IN A NUTSHELL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3005, 18 October 1911, Page 55

IN A NUTSHELL.

Acceptances for the Gore meeting are due to-day (Wednesday). —-Ladv Fisher, the dam of Maniopoto, has produced a filly to Positano at the Shipley Stud. > Owners axe reminded that nominations for the Winton meeting are due on Thursday of this week. Goldfinder, M?Trivcn,ia, "Vice-admiral, and Domino ere the ruling favourites for the New Zealand Cup. The Waimate Racing Club intend increasing the prize money on their programme "by 70sovs above Last season's total. Vice-admiral, Peirene, Aphaea., Eon Soie. Los Angelas, Bontius, and Genius returned to Crristehurch last week. is shipping 150 mares and stallions out to Sydnay to be sold under the hammer. —Do not jump at your conclusions; turn things over in- ycuf mind; some horses are not defunct—they are merely kept behind. —lt is reported that W. J. Ryan, who is generally with J. W. Lowe's horses, is to ride Bridge in the Melbourne Cup. Owin<» to the illness of one of its members the Bacing Commission is not likely to reaisremble until about the end of the month.

Lady Lmcy landed in Wellington last w<ek, and will.he trained by F. Tilley, who had charge of the mare when she won the JNiew Zealand Cup. Colleen Mary looked bright and fairly forward when *»ant out for her races last week, and the gallops should sharpen her up for events ahead. Out cf the recent race meeting of the Ashburton County Racing Club the Government received from the totalizator tax £2BO. while the club only miade a net profit of £23.

Close finishes were quite common at "Wingatui. and the downfall of favourites was also- p'linfully frequent. In fact, one might Fay it was a case of short heads and long faces.

On the morning of the second day of the D.J.C meeting the wires were apparently telling tales about the running one or two horses on the first day of the meeting.

Thistledown gall-coed with plentv of dash when winning the Electric Handicap, but on the second day she Tan as if the first effort had taken all the steel out of her stride.

Mosgiel, the half-brother to Adjudge showed pace in oine of his races last week. He was got by Crichton, a good horse-in his day. and one. that, with fair chances, may be found siring- winners. Cortendent would probably turn out one of the biggest horses in training if put ■under a measure. Ha looks well, up to weight, and his form suggests that he can act v-»U urder a big burden. The Signalman—Julia three-year-old Spiybank displayed a turn of foot in keening up in front over a little more than four furlongs in the Trial Plate, and should pay his way this season at the southern ings.

coincidence that when The Cornet wins a race he generally comes from the field, bu> in Irs lo.3in<" lip invari«blv l^akes _rr helps to rrake a solid pace from the ritef of the barrier.

A northern exchange reports that Pa*itutu is now running out at New Plymouth, and will not be taken up again tuitil the summer is well advanced. An effort will then, be made to get the National winner ready for the Gre t Northern Steeples. Chin Chin, the Boniform sold by the Messrs Stead Bros., was purchased by a Queensland buyer. Sunburnt was bought by Mr R Clancy, whoes horses are generally raced over hurdles, but sold shortly afterwards at an advance of 70 guineas.. Nitlisdale carried a good deal of money in both Irs races last week, -tie was being hard ridden at the turn in the Taioina Handicap, and on that run could not have much char.be in the Kaikorai Handicap, in which he failed to get la the first five. -- The- second edition of J. J- Md.ers Sporting Pamphlet has just been issued- « ooratainn the performances of all Caulfield and Melb-urn.9 Cup candidates, from July 1 to October 5, as well as all latest ath etic record*. The brok is published at sixpence —-The Oblis?ado mare Alio has joined W. Phelans stable at Mosgiel. Alto won a couple of races from moderate opposition last season, aid is out of Mass Otley, who was got by St. George from Aura, by King leader from Kosema-ry, the granddam ot Golds ;-nir. Although the paddock is generally supposed, to 'be patronised by the , wealthier patrons of racing, that is evidently not the case at Wingatui when the outsiders put up more "money on every race than was the case inside. The machine paid independent dividends. A good deal of delay took place at the start of one of the races on Saturday's card, and some of the spectators were predicting fines. One rider was apparently playing for a break, and as be got left on a well-backed horse a stiff fine was inflicted in his case.

--The Mahalri horse Malmri displayed a fair turn of speed in the Burnside Handicap, and looked to have a. good winning chance at the head of the straight, but in the run home he faded out. He was started again in the Kaikorai Handicap, but failed to finish in the first six.

The Oamaru Trotting Club will hold their meeting on Monday next, and as it will lie a general holiday th«re is likely to be a fair .number of Duredinites making the journey. The first express north arrives at 71.30, and this allows an ample margin <-f time before the racing will commence. " - The Soult—Czarevma oolt Nikon was fancied a bit for his races last week, and 1 he looked well to the eye. In liis first race the oolt is said to have got a bad passage prior to finishing fourth, but with a clear run on the second he was never really dangerous, -although he finally managed to gain a St. Bobera. the two-vear-oid sister to Daringdale, is a shapely filly that may develop into something useful. At present she is backward in condition, and was im against a stiff proposition in ~ the visiting two-year-olds from Canterbury,. where they do not lose .much time in trying out their youngsters. . . '

Quota,,who won at Winga/tui on Saturday, is- a powerful-looking maze with a shade of ooa*seness about her confo-rnnation, but when more fully furnished this defect should disappear. She was got by Stepniak from Quickshot, a mare by Artillery (son of Musket) from Irene, the dam of Petrovnia and Master Alix.

Tawhaki is gradually improving in appe&ranoa. He. was hard ridden at the outset of this Tefegraph Welter to keep a position at the head of the field with Officious, but his condition gave out, and he faded away. The eon of Armill-a is apparently sound, and should. prove a winner if he trains on to eomethinis like his old form.

—• At Park (England) a few we?fcs ago, the stewards, having heard a complaint from the starter that W. Macalister had come to the post for the Sprint Selling) Handicap with a hunting whip, -and in spite of TeiDeated orders refused 1 . to put it down, the starter having eventually to take it from him, fined W. Macalister 50:ovs for his pains.

-^-Somersault won the Trial Plate in excellent style, in which he started a gcod favourite. The same - honour was accorded the Sprite geldingr in the Burnside Handicap, but he could only get third to Red "White and. Blue and Pure Gold. The winner was meeting Somersault on 19'b better terms than when they met in the Trial Stakes.

The heavy shower which set in at Wingatui en Saturday made it very obvious that the outside stand is totally in.adequa.to for the large numbers patronising that part of the course, and in view of the fact that the club derives a considerable portion of its revenue from the outside enclosure it sh'3*uld provide increased shelter at the tarliest opportunity. .

Coroniform was sent cut a strong order for the Mosgiel Handicap, but was apparectlv in d.eep trouble at the bottom of the straight. He ran a much better na.ee on the second day, a,s after beins: badly pla.ced over the first fcur furlongs he had to travel up on the outside of hi® fieVl. At the finish he i'u=t failed to beat The Cornet, who got a clear run on the rails.

The Gore Racing Club's spring meeting takes place on Monday and Tuesday of next week, and at the time of writing there eeems every prospect of gcod cards being on hand. Visitors from Dunedin can travel by the fust express south, and possibly catch the full card on the first day. 'This could be made sure by the club delaying tllj start of the racing a few minutes.

One or two riders wearing colours .at Wingatui are apparently debtees of the cue. They were obviously playing for abreak, which is geatmfl&y a. sure sign they are riding a jigger. They left one rider in baulk, as it were, perhaps because the latter was trying to get in a foul shot. The WTiter has a- strong suspicion that the rest was in frequent; use during the meeting. Mr H. P. Whitney has a huge string of yearling.V "in the United States. According to the " Thoroughbred Record " (Lexington. Ky.). he has no fewer than 42 yearlirigs at his Brokdale stud, IStew Jersey, in addition to the lot of 57 recently purchased from Mr J. R. Keen©, making a. total of 99. Many of thesra will no' doubt in due course be .sent to England to A. J. Joynner. at Newmarket. "When Red White and Blue was doing her preliminary fear the Ladies' Puree at the Kurow meeting the owner, on having attention drrnvii to the f<Lct that the mare had her tongue over the bit replied that he " did riot care if she had her head over it." K*everthele3S, the mare should have won her race there, and as she scored Last week, Red White and Blue is not altogether a, duffer. Several close finishes took place at Wingatui last week, and a silent testimony wag Mid to the ability and integrity of Mr 'R. 0. Duncan in the fact that the prompt decisions hoisted went on record without the public displaying any eigns of disparagement with the official verdict. It was not always eo at Wingatui, and it is

vary pleasing to note the existing state of affairs.

—lt is understood that Ringman's acceptance fcr the second day's Hurdles was missed through owner and trainer imagining that the oilier would atte.ucl to the matter. This is quite a common, error, and unless an owner takes a keen personal interest in racing it is better to leave such matters to the trainer, who is less apt to makei a mistake owing to being in closer touch with the business.

The D.J.C. had a share of bad luck with their two-year-old events run last week. Art and Peppm did not start owing to a death in the owner's family. Allan Water is said to bo smart, but met with an accident, and others went out through not being ready to race. The result was a poor field on Ihe second day, but the bout between Pawky Lass and Anna Corovna made one of the most interesting races of the meeting.

Countermine has the reputation of being a trifle but she. ran two solid races at Wh.gatui la3t week. "She strode home full of running in the Mosgiel Handicap, and rm.de a bold lid in the Telegraph Welter, in which North. Pole beat her a head. She is a fine raking big mare, and as a haifto such smart horses as Stronghold, Fleet-foot, and Broadsword, is entitled to more consideration than she' generally gets from punters.

Autumnus came south with a track reputation that Made him. a very strong favourite for the Dunedin Stakes. ''■ The colt won handsomely, and probably the best of the others may ultimately prove to be Sister Radius, who had to be eased in her work owing to shin-soreneos, and consequently was not so forward as some of the others. Sister Radius was moving up a bit in the straight, and when ready to race should pay her way. The committee of the D.J.C. should erect notice boards for the purpose of posting over-weights and allowa.nots. In the Eleotric Handicap two horses ran at 9lb difference to the figures showing on the book, and, if there is anything in handicapping, the public should be promptly informed cf such things. Under the apprentice allowance rule notification cf concessions- is a matter or greater importance when some of the horses are also carrying over-weight. '■ « • / John Bunyan was made a strong order for the Taioma Handicap, and just managed to score from the penalised Oontendent. He, however, did not obtain a very clear run, but, even so, the writer holds the opinion that punters were somewhat lucky to land their winning dividend. In the Telegraph Welter John Bunyan did not begin to well, and was last to- leave the mark. He made up a good deal of ground, but did not get near the money at the finish. The term " welcher" .as applied to"a bo-kirmker who tries to e3oa.pe his betting liabilities, had its origin in England early in the last century. - At that time there was in London one David Welch, who lived mostly on his wits, and the credulity of a large group of acquaintances which he made by his taking manner. Welch would bet on anything, but seldom, if ever, paid. Time after time Welch's delinquencies were heard about, until it became common talk in racing circles for an unpaid backer to ;say that lift had been '" Welch'd."

—lt is understood, that this North Otag-o-Jockey Club will 'p'aae two races foT two-yeaT-olcfa on their New Year programme, and that each will carry a fair stake. Several owwrs have promised their patronage, and as the best of the youngsters seen out at Riccartom in November are likely- to be sent to the North Island for eitheT Manawatu or Auckla.nd. owners of second rate performers or those not forward enough to raoe in th© spring wi'l be unusually well provided for with two raoes ait Wingatui «t Christmas' and two more at Oamaru a w<&ek later.

Tte high position the crack jockey D. Malier occupies socially among sportsmen of the best class is, evidenced by recent London files. Mailer frequently takes -a rest from his calling as a jockey, and only completed one the day prior to latent London advices.. He had spent a holiday in th-» company -of Lord Rosebery. His lordship, after the Leicester episode and the Redcar sequel, asked Maher to accompany him on a. yachting' cruise on the Ziada, and, sailing along the English and Scottish they made for Dalrnany, where Maher was Lord Rosebary's guest.

"Are you in favour of the abolition of the tolalisator ?" was a question put to Sir John Findlay at Parnell on Monday night. He briefly replied, "I am not." He added that it had been charged asrainst him that he was the friend of the bookmaker, and ■was sheltering him, and that he was wrong in . declaring that there was far too much racing and too many permits granted. Tha House had, however, supported, the view that there was too much racing, and had brought about a reduction, a/nd he was prepared to stand by that.

The Comet is becoming such a frequent winner that it make 3 one susoect he is -.a better horse thaai is generally surjposed. He seems a useful instrument to play (as. the Americans say) when the music suits his range. Sometimes lie acts as cTrummajor, and then, like his namesake, he is all show. Evidently pace-making is not his metier, but when running; in concert with his field in the early stages he generally plays a solo at the finish. So much so is this the case that it seems strange his rider' should be allowed to go to the front in any of h's rae^s.

Rawky Lass ran a good race on each day at Wingaiui, and her win on the second day draws attention to the value of a berth on the rails instead of running over ground m the outside of a field. When Autumnus won in 50. Pawky Lass ran third horse out, and was separated from him iat the pest by closei on four lengths—the pair being split by May Da!rymp!«. On the second day the youngsters were at the post in a heavy downpour of rain, and the ground conld not have been so fast as on the first day. Still Pawky Lass nan 50. and no doubt was helped to ronke that time by having the shortest lv/utetn travel, and possibly by hear gallop on the first day of the meeting. The-Pink 'Un tells the following story of an Irish trainer, now dead, but who was prominent in England in his day: " On one occasion he had a horse Tunning that was not on the job. He g-ave the apprentice boy, who was riding, -direct orders to run out at the turn, and then. ' finding pursuit hopeless,' to pull up his horse. The horse, however, was too much for the boy. He rail wide all right, but then went on and won-, much to the anoyance of the trainer. The boy, knowing what to expect, did a boo-ooh! That was as bad as the winning. ' Laugh... y© divil. laugh!' exclaimed the trainer. ' Now's the time to look placed! Ye will cry enough when I get you home to-night.'" J. M'Combe was ea.ut : oned for cutting across the field with Pure Gold at the start of the Burnside Handicap. The mare is invariably fractious at the post, and the "cross" was held to be an aocideit. but if ©o, why caution a rider for an accident, or a matter over which-he may have little or no control? It would be more to the point if entries of fractious horses were refused, or if allowed to go to the post, started so that they could not interfere with the rest of tha

field. The writer noted that The Cornet cut .across to the rails in the Mosgiel Handicap, and the fact that he got clear was probably owing to the others getting caught in the tapes rather than to any care exercised on the part of his rider. Still, in this case no caution was administered, even though the .start took place right hi front of the stewards' stand. Anna Corovna. was rumoured to be smarter than May Dalrymple, who acted as runner-up to Autumnus, and hence the reason of her being made such a strong favourite for the Dominion Handicap. Pawky Lass, however, ran an excellent race, and in a good go between the pair the Starshot filly just managed to win. Starshot was bred by Messrs Pyne and Boyle, two of the beat known racing men in Canterbury, and prominent officials of the Canterbury Jockey Club. Mr Boyle is president of the club, and Mr Py'e is an ex-president. Pawky -Lass was got by Gannie Chiel (son of Clanranald) from Starshot, by Chain-shot, by Cadogan from Wave. Starshot won the Dunedin Cup of 1898, and two D.J.C. Birthday Handicaps. Up to date she has not proved a stud success. Anna Corovna was got by So-u.it from Czarevna, by Stepniak from isrito-ma-rt, the sister to Euroolydon. Autumnus broke away from his attendant when leaving the paddock for the Dunedin Stakes, but was recaptured without receiving any injury. In the bird-cage the colt, despite the mishap, behaved as if possessed of a very placid disposition that remained undisturbed when, making his.debut in public. He can begin smartly, and as he apparently won with something in hand should shake up the opp sltion at R.ccarton next month. Possibly the stable has something better at home, and if so the colours should be prominent in the "Welcome Stakes. Like most of the Cho-kebore the colt was bred by Sir George Clifford," who seldom buys anything under the hammer. Autumnus was got by Treadmill from Goldleaf (winner .of the Great Autumn of 1893), by Stonyhurst (winner C.J.C. Champagne Stakes, Canterbury Cup. Welcome stakes, C.J.C. Derby) from Golden Orest, by Apremoat. Treadmill, the sire of Autumnus, was a high-class colt who won the Challenge Stakes., New Zealand St. Leger', Wanganui Guineas, Canterbury Cup, Champagne Stakes, but the mere statement of the above successes does not fully convey his real merit as a racehorse. Treadmill has got a good winner or two, but none as gocd as himself, but should Autumnus train on he may prove the best of the lot appearing up. to date. Treadmill was got by Bill o' Portland from Catherine Wheel, by Maxim.