RACING CHATTER

New Zealand Mail, 29 November 1900, Page 43

RACING CHATTER

(BY ADVANCE.)

Air F. C Thomas (“Templar”) of the Christchurch Press,” was present at the meal races and trotting meeting last wee.;. It i s his intention to visit Porirua and the Feilding meeting before returning south. * * * *

Ambulance, who won the Two-year-old f takes ?t Rosehill, is by Light Artillerv from Miss Mostyn (imp.), dam of Mos”tjn, .Alice Mostyn, and other winners, bhe wa.s bred by Mr S. Hordern, and sold at the last yearling sales for 110 guineas. * * * * *

A Melbourne paper has it that “the trainer of Ditto informed the V.R.C. stev aids on Saturday that the gelding’s poor display in the Steeplechase was owing to the throat strap being so tight that the animal was nearly choked.” Another publication gays that Ditto’s unexpected collapse was due to the fact that the gelding burst a blood vessel, u hich caused him to bleed freely from the nose.

According to Air PI. Bvron Moore, secretary of the \ .R.C., the spring meeting will yield a profit to the club o! very considerably over £IO,OOO.

Racing men generally will be pleased to leam that the horses which Air T. G. Aluir sent to England many months ago were doing well, though they had not been put into training, when tlio last mail left England. After leaving the ship they were sent to Newmarket” but subsequently were transferred to a. more sheltered part of the country—viz., in the “Wantage” district, Berkshire. The change evidently caught on at once, for Air Aluir, writing on the Ist of last month, said that the horses were in splendid fettle. He was delighted with the improvement made by the boss of the team, Parthian, which he describes as then being as big as a Clydesdale and as strong, that colt having grown wjondekfully since he left this colony. Air Aluir had seen all the English cracks, including Diamond Jubiless, Starshot, Volodyovski, and says that Parthian compares quite favourably with the host of them on the score of good looks and anticipates that when in racing condition he will perform better than ho did in the colonies. As for The Tola, Sweetheart, and Fifeshire, they were, when Air Muir wrote, nice and big to see the winter through. Air Muir .still keeps adding to his" string,'' and purchased a yearling by Gonsalvo out ot Lisbos, whose brother was sold last year for 1700g5., as well as the plater Chonkina. The latter was bought chiefly to work Parthian with, so that we shall probably learn soon that tho Grand Flaneur colt has commenced his English studies.

At the annual sale of thoroughbreds in Alelbourne, Sir Rupert Clarke gave 700 gs for a half-brother to Hova, Air AV. McArthur 650 gs for a half-brother to Resolute, and Air H. Skinner SOOgs for a brother to Kinglike. For the consistent but unlucky Alix Air C. F. Glascock gave 500 gs. She will be raced for a time and then sent to India. The two-year-old Fotheringay went to Air H. Skinner for 360 gs. Kenley went to our old friend Mr Eden George, owner of Shadow Catcher, for 250 gs. Labourer was offered for sale, but was passed in. * * * * *

A London paper is responsible for saying that Mr F. W. Day is about to retire from the list of public trainers, and act privately for Sir Ernest Cassell. As Air Day!s remuneration is fixed at £3OOO a year, Ms ability must be estimated at a very high rate. *****

Scobie’s stable still keeps on winning, and yesterday won the Williamstown Cup with Paul Pry, who beat The Idler, Fleet Admiral, Dirk Hammerhand, and others, the winner starting a red-hot favourite. Within a few weeks the team trained by Scobie has thus accounted for three Derbies, as well as Tho Melbourne, iMoonee Valley, and, Williamstown Cups, and a lot of minor races, a list of successes unprecedented.

Air Joseph Osborne, the author of the “Horsebreeders’ Handbook, recently celebrated; his 90th birthday. He is far and away the oldest sporting writer alive, having spent 05 years in the service of newspapers making sport their business, and writes under the pen-name of “Beacon.”

The American jockey Sloan went to Paris a few weeks ago, and rode Ca doman, the winner of the Prix des Conseil Alunicipal, a race for three-year-olds. worth 4000 soys. There were 14 runners, and among the unplaced ones were La Aloriniere, Semendria, and Cap Alartin. * * * * *

The English St. Leger winner of 1887, Kihvarlin, died suddenly a few weeks ago. He was the sire of Jvilcock and other good’ ones.

Australian Star has been a great disappointment in England so far, and must ere this have cost Air Spencer Gollan a small fortune. rTe was one of the three favourites in the Duke of York Stakes, of 11-mile,'.which was run at Kempton Park a few weeks ago, hut after leading for more than half the journey, cried a go and finished fourth to Alount Prospect (Bst 91b), Amber (Bst 31b), and Caiman (9st 4lh). Australian Star carried 7st Bib, so that he was net ill-used. Syerla (7st 121 b) and Old 010 (7st 101 b) also ran unplaced. **** . * *

Alurray Hobbs was approached on Alonday by a North Island sportsman, and asked to put a price on Dundas. Hobbs asked 550 gs for the son of Perkin Warbeck 11.. but no business resulted. Alany inquiries have been made of late for Mr Hobbs’s gelding.

The Alelbourne Cup has produced the usual crop of interesting reminiscences. Thirty-nine Cups have been run. and Victoria has kept twenty-two at home. New South Wales . has annexed fifteen, and South Australia two. Of the horses that have won the Cup. 21 were bay, 10 brown. 4 chestnut. 3 black, and the grey, Toryboy, the ontv one of his colour. Only two mares, Briseis and Anraria, have won the Cup, but the gentler sex have supplied the runner-up on five occasions, and have been placed third six times. The only winners of the Cup whose progeny have also succeeded in winning the same race are—Grand Flaneur with Bravo and Patron, and AJaim with AJalvolio. Three-year-olds have been ten times returned the winner, four-year-olds eight times, five-year-olds a' dozen times, six-year-olds five times, and aged horses four times. In. the first year of its existence the Alelbourne Cup was worth £6lO to the winner. The smallest stake in connection with the race was in 1863, when 490 sovs was the amount won by Banker, but. this was accounted for by the paucity' of the field—seven—the weakest oil record. New Warrior has sired three Cup winners, and William Tell. Tim Whiff!er (imp.), Yattendon, Alusket, St. Albans, Grand Flaneur, Newminster and Gozo have each had a couple of successful representatives, the remaining twenty winners each claiming a different sire.

Old Cloister, the Grand National hero of 1893, is passing the remaining years of his life, under the best c-are and attention, at Messrs Rich’s farm, near Wembley. Recently the state of the old horse’s teeth have been giving him much trouble and) affecting him generally. Air AV. F. Smith, the veterinary dental expert of Newmarket, was consulted, and the subsequent operation speedily alleviated and materially betterd his condition. **■ * * *

W. AlcDonald has had an addition to his team in Alagnificent, who was purchased by Air V. Harris from AV. Stead. He should prove a useful addition to the Eltham Lodge division. * * * * *

Questioned as to the best horse that ever won the Alelbourne Cup, Air Hurtle Fisher replied, “Carbine, without, a doubt,” and “Zulu the absolute- worst. AVhv.” said that- gentleman. “I beat him easily in a two-mile weight-for-age 'race the Saturday before the Cup with a little horse called Sunset, which I picked up out of a selling race in Sydney a month or two before. Sunset gave him half a stone, too, and beat him out of a place.” The race in question was tbe Essendon Stakes, which at that time was run directly after the Derby. * * * * -*

Fisherman, the son of Heron and Alainbrace, who was, with those good mares Alarchioness, Gildersmire and Juliet, imported from England to Australia by Mr Hurtle Fisher in 1860, won no less than seventy races in the Old Country. Included in these were twelve cups and vases and twenty-five Queen’s Plates. The old fellow has now been dead for something like five-and-thirty years. He is buried on tig Maribyrnong estate, where a little wooden railing encloses his grave. Fisherman was probably the best sire ever brought to Australia.

Belligerent changed hands during the week, and is now under J. Taggart’s care. His new owner has purchased him with a view of racing him about tbe goldfields down south.

Mr T. H. Lowry lias disposed of Ovuu bianca to Mr H. A. Beatty for £125, and the son of St. Leger is now an inmate oi‘ D. Price’s stable; * *- •>; * k-

During the progress of tiio Canterbury Jockey Club's Grand National Meeting, a discussion eventuated between tire owner of Strathnairu and the trainer of Ful men as to the relative ability of the pair. ‘Mr. Harris stating that lie was prepared to back Strathuaim against Fulmen for any sum up to. £SOO over any distance. Hankins was quite willing to take the subject into consideration later on in the season, as his horse was not forward enough to race then’, or even within a mouth, consequently no business resulted. Both horses won at the recent Jubilee Meeting, Fufmen finishing a dead heat with Ideal in the New Zealand Cup,- whilst Strathnairu secured the Metropolitan Handicap. * * •?, * K- ' The name of Mr Hurtle Fisher is almost a- well known in Now Zealand as it is in- Australia. He 'hue been associated with racing; -in Australia for over fifty years, and few men arc so competent to give reliable information regarding the history of the turf on. tire other side of the Teamen Sea. Recently, •xrefender," of the Melbourne “Sprtsman.” had a chat with Mr Fisher, Asked as to a comparison of the thoroughbred then and nowadays, that gentleman gave it ns- l-is opinion that the racehorse of fifty ye ns ago pos-.O"-. d much {■ e bettor substance of the two. With regard to their respec-tlve Listing qualities, up thought tin; differeut .style of training; had all to do with it. In the olden days, although a. horse had to carry bigger weights, run longer distances, and often win his races in heats, he was not subject to- the Koine severe no tubing preparation us, any, Cup candidate of Tc-ilay would be, Hie breeding of ruc/hor-.es Mr Fiph.-r considers to la- a lottery to a very greatextent. As an ins tamo of the fallacy of breeding from ''goer pot forme- -, ’ lie nienti'.ir.ed. am one oHiors, tvre full-? inters u. Sylvia and Ragpicker, t'• r. tho turf the latter much- the Letter ox the two, yet while Sylvia throw bor-es like C'-rdu-.borc’vgh, Kchin Head. end Murirei-Henvy • the RuM. Ew pick ,r proclr.ced nothing even as good ;• s herself. I'T' cry v,i\ Sylvia’;; name can bo found clopping iv> in the poaigre-o cr some goad v.inner, witiio that cf her more brilliant. is loss iilustiicue. -i-ror is elm:;,: entirely lovg. tfeu. * r. • Anotiwr peculiar thing ia herse-breed-iug, say.- Air FUUet, is the very diifeient quality some marcs impart to. their offspring i:i regard to sex end colour. In such c:\sos the worth of the different youngsters .seems to oricuM'y dep.ead on whether they have i>. Day chestnut or brown tinge to thoir hide when they first- see the light o’ day. For instance, all Night ingaieis light -brawn progeny were “clinkers,'’ while the light-coloured one,; wore "ran!: dnfi'.v;.” Lenten: muiV'v Hr--;-.::; were a couple of the d: vk browns out cf cl'i-. mare. Then, again, all the eel vs tram Marciiiaons&s (uot-trbiy Angler and 1' i l-liooi:) wore splendid liorscs, while* tl.o nates out of the same tiiaro w. ye— wit a tho exception c-1 the 110.-. e or Denmark —.'otupevatiro ic.iiure*. In iviai'ciuone*?. Oildennirc mid Oymba, Mr Fidicr rowu.ui throe English. Oaks winners i-A the -arue time, a distinction no other Are-trall-in ; .;>orts:aan, and only about two English racing men, ever enjoyed. Cymba came out a little later than, the other two, and had. for a shipmate Juliet, the data of Sylvia. in April, 1806. Mr Fisher brsougktf his horses, on the far-iamsd Maribyrnong Estate under the hammer, and although the fine total cf 26,455 guineas were realised, fur the- lot, Mr Fisher remarked, “E've only been sorry for parting wifli them 'once, and that’s been ever since. 1 Veka-i a fine string must have been paraded' there that day! Among those v-Uso found now owners were rvi-jh celehrlties as- .Firmv&orks, Sylvia, -Rose of Denmark, Angler, Lady Heron, Fishhook, Maribyrnong, Seagull, Qildennirey Marchioness and Chrysolite; * *. * * * The,; two-year-old Scotch. Miat.-.y/lio-cam© down from-Stqney-bur.it to fiieearton during the Carnival Week, is to be broken,, immediately. She ia a, rather nice filly, and, from appearances, should bo blip best of. the progeny that Black Cicud. bins t'IUOiVU. * * * * *

"Whpn the Melbourne Cup horse;! were at, the starting-gate a well-nourished lady of about 1.5 stone stood-up in- the stand in order to'get/a, better 'view.. She obstructed the view cf spine three doxen Tnc-Tii; the members’ stand. “Sit down!” they '.-ihoute.-I. She - endured this for a little while, and then she, turned on them. “My cb.l t.u'au.-,” she rerouted;, “has paid ten bob for me-, and I don't intend.to sit -down to oblige any deadheads. There now!” *** * * •

The list cf winning sto-Uiftas i’i Australia made, up to November 12th .was headed by Lochtol, —v-iAS; Zalinshi, ■7: Giko, £3739; Hid cf Portland, £3074'; Maksa,'£3l(kV **N * # *

What a '.useful horse Blaser has breu, and what n good one to.follow! Out of 43 starts ha ha? spy rod 23-wins. A pound invested- upon him .each start, -would have produced a profit cf £3O 11;; Gd. Among other- triumphs, to bit

credit are two Electric Plates out or four tries.

Certitude, the winner of the St. Alban's Handicap, at the Moonee Valley Octdber meeting, • was■ bought as a yearling for 30 guineas. tier dam, No Doubt, is by Enfilade from Fact, by Progress from Result, by Beautiful Green. Certitude and J.R. were both bred by Mr James .Rodt'orh. ■k-' * w

Conqueror was placed first in the class for thoroughbred entries at the Waimate Show. The owner of the second horse protested, on the ground that the winner was unsound. A. veterinary examination followed, with the result that Conqueror -was pronounced' perfectly, sound for breeding purposes. * * * ft B

Genial “Jim” Hickey, trainer of The Grafter at Epsom, has (says “Ranger,” in the “Sporting aha Dramatic News”) had -a somewhat adventurous career, especially in Australia, and his experience of horse? Stas been learned in a rough school. That it is, however, a most useful experience is sufficiently proved by recent events, for not- only i? he able to ride winners of steeplechases, but he can also train the winner of a valuable flat-race handicap. Suoli versatility indicates that he was not brought up under the influence of hid’bound traditions; he has had to think for himself, and to wori: out new situation.? ns they have arisen. Few or the keenest judges of racing expected that T-ho Grafter, with 9sfc in the saddle, would win the Prince Edward Handicap at Manchester; whilst the fact that he i> trained by Hickey, steeplechase jockey, at Fp-o-m—a place not •■reyoointed with tie ' preparation, cf high-class pc-rfon-ic;:- on the flat—and was ridden by Halsey, another jockey who h-a- distinguished himself over a country, did good help to make him out to be at ail a “go-cut thing.” There were some cf our smartest handicap horses in the fluid. Most- of t-Uo crack jockeys—. A mo ri car., cf course; sported Aik for the occasion. But they had nothing to do with tin* finish, for the puna old racer from Av.-i r.iiia curried his top-weight to victory in ge.-Uant stylo, cud quickly fettled r. number of more •higb.iy-hmcied opponThe re-salt was satisfactory vc the ring, sud two or three members c-'i the plunging division were- rather herd hit. They harq speculated on various chances that “looked good,’’ none better, in print cf fact, and they bad missed the- winner. Yet one man I met baci-rod The Graft-.;' alone, and when I asked him why. lie »aid. “Oh. I don’t route know, really ; net 1 must- have though ~ was going to win.’’ Hie splendid luck enjoyed' by-some cf our c-anipatriots i-s enough; to turn their brain, au-d apparently that- is often the chief result to be noted. * « * . * », Enquiries regarding Peerage elicited a repiy that ££oo was required for him. A Ricc-art-on trainer made an offer for the horse on Friday, but was informed that he was not for sale. * i. ■ - - . St. Julian, who was brought, to New Zealand by Mr Backlanu. and who was recently shipped to Tasmania, trotted into second position in the Time Handicap Trot, two miles and a half, .at the Hob-eatb Krcfc Ciub’it meeting on Nov. 3. and wag' di-squalifled for breaking just oil the-pnrfc. The report- does not state that the. break was wilfully caused. In New Seamnd a horse suffers no greater penalty when breaking just on the post than lie uoc-s at any other stage of the raefe. The Tasmanian rules-may be difre rent. .St.' JLilian also finished third to Darkie (who won the double), in the Distance. Handicap Trot, deeiaod at. the same meeting. • * ' ~ * * * * T. Pine, a rising light-weight, has severed his connection with the Chokebore 'stables. . i - ' * >• » • c . A twq-ycar-cld filly named Pendant, by Far Niente, from the Musket mare Necklet, is favourably referre dto by “Milroy.” Another great, big colt, named •L-eehoime, by the imported horse Haut Brion, from Etrw Weenie (dam of Merriwee)', 'by Trenton, is. said to he a hue youngster. This ccdjj. remarks- 'the above-named writer, “was in the gallop with Azure when the was-first tried for Warwieir Farm-, but ho. Was- ‘down the course’ when she fhiNlmiL After a few more, spins;- ho came on fast- and ..ultimately made tha toub stare by the way he hung on to no less a. sprinter than' AubJ Laug Syne for h-aii ri mile, which the. watch made very fast. This colt .looks up to 18st, and, being a big fellow, it will boa pity to see him’knocked about in ;tlic early part af jtne. season.’ if kept- till he matures he-vvoulcfbo just ; tho sore fo pull oft'-’’a Derby and' Cup double, 9,3 did Ids huif-ork-fher' Merriwco.” ' ■ ' .; . ■ * ' "* ■ *" ; . - , At a mooting cf blir- New Zealand Trotting Association, held on the 14th instV, Mr T. Nyhane, ITntfc,- drevr attention to the fact tha t he lwd only. received- -half the amount of staked won' bv.iiim aim due by. the PalmeTstcn and Jolin.snnvibe Trotting Clubs. Tho clubs wore defunct* and he had now to apply to.the Associat. Hon for 'the' b<clance owing..- It was rep.olved that-tho applicant be notified tli.a’t t he Association is in .no - way responsible ; also to write to'tiio soerotarics pfptiho two clubs and.-a3k them to give the. mat-

ter their immediate Mr Henry Cudby, owner of Steve -Hart, wrote upon the same subject, regarding a dobti of £25. It was resolved tc\ reply to tn.e samo effect. W. u. Yates applied for tho removal of the life disqualification upon him. The club which had passed this disqualification had since been disbanded, which prevented his applying through that body. The disqualification, the secretary reported, was imposed by the Wellington Club, in the Bilboa case. It was resolved, that the letter be received.

Shrapnel! Shell, the Musketry—Melasma yearling, and the Lakeshell —Fatigue yearling have been emasculated. Much to the relief of the bookmakers and Mr F. F. Dakin, the liandicapper, the fortieth Melbourne Cup was won by ■a comparative outsider. From the time Lancaster was first backed, MV F. i*. Dakin was an uncomfortable man (says the “Australasian"). Why he should have worried himself about Lancaster we cannot understand. If it is possible "for a liandicapper to be toe conscientious, we suppose Mr Dakin’s troubles arose from this cause. When the Handicap was made, Lancaster was not entitled to a pound over 7st 101 b. And why should a liandicapper worry himself about what occurs subsequently ? He c-an &nfy be expected to deal with the form of the horses at- the time he makes Ins handir cap. Mr Dakin was just as miserable when Reunaif was favourite in 1804, and while congratulating him on being wed out of his troubles, we feel more inclined to sympathise with Fouisham and his followers, as Lancaster has cost them a good deal of money ; and had the Hotchkiss colt, won the Melbourne Cup it would only have brought them a fitting .reward for their patience in sticking! o the col: as they have done. »• -- / - ihe grey racing pony, -Worthington who has been purchased by My F. Davis, of Wellington, was shipped at Christchurch on Thursday. * * 'f i- * Gloria, by Trenton, one cf the mares recently sent from Australia for Mr antes Rlatt, has foaled a brown filly to the defunct Grand Flaneur (she of Patron, Axeman, Parthian, etc.). The foal, according to “Vigilant." i.s .-.aid to be rather small, but it is ©good one. with big limbs, and is doing well, though the mare herself is week, and needs careful attention. Gloria is dam of Gloriosa, a good two-year-old in Australia last season. Of course, being foaled to Australian time the foal will not- do- for weight-fer-age two or three year-old races, hub if if proves as enduring as Merman that will not much matter, and in any case its value for the pauuock must be very great. Sant llano, who was purchased by Mr W oodroffe at the blood stock sale on Monday, is now a member of Mr Goodgers division. The son-of St. Leger has been a regular attendant cr the ’track, and if is his owner’s intention to have him prepared for the West Coasts meetings. He has a suspicious - looking leg. which may not stand a sound preparation. Air Woodrofe paid 270 gs for Cissy’s son, and it is to be hoped that he will reward his new owner for his outlay. * * * * * During tiio course of an interesting article in the Melbourne “Sportsman," “Pretender” says that no rac-e was ever surrounded with such strange circumstances as the Melbourne Cup won by Nimbiefcot in 1870. ■ Nimolefoot was owned by a Mr Craig, of Ballarat, who dreamt that lie would win the Cup, but that- Ins jockey would be wearing a crape arm-band at the time—Mr Craig having a presentiment that he would not be.alive when the Cup was run. Old Slack, the biggest double-event “bookie” of the day, to whom he, amongst .others, related the dream, offered to lay him £!Cftt) to eight drinks that'a horse called Croydon would, not .win- the A. J.C. Metropolitan, and that his dream would not come true. The wager was booked -amt the drinks were consumed in advance; but the double come off. Croydon won the Metropolitan, and Nimblefoot .won the Cup, liis jockey wearing, the .crape band as a token cf respect to the memory to poor Mi\ Craig, who, surd enough, died before the race,was. run. Bv the latter’s death, Slack was. of course, released from. all liability in.regards to the wager!, bi.it,, a good sportsman, lie paid the widow,

'■Warn ngton lias been returned to hi?, owner’s place, at Ashburton,, where ,_p. will be given a spell during the summer months.

r The victories of Maltster and Laneast- .

er were satisfactory to breeders of nighclass yearlings. Alaltst.or .cost 910 gs ,as a. yearling, and Lancaster lOOOgsi As tilings go in Australia, these arc big 'figures, and I fancy Cores. Martini-Henry .and Nordenreldt are the only Derby Vh'ip.ers -which cost mdr© than Maltster. Trident, however, cost 800 gs as a- yearling.' It is the fashion to decry'high-priced stock, and warn people against giving hundreds for premising young ones, but mr Mr-'"Whit© and Air Wilson: never funked giving anytiang in reason for a horse they fancied, land, after all,, they were cur three most successful racing men in the last, two deCadevUntil he ra w the Bill of Portland —Bariev colt in the ring. Air Orr had no intention °| anything at Messrs Yuille and Co. s sale on March 10.’ J 890. But- ho thought the colt, now known ns Malt-

ster, tho nicest yearling he had f kMeveVl o TT W? si i? m Luu J ond ' the runner !' asul lr Mr Orr had not been so ,i r ' p ’ ed Maltster would have p one South'Wales. To a mem nvi \ Ne,v Orr is guided by niake^and' selections. .. it were not so L !V ? have hesitated before giving f g - , S’W*' to in 'h^ ;t ,ind things etiu not look too well (W alter running m one of the earlv year-old races Maltster went slNi lr ' ame, and bad to tie rested. Pe£| fins was a elessmg n, disguise Tim to was thrown off and did not ( again until Scomo had been L° U i ■ to Maltster all through his cLen the colt, had had to stand un to coll n- f!!' a fortnight before the Derbw f ° r

E M’Kewan ..as severed Ids conulction wth Crossaus division, and returned £ Dune-din last week, takiim with I,; V hiiist. and the Orphan, who has ]>, Mr V. Hams, who is usually strongly represented at the meetings held on thj> Y est Coast during Christmas, will nn f send over a team this season, liavhm de eided to send them on a northern tour