IN A NUTSHELL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3402, 28 May 1919, Page 47

IN A NUTSHELL.

"Wrestler continues to stand up to hi 3 work at Riccarton.

Clavcrhouse is tho worst horse at the barrier seen out this season. Lochella finished fourth in the Kaitohe Hack Hurdles at Wanganui. use at tho North Otago meeting. Cattach went sore, and could not be producod at the Oamaru meeting. Subterfuge galloped at Oamaru, but the going was too hard to suit her. —'Marsa walked very sore when on the Wingatui tracks on Saturday morning. Kilboyno looks bright and healthy, but decidedly on the big side In condition. The Canterbury Jockey Club closed' the season with a credit balance of £1053 14s lid.

All Ready is a handful at the barrier, but, once away, he ran two good races at Oamaru.

Belishire looked a bit on the big side in condition when sent out to race at Oamaru.

Vascular has been doing steady work since winning a double at the South Canterbury meeting. Boh. Spec is reported to be in a bad way. and suffering from, a severe attack of the strangles. The North Otago winter meeting was one of the most successful gatherings ever held on the course.

Sir Medallist is, an improving sort of a hurdler that should pay his way at that branch of the game. Some of the horses racing at recent meetings are highly flattered in heing treated aa racehorses. Wardancer has been kept fairly busy on the track in view of his engagements at the Dunedin winter meeting. Leaping Bum displayed his best form bo far as he raced this season,, when saddled at the Oamaru meeting. Tip Up ehould not be long before scoring over hurdles, but will probably be best suited by a short course. The pay-out windows for, the totalisator in the paddock at Randwick total 52, and in the Lcger reserve 25. Apropos of recent form and figures, some horses don't run off weight. It is pulled off—with the reins. Pyjama won very nicely at Oamaru, and was going away from the others at the finish of the six furlongs. Redskire ran disappointingly In his races at Oamaru. One should not, however, judge a horse on' his worst form. Since the first part of the season up to April 30 The Welkin sired! 22 winners of 55 races' worth 25.83350v5. . ','.-. The 'chaser Waimai is reported to be in excellent condition for his engagements at the Auckland winter meeting. Kilbrogan put up two great fights under 10.5 in each of his races at Oamaru, but the opposition was too good for him. Nystad and the youngsters sold from the Highden stable to a West Australian buyer arrived safely in Melbourne. < —-Euripos has earned, a 71b penalty in the Great Northern Hurdles, and Bore one of 61b in the Great Northern Steeples —lt is reported that the North Island owner, Mr K. ,S. Williams., made an unsuccessful offer of 20O0gs for Gay Lsd. -Partisan is now a much bet er mare than ever, and if not too ambitiously placed ehould pick up a race in the near fu ™^- The Ost minimum will. be in evidence in conneetion with the third day of the Dunedin Jockey Club's winter meeting Dandy Chimes has arrived in Christchurch to fulfil his engagements at the Canterbury Park Trotting Club's meeting Demos, who cost 600 gs at the sale, of Mr E Short's team, was amongst the important winners at the Wanganui meeting. There was good money on the second day of Oamaru for Tin Soldier, but he failed to run up to the expectation, of his friends. Eleus was putting in a good run m the Oamaru Cup when the race was practically over. He should do better at Wingatul The Great Autumn winner Seal Kock sired Glenquinn, who won the Second Steeplechase at the Randwick autumn meotln —Eleus was galloping faster than, anything at the finish of the Oamaru Cup m which he was tailed off over the first halfn? —John Barleycorn's form at Oamaru and Timaru suggests that instead of being a back number he has taken a new vintage ° n _lt is' understood that Mr Hugo Friedlander has sold his private house m Ashburton, and intends to take up his residence in Australia. . , „. i Radial won both his races m good style last week. On the second day he was finishing on well, but just arrived m time to short-head Belair on the post. Kilkee—he of the twisted countenance—landed a double at the Oamaru meeting despite the fact that he did not present a particularly muscular appearance. _ Yellow and Black, who fell and broke his back at the last fence in the Wanganui Steeple, was one of the most promising 'chasers ever seen at Riccarton. Mr H. Friedlander's horses engaged on the second day of the North Otago meeting were struck out of their engagements owing to dissatisfaction at their weights. The Glenapp filly Stray Shot was not lon*- in confirming the good impression she made at the Timaru meeting. She, however, had nothing much to beat at Oamaru. The bay yearling colt by Kilbroney from Portland Lass, purchased by Mr E. S. LuttneU from Mr J. G. Duncan, cost 600 gs. The colt is now in Murray Hobbs s stable. The Belgian Jockey Club has decided to exclude horses bred in Germany, AustriaHungary, Bulgaria, and Turkey, as well as owners of those nationalities, from races in Belgium. . Dependence, the winner of the Adelaide Cup, is rich in Musket blood, as he was got by Pcerdil.from Design, by Wallace from Strange Device, by Escutcheon, a eon of Musket end "Rosette. The position occupied by Master Strowan at the finish of both his races at Wanganui shows him to be on the threshold of his best form, and he should soon reenter the winning list. S a , n Sebastian ran a fairly good race at Oamaru considering that he did not look to be quite tuned up. His race may result in making him a. more formidable proposition at Wingatui next week. Masf.e<r Strowan met with interference when turning out of the straight for the last time in the Wanganui Steeples All inquiry was held Into the matter, and F. Flynn, tho rider of Fooman, was fined £lO. Marianne and Caverock had all the luck of the start in ths Oamaru Cup. Marianne afterwards met with interference when the field closed up, but at least was still able to beat Caverock at the finish.

Compulsion and Kimbolton had . the first day's hurdle race at Oamaru to themselves, but on the second day, when there fleemed to be more life in the atmosphere, Kimbolton could not get o. place. After the Oamaru Cup quite a lot of people discovered that Burrangong was handicapped at 9lb better terms than when he beat Caverock a short head over the same distance at the Gore autumn meeting. The Southland Trotting Club intends making an application for a totalisator permit at the next Trotting Conference. In the best interests of the sport Invercargill should have received a permit years ago. The death is announced from England of the Dowager Countess of Londonderry, a well-known breeder of bloodstock. The Carbine horse Pistol, now at the stud in South Australia, was bred by the late Countess.. Gunrest was winning too easily on the second day at Oamaru, and this brought about his defeat. Had he been kept going after he ran to the front the Calibre gelding would have scored by a couple of lengths. —Mr A. Dickson had some veiy close finishes to judge at the North Otago meeting, and recorded his decsions with the promptness which suggests no doubt as to the order the horses flashed past the post. Buller seems to be back in something like his best form, judging by the way he won at Oamaru. He came from behind and won going on at tho finish, whereas he usually had to get well away to win moßt of his races.

Tho Wingatui grass tracks were never so hard in their history at this time of tho year as they were last week. Trainers would, in consequence, welcome the fall of rain which set in during the early part of the week.

With a view to stimulating breeding in Tasmania, the Tasmanian Amateur Jockey Club purchased five thoroughbred fillies at the Sydney bloodstock sales. The fillies wall be leased for racing purposes before going to tho stud.

Mortham showed plenty of brilliancy at Oamaru, but when he struck the hill under his 9.13 load would not go on with the business in the Electric Handicap. Over a furlong less ground, he gained a good third on the second day. Stewards' Handicap at Oamaru. He got well away, but after running with the leaders for about a couple of furlongs got knocked back and lost several lengths. He came on again and finished fourth.

Although the Dunedin Jockey Club's winter meeting is dominating the situation in local sporting circles, one frequently hears the Otago Hunt Club's meeting come up in conversation, and quite a lot of interest is being taken in the fixture. Belair seems to be slowly improving, but although close to the thick end of the purse at Oamaru, is still behind early brilliancy. She is taking a good deal of time to throw off the effects of the internal troubles which attacked her some months ago. - the Birthday Handicap from 10 furlongs up to a mile and a-half did not meet with the approval of the majorty of owners. The retention of the 10-furlong journey would have drawn a much better nomination.

The Logan Pointer —Cameos two-year-old filly, owned and bred by Mr B. L. Barnes, is regarded as a particularly promising filly. Cameos was got by Galindo from Thelma, the dame of Wildwood Jr., Marie Corelli, Authoress (dam of Author Dillon), and Adonis.

Old-time sports will regret to hear of the death of Mr Bert Champion, who was a popular figure in racing circles. He owned Cavalry and other horses, but in recent years had dropped out of the game except beyond a modest endeavour to pick winners.

Compulsion jumped on to his bit in the Empire Hurdles, and returned his few supporters a handsome dividend. Inside the last furlong Kimbolton got to him, but Crichton had enough in reserve to win by a neck in the smart time of 3.14 1-5 for the 14 furlongs. An Australian stud'rruaster, attending the Elderslie stud sale of 1912, remarked to the writer during a conversation on Finland's stock that they could not be given away in Australia.. At the Sydney yearling sales a son of Finland in the brother to Finmark made HOOgs. Mr C. F. Mark, secretary of the Auckland Trotting Club, and a strong member of the New Zealand Trotting Association, is at present on a visit to Dunedin with the object of meeting his son, who is returning by the Tofua after over four years' active service at the front. The Nassau —Brocade yearling, to be sold with the rest of Mr Friedlander's stud, is suffering from an enlarged knee, as tho result of a knock whilst running in the paddock. The injury is, however, not regarded as serious, but may knock a few guineas off him when in the ring. Sleepy Head ran a much better race at Oamaru than she did at Timaru, and she was principally responsible for Kilbrcyan's downfall, as she got to him early in the race, and kept him busy all the way. Both were stopping at the finish when Buller arrived, and beat the pair of them past the post. Pyjama had a comfortable win in the Landon Handicap, but if Killarney had not run wide and Borodino had not several lengths at the rise of the barrier there would in all probability have been a different set of figures for tho judge. Racing is however, made up of that sort of thing. '_Crib looked bright and fairly forward in condition when saddled up at Oamaru, but ho made a very poor display in his race in which he was tailed off from the start. On his return to tho birdcage it was noticed that his respirations sounded dry and wheezy, as if he was suffering from threatened trouble in the respiratory organs. The Australian Jockey Club has been notified that the French Government has conferred upon the club the decoration of 'M'edaille de la Reconnaissance Francaise' (Medal of French Gratitude) in recognition of the exceptional services rendered by the Australian Jockey Club to the cause of Prance and French patriotic institutions. The Australian-bred sire Patronus was well represented at the Wanganui meeting by Coalition and Polthoguo. Patronus was got by the Melbourne Cup winner Patron from Placida, by Lord Milton—Fenella 8., by Wellington—Penella, by Fisherman —Rosede Florence, by Flying Dutchman. Patron was got by tho unbeaten Yattendon horse Grand Flaneur. The first 13 stallions heading the winning list for the concluded portion of the present sea? on in Australia are all imported horses or English horses with stock racing in the Commonwealth. Bobad.il is tho first colonialbred sire on the list, and after an interval of four more imported stallions comes Mal+ster, who is also a son of Bill of Portland. Sisyphus has been shaping fairly well in his- work sine* winning at Timaru. He isa woll-bred gelding, and although a failure in tho early part of his career when racing as a colt, the use of the knifo_ seems to have made a racehorse of him. Sisyphus wns got by Treadmill from Delusive, by Trenton, and is an own. brother to Miss Mischief and

Killeney runs in a bit fixed! up to prevent her from hanging, hut she lost the Landou Handicap through boring out instead of going straight on and attending to buei ness. The Oama.ru track is dead against anything with a tendency to hang, as the run homo over the last three furlongs is all elbows, and hence not in favour of' a horse inclined to leave the rails.

After the Goodwood Handicap at Morphetville It. Lewis, the rider of the winner, weighed in 2Jlb overweight. Lewis explained that he put on a sweater and a skull cap, and also took a drink of water after weighing out. The stewards, with the power allowed under the Australian rules, did not disturb the judge's placings, but fined Lewis £lO. Lewis also weighed in 2Jlb over when he wen the Australian Cup on New Tipperary. The Canterbury Owners and Breeders' Association has decided to circulariee ell licensed riders and drivers in Canterbury and' North Otago asking their views on the subject of the seconds and yards system of starting, and to send a deputation to explain the position to the annual conference, to be held in Wellington during July. The writer, questioned all the leading riders and drivers on the point about two years ago, and the weight of opinion was. decidedly in favour of the seconds system. The Oamaru .track was very hard last week, but nevertheless provided better going than that at Timaru during the previous week. The Tirmaru track is laid out on shingly ground, which lacks the life and easier going of the Oamaru turf, even when the latter has been baked by wind and sun. Hence some horses acted much better at Oamaru than they did at Timaru. And perhaps, of course, there were other reasons. Then, .again, it. lias to be remembered that the uphill finish at Oamaru helps a that is sore in front.

Rorko's Drift pulled off a shoe when working a few clays ago, and when: he walked lame after galloping on Saturday morning it was at first thought that he was merely showing a return of the passing soreness caused by the wi'encK. The trouble, however, was far more serious, as he had evidently jarred the joint whilst doing the gallop, and ho will require a spell. Rorko's Drift was walking perfectly sound prior to the gallop, and never looked more muscular or in better racing shape. In the rather weak field likely to be soen out in the Birthday Handicap ho must have, minus his mishap> been a hard horse to beat. There was a "rift in the lute" between Mr W. Gardiner, formerly president of the Ncrth Otago Jockey Club, and his brother officials in connection with the abandoning of the New Year dates; but that did not prevent anyone from, feeling particularly pleased to see John Barleycorn and Lady Superior score at the meeting. The difference of opinion over the New Year dates was, after all, at base, put forward on both sides in the best sides of the club, and hence in this case opposite opinions do not mean a severance of friendship. In fact, John Barleycorn and Lady Superior, carrying the "stripes," scored the popular wins of the meeting. —lt is understood that the North Otago Jockey Club has decided to abandon a claim to the New Year dates held in recent years. The success achieved at this season's summer meeting, postponed from New Year to a later date, was no doubt largely instrumental in deciding upon any change that may be made. —At the .annual meeting of the Vincent Jockey Club the balance sheet showed) a credit of £lsl. The year's operations h>ad resulted in a loss of £lO. The next meeting will be held on January 1 and 2 if two days are available, and 600sovs will be given, in stakes, or 400sovs for one day. 'Mr Clare donated a cup valued at lOsovs, and it was decided to add the trophy to the principal galloping event on the programome. Caverock is one of the worst-handi-cspped horses running in the South Island. John Barleycorn, for instance, gave him 10lb and a handsome beating over 10 furlongs at Timaru, and when they were handicapped over the same distance at Oamaru Caverock was only allowed an addiitonal lib. His trainer kept the Rokeby—Madder gelding in the stable, and John B, after a bad run, got up to win. Another instance of the nattering opinion is supplied by the Gore meeting. Burrangong, in receipt of 4lb, beat Caverock a short head over a mile. In the Oamaru Cup, over the same distance, Caverock had to give away 131 b. There has been not a little discussion and mild betting as to wbat Caverock will make under the hammer next week. Mr Friedlander will no doubt be quite satisfied if the gelding at the face value of his recent handicaps. The Tradesmen's Handicap reads fairly open, but may look a bit easier after the declaration of acceptances. Buller is not badly treated at lib more than he carried at Oamaru, and of the others Palamon looks as well treated as anything.. He ran second to Bon Spec at Ashburton when giving 3lb to Mortham, who finished third. On the second day of tho same meeting Mortham beat the Wingatui horse a length when in receipt of 7lb. Now Mortham has to give lllb, and these figures seem to made Palamon one of the picks of the handicap. Redshire, Belair, Braid, and Kilmeedy also seem to have a claim on the consideration of backers. At -the Invercargill meeting Kilmeedy 7.3-1. finishing fast, dead-heated with Kiibro"-an 9.5, and on tho second day Buller beat her a nose at 161 b. A reproduction of Kilmecdy's best form would make her danSe —Mr "W. G. Stead is offering for private sale some young stock which he wishes to auit owin°- to a desire to condense the number of his team before going to Australia early next season. An attractively-bred two-year-old in Opiate, by All Black from Dreamer, and hence closely related to Wakeful Ni-ht Watch, Noctuiform, and other good performers is priced at 500 gs. Cashmere a half-brother by the St. Frusqum horse Permorz from that good mare Ringdove (dam of Ringform) reads cheap at SO0°», and an extravagant price is not set on the Demosthenes-Los Vegas filly Fluency at as she ranks high in value as a breeding proposition even if she never won a rtce Los Vegas is a half-sister by Bomform to Los Angelos, and bred on very simiUt lines, as both come m tail male from the St Simon line on to the same taproot. Los Vegas is a sister to Nonette.