TALK OF THE DAY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3594, 30 January 1923, Page 45

TALK OF THE DAY.

B,

Sentinel.

THE DUNEDIN CUP. Although Glentruin has established herself as one of the smartest sprinters in commission, she was rated rather high in being asked to concede weights to proved stayers i.n the Dunedin Cup. Some concession is usually allowed a sprinter when they are engaged in a race to be decided over a dis tance, as it is generally a fact that a horse possessed of unusual brilliancy is rarely able to stay. Glentruin was withdrawn shortly after the appearance of the weights, and this leaves Silver Peak on top of the handicap. Silver Peak ran a good second over 11 furlongs at Trentham, and won with 8.6 over 10 furlongs on the final day of the meeting. She now meets Cupidon, who was about half a length away in the Consolation Handicap at Trentham, on 21b worse terms. The unplaced lot including Winning Hit 8.11, Palestrina 8.1, Trespass 7.12, and Red Gown 7.0. Silver Peak goes up 71b, Cupidon 51b, Palestrina 21b, Trespass 71b, and Red Gown 41b, whilst Winning Hit remains at 8.11. On this form Trespass and Red Gown are harshly treated, and the extra two furlongs will probably suit Cupidon more than any of the others. Winning Hit had not much to spare from Silver Peak when they met in the Hazlett Memorial, and as the latter has greatly improved in staying power she should beat him at 21b. Unlike most sprinters, Silver Peak, is a quiet galloper, and that assists her to stay, whilst her turn of speed makes her very dangerous at the finish of a race. She and Cupidon should again finish in front of all they met in the Consolation at Trentham. Kick Off finished in front of Cupidon, Insurrection, Deucalion, Trespass, Roseday, and Scrimmage in the Wellington Cup, and the increase of weight reads: Kick Off 61b, Cupidon 31b, Insurrection 41b, Deucalion 41b, Trespass 51b, Roseday 71b, and Scrimmage 31b. Kick Off reads well treated, whilst Deucalion, who has been sent up 81b more than he was weighted at in the Wellington Cup, is most unjustly treated, and the same remark applies in a minor degree to Roseday, who has been asked to meet Cupidon on the same terms as when the latter beat him in the Metropolitan Handicap. It is difficult to understand why Cupidon, after beating Roseday twice over a mile and a-half, should meet the latter on 41b better terms than when they last met over the distance. Vespucci has not run into a place this season, and although he displayed good form up to 10 furlongs last season, he wilt probably he more at home over a shorter distance than that attached to the Dunedin Cup. Trespass cannot be fancied on recent form, but Gold Light has been training on, and is one that will command a good following if sent to the post. She did not appear at Wellington until the last day of the meeting, when she beat Roseday, Vespucci, and Scrimmage, and on paper should beat, them again. Gold Light stays fairly well, and ranks as about the equal or better than Enthusiasm. She boat Royal Star at even -weights -at. Auckland over 10 furlongs, and is favourably treated in coming in on the same terms at Wingatui. Palestrina has hot. always lived up to her reputation, and at times runs as if she had a will of her

own. Many Kittle was a good three-year-old at the New Zealand Cup meeting, when he stayed well, but converting to a sprinter seemed to overtax him. He has his full share of weight on the form displayed at the Dunedin Summer meeting, and one cannot fancy him with Silver Peak, who beat him easily when giving 31b in the St. Andrev. s Handicap, nor can one support him against General Advance, who finished with nini, and now comes in on 111 b better terms. Going back to the Stead Gold Cup torm, however, gives Many Kittle a good chance if prepared for the race instead of the Publicans Handicap, in which he is also engaged. General Advance on his best m would take a lot of beating, and ranks as tire pick of the 7st division; but to have any chance at all he will require n , ot to away too much ground at the finish Acceptances may thin out the field, and help to shed more lighton the problem supplied by the Weights. THE PUBLICANS’ HANDICAP. Pl fJg to ’ , Wi i? ri s nks a ® to P weight in the Publicans Handicap, has not won a race this season. Hi s best performance so far was- Ins third to The Hawk and Anomaly in the Jockey Club Handicap. He started twice at Wellington without gaining a place. In the Telegraph Handicap he was gmng 51b to Silver Peak, and the latter is not badly treated in getting in on 31b worse terms. Pluto was unplaced in the Metropolitan won by Kerb and now meets the latter on 71b better terms. Mustard Pot won at. Auckland, and was handicapped at Ub better than Alfort when the latter ran second to Royal Blood in the Electric Ilandicap. Alfort ran third at Wellington with when Pluto failed to give him 91b. Mustard Pot on form is not so good as Altort over six furlongs, and the latter was handicapped at 6!b from Pluto in the Metropolitan, consequently Mustard Pot should be over 61b away from Pluto instead of which he is getting 31b. Listening Post was handicapped to get 71b from Silver Peak Telegraph Handicap at Wellington, but those figures are ignored, as there is only lib between them in the Publicans’ Handicap. Listening Post won cleverly at Wyndham and again at Invercargill He now meets Bella Lake on lib better terms than when the latter beat him on the second day. Sunny Loch meets Limelight on 4 b belter terms than in the Members’ Handicap, and the mare is preferred at the weights. Many Kittle has been asked to meet Bon Spec on 21b worse terms than when the latter beat him in the Federal Handicap, and the former has none the best of it through Listening Post, who meets him on better terms than when they last met. Since then Listening Post has won twice. Corn Rigs is a better sprinter than a stayer, and for that reason his chance in the Publicans’ is preferred to what he holds in the Cup. Tressayr has shown no form this season, and has been looked after for a horse that failed to gain a place in each of his races. Economist is a speedy galloper. He was unplaced in the Members’ Handicap, won by Limelight, and now meets u- 1 " on and Sunny Loch, - who was third, on 61b better terms over a furlong less ground. Kerb has a recent win to her credit, but does not seem to have much chance with Listening Post, as he meets her on 14ib better terms than when he beat her at Invercargill. Will Oakland has not been seen out since the Grand National meeting, when he ran third in the Winter Gup. He reads Well treated on his form at the Dunedin Winter meeting, and would be particularly dangerous if he struck a soft track. Mantua reads the best horse at the tail of the handicap. A NEGLECTED LINE. The fact that the Queensland champion Tom M'C’arfhy is opt of a mare by Sir Modred recalls how a line that was once all powerful in New Zealand became utterly neglected and allowed to die our. Tom McCarthy’s dam was got in America, and purchased in England, and afterwards shipped to Australia. Sir Modred was a handsome horse, and one of the best left by Traducer, who got sonic of the best performers ever see.n or likely to be seen in the Dominion; but the last to carry on his line was the doubtfully-bred Advance, who was neglected at the stud. The best of the Traducer line were allowed to leave the country. Traducer got such horses as Welcome .Jack, Le Loup, Vanguard, Natator, Chancellor, Trump Card, Cheviot, Templeton, Betrayer, Lurline, Somnus, Libeller, Idalium, Cheviot, and a host of other good winners, who captured every race of note in the country, as well as several in Australia. That, the line could breed on with a proper chance was shown by the fact that Advance, Liberator, and Gipsy King, each by different sons of Traducer, were amongst the best of their time. If such horses as Sir Modred, Welcome Jack, Cheviot, Idalium, and’other good sons of Traducer had been properly appreciated, the line would probably have been just as strong to-day as it was 40 years ago. Traducer sired five Derby winners in six years. He also got Maritana, Chancellor, Le Loup, and Welcome Jack, who won four C.J.C. Handicaps in five years ; and under its present title of the New Zealand Cup he got another winner in Vanguard, to make five winners in seven years. Traducer got winners of eight Canterbury oups in 13 years, six consecutive winners of the Champagne Stakes, several winners of the Auckland Cup, Great Northern Derby, and Great Autumn Handicap, and the Dunedin Cup was captured by half a dozen of his get, whilst grandsons in Gipsy King, Liberator, and Advance also won the same race. Traducer put up a great record as a sire of speed and stamina as well as good looks; but only a memory remains of one of the most successful stallions the world has ever know.n. THE FORBURY PARK MEETING. The Forbury Park Trotting Club will open its Summer meeting on Saturday next, and, judging by the lengthy list of acceptances, good fields seem to be assured for both cards supplied by the piogramme. On the second day the Nevy Zealand Trotting Stakes, of 600sovs, will form oiie of the star attractions of the card. A field of 16 high-class performers remain in the Dunedin Cup after the declaration of acceptances, and it should provide a rather interesting race. Trix Pointer displayed brilliant form at Addington in November, and afterwards ran second to Peter Mac at the Forbury Park Spring meeting. If she is in her best form, the American mare should carry a good deal of support. Albert Cling gave indications in the spring that, he was coming back to form, and he may prove the best of the back mark division, particularly as he ran second to Logan Chief and went 2.45 3-5. The first race is timed to start at 12.30 each day.

THE W AIM ATE MEETING. The Waimate Cun, of 375sovs (including cup valued at. 50sovs). will be the principal event run at the Waimate Racing Club’s annual meeting, to be held on March 15. The Studholme Stakes of 150sovs, Trial Plate of 125sovs, President’s Handicap of 2Cosovs, Waitaugi Hack Welter of 150sovs, and Stewards’ Welter of 175 soys also find place on the card. In addition to the above, the Morven Trot of 175sovs and the Hook Trot of 150sovs are also on the programme, for which nominations are due on Monday, February 19, at 9 p.m., with Mr Albert J. Hoskins. IN A NUTSHELL, The Dunedin Cup meeting takes place next week. The Morrinsville Racing Club has decided to go into liquidation. Limelight is one of the popular picks for the Publicans’ Handicap. Glentruin was struck out of the Dunedin Cup on the appearance of the weights. Rational has recovered from the effects of • his mishap at the Auckland Cup meeting. A substantial offer was refused for Pillie Winkle during the Wellington Cup meeting. Murihaupo has incurred the full penalty of 14lb for the Dunedin Champagne Stakes. Cupidon received a bad passage in both the Wellington Cup and Consolation Handicap. „ F. E. Jones was in good form* at Winton, where he won the three last events on the card. The Dunedin Cup meeting takes place on Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday of next week The New Zealand-bred Absurdum is amongst those engaged in the Newmarket Handicap. The thousand-guinea yearling half-brother to Cupidon will join W. Hobbs’s stable at Riccarton. Acceptances for the first day of the Dunedin Cup meeting are due on Wednesday of this week. Thespian is reported to be striding along nicely in his work, and is apparently quite sound again. The Australian rider, W. M'Lachlan, returns to England next month to ride during the coming season. Nelson is the only horse that has succeeded in winning the Auckland, Wellington and Dunedin Cups. If Eleus could pick up a fresh lease of life he would be a hard nut- to crack in the Dunedin Cup at 7.4. A special train will arrive from Christchurch on Thursday with horses engaged at the Forbury Park meeting. * The new stewards’ stand at Trentham when completed will take rank as easily the best of its kind in the Dominion. The Forbury Park Trotting Club’s Summer meeting starts on Saturday next, and will be concluded on the following Monday. The Australians think that Alfort is well treated by the Dominion handicappers, but so far he has failed to score a win. Silver Peak was on offer at lOOOgns prior to the Dunedin Summer meeting. Since then she has won lVOQsovs in stakes. The Solferino gelding Rouen has been showing signs of the wear and tare of training, and is to be treated to a lengthy spell. Helen Rufus is a half-sister to Benny Helen, who won the Oaks Stakes of 1913, and incidentally beat a great mare in Warstep. ■M; r J- B. Reid sailed for England last week, and part of his stud will be shipped Home after being bred to Archery to English time. Those who went for Muraahi in the Weilvngtou Cup shot wide of the mark, as he did not finish in the first eight. past the post. (Sunny Loch has been handicapped to meet Mustard Pot on 101 b worse terms in the Stewards’ Welter than in the Publicans’ Handicap. Gold Light reads well treatesl in the Dunedin Cup in meeting Roseday on the same terms as when she beat the. latter at Trentham. Razzle Dazzle will probably .frighten some of the opposition out of the Dunedin Champagne Stakes even though she has incurred a penalty of 141 b. R. J. Mason rode one Dunedin Cup winner of Lurline, and. trained others in the shape of Spade Guinea, Gipsy King Vanguard, and Orloff. Eighteenpence was taken up to Trentham for the last day of the meeting, and made favourite for the Kaitoke Handicap, but finished out of a place. Trespass won the last Dunedin Cup with This year he meets Winning Hit on 61b worse terms and Insurrection on the same terms as last year. After running a good race in the Wellington Cup, Kick Off did not' seem at home in the heavy going when the W.R.C. Handicap came up for decision. The Western India Turf Club has introduced a valuable stake to be known as ihe Eclipse Stakes, of 7000sovs, to be run over a mile and a-quarter at Bombay. Entries for the Ashburton Trotting Club’s Sapling Stakes, of 750sovs, to be run in 1924, close on Monday, February 12, at 6 p.m., with Mr A. A. Fooks, Ashburton. Rapine and Epitaph were not produced again at Trentham after the first day of the meeting. Rapine was showing signs of soreness after winning the Wellington Cup. New Zealand is well represented in this year’s Australian Cup. Insurrection, The Cypher, Molyneux, Penitent, Truthful, and Radiant Light are amongst those engaged. Last season Mr W. R. Kemball ran first and second in the Dunedin Cup with Trespass and Vagabond. This year he has Trespass, Insurrection, and Bumptious engaged in the race. The unplaced lot behind Trespass in -the last Dunedin Cup included Winnin g Hit, 9.5; Insurrection, 8.13; Palestrina, 8.5; General Advance, 7.13; Silent King, 7.9; and Mythology, 7.1. Solfanello keeps on finding others too good for him at the weights. It does not pay to own a good horse when the handicappers think the said horse is a little better than what is really the case. Donside’s condition was open to a gTeat deal of improvement when he raced at the Invercargill meeting, and as he won the Winton Cup he has evidently trained on Bince the beginning of the month. Pillie Winkie was a strong fancy for the Douro Cup, in wdiich he ran third. The heavy going may have been against his chance, and he is in all probability » better horse than his Trentham form suggests. When Limelight beat Sunny Loch into third place in the Members’ Handicap the latter was giving 9lb to the mare, and she reads well treated through him in the Publicans’ Handicap at a difference of 51b. Trespass, who won the last Dunedin Cup, appears to be handicapped on the memory of the win rather than on recent form. He has been asked to meet -Silver Peak on the same terms as when she beat him in the Consolation at Wellington. The New South Wales owner and breeder, Mr J. Brown, who is at present in England, has purchased the stallion March Along, a

son of Swynford, now in Australia. Mr Brown holds the opinion that Hurry On is the best stallion in England. K. Reed was on Rewi Poto when he deadheated with Red Ribbon in the Wellington Cup of 1919; he was on Kilmoon when that horse appeared to be lucky to gain a deadkeat verdict with Oratress; he won on Miaioha in 1921, and again on Rapine this year. Wake Up, the winner of the Kaitoke Handicap, is a half-sister, by Bezonian, ; to oleopyhead. Somniform, tile dam of Wake Lp, is bred on lines that should throw a stayer, as she was got by Boniform from Uieamer, by Mostyn—Moorooroc, by Trenton —Aightmare, by Panic. Glenshine outstayed Claverliouse when they followed Red Admiral and Mazama nome in the Gladstone Hurdles. In the Autumn Hurdles to be run at Wingatui. Clavertiouse has not received much chance of beating Glenshine over the same distance with only’ lib in his favour. There were many who thought Red rrind lucky to get the verdict over Silver Peak when they met in the Final Handicap run at the last Great Autumn meeting Silver Peak is handicapped to meet Red Hind on 41b worse terms in the Publicans’ Handicap than when they met at Riccarton. Ihe veteran sportsman Mr S. G. Smith has returned from a holiday trip to the West Coast, and comes back greatly improved in health He speaks in warm terms of the hospitality he received from sportsmen on the West Coast, who did their best to make tj-ii™ tt\ s as . pleasant as possible. 1 lllie Winkle scored comfortable when he won over a mile in the Salisbury' Handicap, and is not harshly treated in being asked to meet Loughrea, who was second on that occasion, on 31b worse terms. They both might experience trouble in treating Avispado. who is another with the gift of galloping. , u T I? 3 ? ] . nt f■ restln £ go between Mazama, and Krd Admiral when they met on the final day Of tlie Invercargill meeting. Red Admnal won nicely at the finish, and has bee. asked to meet Mazama on 71b worse term*. i? i® a , n , im Proving sort, Red Admiral should be able to give Mazama another good go for winning honours; • In the Dunedin Cup -Silver Peak has bee. allotted 161 b more than she was asked to carry ln the Wellington Cup. Cupidon hae o'O’ Insurrection fib, Winning Hit 51b, Kick Off 61b Deucalion 71b, Trespass 51b, Gold Light 71b, Royal Star Blb, Many Kittle 81b, Roseday ,Ib, Scrimmage 31b. and Boadieea no more than in the Wellington Cup figures. . Insurrection is one of the unluckiest houses in training, and it will be interesting to W run * with more success in Mr t T Ji •, h - embali 's colours than he did in those of J. W. Lowe. He has been a consistent place-getter in important events, and has only one win to his credit, and that was when he landed the Wellington Cup last season. Tire Kilbroney horse Kilboy, who was one of the best three-year-olds ever seen in the Dominion, is doing well at the stud. His latest winner is Diamond Ring, who captured Ik® Douro Cup. Diamond Ring was got by ivilbcy from Hope .Diamond, by Royal Artillery—Blue Fire, by Maxim—Sapphire. -Hope Diamond is also the dam of Sauci, Parisian Diamond and Zircon. The Consolation Handicap run at the Wellington Cup meeting was open to horses that had not won a race at the meeting, and ,9 u kt arose as to whether Palestrina was eligible to start. If the race was to be restricted only to horses beaten at the meeting the conditions should state the fact. As Palestrina had not rvon a race at the meeting, she was eligible to run. Razzle Dazzle has trained on into a highclass two-year-old, and her owner, Mr W I. Hazlett was on the right track when he purchased her dam, Simper, who has produced two good winners in Gold Light and Razzle Dazzle. Simper was imported by MkJ. B. Reid, and was got by Symington from Chelys, by Sir Visto—Chelandry, by Goldfinch—llluminata, by Rosicrucian. Lucius, the winner of the chief sprint on the final day at Wellington, was got ’by Lucullous from March, by Marble Arch from Lady Musket, by Blairgowrie—Muskeriha, by Musket. It was his first win of the season, although he has some placed performances to his credit. When racing as a two-year-old last season Lucius won cnce and was four times placed out of six starts. When Selene won the Liverpool (England) Autumn Cup, one and a-quarter miles 170 yards, in November, she made the sixteenth winner of that race' trained by the Hon. G. Lambton in 26 years. The fact of the raoe being a handicap .makes the record-. remarkable, On two occasions Mr Lambton won twice with the same horse, those to so distinguish themselves jieing Pallisson and Chaucer. The question of a club assuming power to rehandicap placed horses has lately been a topic of discussion in trotting circles. The Rules of Trotting distinctly state that only winners are liable to be rehandicapped, and a club cannot assume authority to override the rules. If a club could do so, w© should see eacli .club using their own rules, and this sort of . thing would lead to endless confusion. . Winning Hit looks badly treated through * Cupidon in the Dunedin Cup. Cupidon was handicapped to give him 31b in the Wellington Cup, and befit hint when in receipt of 41b»in the Consolation Handicap, run over the distance, at which Winning Hit holds the Australasian record. All Winning Hit’s form points to him being a non-stayer, but he is rated within lib of Cupidon in the Dunedin Cup. The Canterbury Jockey Club's Midsummer meeting will be held at Riccarton on Saturday, and the running will be followed with considerable interest, sa the majority of the horses engaged are also nominated for the Dunedin Cup meeting. Cupidon and Kick Off read as most likely to command support in the Midsuminor Handicap. Winners at the meeting are liable to be reliandicapped for the Dunedin meeting. For some reason or other Roseday is handicapped to meet Kick Off on worse terms than when they met in the Weilington Cup, in which the former was not in the first seven, whilst the latter finished a close third. Roseday is also badly treated through Cupidon, as he meets him on 4lb worse terms than in the Wellington Cup and on the same terms as when Cupidon finished in front of him in the Metropolitan Handicap. Apropos of trainers having nice little bets on their own horses, John Corlett used to fell a story of travelling back to town with William Day from Doncaster. .Said John to William: “George Crook offered 20.000 to 1009 against your horse last night.” William nodded, and smilingly replied: "A nice bet to begin a commission with.” Only later on did it leak out that it was on William Day’s own behalf that Crook (whose real name was Kmckenberg) had offered the bet. Jockeys retain their form much longer in England than in Australia. Touching on this the Duke of Portland related the followiig anecdote when he recently forwarded i*>! to the secretary of the John Osborn© Memorial Fund; “When John Osborne won the Two Thousand on my colt Ayrshire, in 1888, he said to me: ‘I think it may interest you to know that 31 years ago, in the year in which you were born, I won the Two

Thousand on Vedette, great-grandsire of the animal that I have ridden to-day.' Ayrshire was by Hampton out of Atalanta, by Galopin, by Vedette.” The real test of a stayer, or rather, the length of a course to determine a stayer, is a subject which has always provided much discussion, “Teviotdale” writes on the subject as follows: "I have always maintained, in defining a ‘stayer,’ that ere a horse earns his diploma in this class, he must be capable of going farther than a mile and a-half. flhe Derby itself 13 no genuine test of staying power. And even when any animal has won over a longsr distance than a mile and a-half, perhaps dn some odd occasion, you must take into consideration the calibre of the cattle in opposition. ‘A one-eyed man i 3 king among the blind.' ” Although Trespass has not displayed any winning form since the early part cf the season he is fairly well treated in the Dunedin Cup at 2lb more than he won under last year in the smart time of 2.31 2-ssec. Trespass put up his only win this season in the New Zealand Eclipse Stakes, run at Wanganui, when he was over a length in front of Winning Hit, who finished third. On that occasion Winning Hit was in receipt of 4lb, and does not seem to have much chance on paper with Trespass in the Dunedin Cup in being asked to meet the latter on 101 b worse terms. In the Auckland Plate Winning Hit finished in front of Trespass when in receipt of 41b from the latter. Mr W. R. Kemball has two horses engaged In the Dunedin Cup which have already won lor him at Wingatui. Trespass won last fear’s Cup and Bumptious won the two-year-sld race on the second day’s card. Bumptious has only won once this season, when he icored over a mile and 54 yards at the Feilding Spring meeting. He ran Zircon to a neck over a mile at Auckland when giving the latter 51b. Zircon gave Red Gown slb and beat her by a head over a mile at Wellington. Bumptious and Zircon are about a match over a mile, and if Zircon can give Red Gown slb and a beating, then Bumptious has slb the best of it with Red Gown in the Dunedin Cup. Bumptious is bred on lines that suggest he might stay, as he was got by Kilboy _from Conceit, by Boniform from Lady Wayward, by Ladas. The Dunedin Cup of 1920 was a gift -to Amythas, when he won as a three-year-old under 9.1. Flora Macdonald scored a comfortable win when she won with 7.11 at the same age, and put up what was then a race record of 2.33 2-ssec. Orloff won easily when he carried 8.13, and so did Advance when he carried 8.7. Djin Djin won the first Dunedin Cup run at Wingatui, when he scored as a three-year-old with 7.2 in 1899. Prior to that the distance was a mile and threequarters, and one of the easiest wins ever reoorded in the race was when Gipsy Grand as a three-year-old won with 8.4. Back in earlier days Gipsy King won over two miles and a distance with 8.4, and so did Sir Modred with 7.10. Taking it all round three-year-olds have proved fairly formidable in the race, and hence Gold Light is entitled to respect with 8.4, • In the writer's opinion Gold Light should have beaten Enthusiasm in the Oaks, and the latter at 8.4 in the Dunedin Cup would be a strong fancy. “There is nothing like the racecourse as a provider of strange happenings,” says Mr P. P. Gilpin, the racing trainer, in the Weekly Dispatch. “One most extraordinary* affair was that .of Jack Beasley, one of the famous Beasley brothers, well-known riders in their day. At Puncnestown Jack Beasley rode a horse named Pirate, and came a dreadful ‘purler’ at the wall. I found him rubbing his eyes and looking about in a dazed sort of way. He mumbled that he was all right, whereupon I helped him up on to Pirate again, and led him back. Beasley was allowed to go out on Menasha for the Droghers Stakes. He rode a good race and won. Next morning I found him still in bed, and he said that he was well, asking why he should he otherwise. I replied that I thought he might be feeling the effects of his fall the previous day. He declared that he had had no fall, and nothing would ever persuade him that he had. He afterwards declared that- he had no recollection of the meeting.” The Licensing Committee met at Wellington, when there were only four members present, and the business was proceeded with. Unfortunately no information was available for the daily papers, the chairman, Sir George Clifford’s, instructions being that particulars were not to be given until it had first appeared in the Weekly Press, which is the official organ. The licensing business is of considerable interest in sporting circles throughout the Dominion, more especially in Auckland (says . ' r Whalebone” at present, owing to certain circumstances, and the action of the chairman in withholding tho information is autocratic in the extreme. While the present position of affairs obtains there is very little hope of redress, but one must enter an emphatic protest, concerning tho methods adopted, and t. ust that someone of a progressive turn of mind will bring the matter forward at the next conference. • in the hope of getting an alteration made in the interest of evervbodv. At. present one can only give the information which is common rumour that a prominent trainer has had his license cancelled, two or three riders are in the samp position, and that no licenses of importance have been issued. It is a time-honoured custom in Australia for the owners of an important cun winner to provide wine at the club on settling day, remarks the Melbourne Leader. Mr P. A Connolly departs from that custom When he wins tho Perth Cup he does not buy wine for the members of Tattersall’s Club. He prefers to make substantial donations to the Perth hospitals. As he has been interested in nine Perth Cup winners he has heen able to do a lot for the Perth hospitals. Mr Connolly has been a wonderfully locksman in cup races, and his record in connection with the Perth Cup must be unique in the history of racing. His first winner of the Perth Cup was Blue Spec, who scored in 1904. The following year Czaiovitch won, end then in successive years he won with May King, Post Town, and Sootcher. The sequence was broken the next year, when Loch Shiel beat Jolly Beggar on the post, hut Jolly Beggar made amends by winning the next Perth Cup. In 1911 Artesian, in wbom he had an interest won, and Artesian scored again in 1913. Jolly Cosy, who won this year's Perth Cup, was bred by Mr Connolly. She is his ninth winner of the race. Blue Spec and May King won him the Kalgoorlie Cup, and Dyed Garments scored in the Boulder Cup. In the Eastern States Mr Connolly continued to win cups. With Blue Spec he wop the Melbourne Cup in 1905, and Blue Spec also won the Moonee Valley Cup that year, a race May King also won for him. Mr Connolly won the Sydney Cup with Dyed Garments, and he was part owner with Mr J. O. Peterson of Lilyveil. who credited the partners with the Sydney Cup.