IN A NUTSHELL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3205, 18 August 1915, Page 54

IN A NUTSHELL.

Silver Shield is now trained by It. M'Kay at Oamaru. Scrutineer is a good cut of a horse that should pay his way. St. Elm should soon find a winning bracket over hurdles. Nominations for the Ashburton meeting are due on August 23. Harbour Light broke his jaw when he fell in the National Hurdles. Awahou’s record at the National meeting was two starts and two falls. Styrax ran good races last week, but not quite good enough to gather money. The trotting stallion Lord Derby is getting some well-bred mares on his list. L. G. King has been offered a- position in Oamaru with Mr O. If. Wise's stable. Sam Pan is a solid sort of a. customer that should pay his way over the big fences. llaupani does not appear to have trained into the horse he promised to be 12 months ago. Mcltchikoff stayed on bettor than was generally expected when he ran in the Heathcote Handicap. The ’chaser Jackman was brought south to Kiccarton; but did not race at the National meeting - . The Buccleucli gelding Melford was never far away from the money in his races at the National meeting. Diavolo practically won the Sydenham Hurdles from end to end, and set the field a strong pace from the word “Go!’’ Boro broke his bricllo when going to the post for the Tledcliffe Handicap, and the field was despatched without him. Glomuorc ran well each time he ap-

peared at the National meeting, and was unlucky to miss a place in the big event. Pride of Clutha’s brilliant form at tho National meeting shows winners can still bo found amongst the old-fashioned families. R. M‘Kay has a team of eight horses in work at Oamaru, and will continue in possession of the Redcastle training stable. Fabrikoff ran some fairly good races at the National meeting. He looks big and lusty, and may train on into a winner before ■tang. Some people hold the opinion that Harbour Light would have beaten Hurakia in the National Hurdles bar accident at the las,, fence. . Kilmeny should improve as the result of his races at the National meeting, ■and help to make matters interesting in the near future. Grey Renown has been spin |° a eoutbern buyer, and is to he trained by S. Trilford at Timaru. The price paid was 250sovs.' , . Undecided was unable to fulfil his engagements at the National meeting owing to going amiss shortly after his arrival at Riccarton. . Moddite appears to have thrived on his preparation for hurdling, and is now bigger amd stronger looking that when he was acting on the flat. When passed at, 250 guineas the auctioneer quoted 350 guineas as All Red s price, providing the hid was made before the horse left the ring. John Barlevcorn ran an excellent race in the Winter Cup in putting up a fast finishing third in record time when actingunder lOst 12lb. Silver Shield should capture a hurdle race when the company is not too select. He was showing improvement as the National meeting progressed. The North Otago breeder Mr -Bruce Christie has secured a lease of the English horse Mark Hope, by Marcovil from Wadjda, a sister of Persimmon. • , , , Morning and Hurakia were 7 both bred by Mr Frank Armstrong, and he was naturally very pleased at the success of these horses at the National meeting. Slogan ran a good race in the Winter Cup and Heathcote Handicap, and will probably do far better when running under an ordinary scale of weights. Kim was generally regarded as a horse likely to develop into a good ’chaser, but Jiis record amounted to two starts, two falls, one of wbicb proved fatal. The National Steeple winner was purchased by his present owner at £IOO, and £IOO additional in the event of a win in the Great Northern Steeplechase. . Most of the cross-country events during the National meeting became chapters ot accidents, as very few horses stood up tiro full course of their journeys. . Club will probably follow the lead given by the Canterbury Jockey Club, and devo.e its profits to patriotic funds. • Kaminohe and Meltcliikoff had a battle royal at the finish of their race on the last day of the National meeting, but the former was a shade too good for the other. The English horse Solferin, recently purchased by Mr J. B. Reid, was secured on behalf of Mr J. F. Reid, and will join the Burnside stud at North Otago. The Canterbury Jockey Chio s decision to donate their profits to the ar Fund forms a lead that will no doubt he followed by other racing clubs in the Dominion. The National winner Ngatoa was running a good race in the Lincoln Steeples, but a mistake at Cutt’s fence seemed to settle Ins chance, as he never got dangerous again. Encore’s rider lost his irons when ha ran on the second day of the National meeting, and this was responsible for the Mamopoto gelding getting a had run in the race. Mr G. L. Stead’s recent importation, Nassaw, hy William the Third was on exhibition on hriday last at MessrsHayward’s stables, and was greatly admired. Cervulus has been a disappointing horse since coming to the South Island. He was prominent for a couple of furlongs in the Redcliffs Handicap, and then faded out of the fray. . Palisade was brought on to the course on the last day at Riccarton, but did not face the starter. So far the son of Pallas has proved an expensive horse to Mr L. C. Hazlett. There was a general consensus of opinion that if Morning, Tim Doolan. and Glenmore had completed the National course, there would have been an exciting climax to the race. The Grand National programme furnished some very interesting racing, although it must be said 'that the quality of the rank and file of the ’chasers does not call for enthusiasm. Leonta came a nasty cropper when he fell in the Sydenham Hurdles. He was running behind several of tho field, and apparently did not see the obstacle that caused his downfall. Scotch Melody does not fill the eye as one likely to run well under welter weights, but she made a bold bid in the Heathcote Handicap, and should win at some of the spring meetings. At a special meeting of the Dates and Permits Committee of the New Zealand Racing Conference the objection to the North Otago Jockey Club racing on January 3 and 4 was over-ruled. Daylight Bill eclipsed any good name he had as a ’chaser by taking two severe falls in his only races last week. The grey jumps very wild at times, and never filled the eye as a National horse. Sir Donald, who displayed good form some little time back, but who went amis when running in the National Hurdles, is a circus sort of a light chestnut, with a long flowing silver mane and tail. Crown Pearl set a strong jiaoe in the Heathcote Handicap, and apparently retains all his old dash, but stopped badly towards the finish of the race. Paceniaking under 11.0 stops the majority of horses. Ngatatoa, the sire of Ngatoa, was got by Flintlock (Musket —Gorgi) from Blue Bell, by Young Grandmaster, a son of Grandmaster and Cobweb. Flintlock is a brother to Yivandiere, the dam of Canteen, etc. An illustration of what a strong hold trotting has o n the sporting public was furnished by tho large attendance at Addington on the second day of the meeting, despite that the card was got off in a steady fall of rain. The Wingatui trainer, C. Christie, had no luck with the team he took to the National meeting; but racing has never been a continuous run of success to anybody. Ho has the usual lot of horses in his stable to begin the season. Although Banksia won Hie Winter Cup in very attractive style she failed to show up when produced on the last day of tho meeting. She has furnished out a good deal, and is likely to show improving form as the season progresses. L. Hegarty, who rode Ngatiruanui in the National Steeples, informed tho writer that his mount broke down when going to the first fence in the race. This explains why the Maniopoto gelding gave a comparatively poor display of jumping in the race. The total amount invested at the Addington Trotting meeting ran to £96,895 10s.

and at Riccarton £134,586 went through the totalisator, making a grand total of £231.481 10=. Last year the grand, total amounted to £187,960, and in 1913 it was £213,788. Tim Doolan looks a greatly improved horse to what he was 12 months ago, and die fine development of condition makes him look a great deal more like a racehorse than what was formerly the case. He, however, found the weights and the luck of the racing against him. The Brewer was always fairly handy to the leaders when running in the Lincoln Steeples until about a mile from home, when Morning and Tim Doolan improved tho pace and commenced to draw away. The Brewer gave a fine display of fencing until he ran off at the kennel’s double. Art established a good record hy scoring in his first two races over hurdles. He won in fine style each time, and for a novice at the business is a very proficient hurdler. Art was bred at the Warrington Stud, and his success will draw further attention to Sarto as a sire of jumpers. Maltster, the sire of the North Otago stallion Kent-Loch, heads the winning' list for the past season in Australia with £25,274 to his credit. Another Bill o’ Portland horse in Bobadil is second with £21,337, and this fact serves to accentuate the value of the blood in both sires. Although Encore won the Selwyn Handicap in good style he was perhaps a trifle lucky in the fact that Moonglow was not too well placed in the early stages of the race. Moonglow was x’tßting in a good run towards the finish, and made up a good deal of ground to get third place. Mr E. J. Watt, whose colours have been prominent on the New Zealand turf, heads the list of winning owners in Australia with a total of £12,628. This amount does not include £2838 won when Mr Y/att’s horses raced in Sir VVm. Cooper’s name owing to a bereavement in the owner’s family. Accidents were fairly numerous during the course of the Grand National meeting. Three horses lost the number of their mess, but fortunately none of the unshipped riders met with any serious injury. Kim broke his back when he fell on the last day of the meeting, and Phamos broke his neck when he came down in the Aylesbury Steeples. The Saint Ilario gelding Crib, who went out a red-hot favourite for the Hunters’ Plate, was formerly trained at J. Rutledge’s stables at Wingatui. Crib was purchased in Australia as a yearling by Mr J. B. Reid, and sold by him to his present owner. It is understood that Crib will come into the market at the conclusion of the Amberley meeting. Whirlpool, who is now 24 years of age, is said to be "sure in foal to All Red. The old mare carries her age remarkably well. She is the dam of Grand Rapids and granddam of Danube. This season she goes- to Kent Loch, who is also to be visited by Acrina, the dam of All Ready. The son of Maltster is meeting with a good deal of patronage. Derby Day’s appearance at the National meeting was responsible for the most unusual sight of a lady superintending a horse’s rider passing the scales when weighing out for the race. Derby Day is owned and trained by Mrs R. T. Neale, who apparently believes in bestowing her personal supervision on racing details usually attended to 'by the mere male person. The Trentham Racecourse is still being used by the military authorities as a hospital for sick soldiers. There seems to be no prospect of the usual Winter meeting being held; hut, all going well, the Spring meeting in October will take place, although the club may find it necessary to provide extra accommodation on the course in addition to what is required for military hospital pnrPOSCE. Morning appeared to improve on racing during the National meeting, and gave a very fine display over the Riccarton country when he won on the last day of the meeting He had Tim Doolan in hot pursuit, but carried too many guns for the latter. The pair carried over £3OOO between them in the Lincoln Steeples, and that opinion was fairly evenly divided as to their chance was illustrated by the betting showing only £2OO between them. At the ‘Sale of the late Mr St.'John Buckley’s horses the following prices were realised;—Red Shield, 150 gs, Mr F. S. Rutherford; Aye Ready, 100 gs, Mr F. S. Rutherford; Red Robe, 55g5., Mr E. Alison; Rose Shield, 40gs, Messrs' Dwan Bros.; Edna May, 210 gs, Mr Barry; Aerina, 74gs, Mr A. Fairburn; Hermosa, 35gs, Mr W. Gardiner, jun.; Northern Rose, 80gs, Messrs Dwan Bros.; Mint Queen, 140 gs, Mr H. Hassall; Sobersides, 26gs, Mr A. Nicholls; Takahau, 43gs, Mr E. Alison; All Red, passed at 250 gs; Masterpiece, 220 gs, Mr A. Nicholls. During the Grand National week a new type of starting barrier, patented by Mr F. Hannon, of Auckland, was on exhibition. The machine won general appreciation from all who witnessed tho model at work. Its chief principle is a double action arm, which, by a simple idea, carries the tapes up very quickly, and with considerably loss risk of catching a horse than some machines now in use. It is also silent in its action, and has already been ordered, by several clubs. It will be given its first practical demonstration with a field of horses at Amberley next week. The official time of 3min 48 4-ssec recorded by Grey Renown in the Enfield Steeples reads rather too good to be true. The time closely approaches the record attached to the Grand National Hurdles, and that alone is sufficient to cause doubt as to whether the Enfield Steeple field covered two miles. Judging from where the start was made, the horses may have run the official “about two miles’’; but the writer is inclined to the opinion that the race was really null and void, because under the Rules of Racing a steeplechase cannot be decided over a shorter course than two miles. Banksia, the winner of the Winter Cup, is understood to have been on offer at 350 gs last season, and would have proved a bargain at that price. She was bred by Mr J. G. Duncan at the Waikange Stud, and got by Achilles from the New Zealand Cup winner Tortulla. Both sire and dam are representative of the Musket line., and Banksia finished up her task in the Winter Cup in a manner suggesting that she should stay over more ground than a mile. Tortulla produced a good sort in Diabola, who was foaled five months before Banksia. A previous Winter Cup winner in Parky is out of a sister to Tortulla. Glenroy ran three good races at the National meeting, but is apparently not at borne over a longer journey than six or seven furlongs. He looked to hold a good winning chance in the Winter Cup at about seven furlongs, but lie then died away. The Glenapp gelding stayed on better in the Islington Handicap, and on his running in these two races was elected a strong fancy on the last day over six furlongs. He, however, failed to make good, and probably lost a good deal of his dash ns a result of two severe races over a mile. Glenroy should, however, score over six furlongs and make good before the season grows much older. Some good sporting spirits find their way from the North Island to the Grand National meeting, and were principally responsible for a- generous and spontaneous sup-

port to the Patriotic Funds during tlieir visit. Pining the progress oi dinner on Grand National night at the Clarendon Hotel £3l 11s was collected in the room. The next night £62 3s was gathered, and later about £23 came a.ong in aid of the machine gun fund. In all something like £l3O was gathered in the Hotel and handed over to those connected with the Wounded Soldiers’ Fund, the Red Cross Fund, and Machine Gun Fund. The effort in aid of the lastmentioned fund came after the others had been assisted, and was started by a North Island sportsman taking-the writer’s hat and dropping 10 sovereigns into it. —lt struck the writer when The Brewer was bowling along and jumping splendidly in his race last week that he has improved since being trained at Wingatui. He is a little lacking in pace, but is a good bold goer that never turns a head at his fences. A will for a Dunedin stable in the National Steeples would have been highly gratifying, and given a decided fillip to those inclined to own a horse or two in this part of the world. The National Steeples, by the way, has only been captured once by a Dunedin owner, and that was when Mr D. Christie’s Katerfelto gave that great horseman Walter Clifford a winning ride over country. The Christie family as owners and trainers were well represented at Riccarton last week, but had no luck; and in addition, the stable lost a promising sort when Kim ended his career by breaking his back. The well-known stallion Ravenschild goes to the stnd this season, and will travel Dunedin and the surrounding districts, including Waikouaiti. Ravenschild was got by that great sire Rothschild, from Ravcnsdale, a daughter of the American-bred horse Lauderdale. He is a horse of great power and quality, and shows all the vitality generally found in a successful stallion. Ravenschild was an excellent performer, and includes amongst many very meritorious performances a win in the New Zealand Trotting Cup, of 3'jOOsovs, in 4 min 35 3-ssec, winning easily by eight lengths. Ravenschild also won easily over a. mile in 2nnn 15sec, and in addition to winning the New Zealand Trotting Cup, also ran second to Albert 11. when the latter -scored in the most valuable light-harness stake decided m Australasia. Such performances show undeniable speed and stamina, and as he comes from a line of blood that has demonstrated a- great ability to breed on, Ravenschild should make a name for himself at the stud. During the National Week the writer' had a chat with the well-known trainer George Price, who has just returned from England, where he went to purchase some horses on behalf of the stable of which he is in charge. G. Price met with several old friends whilst on his travels, and speaks. in appreciative terms of the many kindnesses and great hospitality extended to him. L. H Hewitt, according to Price, is quite a well-known figure in the sporting world. Hewitt does not get a great deal of riding, and contemplates a trip to India, and then back to Australia and New Zea.and. Pries was rather unlucky in purchasing horses, as several that were practically nnpurchasable prior to the -stoppage of racing afterwards came into the market at comparatively small figures. By this time, however, he had already purchased his full complement ot horses, and had space engaged for the iojage. The difficulty in procuring space was afso a great bar to purchase. According to Price, the stoppage of racing formed a golden opportunity to those in search of blooostock, as not only were, figures on tne- small side, but it was also responsible for some horses being placed on offer that- unde* ordinary circumstances would not have come iruo the market at all. Some owners, however, stuck out for their prices, and would rather shoot their stock than allow it to go at gift figures.