IN A NUTSHELL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3085, 30 April 1913, Page 49

IN A NUTSHELL.

—Mr J. B. Reid has left on a visit to England. Acceptances for the Ashburton meeting are due on Wednesday, April 80. Some of the form at Timaru was bard to follow—particularly with a small bank. There is a proposal on foot in Sydney to increase the charge for training horses. The next Melbourne Cup is to carry a. stake of BOOOsovs—-an increase of lOOOsovb ' above last year. Bleriot, who cost Mr F. Hall 85gs, has won 235050 vs this season, and also gathered 270sovs last season. St. Aidan was taken to Timaru, Imt went amiss whilst working on the course prior to the meeting. The greatest rogues on the turf do not always wear a bridle, although they are invariably after a bit. The leading English sporting papers have decided to abolish the publication o£ tipsters’ advertisements. Land Rose did not exhibit any dash in her races last week, and is apparently lacking in her former brilliancy. Gapon is not losing any dash with increasing year a. He is now nine years old, and won at Timaru in good style. Some of Mr G. M. Currie’s stock that were unsold at the Sydney sales will bo raced in Australia by their owner. Mercedo and Stone Ginger, a pair that have shown good form over hurdles, failed! to show up in their races at Timaru. x Kilts ran a good race in the Flying at Timaru. Ho was a shade slow in moving, but finished well over the last furlong. —■ Mr J. F. Buchanan topped the list of winning owners at the South Canterbury J.C. meeting with SoOsovs to his credit. St. Kevin contracted a cold during the South Canterbury meeting, and hence was not started on the second day of the meeting. Master Paul is tc be taken to Australia and given a chance to win over fences. Ho will be accompanied, by the hurdler St. Kevin. There is a continual agitation for more racing At the sam,e time tho calendar is already too crowded for tho prosperity of some clubs. Mr Bruce Christie has sold a three-year-old gelding by Sir Dove from Grand Rain (dam of Kilrain) to MV “N. Bennington” for ISOsovs. —At the next spring meeting of tho Victoria Racing Club there will be no race on the four days’ programme of less value than GOOsovs added money. The Timaru race books contained a notice to the effect that “ Bookmakers, turf financial agents, and turf wcolbrokers ” would not be admitted to tho meeting. Antarctic is reported to have given a very pleasing display in a schooling lesson over fences. Dorando is also standing up to his work in fairly good stylo. Cardiff won in good style at Ricoarton when he defeated Daylight Bill, but at about a stone worse weights he apparently had no chance with the latter at Timaru. short course. He won the Smithfiekl Handicap under 10.3 in 50 l-ssec. but is said to be a bit wanting over more ground. The death is reported from Tasmania, of Mr Wm. Liston, who was well known in the Australian sporting world under the nom de plume of ‘‘Tam o’ Shantcr." Seekaahorc never threatened any danger in the final stages of the Timaru Cup. She is said to be a bad traveller, and doe-3 not show her best form away from home. Cordon Rouge, the sire of a speedy sort v in Irish Gift, is a brother to Vseult, who ran several races down south, and n halfbrother to Lady Fisher, the dam of Manio—h ore was a good deal of support accorded Vanquish in her races at Timaru, She is a speedy sort got by Conqueror from Sally, a sister to Orloff. and may prove useful. Lord Durham, in the course of soma comment on tho Betting Inducement Bill, said: “Betting is not a crime, but it is not a virtue. It is an ineradicable foible of human nature." The annual meeting of the New Zealand Racing Conference will be held at Wellington in July. Notices of motion must roach the office of the conference not later than Saturday, July 14. Master Paul scored a comfortable win in tho Wai-iti Hurdles last week, and still retains his dash over the small sticks, although not asked, ns formerly, to gain a furlong in tho first half-mile. The young light-weight G. Clarke is booked to go to England and loin Mfr G-. Palmer’s stable. darko rode Sunbeam in his races at Timaru last week, and shapes promisingly in the saddle. Pilgrim’s Wav was a strong order for the Farewell at Timaru. but he hod to bo content with second place. He was running' under 9.2, as against 7.10 up when ho t&n 1.13 on the same track in 1910.

Whirers wero not easy to locate at Tim am mooting, and although there was ■plenty of money going through the totaiieator. lots of people must have realised tha* punting is an £ s. d. of a. game. Zinti, a two-year-old half.-brotlier to G-enius, was sent out a strong order for a Nursery Handicap at Canterbury Park, and won handsomely. Ho was got by Traquair, and cost 500 guineas as a yearling. Lass Ashore fell over the hurdle in front of tho stand at Timaru, and ducked under the rails as she rose after her fad It ia somewhat rare to see a horse fall over one fence and dive under another. Antoinette. Midnight Sun, Broadsword, Bridge, and Shuja are included amongst the acceptors for the Adelaide Cup, run on May--12. Broadsword and Martyrc are engaged in the Goodwood Handicap, run on May 10. A London Sportsman of recent date bears the news of the death of Playfair, xvho won the Liverpool National of 1888. The old horse had reached the ripe age of 32 ■when it was deemed a- mercy to destroy him. The recently defunct Corazon won the Wanganui Steeplechase, the Great Northern Steeplechase, the Wellington Steeplechase, and was beat a head by Paritutu when carrying a penalty in the Grand National Steeples. After Lupulite had delayed the start of the Farewell Handicap at Timaru for some few’ minutes, the starter, Mr It. Harley, ordered the rider of the gelding to dismount, and the rest of the field was sent away without him. Dunedin Cup meeting. Editah gave Bulletin 71b and a beating. At Timaru the latter was meeting her on 351 b worse terms. This is a case of where following form would probably load one astray. Daylight Bill is improving as a hurdler. He gave a good display at Timaru, and as ho is a comparatively young horse at the game, may be found making further improvement. Ho has a good turn of speed, and is quick at his fences. Evelyn, a two-year-old filly by Rothschild from Black Floss, was made a very strong choice for the race whicli Lylena won at Timaru, and tho downfall of the favourite may have had not a little to do with the demonstration against the winner. Owners are reminded that nominations for the North Otago Jockey Club’s winter meeting are due on Thursday, May 1. The club has issued an attractive programme tor the meeting, which should ensure a libera] patronage from horse-ownere. The Nortli Otago Jockey Club’s winter programme calls for attention this week, as nominations are due on May 1. The chief events are the Oamaru Cup, of 250sova, and Victoria Handicap, of 200sovs, whilst other well-ondowed events figure on the list. Tho announcement that the Tapanui investing will be held on November 19 and 20 next suggests that it will clash with the South Canterbury Jockey Chib if the latter adhere to their present dates. The minor club would do well to avoid a clash. One of the fancied yearlings disposed of at the recent yearling sales did not long enrvH’e. Tho Flavua—lsisford colt, for whom Mr P. A. Connolly paid 675g5, in jumping a paling fence fractured a foreleg, and as a consequence he had to be destroyed. The Washdyke track maintained its reputation for speedy gallops daring the currency of the S.C.J.G. meeting. Thrax did not appear to be fully extended when registering 2.8 1-3 in the Timaru Cup. and Oxenhope won the last event of tho meeting in 1.13 2-3. Tho rider of Simon Pure was carpeted for tile manner in which the horse ran in the Otipna Hurdles at Timaru. The horse hung fire at the start, and going to tho first hurdle was about 20 lengths away from his field. Tho stewards accepted the explanation given. Buff Gauntlet is now trained at Winpatui by C. Christie, who has achieved a fair amount of success with Gapon, Mahuri, Simon Pure, and Jack Ashore. The same trainer has also had another addition to his string in the shape of a three-year-old by Sir Dove from Grand Rain. A suggestion has been made in Sydney that the yearling gales at Randwick in future should begin on Good Friday or the day before. At present it is necessary to sell the youngsters at the rate of about one every two minutes, and intending buyers have not much opportunity to inspect the yearlings in the ring. The West Australian Turf Club arc introducing a rule to the effect that three-year-olds and upwards shall not run in any race of less distance than six furlongs. They have also decided that in future two-voar-old races will bo not. less than five furlongs, and to abolish the 31 b allowance to geldings in the Derby. B. Dooley is not only a most successful rider, but also a highly capable one, and wins races where others would probably lose them. Wo have not soon a groat deal of him in the south, and although he is not tllp only horseman in New Zealand, it is a matter of rejn-et that there are not more like him in tire saddle. Duke Foote, who has not raced since his disastrous failure in the last Melbourne Cup, is again working at Randwick, and is reported to be looking big and bright. Tho Sydney Referee states that the son of Sir Foote will probably lie found ready to give a good account of himself in the weight-for-age races in the spring. Horse-owners have not many more programmes to consider this season. Tho North Otago Jockey Club's programme calls for attention on Thursday of this week, and on May 9 the Dunedin Jockey Club’s winter programme invites nominations. These two meetings will conclude the season, ami give a final opportunity to gather the winter oats. The Sant Ilario gelding Sunbeam was strongly fancied in some quarters for the Timaru Cup. This opinion was based on track work, but in the actual race Sunbeam faded out after assisting to make the pace for about a mile. Ho was again accorded a good deal of support in the Autumn Handicap, one mile, tut did rot gain a place. Quito a noisy demonstration greeted Lylena’s win at the Timaru meeting She led for part of the way on the first day, and then broke up, which is quite a common thing to happen in tho light, harness world. Tho nature of the evidence which resulted in a 12 months’ disqualification did not transpire, and an appeal has been lodged against tho decision. Dee ley showed to advantage at Timaru, whore he rode two excellent races on Thrax. H© did not arrice until the right time, and rodo nice patient races both on this horse and Bulletin. On* the other he kept Oxenhope up to the mark in the Farewell, and practically won all the way. Evidently Deeley does not get. info the saddle with castiron ideas in his head. The formation of bone and muscle in the colt require rations rontaining the so-called tissue builders in largo quantities. In a grain ration of oats arc combined the ncoes-. pary elements for the formation of bone and muscle better than in any other single grain, and for this oats form a most noeosea.rv part of tho ration. Other grains and mixtures may be suls'ifuted, but none of them is better than oats. Between the North Otago Jockey Club’s

and tho Dunedin Jockey Club’s winter meetings owners of hurdlers and fencers are catered for with seven events ranging in value from lOOsovs to SOOsovs. This clearly forms a strong temptation to put a horse over tho obstacles, and carry tho further inducement that a growing patronage may be taken to mean a further growth in the stakes devoted to that branch of the sport. The principal events to be decided at tho Dunedin Jockey Club’s winter meeting will be the Birthday Handicap, of 400sovs, tho Otago Steeples, of SOOsovs, the Provincial, of 250sovs, the Wingatui Steeples, of 250sovs, and the Tradesmen's, of 200sovs. Five other events range in value from 130 so vs to loOsovs, whilst none is worth loss than lOOsovs. Such an all-round excellence should be appreciated, and attract a liberal entry on May 9. Lord Soult appeared a bit sore after racing on the first day at Timaru, but Tib carried silk again on the second day of the meeting. Lord Soult was foaled in 1899, and is getting well on in years. It is six years since he and Cold Crest slipped the field in the Stewards’ Handicap, and he is still capable of showing a dash of speed, hut his forelegs are now well booted, and evidently require support to keep him up. Conqueror has never achieved note as a sire of stayers, and few of his stock have won beyond a mile. He is principally known by the fact that he ran the Welcome in 46 1-5. and created a record for the distance. Still, that he was a good middledistance horse is evidenced by the form he displayed- when he won the Heathcote Handicap, seven furlongs, under 11.7, and the fact that he ran a good third in the Timaru Cup under 9.2. carry silk during the coming lepping season. The old chan threatens to become quite a Tennyson's brook of the turf, and it is a pity that his game old heart could not be installed in a new frame. Some of the English ’chasers race on to a ripe old age; but comparatively speaking they are kept in a glass, whilst old Paritutu has been a fairly active campaigner throughout his lengthy career. Although some owners are not in great sympathy with granting a liberal part of a stake ’to the second and third horses, still it must at times win appreciation. For instance, one owner had two or three horses at Timaru. and failing to win a race, lie gathered 40sovs in place money. Another gets a cheque for SOsovs. and a third comes in for 271sovs. These sums help to keep tho oats bill down, even when a win does not come to a stable. Tho Timaru racebooks made a feature of printing the colours in large type, so that those anxious to know “What's that in the green?” could pick it up by a glance at the list. The best judges, however, rarely or never take their eyes off the field, and although they may mistake a horse during a race, it is better to identify them afterwards than to use tho eyes in searching the book and so miss probably important affairs that may be occurring. Oxenhope exhibited, a brilliant turn of sneed when he captured the Farewell Handicap at Timaru. He raced to the front at tho rise of the barrier, and practically gave nothing a chance, although, he had one or two speedy sorts in hot pursuit. His win was mildly surprising after previous displays at the meeting, and the only reason why he did not get to the front in at least some stage of his earlier races must have been due to interference, or else he is a rogue. Kilmcny ran a couple of good races at Timaru, but not good enough to gather the money. In the Timaru Cup he was the first to settle Sunbeam, but after apparently holding a winning cha-nce at the distance, Thrax beat him nicely in the run home. On the second day he was meeting Thrax on Sib better terms, but the former on this occasion beat him more comfortably than on the prexious day. The form made it seem clear that Thrax could have won at any stage of the Cup from about a mile Obsono, although looking well to the eye, ran disappointingly at Timaru. J. M’Combe got him a beautiful start in the Flying, and after gaining about three lengths, let him run along under a nice hold until Capon in a challenge; but when asked to stall off the attack the son of lima just failed to do so. He was giving away lolb, and the Obsono of old could do so, but not the one we have seen lately. Evidently the trip to Australia left him a bit worn out in fighting force, or else he is not keyed up enough to see out a race. Some people will live in any house and never consider what foundations are carrying the structure. This is also the case in racing. Horses tired on a weak foundation seldom stay, although they may be speedy over a short course; but this has not kept Glcnowl out of tho Ashburton Cup. He won over seven furlongs in the Seadown Welter last year, and scored in a creditable manner for n horse got by a thoroughbred out of a mare got by a pacing stallion. If such a horse should win the New Zealand Cup, tho stud books should be consigned to tho flames by a special act of the Racing Conference. The South Canterbury Jockey Club has made a marked improvement in their -course by shifting back the stewards’ stand and putting another story to the original structure and otherwise greatly improving it. The change of position has allowed room to create a better bird-cage than what formerly existed, and the appointments on the course leave very little to bo desired. In fact, it only requires the installation of a magician’s finger to point out a few euro winners to make the meeting take the highest rank with the sporting folk who arc decidedly keen on racing, but unfortunately a bit blunt in their luck at catching dividends. Some of the winners at Timaru were probably more improved by their gallop on tho first day than tho fact that the readjustment of figures assisted their chance, ns they won with a good deal in hand. This appeared to be the case with Oxenhope, Cunflash, and Glcnowl, whilst Specialform was another that showed up much better on tho second day than she did on the first. There is no suggestion here that there was anything wrong in the running, but a little light on some of it would be appreciated by the public. Not one of the above lot gained a place on the first day. Some did not get in the first six, whilst another is marked down as fifthi Of America’s lending thoroughbred sires since 1870, Glenelg lived to be 31 years old ; Himyar to 30, Virgil and St. Blaise to 29. Albert and Kingston to 28. Bonnie Scotland and Sir Modrcd to 27, Longfellow to 26. Lexington and Leamington to 25. Billet and Sir Dixon to 24, Ben Strome to 23, Iroquois to 21 Ravon d’Or to 20 Hanover to 15, and Commando to onlv 7. being foaled in 1898 and dying March 13, 1905; yet Commando’s get won more money in a single year—l9o7 (270,345d01) than any stallion from 1870 to date. Lonefellow was 24 years old when he was the leading American sire, his get winning 189,3.34d01, while in 1910 Kingston was ■26 vears old and the premier sire, but Kingston also led the list in 1900. Specialform did not shew nn particu--1 aid v well in the Washdyke Welter, but nevertheless finished up a strong favourite in the principal race on the second day. Bbo get well out in tV- second race, but

lost ground during the run, and had to make up a good deal of leeway before getting second to Thrax. It is understood that the filly lost her-place in the early part of the race through an accidental interference by Carolus, but this did not quite explain her running on the first day. It seems clear that some people did not accept the first day’s form as correct, or why did they send her out such a- well-backed chance at the second attempt? There was a change of riders, and this nifty have led to more change being in circulation'. The following table (writes “Milroy”) represents the history in a nutshell of the Sydney yearling sales for the past 16 years:

Thrax got away with the two principal handicaps at the South Canterbury meeting, and although the field in the Timaru Cup looked a bit weak on paper, it was not so in reality. The son of Martian and Hebrew Maid would have obviously taken some beating. On each occasion Thrax was handled in excellent style by Deeley. who got his mount fairly handy, bus did not arrive until it was time to win. It is said that Bulletin is a bettor horse than Thrax on the track, and if so Mr J. F. Buchanan has a useful pair that have not stopped their winning career. In the Washdyke Welter Bulletin gave Specialform 12lb, and apparently could concede a heap more, as the filly failed to get a place, whilst Thrax was giving her 111 b when she finished a good second to him in the Autumn Handicap. In the latter race Specialform is said to have got badly hampered through interference. She finished fast, and might have troubled the winner with a clear run. In the Ashburton Cup Thrax is made a slb better horse than Bulletin over 10 furlongs. The committee of the Victorian Racing Club has decided to make a considerable increase in the amount of added money for the season 1913-14. During the season now in progress, 1912-13, the added money given by the V.H.C. totalled £51,600, and that for 1913-14 will amount to £62,400, an increase of £IO,BOO sjuread over the seven principal meetings of the year. The Melbourne Cup will have £BOOO added in place of £7000; the Australian Cnp and Newmarket Handicap will have each have an additional £IOOO tacked on, making the added money in each instance £3000; the Maribvrnong Plate has gone up from £ISOO to £2000; and the V.R.C. Sires’ Produce Stakes and Grand National Steeplechase brave each had £250 added, making the added money now £750 and £1750 respectively. The weight-for-age races have also received the attention of the committee, and an additional £2400 has been allotted. The steeplechases have £SOO more and the hurdle races £7OO additional. The open handicaps have been further subsidised to the extent of £2300, the two-year-old races £7OO, and the three-year-old races £2OO. First Glance, who won a double at Timaru, is one of the moat likely sorts that the writer lias seen out this season. She won both her raees decisively, and galloped on well at the end of each of them. The company was not particularly high class; but she was galloping away at the finish, and should score in a better class. In' appearance she is a bay with white stockings, nice length, and a solid, well-behaved sort. The filly is owned by Mr J. Grigg, and was got by Kosmos Bey (son of Gallinule) from Ophelia 11, by Morion (son of Barcaldine), from Louise by Kendal (son of Bend Or), from Rosmarine. by Rosicrucian. Kosmos Bey is an unfashionable sire at Home, but is bred on stout lines. He is inbred to Sterling, and the result of a mating with Ophelia II makes First Glance rich in Stoekwell blood. In faet, the influence of Stoekwell seems to be shown in the filly’s markings, and she would he a typical descendant of the “Emperor of Stallions” if a chestnut instead of a light bay. The fact of First Glance being got by a horse inbred to Sterling attracts attention as a son of the latter in Sterlingworth got For mo, who threw Multiform. Furthermore, Ophelia II is inbred to Beadsman, whose son Rosicrucian got Pulchra (grand dam of Multiform), one of the very best mares imported to Australasia. The White Knight, whom the cable states has recently been sold for the world’s record price of lO.OObsovs to go abroad, is one of the best stayers seen out in England during recent years. He did not develop his best form until he had been in training a couple of seasons, although winning the Newbury Cup, two miles and a furlong, and the Gold vase, two miles, in his second season. As a four-year-old he won the Coronation Cup, the Ascot Gold Cup, and the Goodwood. Anther win in the Coronatin Cup and the Ascot Gold Cup marked the chief form of his latest racing. The White Knight was got by Desmond, one of St. Simon’s most successful sons at the stud, from Pella by Buckshot, by King John. Desmond was got by St. Simon from L’Abbcsse do Jonarre, by Trappist. Obligado is the only stallion out of a Trappist mare that the writer can call to mind as being brought to New Zealand, and hence it is not astonishing that some of his best stock have come from mares of St. Simon descent. The wisdom of breeding mares of that line to Obligado is suggested by Desmond, and recent indication of its merit is furnished bv Oxenbone, who won in such brilliant style at Timaru. Oxenhope, who, by the way, appears in the Stud Book ns Oxenthorpe, was got by Obligado from Cyrenniene by Cyrenian, a son of St. Simon. Orton and Lady Georgie are also out of a Cyrenian mare. It is also worthy of note that Cragonour, one of the best two-year-olds in England last season, and winter favourite for the Derby, is by Desmond from a mare got by a son of Bend Or, who is the g-grand sire of Obligado.

Year. Number Aggregate. Avg. Sold. £ £ 1898 .. 117 8,476 72i 1899 .. 145 6,884 47* 1900 .. 151 11.251 Wi 1901 .. 174 10,382 59 J 1902 .. 149 12,983 87 1903 .. 90 12.9&3 144J 1904 .. 168 19,187 114 1905 .. 155 23,802 153* 1906 .. 217 33,546 1545 1907 .. 291 42,108 144J 1908 .. 392 42.598 109 1909 .. 385 48,753 126 1910 .. 385 74,877 194 J 1911 .. 522 84.062 161 1912 .. 490 71,842 146* 1913 .. 514 75,601 147