IN A NUTSHELL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3216, 3 November 1915, Page 55

IN A NUTSHELL.

G olden Rupee petered out at the end of both his races at Gore. Golden King put up a poor display m both his races at Gore. Rockbound has incurred a 101 b penalty for the Welcome Stakes. Specialform will be steered in the Rev/' Zealand Cup by J. O’Shea. Cardiff looked big and above himself in condition when racing at Gore. Mr R. E. Harley got his fields away in fair line during the Gore meeting. Reputation gathered £1866 in prize money during -his Sydney campaign. Lavendo was under offer at 3000sovs a fe,v days before winning the Caulfield Cup. Tino Atua, the winner of the Juvenile Stakes at Trentham, is a half-sister to Beldame. _ - . Redshire seems a bit slow in gaming muscle, and at present he seems best suited to a short course. Taringamatu won the Pearce Handicap in excellent style, and incurred a 101 b penalty for the Stewards’ Handicap. The New Zealand Derby has a 1500sovs stakes, and of this 275sovs goes to the second and 125sovs to the third horse. The Multifid mare Multoe may be raced among the lilliputians in Australia, and should pay her way if sent across. A couple of runners at Gore had their chance spoilt by having too much use made of them in the early part of their races. Snub has been struck out of the Riccartou Welter, and that may be taken as some indication of being found among the Cup field Judging by Desert Gold and Croesus in this country, and others in Australia, stock from Maltster mares are going to hold high value. E. Holmes, jun., broke one of his collarbones when Sir Elmo unshipped him from the saddle at the start of the Ashley Trot at Rangiora. Veritas came with an astonishingly good, but somewhat belated, run at th© finish of the Waikaka Handicap, ;n which he finished second to Quirinus. Derby Day is being granted an outside chance in the Stewards’ Handicap. He is a smart beginntr, but hardly seems class enough for such a race. Duller did not look quite ready when sent out to race at Gore, but shaped in a marner which suggests that another win should soon come his way. Burradean started first favourite in the Caulfield Cup. Reputation went out second in demand, and Lavendo and Garlin divided the honours of third favouritism;. Aero was a strong order fox her first iace at Gore, .and also carried a good deal of money in her second appearance. She did not ehow anv dash in either race. Rorke’s Drift put up a good fight in his second race at Gore. It is understood that he was. not quite at his host, owing to contracting a cold after racing at Wingatui. Full accounts of the race for the Trentham Gold Cup show that Desert Gold won rather decisively. Chortle was slow to move at th© rise of the barrier, and lost several lengths. Louvain Chimes scored comfortably when she won at Gore, and would have been much closer on the second day but for suffering interference by a rider getting thrown out of a sulky. O. Emmerson was presented with a gold whip for winning the Pearce Handicap. The whip was sent out from England by Colonel Pearce, a former president of the Wellington Racing Club. Meltchikoff and Teviotdale were not raced at Gore owing to their trainer being unable to make satisfactory transport arrangements towards getting th© horses south after lacing at Timaru. The well-known owner and trainer, R. Wootton, intends purchasing several mares in England and having them bred_ to Austraian horses, with the object of racing the stock in the Commonwealth. Red Charm looked rather lighter at Gore than she did when racing earlier in the season. It is understood she was not quite at her best last week, even though she ran a couple of good races. Redshire was sent out a fairly strong order for the Charlton Handicap at Gore; but he commenced - to fail towards the end On th© second day he won handsomely in more moderate company. Admiral Wood continues to maintain his position as a fairly strong favourite for the New Zealand Trotting Cup. Our Thorpe rules as second choice, .and Frandocia, is growing in favour for the race. Th© Martian—Nantes filly Spangle is again in work. She showed promise last spring by running second to Nones in the Dunedin Stakes, and third in the Welcome Stakes to Battle Eve and Desert Gold. Rinaldo was travelling very fast at the finish of his race at Trentham, and if he does a good gallop during the week it would not he surprising to find him disputing favouritism for the Cup with Warstep. The Winton Jockey Club hold their annual meeting on Wednesday and Thursday of this week. Excellent fields have paid up for th© first' day’s card, and the meeting promises to prove ,a successful gathering. gallop over 12 furlongs at Trentham after he raced at the Wellington spring meeting. He has been steadily crowing in favour, and some accounts make him as good a favourite as Warstep. Dorian, th© three-year-old colt by Martian —Greek Maid, is a shapely sort that should train into a winner. He reminds one of what Soldiers’ Chorus was as a three-year-old. Dorian is a brother to Byron and Martian Maid, and half-brother to All Guns and Passion. Lavendo, the winner of the Caulfield Cap, and his dam Lavcllo cost their owners

less than £IOOO to land in Melbourne. The Messrs Fye Bros, have been doing well with the imported horses, selected for them by Mr A. Robertson, and trained by his brother, Li. Robertson. Although J. Campbell has been engaged to ride Mr A. W. Rutherford’s horses this season, he will have the ricle on John Barleycorn in the Cup. Campbell was engaged, to ride the Wingatui horses prior to his accepting the engagement from Mr Rutherford. Hap Dha has been showing good, consistent form, and has generally managed to get there or thereabouts in his races during the last few weeks. He was got by Obligado from Rapid, by Flintlock (brother to Vivandiere, the dam of Canteen) from Pikau, by Anteros—Anrohia, by Towton —Anticipation, by Ravensworth. R. C. N. Reed, a young light-weight apprentice attached to Free Holmes’s stable, won a good deal of praise for his riding at Gore, where he won on Cortes in a stronglycontested finish. He also shaped very well o.*i Veritas, when the latter came with a mildly astonishing run over the last furlong of the Waikaka Handicap. A small section of the crowd were inclined to yelp at Mr Harley after the start for the Members’ Handicap, but a swerve from Chudic at the rise of the barrier cut out Master Ranald and Concordia as well as spoiling his own chance. It was noticed that over three times the amount came for Chudic on the second day in comparison The Pallas gelding Parkwater can muster up a good turn of foot. He opened up a gap in each of his races at Gore, and although beaten on the post in his first race, won from end to end at the second attempt. Parkwater’s dam, Caaselda, was got by Casket from Rondinella, a mare raced by Mr W. Phelan at Forbury Park and other tracks. Rondinella was got by Idalium (brother to Sir Modrcd) from Fawn. Neuroma had such a diminutive pilot in the Spring Handicap that something like 2st of dead weight had to be put up to make 7.7. Despite the ballast, Neuroma did (not .steer too good a course, but gave promise of doing something better over the distance. C. Rask, who had the mount, was making his first appearance in public, and if size goes for anything, he should remain a. long time among the feather-weight brigade. John Barleycorn was galloped over a mile and a-quarter last week, and put up a satisfactory performance. One can hardly regard a gallop over such a distance as a real test of a Cup chance; but no doubt the stable have reason to regard it as satisfactory. It is 12 years since a Wingatuitrained horse won the New Zealand Cup, .and John Barleycorn will start with a ton of good wishes behind him to spe.ed him on his way. Despite the slump in blood stock owing to the curtailment of racing , in England, some of the yearlings offered at the Newmarket sales in September made good prices. A filly by William the/ Third from Veneration (dam of Craganour) made 3000 guineas. This figure will be of interest to those who have stock in this country got by the same sire. Craganour, who won the Derby, but lost the stake as the result of humping, made 3200 guineas as a yearling. United Service was sent out a strong fancy for the concluding event at Gore. He got well a-way, and had a three lengths lead as they turned out of th© straight; hut he gradually lost a place as the race progressed Turning for home, he was lying last with King Torrent, and then he commenced to move up again, and finished third. United Service looked fairly well treated in a moderate field at 8,5, .and on paper he was well entitled to be a public pick. to the support he carried in Bis first race. Hesione did not appear to relish the going at Gore, but, although moving a bit short, ran on gamely to beat Micky Free. The last-named and Neuroma both handed away a bit of ground during the race. Neuroma was ridden by a boy, who had to put up about 2st dead weight to do 7.7. Golden King ran disappointingly, and apparently is not in anything like the form he was showing at the back end of last season. Cup preparation warranted to carry her over two miles, she should possess an outside chance at Riccarton. She looked rather big and fresh when going out at Timaru, but should be all the better for her racing there, and some sound striding work over a distance before being saddled up for the Cup. It should not be overlooked that she has won up 'to a mile and a-half under 9st. She should run a good race at the Cup meeting if not in the Cup itself. well supported with some of the best chances in the Cup. At the last Cup meeting Ardent won the Randolph Handicap with 8.6 in Imin 15sec by three lengths, and with 2st all but lib off his hack should run a good six furlongs over the same course. Ardent’s name never seems to bo mentioned in connection with the Stewards’ Handicap. Neither does a .smart performer in Hush-a-bye, who beat Three at the Masterton spring meeting, and, if the form was true, .should beat him again. A. M’Donald, a son of the well-known Wingatui trainer, R. M’Donald, landed his most important win to' date when he won on Quirinus in the Waikaka Handicap at Gore. Ho allowed Quirinus to stride along into a good lead whilst holding his mount together as far as possible, and the merit of his riding was enhanced by the fact that he had to finish on a slipped saddle, which did not help him to do justice to the horse. He also won on Parkwater, and both he and young Reed shaped very promisingly in the business. Dribble won so decisively at Trontham that she is expected to show up well in her engagements at Riccarton. As a two-year-old Dribble ran eight races, of which she won one and was placed in three other attempts. She wound up last season by finishing second to Desert Gold in the Hawke’s Bay Stakes, and scored her win at Dannevirke, where she won over four and ahalf furlongs in 55-sec. Dribble was got by All Black from Float, by Captain Webb from Bonne Idee, a half-sister by Nordenfeldt to Nelson. Bee won the Farewell Handicap at Timaru, and she must prove very dangerous in her engagements at the Cup meeting. The daughter of Martian and Lady Disdain is apparently a much improved mar© that can go fast and see out any distance up to a mile, or perhaps more. Bee was twice blocked shortly after the rise of the harrier, and had to be steadied to clear Bellshire. She then ran in behind her field until turning for home, when a forward move on the outside was followed by a decisive win when she was asked to come away. A feature of the Gore spring meeting consisted in the excellent horsemanship displayed by W. E. O’Halloran on Hap Dha. O’Halloran exercises good judgment and patience in the saddle, and finishes well and vigorously. His riding at recent meetings stamps him as easily one of our best riders, and one likely to do every justice to a Cup horse if he had a ride in the race. The waiter has never spoken to O’Halloran, and hence has no knowledge as to what weight he can do; but there is a suspicion of bulk about him which may prevent him going to scale below' Bst or so. When speaking at a smoke concert organised by the associated amateur sports Urtfliea of Wellington in aid of the fund for

obtaining Christmas gifts for our soldiers, Sir Joseph Ward expressed high appreciation of the object of the gathering. He said it showed that the men engaged in sport responded with a cheerfulness and readiness that indicated they had learned the lesson of unselfishness on playing fields. For his own part, he thought they should keep sports going just as if there was no war at all. It was their duty to see that no gloom, or depression settled on the people. —My Lawyer displayed remarkable return to form at Gore, where, after being unplaced on the first day, he came out to make a bold bid for a win in the Stewards’ Handicap, and less .than a couple of hours later won the Murihiku Handicap. It is seldom, indeed, that one finds a stallion racing on to the mature age of 10 without showing an inclination to get wise at the business. One could not wish to see a horse finish more generously than My Lawyer did at Gore, and when Blackstone can get such stout-hearted stock, it becomes a matter of regret that the son of Grafton was allowed to return to Australia. The Advance gelding Micky Free shaped fairly well in his fust attempts over a distance. There was not much between him and Hesione at the finish of the G.R.C. Spring Handicap, in which he ran a bit wide, as well as losing a golden opportunity of getting ,a berth on the rails as the field turned out of the straight. In the Waikaka Handicap Quirinus drew away from Micky Free as they ran along the back, but came on with Hap Dha, when the latter commenced to move up as they turned for home. In the Murihiku Handicap Micky Free got a bad passage, and did well under the circumstances to finish close to the placed lot. Martins still looks a bit lusty, but has firmed up since racing at Ashburton. He has a doubtful looking leg in front, but appeared quite sound on it last week. In his race both he and Peg were beat for speed in the early part by Medley and Encore; but he had the race won about a furlong from home, and a little later his rider dropped his hands in a confident manner. If Martins trains on a bit, and is smartened up in getting away frpm the barrier, it would not be surprising io find him running another good race in the Stewards’. Nothing, how-, ever, that the writer has seen out in the South Island looks likely to finish in front of Bee, who will keep the North Islanders busy with ordinary luck in the race. Whips were- out on Royal Medal and Black Sea in the run home in the Eastern Steeples, and the former won all out by a length. Tlie Brewer hooked a couple of fences, and finally finished a fair third. The last-named has lightened up a bit of late. Cardiff looked a bit on the big side. Golden Grape set a sound pace for about two miles, but then commenced to tire. Silver Dirk slipped on his haunches after landing over the post and rails, but Jarvis retained his seat, and went on after the leaders. Dear Annie struck the inside rails when jumping the first of the stand double, and shot her rider on to the plough gallop. Prairie Fire has'run disappointingly since he won at the Dunedin winter meeting and the Riverton Hunt meeting. Robert Bell put up a rather attractive performance at Gore. He suffered interference, and lost three or four lengths when Cortes unshipped hia rider; but O’Halloran, after giving the Canrobert gelding a chance to get settled down again, brought him along in the run home to win in good style. After the race many at once commenced to give Robert a good chance in the Stewards’; but, even after making allowance for the loss of ground, there w.as not sufficient in the performance to set the Thames on fire. Red Charm was not quite herself. Icilma has never got a good six furlongs. Buller was not quite ready. Mars a was galloped on in the race. Cortes unshipped his rider, and this left only Abo to account for. The writer made Robert Bell’s gallop Imin 15 2-ssec, instead of the official Imin ISsec; but, after discounting the performance, there is no doubt that the horse holds a good outside chance in any race at Ricearton. An overboom may see him go out at a shorter price than his chance warrants, and the best that can be said about him is that ho is on the improve, and likely to run a good race. Robert is a good finisher, and with any luck in getting a position, should make matters interesting at the finish. H. Lowe- has been engaged to ride him in the Stewards’. C. Garment his been retained to ride Maniaroa in the New Zealand Cup. A. OHiver will probably have the mount on Sinapis in the New Zealand Cup. It is claimed that Indigo is now a better horse than at any previous time during his career. Air H. Thompson has been appointed starter for the Southland Racing Club’s summer meeting. The party behind one of the winners at Gore lifted the thick end of £IOOO off the totalisator for a risk of £l2. L. FI. Hewitt has been engaged to ride at the Alelbourne Cup meeting, and hence is not likely to visit New Zealand for the Cup meeting. The New Brighton Trotting Club intends to consider the matter of donating all its profits to the patriotic funds during the continuance of the war. Latest advices from Christchurch show Indigo to be equal favourite with Warstep in the Cup, with Rinaldo and John Barleycorn next in demand. The White Star liner Persic has just brought out 25 horses from England to Melbourne. The list includes a number of brood mares and foals. Frandocia continues to shape pleasingly in his work for the New Zealand Trotting Cup. He shaped particularly well over a mile and a-half on Saturday at Addington. The Forbury_ Park Trotting Club has arranged for special trains to Christchurch and Invercargill on the night of the second day of the forthcoming meeting. Nominations are due on Wednesday. Mr A. Jones, of Winton, has been apnointed handicappor to the Lake County Jockey Club. Air Jones has been reappointed for several clubs for which he acted some two or three seasons back. The smart fillv Nones has been growing in favour for the Stewards’ Handicap, in which she will have B. Deeley in the saddle if she goes to the post. At latest accounts it had not been finallv decided whether the filly won 1 ! start or be reserved for some of her classic engagements.