IN A NUTSHELL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3212, 6 October 1915, Page 57

IN A NUTSHELL.

Speedometer is in work again after a epell.

Golden Rupee looks a much improved horse.

—The Advance gelding Micky Free appears to be on the improve. Nominations for the Gore spring meeting are due on Monday next. Some of the occurrences at the Kurow meeting looked rather ? ? ? ?

The profits of the Kurow meeting go for the Wounded Soldiers' Fund.

Slogan looks big and strong and a more attractive horse than he was last season. —F. E. Jones has been retained to ride Warstep in her engagements this season. The Hotchkiss mare Tourmaline has foaled a colt to Sarto, and visits Kentlock.

Hap Dha and Multoe are both shaping well in their work since coming to Wingatui. A Christchurch owner is credited with landing £SOOO over the Woorak—St. Carwyne double.

The South Canterbury Jockey Club’s spring meeting has attracted satisfactory entries.

dominations are due on Thursday of next week for the Oamaru Trotting Club’s meeting. —'Aerial did not seem to exhibit his usual dash in his only start at the Kurow meeting. Pretty Nell, the dam of Cetigne, was sold at the last autumn sales in Sydney at 300 guineas. The mares and stallions purchased by Mr J. B. Reid in England reached Oamaru on Saturday last. - The Trotting Cup candidate Albert H. is now being trained by the American trainer, C. James. Silver Shield is looking big and well at present, and has thickened out during the past few weeks. Medley is again in work, and has built up as a result of the spell following her mishap at Ashburton.

Fritz had matters all his own way at the Kurow. He did not jump too well, but managed to keep going.

The Maltster mare Aurarius has produced three flashes of speed in Croesus, Desert Gold, and Egypt. Nominations close on Friday for some of the principal events to be decided at the New Zealand Cup meeting. A good deal of money came for Cleome in the Trial Plate at the Kurow meeting, but she failed to make any show.

The owner of The Brewer appears to have handed away a stake by not sending' his horse to the Kurow meeting. Slogan and The Cornet worked six furlongs in 1.22, and Specialform put up a gallop of 1.17 3-5 over the same ground. Jason has not been allowing any recurrence of hia blood-vessel breaking trouble, and has been getting through useful work. Several members of Parliament will probably attend the patriotic trotting meeting to be held in Christchurch on Saturday. The well-known French breeder and owner M. Edmond Blano Is to sell off a considerable portion of his stud this month, The St. Anibrose—Oitanella gelding St. Satyrus, bred at the Elderslie stud, was a reoent winner at a Melbourne suburban meeting. The Steeplechase at the Kurow was rather a farce from the first fence, and it only required the band to play to complete the idea.

Montana, the winner of the Park Stakes at Napier, is being trained by A. Godfrey, who formerly had Goldspur and others at Wingaiui. Bon appeared to be travelling fairly well in ht« race at Kurow, but dropped back after reaching the top of the rise into ihe straight.

The Wildwood Junior —Sybil gelding la wood, supposed to have coot a big price,

ran just an ordinary race in the Mile Trot at the Kurow,

The Wellington Trotting Club has laid out a eix-furlong track on the old Hutt Park Racecourse, and. has secured a 15 years’ lease of the ground. The Otahuhu Trotting Club has donated £IOO to the Wounded. Soldiers’ Fund, and will donate a further £lO per month during the continuance of th© war.

Warstep and Snub ran over 10 furlongs at Riccarton on Saturday in 2.11 2-5. Both travelled well after going the first half in 60 4-5, and six furlongs in 1.16 3-5. —lt seemS as if one should not take the running of some Cup candidates too seriously. They sonreetimes make no show in a race, and yet hold their place in the market. Adjutant and Battle Eve ran over a mile on Saturday in 1.45 1-5. Adjutant is expected in some quarters to prove the best of Sir George Clifford’s three-year-olds. Woorak, the winner of the A.J.C. Epsom Handicap, was got by Traquair—Madam, by Pilfrim’s Progress, from Madcap, the dam of Malvolio, Maluma, Chesney, and Vanity Fair. The Grafton colt Cetigne followed up his success in the Derby by winning the Clibborn Stakes, nine furlongs, in Imin 45isec. The time, however, reads far too good to oe true. Redshire is growing into a good sort of a three-year-old. He shapes well in his work up to six furlongs, and finished up full of running when galloped over that distance on Tuesday. . Don Rubyl looked as if he would have won the Kurow Steeples by a mile when he baulked at the water. He was commencing to go away from the field when he stopped. Golden King has built up in a pleasing manner since last season, and if good looks have not been acquired at the exjrense of racing condition ho should show improved form this year. Tokarahi was sent out a good second favourite in the Trial Plate at the Kurow meeting, but from the start only two in Finless and Helicon had anything to do with the result.

Sandstorm, a three-year-old, bred right, as he is by San Francisco —Wind whistle, is slow in coming to hand. So far, however, Windwhistle has only produced one worthy of notice in Full Sail.

Last season St. Carwyne won the Spring Stakes with 9.0 in 2min 34sec, and ran third in the Metropolitan with 7.5 to St. Spasa and Psylty. He also won the Melbourne Stakes last November.

There was some talk of Ambassadress, a two-vear-old filly by King’s Guest—Amber, having a chance in the Trial Plate at the Kurow meeting, but th© race provided no cue as to her racing merit, a-s she was left standing at the post. John Barleycorn appears to have built up during the past two or three weeks, arid may have to he kept fairly busy during the next month if he is to successfully negotiate two miles at Riccarton.

For a current opinion as to some recent happenings in the racing world consult some of the S.P. merchants. It does, of course, necessarily follow that the opinion is based on truth. Stepdanoer, the dam of Wars top, has been sent on a visit to Martian, and Lady Disdain also visits the same horse. Stardancer, Prim, and Martini visit Nassau, and Nantes goes to Sanquhar. Mr G. Fulton, the owner of Art and other horses, recently imported two fillies from England. One is by the Derby winner Minoru, and the other by Santry. In due course they will be placed in training. Leading Lady refused to leave the mark in her only race at the Kurow. She is looking an improved mare, and shaping well on the track; but it is understood that this is likely + o be her last season on the turf. United Service is looking bright and healthy and much bigger than usual. The Siberia gelding has wintered well, but has not done a great deal of work. He, however, appears to race well at times on a light preparation. On© or two horses that should have run better seemed in danger of getting lost in the dust at the Kurow meeting. It seemed a general case of blame the starter, even when the starter was obviously not blameworthy. A good deal of money came for Doris Wood in the Mile Trot at Kurow, but Doris wouldn’t. She hung on the mark, and put in a mix going along the back. Towards the finish she came on again, to finish fourth.

The Hawke’s Bay trainer F. Davis recently quoted 500 gs as the price of the King’s Guest two-year-old filly, which he picked up at 30gs as a yearling. The filly is out of Kilworth. a mare by Gold Reef from Kilmdrey, by Kilwarlin.

Sheriff Muir, by Wallace, from Mias Delaval, has been sold to go to India. Another sale recently made in Melbourne is that of Problematic, by Positano—Problem (dam of Solution), and one that failed to win distinction on the turf.

Nones was galloped on during her race in the Wanganui Guineas, and one of her legs slightly filled. According to one report, Nones got away with a flying start, and won all the way; hence it is difficult to see how anything galloped on her. The entire profits of the season’s racing at Wingatui are to go to the Wounded Soldiers’ Fund, and the spring meeting, taking place on Friday and Saturday, is in reality a “ Patriotic Fund ” meeting, although not advertised as such.

Charleville won the Radies’ Purse in a canter last week. She had previously run third over six furlongs, and, after Beale waited on her until leaching the straight, Charleville drew up and cut down Ormoloid in a very decisive manner. The racing authorities should seriously consider the advisability of having a close season for ’chasing and hurdling. The ground in the summer becomes forbiddingly hard, and jumping races on adamantine going seems repugnant to common sense. Bellshire was eent out second favourite in the Belfield Handicap at the Kurow meeting, in which he had no chance with Afton Loch from the rise of the barrier, as the latter got eo well away that the beginning and end of the race occurred at the start. The Cup candidate John Barleycorn looks big and well, but so far has not been extended very far on the track. He ran over seven furlongs on the outside of the course Eroper on Tuesday ; but other Cup candidates ave been racing over a mile and a-quartcr. Redshire is growing into rather an attractive three-year-old, and if he goes to the post in tho Dunedin Guineas will not be found lacking in looks in comparison to tho rest of the field. Redshire has come on a good deal since he raced at the Ashburton meeting.

The Boniform horse Eingform is doing a light season at the stud, and will go into training again. He has furnished into a really nice horse, and it is to be hoped that such a well-bred, good-looking sort will win further distinction on the turf before being finally retired. A good set of racing colours would be fold body, silver sleeves, and bronze cap. t would indicate that the owner was always after the pounds, shillings, and pence. So far no owner working on get-rioh-quiok methods has adopted the skull and cross bones device as a racing banner.

Finless, the winner of the Trial Plate at Kurow, was got by Finland from Zephyr, a sister to Mist (dam of Vladimir), Briaa (dam of John Barleycorn), and Pampero. She got well away, and led from end to end, but did not have a great deal to spare from Helicon at the finish. The well-known mare Petrovna, who is now on a visit to Kentlock, has a fine colt foal at foot to Masterpiece. The youngster is about as lively a foal as one could wish to see, and a credit to its sire and dam. The Kilcheran mare Oratava, also owned by Mr P. Felligau, is also on a visit to Kentlock.

The Martian—L-ady Lillian colt Thestius is more like his sire than anything the writer has ever seen got by the Martagon— Otterden horse. Thestius is smallish compactly built, but walks and moves along on the track in a taking manner. He reminds one very much of Martian when he first appeared in public. So far as the A.J.O. spring meeting has progressed up to Metropolitan day, Reputation has not lost any of his laurels in splitting winning honours in the Spring Plate, run under 9.0 in 2.32, and gaining a place in the Metropolitan, which is not by any mean-s a race to gather by any horse handicapped on fully exposed form. Wolaroi, the winner of the Breeders’ Plate, was got by Kenilworth from Widden Lass, by Maltster—Chutney, by Gossoon— Canella, by Chester. Kenilworth was bred in France,, and got by Childwiek (St. Simon —Plaisanterie). Wolaroi thus represents inbreeding to St. Simon, and picks up a third strain of Galopin through Gossoon. Simon Pure found his way to the happy hunting grounds per medium of a trip over Traditor as the latter lay on the ground after throwing out at the first fence in the Steeples on the Kurow programme. Simon Pure as a result of the fall bad 1 jdragged the muscles of one of his shoulders, and it was deemed advisable to introduce the “ happy despatch.” A place-getter in the shape of Mountain Deer in the Kurow Steeples looked as if he had strayed into the field by accident. He is a great carty sort, quite in his place at the plough or between the shafts; but, after several refusals at the water, he finally scrambled over, landed in the ditch, and, after emerging, then went on flippity-floppity to gather 12sovs third money. Some Dunedin money followed Stanley’s Discovery to the Kurow for the mile and a-half trot; but after being indulged with the lead for about a mile, R. Reay took up Tamerisk to win rather comfortably. Stanley’s Discovery stopped to nothing after going a mile', and that distance would seem to he about as far a'S he can get nt present.

—lf Afton Loch could go the last furlong of six as fast as the first she would take some beating. Her speed off the mark is a material assistance to success; but the winning post never seems too near for her after getting five furlongs. She, however, appears to be staying on a bit better with age; but it is doubtful if anything but speed will ever be identified with her racing career.

A stud news item recently dropped across by the writer reminds one of the old negro minstrel song, “ There’s a stranger in the candle, mother dear.” An owner of a thoroughbred mare sent her to a thoroughbred sire, but when the foal arrived it was found to be a hairy-legged draught . So far the owner has not expressed any intention of engaging his well-feathered “ thoroughbred ” in any of the classics. —ln referring to Tawhaki last week it was said that he belongs to the Ho. 8 family, of which the late Bruce Lowe remarked: “I cannot help regarding this line as being one of the most valuable sire families in the Stud Book, not excepting No. 3,” to which, by the way, Tawlvki is inbred through Musket. The words "not excepting No. 3” were left out of print. Musket is of course a No. 3 horse, and the mistake would be obvious to students of the Bruce Lowe theory. Wallace Isinglass apparently owed his defeat in the A.J.C. Derby to forced to make his own pace and then getting beat for speed in the last bit. Cetigne, however, is entitled to the honours of success. The winner was got by Grafton —Pretty Nell, by Padlock —Doris, by Neckersgat—La Name, by West Australian. Last season Cetigne won the. Nursery Handicap at Randwick, December Stakes, and A J.C. Sires’ Produce Stakes. He was second in the Breeders' Plate and Juvenile Stakes. A fairly big price is supposed to have been paid for Tamarisk, the winner of tho mil© and a-half trot at the Kurow meeting. Tamarisk shaped like one that will see a much better mark than the 3.45 1-5, which was hung out against him last week. H© is a three-year-old colt got by Wildwood Junior —lola; she by Blackchild (son of Rothschild) from Arrogance. Here endeth tha lesson in Tamarisk's breeding, for Arrogance is a mare whose pedigree isT ■' wropt in mystery.”

Expressing an opinion about a race one does not see is not wise. For instance, it has been stated that All Ready ran a bad race at the Kurow meeting. As a matter of fact All Ready ran a really good race in standing up to Robert Bell and Lion half a dozen lengths or sc in half a mile, and then not only finishing on top of them, but looking as if he would beat them out of sight at seven furlongs. A horse’s form, like other things, depends a good deal on " circumstances ” of the case. —C. Christie has experienced bad luck in Moonglow going out at a time when ho had the Treadmill—-Sunglow gelding looking and galloping better than what has been the case since being trained at Wingatui. Sound and well, Moonglow would in all probability have been one of the best Treadmills seen on the turf; but for the suspicion of unsonndness Moonglow' might never have come to Wingatui. The seat of the trouble is in the off for© fetlock, which has always been a source of trouble and anxiety. Mr M. Friedlander has sent Brave Water, Watercourse, and Lady Kolmar on a visit to Kentlock. As Whirlpool is to be bred to the same horse, it will be seen that the son of Maltster will have a grandmother, daughter, and grand-daughter in his list. Other mares booked to Kentlock include Sweet Ann, Sister (St. Ambrose-Sussanah), Algarve (Vasco —Argon), two Stepniak mares, Whiplash (Treadmill —Tcredina), Diffidence (Pilgrim’s Progress—Kitty), The Spike, Lady Rosslyn, Tourmaline, Jeesie Lewars, Molly Riley, and Bronzewing, the dam of Marvelite. —Mr J. Nestor’s experience of racing in New' Zealand is not too pleasant so far as It has gone. At the Kurow his mare, Fondrette, bolted twice round with her lightweight pilot, after the owner had been refused permission to lead her to the post. Hr Nestor also states that he was refused permission to withdraw the mare after the bolt, when it was obvious that her chance was practically hopeless. In Rosa Chamberlain’s race Mr Nestor eaw the result decided at the rise of the barrier in a start yhich made the result a present to one of the runners.

All Ready looked in better shape when he stripped at the Kurow meeting than he did at Ashburton. The Aerina gelding is usually good oil the mark, but in the Kurow Handicap he was seven ox eight lengths away from Robert Bell and Lion after going

a little over a furlong. Turning for the straight, AU Ready made up ground, and at the finish was on Lion's quartern, whilst Robert Bell, with nothing to spare, won by half a length. The race was not by any means fast, and if All Ready had been kept anywhere near the leaders he could not have lost the race.

—At times a handicap is apparently valueless as far as locating winners is concerned. For instance, Cortes and Copper Boy, prior to the Kurow meeting, last met at the Southland autumn meeting, when the latter gave Giralda 31b and Cortes 3lh when he beat them and 14 others over six furlongs. At the Kurow Copper Boy made no show in the Hakataramea Handicap, in which he was meeting Cortes on 18lb better terms than at Invercargill. Copper Boy’s pilot did not seem to be of much use to his mount, however, and the race could not be altogether accepted as a true indication of form.

Carwelkin, the winner of the Ascot Thousand, was foaled when his dam was two and a-half years old. Carwelkin was sold The Welkin from Carissima.; she by Carbine from Jane Seymour, by Royal Hampton Selfdom, by St. Self, a son of St. Simon. Carwelkin is strongly inbred to Gallopm, as nis sire, The Welkin, was got by Flying Fox (dam a Galopin mare), whilst Orme is out of a sister to St. Simon, a son of Galopin. Woodberry, the darn of The Welkin, runs back in tail male to Vedette, the side of Galopin, of whom Carwelkin picks up another strain through his dam. After Afton Loch slipped her field and won the. Belfield Handicap from end to end. the writer heard one or two condemning J. M'Combe for having the temerity to steal an advantage at the start. The" only one to blame in such a case is the starter, and a rider who would not take advantage of opportunity is much better on the ground. One might, with as much reason, say that a horse fired into a handicap or something with a series of w.f.a. or special event races at its mercy should he kept in its box instead of being allowed to make hay whilst the sun shines. It is hard enough to- win under ordinary circumstances, and no one can be blamed for making the most of a good chance.

The Maltster horse Kentlock is receiving a good deal of patronage from breeders, and has only a few vacancies on his list. Several breeders inspected the horse before booking their mares, and the Australian emerged so well from the ordeal that a full season seems assured. Kentlock is a dark chesnut, sporting a blaze and white hind stocking, suggesting that he favours the Stockwell side of his pedigree. He stands about 16 hands, and has a splendid forehead. He shows great power across the back and loins, and altogether fills the eye as a very likely sort to do well at the stud. The reason of the abrupt termination to his racing career is shown by what has evidently been a badly jarred fetlock; but this, of course, does not affect his value for stud purposes. Robert Bell has not appeared in public eince he ran at the Dunedin winter meeting over 12 months ago; but he made a winning re-appearance despite the lack of what threatens to become the proverbial necessity of a “race” before a success can come any horse’s way without previously figuring as one of the also started. Since his last appearance in public Robert Bell has joined the ranks of geldings. He had little or nothing to spare beyond his half-length margin from Lion. Robert is a very keen galloper, and in his case a “demonstration” under silk may not be necessary to bring him to the top of his form. Still, no doubt, horses, like wise men —if there are any—improve their manners and form as the result of experience. —Mr E. E. Harley is labouring under a very serious misapprehension if h~ thinks a good start is effected by getting a field well in line except that one. whilst completing the line, comes in on a smart move, and at the rise of the barrier gains several lengths whilst the others are breaking into their first stride. It is distinctly unfair that some horses, usually well behaved, should stand flat foot at the barrier whilst others fractious, or apparently so, get away on the move as a result of undue consideration. It is nothing more or less than putting a premium on fractiousness. If such a state of affairs becomes common, it would lead to chaos at the start, and w© would then be waiting until to-morrow for the race that should have started yesterday.

Apart from any previous form, the deadheat registered by St. Carwyne in the Spring Stakes pointed to the latter having an excellent chance on paper in the Metropolitan. The dead-heaters ran 2min 32sec. and m the “Metrop.” St. Carwyne was meeting Reputation on 10!b better terms. William the Silent, who split the pair named above, displayed winning form at Rosehill, and again on the first day of the meeting by winning the Trial Stakes under 8.8 in 2min hjsec. This from a horse bred on staying lines gave him a Metropolitan chance under 6.12 if a rider could be obtained at the weight capable of doing justice to his mount. SI. Carwyne was got by St. Ahvyne from Carwel, by Medallion—Red and Black, by Exminster —Wild Fire, by Wild Gate. St. Ahvyne was got by St. Frnsquin, a brother to San Francisco.

One of the bright spots in connection with the Kurow meeting was provided by th© appearance of a three-year-old gelding named Ardmore in the Trial Plate. Rumour credited him with being quite a good sort in his work with his stable companions, Charlotte and CharlevilJe; but in his preliminary there was such a lack of nippiness in getting up speed that a chance in a halfmile race seemed rather remote. After being slow to move Ardmore was coming on towards the finish, and it really appears as if Mr O. R-. Wise has bred something likely to he of good service to his colours. Bad inck, however, followed almost immediately in the wake of a promising run, as Ardmore was inadvertently let out of his box, and met w ith injury” as the result of coming in contact with a wire fence. The full nature of the injuries has not been learnt, but it is to be hoped that they are not serious. Ardmore is a well-growm, rangy three-year-old that should be found growing into a winner. Ho was got by Varco from Nifhsevo; she by Stepniak—Shepherdess, by Fitz Donovan—lolanthe, by Maribyrnong. Nitlisevo has already produced speedy sorts, such as Orange Lily, Charlotte, and Charleville; but Ardmore promises to be a better racehorse than either of them, or the lot put together.

Mr J. B. Reid is expected to arrive from England this v'-ek. The Now Zealand Trotting Cup candidate Frandocia is doing good work in view of her big engagement next month. Simon Pure dislocated a shoulder when he fell in the Steeplechase at the Kurow meeting, and it was doomed advisable to shoot him. Far moro than usual interest is being taken in the Dunedin Stakes and Dunedin Guineas, which form the “classic" events to be decided at the D.J.O. spring meeting on Friday. There Is some talk of the racing clubs in the Auckland district combining and holding a race meeting in aid of the patriotic

funds. If the necessary permit is obtained the meeting will take place on the Ellerslie racecourse.

The three-year-old colt Tamarask, the winner of the Waitaki Trot at the Kurow meeting, is said to have cose 300 guineas, He is a speedy sort, by Wildwood Junior from Jola, a mare by the Rothschild horse Black Child. .The trotting meeting to be held at Addington on Saturday next is attracting widespread interest, and promises to bo a big success. The programme has attracted highly satisfactory entries, made up by some of the best horses in training. After racing at the Kurow meeting three-year-old gelding Ardmore was inadvertently let out of his box and met with injuries as a result of coming in contact with a wire fence. The gelding is owned by his breeder, Mr O. R. Wise, and is a promising youngster. After Charleville passed the post in thei first race at the Kurow meeting a stirrup leather broke, and caused R. Buddicomb to lose hie seat. This, however, did not prevent the Wingatui man from being in the saddle in subsequent races, although he was shaken up as a result of the ?all. A smart sort of a threc-year-old in a colt, named Orraato, by Flavus (imp.) from True Colours, came to light at the Rosehijl Guineas meeting. Ornato went out a rank outsider, and. finishing well, got up in time to boat First Principle by a head in Imin 13|sec in the Camelia Stakes.

L. H. Hewitt had his first ride since his return to Australia on the imported horse Flippant in the Spring Stakes, run at Rose-' hill. Flippant was not mentioned in the betting. Hewitt is reported to be riding much longer than formerly, and this confirms the "opinion that the extreme crouch scat has lost favour in England. In connection with the Spurn case ini Sydney the owner was practically punished for leaving too much in the hands of hist trainer and rider. The owner was granted a re-hearing, and as a result had his term of disqualification reduced from two years to six months, but the punishment meted out to the trainer and rider was allowed to stand at the original sentence of two years.