RACING NEWS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7848, 10 July 1911, Page 4

RACING NEWS

FIXTURES July 13, 19, SS.-Wellington E. C. Winter. August C. 10, 12.—Canterbury J.O. Nations,!. November 4.—C.J.C. New Zealand Onp. NOTES AND COMMENTS (By "The Judge.' 1 ) Confklo, who won the V.F.C. Grand National on Saturday, was second to Squirm in the Wanda Steeplechase at Caulfield on Juno 17th. On that occasion ho ciirricd 10st lllb, so that with 91b off his back the gelding was no doubt fairly v/ell supported. It is probable that J. McGregor had the mount. Confide had b'M.ui doing some excellent track work at Caulfield' prior to the mooting. Trainers and jockeys should nolo that applications for licenses for the ensuing season (1011-12) must bo made to the secretaries of metropolitan clubs not later than July 17th. Any club wishing to amend its dates, os a result of tho Facing Commission's report, must forward amended application to the metropolitan club of tho district not later than to-day. Messrs E. A. Archer and F. I. Pannell have been appointed delegates for the Now Brighton Trotting Club at tho meeting of tho Sporting League to bo held in Wellington on July 18th. Tho annual meeting of the Facing Conference will be held in the Wellington Town Hall on Tuesday, July 18th, at 10,30 a.m. The Victorian jockeys W. P. Burr and W. Evans aro going to India to follow their vocation. Trotting is exceedingly popular # in Russia, The <St. Petersburg Trotting Club is probably .tho oldest hamessraerng association in tho world, for this year it celebrated its golden jubilee. Burin gtbe winter it is customary to flood the track, which by the afternoon : is as smooth as glass. The difference of itime between an ice and an earth footing is about three seconds in favour of the earth. As showing the great popularity of *the sport it may be mentioned that last season there was a total of 200 days of trottipg in St. Petersburg and Moscow, Some two million roubles were given in stakes in addition to the Emperor's prize. About 300 entries is tho average of each day’s events on tho ice. Mr Fame’s fine brood mare Galcottia dropped dead at Newmarket on May 22nd. She was a good performer on the turf, winning among other events the One Thousand Guineas of 1895. At the annual meeting of tho New Brighton Trotting Club the balance-sheet showed that the receipts, including a balance from the previous year of J 2516 2s Id, hod been .27403 14s Id, the chief items being totalisator .£3478 7s. nominations and acceptances C&1141 15a, gates •2665 7s, bookmakers’ licenses .£567, and cards JC2BI 19s. The expenditure had included stakes .£3268, Government tax ,£1104) 8s lid, and buildings and ground improvements .£164)7 3a Bd, the year closing with a credit of .£67 11s 2d. Stanley , Wootton (Frank’s younger brother] rode at Brussels on May 21st. and out of four mounts he was on the backs of throe winners.

Banaus, who was recently purchased by Mr J, Tillett for 625g5, has developed lameness, and has been scratched for the Metropolitan and Melbourne Cup.

' The New Zealand horseman Albert Gray is now in Melbourne, and has been riding in work regularly at Flemington. His services have been in good demand at schooling tasks over the hurdles. As d’Atout, who .won tho Grand Prix do Paris tho other day, was successful in a good race just prior to the mail , leaving. The Marquis do Ganay’s eolt came home ir. the van in the Prix Reisot. an cloven furlongs event for threc-year-olds run at Paris on May 25ih. Feiff had tho mount, and the race made a fine trial for the Grand Prix. Nappc-r was scratched for tho C.J.C. Grand National Hurdles on Saturday morning.

Tho Masterton Facing Club decided on Saturday to apply for November 9th, or in tho alternative November l€th, for its summer meeting, and March 28th and 29th for its autumn meeting. From Hastings comes word of the death of Assayer, who in his day was a

very successful performer on the flat and over hurdles. He belonged to Mr A. Fold, of Hastings. The speediest rising two-year-old on the Hastings track is said to l>o tho bay colt by Merriwee from Rose Seaton. Appin, who has not raced since the Ellerslie meeting, is caid to be looking really well. Gold Battery, who has not slumped too well on the flat of late, is shortly to be schooled over tho hurdles.

Captain Jingle is said to be quite sound again, and will bo a certain starter at Trentham. With tho approach of the W.F.C. winter meeting the training tracks are beginning to present a scene of activity at Trentham. The sand track is in capital condition, while on Saturday.last several horses claiming engagements ah tho coming fixture wore exercised on the outside of tho course proper.

Semaphore and Septimus, members of A. Goodman’s stable, wore associated in a gallop on Saturday. Both candidates aro very well, and they should occupy a prominent position in events that they compote in at tho meeting. Effort is a greatly improved mare judging by tho manner in which she traversed seven furlongs on Saturday. With W. Ryan in the ©addle tho chestnut will have many admirers in the opening event on Saturday next.

J. Ayres continues to send Bracken along in his work. Mr Corry’s galloper is in capital racing trim. A large number of horses are being worked on the old Hutt racecourse, and this one time sporting rendezvous presents a busy sce.no in the mornings with close on thirty horses being galloped on the course.

V. Cotton is pegging away with Varna, Ahuapai. Mount Victoria, and Odessa at the Hutt. These bearers of Mr H. Whitney's colours are receiving a thorough preparation, in view of their W.F.C. engagements. Reports from Opaki state that W. Garrett lias Afterthought and Yite well forward in view of their Trentham contests. The pair are duo at headquarters on Wednesday next. Fongomau strode over a circuit at the Hutt on Saturday in a very taking milliner. C. Pritchard has tho Conqueror gelding in capital racing condition.

S. Crawford is busy at Trentham with Egypt and Foreshot. The pair appear to have made considerable improvement in their galloping powers since their last appearance with the colours up. A number of visiting horses are due to reach headquarters this -evening, and the gallops during the next few mornings should prove very interesting. Whi testone’s showing Las been go bad recently that F. . Porter is thinking seriously of sending- tho gelding homo to his owner, Mr A. Fore, at Blenheim. F. Davis is expected to leave for Sydney at the end of this month with Bobrikoff. The black son of _ Finland should make a bold showing in w.f.a. events across the- Tasman Sea. Tho Wanganui trainer, G. Laiug, is breaking in a rising three-year-old gelding by Swoet Simon from Fireworks. Tiie youngster has given some evidence that he con muster up a fair pace. The Hawke’s Bay owned and trained Cheddar is at present the ruling favourite for the New Zealand Cup. Although the event is nearly four months off the price on offer is a very short one. NOTES FROM WANGANUI bPECIAL TO THE : TiaiES." WANGANUI, July 9. Tho Crackshot geldingß’Nil wasd given a turn over the big fences on Saturday, and acquitted himself very well. He took all the jumps in fine style, and ought to have more than an outside chance in the Hunters’ Steeplechase at Trentham on Saturday next. He is to leave here for Wellington on Wednesday next. The Cuirassier gelding John is shaping very pleasingly, and is evidently in something like his best form, judging by tho, way he is galloping on the flat. As he , is such a splendid jumper his party are naturally expecting him to run a big race in the Winter Hurdles. It is said that they anticipate that he will beat North East weherever tho latter finishes. F. Coleman will pilot John, and has also been engaged to ride Smilax. Tho latter gelding is understood to have been galloping in capital style'lately, and his connections are hopeful of the Obiigado gelding winning either the Parliamentary Handicap or the Winter Cup, as ho is a very fast miler. Ales. Hall leaves to-morrow for Trentham with North East, St. Bill and St. Gate. The former is expected to run prominently in the Winter Hurdles, judging by his exhibitions over the small sticks. Still the schopling hurdles here are very low, and possibly the Enroclydon gelding will not take so kindly to the stiffer hurdles at Trentham. St. Bill and St. Gate have been tespon-. sible for some capital sprinting, the latter gelding especially shaping most attractively. It is said that A. Quiver will have the mount on the full brother to St. BUI in the Trial Plate. Tho Morriweo colt Grandee is going down on Wednesday. He is engaged in the Trial Plate, but unless ho shapes a lot better in the race than ho has- done on the tracks ho is not likely to beat St. Gate. Still he raced better than expected at Pahiatua, and may do the same at Trentham. In any case tho racing will do him good. Y.R.O. FRAND NATIONAL STEEPLECHASE CONFXBE THE WIN NEE. ’ (Received July 9, 5.5 pan.) By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright MELBOURNE, July 8. Tho Grand National Steeplechase of 1500 sovs, three miles and a furlong, was ffim to-day at Fiemingtwon, and resulted as follows; C. X. Godby’s b g Confide, by Harcome—Trust, 10.2 1 W. Hill’s br m Leah Kleshna, by Carbinier —Spieler, 9 2 J. P. Cox’s, br g Grafnax, by Grafton —Xantippe, 13.5 3 Also started —Bipon 12.6, Central Green 11.4, Harvest 11,2, Simple Simon 10.11, Lycaon 10.2, Squirm 9.12, Hawthorn 9.10, Obelisk 9.10, Thunderstorm 9.5, Arty 9. Squirm was tho first to move from Haruijsl;. Central Green, Leah Kleshna and Confide, but Arty led over the first fence, with Obelisk and Squirm next. Ripon took charge at the bridge from Arty and Confide. Soon after Arty baulked, and, approaching the straight, Hawthorn led I from Squirm, Ripon and Central Green. | Hawthorn led out of tho straight. Lycaon dashed to tho front, having a four lengths’ lead along tho river from Haw- ( thorn, Central Green and Ripon. Grafnax took command at the seven furlongs, and at tho abattoirs had a four lengths' lead from Confide, followed by Squirm, Lycaon and Ripon. Grafnax had an advantage over Confide over the last fence, but Confide then took command and won by five lengths. Leah Kleshna beat Grafnax by four lengths. Time, Grain Hisec.