SPORTING NOTES

New Zealand Times, Volume LVI, Issue 2277, 6 August 1894, Page 4

SPORTING NOTES

From the New Zealand Mail. Mr W. H. Keith, who took Omaha, Tayforth, Tongariro, &c., to Melbourne, has returned to New Zealand, and has been getting a few horses together up the Wanganui Coast, and in conversation with him last week he informed me the horses he had purchased were the hurdle gelding Bradshaw, by Castoff; Dart, a four-year-old bay gelding, by Gipsy King—Docility's dam; Vagrant, three-year-old chestnut gelding, by Gipsy King—Hailstone’s dam; besides two unnamed young ones, a tliree-year-old gelding by Gipsy King —Barbarian mare, and a three-year-old full sister to Docility (Foulshot— Treason mare). All the horses are well known to me, and the Gipsy King’s are especially a useful lot. Dart is a big raking young horse, that has already shown his ability to jump, while Vagrant’s half-brother, Hailstone, was a smart hack hurdle horse, and some few seasons ago won two or three hurdle races in the Auckland district. Mr Keith will probably locate his team at Wanganui for a time, but they ■null eventually find their way to Melbourne. As Percy Johnston is engaged to ride Belle in the National Steeplechase, James Hickey will have the mount on Booties in that race. Mr Robert Ross, of Wanganui, the former owner of the well-known sire Natator, has left on a trip to Victoria, for the purpose of purchasing a thoroughbred stallion to take Natator’s place during the ensuing season. The Wanganui breeders would like to get hold of another Painter,

but there is no such luck for them, as I made enquiries in that direction when on a visit to Melbourne in “ Glenloth’s Cup ” year, but found that Grand Prix, the fullbrother to The Painter, being defunct, that the only one of Art Union’s progeny left was a mare named Melanie (a full-sister to The Painter), who is now at Mrs James White’s “ Kirkham ” stud, in New South Wales. I traced one of Melanie’s progeny, a colt by Martini-Henry, to James Eedf ern’s stable at Caulfield, but learnt that the colt bad been gelded after leaving the Kirkham stud, and named Marco. The many friends of Harry Pell, the erstwhile steeplechase rider, will be glad to learn that the Marton Jockey Club have re-appointed him starter, a sure sign that he gave the executive of the Club satisfaction. When passing through Palmerston North the other day, I noticed old Faugh-a-Ballagh, the winner of the Grand National Steeplechase of 1887, being driven in a buggy. His owner, Mr E. Kutherford, who has lately arrived from Canterbury and taken up his residence at Longburn, is evidently as fond and as proud of the old ’chaser now as he was when he won his first National. A "Wanganui friend informs me that Mr J. Belcher will leave Wanganui for Christchurch during the week, taking with him the Grand National Steeplechaser and Hurdle candidates Nanakia and Goodwood, also Bags (Ascot —Lconessa) for the Ladies’ Bracelet. The latter is a big, strong gelding, full-broihor to the once smart Cretonne. Bags is not one of the “ handsome-as-paint” sort, as he has a hip down, which does not improve his appearance. He can have little chance with Leontine, I should say. George Laing will go South to ride Nanakia, and I daresay will have the mount on Goodwood in the National Hurdles. , .

Our old friend “Billy” Butler, as he is familiarly known, will have a representative from his stable at Wanganui for the cross country events in Amalgam (by Natator), but I have not learnt who will go down in charge of the compactly-built roan. An invention, called the “ Hippometer/ to record the number of a horse’s paces and the distance he has travelled, lias been patented by an officer of the French army. The trotting gelding Le Corbeau, who was disqualified for two years by the Normanby Trotting Club at their meeting on May 24th last, is now at Palmerston North. The disqualification so far has not been endorsed by the Auckland Trotting Association, with which the Normanby Club is affiliated. The hurdle mare Kai Iwi Lady (by Natator) has been turned out for a spell and will not be taken- up till about the end of the present year. D. Wilkinson, who has been in the employ of Mr “Josh” Prosser at Porirua for some time, riding principally in hurdle events, has accepted an appointment with J. B. Pilbrow at Masterton.

The commission worked last week in favour of the Castor—Vivandiere three, year-old colt Three Star, for the Now Zealand Cup, came somewhat as a surprise, but punters generally appear to be chary of touching the colt until they have some idea whether he is likely to be sent across from Sydney to compete at Christchurch in November. Several local punters have a lively recollection of Response, for last year’s Cup. It is stated that nearly jJgOOO was booked to tho commissioner, whom it is stated is acting for the stable. One of our local metallicians during the week laid 300 to 14 against Mr L. D. Nathan’s roan colt. The best price obtainable about Three Star at present, as far as I can ascertain, is 100 to 6 to 100 to 8, During the week the betting market was not very brisk, save the commission for Three Star. The near approach of the Grand National Meeting is causing a little interest to be taken in the two chief races, Norton and Melinite having been supported at 150 to 9, and Bombardier and Melinite at 100 to 5. But more business seems to have been transacted in the double—New Zealand and Melbourne Cups: The quotations for the New Zealand Cup, straight out, are —Beadonwell, Three Star and -Au Revoir 100 to 6, Lottie 100 to 5, 100 to'4 Westmere, Lakoshell and Liberator. The Grand National Steeplechase candidate Despised, list 31b, has arrived at Eiccarton in charge of P. Collins, W’ho will have the mount on the Auckland representative. Should Despised strip fit he must have a real good chance, while his handy impost of lOst 101 b in the Hurdle Race should not put him out of court, but tho Feilding horse, Musket, lOst 91b, must hold one or two safe, and Liberator, 12st 61b, is such a stayer, and endowed with so much pace, that he will be pretty handy at the finish. As far as the Southern writers know at present, Mr Gollan has not definitely decided whether he will ride Norton or not yet. Norton’s present weight is 12st 81b, and if 71b be added to this, to make allowance for the. non-professional horseman, it really amounts to Ascot’s son carrying about 13st. An amateur horseman has to be pretty good to be as good as a professional, although I am aware that Mr Gollan has been doing a lot of riding on the tracks to fit him for the task ho contemplates setting himself, T. Oonuop, who rode Bluefire in the last C.J.C. Challenge Stakes, is at the head of the list of winning jockeys during the past season. ~ ,

The Foxton Racing Club have decided upon the following definition of a “ hack” for their: future meetings :—“ That a back shall mean a horse that has never won an advertised race exceeding the sum of 40 sovs at time of start, hack and hunter races excepted/* I do not anticipate that the Foxton Club will receive such largo nominations as they have formerly with the previous definition. Nominators, of legitimate ‘'hacks” will be expecting to meet unplaced N.Zj. Cup horses. Supposing a horse is beaten a head for third place in the N.Z, Cup, what is to prevent the same horse competing at Foxton ? Trainers, jockeys and apprentices are reminded that it is necessary for them to have their licenses renewed for.the 1893-94 season.

ENGLISH ITEMS,' Prom Our Special Cor res pen deni. London, June Id, Australia was to the fore at Epsom on Tuesday when Mr Dan Cooper’s Saintly beat a respectable field for the Woodcote Stakes even more easily than Ladas did in 1893. The victory was not altogether satisfactory, as the filly, who came out with a big reputation at the beginning of the season, has run very eratically. Only a fortnight ago she was badly beaten at Newmarket by a plater called Chat Moss. To back her for a Woodcote after that seemed madness, and in a field of 9 Saintly started at 100- to 8. She made all the running and won by 4 lengths. Saintly was bred by the late Lord Calthorpe, and is by St. Simon out of the Oaks winner Lonely (by Hermit—Aoonyma). Mr Cooper gave 2000 guineas for her as a yearling, and she has numerous valuable engagements, including the Coventry Stakes and the New Stakes at Ascot, the Richmond at Goodwood, the Champagne at Doncaster, and the Bnokenham at Newmarket. Next year she is in Oaks,. Legcr, Eclipse Stakes, and Grand Prise of Paris. There are several relatives of Ladas in Australia and New Zealand, the nearest, perhaps being Major Nelson George’s Sister Agnes, who is, like Illuminate, Ladas' dam, by Eosicrucian.