IN A NUTSHELL'

Otago Witness, Issue 3395, 9 April 1919, Page 40

IN A NUTSHELL'

The next Winter Cup will cany a stake of lOOOsovs. , , , ■■ , ... Seadown. is being schooled ovefr hurdles at Trentham. , ' Acceptances for the Tuapeka meeting are due on April 12 Acceptances for the Riverton meeting are due on April 11. - , Bon Spec is in good demand for tJie Great Easter Handicap. „,..,. —L. Morris will ride Taunaha in the A.R.C.'' Easter Handicap. The two-year-old filly. Mies Mimac is shaping well in her work. _ The Christchurch Hunt Club will hold a race meeting on July 26. ; Sun Dance fell when running on tlie second day at Hawke's Bay. Sasanof has incurred a slb penalty for the Great Autumn Handicap. Tortrix and Flight Commander are shaping attractively in their work. Tin Soldier is expected to shape much better at Riverton than he did at Gore. Kilkee did not look in good racing shape when produced at the Gore meeting. During the past six years The Welkin has sired winners of 100,000sovs in stakes. q. Young has been retained to ride Kilbrogan .in the Great Easter Handicap. _lt is reported th»t H. Gray will ,ride Desert Gold in her Auckland engagements. The Otago Hunt Club held their openino- run of the season on Saturday last. —Mr W. Watt, of Dunback, has purchased the Australian-bred stallion Crichton.

Some very, interesting racing was provided'by the three days' eport at Gore last Kilboyne and other horses owned by Mr A. Murdoch have joined J. Stewart's stable. Sasanof is reported to have scored a fairly comfortable win at the Hawke's Bay meeting. . Royal Star ran two good, but somewhat unlucky races at Gore, where he was placed in each start. ~, , , * The North Otago Jockey Club a meeting next month will be held, minus a stewards' stand. The Great Autumn candidates, Margarine and Heathercote, arc training satisfactorily at Riccaiton. Kilmono, Almonder, and Sun J,anco have been scratched for all engagements at the Auckland meeting. - Jas. Todd has sold the pacer Blue Chimes, and intends to confine- his ownership to the gallopers. Sasanof has ccmo into favour for the Great Easter, and is now regarded in some quarters as first favourite. ? v l r j n . s . Todd has purchased the ilentloch—Jessie Lewars two-year-old half-brother to Michaela and Thaddeus. _ The Great Northern Trotting Derby, to be run at the summer meeting of 1920-21, clused witt aii entry, c.f 83.

—lt is understood that an oficr of -KiOsovs was refused for the pacer Bill Brown during the racing l at Gore last week. Redshir© won in impressive style on the second day at Gore, and on his run should) win again before very long. Glendower worked well over 10 fiirlongs on Saturday. Ho has been freely coupled with Bon Spec for the Great Easter. Author Dillon worked a mile in 2.8 at Addington after going the first half in 1.4, and not fully extended at the finish. —Glensponse has improved in dppearanco as a result of his recent races, and should ehapo we'l when next sent to tho post. Thaddeus ran a fairly good race in tho Gore Cup, and was expected to shape-well on tho second day, but failed to get a place. Jockey Club will give 2000sovs in stakes at their winter meeting, to be held next month. Rossini, the two-year-old brother to Soldier's Chorus, sprinted three furlongs last week in 37 2-5 without being fully extended. Rorke's Drift, Eleus, and Calma went through to Christchurch last week to fulfil engagements at the C.J.C. autumn meeting.

Last Vue showed a good turn of speed in the Final Handicap run at tho Goro T.Cmeting, but' went too fast to last out the journey.

Red Admiral was. not produced at tho Gore meeting, but may be found helping to make matters interesting at the Riverton meeting. - Nominations for tho Otago Steeplechase, of lOOOsovs, and other events on the D.J.C. winter programme close at 5 p.m. on Friday, AprTl SoT

Hymestra had been missing from the tracks for. several days prior to the departure of the last mail to hand from Australia.

Margerine, Almoner, and Red Ribbon are the chief fancies for the Great Autumn; but Glendower has also a strong following for the race.

Nelson Bingen and Solace monopolised the betting 1 ©n the Mataura Handicap, and also had the race to themselves. Solace broke up several times. Theseus is reported to be stepping well in his work. He spoilt a good chance of winning at the Forbury Park meeting by losing one of his boots. < —Nominations for the Forbury Park Trotting Club's meeting are due on April 16 at 5 p.m. Two s'OOsovs stakes form the feature items on the programme. Hot Air made a bold bid in the Borough Handicap, and ran her be3t race this season, when she went past the post in line with Burrangong and Caverock.

The Betel Nut three-year-old gelding Lenamhor went a good race at Gore, when he was just beaten by Embracer, and should soon get amongst the winners. Gunrest is being handicapped as e thing of the past, and if he* got anywhere near hia old form would score an easy win. He finished fourth in the Gore Cup. Red Tape showed signs of soreness when racing at Gore, and has evidently not quite recovered from/ effects of his efforts on the hard going at. Waimate and Ashburton. . Nelson Bingen, thc> winner of the Mataura Handicap at Gore, is well represented in the Great /Northern Trotting Derby, in which several of his Btock have been engaged.

Punka was on trie boom not so -very long ago, bat now she seems to have dropped out of the spotlight area. , The Cooltrim filly/ is, however, doing good work in company with Gay Lad. —Mr R. B. Harloy's starting at the Gore meeting was up to a high' standard. He sent away each field frcm an excellent line, and his work at both Ashburton and Gore won well-merited praise.

The Four Chimes—Mies K. gelding First Toll went out a good second favourite for the Gore Trotting Club Handicap, but even with Pringle holding the .lines covild not get anywhere near the money." Cathedral Chimes went 2.10 when sent out to beat 2.6 1-5 at the Auckland Trotting Club's meeting. He "was also unplaced in the Campbell Handicap, in which he was 13sec conceding a 4.36 winner. —lt is reported that all Mr W. R. Kemball's horses are to be shipped to Australia. Wardancer is striding along nicely in his work, and, although he has an enlarged joint, seems to bo quite sound on it. When sent out to race : at Gore Rorke's Drift looked brighter and fresher than he did during the Invercargill meeting-. The Calibre gelding should strip in good shape for his engagements at Riccarton. _— Zarkoma received a bad cut on his offside arm when he struck the board fence which brought him down .jn the second day's Steeplechase at Gore. The mishap will keep him off the scene at Riverton.'

When Nystad defeated Sasanof by 'a narrow margin in the Great Easter of 1917 the laj,ter was giving away 181 b, and had all the Juck of the race against him. In this year's race Sasanof is giving away 111 b. . Eleus has incurred a 7lb penalty for the Great Easter and a Mb penalty for the Great Autumn Handicap. His weight •in tho former race is now 7.3, and he has a similar burden in the Great Autumn.

. Martifors pulled tip lame after winning on tho first day at Gore, but was apparently sound when going out again on the second day. On this occasion Thistlecrown, who was meeting her on the same terms as the first day, got up and beat her on the post. Highwater „ stripped in better racing shape at Gore than she has for some time past. She won on the first day, and ran. a good second to Marianne in the G.R.C. Handicap after getting a by no means good passage.

The Australian-bred mare Marianne won the G.E.C. Handicap from end to end. There was not much pace on over.the first part of _ the race, and when challenged at the finish she had enough in reserve to win by a narrow margin.

Eleus ran a good race under 8.13 on tho second day at Gore, when he finished close up fourth, but did not act so' freely as he did on the first day, when he won the Gore Cup. Eleus requires vigorous riding to gel him fully extended.

Sleepy Head was putting in a- good run in tbe_ President's Handicap at Gore when Rokelaine_ came down, but even minus the accident it is very doubtful if anything in tb<* field could have beaten Redshire, who full of running.

Some of the s.p. punters endeavoured to collect over Doraldina (a starter in the Novice Handicap at Gore) because Dorinda won the Croydon Handicap. They held that Doraldina was & misprint for Dorinda., and c 1 '•nod- to be on first start.

Mr H. F. Nicol placed some of his horses under iho hammer at Gore last week. Anna was purchased at 42gs by Mr J. Chapman, of Balfour; Red Empress sold at 132 gs to W. M'Donald, Edendale, and Jollv Major at 20gs to Mr C. Robb. from the barrier-rise, and on the second day ran a good race under 10.0. In the Great Easter he will have the handy weight of 7.12, and should" be found going on when Bomo of the others are stopping. The chops and changes in handicappers'

figures was illustrated at Gore, where Caverock was asked to giv<i Palaxnon 21b ovc-r a mile, whereas at Oainaru Palamon curried 9.13, and gave Caverock 19lb and a good beating over seven furlongs. The two-year-old filly Lady Swithin went a good game race when she won at Gore, as she had to show a lot of stamina and courage to get up and beat Auquilla in the Novice. Handicap. A.uquilla should be worth remembering for some future occasion. The English rule which provides that when the highest weight of a horse accepting in a handicap is less than 9.0, the horse's weight shall be raised to 9.0, and other acceptors accordingly, has been adopted by the A.J.O. for the Sydney metropolitan racing radius. Tho four-year-old brother to Kav/bero Cattach was well supported in the Hokonui Hack at Gore. He got badly away, and after showing pace in getting to the front, finally failed to see out the full journey. He should win over a shorter course with his turn of. speed".

Eleus continued in winning form last week by landing the Gore Cup. Strange to say, that even with his Invercargill success still fresh in the memory, lie went out vfifth favourite in a field of six. Hogan also saddled up Tin Soldier for the race, but his supporters got a poor run for their vioney. Admiral Talbot, the winner of the Langford Hack Handicap, seems to be a rather useful sort, as he. won well, and was also running close up on the second day. He was got by the New Zealand Cup winner Vice-Admiral from Lady Talbot, by Pilgrim's Progress—Lady Lillian, by Phaeton—Lady Zetland.

Dandy Chimes won with his rider acting under the disadvantage of a lost stirrup leather when ho scored in 2.21 1-5 at the Gore Trotting Club's meeting. Dandy Chimes is regarded as one likely to improve on his present mark He went 3.32 2-5 comfortably at the Invercargill meeting on a slow track.

The New Zealand Cup winner, Lady Lucy, the dam of Star Lady and Lucid; is now a member of Ma- J. F. Buchanan's Kinloch stud. It is very seldom that shortpedigreed mares are admitted to a highclaes stud, but Lady Lucy belongs to- .a great producing line, coming from the Cutty Sark taproot. Mrs H. Peel's Poethlyn, the winner of the Liverpool Grand National Steeplechase, run once again over the Andre© coifhtry, was got by Rydal Head from Fine Champagne, by King Grow, a son of Crowberry. Rydal Head was got by St. Frusquin from Rydal, by Bead 'Or—Windermere, by Macaroni—Miss Agnes. The South Canterbury Jockey Club is giving 2600sovs in stakes for the meeting date for May 15 and 16. The principal event is to be the Timaru Cup, of 400sovs, eeven furlongs. Two cross-country races and other races carrying stakes of lOOsovs to 2oosovs in value are on the programme. Nominations are due on April 25. Marching Order was .iust pipped on the post by Killeney in the Hokonui Hack Handicap at Gore. It was a very close finish, but Killeney was travelling faster'than the others aa they flashed past the post. The win was very popular, and the North Otago sportsman, Mr O. R. Wise, was congratulated on all sides on his success.

During the run of meetings which have taken place hot foot on each other at Waimate, Ashburton,, Timaru, Forbury Park, Invercargill, and Gore, the Dunedin winter programme has frequently cropped up in conversation, and the meeting is obtaining so much publicity that no one should overlook the fact that nominations close on April 25

The Demosthenes two-year-old Hetana aots well under weight, as he twice scored under big burdens this season. He won with 9.11 in 1.0 1-5 at Hawke's Bay, and should shape well if started at some of the meetings held at Easter. Hetana was got by Demosthenes from Fa 117 Gold, by Gold Reef —Nymph, by Ingomar—Wood Nymph, by Musket—Sylvia.

Affectation, the winner of the Hawke's Ray Stakes, is one of the most promising youngsters seen out this season. He was got bv ELilbroney from Simper, by Symington— Chelys, by Sir Visto—Chelandry, by Goldfinch—llluminata, by Rosicrucian. Simper, with a Kilbroney foal at foot, macle llOOgs when sold a couple of weeks ago under the hammer.

Palamon ;weait. out a good second favourite for trie Gore Cup, and over the first was pulling double, but he dropped the bit and retired over the last furlong. On tho second day he went out to the front in the Borough Handicap, and kept busy, and was beaten at seven furlongs. When ridden behind his field at Oamaru he finished strongly with 9.13 up in 1.28 3-5. The three-year-aid Embracer was a strong order for the Final Handicap at the Gore Trotting Club's meeting, but he failed to get going at the start, and was soon hopelessly out of it. •He made amends on the second day of the Gore Racing Club's meeting by winning the Progressive Trot after being well handled bv . his owner, Mr J. Henderson, .who held the lines over the son of Young M'Kinney and Embrace. —Mr H. F. NjeoH's Indra. the winner of the Gore Trotting Club Handicap, was got by St. Swithin from Lady Cherrv, by King Harold. St. Swithin was got by Rothschild from Queen V., by Kentucky from Harold's Rest, by King Harold, so that Indra carries three strains of the famous Childe Harold. St. Swithin is getting winners, and gives promise of carrying on the line of his famous sire.

Burrangong, Caverock, and Hot Air crossed the line in the Borough Handicap with a nose separating the trio. Caverock got the worst of the run, as he was in the middle, and his rider not only could not use his whip, but also lost a bit of time in getting it out instead of riding home with hands and heels. Burrangong's win was a popular success, as he has been "knocking at the door'' in several events this season without getting first money.

The Demosthenes colt Taunnha, who won at Hawke's Bay. and also filled second place in Hawke's Bay Stakes, is a strong fancy for the A.E.C. Easter Handicap. Tinahau beat a big field in the Linwood Handicap in which h© carried 8.5, and won decisively in 1.28 2-5. He was got bv Demosthenes, and inherits a good deal of stamina from his dam, Mangooroa, as she was got bv San Fran from Muade, bv St. Legter— Hilda, by Musket.—Uida. by Yattondon. The imported stallion Nelson Bingen, who won at Gore last week, is one of the best-actioned and smartest trotters seen out in this country. He jogged 5.6 when he won the Mataura Handicap, and could apparentlv go without difficulty to a. much faster mark. Nelson Bingen is an upstanding bay horse, srot by Birjsren (2.6}) from Suzette Baron, by Baron Wilkes from Suzette Nelson (2.143), by Nelson from Lonetfe. by Kentucky Prince. Nelson Bingen was foaled in 1912. and was Imported to New Zealand by Mr E. E. Leli?vre.

The experiment of holding three days' racing at Gore was on tho whole fairly successful. The Gore Trotting Club inad© a

profit of less than a century, but the Gore Racing Club came out with a loss. A very serious drawback to the success of a race meeting- at Gore is tho rather unsatisfactory accommodation provided for tho visiting public. The accommodation at Gore is, even at its best, of anything but a high standard, and, in fact, is well characterised as tho place- where one gets an indifferent sixpenny meal for half a crown. Under such circumst/.inces the race meetings must suffer. The cross-counlery events on tho Gore programme attracted .poor fields. On the first day, however, the trio in the field made it interesting by running together and jumping well until turning for home, where Glenthorpe, suited by the slow pace over the first mile, drew away to win nicely. On the second day Glenthorpe fell twice, and Zaxkoma carnc down when racing in company with Palladio, who went on and won by nearly a furlong from Peary. Palladio gave a fine exhibition of fencing, and if he keeps right should be worthy of «. chance in a lOOQsovs 'chase in the > D.J.C. winter programme.

Although in a sense the trotting events on the Gore Racing Club's programme were overshadowed by tho Gore Trotting Club's meeting, a good deal of interest was taken in both of them. In the Riversdale Trot, a 200sovs stake for 5.2 class, the St. S'within —Brown Empress three-year-old Newcourt was elected favourite, and Queen's Lane and Blue Chimes were also well supported. Lucky Prince drew out at once, and won all the way, but Queen'3 Lane would have been far more dangerous if she had not got tangled at the start. On the second day Embracer got up in time to beat Lenarnhor on the post. Eflma Boy was on the boom for this pace, but did not finish in the first halfdozen.

Bonnie Maid, the winner of the Hawke's Bay Cup, is said to be a. bad traveller, and hence difficult to produce fit and well to run to her best form. She was fancied for the last Auckland Cup, but received a bad passage in the race. At the present time she does not hold any important engagements, as she was struck out of the big events to be decided at both Auckland and Riccarton. Bonnie Maid belongs to the Sappho family, which produced so many good winners in Australia, but which is not very strongly represented in this country. Amongst the best-known members of the tribe are Berragoon, Merriwee, Traquette, Ettefred, Diffidence, and several other good winners. We got the Zonnie Maid branch of the Sappho family through Maid of Athol. who produced the C.J.C. Derby winner Scots Grey, Eotuku, Exupp, Queen of Trumps, anldi several others that have helped to keep the iSappho taproot in evidence.