TALK OF THE DAY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2012, 15 September 1892, Page 26

TALK OF THE DAY.

BY MAZEPPA.

*** Three news items concerning the Hon. G. M'Lean's Warrington stud farm. The first is that Lady Emma foaled a fine chestnut filly to St. Clair on Tuesday of this week. Secondly that Lady Evelyn, who' had a bad time of it in foaling to Maxim, being unable to lift herself unsupported for several days, is now slowly recovering. Thirdly, that Rubezahl is to stand this, season at Dunedin and the Taieri, thus bringing to breeders' doora the chance of raising another Dilemma.

*** Attention is directed to the fact that Ruby, the holder of the seven-furlongs record for the colony, and a most serviceable racer all through a lengthy career, is to travel the Maniototo district this season at a very reasonable fee. He was bred by Mr W. C. Webb, of Canterbury, in 1883, got by imported Albany from Wave, who in turn was by imported Malton. Albany sired some of the fastest horses New Zealand has ever produced, notably Oudeis, winner of the Derby, and he also got Burlington, sire of the crack Vogengang. So that Albany was not only a successful sire himself, but his stock race well to the second generation. Wave was also dam of Virginia Water, Leonato, and Springston, all useful racers of a superior type. Moreover, Ruby was himself a rattling performer, as has been pointed out. He is a likely horse to get racing stock, and I have much pleasure in recommending him to the notice of breeders.

* # * Friday last was an awful and memorable day at the Forbury. Those of us who spent the afternoon there had to endure three distinguishable but related afflictions : the cold, the rain, and the sand storms.' The cold we have had on previous occasions ; and the rain is not an uncommon accompaniment of a low temperature ; but the visitation of driving sand showers was something {quite new, and, added to the two other unpleasantnesses, it was simply abominable. Occasionally during the afternoon one might see groups of men putting up umbrellas where a lee could be found, to fend off what they at first imagined to be rain, but which proved to be a downpour of pure »nd, the lighter particles of which dodged round the corners and filled one's eyes and ears. I hope we shall never have such an experience again. Saturday was simply a raw unpleasant day without the extras referred to, but* the course was fearfully heavy and got cut up all over, thus rooting up the grass and giving the Works Committee trouble for the whole of the season. The Finance Committee also must be blessing this Hunt meeting. The attendance was the smallest on record, I should think, and the receipts from all sources must show a considerable diminution, wherefore if the fixture paid expenses the club is lucky. We must not, however, growl too much. The Hunt meeting is generally an enjoyable one and withal profitable, even though it does to some extent involve the club in a handsome donation to the funds of the Hunt Club.

*** The racing opened with the Steeplechase for maiden hunters. There seem to be but few horses of this class with the gift of galloping, for only three were entered and but two came to the post, Rangiora being withdrawn owing to the inability of his owner to find a competent qualified rider. When the flag fell Smuggler and Rebel began at a pace certainly not fast enough to be called a canter. It looked as if neither was willing to give the other a lead over the first fence. Being taken to it so slowly, both refused and did the same a second time. Once over this obstacle, Rebel showed the way till reaching the double at half distance, where he baulked and Mr Gourley rolled off. Knowing that something unusual must have occurred to cause this, for H.G. is one of the best amateur, horsemen we have, I made inquiry and discovered that his stirrup broke when the horse swerved, and as the two things happened simultaneously there was nothing to stop the rider from coming down, just as you would fall, dear sir, if in descending a dark staircase you found one more step than you reckoned on. Mr Gourley rode the other mile with only the one stirrup, and not only took all the fences but roused up Rebel to a finish — a rather clever feat of horsemanship. There was only one horse in the Kensington Handicap from start to finish, and Dilemma's party— a pretty numerous one, for Mr J. B. Reid told all his friendi to back the colt— were on excellent terms with themselves from the time the flag fell. This was the first time, by the way, that the 6on of Lady Emma had appeared in Mr Reid's pretty colours, scarlet with white cap, '.hough it is some months since the Hon. G. M'Lean disposed of the ownership for a fairish consideration. I hope that Dilemma will win many more races for Mr Reid, for this gentleman is a keen lover of the sport, an owner who may bo relied upon to go as straight as the Zetland spots, and always give the publio

a square run for their money. The only horse in the Kensington that at any period of the race threatened danger to the favourite was Galt'ee, and he distinctly failed to stay. Hopes were entertained in respect to Mariner, but he got off badly and was labouring away all the distance many lengths in the rear. After seeing him shape subsequently I doubt whether he could have had a show under any circumstances. Nor could Derby, nor Leinster, nor any thingelse. Dilemma was perhaps a bit lucky at flag-fall, but he won with half a stone in hand, and the result would probably have been the same, so far as the first money was concerned, if he had got off last instead of first.

* # * It is difficult to understand why the public made Stella favourite for the Trot instead of one of Mr Crossan's pair. Three miles is above her distance, and so far as I know she had not shown any great trial in private. One reason may be that a report went round to. the .effect that the Berwick party were backing the mare. If that rumour bad anything to do with making up a dividend for Informer, investors were wofully on the wrong scent. Stella was a goer fair enough, but so was Informer, and if the connections of the latter backed' Stella at all it was, I think, only for a trifle as a saver. From all I can make out Informer was lucky to get home. Myrtle had been highly^ tried, and if she had gone steadily Informer would have been forced to trot within a few seconds of the record to catch her. Fast as he is, I doubt whether he would be equal to such a task. Looking'at the race in that way, Informer really owes his victory to Birthday, since it was this mare that burst up Myrtle. Dissatisfaction was openly expressed at Beaconsfield's performance, this horse and his rider being greeted with a chorus of groans as they finished. Trimolite made a one-horse race ol the Tally-ho Steeplechase. Hitherto we have" known this son of Dead Heat as simply a hurdler, but he cleared the logs with the greatest ease, and for pace there was nothing that could live with him. J. Campbell, who was engaged at the eleventh hour, rode a very nice race on Trimolite, and took so little out of him that when he pulled up ho was,fit to start on another journey. It is, however, a comparatively easy thing to ride a good race on such a horse as Trimolite was on Friday. He is a horse that will do anything for you, and he was pretty fit for a long journey. Glen was dead off ; Kangaroo short of work — unavoidably so ; Waitangi never dangerous when it came to racing. The only pair that had the least chance with the winner were Smuggler and Iroquois, and I am sure that they were defeated on their merits, though Smuggler could have been a little closer had he been ridden out. The story of the Shorts is a simple one. Glencairn jumped away with the lead from a ragged . start, he kept going the whole way, made a clever turn into the straight, and was just pipped on the post by Conjurer, who had been steadied in the earlier part of the race, thinking that Glencairn would come back to him, and had to be brought along under heavy punishment to do it. The soft going was also' a handicap to Conjurer. His lengthy and game run home once more proved his honesty. The others were out of it early in the race. With an even start I think that Baybell would have nearly won.

*#* In the Hurdles on the second day Chance was too slow, Rangiora's rider broke a stirrup, and Young Talisman suffered from greenness, though he was admirably ridden ; thus leaving the race to Smuggler and Iroquois, and Smuggler won easily, leading the chestnut by a length or so nearly the whole of the way. The Telegraph Handicap was very much the same sort of race as the Kensington the day before. In both events the winner led the whole way, and the placed horses finished in the order in which they passed the stand a mile from home. And Baybell won as easily as Dilemma won the first day. That is what makes me think that she should have beaten Conjurer in the Shorts. Her short, quick action, reminding one of old Molly Bawn's style, was an advantage in the mud. The disappointment of the race was Tempest, who started first favourite, but she was rather slow in beginning, though well up with the others when the flag fell. In the Hunt Club Cup Glen fell after going less than half a mile, and Pastime's condition failed him when seven furlongs, had been covered, though he shaped well for a hunter. As between the other three it was a good race till about five furlongs from home, where Rebel made a great rush, taking Trimolite with him, and thus bringing the latter down, after which Rebel had no trouble in walking away from the sole surviver, Kangaroo. Mr Jack Taggart remounted Trimolite smartly, but the stoppage was too near home to allow him to have a show. Ido not know that Trimolite would have won even if he had stood up, as Rebel, though carrying a stone overweight, wasgoing very strongly at the finish ; but he must have had a show. As to the Trot, I feel morally sure that if there had beep no breaking Informer would have won. As it was, he broke badly,, and never fairly settled down to his work. Dexterina, who came in first, is a sort of pacer who needed all her start to get home, but she may train on to be a useful kind of mare. Sympathy was generally expressed with Mr M 'Mullen in his misfortune at being afterwards disqualified. I did not see what happened, but the story is that ou pulling up he was handed a boot that the mare had cast during the race, and this was the ground of the protest. M 'Mullen's explanation was that he did not know the* boot had bren dropped, and that when a man approached to hand him something he received it without knowing what it was till' he had it in his hand. The rule on the point is that "if a jockey touch (except accidentally) any other person or thing other than his own equipments before weighing in, his horse may be disqualified." The rule, it will be seen, is not mandatory—it leaves a discretion, and I do think that this was a case in which that discretionmight have been exercised in the direction of letting off M 'Mullen with a caution. His breaking of the rule was apparently nothing worse than an act of thoughtlessness. I speak, of course, without knowing what took place at the inquiry. If fraud was shown then the disqualification was just. But it is not stated that a swindle of any kind wes even alleged.

*** The Welter was another unfortunate race for a large section of backers. Rondinella, the daughter of Idalium that was made favourite, did not run at all. Her rider, M'Gcath, was apparently unprepared when the word •' go " was uttered, and did not realise that it was a start till the other horses were well away, whereupon she was walked back to the paddock. It was a bit of bad luck for Mr •Mercer, who made no secret of his belief that the mare would win, she having run a good trial. The race was a poor one. The horses spread out in a procession from the start, Wayland in the lead and Cactus bringing up the rear, and Wayland won easily, after shaking off the challenges of Rotbamstead. and Derby. I was very glad to Bee Buoh a square aad persevering sport as Mr Lawson.

Johnson getting a turn of luck and a decei.t dividend, but it would have been much nicer if his horse had won on his merits. Perhaps he would have done so in any case, for Wayland has improved to a miraculous extent since being placed in Hankins' hands. The Consolation Steeplechase was a real good thing for Iroquois on the weights, and so it proved. Chance is the slowest fencer I ever saw outside the third-rate hunter class; Waitangi has no pace for a finish, and Young Talisman is a Beginner. After the latter made a mistake there was nothing but Iroquois in the race. Possibly he would have had to go faster if Young Talisman had stood up. I think he would. Robertson did a 'particularly smart piece of circus work in keeping his seat and rising with Talisman when this horse came down at the windmill, and the feat was warmly recognised, the public bestowing cheers on Robertson as he finished. The general arrangements were as complete as usual, and the meeting would have been a good one but for the weather. The most successful jockeys were M*Grath and Walls, each having two winning mounts ; while those who got home once tfere Mr Murray-Aynesley, Mr H. Gourley, J. Crossan, J. Campbell, Kingan, J. M'Ewan, W. Buddicombe, and J. Allan. The stallion whose stock won the most was old Duntroon, his sons Smuggler and Rebel accounting between them for L 167. Dead Heat ranks next, thanks to Tnmolite, and then cames the Warrington horse Rubezahl, while Hiko, Le Loup, and Gorton divide about equally.

! *#* The question may be asked whether 1 there were auy horses competing at the Hunt Club meeting that are likely to be heard of during the season. My answer is decidedly in the affirmative. Rebel has pace enough and is sufficiently clever to have a' chance in secondrate steeplechases, even if he does not aspire to the best company. He is by the same sire (Duntroon) as Smuggler, another smart horse that will win' money over the little sticks. Trimolite must be reckoned now as a steeplechaser as well as a hurdler. He takes log fences as easily as anything that we had run-, iiing, and his turn of speed enables him to stay. This is a pretty fast horse, and with say 9 0 up, I would expect to see him live 1 over a threemile course on the flat with anything we saw at the Forbury meeting. Of the recognised flat racers, Wayland has improved out of all knowledge, and will, I think, knock up a decent cheque the season is out. Glencairn also should win races. Allan seems to have found out and removed the cause, whatever it was, of h'"s keeping so poor last season. Bay- ' bell is another that will be heard of. Her win was immensely popular, cheers being given for Stuart Waddell as the clerk of the scales declared " weight." She is hardly a Cup mare, however. Conjurer is another that has improved. He can now get a mile without', distress, and is really a better .colt than^ his t performances last week would seem to make him out to be, since he was specially handicapped with the heavy going, being a long striding, horse that rolls and slips about in slush. But it is to his stable mate, Dilemma, that we may look with the most confidence for good performances. Ho is now thoroughly well, thanks to his inherent soundness and M 'Guinness' care, and I would not be much surprised if he were to win the New Zealand Cup, for which race he is legitimately backed as heavily as any horse in the race. I recognise that there is a deal of difference between winning a Kensington Handicap and a New Zealand Cup, but he takes a stone off for the long race, can be made half a stone better in the interval, and he appears to be rather partial to a distance. It would be absurd to say just now that he is a really good thing; at the same time this performance of his is not to be altogether despised, and we may at any rate hope, that the son of Lady Emma will' follow the example set by Wolverine two years ago. The big son of Tangi, it may be remembered, won the Kensington Handicap just before he got home in the Cup.

*** Mr Evett's weights for the Hawke's Bay Spring Handicap, a mile and a-half, are to hand, and will no doubt be closely scanned, especially by those who want to get the northern handicapper's idea of the horses engaged in the New Zealand Cup. There are a dozen Cup horses in the handicap, and this table shows their imposts in each race : —

If we might conclude that Mr Bvett thinks these dozen to be all equally at home over both distances, we could say that his tip as between this batch is my old fancy Kotaku, for she is put jip 121b above her Cup handicap, and it could also be said that Mr Bvett regards North Atlantic as badly treated at Christchurch, seeing that in themile and a-half race he is given but lib more than in the Cup. Anyway, whatever Mr Evett thinks, there is the fact that there w a substantial difference in the weights for the two races referred to, and that this difference is most in favour of North Atlantic so far as the Hawke's Bay Handicap is concerned, Rosefeldt and Strephon being the next best treated in that race. It will bo seen also that Mr Evett reckons St. Hippo 41b better than North Atlantic. In this I do not agree' with him, but as N. A. is said to be under a cloud we shall have to wait for a test as between this pair. Prudence suggests that I should alsß wait awhile before making selections for this Hawke'a Bay race, and I shall do so, with the promise to say something after the acceptances appear.

*** The New Brighton trotting meeting last week ~ was a marked success. The fine weather attracted a large attendance, and there was capital racing. Jn the Maiden Saddle Race Bide-a-Wee acted up to his name, being ridden patiently till it was time to put on steam, when he went to the front easily. Commodore landed the stakes in the Pony Race, and subsequently captured the Selling Race, after which he was sold for L 9 10s. Not a very stiff price for a pony good enough to win twice in one day. If that is the value of a double winner, what price those members that never win anything ? f J he Nelson-bred Rarus, a son I think of Jfitzjames, won the Avon Handicap from scratch. It was a slashing race, being won at the very finish and only by two lengths, with the third close up ; and when the tickers were looked at it was proclaimed that the harness record of 5.38 previously held by Kentucky had been lowered by two seconds. That was the official timekeeper's announcement, but private watches did not endorse it, and .there seems reason to question the record, inasmuch as Rarus was obviously not at his best gait in the first mile, If with.

that drawback given in he could make a record, he must indeed be a clipper. Pride of Erin, who finished second, secured the Stewards' Stakes later on ; Idaho had a peculiarly easy thing in the Saddle Race at two miles ; and Bide-a-Wee scored again in the Final Handicap, returning the best dividend of the day, L 9. The sum of LBO6 was passed through the machines. One was issuing 10j tickets.

*** The Emperor affair at Ashburton is not quite done with. This horse started for a hack race at the Hunt meeting aud after winning was disqualified on the ground that he was not eligible, having been previously entered for handicap races. This caused a deal of dissatisfaction at the time, and some of Emperor's backers asked for a return of their investments less the commission and State tax, claiming that they never had a chance of winning. The application was of course refused, the totalisator regulations plainly directing that dividends shall follow the result of a protest. Thus the dispute ended for the time being, but I observe that the question is raked up again by Mr John Collins asking the C. J.C, as metropolitan for the district, to order the Hunt Club to refund the money. The matter has been referred to the Hunt Club for explanation. How it will go I do not know, though it is difficult to see how the metropolitan can break the regulations. I do not venture, however, to express an opinion on the rights or wrongs of this particular case. What concerns me most is the principle involved. It is obviously unfair, as has been pointed out in these columns more than once already, that investors should be compelled to run any risk whatsoever because of ineligibility. So many names are put up on the face of tho machine, and by all business canons it should be justifiable to assume that none of the horses thereon inscribed as starters are barred by anything that has occurred in the past. Investors cannot possibly keep a record of the antecedents of every horse. If it is laid down that they should do so, we must suppose that those who bet with the machine are all expert racing men. Notoriously this is not tho case. The bulk of the investments come from those who do not pretend to know all about horses ; and jockey clubs, in inviting all and sundry to wager through the totalisator, are in honour bound to protect their clients as far as possible. Ido seriously think it highly necessary, in the .interests of fair play, that our turf authorities should so amend the. totalisator regulations as to confer power on clubs to do the right thing and return the money placed on horfees that are disqualified on the course through wrongful entry. That is all that can be asked for. .

*** Backers keep on supporting their fancies for the New Zealand Cup, and again a steady run of busness has to be reported. Vogengang has been the medium of business at 100 to 10, aud Lebel's admirers have snapped up the money obtainable at 100 to 6 and 100 to 7, while Captive has been backed at 100 to 6, and Whisper and Flinders at 100 to 5. These figures do not represent much fluctuation in prices, and indeed the only material alteration since last week is the advance of Dilemma, about whom 100 to 10 iB now the best offer. Conjurer has received some little attention since his running at the Hunt Club meeting, and is now quoted at 100 to 5. Current prices yesterday were as follows :—: —

Cynisca Strephon Rosefeldt North Atlantic ... St. Hippo Queen of Trumps Spinfeldt Wyvern Kotuku King George Chris Ua N. Z. Cup. Two miles. St. lb. ... 8 9 ... 7 9 ... 7 8 ... 7 2 ... 7 0 ... 6 13 ... 612 ... 6 10 ... 6 9 ... 6 8 ... 6 7 ■ ... 6 7 H.B. Hep. li miles. St. lb. » 0 712 711 , 7 3 7 7 7 6 7 2 7 0 7 7 7 5 7 2 611