing out a stiQ challenge under ' 10 8 and Mil. o Gowne may have something to say in tbe settlement of tne question under 2 T u reraark r d ' hosier, has so ■ar nothing to his cscdit over hurdles, but i if can en fast and stay. i,nd under the hand" Wrfn„ of 9.11 he sho,,k, te equal to render" >f-i a good account of bimaeif. IMPROVEMENTS AT TAKAPUNA. One day during the present week I :ourreyed across the harbour to Dcvonport in ..'lcr to have a look over the Takapuna ■ nurse, on wnich an extensive scheme of imi.iovements has bc*n in progress for somei i no past. I tie ' .J.C. secretary. Mr. R Ayuyard. whom I found at Levoupon. journeyed with uic to the ground, and it required cut one glanro when thy gatsu of the course were reached to reveal that the staffs enVfZt l , v «-y since the Mason closed at the ISorlh Shore m January ."st. In the miervai the po-uion on the kill bus undergone marked trap-formation. A new totalizator building l.'uft in as just been completed, and the expensive provision made, lor receipt of money for. in vestments and | or the pay.ng-out of dm'lend? shouid prevent any grumbling on that .-ore m future. The buiicf.ng that" formerfy <nH duty a* the tota-i.sator-house has been rerected near the boundary of Empire Street hoth d' 4n U " b ° rt l ** a hooth. adjacent to wbich a spacious and up- o-date Umchcon apartment is to be ever, i '- A .v built. A large amount of zradtn- h"d » be undertaken on the hill. „nd when the pan as mapped out , s fuUy completed auralir-f , be A J" -J- shilt.nc- back of the whole .•i the buildings on the hill now e ,ves a "Ziyi * om * 250,t f . roi " }fee terraces f or the rsv-mblwe to snread. and that in itself will '',", tn further ponu ar*e the hill from ;';,fcd a rr did view al L roi ' nfi «n be :™ of trie racinrr. Tlie present r ,n^ i.''bnr;o7--r;',; uof '' -? d ™L™l% l^^.d,o ns,de H^ ll^"^f = ;„1 De T ,' w 'u"ffl, 1o give the necessarv backh n m t "•' club in the TvJ,i T,9 \ be doubted if more in „tl nou hiis e nconnV»rcd tho TJO it J 4. makm * »■ racec-ourne than minds to ~raor.'le ! ~Wh T V"' y r " f l u ' rr ' f ' bold ■versation with \f r t:>e 1 s -r ar r e - In '•on-po-iev for fhe (iArfi«ol.i 1 S thf ; Purchase boundary! 4ich enabled tZ" "1 th ? ""rth»n, race Wk to be ntrl. fl •«**B«on of the <"n* t>e. l s . Rt few ™" d , ' tbp 'rrtprovements •and. he aTe , n,n l,l! ' 1 «2.O<M '»d U vet TIJ" h a I"-''™ 'mile, 'ho f IP.OCO at. TatanunT i B X f ndltl I r ? J <rf anofc *«0» hefoM tfce pre^'|- „ I ,, am to 'd. qnito cer-

LEAVES FROM MY NOTEBOOK. To those who. like myself, have been in close touch, with Auckland Racing Club affairs over a long stretch of years, many incidents ari*e taking the mind back to the old dayaj when annual meetings, of that body ruu roimu- When sitting In tne hau ot the Luaniljer ol Corninerce on Monday a-tternoon last my ÜBouankj wanuorea uac». to tue annual meeting ot A It.U- meuiocra | held m mo >jiu liaymariiet .Buildings on jme nrsi ittoiiuby m August, ItsSl. forty ye-ais nave tpeu their tliglit since the little I umid ol enthusia-st.s ascieuiuied on that oc- | casiori to u.scuas matters, Ihe baiance-sheet j preaonted declared me total assets, ol the I cub to be iSUIo, and there was a credit bal- ; »Uii u! £'2Li As 4d al me uamt. A. mortgage ol £stH>o, however, existed un "the iilleralie I properly, and, as it halt stood lor several j ye-ars, i considered tlie subject npe to advise l the cluD to -;et out 01 debt, and wrote accordi ingiy. Had 1 realised what was in store lor ; me tor the advice tendered i should probably j have ivirameci. As 1 pen this paragraph i i lancy 1 once a«g,m soe the then secretary, | the late Mr. Wiiliam i'eicivai, his eyes ail I ailanie. wncn 1 ascended the stairs of the j Hay mark'.;; on the da.y my " note" appeared :n eear< ii ol more "copy." I'oor "Old i ' I'ercy." as we all loved ao tall him, never , I hesitated to have a bnisn with the " quill- j j drivers," as he was wont to dub the sporting j writers, and he certainly Healed me- to a I good run for my innocent advice to "set out | of debt-'' It was tiome days alter the incident j I named that 1 ventured tin the steps leading j ] U) the Hay market, and when 1 did so it was j | ii: the eate company of Samuel Morriu, at I whose s:de 1 was sure of protection, and | | " J'ercy" did not, much to my relief, renew i his attackIn the preceding note 1 have made men- ! tiou of a mortgage of £5000 existing al that • 1 period ilSoli against Kllerslie. Well, the further interesting little fact to be related I | in connection therewith is that the mortj gagee held the position of judge of the I Supreme Court, and, what is more, the | j fullest publicity was given to the matter, ''or the following line appeared in the A R.C. j j balance-sheet ;>nd was also published in the ! j Hkrald in the account of the meeting:-- : ! " Dr.: To T. B. Gillies, £6000." It has to be I further stated that at the time tins mortgage j i stood Mr. Gillies was judge in the Auckland I district. I wonder if any other racing club \ m the Doimmon can claim the record of j having been loaned money by a judge of the I Supremo Court? i The Australian Hurdle Race, which is run : over the loni; course of three miles and a-half I iless comes up for decision at i ; Caulfield • to-day. Fiscom (10.11). who I I scored a victory in the V.R.C. Grand National I | Hurdle Race. figures among the acceptances, i ' and his mectinc with Telecles (11.7) is awaited ] I with, considerable interest. It is a popular i ! belief that Telecles would have won the | ! tirand National at Fiemington had he j lumped the concluding hurdle properly, and. though he was placed third, he was only j j separated bv a head and a neck from the I winner. In the Grand National event Telecles was conceding Fiscom 141b, but there is only | 101b between them in Saturday's race, and j the top-weight rules favourite. I In the course of his annual report to the | Racing Conference last month the president, i Sir George Clifford, sounded a note to clubs I in the direction of keeping down nomination ! I and acceptance fees- The committee of the I Auckland Racing Club has made a move in I j that direction by fixin" the charge of 1 per I j cent, on the sum payable to the winner in- ' stead of on the full stake, as formerly. In i j connection with the major races, instead of j a secend acceptance a week before the race, I as in the past, the same will in future take the shape of a final payment on the day of ] the race. j In the autumn oi 1919 Mr- T. H. Lowry, j of Hawke's Bay, sent a yearling full brother I i to Kstland and Finmark (by Finland—War ] i Scare) across to New South Wales to be j' | offered at auction, and the sum (llOOgns) real- '

;sed for the youngster topped the sale. The \ ■ colt in question, who races under the of Fingon, has so far proved a complete disappointment, and the fact of the New Zealand horse having changed hands several times does not serve to encourage one to expect hira to achieve marked distinction. Still it may be argued that descendants of Finland a -' , a „r a ' e require time to mature properlv, and Fingon may be seen to better advantage a( four years old. Fingon figures in the Melbourne Cup at 7.3, and. as that represents an impost 1251b below weight-for-aee. it will be quickly recognised that he is given a good chance of distinguishing, himself if he possesses the tme racing quality. The paltriness of the stakes offered at some of the leading race meetings held in are really Quite astonishing. The J?.psom summer meeting, at which the Derby ls "f n - cannot even be exempted from a. tilt °n Sr j heading- In casting up the amounts allotted to the seven events that figured on the opening day of the recent meeting held on the historic Downs I found that the total SUJ ? °n the prize-list only amounted to £2715, and of that, sum owners would pay quite a large percentage- The prize-money oa the opening day of the Auckland summer meeting last year amounted to £8300, and this year the A.R.C. have allotted £10,200 for tne same day's racing. Big Chief, who figured in the team of racers transported from New Zealaffd to New South Wales recently, is a three-year-old gelding.' and is described as by Mountain IS-mght from Swallow. The latter s name does not figure m the New Zealand Stud Book, but sne may perhaps be identical with a brown daughter of Merriwee and Fleetwing w-at raced for several seasons in the Hawke's .Kay district. Big Chief only contested two races last season, running unplaced on each occasion, but he is expected to play his part more attractively at three years old. With an advantageous five-furlong course at JMlersiie, there was a strong »inducement for ??*.. A i« t 'v Committee to retain races of (hat character but. with a laudable desire 'j'j'TO ? v J\ e distances, it has been dei j j* all handicap events for three-year-olds and upwards shall in future ba run over three-quarters of a mile- On several grounds the step taken is to be warmly commended, and the standard set, it is to be hoped, will be followed in other quarters. ,V?°, Tak&puna Jockey Club are now installed m its new building recently completed in Shortland Street., and an inspection ol Vie suite of offices which it now occupies shows that they are of quite an attractive character. The cost of the ground and the erection of the building. I learn from the S tarT, A *? r - R " Wyny"*. amounted to thS& *i, A i C se j 81>ace on the lower floor, which.the club does not require for its busin n eß iL I \ eiPeCt f d io V riaß » a sood revenue in the shape of rental. When the Auckland-bred gelding Arch Marel.la was purchased in Sydney ■ in March last it was understood that he was to be transported to Java, but the new owner of the son of Marble Arch has apparently some el™ir?£ ETJ? B h J» TB « an °PP°rtunity of earning further distinction m Australia, for he has been left in the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups. Arch MareUa has been weighted at 8 10 for the Caulfield Cup, while Cur, 13 WV,' 3, & bl n name f .°r the Melbourne fl,» P t" i, - ch 7tfa - eilawas oale<l >° 1912, so that he is now in his ninth year

%The caretaker of the Ta-kapuna Jockey /n Uh ctr mrSe f - Mr " f- J Oll -, 8 - ha., bin n cn..rge of operations throughout recent improvements at th.. North Shore -round i C i at€ u- rnai, l indents connectedwHh HieS that h ,VK tO be ««rTnouTted before the course could be extended on the t™ r , In speaking with him W,* ( T eclalml »* of the man-rove swamp The praises or the Australian Jockey Club can very appropriately be sung ma high t on w,M- ??'f R£ L' the I"-°eramme in connection nith the fortflcommg sprinc meeting it RandwKk tne total sum allotted fn prizeSwiff* ° f - four - fi Sure BUkes as to easily ! tral i. I," wv* " c e ra ™™s issued in II tralia. Jt locks very ranch as though the A.J .(_. will have an unbroken Une of fourj corned. W *° fw '* flat eveDt3 i f T . t l ere T- is £ tendency "to favour the chance of the rlnghsh-bred Violoncello [or the Mel | bourne Cup. Anent Violoncello, the Sydney ! Referee remarks : -The English form df, | played, by the son of Valecs at three and ! four years was of the sprinting arde? arid is atwolntp y him as a stayer. Since h «. arrival u, Sydney V.oWello has built up in marked fashion, and looks very healthy but so far as actual work is con eerned. he has not yet clone enough to give even his trainer much idea concerning 'his .spring prospects. Twenty-three horses figure in the C.J.C. ai l^",.^ 0, wh,ch fc," S , et down for decision at uiccarton on . Tuesday neit. and. with . competitor? loomm* up from numerous vested '**?• ■"! C m ,'> ™° < s '" I TV-'" h ' w »de interest. \ asaiond (11.1) holds his ~t acf nt th? head of th£ ~ •*> tlio j-enerai impression is that the field ,n B \L I V U> be le ted in eert.am quarters m P , v h 'u'J 1 , w l nt "ns chanr-e. Mustard Pot 10.1). Arch Salute 1102). and Prince Martian i'::;. ,ri ° that - ««"« well in the lime" Hefct, and in Humming iii> the situation Arch Salutes victory in the Parliamentary Han-di'-ap. run at Trentham last month will , certainly not be overlooked. In the election of A.R.C. stewards for the ensuing se-ison Mr. G. A. Wynyard who has acted in a similar capacity for several years, topped the poll , and his old associate, Mr M_J. Lynch, was also reelected. i. ,'■ ■ R a'.nbone. the third steward j elected, is credited wrl.h being well versed m a!! mutters appertaining to racing. With re.;;ard to the tutting out of fivefurlong races, the Takapima Jooiey Club is one body that will not have to go far to follow the examnle of the A.K.C.. a» onlv one race of that distance figured on the North Snore programme last season. Coroglen is now the onlv candidate that claims th" dou'.ic- engagement in connect : on jw'th the New Zealand Grand Na-tiom)s Rv all accounts, the GV>i Albyn geldin" has progressed satisfactorily since he reached the scene at Riccarton. The master of t_he Pakuranga Hunt Club. Mr. 11. Bullock-Webster, who has been confined to. his room for several weeks owing to ilmeas. it is pleasing to learn, is recovering hi"j health, and in a ?hcrt period he may onre again be found in the saddle promoting the snort- of, which he is such an enthusiastic follower. The rage track at Takapuna is carrying a iniriiriant crop of &raas. and the growth is siicn ns to easily take the record so far as the Korth Shor.e ground is concerned. Mr F. IV. Edwards b>as been appointed to the Handicaps for ihe Pakuranga Hunt L nb.s uieat-ri-. which is .fixed to be held at tLls'slie cm September 17. The 50th Great Northern Derby, which will come up for decision at Ellerslie in the JE3OOO 1 ° tD23 "" I, LS ' U - h * Ve ft Stake or "

In the event of Waimai going to the post for the Grand National Steeplechase next week. Spalpeen's son will have the record of contesting the Riccarton race on five occasions- In 1916 Waimai carried 11.8 to victory, and in 1918, under 112.5, he be-at all his field save St. Elmn (9.11). Waimai has entered on his eleventh year, and his concitiou is voted to be so favourable that he is considered likely to perform creditably at the approaching meeting. The Pakuranga Hunt Club propose to hold the annual point-to-point steeplechases on September .'!. and it is. f understand, probable that F.ast TamaUi will be selected for the contesis. STUD NOTES. BY PHAETON. Mr. Norman Walter's announces that the imported sire Lucullus will be at the service of breeders at Papakura this season. Got by the English Derby winner Ard Patrick 'a grandson of the celebrated St. Simon! from Lucca, a daughter ol Cazabttt (who was got ; by Uueil, winner of the Giand fni do I'aris). j Lucullus can boast oi a high-class pedigree. | and hn descendants are putting up a good i tocord as racers. I The praises of the English-bred horse, Sir | Dighton are Bung by " Tovioldale." ol the. Australasian, in a very high key Sir Diglij to. who was breci by His Majesty, is a dej scendant of the delunct Bayardo (son of Bay j Ronald), and in his eulogy of the English j horse the well-verted Australian writer says: —" I cannot remember tie get of an untried I sire which so impressed me with their exi cellence." Auckland can claim a colt by I Sir Dighton, who was purchased by Mr. I A. Tooman at Randwkk m April last, and | the youngster is locked upon in a promising light. | With the approach of the breeding season it may prove ot interest to recall the fact that the best-known Lord Falmouth, who j was one of the most successful owners on the English turf, made it a practice never j to race his fillies after their three-year-old : career. He gained extraordinary success by | that scheme. Lord Falmouth raced his«fiilies as two-year-olds and three-year-olds, but sent ! them to tho stud without further exhausting | tests on the turf. There are cases whore ; mares have proved successful at the stud ; a.ter lengthy and strenuous careers on tho . turf, but they are few and far between. Wo have always maintained that if there I exists a figure system for the successful | breeding of racehorses it is to be deplored . tliat some scientist has not discovered a i similar system fox man. With the few I brood mares which we have owned (says Mr. '■ R S. Sievier in the Winning Post) wc Lave : bred, or the dams thereof bave. the winner i of tue French Oaks, the Italian Derby, to- ! gether with winners of many important races in England, and wc bave never consulted | any figure, not omitting the stallion's fee. I Our first attempt is to obtain running blood I on the dam's side and mate it with running I blood on the sire's side. Craig an Eran. I the recent winner of thrf Two Thousand, is an eloQuent example. His dam is a daughter of Sceptre; all her descendants belong to a. running family—i.e., they emulate their breed. Maid of Corinth, who has given Austria classical winners with each of her produce, is a sister to Maid of the Mist. ■ dam of Craig, an Eran. while Buchan is a i I creat-gnndson of the great mare- Then Sun- j | star, by Sundridge* who Vis by Amphion, ;

| star, by Sundndge, who Vis by Amphion, ■ is direct running blood on the sire's side— . all good winners, all good sires. For breedi vng purposes we would not care what a , horse or mare achieved on the turf unless I they came of running blood. Take as a single instance Victor Wild. We could name many others and not find one of their get I their own equivalent on the racecourse. j Fr S tty R°''y did riot come of running blood, i and she was, by comparison with her Piowess, a failure at the stud. j Breeders are notified that nominations for : the services of the imported sires Day Comet i and Archiestown require to be lodged by September 3, 1921. with Mr. E. 0. Nash, secreta.r To Aroha Jockey Club. The third annual general meeting of members of the Auckland Country Racing Clubs' Breeders' Association was held at Hamilto-i on Monday last. Mr. G. W. Vercoe presiding. . All tho ciubs forming the association were represented. The statement of accounts for the year showed the association to be in a good financial position. The report presented showed that the operations of the past year had been very successful in every way. The profit and loss . account for the year ended June 30. 1921. after paying ail working expenses, writing off reasonable depreciation, on the horses, and providing for doubtful debts, shows a credit balance of £207 9s 7d. The assets amount to £2567 8s 6d, comprising the present book value of the horses, sundry debtors, and cash in the bank, against which there is a liability to sundry creditors of £IS6 14s 7d. The association's policy of writing off the horses by equal annual amounts bo as to wipe out the cost in seven years is a good one. By the end of that period it is expected that there will be ample funds to purchase new sires if necessary. The association decided to offer a cash prize of 25 guineas for competition at the Te Aroha Agricultural and Pastoral Association's next show for the best yearling, colt, gelding, or filly, by Day Comet or Archiestown. To accompany this prize is the O'Rorke memorial trophy valued at ?5 guineas, to be won twice in succession or three times at intervals by the same exhibitor. RICCARTON TRACK NOTES. (BY TELEGRAPH —PEESS ASSOCIATION.] CHRISTCHURCH. Friday. This was an off' 1 morning at Ricearton. All the horses with engagements at the Grand National meeting were out, but their tasks wore chiefly easy, th? order ranging from half to threequarter pacing on the sand or tan. Alteration moved scratchily when walking, but afterwards galloped freely. Lochella did strong pace work on the tan. Kareao. Te Oro and Kauri King strode out freely on No. 7 grass track. Hunter and Lillibrock refused ot the pony hurdles, and attempts to school them were abandoned. Ready jumped one round of the hurdles,, giving a satisfactory exhibition. Arrivals from the North include Sturdce, Penury Rose, Malahini, Crosswords. Dribble, Dainty Step, Sir- Fanciful, Luke, Fisher. Callaghan. and Gay Boy. Southern arrivals last night were Silent King. Bebehead, Mij-za., Barrister, Whipcord. Corn Rigs, ajid Filagree. The grass track will be available to-mor-row for tihe final gallops, and a number of horses are expected to jump.