IN A NUTSHELL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3336, 20 February 1918, Page 40

IN A NUTSHELL.

Special Order pulled up very lame in front after her only race at Wingatui. The Australian horse Almo is booked to fulfil his engagements at Wanganui. _ B. Deeley is to ride Croesus in tho Flying Handicap at Wan'gairai. The Wanganui Cup meeting takes place on Thursday and Saturday of this week. Mohawk displayed his best, but somewhat unlucky, form last week. The value of the stakes won by Desert Gold on Saturday was 650sovs, minus place money, amounting to ISOsovs. Good fields and good racing .were a conspicuous feature of the Dunedin Cup meet- — Glendower ran a fair race in the Dunedin Cup, but not up to the expectations of his backers. Mr W. Cooper has purchased Elocution, and she joins J. B. Ware's stable at Hastings. ■ _..•, aUr J. B. Reid has sold two Kilbroney youngsters to Mr J. Wren, of Melbourne. . The speedv but erratic Kdmeedy has been purchased by a patron of A. M'lvor's Golden King had not been long enough in commission to race up to his best. form at the Dunedin Cup meeting. Mr E. J. Watt has purchased a Demosthenes—Lady Delaval colt for 300 gs from Mr M. A. Perry. . . _ ;_. Adjutant went out favourite for the Dunedin Cup, but he was under hard- pressure before reaching the straight. Ascalaphus was assisting to make the pace up to the home turn m the Dunedin Cup, but then dropped away. The death is reported from Christchurcn of Mr James Knight, the owner of Author Dillon and other light-h'arness racers. Client is the ruling favourite for the Wanganui Cup, ami Lingerie fills a similar position in the Flying Handicap. The White King seems to have lost his smartness off the mark, and his chance in both races last week was lost at the outset. Love Token showed improved form at the Dunedin Clip meeting, and seems to be training on to achieve something better in the future. . . Rorke's Drift ran disappointingly in hia engagements last week, and did not exhibit the dash he has displayed when showing his best form. » Killjoy made play in the D.J.C. Handicap until well into the straight, but owing to being a bit short of work could not see out the distance. Owners still continue to pick the plums from the Dunedin Cup programme without giving their horses a chance in any other event decided at the fixture. —Four trotting events figure on the Southland Racing Club's autumn programme. Two stakes of 150sovs and two of ISOsovs are' included on the list. After his run in the Midsummer Handicap Multicipal was expected to make a good show in the Dunedin Cup, but he was merely one of the " also started " lot. Prairie Fire burnt up the good money of his supporters at Wingatui, and he would probably prove more profitable over country where he formerly achieved success. F. Tilley's team for the Wanganui Cup meeting includes Client, Acre, First Line, Gang Awa', Arrowfield, Moutoa Queen, Endure, Bayberry, and Coolpan. ' Michaela did not finish very strongly in her race on the first day of the Cup meeting, but in her second attempt she strode home a comfortable winner. Fiery Cross strode along in fine style under 9.12 in the Hazlett Memorial Plate, in which he was credited with a track record, despite his substantial burden. Aurous, the grand-dam of Desert Gold, won the Caulfield Futurity of 1901, a race which is to mark the latter's second appearance on the Australian turf. H. Gray will do the_ riding for Mr G. L. Stead at Wanganui, owing to the accident to C. Emmerson keeping the latter out of the saddle. Margerine stumbled when running past the six-furlong post in the Dunedin Cup, and the mishap nearly cost her the race, as she just got up in time to pip Wardancer on the post. Kazan strode home an easy winner in the Berwick Handicap, and was noticed coming on at the finish of the Warrington Handicap, in which he was acting under 9.10. Heavy rain wa9 falling in Dunedin on the second day of the Cup meeting, but out at Wingatui the track was firm and fast, and the horses were even raising a little dust on some-parts of the course. - Fiery Cross was credited with creating a. track "record when he won the Hazlett Memorial Plate, but private watch-holdera made the gallop nearly one second slower than tho official time. Brambletye was one of the first to show ou+ in the Publicans' Handicap, but she could not hold her place, probably through being •'carted off her legs" in the dash over the early part of the fray. _ According to figures supplied by Sir Lancelot," Mr T. H. Lowry topped the list of winning owners for the half season endin" January 31 with a total of 722050v5. Since then Fine Mark has won 7500sovs and Estland 380sovs. . . Portrina, the winner of the Oakleigh, Plate who created a record for five and ahalf furlongs at. Caulfield, was got by The Welkin from the New Zealcndbred mare Armigera, a daughter of Hotchkiss and tho Cast-jr mare Armilla,. The injuries which C. Emmerson received at Hamilton will confine him to his bed for a few days, and he will not be abl«

to rido- at the Wingatui Cup meeting. Emmerson's fall resulted in two or >hree broken ribs una a severe shaking. Redshire did not present ap.iy'.-wu.any attractive appearance when saddled up or the Publicans' Handicap, as he looked a bit light and wasted; henoo it was a surprise to find him coming wita a, great run at the end, and finishing up a close third. At the annual meeting of the Beaumont Jockey Club it was doiided to increase the stakes from 550sCr'S to GOOsovs for the annual race meeting, taking p.ace at Easter. Mr J. Shechy has been reelected president of the club. The Southland-owned gelding Aehilleus has joined T. Stivcn's stable at Wingatui. —lt is understood that J. A. "White, the trainer of Placid and SpecUial, will take up a position as private trainer to Mr L. O. Hnzlett's stable. , The Kilbroney— Simper yearling colt purchased privately prior to the November sales wili accompany Municipal and iorfreda on. their homeward journey. A oolter-ino—Arai-te-Uru yearling colt will also join the same stable to be. trained for ,Jrr Jamea The Southland Cup, of 350sovs; the Southland Steeples, of 250sova; Awarua Handicap, of 210®ovs, and the InvercargiU Steeples, of 175sovs, form the principal events on the Southland Racing Clubs autumn programme, for which nominations fall due on March 1. " . '. Phil May's saddle slipped during tlie run in the Publicans' Handicap. On the second day he was standing like a craven image—at the barrier, whilst several others •were delaying the sarfc by playing for a break, and when the tape rose the Counte Witte gelding was left several lengths. Thaddeus ran two good races last week. He was finishing on well when challenging Helicon in the Stewards' Welter, and if he had obtained a clear run in the D.J.C. Handicap it is very doubtful if Killard could have given him a start and a beating in the race. Only three horses were saddled up for the Hazlett Memorial, but it was quite a fine racing spectacle to see the trio striding along the straight half a mile along tho back stretch. There, is no doubt that this fine stretch of ga.'.lopii.g- ground should do much to popularise the Wingatui meetings. Prior to the Dunedin Cup meeting many people held tho opinion that tho investments at tho Forbuxy Park meeting would exceed those recorded at the principal Wmgatui fixture. At Fbrbury Park £43,445 10s went through the totalisator, and ai Wingalui, the total amounted to £'17,672. Desert Gold has vanned out a good nugget fcr the Patriotic Funds at the first time of .taking in her Australian prospecting. She runs in such a good cause that one is inclined to cail upon science to invent an up-to-date set of seven-league boots for the daughter of All Black and Auvariua. During the Dunedin Cup meeting it was learnt that the hurdler Cast Iron is suffering from an internal complaint which may end hia career. The Castasaow gelding has been down in his box for about two weeks, and small hopes are held for his recovery. Wardancer lost the Dunedin Cup through two facta. The principal reason for his failure is his win in the Midsummer Handicap, for which he paid rather much, and tho other reason is supplied by tho interference he suffered at the outset of the Dunedin Cup.

s£aftsa was the big- disappointnvent of "the Cup rneting. She was galloping really well before the meeting, and nothing stripped in better shape. Apparently the Mar' : ,aii mare is not too reliable, as she was also galloping well before taking: part in the New Zealand Cup meeting, when she also failed to moke any show in her races.

San Sebastian ran like a duffer in both his races last week. He went out, looking in good shape, strode down in his rireliminary like a racehorse, and ran like a- cabhorse. He was meeting Luff on 391 b better terms than when the latter beat him at Timaru; but . even this poundage did not enable him to turn the tables.

When the existing reduction or racing was being carried out it was officially suggested that the Beaumont Jockey Club and th% Tuapeka Jockey Club should amalgamate during the war, but it is understood that the latter club has declined to act in -accordance with the suggestion, and prefers to mark time until happier clays.

The Wingatui track records given in the D.J.C. racebook erroneously credit First Glance with holding the record for 10 furlongs at 2.8; but the honour belongs to Adjutant, who won the D.J.C. Handicap of last season in 2.7 2-5. Killard equalled Adjutant's gallop on Saturday, but had considerably less weight (251 b) to carry. Six of the winners at the Dunedin Cup meeting were bred in the I\*orth Otago district. The half-dozen is made up by Warhawk, Kilboyne, Kazan, Michaola, Killard, and Hot Air. Such a large percentage of winners stands out as a tribute to the merits of the limestone country in that part of the Dominion.

Some bumping and interference took place in the race for the Berwick Handicap. 11. H. Ellis, on Benefit, was alleged to have crossed Placid and Poin; Blank and out them back. The explanation ghvn by Ellis was accepted. In the mix-iib Placid received a deep cut on one of his knees, and it will bo- some time before he can be raced again.

Spectual created a mild surprise by the manner in. which lie won the final "event on the Dunedin Cup programme. He was generally regard id as a somewhat squibby sprinter, but en this occasion ho finished with resolution, and stayed on well under punishment. The fact that he was slightly amiss in one of his shoulders enhances the merit of the win.

—lt would not have been surprising if the Haslett Memorial Plate had dwindled down to a walk-over for Fiery Cros,- as neither Wardancer (who had an enlarged fetlock through being galloped on in the Cup) or Kihmeedy had a chance on paper bv heating the Glcnapp gelding. Nevertheless Wardancer put up a good gallop, although Inery Cross beat him well at the finish Sir George Clifford seems to have acquired quite a habit of winning the D J C Champagne Stakes, aa it Ims fallen to his colours no fewer than II time since 1901. There was, however, prior to that year, a, long .run of on Is, as Sir George first won the race with Cynisca in 1860, "and did rot score- again in it until Stronghold won in 1901. Wardancer was interfered with at the start of the Dunodin Cup. with the result that lie did not get too well away, and afterwards had to cover a good deal of extra ground to hit the front. After the race he Sported a cut fetlock, but the injury wa=> not a serious one, as. although the joint nliccl, ho was sound enough to start on the seconn day. Kilboyne ran two good solid races at the Dimcdni Cup meeting. He won Ihe Publicans Handicap with nothing much to spare, bn! appeared to strip a better ho'rso for hia second raco. n n this occasion he. however, hung in when making his final elto:!, and ro spoils n good chance of success. Perhaps it was v.oi altogether Kilbov.se h fault

•- O. Reed, the rider of Duff in both hurdle events at Wingatui, lias developed a habit of screwing in the saddle when finishing, and this shifting at a critical moment docs not help hia mount to tho best advantage. If Reed dropped his irons down a hole or two and rode straight ahead in a finish, instead of sideways, he would achieve much bettor results.

—Mr E. J. Watt has presented the brood mare La Notte to his former trainer, T. Quinlivan. La Notte was foaled in 1957, and must be getting towards the end of her usefulness at the stud. Still, as the dam of Nightfall, Nocluifornv Midnight Sun, Blackall, and Moonbria, she forms a very acceptable present if able to make another addition or two to the Stud Book.

Prior to the introduction of the restricted railway service to Wingatui the granting of ladies' tickets was at once a favour and a benefit enjoyed by tho Dunedin Jockey Club. The club formerly collected Is on each lady's ticket presented at the gates, but as the special race rates have been cut out, there is now no participation in the fares paid to Wingatui on race d«ys. It is understood that the club is losing about ±IOOO a year under the existing circumstances.

Mohawk went out the strongest favourite saddled up at the Dunedin Cup meeting. He carried £'lol7 10s on tho totalisator in the Plying Handicap. Punka was supported to the tune' of £976 in tho Hopeful Handicap, and Fiery Cross was entrusted with £IOO7 10s in the Hazlett Memorial. It is interesting to note that, although Fiery Cross was a comparative certainty as compared with Mohawk's chance, yet the latter carried more money, despite the fact that he had to beat a good field of horses. • Boro was rather too brilliant for the opposition he met over the small sticks at Wingatui last week The opposition did not prove very strong, and the only one capable of challenging tho Calibre gelding was Luif, who acted as runner-up on both days. Bor« has not raced since the Ducndin Cup meeting of last season, and apparently the operation performed 0 n him for respiratory troubles seems to have been a success, although in most cases tho benefit derived is not of a permanent nature. Margerine s success in the Dunedin Cup supplies a link with past battles in the same race, as her dam, Star-shot, also won it in IS9B, when owned by R. Keay, whose father owned, trained, and rode Templeton when the son of Traducer won in 1878. Tho late Mr 11. Ke<xy also owned Sinking Fund when he ran a dead heat with Mata in 1879. Margerine'o dam also won the D.J.C. Handicap of 189 S, and when carrying Murray Hobb3's colours won two Birthday Handicaps.

• The Bonny- Glen two-year-old Scornful is a promising youngster. He acted as runner-up in the" Champagne Stakes, but put up an even more meritorious performance by finishing second to Torfreda after being a bit slow at the rise of the barrier m the Hopeful Handicap. Scornful was putting in really good work over the final quarter, and, all going well, should win a race at some of the autumn meetings. He is an own brother to Disdainful and a. half-brother to Snub and Bee.

The Beaumont Jockey Club's balance sheet for the past year shows: that the receipts, including a credit balance of £133 brought forward, wag £1496 5s 2d, and. the expenditure £1383 7a; leaving a credit balance of £ll2 ISs 2d. Included in the disbursements was £IOO 'voted for patriotic purposes and £#s 7s 6d expended on permanent improvements. The assets of the club are set down at slightly over £IOOO, half of which is on fixed deposit and in current account, and the remainder by buildings and course improvements.

Several horses generally found making consistent displays of form failed to show up at Wingatui last week. Perhaps there was too much sting in the going for them to stride out to the top of their form. Some of them were noticed shaping well up to the . rise into the straight, and then fell away. The Wingatui track is inclined to get rather hard in fine weather over the last three furlongs of the course, as that part of the ground is on a rise, and requires a fair amount of moisture to keep it in o-ood galloping order.

Killard has been slowlv improving in form, and his win in the D.J.C. Hailclicap marked a fairly meritorious performance, as he got badly away, being left several len°-ths and won by staying on in resolute stylo in' a gallop equalling the record over the distance on the Wingatui track. Judging- by his latest form, he should win over a longer distance than 10 furlongs, or under conditions which call for a little extra stamina: Killard is a half-brother to United Service and was got by Kilbroney from Siberia, by Stepmak— Faraway, by Bill o' PortlandHappy Land, by Musket—Atlantic, by Thormanby Killard has been in the market ever since he commenced racing, and now many people are regretting that they did not picli him np at the price on which he was on ° m • Iie v , WOUId , ? t,IJ bc a chea P horse at anything like a fair price.

Cup appeared in a handicap run on the second day of the meeting-; nor did Adjutant, who went out favourite for the chief event on the programme. It wo* thought in some quarters that a win at the weights in the D.J.C. Handicap, worth 280sov* to the winner, would not help a horso'fl chance in the Great Autumn, worth 910.=ovs to the winner. In other words, it was hold thn* there was more glory than gold attached to a possibly good display of form, and hence no doubt., the reason why some horsea remained in their boxes instead of again sporting silk at the meeting Glensponse the Glenapp gelding who showed the way to the straight in the Publicans Handicap, and won the Flying" on the second day, has displayed some creditablform hi the south prior to his win at Wingatui His dam. Response, was got by Smith O Brien from Remorse, by Tasman—Water" witch, by Camden—Mermaid. Smith O'Brien was got by Johnny Faulkner (son of s"t Albans) from Tasmania, by Manuka from Zillah, the dam of Tasman. one of the best horses that ever carriud the rose and-blaok stripes identified with the late Me Dan O Brien's racing career. The good old-fashioned selling race h&3 almost vanished from New Zealand programmes; but the Southland Racing Oiuu include one on their autumn programme. The first day's card will include the Disposal Stakes Handicap, of lOOsovs the winner to be sold for SOsovs, and any surplus to-be divided between the owner ot the second horse and the club. The selling part of the business at. Invercargill does not usually end with placing the winner under the hammer, but a.lso includes a small rush ot owners anxious to "- e t rid of the been?," " nevor was," or "never will bc brigade forming the rest of the field.

Heathercote. the winner of the D.J.C. Champagne Stakes, is a good-sized, sturdylooking colt, presenting an appearance which suggests that he nwy develop into a poodclas.s racehorse. Heathereofe was got bv Boniform from H» atherbras, by Treadmill (son of Bill o' Portland) from Bonnie Brae, by Clanranald —Golden Crest, by Apremont— Aurifera. Sir George Clifford has bred some

good winners from tho Aurifera family, which is a brunch of tho No. 14 family, which make euch a conspicuous buccc-s.-s through the Mermaid taproot. Gqldlenf, Husbandman, and Atuumnus good winners of tho Aurifera family, winch a'l&o claims tho speedy Form Up as a member of the trine.

Torfreda displayed a rare burst of heels in the early part of the Hopeful Handicap. Sho got nicely away, and at the end ol two and a-half furlongs was leading a smart filly in Punka fully half a dozen lengths. Torfreda ran wide at the turn, but her pilot wisely allowed her to continue without attempting to haul her back to tho rails, and sh-3 lasted long enough to win by about a- good half-length from the fastfinishing Scornful, who got up and out Punka out of second money. Torfreda- is the 800-guinea sister to Hymeatra, and should not prove dear at the price. Sho was got by Hymettus from Straga, by Birkenhead—Witchet, by Sir Lancelot—Elflock, by Nordenfe'dt—Elfin, by Musket—Sylvia, by Fisherman. With such a pedigree Torfreda should stay a fairly useful course if sho develops a little more stamina with increasing ago.

The adamantine going at Wingatui jarred some of tho Cup candidates, and the value of watching a preliminary was never more strongly evidenced than when soms of them came out to race on the second day of the meeting. Miss Do Yal was elected favourite for the- D.J.C Handicap, but she did not move too freely in her preliminary, and this fact, on top of a suspicion of unsoundness, failed to creat any great enthusiasm about her chance. Roes Pink was another stroig farcy, based or. her bold effort in the Cup, but she also went down short and scratchy, and, like the proverbial '" cat on hot bricks." Nevertheless, she ran a good race after getting badly away, and losing sufficient ground to sacrifice the chance of a much better horse. Devotion also put up a rather unattractive preliminary, and anyone watching them and waiting for a final inspiration would be strongly inclined to wipe the- trio jyff the list.

The owner of the crack pacer Adelaide Direct is at present on a visit to New Zealand in connection with the existing lease of the. mare. Adelaide Direct is now 11 years old. and retains her form in a wonderful manner—in fact, sho achieved the top of her form in November last by winning the New Zealand Trotting Cup, a result which stands as tribute to the ability of M. Edwards as a trainer and reinsman. When Adelaide Direct first cams to this country she was generally regarded as a sprinter; but her owner, maintains that his mare was always a good stayer. Her dam's breeding, beyond the fact that her sire is Honesty Harry, is " wropt in mystery." Adelaide Direct shows a good deal of racy quality suggestive- of thoroughbred blood in her veins, but before she struck form beer owner bred tho dam to a draught stallion, and when, bred back to a trotting stallion her next two foals were .distinctly cart-hors& in type.

Tho payment of stakes on the 70, 20, and 10 per cent, basis is not viewed bysome owners and trainers with any great amount of_ favour. It pans out fairly satisfactorily in connection with well-endowed stakes, which, after tho reduction of place money, still leaves a substantial sum to the credit of the winner. In minor events, however, the choxipingrip leaves only a comparatively sni.'tl: sum to the winner. In the hack events'oh the Dnnedin Cup programme, for instance, a winner receives 70sovs, from which has to be deducted 2sovs to start, rider's fee (ssovs), and travelling- expenses; anything from lOsovs to 20sovs expenditure incurred in bringing a horse from Invcrcargili or Christchurch; whilst training expenses are also a matter of much importance, particularly with the small owner/who is thus obviously forced to bet in any attempt he may make to show a profit. It has become a cast-iron phrase that an owner can make racing -pay in this country without betting, but case of the battling owner of small means it is hard work to keep the wolf from the door.

Some of our young riders show rather crude horsemanship, probably from the fact that tlie trainers with whom' they have been associated were never known as riders, or went through the "'college education" gained by a- few years in a racing stable. Several who are riding winners are a long way from being horsemen, and are probably at the stage, born of a little success, when they don't know and. won't bo told. Even the much-belauded Ashley Reed required about five minutes to find his whip when he thought it necessary to- bring it into play to ward off Mohawk's challenge at the finish of the. Publicans' Handicap, and his finishes on tho samo horse on the second day and again* on Revolution were not particularly capable or artistic efforts. Some of our pre-sent-day pilots should 1)2 made to sit astride a barrel and pxit through the action of a finish in much the same manner m a shadow-sparring boxer or a batsman should practice the cuts and dives at the bowling of an imaginary Spofforth. A course of capable tuition under such circumstances would teach them how to do things in real action, and render it unnecessary to sigh for a book of instruction!! when- in the thick of a combat. <r

The starting at the Dune'dm Cup meeting did not give that, complete -satisfaction one expects from such an experienced man as Mr A. G. Wood. In the majority of events he got his fie'd away from a good line, and, of course, could not be. held to blame, because somo horses got badly away* through dwelling or meeting with bad luck at the jump-off. In both the chief sprints however, he allowed far to much latitude to a few r.ders., who, as far as could be gathered from the press gallery, wore obviously playing for an advantage, which as a matter of fact, was finally obtained.' In another race a well-known "offender galloped up to the tapes, and such an impudentaction should not have been passed over bv either the starter or the stewards. In two other races horses got. badly away because their young riders were frightened" to make a move at the barrier, whilst others were fiddling about all over the place. If. j a obvious that if one or two are "kept dead flat-foot at the barrier, whilst others are backing and filling, the well-behaved lot have all the worst, of it, even though at the finish 1 he- field gels away from a good line. There is no doubt. Mr Wood ie a very capable man at the barrier, but he was in. far too tolerant a mood with some riders at the tiic-din Cup meeting. The Ktlbroney filly Kilmeedy was purchased by a patron of A. M'lvor's stable during the Dunedin Cup "meeting.