IN A NUTSHELL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2286, 23 December 1897, Page 36

IN A NUTSHELL.

Mr Doogan sends a ticket for the Greymouth meetiug. — The yearling sister to Key has been named Lock and Ksy. — A colt foal by Tienton brought 420gs at the last Newmarket sales.

— Nothing but St. Paul was asked for by Auckland Cup backers this week. — Nihilist has been vety bad with strangles, but is now over the worst of it.

— I take Maiemma, Battlefield, and Glenelg to be likely wiuners if they start at Wyndham. —Mr A Mos3, the Dunedin bookmaker, has gone to Auckland to n 1 'end the Cup meeting. — D<in O'Brien h.*b aid the misfortune to lose a filly foal by Loyalty from Grafin, by C*rbine. — The A J.C. Committee have decided to license bookmakers doing business on the flat at Randwick.

— I learn that Mr Sunipter, of Oarnaru, has a colt foal by Exile from his favourite mare Maggie. — "The Fly" reports that Mr Mountney has tovght Captive for use as a stallion in the Cromwell district.

— The (hqmwell handicaps appear in this issue. I take Tn'xie to win the Grand Stand Handicap and Wild Wt-st thd Flying. — Mr HuDgei ford's Wakawatea, Victoria, and a chestnut two-year-old filly by British Lion — La Rose have ariivod .it Rnndwick.

— Mr Gtorg-i Slater, known to the public as "Gipsy Ku>g," died at Palmerston North last week after a leiigthen^d illness — Grurlmasler is to be reserved wheu the Duckonfleld Pjirk stud goes to auction, the owner intending to pension off the old horse. — Mr William Ccp-ir'a colt Coolgardie, by St. Serf from the Ticuton mare Trentouia, ran second in the Maiden l'l*te at Newmarket on October 2".

— It is the intention of the executora of Sir Thomas Elder's will to present the skeleton of the well-known sire Gang Forward to the Adelaide Mu.SLiim.

— Mr Pierre Lorillard, thp American owner, says: "I like YugUtul ; the best horse.,, wins there. There are gentlemen on the turf there who race for sp Tt." — Five hundred guineas i* the price fixed on The Merry Boy by his owner, Mr S. G. Cook. A Westrali.m sportsman recently offered Mr Cook 400^s for the son <>f Trenton. — R. Hastie, of St. Ciair, met his creditors last week, and his tale being a record of hard luck, which was believed by those present, they recommended that he receive his discharge.

— Mr S. Gjllan's howe Pounamu, carrying 11.4, started at 8 to 1 for a hurdle race at Sandown Park (England) on October 25,, but was never dangerous, finishing seventh in afield of 12. —At the Newmsrrket (England) blood stock sales last month the brood mare Musidora (by Bend Or— Lonely), served by the Australian horse Trenton, was purchased by Mr F. Platt for MGOrp. — When the last mail left England Kendal was still at the head of winning stalliom for this season, his total being £-27,4^2, next on the list being St. Simon with i122,0()2 and Ayrshire J6 16,421. -- Victim was withdrawn from his Waikouaiti engagemeuta before tha weights appeared, and Zephyr has bean since scratched, which is in one way a pity, as I should think she would have nearly won. — The District Race at Maniototo has not been adequ itely patronu-ed by owners ; the other races, however, bavu filled satisfaotorify, as per lii-t in this issue, and the Jockey Ciub's meeting should produce good sport. — " l'he Aristocratic Tout," in the Licensed Victuallers' Gazette, state 3 that Paris 111, in his opinion, i& played out. The old gelding it now in the hand.-, of Djy, who at one time trained for Mr Hoidein at Randwick.

Maremuia, St. Ouida, Emmeliue, Dtciy, Pvebel, aud Victim arc among the Ducedin nominations for th? Southland meeting. The list i 3 a satisfactory, one in all respects, tbe trots having been pavticul irly well patronised. — The Roxburgh Jockey Club has decided fc aller the date of the race meeting from- Monday, '3rd Januaiy, to Saturday, Ist (New Year's Day). Messis T. Thomson and J. A. Boyd are appointed handirappera for the meeting. — Frank FiVlder, who owned Parthenopceus when the Oaulfield Cup was run for, has got into trouble as well as the horse. For using abusive language to another jockey at Mooreiield he has been suspended until January. .— Trotting stallions are not at their best at this part of the season, and ib stands out as a fine ..performance on Berlin Abdalljh's part to win at the Chustchuich Haeing Club's meeting in the fait time of 2min 35sec for a mile.

— A colt has been foaled at Maribyrnong (Vie.) by Pattou — Cricket. His purchaser ought (writes "Javelin") to call him Lord Sheffield, aad see that he is always " run out." If he does so, I hope he may Dever be " stumped." — W. Forrester has thrown Gaulu^ completely out of training, and is treating him for the spliat which the son of Gozo and Industry threw out while in Melbourne. Gaulus will not be seen on a racecoui'-e most likely now until the autumn. —Mr J Ellis tells me that of the mare 1 ? at hi 3 farm oo the Peninsula, MrsMulianey (by Mataku) has foaled a flily to St. Clair, Fortress (by St. Clair— Hippona) a colt to Occident, and the mare by tit. CUir— Legerdemain has produced a filly to Stepjiak. — We nowadays hear (says an English writer) a good deal of breeding horses on the figure system. There are the same figures in the pedigree of Orelio as there are in Ormonde's, and yet one w«s the be-t horse that John Porter ever trained and the other. is the worst.

— The International Horse Agency, of which Mr Allifcou is the manager, adveitise that they are empowered to sell Aurum on terms ivhich. will admit of his fulfilling his three-year old Australian engagements aud being shipped to Kngland in May next year. —J. W<»tts, the crack, recently said : " Persimmon was the best horse I ever put my leg across, and I've ridden a few— yes, a smashing good noise ; but you can safely take it from me that Wiukfield's Pride is a good horae, too, though he was taking on something thatdstyat Ascot."

— The Palmerston Club has approved of Mr Jas. Taylor being ranked as a gentleman, rider. It was agreed <o allow training on the course 14 v days prior to the race*, provided a written permit from the secretary be obtained. The tender of O. C. Probert was accepted for the totalisator privileges. - It is reported that a three-year-old pacer named Betonica paced a mile at Santa Ana, C*l., agaios!; the 2tnin 7sec of Searchlight, and took a record of 2min 6|jec. The first half is reported to have bean made in lmin ssec, aud the last half in lmin ljsec, which i* rather hard to believe.

— 'I he Ticnton yearlings are likely to command much attention in England, judging hv ths following :— A colt foal by Trenton from Kntherine P.irr, by Paradox, was sold at the Newmarket (England) sales last month for 105g-i, the purchaser being Sir A. W. Cox. The same buyer also secured a colt foal by Trenton from Springwell, by Coltness, the price paid being 420gs.

— Trance, the mire that was disqualified for life by the Quern-land authorities in ISPS, was racing in Singapoie some time ago, aud from there the daughter of Somuiu has been shipped to America. Trance (racing under another name) cleared the board in Singapore, giving lumps of weight to gooi performeis like Idolater and other Australians.

— The English Jockey Club has altered tbe rules of racing in regard to rro.-ees during the running of a race. The rule now reads : "A horse which crosses another in any pait of the race so as to interfere with that or any other horse's chance is liable to di«quAlification, unless it be proved that he was two e'ear lengths in front when he crossed."

—To the majority of the occupants of the stands at Hurst Park (Knpland) in October surprise was occasioned when the judge failed to place iled Hat amongst the first three that finished in the Moletey Park Handicap. liampion was not seen amongst the leadets, and many persons professed to have recognised the colt amongst the pulling-up division. — ]y.r Joe Thomps .n writes that he had a verybig book on the Cambridgeshire. He laid £22,000 against Comfrey, and then won £8000 on tbe race. Over Merman'B race he won £6000. It was about

time our ex-leviathan had a good turn. He seems to have done badly through the early part, of the season. Mr J. D. Marks had an interest in the Cambridgeshire book.

— It vva? generally conceded that the second horse in the Cambiidgeshire, the American. St. Cloud 11, should have woj;i. His jockey, "Tod" Sloane, who, like his mount, hails from the States, stopped riding a few yards from the post, under the impression that he had got home. But the angles at Newmarket are very deceptive, and Comfrey secured the judge's verdict by a held.

— Breeders are beginning to' realise, somewhat tardily, the fact that they have been neglecting Aprcmont, and this horse is now getting a show at Napier, where he has been visited by Flatter, Rayfeldt, Patchfeldt", Comatose, Evandale, Last Chance, Fawn, Glinlfeldt, Florence M'Carthy, Thyra, Inisihona, Merganser, Taihoa, Atholine, Whisper, Bessie M'Carthy, Goosander, Planet, and Mis Rawdon.

— Strange to say, jusb as Mrs Langtry wen the Cesarcwitch on her birthday, Sir William Ingiam, owr.er of Comfrey, won the Cambridgeshire on his. Another coincidence iv connection with the last named race is that the Americau-bredvSandia, who was beaten by two heads, was ridden by A. White, who 11 yeirs ago wou tli9 race oa that horse's sire, The Sailor Prince, then prepared by Cofnf rey'a trainer.

— This year's field for the Great Tom Stakes at Lincoln reached the average of recent years, and among eight runners Clwyd, reported to be in capital condition, started a strong favourite. Mr Calvcrt's horse gave a most disappointing display, however, and never giving his supporters the least encouiagement, finished the absolute last. Angeliua was not caught after taking up the running half a mile from home.

— A fatal accident occurred on D .-oember 2 to a Sydney telegraphic operator named Alfred Morris. Morris was lidiug the pony Rodanthe, by Meteor fivm Neva, down- Wcmerah Avenue, when she took fri«Jhfc and bolted, coining into- collision with the iron? gates at Rushcutter's Cay with such force that the maie was killed instantaneously. When picked up, MoirU.was found to .be serioiuly injmed, and he di?d from the effects of the accident the same night.

— Iv one day at Harl«m (W.S.) Pittiburg Phil took 1-10,000 10l out of the ring on three races won by N*utch Girl, Rhodesia, and his own horse, The Winner. At one time he was a considerable losar on the season, but ths m st conservative estimate of his winnings on the year place them at 250,000d01. All of the big Americin bookmaker are ahead on the season. Recently Harry Harris lost 40,000d0l in one day, bub at that hs is ahead on the year about 175,0()0dol.

—W. E. Simmons was recently charged in Sydney with swindling the laudlady of a pub. out of money by repiesenting that he was Jack Schaafe, the jockey, son of a tiainer in New Zealand, end could put her on to good things with horses that hs had takpn over to Sydney. The name Scbaafe .seeirn to suggest a mixing up with the name of Chaafe, but that does no!, matter, the point being tliAt the jury found there had been no misrepresentation, and discharged the accused.

— Items from notes by " Peeping Tom " :— Norniad broke hia leg while being exercised on Mr W. Seles's private track last Saturday week. The leg haa been bandaged in plaster of Paris. — Mr \V. Scole3*s good little mare Rebec has had to be turned oiit, she never having quite recovered from the severe cold that, attacked her at the break-up of winter. — Mr Baird's Bendemeer has been attacked with the botfly, but be seems to have comp'etely overcome the attack of this much-dreaded pest.

— Sydney Tattersall's Cup (says "Milroy") is an old institution, as it was first run for as far back as 1868, when that good horse .Bulginbar won. My earliest lecollection of the iuee was a great crowd .along the chains and a grey horse darting down by a, line of whooping humanity, pursued by the thunder of clattering hoofs and much dust. That grey horse wa3 Johuuy. Smoker, who, being a gelding, gradually descended the equine scale until, so-I am informed, he ended bis-day-? in a Oh inn man's cart at Cboktqwn. Particulars are to hand of the racing at theOctober meeting of the Smgappre lUciug Club., The Singapore Drfrby was won- by Vanitas, with Locky second and Attaclmifint tbhd. Among the beaten horses were Disfigured, Gulzean, Inspiration, and Buccleugh. Tho Grand SHand Cup was won by Chopstick, who was also successful in the Champion Stakes. Vutiitas, who was in great foim at the opening of the meeting, also won the Club Cup, but on the last day he was twice badly beaten. Colder, rode eight winneis.

— During the iace for the St Crispin Nursery at Northampton in November, a vronun, with a perambulator- in which Were two children— got on to the course at t.hp bend into the straight for home in front of the hones. A' policeman had the presence of mind to lift the perambulator bodily over the rail', and Wingfield, who was leadit g on Cock a Hoop at the time, aided the effort of the policeman by steering wide to the right, and some of the other competitors were cased up. The intervention' of the policeman came ju-jt in time to cave the woman. — The Flying Welter (N S.W.), run at CanLsrbuiy Paik this month, ended in a soin'owhat sensat'onal way. Although the official list contained nine starter*, only Mussulman and Leda competed. In the betting Leda was a strong favourite at 9to 4 on. The i ace, after a desperate finish, ended in a win for L"sda, but on going to scale Crockett, her rider, was found to be 61b fhort weight, which when the biidle was brought in was i educed 21b The stewards, after inquiry, disqualified H. Pip-.-r, tfie owner of Leda, for 12 months, and declared the race off. — Eegarding the Carbine colt Battle Abbey, "Milroy" writes: "I never saw better quarters on a two-year old than those on Battle Abbey, and "he is l>y far the beat-looking Carbine yet out —regular Mmkefc quarters. It is peculiar that the Muskets were all well endowed with quarters, but th^ir shoulders wore thii?k and short, whiUt the Yattemions, as a rule, had perfect shuiilders and scraggy, split-up quarters." If this crit'eism of the Yattendona is just, it is but riprht. to make it clear that the most prominent Y.ittendon in New Zealand, Lady Km ma, is a glaring exception. Her quarters are her host point. — In the Flying Stakes at Benalla (Victoria) Browning dashed through the barrier before the start, and carried away portion of the gate, which became entangled around the horse's neck, and the jockey (G Brown) was throwu and dragged along the ground feet first for about 60yds, the horse lashiug out viciously at intervals. Fortunately the boy was several feet behind the horse's heels. Kventually the rope which was attached to the horse's neck and the rider's feet gave way, and he was released before he had sustained any serious injury. Browning tubsequently came to the post with another boy up, and won the race, as also the Farewell Handie.ip.

— A gentleman greatly interested in breeding writes to the Australasian ,: — "Respecting the Zohiab mate (Bluey, accuiding to* Mr IVforrisset) the ancestress of the Sappho family, I think it is extremely uulikoly she was of pura Arab origin maternally. I have always thought it probable she was a daughter of the grey imported mare Dudu (vl'l ii, p. 94, A.S B.). I know tho Lees had the blood in their stud at an early date, though none of their luaivs, owing to their carelessness in keepiug th«ir stud records, can now be traced to it. If my theory U right the grey colour of so many of the family and their excellence as racehorses are both accounted for. Dudu' came from 8 family, one of the best in the ' Stud Book.' "

— "Atlas," in the Sporting Review, says of the Wellington Park yearlings v The full brother to True Blue will be one of tlm attractions of the sale, bcciuoe not only is lie a' nke colt, but he is full brother to True Blue, who iv Au-tialia has won both gold and golden opinions. He is a chestnut with a short, well-shaped back and plenty of liberty, and anyone who looks at him once will readily admit that he should turn out a fast one. Mr Wilson and other Austialian visitors will probably hnve an eye on this fellow. To my mind the pick of the lot is the colt by HotchkHs out of JFrailty. When I yUited Wellington Park in July I wavered in my "choice be! wen the Cissy and Frailty colts, but haying seen the pair again I now give my vote to Frailty's *on. Both are splendidly grown, but the Frailty youugster displays more quality, and is a. perfect sentleman-