IN A NUTSHELL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3331, 16 January 1918, Page 41

IN A NUTSHELL.

Spectual has been placed In J. A. White's stable. Johnny Walker will be steered by A. Reed in the Wellington Cup. Nominations for the Dunedm Cup meeting are due on Friday next, January 18. The well-known pacer Don Caesar has been recomniissioned after a lengthy spell. Both Birkenvale and "Cherry Mart met with accidents at the Auckland Cup meeting. Robert Bell has been shipped north to fulfil engagements at the Wellington Cup meeting. Fiery Cross returned from Auckland looking none the worse of his efforts at the A.R.C. meeting. Blue Ribbon won the Wellington Cup of 1909, and Red Ribbon is a strong fancy for this year's race. Nominations foT the Ashburton Trotting Club's Sapling Stakes, of 375sovs, close on Saturday, January 19. . The Victorian Racing Club has decided to pay a portion of their prize money m War Loan certificates. The imported horse Cynic will probably journey to Victoria to fulfil an engagement in the Australian Cup. Posto Haste has run with bad luck against him in recent engagements; but he may do better at Trentham. Hymestra, Almoner, 80-peep, and Demagogue have each incurred the full penalty of 141 b in the Wellington Stakes. The Wa-irio Jockey Club's annual programme attracted satisfactory acceptances, and it should prove a successful gathering. Applications are invited by the Riccarton Racing Club for the position of handicapper, nt a remuneration of £lO 10s per day. Desert Gold will probably contest the Caulfield Futurity Stakes. Gladstone won it twice, and Soultline also scored in the same race.

From December 26 to January 3, inclusivo,- the totalisator investments totalled £769,969 10s, or an increase of £138,495 over last year's holiday meetings. The Demosthenes —Equitas filly Oratress is regarded as a very promising sort. If she proves as good as her dam she will bring plenty of grist to the mill. Adjutant has been doing good useful work since arriving at Trentham, and apparently his fall in the Aucklnad Cup has not left amy serious damage in its wake. The. Gore Trotting Club is reported to have made a profit of about £ls over their annual race meeting, and this will be handed over to the fund for a soldier's club at Gore. . > , The Forbury Park Trotting Club received a splendid list of entries for their meeting, which takes place on January 31 and February 2. Acceptances arc due on the 23rd mat. The Great Eastern Handicap and Great Autumn Handicap will each carry-a stake of ISOOsova, the same amount as last year. The balance of the programme is also the same as that of last season. A colonial-bred stallion in Trafalgar, who sold at 7500g5, still holds the record of being the highest-priced horse sold under the hammer in Australasia. Coniedy King ranks next with 7300gns as his selling price. —T. H. Gillet, who brought Tip Up to Wingatui, achieved a good deal of success at -the West Coast meetings Ho won four races with Rosevear, four with Merton, two with Gallupin, and one with Achilledes. Hymestra is reported to have met with a slight accident a few days ago. He backed into a drain whilst being led by his attendant; but the mishap will not prevent him from starting at the Wellington Cup meeting. —lt is reported that when Torfreda, the sia,ter to Hymestra, won the Juvenile Handicap at the Wairarapa meeting, her owner had not paid the accident fees, and the stakes in consequeuee went to the second horse.

When asked to put a price on King Lupin recently, his owner renliod, "Nothing doing. I hope to feed him till he dies." It is said that King Lupin, who is the only stallion got by Lupin, will go to the stud next season.

'. The painfully sudden death of Mr W. Charters caused a great shock to his many friends. Mr Charters was a steward of the Dunedin Jockey Club for some considerable time, and was well and popularly known in sporting circles. Almoner, Long Range, and Punka are the three best-perforrned youngsters engaged in the D.J.C. Champagne Stakes, for which owners are liable for the full subscription if a forfeit of lsov is not declared by Fridaynext, general entry day. Adjutant is dropping in the weights, whilst at the came time he is probably racing into form. He was giving Red Ribbon 261 b when he beat her home in the Great Autumn, and in the Wellijw-t'ra C"t> thoro " only 7lb between tk*-<*"

Tho eum of £105,046 10s went Uixougflj the tota.lisa.tor at the Auckland Trotting Club's meeting, as compared with £72,832 103 registered last year. At the Adding tori spring meeting held during- tho New Zealand Cup week, £136,339 went through the totali* sator.

Since racing at the- New Zealand Cup meeting Snub has mndo no show at- tho business end of a race. In the Metropolitan Toka was in receipt of 7lb and Multiply 2-21 b, and in the Wellington. Cup the Martian! gelding comes in on 13lb and 2STb respect tively better terms. Renown won the Wellington Clip of 1901 as a threel-year-old with 8.10, the sam.o weight as that allotted Hymestra for fchii year's race. Gladsome won at the same age with 8.5, but lost the fruits of hex through a technical point. Nightfall won with 8.2 in 1905, and is tho last, three-year? old to score in the raoe.

. The chops and changes of form is some* times very marked even amongst two-yeoA olds, where the running through greenness is sometimes not so reliable- as with th* more seasoned brigade In the Spring Nuii sery at the Now Zealand Cup Cherry Marji was handicapped to gjvo Long Range lllbi and at Wellington is in receipt of 18lb. King Lupin's pedigree has always beerf briefly returned as by Lupin from a St. Crispen mare, but "Spectator" supplies th« information that tho dam was got by Sti Crispen from Winnie, by Tct.ford (Musket-2 ; Pungawerewero), by Anteus from a Derby, mare. Derby was got by Ferryman (son of Fisherman) from Chrysolite, iho grand-dam of Nordenfeldt. ~ !

Gamecock has been a rank failure sdj far this season, but, although not a winner)! still retains his speed, as he is credited with galloping half a mile on tho tan at Tren* tham under oOsec last week. Gamecock won' the C.J.C Champagno Stakas, beating Est*t land, and the D.J.O. Chniapagne StakofJ last season, but so far' has failed to reprof duce that form again.

The most notablo absentees from th«' Wellington Cup after the declaration of ao> ceptances are Monelaus, Hymestra, PorrA Up, Cynic, and Seadown. The light scale of weights was no doubt responsible for th« exodus which occurred in connection with the tail end of the handicap, Alteration I beins; the only one of the dozen handicapped undei- 7.0 to continue in the field. The imported stallion White Star, eolq , at the dispersal o'f the Shipley stud M* 2700g5, had his first winning i at the resent holiday meetings in' SydneyJ j This was a filly named Constellation, M daughter of Lady Wallaoa, winner of th# : Caulfield Guineas, Victoria Derby, V.B«©& St. Deger, and AJ.C. St. Leger. Ladyj Wallace also ran third to ICocttriform anct Sun God in the A.J.C. Derby. , j

Egypt, the brother to Desert Gold, hdf not been in the limelight this esoeon; butt whilst in his box others have ..been running up in the Weights, and that should give hinj a chance when stepped out. Nanna. for in* stance, was in receipt of 191 b in tile NeWi market Handicap at Auckland, and although' they did not meet there is only .9fb between them in the Telegraph Handicap at Trexw tham.

The committee set Tip to reviso tl\B Eules of Trotting have concluded their work, and "the new rules will bo printed and dis* tributed in the near future.« A number of alterations have been made, the most irayportant being the rule regarding crossings It is now clearly laid down that before laj horse is ontitlsd to come in from the out* side and taks another horse's running i 4 must be two clear lengths ahead. ,-' —lf Teka can reproduce liis Metropolitan form he should help to make matters interesting in the Wellington Cup. At Hid* carton ho carried 8.9, and won in 2.82 4.-5, giving Multiply 151 b and a two-lengths' beat» lng. Multiply finished in front of Teka if*the Auckland Cup, and again when he woiji the A.R.C. Handicap on the last day of tji* meeting, whan in receipt of Illb. In tiw Wellington Cup they meet on lev*l termM or 15lb in Teka's favour on th-Mr last run at Riocarton

—lt is rather notable during the mot* or less chronic qry for increaeing the dis* tances of races that the only two w.La. oji the Wellington Cup programme are run ovei sprint dashes. The Wellington Stakes, faff two and three year olds, is run over five furlongs • and the Kelburn Plate, for two-'" yea.r-olds and upwards, is run ov«r half a mile, the shortest distance allowed under the Rules of Racing. By the way, is their* any rule to debar a club from running & race over le3s than half a mile? ■' —lt is reported that several horses )oei plates during thj Auckland Cup meeting* Chortle lost two and twisted another during the race for the A.R.C. Handicap. Multipm lost two whilst running in the Cup-, in which, he finished third, and Desert Gold'6 defeat on tfie last day is partially attributed to ths same mishap. It is understood that the losai of plates is attributable to the fact that there were not sufficient blacksmiths, operate ing at the fixture. So far the writer his not hoard of a racing club having official; blacksmiths, despite the importance of thein 1 presence at a meeting.

Desert Gold will carry many good wishes during her Australian campaign, because Mra T. H. Lowry- is to receive the" profits of tM trip, and hopes to be able to endow shi beds in the Soldiers' Napier Hospital and six beds in the Rotorua Hospital. It ief Mrs Dowry's intention to endow these bed«f for all time, and if they are not) required for wounded soldiers they will be available} for trainers and jockeys. Mr and Mrei Lowry have been very liberal contributors towards the various patriotic funds, and it is to be hoped that Desert Gold will strict at the top of her form in Australia. !':

horses do well in the early part of thehf career, and then gradually drop into dis*. favour. Pariform, who figures at the mini* mum in the Anniversary Handicap, won th« North Island Challenge Stakes as a year-old, and' dead-heated, with Sanci in th« Hawke's Bay Stakes. In addition he put up some very good placed performances in ! the same season, and as an indication that' he is not altogether a back number it la only necessary to recall the excellent thir4_ he put up to BirkenvaJe and Zuland in tak Avon Welter at the Isew Zealand Cup meet*, ing. Teka won the Metropolitan with B.JS handsomely in 2.32 4-6. and in the Welling--! ton Cup goes up 21 b and meets Multiply pa[ level terms, whereas he was giving the lattel? lolb at Riccajrton. Johnny Walker carrier 7.11 in tho Metropolitan, and ran n gobct third despite a bad passage, and rjow ineet|f Teka on 7lb and Multiply on 22ib bettejj terms in the Wellington Cup. Johnnjfr, Walker did not run up to the of his admirers at Auckland, but with » pull in the weights and galloping the xS'l verso way may make a big difference. Tektf may also run a much better horse at Trerji-. thorn than ho did at Auckland. On hiff Metropolitan form both ho and Johnryf, Walker shcyuld be dangerous in the Wei* lington Cup. <J ! Wrestler has been one of the ur.luckieso horses racing this season; but he- has not suffered in the handioops to the eamc ei-j tent as others, who have also reached thf threshold of sxvooeas, but failed to cross ovet to the winning sido. Wrestler was third ixf

iho Steward*' with 7.T to Farm tfp S.lO «id Croesus 8)3 third in the Criterion with Tftolingerio 7.5 «id Daytime 7.U, -unplaced b iho Railway with 7.10, wad beaten a heao" in the with 7.7 by Hym«t« •£ in 113 4-5. Wrosllor has ree«7E? „,„, ~ the Olograph Handicap at '.ha Wellington hoetmg Hymo«tra on 21b b**«W «g Ayah, on 81b better Una* a " y b f t jr "S carried some• unreported overweight, W u not, she ha* been vary oadly treated through Wrestler and Hymestra, _*Luia was credited with being as good aa Hvnteetra at tho weights prior to trie RaUway Handicap, in which the latter spLit winning honours with King hup"> *™» giving his stable companion 17lb, and beat ler two and a-half lengths. In the lelegraph Handicap at Trentham Hymeska, after giving further solid evidence of h« merit aoes up 17lb, and Nanna is lifted 151 b. U they? belonged to different owners Kanna would be considered badly treated in gettin" only 21 b for over a two-lengths beatin- but the fact oi them carrying the earae Stoma is apt to blind that aepcot of the handicap. Nanna afterwards beat a weaker field in 1 the Glasgow Handicap wh ch ehe won with 8.0 in 1.27 1-5; but at Wellington fte is asked to meet Croesus on 161 b, Wrestler on 17lb, Simomdes on 181 b, and locution on 10lb worse terms. These aio liberal margins, and she might find Wrestler is able to take a fall out of her when they next come to grips at those weights. n Sir Laddo gelding Nobleman, who is a good strong fanoy in some quarters for the Wellington Oup, is out of Lady »tocKof Audax, 4ltcar ,and Temerite, the dam of af Audax Altcar, and Temerite, the daia. ol Hykuus. Last season, as a SoUeman won three times and was once placed in 11 races. One of his best performances was put -. y -hen he won a hack welter at Feildlng with 9.2 in 1.88 8-5, and he also ran eecond at the last Wellington winter meeting to Sir Agnes in the Penwaula Handicap. This .season he won tae Moiimahaki Stakes with -.0 aUUJ second to Devotion 7.7 in the Manchester handicap at FeiWingJ beaten two length* in 2.7 2-5 when in receipt of 61b, 10.1 finishing a neok away. Nobleman put up an attractive performance on Boxing Ve# by winning the Mcunawatu Cup with 6.12 in 892 1-5, beating Client 8.10 two lengths and a large field, including Devotion, whom he has to meet in the Wellington Cup on 20lb worse terms. . , „ , Koesian reads nicely treated in the .telegraph Handicap at Wellington. Wrestler has been running well, even if with consistent ill-luck, and it is through him that Koesian stands a good chance. An tlie Middle Park Plate Koesia.n followed home Biplane at an interval of four lengths in 1.18 when giving 71b to Wrestler, who finished third. In the Publicans Handicap Koesian was asked to give Wrestler 171 b, both finishing out of a place. Koesian won the Hazlett Memorial on the second day of the same meeting with 9.8 in 1.28. At the Auckland autumn meeting Koesian, m receipt of lib from Form "Up, finished upsides with him when Mill o' Gowrie beat them a neck in 1.14 1-6 In the Huia Handi'cap. A>- the Wellington autumn meeting Koesian, after finishing" third to Kilflinn and Desert Gold in the Challenge Stakes, concluded the season by running unplaced in •She Subtxrban Handicap. In the Telegraph Handicap Koesian is giving 81b to Wrestler, i»nd hence must have a chance, as latter looks on paper to be one of the hardest to teat in the race.