TOPICS OF THE DAY.

New Zealand Mail, 21 July 1892, Page 26

TOPICS OF THE DAY.

(BY VIGILANT.)

The following is the list of winning owners at the Wellington Steeplechase Meeting, with the amounts won by each : —Mr McAlister, first in Steeplechase, L 175 15s; E. Barns first Trial Steeplechase, and first in Selling Hurdle Race, L 95 ; W. Douglas, first Hurdle Handicap, L 57 ; T. H. Lowry, first in Highweight Handicap, L 47 10s; R. L. Peene, second Wellington Steeplechase, L2B 103 ; K. McKenzie, first Hack Hurdles, L 23 15s; J. Baldwin, second Hurdle Handicap, Ll 4 5s ; J. G. Wilson, second Trial Steeplechase, L 9 10s; G. P, Donnelly, third in Wellington Steeplechase, L 9 10s; W. Cousens, second Highweight Handicap, L 9 10s; W. E. Bidwill, second Hack Hurdles, L 4 15s ; total, L 555 15s, Mr K. McKenzie, of the Wairarapa, sustained a very serious loss by his well known hurdle hack, Potaka, being killed on the Hutt course on Friday morning. Walden was riding him an exercise gallop, when the horse put its foot in a hole in the newly made ground close to the culvert, which runs under the course at the turn beyond the winning post. The animal came down all of a heap, and it was found that broken his neck. Walden got a nasty shaking and a broken collarbone. Potaka, who was a son of the weli known Napier sire Defamer, was a valuable horse, and won the Hack Hurdle Race on Saturday week at the Wellington Racing Club Steeplechase Meeting An offer of £IOO level that Whalebone beats Couranto in the Grand National Steeplechase was on Saturday accepted by a well-known Napier sportsman. The Hawke’s Bay Herald of last Tuesday states that Mr W. Douglas, of Te Mahanga has purchased from Mr Reid the cross-country horse Couranto. The acceptances for the Wairarapa Hunt Club Steeplechase Meeting, which comes off on Saturday, are due to-day (Wednesday), and I have not seen them at the time of writing. It is therefore little use my attempting to tip the winners, and I shall satisfy myself with indicating in'a cursory manner those that I consider best at the weights. The Trial Steeplechase should go to Qui Vive, list 41b, if he takes his jumps without a mistake, but should anything befall Mr Gollau’s horse commend me to Vivacious, lOst 71b, and Billy, 9st 121 b. The Handicap Hack Flat appears a good thing for Jenny Lind, lOst 81b, and next to her I should take Makomako, lOst 111 b, and Avoca, lOst Blb. The Wairarapa Steeplechase, in the probable absence of Whalebone, 13st 21b, should fall |to Canute, lOst 9ib, Flintstone, llst7lb, or Te Ata, 9st 131 b. The Hack Hurdles looks well for Sir Tatton, with 103 t 111 b, but Traitress, lOst 71b, if she runs up to last Saturday’s form, should have a big show. The Hunt Club Steeplechase should fall to either Marangai, 12at 2ib, Dangerous, list 81b, or Jack, list. The Ladies’ Bracelet should see nearly a dead heat between Vivacious and Qui Vive, who have Hat 81 b each. The Hunters’ Flat Race might fall to Karamu, list lib, and I also like Maka make, lOst 111 b. , Sportmen generally will rejoice at Orme’a victary in the Eclipse Stakes of .10,000 sevs, run at Sandown Park la t Friday. It 13 evident from his victory that the prostrating effects of the dose of poison, which there is little reason to doubt, w is admin s t red to him by some rascals a fortnight before the Two Thousand, wire but temp >rary, and there is stiilevery prospect of his winning many, if not all, the valuable engagements which he has yet to fulfil. It is probable that he is now at level money for the St Leg< r, and already this race looks at. his mercy if he keep; sound and well. In looking back at last year’s Steeplechase meeting of the United Hunt Club, I see that Theorem won the Hurdle Race from Couranto and Kimberley. The sec >nd has since won the Grand National Hurdle Race and the Wanganui Steeplechase, and the third has proved himself oue of the best iiurdls racers in Ausirail?, only the other day carrying list lllb to victory over 2 mile?, in the splendid time ot 3ra ; n 52st e. Tue horse that beat of those ’as!: } e *.r ; p .ear* d the o her day in the Selling Hurdle Rice at the Wellington Steeplechase Meeting, and had to p’ay sicmd fiddle -o a rnare that was aftet wards told for £3O. What an illustration this is of the ups and downs of the turf. Tho acceptances for the Grand National Hurdle Race and Grand National Steeplechase are due on Friday, the 22nd Inst. I ha ve not vt t expressed 'my opinion of these handicaps, but 1 do so now, and it Is tit at they are the woist Mr Henry has yet produced. Ho has, to

my thinking, commenced quite 61b or 7!b too low in both races. As the handicaps stand now it goes forth to the world that we have no good timber toppers in New Zealand. The usual topweight in any Grand National is 12st7ib or thereabouts, and I happen toknow that Mr R. Mcßae, before the weights appeared, told a friend that he would be quite satisfied if Whalebone got anything like 12it sib or 12st 61b. At the present weights it is not more than level money on the field against three in each race, those three being Whalebone, list 13 b, Ahua, list 91b, and Norton, list 41b, in the Steeplechase, and Norton, list 12ib, Kulnine, list 51b, and Waterbury, list 51b, in the Hurdles. These are virtually the topweights in each case, for Couranto and Shillelagh, who are also good on paper, are reputed to be under a cloud. I shall go more fully into the prospects of the candidates in my next week’s notes. The United Hunt are to be congratulated on their Steeplechase Meeting last Saturday. The management was in every way creditable to the officials, and all the races were contested in true sportsmanlike spirit. The club has caught on with the right sort of people, and the attendance was quite a representative one. Such re-unions, besides affording a pleasant afternoon’s sport, serve a more valuable purpose in bringing together the town and country people, and establishing a camaraderie between them which tends to the general good. The quality of tho horses which competed was certainly a bit mixed, but while it would be invidious to j particularise, I was glad to see that most j of our young huntsmen seem to have a { very good idea of the stamp of animal 1 wanted for their sport. It was noticeable j that the powerful stables of Mr W. E. | Bidwill, of the Wairarapa, and Mr S. H j Gollan, of Hawke’s Bay, did not score a j win. Both had representatives which I think should have scored, but they were unfortunate. Without rejoicing at their non-success, it is just as well that others should have a turn, and no victorits could have been more popular than those of ‘ Dick ’ Roake’s Banker, Mr Ward’s Flintstone, and Mr N. Grace’s Sir Tatton, the last-named being nominated in the Bracelet by Miss Vennell. The victory of Flintstone in the Open Steeplechase was particularly gratifying from the fact uf the prize falling to a genuine hunting sport; and it compensated for the victory of the Grand National candidate Morok in a club event, in which the competitors were, with the exception of the winner, genuine hunters. Of course, Morok was qualified, or he would not have been allowed to run, and as he was giving weight to everything his win must not be begrudged, more particularly as he met a foeman quite worthy of his steel in Marangai. The amount of money put through the machines was £3812, or £338 lees than at last year’s meeting, but there is little doubt the falling off was due to only two machines being worked instead of three. Several racos were started while there was quite a crowd waiting to put money on. The Melbourne Age of the 2nd inst., has the following :—A number of informations against bookmakers who keep tobacconists’ shops in the city, for allowing their premises to be used for betting purposes, were called on at the City Court on Thursday. The defendants were Barney Allen, Robert Phillips, Joe Cohen and Frederic Pollie. The offences were com mitted in August, 1891, but the informations in a test case had been dismissed by the magistrates, and Mr Justice Hoed then made an order to review. On the re-hearing a fine was imposed. That finding was appealed against, but the conviction was affirmed, so these cases were proceeded with. Mr C. A. Smyth prosecuted for the Crown, and Mr C B. Finlayson, instructed by Mr David Gaunson, defended. The case of Barney Allen was taken first, and the evidence was the same as in most of the other cases. After a protracted hearing the bench inflicted a fine of LlO 103, with LlO 10s costs. The other cases, had not been proceeded with when the court rose. I am glad to see that ‘ Augur’ was in comfortable circumstances during the last years of his life. It appears from Australian exchanges that his will was proved in the Supreme Court, Melbourne, at L 3995.

I have to acknowledge receipt of Mr J. J. Miller’s Sporting Pamphlet, and Official Trotting Record for 1892. It contains an alphabetical list of the horses engaged in the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups, with the owner’s name, and particulars of each horse’s sex and breeding, together wi h performances up to date. The lis : “ for the chief events to be run at Rand wick, Fleming! on, and Caulfield during ihe current season are also given, as well as the Victorian trotting record for the past season, and records in other branches of sport. A 3 a work of reference the book will be found of great utility. ‘ Nemo ’ in the Australian Mail, after an exhaustive discussion of the Melbourne Cup weights, concludes wit.h the expression of an opinion that the following may prove to be the best at the weights : Strathmore, 9st 81b ; Correze, Bst 12lb ; Porrsea, Bst 81b ; St Albans 11., Bst 51b ; St Blnize, Sit 31b ; Pigeontoe, Bst 21b ; Pilot Boy, 7it 131 b ; Steadfast, 7st 101 b ; Little Bernie, 7st 81b ; Danton, 7sfc 41b ; Sundial, 7st ; Attalus, Gst 13!b ; Honour Bright, 63b 121 b ; Candour, 7st 31b ; Playmate, Cat 101 b ; and Ducrow, 6st 101 b. liuvv are the mighty fallen ! Navellan, one of the horses sent to England by the

late Mr James White to compete in tlio English Derby, is, it is stated, being used as a form stallion at a fee of one guinea per mare. As a companion picture to this I hear that the Melbourne Cup winner, Darriwell, was sold the other day for L 4. In the course of a conversation which ‘Phaeton ’ of the Auckland Weekly News had with Major George, on that gentleman’s arrival from Australia the week before last, the owner of Nelson gave his opinion in respect to the totalisator. He recognises that the horseowner has the worst of the odds in totalisator betting, for, notwithstanding that he has to meet heavy expenses in nominations, acceptances, and training and riding fees, the public step into the market on an equality with him. But, even so, Major George is iu favour of the totalisator, as betides enabling the clubs to give large stakes, it acts as a safety valve to the public. Ho holds the opinion, however, that the machine has been so greatly abused that a far more stringent code of regulations than those at present in force is necessary, in order to keep its use within proper limits. If that is not provided, and the growth of mere totalisator gatherings thus checked, he will most certainly be opposed to tho further existence of the machine.

In the Sporting Review of last week, ‘ Sir Launcelot ’ has a lengthy article on the Melbourne Cup handicap, which he winds up by saying he thinks the winner will come from the following S.rathmore, Zalinski, Freedom, St. Albans 11., G’Naroo, Forty Winks, Gresford, Steadfast, Loyalstone, Ethelbert, Norbert, Meli, Knight of the Garter. He says he would add Little Bernie if he knew the horse was sound. On the interesting subject of breeding, the Melbourne Sportsman thinks that sufficient importance is not attached to previous alliances which a mare has made. I thoroughly believe that during the period of gestation a mare absorbs and retains permanently in her system some of the elements of the. sire whoso foal is in circulation within her, and to this may be attributed the fact that foals often enough resemble previous mates of tho mare rather than their actual sire. There is a case which puts it beyond all doubt, I think, and that is Grey Friars, a grey son of Hermit and Perseverance, by Voltigeur, her dam Spinster by Flatcatcher out of Nan Darrell by Inheritor. Now, there is no grey blood here, so how does the horse get this colour? Why, simply because the mare had on three previous occasions been mated with Strathconan, a grey. I could multiply similar instances, but never met with one so perfectly clear as this. If I mistake not, this view is accepted much more exteu sively in Australia and America than in England.

The prospects of the St. Loger colt St. Hippo, are thus discussed by ‘Phaeton George Wright is evidently determined not to allow the grass to grow under the feet of his Derby colt St. Hippo, during the winter months, and the son of St. Leger is so forward at the present time as to demonstrate very plainly that his trainer has an eye on the good things of the early spring. Sb Hippo is engaged in the New Zealand Cup with tho favourable impost of 7st ; but the knotty question that crops up when his chance comes to be discussed for that important race is, ‘Will he stay?’ Nothing, it must be admitted, could have been more satisfactory than the manner in which the son of St. Leger fought out his two battles at the A.R.O. Autumn Meeting, but tho fact of the Doncaster horse not having so far sired a real out-and-out stayer rrmkes me hesitate in putting St. Hippo forward as one of the rising three-year-olds likely to gain distinction in the big event to be run at Riccarton in November next. St. Hippo is, I notice, amongst those engaged in the Hawke’s Bay Guineas, and as he will no doubt be given an opportunity to distinguish himself at the Hastings gathering in October, his running there may be expected to throw some little light on his prospects iu the more imp >rtant events to be decided in the following month on southern territory. ‘ Ribbleden,’ in the Australasian, says : ‘ An English sportsman who recently visited Australia is of the opinion that Strathmore is, at the present tim •, the best horse in the world, and in writing to a friend in Melbourne he confesses his astonishment that Mr W. R. Wilson’s fine colt h is not been sent to try his luck in the old country. Landed safely in England, and properly trained, the writer t! inks that Strathmore would not only win the Ascot Cup, the Goodwood Cup, the Doncaster Cup, and other rich weight-for-age races, but would win them easily ; and that in the event of his doing these things there would be half a d( zen buyers ready to give £20,000 for Strathmore as a stallion. As France, Hungary, and America have all sent champions to England the writer wonders why Australia tags behind. With an unpatriotic but a sportsmanlike spit it he almits that he would like to see an Australian-bred horse have the honour of beating the best horses in England, but says that such an accomplishment can only be effected by sending home the best material Australia possesses ; he believes that we possess that material in Strathmore, whom, aB before remarked, he looks upon as the world’s greatest racenorse. Ihis is all very flattering to us. Strathmore is undoubtedly a horse of extraordinary merit ; but in my opinion Australasia will have to wait a good many years be-

fore it again produces a race-horse of the capabilities of Carbine.’ Now and again, says ‘ Mazeppa,' we see in print some reference to Orient as the Methuselah of the New Zealand turf, and as having been started in, I think it has been said, hundreds of races. One evening this week I turned up my records, which extend back to 1879, and this is what they say : That Orient has, up the beginning cf the present season, being now 15 years of age, started in 138 races. Here are the particulars :

‘Mazeppa’ adds: I print these figures not so much for the sake of imparting information as in the hope of inducing someone to complete the table and show us what the history of this remarkable horse really is. There is evidence that he was five years of age in 1881-82, Prior to that my records have no mention of his name, but ho may have run at some meetings, the reports of which were not available.

Season. No of Placed Placed Placed Unstarts. first. second tlilrd. placed 1881 — 82 . ,. 12 2 3 1 6 18S2—83 . . 14 10 3 0 1 18884 . 12 7 3 1 1 13 4—85 . .. 9 4 4 0 1 18S5—86 . .. 14 4 6 3 1 1833 87 . .. 23 0 4 5 8 1887—88 .. 16 4 7 2 3 1888—89 . .. 18 3 6 0 9 1889-90 , ,. ll 3 2 1 5 1890—91 . .. 9 2 3 4 0 13S 45 41 17 35