NEWS AND NOTES.

NZ Truth, Issue 216, 14 August 1909, Page 2

NEWS AND NOTES.

Pikipo has got a "leg." Pacific is a wonderful good jumper. Blytheboy is a bit gcfne m the wind. Asteroid has foaled a fine filly to ISirkenhead. All Red has paid up m the Caulfleld and Melbourne Cups. Only /our horses completed the course m the G.N. Steeplechase. The Squatter was sold last week to a Gisborne sportsman lor 100 guineas. Kangikapua was the last to pass the post m the concluding event on Tuesday. The official' time of the Winter Cup was 1.43 2-5, but dozens of private watches made it exactly one second faster. Nyland was No. 1 on the card, No. \ with the 'public, and the same number at the. barrier and the judge's box. Nyland was sent home to Awapuni on Thursday as his trainer decided that the handicapper had too exalted an opinion of him. If Tyrannic starts m the Hunters' Flat to-day it will be a case of getting m early. Always provided the gentleman jockstcr can sit on. H. Cairns, on Kamera, was looking for a fly m the Avonhead Handicap, and the •result was that he and his mount parted company at the barrier. A. Shcarsby, who recently vacated the position of private trainer to the Highden horses, always held that Nyland was a good horse, and it looks as if his judgment was correct. A lot of good judges at Riccarton were not prepared to give a certificate guaranteeing that Wet Day was out to win m the Avoiihcad Handicap, and they argue that tlic importation will show greatiy improved form later on. The knock Corazon gave himself m the Final Hurdles at Trentham proved to "be a pretty hard one, and after arriving at Riccarton V. Collelo was unable to work the horse. This made it impossible to start him m the G.N. Hurdles, m which J. Hall rode Lionheart. The Awapuni trainer, G. Price, who recently took charge of the Highden horses, opened his career as a trainer very well by winning at his first attempt. The Finland horse was very erratic at the barrier, but he began like a rocket, and once be got to the front nothing was able to extend liim. The wetght-adjustcr^must have thought very highly of his performance, as next day he weighted him at 10.5 m the August Handicap and made bim concede weight to several good horses, such as Waikaraka, Sea King, jsweot Angelus, All Guns arid Iranui.

The Lincoln Steeplechase will be run to-day. „ ' A lot of horses are making a noise at Riccarton. Concluding day of the C.J.C. meeting at Riccarton. Grand Slam is being given a N.Z. Cup preparation at Kiccarton. Federal is a fine bold mover, but he ha;; very few friends at Riccarton. The Steeplechaser Kiatere has been iired and turned out m Melbourne. Eclair still holds the time record for the New Zealand G.N. Steeplechase. The Porirua-traincd Lady Medallist and Tc Kahurangi are nominated at Marlon. There are thirteen yearlings this season at Mr G. F. Moore's stud at Bushy Park. The North Island horses swept the board on the opening day of the Riccarton meeting. N Lady Disdain is bowling along very freely at Riccarton and is a sure winner m the early Spring. The brood mares Docility and Colleen have gone to Waikanae stud and are booked to Benzonian. Waikaraka was very stift and sore after landing at Riccarton and he took some time to throw it off. Last year the Haut Brion horse Fontenoy served twelve mares and they have all proved to be m foai. Tauira was not schooled from the time he won. the Hack Hurdles at Trentham till he contested the G-.N. Hurdles. ■- ■ Auratus looked wonderfully well at Riccarton, and the long show preparation given him had evidently been beneficial. Broadsword and Taskmaster are both hard pullers on the tracks and each of them is restrained with a patent gear. Wet Day is a filly that a lot of fuss was made about at Riccarton. She has looks m her favor and can gallop pretty fast. .There' are two very fine Birkenbcatl yearlings at Busby Park. One is- out oi Miss Penelope and the other from St. Evangeline. .Ths brown horse Fontenoy has built up into a fine big animal, and those who havo seen him lately declare him to be an ideal sire. The Acting-Premier, Hon. Jas. Carroll, and the Minister 'of Railways, Hon. J. A. Millar, were interested visitors at j Riccarton on Tuesday. I The Hastings trainer, J. Cameron, arrived home last Monday. He will return to Sydney very shortly and will take back Ikon, Bulworth and Seatondale with him. The Hastings jockey, J. Hall, has now ridden two winners of the G.N. Steeplechase, viz., Eclair, who won m 1907, and Nadador, who was successful on Tuesday last. Mr G. P. Moore has given instructions for the handling of a filly by Sweet. Simon from Lady Heleti. The youngster is a half-sister to Helen Portland and is a good-looking filly. News from Wanganui states that Signor is under suspicion, and his owner is considering theadvisability of withdrawing him from the N.Z. Cup engagements and sending him to the stud. At Kai J.wi there is a. very fine two-year-old by, San Fran out of Melinite, dam of Armistice. This colt is to carry the colors of his owner and will be sent to J. Hay to train for racing. On good authority it is stated that when Mr E..J. Watt . returns from Australia the W.R.C. Committee will dis- ! cuss with him the running of Wimmera at the recent Trentham meeting. The licensing committees of the various Metropolitan clubs have been very strict this month, and several well-known jockeys have been refused tickets while others have to undergo probationery periods. Nyland did not eat too well after his arrival at Riccarton, and his trainer was just a bit doubtful about him m the Hack Race on Tuesday. Had he had a couple more gallops Price would have been better pleased. Mocassin gave the lie to his reputation tipping Tom Pritchard out of the saddle at the first fence m the Steeplechase. It may have been that the horse's view was smothered by the other competitors, several of whom seemed to run down the fence. It was most unfdrtunate that two such good horses as Jackpot and Irish should go wrong on the eve of the big Steeplechase, buti there is some consolation m the fact that neither of them actually broke down, and they may be seen under silk m the Lincoln Steeples to-day. "If at first you don't succeed, try again" is evidently Vernon Colello's motto m life, for as regularly as the National - rolls round he is found at Riccarton doing his utmost with Nadador. This year success rewarded his efforts. His friends were that pleased that they nearly shook his hand off. The gallop recorded by North East on the Sunday morning will long be remembered the/ Riccarton touts. The big} horse with Jenkins m the saddle and about his Cup weight up, gave Ben Fortune a furlong start and beat him by a head. After that he was rushed m the market, and he quickly touched a very short price. Advices from Hawke's Bay state that the Hastings meetings will be handicapped by the same officials as last year, viz., Messrs Henrys and Coyle. A section o! the Committee were against the further appointment of the former handicapper, but upon a vote being taken he succeeded m holding his position by a margin of one /vote. Taskmaster is going along very well m his work at Riccarton and will be very forward by the Spring meeting at that place. In Christchurch it is considered | that Cutts' horse will not see the post for the N.Z. Cup, but will be specially reserved for the C.J.C. Derby with a view to putting up a formidable defence against Provocation. • On Saturday last Helen Portland and Carrara were shipped South m charge of J. Stewart, and they are to visit Coniform. Stewart is taking back to Kai Iwi a filly by Vladimir from Ma Mie Rosette, and will break her m immediately. The youngster, who .is a half-sister to Signor, should command a big figure m the sale ring next Monday. The starting of Mr H. Piper at Riccarton left nothing to be desired, and the general opinion was that it could not have been better. A particularly fine effort was the despatch m the Jumpers' Flat Race, which took place m front of the grandstand. The whole of ths eightjumpers left the barrier together and the starter received a great reception. Compass, who never looked better m his life, was ridden a surprisingly good race by J. Delaney, who seems to havo lost none of his old cunning as a horseman.. He indulged Southern Cross and Lionheart with the lead for about a mile, but when he asked the Day Star gelding to go out and win his race, he did it m a tradesmanlike manner. The victory was very popular with the outside crowd, ] and horse and rider were cheered all the i May back to the bird-cage. j Hats off to Nadador, who, at the fifth \ time of trying, succeeded m winning the j biggest cross-country event m the colony. ; It is pleasing to record the success of • Sir William 'Russell's colors, and it is | hartf to understand how she was allowed ; to pay such a false price, for she was ! undoubtedly the pick of the handicap. > She was trained to the hour, her trainer, j (V. Collelo) being very confident, had the services of the best horseman (J. Hall), ] and it must be remembered that she was j flying m a winner last year when she i I made a mistake and unseated her rider. |

jtferrie Zealand was outclassed m the Winter Cup field. Reiulrock was not at home over the straight fences at Riccarton. Wangunui is a beautiful jumper, but he was outclassed m the National field. ] The crack horseman, A. Oliver, has won the Winter Cup two years m succession. North East and Nyland were the two dry hets on Tuesday, and they both materialised. Virtus tossed her jockey at the first jump m the Trial Hurdles, and she died as a result of her fall. Tyrannic, who won the Hunters' Hurdies, is a good cut of a horse and has a lot of pace. He may win again to-day. Ben Fortune tfell at the first fence m the initial event at Riccarton, and her supporters were, as a consequence, quickly out of their trouble. Waikaraka, with Jenkins up, was quietly fancied for the Winter Cup. He finished well up, and should be amongst the money before the meeting closes. Mr H. McManaway, owner . of North East, invited the press representatives to drink the health of the horse and himself at the conclusion of the Winter Cup. The favorite m the Hunters' Hurdles was Glengariff. He looked well to the eye, but he must have been short of. a gallop as he was the first horse beaten. That "usually safe conveyance, Capitol, turned turtle at the sod wall m the Grand National Steeplechase. M. Deeble was cut about the face, but nothing serious. •. ■ . The owner of North East laid the rid- j er £200 to nothing, and King, the train- j er £100, whilst the stable-boy who looked after the horse was rewarded with two '"ponies." Grenadier is not a c;ood "beginner, but he had a clear rim and occupied a good position during tho iWinteo: Cup running, but the best he could do was to finish fifth on Federal's quarters. The field of hunters that contested the first event on Tuesday was as good a lot as has been seen out for some years. Further^ they all looked well, and the jumping was hard to beat. Sea Dog had his preparation interfered "with, otherwise he might have been more dangerous m the Hunters' Hurdles. While his condition lasted he was m the lead, and he may win before the meeting closes. The well-known horseman, T. Cahill, arrived hack m Christchu'reh on the morning of the first day's races. He travelled via the Main Trunk line, and had a big life . when that tree got across the track near Ohakune. Rock Ferry looked a picture before he went out to contest the Winter Cup. L. G. King 'was m the saddle, and he had a good run right through, but the Birkeniiead horse was no match for the winner at the weights. Mick King, trainer of North East, had a great laugh over the southern sporting writers, who all averred that the chestnut gelding was not being given a CJup preparation, and could not win on the work he was doing. W; Young was given the mount on Lionueaxt m the Jumpers' Flat race, and his instructions were, To win from end to end. Maggie won at one end, but it was the wrong end, and the old ' horse finished a long way back. Had Paddy McLau^hlin succeeded m winning the Mg Steeplechase with El Dorado, the Gold Reef gelding would have won the Hastings trainer a big wager, as he was coupled with the winner of the National Hurdles. The Conqueror — Lady Principal colt, m W. Pine's stables, is reported to be the fastest of the Kiccarton juveniles and can fairly fly 'over a couple of furlongs. He is a full brother to First Consul, but is not so erratic as McGrath's horse. . When Emus fell m the Grand National Steeplechase, it looked, by the way that he jumped, that he .was annoyed with himself for going that far, and as his rider would Tfot let him rim off, he determined to put an end to the joke at once. Diplomatic was tho outsider of the field m the National Steeplechase, and he ran as he should do. This horse was only schooled a week before the race, and it is hard to understand how his connections could hope to win a race of that description with. him. Le Beau slipped right into the ditch at the first fence of the double at the back of the course m the big steeplechase on Tuesday. It was a very small jump, and it can only be assumed that the Auckland horse got too. close to the fence, as he is usually a safe conveyance. F. Porter can hardly be said to have excelled himself by the display he gave on Te Arai m the big jumping event- at Riccarton on Tuesday. The big horse had 11.0 to carry, and he should not have been allowed to go out m the lead and make the pace with a light-weight like El Dorado. Pikopo, who* was very sore, put m a marvellous run m the Trial Hurdles but the effort was too much, and he died away at the finish. Passing the stand he was fully thirty lengths behind, hut at the three furlong post he had caught the leaders. However, as stated above, the effort was too much, and he stopped badly at the finish. Out of a total inventory of 15 m the Tallyho Plate Steeplechase only five of these could be got to the post. It seems ridiculous putting on a race of this description on a Metropolitan programme. Owners of hunting horses who want them ridden by gentlemen riders, can get plenty of point-to-point steeplechases without going to Riccarton for them. Auratus won the Trial Hurdles from end to end. He made one faulty jump at the 1£ mile post, and Keteo, who had been m his company up till then, gained a couple of lengths' advantage, but at the next fence Auratus had gathered him, and Kelso struck heavily and came down) The Waverley horse then went on alone and won very easily. Penates went right out of favor for the Winter Cup, and he started at any old price. He jumped away first, and AVas m a handy position for three-quarters of the way, but he stopped badly, and finished absolutely. lie was the early favorite, both m doubles and straight-out, but when he arrived at headquarters, the quid nuncs all pronounced against him, and the way he ran indicated that their judgment was sound. ' Lon"ner, who was withdrawn m favor of Iranui, and Tyrant, were the .only withdrawals from the Winter Cup field. This left IS runners, and a pretty sight they furnished as they went down the course to do their preliminaries. In the run up the straight nothing was better than North East and Federal, and the •former started the hottest favorite ever known m the history of the race. At the barrier, there was one false start, due to Oliver being over-anxious. With the next attempt, the field moved off to one of Piper's hall-marked efforts. Penates, who had been standing like an old cow at the barrier,, was the first to single himself out, but immediately he was supplanted by Federal, who tore away at a breakneck pace. The favorite jumped off about sixth, but Oliver was hard at him and quickly rushed him into third position. He was content to lie there, and let Fedj cral make the running. At the threefurlong post he had drawn level with Federal, and entering the straight he passed Pine's horse with his gate wide open. His victory was loudly proclaimed, and he won, pulling up, by sixlengths. King Post, who came out of the ruck very late, was a good second, and Gwendolina, who was also sighted late, just cut Federnl out of the 25 soys attached to third money. Grenadier was fifth, Sweet Annelus was sixth, Zimmerman was seventh, Reck Ferry eighth, whilst the rest were bundled, excepting Penates, who was the last to cross the 1 line s

Rose Noble has become affected m tho ; wind and may not do much good^in tto ture. On the Monday morning prior te tua G.N. Hurdles Ben Jonson ran 1£ miles on the sand track m 2.16. The Australian Steeplechase will be run at Caulfield to-day. The top weight is Bribery, who carries 13.7. Elysian has furnished a good deal during the winter anil he is now a very commanding-looking vthree-year-oltl. There had been no talk about Ringman before the Jumpers' Flat race, but ho showed no form m this and finished out of a place. , Leonardo went out at any old price m the Enfieid Steeplechase, and over-jumped the first fence he came "to. His rider (W. Retter) escaped without injury. Scotty was well bactfed at a short price m tbe Jumpers' Flat race, but his welter weight seemed to always have him steadied, and he finished out of a place. The distance was a bit too . far for Polyanthus m the Jumpers' Flat race, but the old girl stuck gamely to her task, and never stopped trying till the posS was reached. The favorite iV.iancl behaved very badly at the barrier m the Avonhead Handicap, but his rider succeeded m getting him off first, and he was never headed. He runs his races out better now, a.nu h3 may continue m a winning vein. ' The Auckland-owned Wairaki was supposed to be a gilt-edged investment m the Enfieid Steeplechase. F. Howard had the mount on the northerner, who did not seem to gallop too kindly m "the early part of ; the race. He put m a <.gppd , run at the finish, but had' no chjyice ','," "of..'- ex? tending Lov'ell. .■'':'- ' ■'".'. The club-footed Fukenui, who was be* i ing kept m reserve for the National, and Homeward, who had an engagement earlier m the day, were the only withdrawals m the. Jumpers' Flat race, and a fip.ltl of eight went to the post. Mention of Pukenui reminds me that the Ben Godfrey gelding was once-. soW for £$ las. The heads would not hear of Nyland's defeat m the Avonhead' Handicap after North * East had won the Winter Cup* Price's horse had galloped with the Winter Cup winner on the morning of tlia race, and he was almost as s:6od as. him for four furlongs. This was enough for the touts, and they went lar him to a man. The Enfieid Steeplechase winner is trained at Porirua, but he' has only been there a fortnight, and his~ "trainer did not recognise his galloping ability. On the day he summed him up as possessing a good, rough chance, as he was sure he would out-jump everything m the race, and then they would have to catch him on ths flat. ' - Mr N. Wilson's "Lovell, who, it might be mentioned, is called alter a famous physician m the Old Country, is a halfbrother to that good horse Pilot. He is not so big as Pilot, but he is every bit as good a jumper, and, I think, will soon gallop as well as the Gunboat gelding, 'lelford ro'ic - a beautiful race on him m the Enfieid Steeplechase, and he won rather comfortably. The rider of Pretoria, who was well backed m the Tallyho Plate steeplechase race, muct have Leen instructed by Trainer McCrac&eri to ride a waiting race on the black mare, as when Mr Piper despatched the field this rider seemed to be as'eep, and did not push his horse off till tbe other horses had gone. nearly a hundred yards. When he did make . a start, he galloped up to the first fenc,o m a most leisurely manner, the result was that his mount refused to jump, which was no doubt pleasing to the rider, and after a couple of half-hearted, afc tempts to get over the obstacle (which caused the crowd much amusement), he returned to the enclosure.