IN A NUTSHELL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3291, 11 April 1917, Page 40

IN A NUTSHELL.

Killem, the winner of the Russley Plate, is a brother to* Kilboy.

Nominations for the Ashburton autumn meeting are due on April 20. Maorc Antony is not yet ready, but he should score before the season ends. Childsdale lost nearly all his handicap at the start of the Easter Handicap". Peronilla was withdrawn from the Kildare Hurdles owing to going a bit lame. —.Nominations for the Dunedin Jockey Club's winter meeting are due on May 4. Nominations for the Forbury Park Trotting Club's meeting are due on April 18. Good Hope ran well for about five furlongs in the Great Easter, and then shot his bolt. Gaziquo was confidently expected by his party to make a bold show in the Great Easter, but ha had his chance spoilt at the start. All Serene was always prominent in the Gimcrack Handicap, and finished up a good second. The crack colt Patrobus went amiss, and Will not be a starter at the A.J.C. autumn meeting. Old Castiron ran an excellent race; but Art carried too many guns for him at the end of two miles. The Danube —Kitiroa filly Waipara is speedy, but failed to see out five furlongs on Elaster Monday. A lot of money came for Thames in the Autumn Plate, but she petered out aftergoing seven furlongs. Adjutant looked particularly fit and well when he stripped for the Sockburn Handicaio, and he won well. Tremena made a bold show in tho Gimcrack Handicap, but stopped after leading for over five furlongs. Croesus was astonishing the Riccarton touts by the brilliancy of his sprint work prior to the C.J.C. meeting Mr A. Black did some excellent work ■in starting at Easter Saturday for the opening card of the Addington meeting. The Chokebore Lodge- pair—Claverhouse and Sisyphus—showed improved form by their display in the Russley Plate. The well-known breeder and sportsman, Mr S. Hordern, has been appointed to the vacancy on the A.J.C. committee. Kilmeedy did not begin too smartly in the Russley Plate, but she stuck gamely to her task, and finished a good third. Ka-minohe was putting in a gnorl run at the finish of the Courtenay Welter, but he failed to get nearer than a close third. Handicaps for the South Canterbury Jockey Club's meeting: are due on Friday, April 13, and acceptances on Monday, April 16. The Boniform—Truce two-year-old Mediator makes a "noise," and this, of course, discounts his good looks and attractive pedigree. Kilrush has invariably stayed on in his races, but in the.Russley Plate he faded out after being in charge until half a furlong from home. ton meeting owing to breaking a- small bone in one of his legs whilst running out in a paddock. Margerine was one of the few to get well away in the Great Easter, hut she could do no better than a good fourth at the business end. The Moonee Valley proprietary have agreed to lease the course to a club, and non-proprietary meetings are to be held there in future , Fiery Cross ran a good race in the Great Easter, and was staying on well; hut he had in his favour that he was one of the few that got well away. The Charlemagne II gelding Charley was the tout tip for the Gimcrack Handicap. He was always fairly well up, but could not get better than fifth. The Capitalist gelding Sol gave A. Pringle an easy winning ride in the Fendalton Ilandicap, which looked in safe keeping shortly after the start. Volspeil ran really well for about seven furlongs in the Courtenay Welter, but he then failed to hold his end up when the real tussle oame along. The one-time Wingatui trarner, R. Ellis, has King Star and Arthur George in his stable, and did well to get a first and third in the Gimcrack Handicap. The Rekeby— Canterbury Belle two-year-old Moitham is fairly fast, but docs not look as forward as some of those he met on +h« first day at Riccarton. Egypt bled from the nostrils after working at Riccarton on Saturday morning. It is understood that he has shown tho same trouble on previous occasions. Master Hamilton was going well when he slipped up in the Kildare Hurdles; but he Was being outjumped by Castiron, and thio helped io get him into trouble. B. G. King was offered the ride on Zuland in the Great Easter, but could not accept it owing to having been booked up for the Tuapeka and Riverton meetings. Miss De Val was made a strong order for the Sockburn Handicap, but failed to justify the confidence, even though a slowrun race should suit such a speedy sort. The White King was in deep trouble over a furlong from home in the Gimcrack Handicap, as Donovan was hard at- nis mount at that stage of the proceedings. The three-year-old Peter Mao followed up his recent success at the Gore meeting by scoring in the Introductory Handicap, which opened the Addington programme, Both the South Canterbury and North Otago Jockey Clubs have brought forward tlvir meetings from the Original dates allotted in May to others during the present month. Hardy Wilkes was putting _ in some rapid work ever the final circuit of the Autumn Handicap, hut v»ag too far put of

his ground when he got going to ba?e a winning chanco. . dens to Christchm-ch on Thursday last, but transport accommodation coulcl not be obtained, and their Kiecailon eng-agemcnta had to bo cancelled. meeting, owners should note that, whilst handicaps for the fust day arc dno on Monday, April 2S, acceptances must, bo declared at" S p.m. on Tuesday, April 24. Two special weight races for two-year. olds and upwards that have not won a rare exceeding 60sovs figure on tho Noith Otago programme. No allowances can be claimed, and both carrv a stake of lOOsovs. Owners of hurdlers arc well catered for hv the North Otago programme, which commences on the first day with the Empire Hurdles, of 17650V8, and on the second clay with the Pacific Hurdles, of 145scvs: Tamansk and St. ITisula. in company set out lo make a eolid pace in the Easter Handicap, but both failed to stay on at the business cud. Tamarisk afterwards came out and scored a win over a mile course. Owing to the great delay in effecting settlement with the insurance companies concerned with tho Addington stewards stand fire in November last, the "stand was only roughly put in order for the Easter meeting. —At the present time it is interesting to recall the fact that it is on record # that Cromwell, in the days of his power, interfered with every sport of the day except racing. Cromwell know the value of cavalry. Whether it wins or loses tho SasanolKilboy combination for the Great Easter and Great Autumn double will rank as one of the most strongly-supported doubles ever identified with a double bet in this country. The Emilus case is a mjach-discnssed one in trotting circles, and prior to the Trotting Association sitting to hear the appeal in the case, Mr B. Solomon. JI.U, was asked to give a legal opinion on the matter. The suggested reduction of racing was one of the most discussed topics during the Easter meetings in Christchurch, and it was a common opinion that it would seriously affect the price of blood stock under offer at auction during tho week. . Winter Cherry hung fire at the rise of tho barrier in her race, and so spoilt a fanchance of success. She must have been left 20 lengths, and then finished close to the ruck. As a matter of fact, it was foolish to send her after the field. Crib looked a bit on the big- Bide when ho went out for the Kildare Hurdles. He moved up to Castiron and Art at the second last fence, which the trio flew m company. He, however, then, faded away, and finished a moderate third. Beltane was credited with showing an excellent trial with Desert Gold before leaving for- Eiccarton, and he was responsible for some good work after arrival on the field. He carried a good deal of money, but was hopelessly left at the start. The Soekburn seems to be a bit superfluous on tho C.J.C. autumn programme but would in all probability attract batter fields if run earlier on the first day, and, more important still, if tho winner did not incur a penalty for thv> Great Autumn. The Timaru Cup. of 30Osovs, one mile, and Autumn Handicap, of 200sovs, one mile and a-quarter, will be the principal events at the S C .T.C. meeting to be held on Thursday and Saturday, April 19 and 21. The card will be confined to seven events each Tied Ribbon does not fill the eye as a cliampioiv but she ran a first-rate race in th~ Great Easter. She and Beltane were the last to move off, and she finally finished sixth. Even after allowing some of the others to ease off when their chance was hopeless, it was a good performance. Art again demonstrated what a solid horse he is bv staying on under 12.9 in the Kildare Hurdles, and scoring with something in hand, besides his winning margin, in fairly fast time. His performance should help" the sale of .the Warrington mares, who are all carrying a service by Sarto, the sire of Art. . , —At the Dunedin Cup meeting Bramblelye- gave indication that she could stay a fairly' good mile, and she lent further evidence in that direction by scoring in tho Autumn Plate. She found her most stalwart opponent in the imported filly Chelona, who failed to see it right out, but is speedy over a shorter journey. Class told in the Courtenay Welter-, in which Flying Start scored under 10.11; but he had all his Work cut out to beat Ogier, who for once in a way ran a good, solid race, and finished on well under punishment from Deelev. The stable, from all accounts, expected Don Pacifico to make a bolder show; but he ran an indifferent race. Sasanof stripped looking fit and well for the Great Easter, which he must have won if anything like close to the leaders at the half-journey. He got knocked about in the stragerltnfr start, and was mnning fully 10 lengths behind Croesus when they had traversed three furlong l !. It was a great performance to get so closo at the finish in a fast-run race. Although Nystad scored in tho Great Easter, the" stable fancy rested on Panmtire if the latter got anvthing like a fair run in the race. Nystad wad throwing up his head when challenged bv Sasanof, but, lasted long enough to scote. The judge said a short head, but the press gallery was positive to a slmrt half-length. Tho judge also made Fierv Cross closer than the press gallery. Desert Gold docs not handle herself too well when galloped on the " dirt track," and in a work-out on the plough gallop on Saturday Beltane had htc doing her best to finish with him. The crack mine does all her workon, the grass as a pn.l*, and she, no doubt, failed to stride out on the- loose going in much the same manner as others fail on the grass through being continuously worked on plough gallops. Although Estland went out a better favourite- than Gamecock in the Champagne Stakes, the latter looked the fitter colt of the two. Gamecock has hardened up and become more muscular since racing at the Dunedin Cup meeting, and really had Estland hard at work when half live journey had been traversed. Gamecock stayed on well, and is not far behind the bpst of 'tho yenr, represented by Biplane and Ilymestra. . Croesus looked a hit light in condition when lie came intti the birdcage for the Great Easter. He dashed into prominence in the first couple of strides, and led to about Ihe distance, when ho petered Tight out. The advantage lie obtained at the start did not help him to see out seven furlongs; as when previously racing. There is. however, no doubt about him having retained but he did not look so strong and muscular his brilliancy. A mishap to Admiral woods knee boots robbed the crack pacer of nn excellent chanco of scoring in the Kustei Handicap. He was Ivlng up with the lendeie as they raced into tho back stretch for the last time, when ho faltered, and tho cause of the trouble was noticed after tho race, in which ho finished with both .boots tangled round his fetlocks. Even then he was defeated by only a narrow margin by Author Dillon, who was in receipt of 6pco, and went 4.29 1-5.

The start in the Great Easter robbed two-thhcls of the field of any chance of rmccess. It war, tho worst despatch the writer las ever seen in an important race. Some

of tho horses were not quite up to the barrier, and several riders appeared to think it was not a start. After the race the chairman (Mr W. F. M. Buckley) had a good deal to say to the starter (Mr Woods), whom lie w'alked on) to meet on his return to the paddock. If the bad start permitted the admittance of an excuse, it was not given to the press. The Easter Handicap, run on tho first day of the Addington meeting, provided a fine race and a close and exciting finish. Author Dillon led into the straight, where Admiral Wood and Adelaide Direct both threw out strong challenges, and the two flashed past the post almost in line. Adelaide Direct stayed en very well, and was finishing faster than the other two; but she just- faded to get up to the money. Admiral Wood's gear went amiss, and this must have doubly handicapped him in the final stages of the journey. The attendance at TattersalTs yards on the occasion of the sale of Mr J. B. Thomson's stock was the largest ever seen there. Buyers were few and bids hard to extract, so 'it was apparent that tho large crowd were mere spectators that could not be tempted to bid even when bargains appeared to be on offer. Cathedral Chimes sold at 500g?j to Mr J. Eden, the assumed name of a. well-known Invercargill gentleman, who has not figured in the role of owner. Zara fell to Mr R. Conn, of Dunedin, at 400 gs; Mttricnta. at 150 gs, to Mr A. M. Morton. Antonio looked cheap at lOOgs to the bid of Mr A. M.. Seymour, of Auckland. Louvaiu Chimes went at 60gs. Raeburn at 20. es, a yearling sister to Eccentric at 21gs, Lady Betty at 21 gs, and Soda was passed at 125 gs.