THE TURF

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7048, 9 February 1910, Page 3

THE TURF

RACING- FIXTURES Eminent K.c— Feb. 9. 10. Poverty Day T.'J. —Feb. 10 and 11. I’oloruii J.C. —Fob. 10 and 17. Taranaki K.C.—Fob. IG. 17. Woodvillo J.C. —Feb. 23. 21. Dunedin J.C.—Feb. 23, 2-1 and 2G. Toio;;a Fay J.C.— Feb, 25 and 20. Smith. Auckland K.C—Feb. 25 and 26. Aimroa Countv K.C.—March 3. Wanganui J.C.—March 3, 5. Danncvirkc —March 9, 10. Napier Dark—March IG, 17. Op intake K.C. —March 17. Mastcrtou K.C.-March 17 and 18. OhLn-cmuri J.C. —March 17 and 18. Westport J.C. —March 17, ID. Qrc-ymoutu J.C.—March 23, 20. Wairarapa K.C. —March 26 and 28. FcUding J.C—March 28, 29.

NOTES AND COMMENTS

{By “The Judge.”) Mr F. 11. Pyne, chaorman of tho Canterbury Jockey Club, contemplates talcing a trip to England in the near future. Bluejacket, who twice won tho Auckland Cup. is now at Mr S. A. Taylor’s place at Logie Plains, VVarra, in Queensland, doing stud duty. Blind Harry, who is showing good form in Melbourne, only cost his present owner ,Cl2 10s. It will probably bo a long time ere ho strikes such another bargain. Woohvindor, the St. Lcger winner of 1907, is now located at tho Napagadi Stud, Hungary, as also are the_ French horse Gouvernant and the English-bred Matchbox.

The English-bred mares Country Damo, by Cherry Tree from Polka, and Dainty Girl, by Flying Lemur from Dainty Lady, purchased by Mr Lawson, have arrived in Sydney. Recently Cupbearer, a promising young English ©lro by Ormc, was sold to go to Franco for SOOOgs. He will replace Childwick at the Neaufies etud. As a yearling Cupbearer cost OlOOgs, th© present Duke of Westminster paying that price for him at the sale cf his father’s horses in 1900, when R. S. Sicvior gave IO.OOOgs for Sceptre.

Some months ago the London “Daily MaiF - ’ published an article under tho heading ‘'Racing Morals: Where Are tho Stewards?” in which it was alleged that there were two flagrant cases of pulling at meetings hold at Newmarket. The stewards of the Jockey Club, through their solicitors, asked the “Daily Mail” to supply the names of the jockeys and liorsos concerned, but the editor of the “Daily Mail” refused, giving as his reason for doing so the journalistic custom that ho would not be justified in disclosing confidential correspondence.

In the* "Adelaide Chronicle 5 -’ of a recent: date is published a statement of totalizator investments in that State from January to December 31st, 1809. The sum handled ran out to .£411,123 10s, which represents an increase of .£135,158 compared with tho same period in 190 y. Salvator, who died recently in America, held the record for a mile in that country—lmiu The world's record for tho distance stands to the credit of Caiman, who is now at the stud in Victoria, and ran tho distance in Imin 33 l-ssec at .Lingfield (England) on July 18th, 1900. Salvator put up his record against time on a straight course. On the other hand, ho carried only 7.12, whereas Caiman had 8.2 up. According to the Now York correspondent of the London “Sportsman/ 5 Pontiac, winner of tho Suburban Handicap in 1885, and for many years an American stallion of note, has died at the famous Rtauoooas Stock Farm, Now Jersey. He was bred by the late Mr Pierre Lorillard, and was one of the fastest horses in training, being also a success at tho-stud. From Texas word comes of 1 the death of another well-known and promising young sire. Bight Royal, by Rapallo out of Mrs Delaney, by St. Simon. The American obituary list of stallions recently has been quite largo, as within a few months it has Included Den Strome, St, Dlaiso, Islington, Inflexible, Salvator, and Touuy. L&mborg and Neil Gow are in equal demand for this year's English Derby, and in referring to this the “Pink 'tin' 5 saye that of late years the bookmakers have had plenty of encouragement to bet on the "blue riband." Very few could this time last year have backed Minoru, and fewer still in the previous year, Signorinetta. Orby in 1907 was not a i puolic fancy, and the year before that few people dreamt that they saw the winner in Spearmint. It was at one time said that the days of tho outsiders wore gone; bnt every now and again they crop up, and two greater outsiders than Signorinetta and Jeddah wore never known. Though Jeddah was at one time well backed, immense odds were refused about his chance just before the start, and very few know that there was such an animal as Signorinetta in the race. ,

Horses "out for an airing" are as common in the Old Country as is the case out here, that is judging by the following, taken from * the English "Racing Calendair" for December. It gays: "The stewards of the National Hunt committee have had their attention directed to the frequency with •which in post seasons horses have been run apparently with no other object on the part of those responsible than that of providing them with a 'school* over the fences, which is manifestly improper and irregular. Every horse taking part in a race is presumed to be running on his merits with the object of winning if possible, and the stewards jgrive notice that in future the person who is reported to them as having run a horse simply for 'schooling' purposes will be severely dealt with. Stewards of meetings are requested to bo particularly observant in this matter, and to fully exercise the powers conferred upon them by rules 11 and 12." During tho racing season just ended S 3 2-year-olds won a total of -£45,065 on the American and Canadian tracks. As a result of the reduction in value of the stakes and purses offered by the local racing associations, the earning capacity of colts and fillies naturally was curtailed, so that neither collectively nor individually does tho list compare favourably with those of former years. In the opinion of sportsmen, too, the quality of the youngsters / was below the axorage, and few, if any, to equal horses like Sysonby, Colin, Burgomaster, Sir Martin, Artful, Hamburg Belle, and others. Mr James R. Keen's Sweep, by Ben Brush, heads the list with <£8260, and next como Mr J. McManus's Rocky O’Brien, by Moddler, with .84414; Mr C. L. Harrison's Waldo, <£2976; Mr Woodford Clay's Ocean Bound, ,£2509; Mr 11. IV Whitney's Greenvale,. ,£2010; and Mr R. L. Thomas's Flying Squirrel, .£1854.

Tho death of the English sportsman, Mr C. J. Merry, is announced, at an advanced age. Himself a lavish patron of racing, he never attained the fame reached by his father, the wealthy ironmaster, Mr James Merry, whose "yellow jacket, black cap” wore carried to victory in so many great races of the fifties, sixties, and seventies of last century. That gentleman died in 1877, but it was not -until 1582 that Mr "C.J.” registered his colours, and embarked seriously on racing. Ever since then he has had several horses in training, but never anything equalling in class his father's famous Tnormanby (winner of the Derby in i 860), Doncaster (the Derby victor in 1873), Sunbeam (St. Leger, of 185 S), Macgregor (Two Thousand Gxiineas. of 1870), Mario Stuart (Oaks and St. Leger, of 1875), and Sauntcrer, the "beautiful black” colt that carried off the Goodwood Cup in 1853. Still, many fair horses won races for Mr "C. J.,” notably, ITavock, who took the Chester

Cup of 183-1; Stirrup Cup, Ralph. Neville (Gocdwocd Stakes of 1892), Ammonite, Fiorcndean, Diplomat, and, especially, Deuce of Clubs. This ©on of Robert the {-.'evil woa several races, but is chiefly remembered for his having in th© Surbiton Handicap, at Sundown Park, run two dead-heats with S?a Song, and beaten him at tho tliird attempt by a nock.

Sporting folk will have thoir attention occupied to-clay in dealing with tho first day’s racing of tho Egmont* Racing Club which opens at Hawern. Useful fields are and some good dividends should bo by tlv respective winners. The meeting will bo brought to a conclusion to-mor-rcw.

R. Young, who rode Lady Lucy in tho last New Zealand Cup, will rido Milan at Egmont to-dav. The St. Ambroso filly is reported to bo in good racing trim. Clemency, who is engaged in the Hack Hurdles at ICgmont to-day, is said to bo a promising cut of a hurdlor. The St. Clements gelding will bo ridden by A. McConnon and so will lose nothing on tho score of horsemanship.

Norman Campbell and W* Ayres journeyed to Hawera yesterday, where the two riders named will engaged in events at tho Fgmont» meeting. At tho conclusion of tho Egmont meeting A. McConnon will visit Trontham for the purpose of schooling Moloch over tho obstacles, Tho Mauser gelding has shown some aptitude for tho jumping business. In our advertising columns tho local sportsman Mr \Vk Smart announces his intention of disposing of Undecided. This filly Ims given oyidonco of her ability to win sprint events and is very speedy over a short journey. She won tho Final Scurry at the W.R.C. spring meeting when carrying Sst 71b, running tho half-mile in 53 2-ssec. If properly placed this filly should prove a profitable investment.

has been getting through his educational tasks over the obstacles at Tauhorenikau in a very taking manner and a successful jumping record is anticipated for The Officer gelding. Silken Rein and Gold Bird under H. Fletcher’s guidance promise to develop into serviceable hurdle performers. The pair will b© competing at the Wanganui meeting. A. McConnon will do all tho hurdle riding for the Tauherenikau stable, R. Knox, the Opaki trainer, has No Trumps in good fettle, and Mr Donald's . gelding null b© a competitor at the Taranaki meeting. Stan Reid, tho well-known light-weight, will pilot The Possible gelding iu his coming engagements. There are eighteen acceptances for tho Taranaki Cup and the race bears a very open appearance. Amongst the number is Waita-pu, who won this ©vent last year with 7st 121 b. Tho Gipsy King gelding has the identical •we ; ght to carry in the coming event that ho won with at tho corresponding meeting last year. The latest news from Foxton is that Mr Messena’a favourite is in good racing trim. The Oa-ldeigh Plate, of 1250 sovs, the principal event of the Victoria Amateur Turf Club’s autumn meeting, will take place next Saturday. It is run over a distance of five and a half furlongs, and a good field is engaged. The Newmarket Handicap comes up. for decision on Saturday, February 26th, First acceptances were duo last night. Sir Footo holds the record for this race, viz., Imin 13$sec, which h© put up in 1902. He carried Sst and was followed home by Aurous and Bonnie Chiel. Snow foot, the Auokland-hred son or Soult and Helen McGregor, who picked up a race at Canterbury Park (Sydney) on Saturday last, was a competitor in. the A.J.C. Challenge Stake a week earlier, getting fourth in a big field. . Mr J. Burton’s brown gelding Fill© Fo.gi, by Lancaster from Nowra Maid, beat a field of twelve" in the Challenge Stakes, of 400 sovs, at tho A.J.C. Anniversary meeting. Still another event has been won by the Auokland-bred Annapolis at Psrfcbj The son of Phoebus Apollo and Roxana, starting a hot favourite, captured the Waylen Stakes, seven furlongs, at the West Australian T.C* meeting on January 29th, H. Gray is right out on his own in the list of winning jockeys. He has been first home on forty-one occasions this season. A. Oliver is next with twenty-five wins, closely followed by W. Young twenty-two, R. Hatch twentv-one, and S. Reid twenty. No less than 136 horsemen have ridden winners this season. Th© Auckland horseman A. Julian has passed H. Telford in the race for winning honours over tho sticks wfth eleven wins to Telford’s ton. O, Pritchard and W. Young are close up next.

That speedy son of Havoc. Irishman, whohas top weight (lOst 3lh) in tho Oakloigh -Plate, recently split one of his hoofs, and his owner, J. Johnson, has decided to rest him. for a few months until the injured member has filled up sound again. A correspondent to an English paper states that this year’s South African Derby appears to be a foregone conclusion for Spartan, a sou of the Carbine horse, Greatoiex, and Laconia. The dam of tho colt was bred at Neotsfield, N.S.W., by Mr R. H. Dangar, and is by Gibraltar. J. E. Brewer, the well-known trainer and rider, who has been on a. visit to Melbourne, returned to England the other day.

The race for the Indian Viceroy’s Chip, decided at Calcutta on Boxing Day, attracted Retort, 9.3 (Murdison), 1; Fizz, 9.0 (R. W. Fraser), 2; Master Delaval, 9.3 (A. Hoyt), 3; Misty Morn, 9.3 (Robinson), 4; Absentee, 9.3; Dovereux, 9.3; Kaffirpan, 9.3; P'elargoninm 11., 9.3; Waudin, 9.3; Coat of Arms, 9.0; Crossbred, 9.0; Five Crown, 8.12; and Saloon, 7.3. Retort ■was favourite, withtheex-Aucklander. Master Dolaval, next in demand. T‘ start was a good, one, and tKo lint was unbroken until passing the first stand, where Saloon and Misty Morn disputed the lead. Wandin ran to the front at the mile and a quarter post, and carried his field to the five furlongs post, where Fizz took charge from Retort, and -the pair held their positions to the half-distance, where Retort put in a vigorous claim, and won hy a short nock after a most exciting encounter. The trip occupied 3min fijsec. As has been mentioned before in these columns the executors of the estate of the late Mr Samuel Hordern have decided to dispose of the Wilton Park stud, and have entrusted Messrs William Inglis and Son with that important task. According to the “Sydney Mail” the mare, foals, stallions, and young stock will be sold at Payton’s,* Randwiok, on April 4th. The late Mr Hordern spared no expense when ho started breeding thoroughbreds. He began by sending Mr F. W. Day to England to buy mares, while Sir Michael Power frequently

visited New Zealand with tho same object. Some of th© best lines of Australian blood were also secured, and 5600 guineas was paid for Nordonfeldt for a stallion. At the breakup of all the great studs during tho past twelve years Mr Hordern’s managers have selected from time to time picked mares. On tho death of Nordoufeldt, that magnificent son of St. Simon Haut Brion was secured in England at a cost of nearly 5000 guineas, and at the break-up of Kirkimm Gossoon was purchased. Wilton Baric *;tud represents an outlay of at least £63,000, but good interest on tho amount has been forthcoming since the yearlings bred there wore sold publicly. Tne stud has turned out its full share of winners, and tho stock are- popular with racing men. Hautrilliers, a dual Derby winner, Sweet Nell, iiaulettc, Zythos,. and scores of other good ’ winners have come from Wilton Bark, where none but tho best have been kept. Therefore the dispersal is likely to bo tho biggest thing In this direction since tho break-up of Kirkham and Tocal studs. At the Sandown Park meeting (Sydney), on January 29th, the competitors included : several horses engaged in the Oakleigh Plate, Newmarket Handicap, and Australian Cup. Queen of Scots, one of the fancy picks for the Newmarket Handicap, was made favourite for the First Division Handicap, but she was comfortably beaten by th© Rosehill filly Kuringai, who, as is the case in tho Oakleigh Plate and Newmarket Handicap, was in receipt of 61b from the Wallace mare. Though Lautoka has hitherto been regarded as the pick of J. Sioly’s stable for tho Newmarket, the Park form is bound to cause Kuringai to advance considerably in tho a notations. Late Hours, though backed. does not appear to have run at all well in Kuringai’s race. Flavinius was second favourite for the Sandown Park Cup, one mile ; but missed # a place, the winner being tho favourite, Congo d’Eslire, 8.1, who has 8.3 in* tho Oakleigh Plate, 7.8 in the Newmarket Handicap, and 7.1 in the Australian Cup. Tho highest price ever paid for a trotting gelding was 36,000d015., the sum paid for Earns. Uhlan at 35 ? 000dols. is the second highest priced gelding. Newhavon’s Melbourne Cup pilot, H, J. Gardiner, who has been for some time in West Australia, has been granted a jockey’s license again by the Y.R.C. MEREIYONIA’S GALLOPS IN REPLY TO MR AMES. (To the Editor " N.Z. 'Tlmea.' - ) Sir,—ln connection with Mr J. Ames’s letter that appeared in your columns yesterday stating that Merrivonia had done no work since the Trentham meeting, I beg to state that tho mare has been a constant attendant on the track here, and has executed some fair work.

In fairness to your sporting editor I may say that I supplied the information relating to the good display made by Merrivonia on the course here. —I am, etc., ‘ S. MURRAY. Trentham, February Bth. DANNEYIEKE RACING CLUB AUTUMN MEETING. The attention of owners is drawn to the fact that nominations for all events close with. Mr J. S. Freeman, the secretary, at 9 p.m. on Thursday, February 10th. Handicaps for the first day’s racing will be declared on or about Friday, February 18th.