THE TURF.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13857, 21 March 1907, Page 5

THE TURF.

By Sentinel THE C.J.C. MEETING. The first acceptances declared for (ho Groat Easter and Great Autumn Handicaps have caused a considerable shrinkage in Iho fields which wore- originally engaged, but it is satisfactory lo note there is sfill ample- material left to furnish 6omc good (-.port. .Twenty-two horses have boon paid up for in the Great Easter, and Achilles is still found figuring at, the head of the list, whilst Munjcot,' Isolt, Marguerite, llucclouch, Gross Battery, and other well-per-formed horses have had their engagements continued. The shrinkage in the Great Autumn is probafily due to the fact that flrerc is a dearth of Etaycns about, and wen those which remain in the race cannot boast' of auy great credentials as slayers whioh creates a bolief that (he valuable htako may not prove hard to win. Thcro aro, however, winners over a distance of ground, in the shape of Truce, Ghryseis, and Stepdanccr, who may keep the more brilliant performers in the rate up lo the collar after two-think of the journey litis licen traversed. Achilles, Glenculloch, and Isolt romain amongst tho Challenge Stake list, and a. fairly good Deld has continued in tile Champagne Stakes. Count, Witle, tho lialf-brotlior by Menschikoii' to Solution, lias liecn paid up for, and it is likely that the colt will nmko les debut in the latter nice, in which lie will probably- have to meet Glcneullooh, Elevation, Eona,- and others, who can movo along a. bit. All tied, the brother to Munjccl, may also appear in the nunc race, and there should l)e plenty of trying tackle at Porirua, whero bo lias -been,sent in order (o get tho lxinefifc of 11m excellent, going • obtainable, on llio tjeaoh. The minor events on tho programme have tilled fairly well, but lirvo attracted few horses from the north.

THE' SOUTHLAND MEETING. Tho Southland Earing Cluh have Ixsen favoured with satisfactory acceptances for tho first day of their autumn meeting, and tho gatlrerins should provo a successful ono if good woather'is on hand. Scrapiron .Tack may provo Iho fowl of the quartette engaged in the principal event. and if 'Uosebloom is heraoif .iU» should ho hard lo Imyil, in Iho 'Flying Handicap. Cavcolsi or .Took Ashore may providn the winner of the Roslyn Hack, and I'ipi may prove forward enough lo win t,lie _ Steeples, whilst Brighton would read a fair thing for fh© Tradesmen's Handicap if sonfc to the post in something near his best form.

— Nominations for the South Canterbury meeting are duo oil the 27th inst. — Tho crock colt Poseidon, who cost 500sovs as o. yearling, has won over £12(10 in stakes. —At tho Melbourne yearling talc tho colt by Hotchkis.i from Miss Dola-val went at loQgs. - — It is said that Truce, tho winner of tho Wanganui Cup, cost her present owner 475 guineas. — I sol I and Mnnjoot lavo been tho medium of a big' commission for tho Easter and Autumn.

— Nocluiform has 8.1 in the City ojid Suburban and Kcmpton Park Great Jubilee Handicaps, to bo am iu England. — A complimentary ticket for the Waiir.ato Racing Club's annual meeting is to hand and acknowledged' with thanks. — Tho Newmarket Handicap, won by E-bnlli-tiop, was regarded by tho critics as the most open xaco sinco Lochicl won in 1887. — Oxton, tho winner of the two-year-old raca rim on 4hc first day of the Napier Park mooting, i 3 a brother to Zimmerman. — Apollodoris and Saniu. aro to mako tho journey to Waimato, and botli tho Zetland Spot biarers should run well iu their races, — The Australasian reports that Ebullition started at 14 to 1 in tho Sowmarkct, and that Realm went out at fl's for tho Aiwtralian Cup.

— Amongst the yearlings to bo offered at tho llaiidwiclc pales is a brother to Poseidon, u tister to Kbullition, and a half-sister io Collarit.

— Tho Lako County Jockey Club havo decided to nominate Mr Geo. Beid si« ono of tho county clubs' representatives to tho Racing Conference.

— A Melbourne cablegram reports that tho Btcepleohaso horso Find Out was injured whilst exercising, this necessitating his destruction. , — The top price at (he Melbourne yearling oalcs was mado by a brown colt by Pc-sitiuio out of Wilton Queen, a relative of Dividend aud Lord Cardigan. — Jtr and Mra Allen, theparoutsof the wellknown horsemen Malcolm Allen. R. Allen, and tho lato James Allen, celebrated their golden wedding on Monday last. — Boomerang was seen out at the Xapicr Pnrk meeting, but, judging by the amount oi Mipporl accordcd tho son of Merriwee, he is evidently backward iu condition.

— North Head appears to have been unlucky in missing tho Newmarket Handicap, as ho was second lant year of! the mark, and was badly interfered with during the Tacc. — Owners have nominated with a fair nvnount of liberality for the Taicri Amateur Turf ClubV meeting, and the gathering promises '.o attract unusually large fields.

— Thero have been 33 St. Lcgcrs dccidcd at Flcmington. and the fields which havo contested tho classic event total IG7 horses, or an avorage of slightly over four for each racc. — The American rider Lucien Lyne will probably ride ior an English stablo during tho coming season. Lync visited England in 1903, and rodo several winners for Jlr J. R. Scene.

— 'Hie North Olago Jockey Club have donated X 5 5s to the Ambulance Association to assist ill the effort which is beuig made in Oamaru to procure an ninbu'anco waggon for tlif White City.

— A Melbourno sporting paper published 12 lines of "poetry" about Istria, previous to the running of (ho Newmarkot. It is understood that this is in no way accountable for his failure ill the race.

— Martin Glcnnon, a most capable and popular Victorian cross-country jockcy, died recently from tho effects of a fall lie received from Kangaratta, while taking part in the Right Steeplechase at Caulficld last mouth.

— Tho English-bred marc Gold St«mp, by Posto Host-ante—Now Guinea, by Minting, who was intended to do stnd duty at Dr Spooncr Hart's establishment in Victoria, died while on the way to Australia in tho steamer Fortunate. '

— Tho New Zealand-bred colt by Stepniak— Melodious (tho dam of Wallace) linido 2SO»s at the Melbourne sales, 'flic colt went tinder tho hammer at a disadvantage as he was only a few days off tho boat, and walked a Iriflo lame.

— According to a "Victorian writer, one betting club is carrying on business as briskly as over in Melbourne, and "tote" bettors still do a roaring trade. The general belief is that iu time speculation will be indulged iu almost as openly as ever.

— "Mr A. Dale" experienced a piece of bad luck last 'week, when Balsam had to bo shot owing to breaking ono of his legs. Balsam was a useful horse, and had latterly been showing improved form, which suggests that his owner's loss is not a light one. — Roquebrunc, the dam of Rock Sand, who was purchased in England at tho December sales of 1905 for 4500 guineas by the Belgian brtedor M. Bntgmnn. was covored last season by Trazequics, but is unfortunately barren. She is to be mated with Ajax this season. -r- Notus is still rmining out in the paddock, and although he has improved since he went auiiss _whilst running in the Duncdin Cup, it is likely to be sonic little time before lie joins tho active brigade. Such a top-heavy horse requires an extra dose of rest when they meet with trouble in their understandings. — The Waimato Racing Ciub hold their auuu-.il meeting on Thursday, aud Apollcdoris may prove equal to winning the Cup. Other fancies are:— Sludholtne Stakes, Tessera; Stewards' Welter, Man jess: Harvest Handicap. Zetland; and President's Handicap, Ard Koich.

— Regulation, (lip winner of (he Stratford Cup. retains licr form in a remarkable manner. as she lias boon n frequent runner for close 011 six seofoiu. Her brother Kegaliu was n wolWiiiov.n performer, and ivas last heard of as being amongst the racers in Ccylcn.

-• Dccoration, the winner of ilio last Y.D.C. Xatioua! Steeplechase, did no good in India, and is -lo.v on his w.iv Inu'l; to Australia. The c'rtss of fences :n India did not suit tho Ccrcnot gelding, and after a spell he is to i;e trained lor the coming events to bo decided during tho winter.

— A returned visitor to the T.R.C. antunin meeting informed the writer that Poseidon's defeat in the Champion Stakes was attributable to the fact that the colt was not ready to race over such n severe course, and also to the fact that he was injudiciously sent out to niako the pace.

— The first six furlongs of the Australian Cup took liuiu SSlssec to run, the tirst mile Imin 57} sec, the last milo linin I2jsee, tlio lajrt six furlongs lmin 17sec, and the last, four furlongs sHsee. The tinio for the" full distanco—twin SJsee—was "JJsec slower than that recorded last year.

— J lie Victorian Government, it is stated, lias decided In prosecute the Kveuing Herald foi 1 quoting tho betting odds on the Xewmarket Handicap and Australian Cup. It is probable nlso (hat yetioii will be taken'against u sporting weekly, which quotes the odds on the "two and two are four" principle. —An Knglish paper savs:—"lt is easy |o make a handicap of good horses, hut it is almost impossible to equalise the chances of bad ones in a race, liorses that have or.ee shown fair form and have degenerated or become unsound are tlie despair of baiulkxippers. When it couie to jumping the difliculties are increased.

J. AtTiUiighJin. who won the last Stewards' Handicap with Captain Shannon, has evidently another gucd c or t ; u Couteudcr. vhr. landed a double uk Xapicr Park. lie vu UrcU by the lion. J, 1). Oruwatl ami s;ot

by llip imported horse Gold Reef out of Content, a daughter of Dreadnought awl. tho Aprpmont marc Lullaby. — Tim Mflwmarl'.et Handicap, though but si* furlongs, usually requires something mo:e than a mere sprinter to win it, in view o; 11, 0 tact ot. its being a finish from end to end; (iti'l in my day (says "Milroy") on the oilier side of llio Hurray the wise men ot the turf rhvays looked round for a good niiler when in search of the winner.

— The young Australian rider F. Woo ton, who rode with conspicuous success in England last season, has had his services retained at a feo of 'lOOOsovs a year lor all the riding ho can do up to 7.0. Tho Australian owners Messrs Clark and ltobinsou, who Itcep a large team of horses going' in England, own the team for which Vooton lias been retained to ride.

— Gczelev. wlio won '.lie two principal events 011 the Napier Park programme, was imported from England in company with Cninp l''iro (son of Carbine) by Hr K. .1. Watt. (iazeley is a, son of Grey Leg and Lvgia, who is a granddaughter of isouomy. lie is a member of the famous Agnes family, and being a stoutiy-brcd horse should eventually make a good sire.

— \VJien the first case under the new Betting Act was heard at Salford Police Court recently, the Stipendiary said that previously they had only been ab'.c to inflict a- fine of £I>, and that courso had not in the least checked the practice. A'ow 110 and his colleagues had made up their minds lo send men to prison. In the case before him there was soino doubt, and the defendant was discharged.

' —A. jockey named J. While, while riding ill tho Welter Handicap at Katamatitc voces, was killed by his horse, Blink Bonny, falling. His real name is believed to have been Whitehead, and he was well known formerly as a jockey in New Zealand. As ho had no relatives of any kind in Victoria, the club raised a subscription ar.d paid for his interment, tho presided and other officials being chief mourners.

— Owing to the difficulty of providing days for the meetings already in existence, the English Jockey Club notify that applications for licenses for additional racecourses will only be entertained under very exceptional circumstances. and in no case without a straight luilo and a. proper provision for long courses. They therefore suggest that in order to avoid rislt of pecuniar/ loss or disappointment all proposals should bo submitted to them in a preliminary shape.

— When a, horse wins the Xew Zealand Cup for the time being he loams largo in tho piiblie eye, and it is astonishing how they occasionally vanish into obscurity. This is railed io mind by noticing that Onyx, a, winner at Napier Park last week, is out of a marc sired by i'nsilado, the Cup winner of 1885. Fusilade was got by Musket out of Wai-iti, and was ona of the few members of the Musket tribe who did little or notbiug to perpetuate his name 111 the Stud Book Perhaps from the lack of opportunity which lias buriod 1 many a. good horse in oblivion. — Mr J. O'Brien, of Oamaru, is advertising some stock for private sale, as ho is desirous of getting rid of all his light -horse stallions. Amongst the lot offered is Rosomcre, tho handsome soil of Wostmerc and Rosalind, and tho trotting sires Frank Robbin (Osterley— Mystery, by Honesty), Ngapara (Rothschild— Bonnie Vein), and Black Diamond (by Lincoln Yet from tho Perkin Warbcck maro Dinah). A rising two-year-old colt by Obligado from the St. George marc Proposal is also in the list, and anyone desirous of doing business should communicate with Mr O'Brien or any stock agent in Oamaru. — From a time point of view Gold Dust put up a good performance at Napier last week by running -,i niilo and a-half over hurdles in 2min -19 3-ssec with 12.10 on his back. Gold Dust is bred like a racehorse, as his sire Gold. Reef was got by Bend Or out of the Uosicnieian maro Crucible, and his dam, Pearl Powder, is ono of the stoutestbrcd matrons <n, the Stud Book. Pearl Powder was got by Captivator out of Pearl Ash, the dam of Industry, who produced Gaiilus and The Grafter. " Gold lieaf and Koult were imported in 189G by Mr J. O. Hayward, and both have proved valuable ad-d-tions to our list of sires, but the former's nrcrit has hardly obtained proper recognition from slitdmasiers.

— Pluck, the winner of the Hack Scurry at Napier, is bred on lines which suggest ho may be found amongst the winners of the future. He was got by Merriwee. out of Victoria Cross, the daughter of Medallion and the Traducor mare Mattery, whose dain, Miss Flat, proved herself a fountain of speed by producing Becky Sharp (dam of Vinaigrette, Thackeray, and YThakawatea) Welcome Jack, Take Mis 3, Miss Lucy (tbm of Barm by and Addington). whilst Flattery his thrown Platter (dnm of Zanc'la, Blarney, I 1 awn. Palaver, and Fleka). Adulation Cajolery, Persuasion, and Musketry. Pluck ran eight times as a two-year-old, and although a fairly well-backcd horse in some races failed to score a win.

— The Hon. J. D. Ormond's stable had quite a field day at the opening of the Xapicr Park meeting, whore four events on Iho card were captured hv hearers of tho ccriso jacket. Erl King, who opened up by winning a hack event, is by Birkenhead out of Dryad, the daughter of St. Legcr <™i tiw Musket—Sylvia marc Woodnymph, who was a sister to Martini-Henry—Aartyrium. The second winner is also a Birkenhead, nn'i claims the Apremont—Martyr marc Martyrdom as her dam. The upstanding Wirrnl is bred oil somewhat similar lines to Msriyriuin as liia dam is out of an Apremont mare. Gxton, who is evidently a smart colt, was got by Birkenhead out of Solitaire, the.Aus-tralian-bred daughter of Eiridspord, and is cvgrthmhuk( nsequently a brother to Zimmerman.

Illustrious, who was the biggest outsider to score at the Napier meeting, is a sou of that good horso Renown, who carried tho Hon. J. P. Oimond's colours with conspicuous success, aud Barbette a daughter of 1/c Loup and Lady Florin, whom it will he remembered was a Musket—Florin mare. Florin was a half-sistor to Spade Guinea. Apropos, Silvermark, and Merrie F,ngl»nd. Lo Loup wn.s a good horse iu his day, but beyond siring Gipsy King achieved very litlle fsmo as a sire. The son of Traducor met with au accident, which probably prevented him from showing his true worth. Illustrious is stoutly bred on the sire's side, and with a double strain of Traduccr through his dam iii addition to other successful blood in his veins it will be strange if ho is not found winning again. — Mr H. Dixson, the owner of the Melbourne Cup winner Poseidon, was a passenger from England by the It.M.S, Ophir, which arrived recently. In an interview with the rcpr&cntativo of the Evening News, Mr Dixson-said English racing, so far as the public was concerned, was 50 years behind Australia. They had no numbered saddle cloths. Tho start-' ing gale was inferior and badly worked. This was largely responsible for the fee.ing amongst sporting writers against mechanical starting Referring to Australian horses in England, he said Xoctuiform had been a terrible disappointment to Mr Buchanan. His want of success somewhat prejudiced English racing men against Australian stock, as tho horse left Australia with the reputation ss the finest three-year-old horse seen for years. His miserable failure each time he raced, although looking in magnificent condition, was considered _to be due to lack of acclimatisation. Australian jockeys aro making a splendid name at Home, Carslake and young Wootton have done well, particularly Woofton who is considered probably tho best lightweight in Lngland to-day.

—At a committee meeting of. the North Otago Jockcv Club, held last ivcck, tile Presidont (Mr C. W. Rcid) in tl>o chair, the question of trying to secure representation for Ihe northern part of the Otago counhv clllbs district was discussed, and tho meeting decided to nominate Jlr C. W. Eeitl (N.0.J.C.) and Jlr ,T. Latham (Gore I?acin=* Club) as delegates to (lie Now Zealand Hacliig Conference. The notice of motion'by the 1 resident that 110 one not connected with the work-ins of the totalisator bo allowed to enter the totalisator house duriii" the progress of a. meeting, except a totalisator official or stewards appointed by the club to suiicr- \ :sc toe working of the totalisator—was, alter discussion, The meeting then appended the president, vice-president and ■secretary totalisator stewards to supervises tho working of same. The Ashburton Hncnig Club wrote asking for permission to alter the dates of (heir race meeting from Jtav 0 i'.ml 10 to May ]5 and 111, which was agreed r " IV s „ ros(llv .«l 10 donate tho sum of ij os to the St. John Ambulance Brigado towards tii(> ambulance horse waggon, the donation to 1» handed over on Ambulance Saturday. Taje meeting resolved to r.sk tho trustees 'U tile Hncccourse iieserve lo pass a list of charges for vehicles entering the reserve whsii plying for hire on race davs.