IN A NUTSHELL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3335, 13 February 1918, Page 41

IN A NUTSHELL.

Nominations for the Wairnate meeting are due on February 18. Tho Blackstone gelding Black Mountain has joined J. Ray's stable. Two brood mares," in Decoy and Minaret, recently died in Southland.

Luff will probably start favourite in the Autumn Hurdles at Wingatui. —W. H. McLachlan will pilot Desert Gold in her Australian engagemente.

The Feilding Cup has been cut from 12 furlongs to a mile and a-quarter. Tho White King looka to have improved, considerably since last seen in public. —Mr E. Ruseelh the owner of Mohawk, has purchased tho Rokeby mare Matilda.. —lt is understood that W. Bell will have the ride on Multicipal in the Dunedin Cup. The stablo mates Thaddous and Michaela are both bowling along nicely hi their work. Desert Gold will probably make hexfirst appearance in Australia on Saturday next.

—Mr F. Ormond) baa registered cerise, purple sleeves, and yellow cap as his racing colours.

Sasanof and Sweet Cora are reported to be looking none the worse of their trip to Australia. The Launceston Cup, run on January 30, was won by Ordella, a half-sister to Comedy King. Glenccower is not being overlooked in some quarters in connection with his Dunedin Cup chance. All going well, Miss Do Val will probably race at the Waimate meeting before returning to Trent ham. Over £IOO was lost at the Taiunarumii meeting through the miscalculation of the dividend on Pink Tie. Kilmeody is likely to breck a good rough chance in the Publicans' Handicap by fractiousness at the post. George Jor.es, the trainer of Sasanof and others in Mr G. W. Stead's stable, has returned from Australia. Those conversant with her form expect Probation to receive a good deal of support for the Stewards' Welter. Probation may be found carrying the most support when tlie totalisator shuts down on the Stewards' Welter. •

—Mr W. A. Saunders, secretary to the Southland Racing Club, is to act as handioapper for the autumn meeting. Hylaus is said fo have been responsible for some good work prior to coming south for his Wingatui engagements. —J. A. white has a promising-looking sister to Placid and half-sister to Killjoy doing steady work at Wingatui. One of "Miss De Val's tendons has been causing anxiety to her owner, but she continues to stand up to her work. Hymestra has made a good recovery from his recent accident, and will probably race at the Wanganui Cup meeting. The. owners of Mascot were recently requested to put- a price on Mascot, but the Martian filly was not on the market.

J. O'Shea, H. Young, and R. Reed were all on the carpet at the Taumarumti meeting for charges of alleged interferences. Some of ths runners at the C.J.C. midsummer meeting may show up much bettor at Wingatui than they did at Ricearton. P.. S. Gagby, one of the most promising light-weights about, is to have the mount on Battle Eve in the Publicans' Handicap. Some of those who witnessed Killjoy winning on the West Coast expect her to make a good show at the Dunedin Cup meeting. The imported, stallion Rollowmas and the maros comprising Mr G. F. Moore's stud are to be shipped to Sydney and sold at the autumn sales. Mr A. Dickson, who has been successfully filling the judge's box at Oamaru. has been appointed judge for the Waimate Racing Club's mooting. The Champagne Stakes candidate Punka put up a smart half-mile at Wingatui on Tuesday by running the distance in 52seo with Torfreda. One of.the southern fancies in Mohawk for the Publicans' Handicap strode out

nicely in a dash over a half-mile sprint on Monday morning. —Mr J. J. Cotter, who raced under the name of 0. Joyce, has been disqualified for a term of three years, for registering one horse in two names.

The principal event at (ho Tima.ru Trotting Club's meeting on March 7 will bo worth 250sovs for a. 4.44 class. Nominations arc due on February 10. Glensponse has put up some very fair performances in the south, and southerners rega.rd him as having an outside chance in the Publicans' Handicap. —lt is reported from Christchurch that both Post Haste and Majestikoff have showed a recurrence of bleeding since racing at the C.J.C. midsummer meeting. Luff shaped well both in galloping and hurdling on Monday morning. Her ran over half a mile on Tuesday allowed pace by leading home Royal Star and Turehana. Devotion figured as favourite for the Dunedin Cup after ihe declaration of acceptances ; but the race is regarded as very open, a.nd nothing has been dominating tho market. - . .

; C. Christie is allotting easy work to a likely-looking sort of a chestnut filly by Bezonia.n from Sister Francis, a mare by Seaton Deltrval from Agatha, by NelsonSister Agnes. —lt is reported that the well-known trainer G. ■Price goes Into camp in April next. It was generally thought that his lack of height would make him exempt from military duty.

Stage Girl, a two-year-old amongst tho recent winners in Australia, is a sister to tho Comedv King—Petunia- yearling purchased at the Shipley stud- sale by Mr G. D. Greenwood.

Soma of the Canterbury sports' expect) Wardancer to run a good race in the -Dunedin Cup if he is in a galloping humour, even though he has nono the best of the deal on paper.

Taurehaua is bowling along nicely in hig work, and shaped well in a schooling lesson last week. He, however, appeared unable io paoo it with 'I/nit in a sprint over four furlongs on Tuesday.

Marsa is striding out nicely in hear work at present, a.nd is not likely to lack suppci ter-s for her Dunedin Cup engagement. She is looking in fine order, and should run a good race at the meeting There is an opinion abroad that the roller is used too frequently on the Wingatui grass tracks, with the result that the> surface of the course proper, where it is most in evidence, becomes too hard.

The Wingatui course has been merely refreshed by the rains of the past week, and the track will be fast and firm for the meeting unless a considerable amount of rain falls on the eve of the meeting, sound mile on Monday morning with Mars*, and afterwards walked as sound as a boll. Mairsa. finished much the better of the two, and, if th« gallop is any criterion, should beat the northern mare in the race.

The English St. Leger winner Night Hawk has been purchased for A.sutralia, but will not be shipped from England until next season. In the meantime ho is standing at the Cobham stud at a 50-guinea fee. Disdainful was reported to be seriously amiss after running at the Q.J.C. midsummer meeting; but apparently her troubla was nothing of a serious nature, as sh* haa> been nominated at the Aikaroa meeting. The White King looks in excellent trim at present, and shapes pleasingly in his work. .J. O'lsen will havo the ride on him, in the Publicans' Handicap, but may have to scale a couple' of pounds overweight. Golden King looks big ; and lusty, and is evidently in good shapa .judging by the way he ran over half a" mile' oh Monday morning. Ho has not been long in work, and may be all the better for a couple of races - '

A Melbourne paper announces that Mi J. Timms, of Adelaide, was offered the Shipley stud, lock, stock, and barrel, for £50,003. Under the hammer the stock mado £31,245. and the estate oovero an area of 370 acres.

Kilboyne has derived considerable benefit fjom the spell to which he ha* bee-n treated, and now looks in fine robust condition.- He is striding out well in his work, and put in a good five-furlong gallop on Saturday morning. / Borodino looks an irnr/roved horse at present, and apparently his sojourn upcountry under W. Buddicomb had a beneficial effect on the gelding. Sinco returning to Wingatui Borodino has been shaping pleasingly on tho track. Eorke's Drift and Golden King arrived at Wingatui apparently in good shape for engagements at the Dunedin Cup meeting. Grolden King looked more robust than usual, and may want a couple of smart gallops to sharpen him up to tip-top form. MeneJaua rfcadw one of the best handicapped horses in the Wanganui Cup H« v.-c.fl asked to give Adjutant 6lb in the 0.J.0. Metropolitan Handicap, 61b in the W.R.C. Handicap, and is now allowing the eoma, horso 9lu in 1 lie Wangranui Cup. Phil May was elected a fairly eolid favouriie for the Publicans' Handicap afief the declaration of acceptances, but latterly lie bus not been in such strong favour. There is no doubting his brilliancy, buf there is a doubt about his staying on. A great many patrons of Wing&hri meetings were hoping that 'he D..T.C. would cater for them by chartering a few motor waggons, but there ha-a been no move raada in that direction, although it would prove a good business proposition for the club. Southerners have been according a fair amount of support to' Mowhawk in connection with the Publicans' Handicap. Th« American-bred horse has displayed good form at Wingatui, and some of his admirers claim that "he is now a much-improved horse.

Kilboyne Is looking a. better h«rs*3 at the present time than at any previous period of his racing career, and he -is shaping smartly on the track. He, however, has a eouj?h, which dvx« not sound too pleasingly to those supporting him for the Publicans'. Handicap. Marsa was finishing much better than Misa Do Val in a gallop over a mile on Monday morning. Th-e Wellington mare ia said to bo a bit lazy on the track, but, even so, the local Cup candidate had apparently a pood deal in hand when they finished up-. their task. Wishful has received lus full share of weight in the Wanganui Cup. According to tho handicaps for the second day nt Wellington, he would have been In receipt or anywhere about 2st. from Menelar.s in tho W.R-C. Handicap, and at Wanganui he is in receipt of only 6lb. D. King, who has been associated with A. Goodman's stable for the past couple of years, was seized: with a sudden illness on arrival at Wingntui last week, and had tc be removed to the Dunedin Hospital. A few days' ca.<re aud attention restored him U. his usual state of health. Some of i he youngsters purchescd h< Mir Murdock at the sale of the late Hon* J. D. Ormond's stud received a rough paeso are on the road south. One landed with * hind leg as thick as a bolster, another had] an enlarged pastern, and a couple of other* were more or lees cut about. Tho excellent acceptances received ir\ the first day of the Dunedin Cup meeting

fur»vi*b. an ■unußuaily attractive qaxd far the opening of the fixture*. Several horses iot figuring on this list may bo seen out on the eepond day., and good fields seem assured ior every race on the programme. There is (eidojoa a strong field found facing the starter la the D.J.G. Champagne Stakes, and this year will not provide an exception to the rule. This week's Contest may be found developing irto a Snatch between Punk* and the best of Jiair ijarwying Sir George Clifford's colour*. The world of art has seldom or never known a rnotre faoile penoil than that wielded by Phil May, who was always a true jjohomian first, second, third, and last, and if his equine namesake is as much at home in the same atmosphere he should achieve puminence and popularity in the "Pub." Parable and Jupiter are the only Dunedin-owned winners of the Dunedin Cup since the race has been run at Wingatui. thinedin horses were mote successful when tfc's race was run at Forbury Park, where liady Emma, Adamant, St. Occident Tempest, Casket, Gipsy Grand, And I/ora Rosslyn scored. Miss Do Val has been galloped twice since arriving at Wingatui last week, but on pulling up after her work shows no eigne of unsoundness. Apparently there is tot much foundation for her reported breakdo«(Ta whilst running at the "Wellington Cup rotating. She, however, showed signs" of sore- - c«ss a few days ago but the trouble is not of a deep-seated nature. She galloped a —ln tiie Windsor Handicap, run at Oamaru at the New Year meeting, when Wbipoord just beat Kilbrogan—the pair finishing behind Harlequin,—the first-named was in receipt of over 2st from the Kilbroney celding, who was running his second race for the day. In the Dunedin Cup Kilbrogan and Whipcord both figure as acceptors at even weights, although the former on form is a 2st better borse than the other. —T. F. -Quinlivan has accepted a position es private trainer to Mrs M. A. Perry <da«ugkter of the late Mr G. P. Donnelly) in yrefcrer.ee to going to Sydney to act in the tome capacity for Mr E. J. Watt. ' has trained for Mr E. J. Watt for several years, and turned out many good winners, including Bridge, Koyal Scotch, Midnight Sun, Dowriham, Cheddar, Ventura, Maori King, Aborigine, Palaver, Boomerang, Nobility, and Melodeon. —'At first blush Adjutant looks well treated in the Wanganui Cup to what he does in the Dunedin Cup. It is the 7st minimum that is apt to mislead one and create a false impression. At a lower scale of weights he is allowing Devotion lib more at Wanganui than he is at- Wingatui, but is meeting Menelau3 on only 31b better terms than when he finished 3econd to him over U furlongs at Trent-ham, and at those ■weights Menelaus should beat hiin again. —lt is understood that the Dunedin J_jwkey Club has declined to grant D. P. sfflfton a trainer's license, and the horsed formerly by him are now under the control of D. Henderson, who has been act- ; ing as. second in command in the stable. I The club apparently declines to allow two ; licensed trainers to one stable; but the j Canterbury Jockey Club does not hold the seme opinion, as it, for instance, granted! licenses to both A. Cutis and H. E. Cutts. —An Auckland paper, states that there is every probability of Mr H: Alder, inspector for the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to .Animals, taking action to prevent a certain horse starting at future meetings held j Jta Auckland. The paper.goes on to say that I if such action is taken it would be much ajfreciated by a very large section of the jKsfcJic. The above makes very interesting i leading, because if it is necessary for an outsider to take up such a stand one canm • , p w °S derm £ what sort of racing cfitoixls are controlling the sport in the Auckland dis'.nct. \ Toirfceda, the .sister of Hymestra, was brought south in company with the Cup canaidsto Muliicipai. She may be seen out on , tn« second day; but her trainer is ginng the filly a fairiy easy time in order to .restore any temper and confidence she may have lost thro.igh the couple of runaways she has experienced. Torfreda is a racy-lookm, filly standing over a fair amount of ground, and although she does not go very far up in the air at present she looks like one that will; develop into a fairsized and very attractive mare. She has • speed cuts on her hocks, and a tap or two .here whilst racing would probably account for her stopping m some of her racea rather than it being due to a lack of stamina. Several how* arrived from Christ church on Saturday morning-at Wingatui after a voyage of 26 hours to cover 230 miles. Such tapid transit would bo worthy of record if th« horses walked the du+ance, but as a railway journey it would tp.ke a world prize aa a tortoise time-table. In fact, if the matter was probed to bedrock it would be probably found that more energy is used in Jmtiir.g on the brake at the various stations than there is m steaming ahead. The horse boxes at present m use carry their equine mrtorw with heads and tails tidT parolJel to the lines, but a. «U H ht alteration •oma allow a none to atand across the boxto.iml cojild, w?,.: S t en voyage, k-isurelv and JftiUasr for the early birds so gallop- now one -has cmkea an early arrival couwfl . m apt to fen „i/ 6p JggJ ™.g* TUr* at Wrogaml Kith some nf the WrV birds eomm«ne«, ni about daybreak tnrt «nj» W*UMM bsliw fa giving their hoS a «od :onsr iu*hl> mt, and do not arrive at the track nnitl the cl~.k fa ready to n V mp over the Warm. Old-time LK were m ftgojteral role eolid in the one id™ aoont mdloptng their honwa to the cool or tts Mrljr morn out W r P J,. ys on# }IM £, vra.it fn.m anywhore about i a.m. to 11 am To gather track reports. Some of the or* »s.n,.dD.y trainers may know more than 'the o.d brigade, but in one respect at least the Jatter were fnr more wideawake. »*~«i » Bnf ; "wkmftn -w* Been quite *t the fop of his form on the . occasion of Ifco arrival of the North Island horses claimDig engagement at. the Dune-din Cup meet lng. The writer visited the water front "to witness the horses coming ashore. One, Wo 4nree, four, five were landed with ri<*h.\ men assisting to steady and steer the horse box as it reached the wharf. The sixth was suspended fa, mid air, with ihe eiirht men gracing aloft as it rxjse from the hold and inning 076 r the wharf to the " lower away " stage of the proceedings. At that moment tno 12 oolook whistle blew, and the eight knights of the truck find hook walked off !*« one man. One of them, apparently a bit more of a sport than the others remarked, "Will we land this cove?" but before the words had left his mouth his mates were vanishing off the scene, and he promptly tollow.>d suit.