TALK OF THE DAY.

Otago Witness, Volume 20, Issue 2156, 20 June 1895, Page 30

TALK OF THE DAY.

BY MAZBFPA.

* # * It is reported from the north (hat steps are l.kcly to be taken with the view of asking the Dunedin Jockey Club to reconsider the Barmby cdsp, but up to y^stercUy afternoon no request of the kind had reached Mr Sydney James, either from the jockey Brown or anyone else. * # * Another rumour that come 3 to us fiom the north, to the effect that Hippomenes io to be taken across to Sydney, is also incorrect. The story current is that Hippomenes being a delicate horse would be more likely to raco at his best in a warmer climate and in a place fnro which b.9 would not have to travel about much for racing. These considerations, however, do not seem to have much favour with the owners, from one of whom I have the authority to expreßsl? deny the truth o? the rumour. *** Robert Smith, son of Mr George Smith, owner of Speedwell (Martini-Henry — Spice) and C!aris3a (St. Clair— Dione), has betn installed as trainer of thtse two youngsters. I hear Smith well spoken of by those wbo know him as a reliable and painstaking young man wLo ha 3 a considerable knowledge of horses and the way to treat them, and I wish him every success in this his firat start in Dunedin His place is in Melbourne itrtet, Kouth Dunedin, where new boxes have beea built. *#* St. Albans as a name originated with an incident of church history. Albanus is said to have suffered rmrtjrd.-m at Verulam (on the Vtr, in Hertfordshire, about 20 roiUs northwest from London) in the year 297, aud the Benedictine monastery of St. Albans was erected in honour of the martyr in 796 That was the beginning of the important abbey which has given a name to the town, from i which proceeded the name wb now me so ofteD. A few items of intereEt concerning the Victorian estate niw on the lot'cy market are told or revived in the Bulletin. Robinfoa Crusoe, one of the sires there, was bo named brcau'e he was a survivor of the disa«trous voyage of the City of Melbourne in September 1876. It was calculated that about £151,000 worth of horseß was lost on that occasion. The Chryf olite colt was appropriately named Robinson Crusoe, and after a month or two recovered completely, although he still bears' the marks of the battering he received. He is sbill strong and hearty. During the gale in which the City of Melbourne's steeringgear went wrong, Bancroft, 'a 5.7 jockey, was on deck and managed to secure a tooth of Nemesis, who had just won the A.J.C. Metropolitan. Bancroft is now in Mel- | bourne. During the last 10 years only two snake 3 j have been seen on the St. Albaus estate. This is | peculiar, as, owing to the luxuriant growth, there is ample shelter for reptiles. Much amusement has been caused by the gingerly way in which visitors move through the prairie grass aod lucerne. Mr " Jack " Steph«nson, of Dunedin, holds the record for 50yds, but it I was ft false start. Leslie Mactioiuld, the superintendent at St. AJbanp, although still a young man, has narrowly missed making his fortune on several occasions. He had sole mansgement of First Water when he ran second to Msrtiui-Hfnry in the Melbourne Cup. Fir.'t Water was backed for £80,000— Tom Barufield, of Adelaide, could have bathed in sovereigns if he had got home. Wheu John Crrzier h>-d St. Albans it wbs foretold he would be a failure, but what with careful management and judicious picking of doubles, J hu is supposed to have cleared out with £50,000 to the gool. He now resides at Glenolg, near Adelaide, and may be f can nny day interviewing the tnine-r of a likely Cup candidate, or giv)ng the -git ld a treat on the pier. *** The new rules of American racing provide that in pur.=e rices six or me re horses mutt stark or the race nny be declared off; that no jockey under contract to a p.uiicular stable shall be allowed to rido an ou'siJe horso in a race in which hih stable had an entry ; that if a jockey weigh* in at overweight his horse frhill net be disqual fuel, bub the rider shall be fioed, suspended, or rukd off; atd that if a horse makes an unavoidable swerve and hits another he sball not be disqualified if the horse he hits fiu'shes in front of him, provided he docs not interfere with any horse th&t finishes behind him. The most interesting clause in the above, so far as we are concerned, is that which treats of overweight It beats me to understand why stewards are di.«poBJ'esBcdof the power to disqualify a horse that comes in with overweight, and why in such cases the jockey, and the jockey alor c (so far as this rule goes, at any rrfc),a f e), is to be liable to punishment. I hope this will never be the practice in New Zealand. It is a good thing, so far as my experience goes, to give stewards very wide discretion. This American rule limits that discretion, and the limitation is all in favour of the owner and against the jockey. American owners may be singularly straight ; but so far as the coloires are concerned 1 would venture to affirm that in the case of a swindle in the particular direction which this rule is supposed to guard Bgsiast, and perhaps in other directions as well, the jockeys are as much to be trusted as th^ir employers. Very rare, indeed, would be the case of a rider putting up an anchoring weight beyond .the prescribed impost without the owner being in the know. *** Mr Oxenham's Pilot Boy, a rattliug performer on the flat, CAiui oufc with a fair display of hurdling at Sydney Tatfersall's meeting en the Ist inst. Giving weight to everything but Cape Pigeon, who was conceding Blb, the Gczo gelding made his own pace and romped home the easiest of winters by six lengths. Several ex-New Zealanders contested the Flying Handicap, among them Wakawatea 9.7, Response 7.12, Cannon 7.6, and Mr M'Lsod's Pungawercwere colt Osculator 7 4, but none of these so much as gained a place, the race being

won by the fpur-year-old Messmate 8.1, another of the victorious Gozo family, who started first favourite at 6 to 1 in a field of 22 and ran the six furlongs in lmin 15^sec. The Sfc culechaso, about three mite?, brought out only five fcfcaiterg. B'ackt'W.ker 9 5 ac u ed as kader for the first, half of tl.e j mrney, followed hy Ballybooley 10.0, RecklesH 9 12, and Paruell 9.5. The middle jump of the treble in tha second round was fatal to Blacktracker. This left Reckless with the It ad, Balljhooley, Parnell, and Ontario 9.10 following. At the mile post Parnell went to the front for a short distinre, bub Ballyhooley and Reckless headed him at the back, and tho race from that out lay bttween them, Ballyhooley winning by a length and a-half aftsr a good race up the straight, with Pavntll a moderate third. Time, 7inin 31ssc. The winner's starting price was 7 to 4-, and he had Underwood as rid*r. Sixteen saddled up for the Wiuttr Shakes, a mile and a-quaittr, and the favourites— Newman aud Noblcinan, each 8 2— iiui-htd iirst and second, Newman winning by a length. It is tuggerted than Luckman ou Nobleman lost the race through a nrsbake in eas'mg up too ea»ly. Jeweller, honoured with top weight of 9.6, finished last. *** "Hotspur" has b?en inspecting Mr Hcbbs'a horses. Ever sit cc Ihe C.J.C. autumn meeting, he siys, Pnme W.»rden has been spelling, running out in the daytime in a paddeck. The ( xerciee has kept him from getting gross in condition. With his rounded contour, glossy coat, and eye a? bright a 9 a star, the old brown looks the very embodiment of good health ; hia leg* too are as clean »s ever, and he will soon be again put into active commission for spring events. There are many who consider that Prime Warden showed himself a b t f er horse this season than ever previously, and bearing in mind his easy victories in the Canterbury Cup and Ota go Cup, such a view cannot, I think, be gainsaid. He has, at a'l events, got nearer the top of the winning li*t this time than 6ver before. It wouW be too much to expect lvm to ! gain so high a place with another year over his head; nevertheless th 9 old fellow loJra bo hearty and well and is so sound that he m&y yet Rgain take a prominent place among the winners. There is no truth whatever that it is intended to school Prime Warden over hurdles ; his owner thinks he is ill a bit <oj good to ba put to the illegitimate gime. Lsdy Zetland has bsen icactive nigh on two months, and the sweet little mare has put on a deal of fiesb during the time ; she hss filled out wonderfully about the quarters, and the all-round fulness in the appearance of fche daughter of Perkin Warbeck II is very becoming. In striking comparison to the rotundity of the sister is the present appearance of Lord Zttlacd. He had been phye-K-ked a day or so prior to my visit, and his usual scraggy look was very much aggravated. Thus sorry to behold, the good points of the gelding were brought out in relief. With capital forahand, he ha? rare lengthy galloping quarters. Saracau does not strike one as just out of a hard season's campaign — one in which he has demonstrated that he is not only handsome in looks, but is capable of handsome deeds. To my miud S»racen is a model hor: c— perfect in symmetry, and a fine tempered one as well. It seeing strange to me that he has failed to stay, but maybe with age he will develop ihe power to maintain his brilliancy to the end of a distance. Pe:f.ctly sound, a horse that has never been sick or sorry, and one- that nevtr leaves a feed,' Saracen should, except something unfore-ecn occurs, have yet a considerable turf career before him. The rumour that Mr Hobb* intends taking a few of his team to Australia shortly is entirely without foundation. * # * The measure which proposes to estab'ish the totalisator in Victoria is again before the Parliament of that colony, introduced by Mr Murray. When last bif ore the House it was strongly opposed by a member of the V.R C. Committee. On the present occasion the opposition from the committee, if such opposition exists at nil, will probably not minifesfc itself wilb much turbulence. A cfiinge has taken place Ths Vl4 C, driven to economy in salaries and ft cutting-down of stakes, wanting money badly, in fact, can hardly afford to treat with open contempt, or wifh contempt of any sort", a means whereby its present ron - auriferous holding can be metamorphosed and made like unto one of those unidentified pliers wherein Afric's sunny fountains roll down their golden sand ; and the recent Adelaide meetiuga will have exercised some influence in the same direction, causing loDginps for larger odda for backers and greater stakes for owners. Wherefore the present bill may possib'y pass into law ; even if it does not, ib will live long enough to shake up the blustering but already balf-dis-couraged and certainly foredoomed opponents of the totalisator, and give them nasty twinges , and premonitions of .final disaster. It ia tho biggpst certainty in the world that tie totalised 1 will be at work in Victoria inside of the next 10 years, and when our neigbbouis get it they will wonder how they got on without it. Troubles will, of course, fol'ow. Tho evangelical party may be expected to raise a howl, but that will signify bo' hiup, for they doVt know anything about the subject, and ignorance i 3 rot power. We have continuous threats against the machine in New Zealand, and one of these days, perchanco, we may find an act p«sed delf galißing the totalisator ; bub that will be only a temporary source of annoyance, paving thft way fcr the establishing of tho sys'em on a stronger basis than ever, since the People, who constitute the ultimate tribunal of appral, would never put up with the ancient and wornout monopoly that the Ring enjoyed before the machine came to purify the turf. On that score 1 feel no apprehension in regard to Mr IlulchiEon's promise to continue his well-meaning crusade against the totalisator. A more serious consideration for a colony that propones to have the machine is that it will not suit owners who want to bet heavily. I own up to that at once. They like the Ring. But if the machine does r,oS su't plunging owners, it is a godsend to others who are satisfied to race for augmented stakes and take a moderate bit extra for the investment of a few pounds ; and it is a purifier of the turf, and a fine thing for clubs, and well, in short, it is the greatest reforming sgaucy the sport has yet bad, and I hope that the Victorians will soon be able to tell us of their experience. I observe that the proposal is to authorise a charge of 5 to 8 per cent. — I don't quite understand that phrase— and to provide for a third of the net profits being devoted to public charities. On these figures there will not be ao much in the Bcheme, proportionately, as in New Zealand, but with the large rums that will be handled at Fl'emington and CunHHd the profits will be far from inconsiderable. The expenses for the first year or so may be expected to rcaih about 2 per cent. ; that is until the cost of the plant is fully provided for. *** English dates to hand reach the sth of May. Our regular budget begins with the tail end of the Sandown Park meeting, at which the bighly-bred Sir Benjamin won the Esher Ilandic&p, for which he started first favourite. CapUin Machell put up Moray Cannon at 41b overwaighfc to ride Brio, but this mare could

only gain third place. Sir BeDJamin was bred by Lord Hastings, aud afler wiuning*atwo-ye»r-old race, at; Yarmouth paa.'-ed over to liis present owuer at 425<js. In tho Wahon Two-year-old Plate Radoo seemed to be winning easily, when in the last hundred yards Tumbler, on the intide, phot cub like au arrow from a bow, and snatched the verdicb by a couple of lengths. Tumbler, a sou of Pioneer ftndj Festivity, cost Mr D jbill only 110^8 as si yearling, but the biddiogs were very different after the race, a?, though entered to be sold for £200, the competition went on till at 1200ga he wa3 secured for a patron of the stable Tbe Hurdle Race, for which Oornbury stalled a hot favourite, went to Undo Jo**, and tho Interna'ional Steeplechase, of 590sovs, three miles and a-half, wrs taken by Ketrel, who started at 10 to 1 in a field of eight. yEsop was one of the beaten crowd. The excuse made on behalf of him and the rest of the defeated contingent is that ss the race was run in a perfect deluge of tain, the horses could not show their real form. *** The Newmarket meeting followed, aud here, on the first cUy, the Hastings Plate was I won easily by the favourite, Keelnou, a son of ! the Wenlock hoiea PaLzerschiff and the Gilopin mare Rod Shoes, who, bred by hi« owner, was known a3 winner ot a couple of stakes last season, and was now making his fleet entry as a three-year-old. On the savne day, in the Two Thousand Trial Pl*te, wlvch is really a hpl ing race for all ages ever the Rowley Mi'e, the Yankees scored their second victory of the present campaign with the aid cf Rayon dOrs aged gelding Banquet 11, ridden bySimmH. The tlable wera so nweet on his chance, and took the odds so contitmonsly, thftb at tho stftit the gelding was favourite at 5 to 4. The pccul : ar rifcum<fi\rces attending (he race enab'cl the party to obtain more extended odds while the contest vra3 acfunlly in progress, and it is said tbat part of the £4000 ultimately landed was secured at 20 to 1. Prior to the start Bimms took his horse for a smart spin up the Cambridgeshire Hill, then allowed him to drink a third of a bucket of water, and at last got away badly. These facts orea f ed a g^neril prejudice agaiusb Bipquet 11, but after waiting on the leader for about half the distance he shot to the front, and won in the easiest fashion by three lengths. He could ba\e tumbled down and won, sajs one writer. People Beomed to forget bsfore the race that he had been a great performer in America ; and even a f ter he had run iv unattended there sf emed to be a lack of perception as to his worth, for he w*b bought in at76ogs, though it is nnd-r-tood Mr Dwyer would not have let him go at 2009g5. In the Two Thoi-s-md Guineas the winner, Kirkconnel, wore blinkers. As the horses came into the dip Raconteur seemed to be winning in a carter, tut being bumped by the horse next him be shut up like a penknife, and thence forward ran in the mont »lu»gi»h manner posiblo, Kirkconnel, Lavesio, Sir Visto, Speedwell, arcl his stable compnnion The Lombard, all leaving him as though he were standing Btill. It ia generally conceded that on the day of the race the winner was the fife-it of the field. The Rowley mile (one mile 11yds) was covered in the unusually fast time of *lmin 42g<ec. This is a tie with Isinglass, who did the conr»e in the Bftme time two years ago, aud estal li-hed a record in connection with the race. Oae of the American sportsmen made Kirkconnel's time lmia 41 3-siec, and swears lo thia re ord being absolutely correct, wit'j all due d.-fe euca to Benzon's chronograph. On May 4 the Ys.uk* es experienced a series of reversaa. Harry Reed got away with a lon<* leal in tho Peel Handicap, but failed tD fi-iish. in tho first thrco ; Stonouell was given no rh-ir.ca at a'l in the Marct Stakes, for wlich "VVliittier beat the more fancied Best Man ; and the defeat of Montauk in the T>vo- year-old Plate proved very co3tly to ths visitors. Over this youngster's failure to gain winning brackets a 1 ; the fi-st time of asking, says the Sportsman', it is estimated that quite £7000 must have been lost. Tho commission to bi c's the colt was entrusted to several gentlemen, and one. after laying 600 to 400 on, betted the fame bookmaker 2000 to 1000. Later on be asked to withdraw the first bet, which was allowed, but naturally enough the fielder did not leb him off any of tbe 2 to 1 on. Times and oft GOO to 400 was bstted on Mcntauk in every direction, but there was no silencing the opposition ; end gradually coming down to 11 to 8, 5 to 4, 6 to 5, and 11 to 10, even money could eventually te had on the field. Several araatturs became me'allicians and oppooed the horse, d^clariug they did not like SiramVs style of riding. Whether this prejudice was well founded or not, certain it is that Montauk was badly beiiten, for Watchful (by Tburio-Mizpab) won by a length from L-.urioia, who in tura defeated the States colt by three lengths. — __ . * # # The trotting meeMng at New Brighton last Saturday was run on the alleged temper- j auce racket, a tea tent taking tho place of the ordinary licensed booth. Messrs H. Briakman and W. White acted as handicappsra, and Mr C. O'Connor was the starter. The track being heavy, fast records were not possible, though it may be supposed from the comparatively creditable time made in some of the race 3 that with a dry course there would lave been a few pretty f*st spini. Shooting Stir got to tbe front a few stridts afcer tha start in the Maiden, and, though a b : t unsteady, kept there, winning very easily. Period, the favourite, finished fourth. In the Pony Race in harness there was a fair fioi-.h belw6cn Ruby II and Doris. The Utter breaking at a critical moment, was beaten a length, but Ruby II had plainly crossed when inside the rails, and this being proved D.-ris was declared the winner. Ruby II would have paid a dividend of £56 14s, and it is reckonrd she would have got home without any help from the cross. Aadante went up from Danedin to take part in tho Winter Trot, bat neither she nor Felix had any hand in the finish, which was a runaway victory for Pegasus, Ibis gelding winning by fully lOOyda from Hurricane. The Selling Race also proved to be a soft thing for the first favourite, in this case Harry, who won with the greatest ease from Turadale, and was afterwards sold to Mr J. M'Gregor for £11 10s. Mr i Macfc's Berlinda seemed to travel well enough for the most of the journey, but then appeared inclined to fttop, and her closest attendant, Seawood, thenceforward had tbe result safe. The tables were turned on Seawood in the mile race, he in turn chucking up the Bponge when in a handy position and allowing My D.-cam to trot home a very easy winner. The sum of £1465 was paseed through the totalisator. *#* Our old acquaintance J»ck Taggsrt distinguished himsp'f at the Wa'rarapa Hunt Club's meeting last week by riding home a winner of tbe Cup on Lord John after that horse had fallen three times in tho race. The particulars are thus given by the local paper: All the jumps were taken cleanly until reaching about the mile distance, when WangaimoaDa and the Bird ran off, aud Lord John ; gained a decided advantage. Wangaimoana 1 did not lose mach time, but Bird was Blow in getting over the jump. Shortly after this Lord John fell, but Tagg&rt was up and going again

in remarkably quick time. Passing the st*nd, in front of which an awkward double was placed, Loi'd John came down again at the first hurdle, and this time it wai feared Taggarb was hurt, but he onca more made s line recoveiy and amidst applautia remounted and attempted the second hurrile of the double. Lord John again made % mesa of ib and crashed through the timber, Taggari for the third time coming to grief. But although shaken, amidst the most intense excitement he wai up and away again bsforo Scccoiibe reached him. After this the son of Hippocampus seemed to take the remaining jumps more cleanly, and maintained a slight lead all round, and with Wangaimoana in fairly clcsB attendance, Taggarb passed the post a winner. He received tuch an ovation ai seldom falls to the lot of a jockey. Ha deserved it, however, for a nciter piece of steeplechase I work has never been seen in these parts, and probably never will be seen agkin. Two other accidents recurred, the rider of K&ikaa (Collin") getting a nasty shaking, and Harold Welch, on Two up, coming to grief at the first hurdle past tbe stand. At. first the gravest fears wera entertained regarding Welch's condition, but ib is now thought that his injuries ara not of ft very serious nature. *4* The Hawke's Bay Steepleclatetas more often gone to a hor c under 11 0 than to oue carr)iog a heavier weight, yat the average impoit in the 14 years of the race's h'story is quite 11.0, a few thumpers, of which Clarence's 13.52 in 1884 wa3 the heaviest, bringing the average up in bounds,jand we may siy,'speiking generally, that the raca requires a good houae to witi it, e7eu though the country has the reputa'ion of beiog rather easioc to negotiate thau most cf the colony's steeplechase courses. Backers will probably rcmmibir these facts, end, bfcing impressed with Liberator* performances a!; Auckland, I expt cb they will make the Betrayer gelding favourite ntxh week, esptcially after his withdrawal from the Hurdle Race. lam not going to advise otherwise, nor commit myself to tho statement that ho cannot win ; yet I do fancy that, dangerous though the top wefght must be, he ought to fiad hii match ia Norton, »fc a concession ia the letter's favour of 151b as compared nibh the Auckland race. I should recommend Norton with the utmost cot.rulec.ee if assured that ha would have the services of his eld pilot;, Clark, in the saddle. Mr G >llan is admittedly a good horseman, bub he may bo so classed and still be some (listnr.ee behind msn like Clark or Holmes, and ib is the expectation that Frte Holaei will riJo Liberator aud that Norton will Amounted by his o/znev that leads me to a doubt as between the pair. The others that seem .to have a fhow are Booties and Dromedary. But I iv:ckou tint the top-weights will outclass the rcit, and of the two cracks I rather incline to the chance of Norton. The Hurdle Rice has among its acceptors two or three f*sb horses who are novices at tbh game, bub on general prir-ciples I look for the wiuner among the proved lot, and of theße I should say that Langlkt the Devil is a veiy fair cne to put a pound on. * # * There are 19 nominatV ns for the Grand National, or S'x bnlow last year's total, and 27 for the Hu r d!o Race, or thie3 m?r« than appeared in the list of a twelvemocf-i ago. Quality is wf-ll represented in both events. Tha Hurdlis imluds such veteran performers as Courauto, Empire, Smuggler, Bntsvto, Ebor, Kuinine, Dpsj.iaed, Liberator, and Belmont ; besides such promising members in the leas experienced division as Baruardoand Osmm ; 'and tfce novice class has in its raiks fast honse* lika Goodwood, Monte Carlo, and Revolubio-j. As for the Grand Nartuna^theio are at least a dozen really good performers in this particular line, and the untried division seems quibe as strong as lunal. The C.J.C. has every reason to be satisfied with the promises of success so far betrayed by tho publication of tho nomination lists. \* " Raba" telegraphs on Wednesday night : " The report of the annual meeting of the CJjiutcrbury Trotting Club shows thab institution to be in a sound financial condition, and the co'_ducb of it* mretings merits monetary success. The club's meetings are greatly favoured by the proximity of tha cou'so to town. With its present manag-itofnl; is cannot l a'l to hold a fruDt position anioDgst trotting clubs in this neighbourhood. Bernardo and Kuinine have been jumped over feucei recently, and up till now Kuluine has not shown grsafc proficiency at the gome. .He could never have done the Liberator trick at Auckland, bub beyond that I have no doubt that he will develop iuto a first-class cross-country horse. During tho latter part of their schooling exetci-e this morning Barnirdo and Kulniue were led by a bay hack, tbe property of Captain Pophaoo, trained by Mr Murray-Ayneley, and the trio negotiated one or two jumps very welL indeed. Though Kuinine is not a good fencer, yeb Bamardo fell at the double in the centie of the course, but thab was merely a slight acsident. A capital jumper is B.irnardo, and I a:n -surprised Luna did not «ntarhim for tha National, yhear&by has gob a new hunter in hand, but I thiiik very little of him, and I shall be surprised should he prove up to the bssb class of hunting horses in this neighbourhood. Sunshot was jumped this morning, and though he baulked on one ccrasion he is rapidly imprcyiug in his jumping Fiper goes north to-day to s'arb at the Hawko's Bay meeting. He tells me there is no truth in the ttittment respecting his residing in the North Island permanently. *** "Taihoa" telegraphs on .Wednesday night:— "The St. Leger— Reproach mare Retaliation ia in the sale market.' Her owner wants £100 for her. George Wright took Rojal Rose, as well as Doris, when he went away to Sydney ye-terday. Mr J. B. Williamson took Marechal Niel to Hawke's Bay yesterday. He is extremely confident he will win the " Maiden Steeplechase with the Marechal, who should certainly triumph if he jumps as he did at our recent meeting. Bombardier left ye.jter« day for the scene of action, but his faulty jumping should not make punters enamoured of his chance. Ifc mnat, however, be. remembered that if in form, and stand-Up given in, he is a very fast steeplechaser. St. Leger's half-brothers, Fabulous and Leolantine, are in the market for Bale or lease. Messri Nathan intend devoting their mares to their, new sire, Seaton Delaval, and are, therefore, prepared to dispose of Sb. Leger's relatives. Mr Lopez left by the Alameda on Saturday for San Francisco, taking with him the Musket stallien Foulshob. I understand Mr S. 11. Gollan has bought Doi-ald M-Kmnon, the Daui>hin borae tbat won tho Mair'en S'.e?plechase and the Qpeu Hurdles at our recent meeting. The price paid wa* £250 The Daniel O'Rourko mare Pororua, who raced unsuccessfully at onr late meeting, has been swapped for the steeplechaser Deceiver. Fred Stenniug will look after Wright's strinj while the latter is in Sydney. Mornn s pajr, Day Star (by Castor— Cissy) and Armille, (by Castor— Necklace) have joined thab stable. Jumper (Adventurer— Bothwell) has been purchased by Mr Barry, of Gisborne, and went 6a his new home yesterday.