TURF TOPICS.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4426, 5 August 1901, Page 2

TURF TOPICS.

The Wellington Park bred colt St. Austral (St. Leger—Ouicla) was given a couple of runs at. the South Australian TattersalTa Club meeting on July 20th. In the Trial Stakes, seven furlongs, he dead-heated for second place in a field of eleven. Later in the day he ran unplaced in the July Handicap, six furlongs. J. Foulsham has reason to regret not having accepted the offer of £570 for the gelding Pilgrim’s Progress after the V.R.C. meeting. He fell while competing in the Murrumboena Handicap at Caulfield on July 20th. He was badly injured, but was not destroyed pending instructions from the owner. The Queensland sire Eros, whose stock have been racing successfully at Brisbane meetings, is a son of Anteros (who was imported to this colony and afterwards sent to N.S.W.) and Emily, by Grand Flaneur—Astarte (by Maribyrnong—The Fawn), a member of the welliknown family to which Richmond belongs. Gallina (Gozo —Tallegalla), a half-sis-ter to the Prodigal gelding Return, won the Stewards’ Mile at the Canterbury Park meeting on July 20th.

Nordenfeldt was represented by a winner at the Canterbury (N.S.W.) meeting on July 20th. The principal event, the Canterbury Handicap, of lOOsovs, one mile and a quarter, went to Lady Darling, Nordenfeldt—Grace Dan ling. Nordenfeldt won the Y.R.C. Derby at the same meeting that Grace Darling ran second to Sheet Anchor in the Cup. J. Gainsford rode a winner at Canterbury Park on July 20th. This was Mr S. Fielder’s Abingdon (Dunlop— Nada), who carried 9st 31b and won the Flying Handicap, six furlongs, in Imin 17)- sec. The race was only worth £6O and therefore Abingdon escaped a penalty for the Epsom and Metropolitan Handicaps next in which he has to carry Bst 2lb and 7st 91b respectively. Mr Claude Smith has purchased the racehorse Lancaster, by Hotchkiss from Frailty, for 500 guineas, and he goes to the stud at Wandillyan Heights, Molong. The Caulfield Cup candidate Peeress, by Bill of Portland—Precedence (Mus» ket—Maid of Honour), won the Murrumbeena Handicap, of 150 sovs, one mile and a furlong, at Caulfield on July 20th. She carried 7st 71b and ran the nine furlongs in 2min Jsec. By this victory Peeress’s weight in the Caulfield Cup is increased to 7st 71b. , By his victory in the Townsville Cup last month Ohio (Gozo —Procella) has incurred 71b penalty in both the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups, bringing his imposts up to Bst 101 b and Bst 61b respectively in those events. I expect the’brother to San Fran to be among the missing when the first acceptances for the Victorian Spring Handicap are declared on the 13th instant. Two of Shoddy’s relations recently met with a bit of good and bad fortune. The four-year-old Otway (Bill of Portland—Chintz) broke one of his legs at Queenscliff and was destroyed. The three-year-old Cretonne (Bill of Portland—Chintz) won the Two-Year-Old Handicap, of 130 sovs, seven furlongs, at Caulfield on July 20th. She carried top weight (9st) and beat Bonnie Chiel (Bst 101 b) and seven others in Imin 34J sec. Boitnie Chief (Wallace —Bomhe Rosette) is said to have been badly ridden by Lewis. Cretonne has incurred 31b penalty in the Caulfield Cup, which increases her impost to 7st 51b and 81b in the Melbourne Cup, in which she will have to carry 7st 21b. The favourit© picks for the Grand National Steeplechase and Hurdles are Dummy, and Dartmoor (Percy Johnston’s mounts) and Social Pest and The Needle (W. Clarke’s mounts), each of which combinations is quoted at 16 to I. Other fancy doubles are Moifaa, coupled with Haydn, Needle and Dartmoor, and Dummy and The Needle, which, are quoted at 20 to 1. A meeting of stewards of the Wairarapa Racing Club was held at Featheristone on Friday last. Present—Messrs W. E. Bidwill (chairman), J. W. Card, G. Tally, S. Candy, A. McKenzie, G. Reynolds, W. Book, Allen, Donald and J. S. Cundy. The treasurer reported the overdraft at the bank to be £1241 2s lOd, and accounts amounting to £54 were passed for payment. The chairman said that the stewards had signed a personal guarantee for £2OOO on the club’s overdraft- at the bank, and as the amount was now only £1240, he considered it would be advisable to reduce it to £ISOO. This was agreed to. The chairman read the report and balance-sheet, which were adopted, and passed for printing. It was decided to recommend that £2500 be voted in stakes for the ensuing year. It was decided that the annual meeting of members be held on 22nd August at 11.30 a.m. at the Foresters’ Hall, Greytown.

“Taranaki” had a look round Mr F. Watson’s stables the other day. Bata tleaxe and Okoari have both wintered well, and look in robust health. Old Dummy, the steeplechaser, is in work, the swelling of Ms orcnk off hind leg having' been reduced. At present the gelding is suffering from cracks at the back of the hoof of the bad leg, and this is giving his owner and trainer some anxiety. Dartmoor looks ’n excellent trim. In the paddocks were St Laura, the brood mare; a bay colt fcal by Daystar from St. Lauri, a wellproportioned youngster; the Hotchkiss —St. Laura colt, whose hollow back is very pronounced; a rising threa.year brown gelding by Soult from Lorelei, the half-sister (by Leolinus) to Musket Maid, the dam.of Waiuku, Okoari, Wellstock ; and Tupara, the nearly founyearold brother to Battleaxe. Tupara is a big, strong-looking horse, but he does not display the same quality as his brother*. When in racing trim he will, however, be more pleasing to the eye. At Mr N. King’s property there is running a three-year bay; gelding by Ca-s* tor from TatMghan.