THE TURF

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 6870, 14 July 1909, Page 9

THE TURF

COMING EVENTS. Wellington E.C.—July 17, 21, and 24. Hawke's Hay Hnnt Club Steeplechase meeting.—July 28. .. C.J.C, Oiand National ust 10, 12, 14. Marton Spring Meeting.—September 1 and 2 or 2 and 3. NOTES AND CO3OCENXS By "AUGUST Hugh Cairns, it Is reported, mil have the mount on the Great Northern •trundles winner, Bully, in the Winter nturcUte at Trentham. Prince Alert, a pacer by Prince Imperial—Paicnwork, was sola for the substantial ngure qt 30U guineas at Christen urea on b atm day last. Private information was received in town yesterday to the effect that Nero, who claimed an engagement in the W inter Hurdles, will be an absentee from, the Txeutnam fixture. The event which Seddon (by Boult— Rose and White) won. at Fiemington on tne opening any of the National meeting was a mile and a quarter. The New Zealand-bred horse was favourite in a held of eighteen, and drawing away at the distance won as he liked in 2min He carried 8.3, and had the services of MoHaohlan. Monody, 8.10, ridden by Ronald Cameron, was runner-up. A Chrifctonurch correspondent writes me that they have had wretched weather at Riocarton for the past fortnight, and in consequence all the horses trained there are somewhat backward. Cotton intends bringing up Chief Hochiel. White Cockade, Silkweb and Glenliold for the Wellington meeting. None of them claims any engagement on the first .day.

The Peninsula Hack Hurdles aiXreufch a.™ on Saturday may not wear such an open aspect as expected. Auratus, 11.4, may be reserved for the National, Kremlin 10.5,' and Finneseeur will be non-starters, while if Tauira's mission bo the Winter Hurdles it will leave Wlrral 10.2, and Bendrock 10, with somewhat weak opposition, of whom Polyanthus 9.13, probably is the most promising. The Handsome Jack mare Maidi has been scratched for all engagements at the Trentham end will be treated to a well-earned rest. The roan mare's rather ill-advised mission to Auckland last month in quest of Great Northern Steeplechase honours was undertaken solely at the expense of another well-known owner on this ooast, who hod Maidi coupled with his own horse in the Ellerslie Jumping doubles. It is a very rare occurrence that an owner having a brace himself to weigh out for thus increases his responsibilities.

The Wanganui trainer Alec. Hall can certainly claim to have had more than his fair share of disappointments with jumpers. The Handsome Jack gelding. Lull, who, it will be remembered, went wrong a week or two before the W-ango-nui Steeplechase, in which it was considered he had excellent prospects, is evidently again amiss, after making what was trusted to be a good recovery, for his mentor has wired scratching him for the Wellington Steeplechase, for which ho had already been paid up for. Applications for bookmakers’ licenses for Saturday's racing at Trentham must roach the secretary by 4 p.m. to-morrow.

In referring to a suggestion that the party behind Fossil, tnc Victorian National Hurdle winner, would probably hare lessened their liabilities over the jig event bad takers been available, an Australian scribe dholes two noted instances where backers were similarly situated: '‘When Zulu won the Melbourne Cup he landed several wellknown turf identities large stakes, for which he had been backed some weeks prior to the race. But as the day drew nigh, Zulu went amiss, and being kept idleness for some days, was generally regarded as a non-starter, until be —quite unexpectedly—turned Up at the poet. His backers would gladly have sold out at a loss, but there was no opportunity, Zulu had no admirers, it was merely waste of money starting him, and in his case backers of horses who got on early were forced to win all they had bargained for. Another crowd to score' largely over a horse who wae started as a sort of forlorn hope was that which followed Ampler in the Epsom Handicap of 1900. His owner and connections had backed Ampler to win a lot of money, but coming nigh to the day of racing they thought it prudent to get-out of at least some of it. When, however, the time came to unload, the market was unfavourable, it was against Ampier’s party, and they were compelled to keep their money, with the result that their horse won the Epsom Handicap easily. There are many other similar oases in connection with racing out here.”

OH THE TRENTHAM TRACKS It is to be hoped that before Saturday the Trentham tracks will get a chance of improving upon their present sodden ccndilion. Two of P rosso rb team.Tauira and Exmoor, worked yesterday morning, the remainder of the Ponrua ’ stable e little lot for the coming fixture, Te Kahurangi Simplex, Kurawaka, Waitarere, and the , pair of rising three-year-olds. Masterful and Hatchet, being treated to hill wopi-

Tauira, who Is one of the fine commanding looking type, and the beau ideal of a jumper, looks in the same capital fix he was in at Otaki. He strode two circuits "soliis over the schooling fences. The first Hiree jiunps were faultlessly negotiated, but he got into the fourth.

Exmoor was assignied a similar task. The Grafton geldm" evidently relishes holding going, and hit ont with great freedom. Hie Wanganui experience appears to have made him more cautious at the obstacles.

The two Peninsula Hurdles Saudi, dates. Silken Hein and Yosami, the first of whom has yet to sport silk over the battens, were both jumped. They require to improve a great deal in this department before their prospects of success can be highly thought of. The -aracen mare lacks nothing in condition, having done a fair amount of racing of late, but her schooling education is decidedly backward. Yosami continues to run down her fences badly, and in a race she is hdt very desirable company to keep when approaching the obita'clefe. Capital find Commander were sent two circuits. Both, moved with plenty of freedom, especial’ Commander. Stormont, the CUiiUdlJiHfftrtisl taking big Son ttf Aprttnoct, StrbdC over two rounds at a sound wace. As previously mentioned in these columns, last year's National Hnrdle winner’s breathing apparatus is secy ranch in seed of ro-

pair, and over a distance of ground this must tell o tale. He is considered a. likely starter in the. Steeplechase, and. is reported to be au fait over timber. Sir Frisco and Iranui wore associated in a six-furlong spin, the former iuushing a length to the good in Imm Sisco. Longuer was sept over the same distance, but in leisurely fashion. ‘Sweet Angelus made up some leeway on First Hate over six furlongs. Multiform’s daughter disposing of the latter at the end of it in Xmin 29seo. Xavier, Seaman, Squall, Fwiuk kv Inchoonny, Pixmun, Purakau, Hilar mn. did usefu Itaaks. HANAWATU RACING CLUB Bpboiaxj to tbu “ tules.” BAX/JU-cdWiTUi'v, July 1A The committee ol cue Aiajxawatu Bao* ing Club mot last nigut, AU* Aiiuibtxung in the chair. . • .. it was uetidod to reply to Mr W. G* Steau, of Chrxfitchurcn, that the club proposed to submit a rule to tno New Zealand Racing Comeronco to got over the diihcuiiy m connecuon with eirea which arc no longer in the Dominion, while tiieir progeny remains. The applications of iJ. K. Jackson and Co., Wanganui, and the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile. Agency Co., fvitcJtr land and Christchurch, on behalf ot olients, for tranfltere of nominations, wen Thomson's nomination of Grenade was remitted on account ol the death of that horse. Counsel for the club, Mr E. A. Louffhnan, reported that the club had been successful in the action brought by Mr D Boss, on behalf of bookmakers, to contest its right to refuse licenses and regulate the location and acticHE ot bookmakers on its course. The prize money for the Manawato Sires' Produce Stakes of 1911 was fixed at 600 sots. x With reference to stipendiary steward*, it was resolved to instruct the duo fl delegate to the Racing Conierenoe (Ml D. Buiok, M.PO to oppose the appoturoment of such officials unless they ar« appointed by the conference smd the practice made universal.

THE VJa.C. GRAND RATIOS All meeting. The latest Sydney files to hand contain a* follow farther interring details in reference to the Grand National Hurdies and other events on the first day of the .bis Flemington Jumping fixture: — "Excepting that The Sun hardened, the Grand National Hurdle Race mamtainod its open character right up to the barrier rise. # Prior to the commencement of - racing u® , w< * s operated on at *8 e, but a steady stream of support brought him to pmnte shorter before the 22 competitors left the birdcage. There are no excuse® to be advanced for the favourite’s defeat, as be was beaten fairly: he was _ m the forefront of the fighting line all through the race till passing the training sheds m the wake of Fossil, Old Nick, and Fab nuok. Hero he was palpably beaten, and failed to take a hand finishing operations in the straight. "The Downing Forest stable landed a big stake over Fossil's victory in the Grand National; a commission was executed before the Harvester gelding nan I at Moonee Valley, and money was got on | at long odds, some of it at 100 to X and 1 2. The fact of the stable capital having 1 been invested on such favourable terms, ! aid Fossil’s two wretched displays at Moonee Valley having left an unfavourable impression on the public mind, accounted for the long odds which were on ofier about him on Granu National Day, when 20 to 1 was obtainable." “According to one noted backer ol horses, the people behind Fossil would have been pleased to unload their money in connection with the- Grand National Hurdle Race had they been able to do so after the horse’s poor displays at Moonee Valley Other authorities say no, and that Soobie had a decided fancy for Fosisil from the moment the weights api neared until the race was run. But even if Fossil's backers did win their money because they were made to from the 1 fact that no Opportunity was presented i for unloading It they are not the first I by long chaJ™ to meet a similar experience.’’ ' . v

"The Tasmanian, representative, Kainnok, pnt up a groat fight against Foesil in the last couple of hundred yards of the Grand National contest, and at a critical stage of the deadjy duel he must have caused a cold shiver to run down the spinal cold of the Dowling Forest contingent, for he was gradually _ oven lapping him, but he failed to mamtam the crucial and gritty effort at a dnmdvantage of 21 lb- and Fossil’s light impost carried him home a short-length winner. The Tasmanian made a heroic fight, and had he been given a,race or two over hurdles, like Fossil, Old NicH Woolloomoo’.oo. and The Sun. instead ol being bottled up, be would probably have won.”

"Woonoomooloo put ttp a mbut tonishing performance by running fourth after being beaten, out of a place in the Maiden llurxTes, lees than two houre previously. He is mad© of the ngbi eort of material to ultimately gain distinction at the jumping business. Xh« finish for the Maiden Hurdle Eooe was tho most sensational witnessed at Flemihgtoo for a long time. The positions all through the race were of a kaleidoscopic character. Tatterdemalion trailed conspicuously in the extreme rear right past the mil© post, and it was not until raring along the back that he made an effort te improve his position. At the last lot of hurdles, two furlongs from home, be was on fair terms with Woolloomooloo, Sinderby, Obir, and lord Desmond, and at the distance drew to the front,, looking all over a winner. Presently, however, he showed signs of collapsing, and fairly dying in G. Phillip’s arms, he was caught and beaten by doir, 30yds from the post, while in the last few strides old Prooeeder also got up and beat the black horse by a neck for second money. It was a highly sensational denouement.”

"s‘oesil’e Grand National victory came as an unadulterated surprise to everybody save Dow ling Forest, his trainer, James Scobie, and his immediate stable followers, who knew much more about the gelding-’s chance than the public, who did not hesitate to give expression to what they thought of Fossil's running at Moonee Valley a week pioviiuoly. The. hostile demonstration which greeted Foceil oh returning to the scales took all the flavour out of the victory. At Moonee Valley Fossil could never once, get near the leaders, and he finished sixth while in the "National” he was always first, second, oi third. Passing the judge's box at the completion of the first round he was leading, and from what could be seen of the positions from the top of 'he stand it is doubtful whether The Bun, Knotter, 6r Old Nick ever afterwards dispossessed him of the command.”