IN A NUTSHELL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3197, 23 June 1915, Page 52

IN A NUTSHELL.

The annual meeting of the Dunedin Jockey Club takes place on Thursday, July 22. , —Veritas is apparently coming back to his early form, and is credited with shaping well in his work at Riccarton. A well-known Ashburton trainer of lightharness stock and a Dunedin man recently split £2BOO of TattersalTs money. The imported horse Hymettius had three winning representatives on the second day of the Hawke’s Bay meeting. _ — Heather Mixture, who got amongst the winners at Hawke’s Bay, is an imported horse by St. Serf from Sprig of Heather. Tire Cornet and Slogan are both being kept busy at Riccarton, and will probably be seen out at the Wellington winter meeting. Two New Zealand-bred sires in Baron Rothschild and Almout were represented by winners at a recently-held trotting meeting in Melbourne. The six-furlong track on the Washdyke racecourse has been graded and levelled for the South Canterbury Trotting Club’s meeting - on July 8. A nomination in the New Zealand Trotting Cup, of 2500sovs, will cost 4sovs, and the fees to be paid to send a horse to the post amount to 20sovs. A yearling and a two-year-old filly by Wallace from the New Zealand-bred 4500gninea mar© Golden Slipper have been placed in work at Randwick. The Carbine horse Pistol was represented by four winners on the first day of the Adelaide Birthday meeting. He also had two winners on the second day. The imported Carbine gelding Defence won the principal event run at the V.R.G. Birthday nieeting. Ho was sent out favourite, and won by a head in 2.10 J. The. ex-Australian light-iveight, W. Huxley, received a bad fall whilst riding at Sandown Park on April 23, and did not recover consciousness for a couple of days. • Pommern won the Two Thousand Guineas without being fully extended, and would no doubt start a strong favourite for the Derby, which he also won in a canter. The Glenapp mare Doon, who won over hurdles last week, is a half-sister to Fisticuff, who promised to develop into a. good fencer, but met with a fatal accident when training at Riccarton. - The high price, of feed in Australia has resulted in some of the Flemington trainers raising their charge per horse to £3 10s per week. In other cases the fees have been raised to £3 per week. The Achilles gelding Aratiatia, who won the Tiiramoe Hurdles at Hawke’s Bay-, was once boomed a bit as a sprinter, and seems to have accomplished a fair performance in winning over a mile and three-quarters in 3.1,7. The Hon. J. D. Ormond's stable has quite a habit of gathering up Ladies’ Bracelet events at Hawke’s Bay-. On Saturday another came along with the win of Shaki, who was got by Hymettus from Balama, by Birkenhead. Snow Marten, the winner of the Oaks, was unplaced in the One Thousand Guineas, in which Bright and Silver Tag, who followed him home at Newmarket, were also placed behind Lord Rosebery's Vauclus© in the Guineas. Rue Victoria, who defeated Sea Pink and others in the Brisbane Cup, was purchased unbroken at £6 out. of a saleyard. His speed was discovered whilst being used as a stock horse. He subsequently won at picnic meetings. —W. Adams was rather a busy horseman at the Hawke’s Bay meeting. On the first day he had four unsuccessful rides, including a fall on Vi in the Hawke’s Bay Hurdles. On the second day Adams rode three winners, a second and a third. The equine angularity racing as Teviotdale is again in work under W. Macdonald’s charge. Teviotdale is remarkable in the fact that when he looks well he runs badly, biit when trained to the hone runs well. He is one of the all heart with no peel sorts. The New Zealand-bred Golden Rock, a gelding by Gold Reef from Edith Cureton (half-sister to Trenton), won the Cornwall Handicap, of SOOsovs, run at the V.R.C. Birthday meeting. Golden Rock was sent out favourite, and won by half a length in 1.422. Glenmore, who filled third place in the Hawke’s Bay Steeples, was one of the trio made up by Bercola and The Spaniard separated by heads at the finish of the last Grand National Steeples. Glenmore also gained a place in the Beaufort Steeples and Lincoln Steeples. Tournament, who acted as runner-up to Pommern in the Two Thousand Guineas, is a grandson of the New Zealand-bred Carbine. Ho was got by Spearmint, who also had another representative in the race in the shape of a colt named Spring Thyme, who finished at the tail.of the field. Snow Marten, the winner of this year’s Oaks Stakes, was got by Martagon, the sire of the well-known horse, Martian. Another Martagon horse at the stud in this country is Hallowmas, whose dam Hallowe’en was got hy Ayrshire from Santa Maura, a daughter of St. Simon and Palon (Flower. Let Ply, who acted as runner-up in the English Derby, was one of the best two-year-olds seen out last season. He won three races worth £4503-, and finished second in two other starts. Let Fly was got by White Engle (son of Gallinule) from Gondolette, by Loved One—Dongola, by Doncaster. The principal events to be decided at the Waimate Hunt Club’s meeting on July 29 will be the Hunt Club Cup, of 40sovs (crip value £10), about three miles, for qualified hunters, and the Tally-ho Steeplechase, of 4030v5, about two miles and a-half. Nominations are due on Saturday,' July 10. The brilliant mare Beldam© has been allotted 9.6 in the Ahuriri Hurdles at Napier. She should he able to pilot the way to the first fence even if she gets no further. Last season Beldame won the Telegraph Handicap at Trenthara in Imin 11 4-ssac, and ran second to Postillion at Auckland in Imin 13 l-ssec. A northern writer makes a slip of the pen hy stating that Stevedore, the castoff from Sir G. Clifford’s stable recently won a. race in Australia. Stevedore, late of Chokebore Lodge stables, is still in .Dunedin. He was recently blistered, and. all going well, will shortly go into work for next season’s racing. According to the cabled figures Tim Doolan reads nicely treated in the V.R.C. National Steeples with 10.10. or Blb more than the burden allotted to The Pole. Tim Doolan won the last New Zealand Grand National Steeples with 10.3, and was carrying n. 9 when he foil in the Lincoln Steeples, run at the same meeting.

The June Steeples, run on the second clay at Hawke’s Bay, turned quite a fiasco, as only the winner completed the course without miehop. Morning, who provided the winner, won the Grand National Hurdles of 1913, and finished fifth in the same race last year, when Royal Arms, Morecambe, Leonta, and Corrie led him past the post. Soporific has won five races out of six starts this season. A run off at Hawke’s Bay marks his only failure. Unfortunately, the Lethe gelding is not considered sound, although it must be said that he appears to he standing up to a fair amount of racing. Soporific did not race last season, and as a four-year-old ran five times unplaced. Waipunoa, the winner of the Hawke’s Bay Hurdles, was got by Martello from Finesse, by_ Torpedo—Revoke (the dam of Canard, winner of the Grand National Steeples), Forester, Leonora (dam of Coeur de Lion and Burlington). Revoke is one of the Gipsy family, to which Gipsy King, Manton, Tres Sec, and other good performers belong.

The English sire Polymelus, who headed the list of winning stallions last season, is again doing well in getting Black Jester, the winner of the City and Suburban Handicap, and Pommern, the winner of the Two Thousand Guineas and Derby. There is only one Polymelus horse in Australia, and he is named Hochelaga, a son of the Fiorizell II mare Mushla. A couple of imported horses enrolled themselves as winners at the A.J.C. winter meeting. Mr S. Hordern’s brown colt Chat, by Henry the First—Chatau, won the Novice Handicap from 21 other's in Imin 40isec, and Mr G. Marlow’s black mare Trinobantes, by Dinneford—Lady Cmickshank, won the Exeter Handicap from 15 others in Imin -Msec. Both horses started at outside prices. A motion is coining before the Racing' Conference to create a rule whereby the owner of a mare at time of foaling shall be considered the breeder of any such foal. The adoption of such a rule should follow as a matter of course after the ruling given over the Castalia case. It will show, if adopted, that in effect a man who purchases a bottle of beer and draws the contents can for the purposes of racing law be deemed a brewer. The Taranaki Jockey Club is bringing up a motion before the Racing Conference, which reads: “The stewards shall not iiermit any jockey when riding in a hurdle race or steeplechase to adopt the ‘crouch’ or ‘Sloan’ style of riding.” The writer fias always been hostile to the extreme crouch style of riding (particularly over fences) ever since it came in-to vogue, and for the safety of the riders themselves it is to be hoped that the proposed motion will be adopted. Although a great many sires are represented by the winners of the Great Northern Steeplechase, no fewer than 21 trace back to Eclipse in tail male and seven to Herod. Oniy one goes back to the Godolphian Arabian. The Herod horses include some of the best ’chasers that ever sported silk in this country, and number amongst them Moifaa, The Guard, Liberator, Levanter, and Bercola. It will be seen that although numbers rest with the Eclipse tribe the Herods balance it fairly well with their racing merit. There is a prospect of the French rule existing against the exportation of horses being relaxed in favour of two and three-year-olds, whose owners wish to race them in England. There is, however, a proviso that the horses must be brought back to Franco nt the end of the season. This will show how anxious the French authorities are to give breeders of bloodstock every opportunity to keep going and get what profit they can out of the racecourse test, which for the time being is not obtainable in France. The Lethe gelding Soporific, the winner of the Hawke’s Bay Steeplechase, created a good impression when, he won a double at the recent Wanganui meeting on the first day. He won the Hack Steeples in a canter from The Diver, Nita, and six others. On the second day of the same meeting Soporific won the Grand Steeples very comfortably from The Pole, The Diver, and seven others. In the Turf Record Soporific is described as by Lethe from The. Shallon, but in recent race reports his dam is given as Charlatan. Lethe, the sire of Soporific, was got by Cadogan from Siesta, by Traducer. Siesta was also the dam of Day Dream and Conqueror. The Sylvia Park gelding Hurakia, who acted as runner-up to Doon in the Hack Hurdles on the first day at Hawke’s Bay, and won on the second day, displayed useful form last season. At Napier Park he won a mile and a-half hurdle race in 2min 45 4-ssec, at Waipukurau he was beat a head over a mile and a-quarter in 2min llsec, and this time last year ran third to Player and Flingot in a mile and ,three-quarter hurdle race at Hawke’s Bay. His dam, Patupaearehe, was got by Strephon from Swindle, who produced two well-known performers over fences in Roscius and Morag. Strephon was got by Ingomar from the Musket Sylvia mare Elfin, a sister to Martini Henry. ' Friar Marcus, who holds au unbeaten record as a two-year-old, has developed into a disappointing three-year-old. According to latest accounts from England, this hearer of of the Royal colours retains his speed, but cannot stay, and there is only an extremely remote chance of him gaining classic honours now that he has missed the Guineas and Derby. Apparently his chance was not highly thought of in the Two Thousand Guineas, as H. Jones, who is first horseman to King George, was up on Sammarco, whilst P. Rickaby had the ride on Friar Marcus. Both colts finished in the ruck of the Two Thousands Guineas field, in which Pommern .started a fairly sound favourite. The defeat of Friar Marcus was not due to lack of condition, as he looked particularly fit and well. Cyllene, the grandsire of the Two Thousand Guineas and Derby winner Pommern, is represented in New Zealand by the Hon. J. D. Ormond’s horse Hymettus, who has been represented by several winners in the Dominion. Cyllene was sold to go to South America at £31,500, and his sire, Bona Vista, was previously purchased by the same country at £16,450. Hymettus belongs to the ■same family as Pommern, and, like the latter, is inbred to Hermit, and particularly rich in the great Stockwell strain, which conies in twice through Doncaster, and is also picked up by Isonomy and Friar’s Balsam through their dams. Hymettus does not sport any St, Simon blood, but his granddam was got by Gall.iard, a son of St. Simon’s sire Galopin. As Pommern is out of a granddaughter of St. Simon, mares of the latter line should make excellent mates for Hymettus. One of the best horses got by the recently defunct sire Regal was Regalia 11, who won several races in this country. Some years ago the writer was sent a race book from Ceylon, and Regalia II figured amongst the runners on the card. It is astonishing where some of our equine friends drift to when nearing the end of their career. One of the greatest shocks the writer ever received in that respect was to notice as a leader in a four-in-hand team carrying passengers to a back-block race meeting an old racecourse favourite and a frequent winner. To descend from turf to traces is not an uncommon experience of thoroughbreds, hut; the shock consisted of the fact that the old whip-the-wind was dolled up with beribboned mane and tail a la cart horse. It was enough to make the cover of a stud book blush; but there was also a source of pleasure in the fact that the old and decrepit “bit o’ blood” kept in

the collar with a courage and dash lacking in the other trio making up the team. % Mount Victoria is being schooled over hurdles. The Pole and Sauci have arrived at Caulfield. and are now members of S. P. Casov's stable. The Riverton Racing Club has made a donation of £2OO to the Belgian Relief Fund. The Auckland trainer, Frank Sullivan, is amongst those killed in action at the Dardanelles. Rongaro, a sister to Fashion Plate, is reported to be shaping well over the big fences at Trentham. The smart two-year-old Xanthos is again in commission after a spell since racing in the autumn. Mv E. J. Watt has again retained L. Wilson to act as first horseman to his stable in New Zealand. The cross-country horseman W. Emmerson has enlisted, and will shortly go into training at Trentham. _ The New Zealand-bred Cherubini has arrived at Flemington to be trained for his spring engagements. Two well-known gentlemen riders, Mr G. Hirch and Mr R. Vivian, are amongst those in camp at Trentham. Two stewards of the Wanganui Jockey Club—Messrs H. M. Speed and C. J. Paterson—are at present in camp at Trentham. Chortle resumed work some little while! back, and is regarded as likely to figure amongst the field contesting the next Grand National Hurdles. The Spearmint colt Cyklon, who changed owners in Melbourne recently at £2OOO, cost SOOgns in England. Cyklon is engaged in. the important spring handicaps to be run in Australia. The well-known stallion Regol died a few days ago, at the age of 27 years. He was a brother to Hippomenes, who won several races for the late Messrs Stephenson and Hazlctt in bygone days. The well-known pacer Erandocia was pub under the hammer in Christchurch on Saturday to sever a partnership, and was purchased at 350 gs by Mr F. R. Hall, one of the former owners of the horse. The well-known rider J. Campbell met with a painful accident a couple of days ago. Ho was returning to Riccarton in company with a friend on a motor cycle, and as the result of a collision with a cart received severe cuts and abrasions on his head and face. Mrs James Stenhouso, of the Ocean Beach Hotel, and Mr E. Merry, of Tahuna Park, have made a donation to the Sports Queen Carnival Fund of an untried six-year-old trotting mare, by Young Wildwood from Miss Harewood, a half-sister to Miss Burlington. This mare was bred by Mi- Merry and the late Mr James Stenhouse. Although racing has not been resumed in France, about 800 horses were in training at Chantilly during April. This represents about 50 per cent, of the number in ti-aining on the same tracks last season, and apparently the horses were in commision with tha hope that an early resumption of business was within the bounds of possibilities. In commenting on Mr E. J. Watt’s colt Mountain Knight’s Australian performances, London Sporting Life says that a curious feature of the colt’s pedigree is the absence of Blacklock blood in the last four removes, Australian breeders thereby proving again that “unfashionable” blood, if judiciously distributed, is not of less efficiency than “ fashionable blood ” injudiciously accumulated.

Mr John Wren, the well-known Melbourne racecourse proprietor, is acting in a very liberal manner towards the patriotic funds. He gave over £2OOO to the Belgian Fund after winning the Doncaster Handicap, and has just donated £SOO to a patriotic race meeting being got up in Queensland for July 3, in addition to promoting another meeting for charitable purposes on one of his own tracks.

The latest English papers show pictures of wounded soldiers attended by nurses as interested spectators on one of the stands during the Epsom spring meeting. During the Liverpool Grand National meeting khaki was a very prominent colour owing to the presence of wounded soldiers and others on leave fr om the front, as well as hundreds more enjoying a holiday from the various training camps in England. According to a private cablegram received in Christchurch, Mr Gerald L. Stead promptly broke into the winning list in Victoria by scoring with both Sauqi and The Pole at an Aspendale Park meeting. On Saturday Tim Doolan ran third in a steeplechase, and, as his performance followed an announcement that ho was looking big and short of work, place-getting reads very creditable. At Caulfield Sauci got a place in the Richmond Cup. Sir George Clifford’s brilliant three-year-old First Flight, by San Francisco—Fleetfool, drooped dead after doing steady work on the sand on Tuesday (says the Christchurch Press). N. Shaw, who was riding him at the time, luckily escaped uninjured. The son of Flectfoot was one of the best of his age in the dominion this year, but met one a bit better in Reputation, otherwise he would probably have proved the record stake-earner in one season for Ghokeboro Lodge After H. Thompson won the Hawke’s Bay Steeplechase on Soporific he was asked for an explanation of his riding. It appears that Soporific won by a head, and was apparently pulling up. Thompson subsequently won on Doon over hurdles, and then had to receive medical attention. It was then discovered that ho had broken a collar-bone when Braeburn fell with him in the Hawke’s Bay Hurdles. It is a most remarkable thing that a- rider should steer two winners when suffering from a broken collar-bone, and apparently unaware of his

mjurv In tho opinion of the chief stipendiary steward, Mr J. M'Mahon, some of the riding at the recent Auckland meeting was poor in the extreme, and a word of advice was tendered bv that official to several horsemen. At the forthcoming sitting of the Racing Conference, at the request of the Stipendiary Stewards’ Committee the president will propose the following resolution “Racecourse detectives shall bo appointed by the New Zealand Racing Conference or by the committee thereof nominated for that purpose, and with such powers and subject to such regulations as may from time to time ho conferred or approved by the conference.” This year the Canterbury Jockey Club decided* to test the Australian innovation of taking entries for classic races at a much later date than has been done in previous years, and the result at the close of nominations must bo highly pleasing to those in authority. A decrease of about one-half of tho usual numbers was expected in some quarters, but the falling off for the seven

races is hut 262, the total being 619 tais year, as compared with 881 in 1914. The entries this year are (the figures in parentheses being those for 1914) ; Welcome Stakes. 74 (125); Derby Stakes, 105 (148); Oaks Stakes. 61 (83); Champagne Stakes, 92 (123); Challenge Stakes, 205 (265); and Middle Park Plato, 82 (135).

The Y.R.C. patriotic race meeting will result in about £7500 being handed over to the fund. Donations amounting to about x/uO'ou were principally made up as follows: Bookmakers £IOOO. Y.R.C. Committee (personally contributed) £625; Mr P. S. Meyers (Goodwood Handicap stakes) £522 16s lOd. Mr S. Green £SOO, united hunt clubs £250. >»iiliamstown Racing Club £250, Mnoneo \ alloy Racing Club £250. Sandown Park Racing Club £IOO. Mentone Racing Club £SO. Aspen dale Park Racing Club £SO. Messrs Nunn. Smith, and Jeffrcson £52 10s, Wernbce Racing Club £25. Mr E. A. Connolly £SO, ,Jr Stuart Brunton £SO, Mr R. Garland. £2o. Kir P. T. Hevwood £25, Messrs Sands and M'Dougall £25, Mr S. A. R-awdon £IOO, Messrs Bnillieu Brothers £IOO, Mr C. \\. Leonard £IOO. Mr E. Solomon £52 10s, Yictorian Club £SO. Mr J. S. Fceban (second money in the Hunt Club Gup) £4O. and ‘‘A Friend ” £25.