TURF TOPICS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LII, Issue 17079, 7 July 1926, Page 3

TURF TOPICS.

FJXT4JK ES--E A 01NG-. July (>, S, .10—Wellington It. C. •inly 22 —Waimate District Hunt Club. July 21—South Canterbury Hunt Club. July 29, 3.l—Gisborne R.C. Steeplechase meeting. July HI.-—Christchurch Hunt Club. August 7—Poverty Day Hunt Club Annual. August 10, 12. 14—Canlerhurv Jockey Club. August 21—Pakuranga Hunt Club. August’ 2 : j—Egmoiii-Wanganui Hunt Club. August 2C—North Tatanaki Hunt Club. No flat race at the Australian •Mickey Club’s spring and autumn meetings carries less than £IOOO added money. * * * * Rapine has been doing steady work, and is reported to be in great condition. He is well engaged in Australian events. « * * * Reports eoneeniiug Commendation point to his being' ready for early spring engagements. He is said to have wintered well, and io present a picture of health. * * * * The three-year-old gelding, by Cynic from Lavcnliam, is making good progress in the hands of J. Manuel at Ellerslie. ITe has improved considerably in appearance since arriving at Ellerslie, and lias impressed track watchers as a horse of promise. * * * * | Homo considerable interest will centre upon the possibility of To Kawa running out the two and a-lmlf miles journey in the Grand National race at Kiocarton. East year, as an eighl-vear-old,. he I'ound the journey too far, though lie had non well over shorter courses. * * «■ * The late arrival in Wellington of several Auckland and Waikato horses on .Friday, due to the breakdown of tin 1 Limited, was the cause of some trouble, and anxious moments were experienced bv those in charge of tho horses until an emergency arrangement was fixed up for the delivery of the horse trucks at Trenthum. * * * * The New Zealand-bred two-year-old Kiosk was inspected by an intending buyer during his stay in Sydney. It is understood the price asked was 2200 guineas and a contingency of 200 guineas. The Wanganui trainer, W. H. Dwyer, expressed himself well pleased that the deal fell through, as he holds a high opinion of Hie Tea Trav youngster. * * * * Colorado, who was selected by Steve Donoghue as one of two horses that had a chance of winning the 1920 Derby at Epsom, but was beaten into third place by Coronach and Lance Gave, is to meet Lord Woolavington’s colt in the Eclipse Stakes, to be run at San down on July 10. Colorado won the Two Thousand Guineas at. Newmarket. and so incurred a. penalty of lolhs. for the Stakes, which I* *ver a course of a mile and a quartcf*. * * * * The Wellington meeting, which commenced yesterday;, will be continued to-morrow and on Saturday. The principal event to-morrow will be the Parliamentary Handicap, a flat race, but on Saturday there will be the Winter Hurdles and the July Steeplechase, with the Winter Oats in addition. The Trent ham course is noted for Iho soft going at this time of the year, and recent forecasts were for a -wet meeting. * * * * .Ellerslie is very quiet at present, with many of the horses from tho stables there travelling abroad. Musketoou is one Ellerslie habitue who is on the easy list, nad it is stated that he may do little more racing. A horse of his breeding will have a good stud value. Gala Day, Boomerday, War Officer and Star Comet are to be recommissioned, together with a couple of lillies in R. E. Brown’s stable; the two-year-old Charmer is to be seen at work on the A.R.C. track, though it may be some time before he is ready for racing.

The Poverty Bay Hunt Club will hold its annual totalisalor meeting at tlie Park race-course on August 7, tho principal event being the Hunt Club Steeplechase of 125 sovs., for qualified hunters. Tho race will have a minimum. weight of lOst 71b., and the distance is two miles and a-lialf. Tho flexion Handicap is the big flat event, and llOsovs. have been alocated as the stake. The programme includes a trotting handicap, in harness, for a stake of SO sovs. Nominations close on July 23, weights will be declared on August 2, and acceptances will close the following day.

The Whangnrei Racing Club has become involved in a. dispute with the other bodies using the municipal park for race and sports meetings. Mho health officer has intimated that before the Bark can be again used for a public gathering, proper conveniences, estimated to cost £1909. must bo put in baud. The Northland irottiilg Club and the A. and P. Socicly also use the ground, and have agreed to share Ihe cost of the improvements with the Condi,''! but the Racing Club stands out of the agreecnmt, and there is a danger that the spring meeting of Hie club will have to be held elsewhere unless some compromise is effected. *• * * Australian racing officials tiro again being urged to strike boldly against illegalities practised by some persons connected with horses. A recent sensation was the finding, on an Adelaide course, of a tiny but highly effective batterv. which had presumably been used on a horse in one of the events; the battery was found just alter the nilining of the Adelaide Cup, and it was lumored that a spectator had seen jorkev diop something just at tho conclusion of the race. One of the factors which make defection difficult is the possibility of using the battery hi schooling, with the result that Hie horse comes to anticipate the shock ns the result of a oortam we 1d(dined movement of his rider, thus, bv producing the same preparatory

movement in the race, the jockey can stir Hie horse to its greatest effort, without actually using a battery. The racing authorities are alive in the illegalities, and on the day that Hie battery was found, the jockeys in an earlier race had been examined at the post, but .without revealing any instrument.

When Santiago fell down outside his stable, the incident worried his ownertrainer badly, for there was nothing about the horse to indicate that, he was off color. When a stable-male fell in exactly the same place an explanation suggested itself, however,, and it was found that the ground was alive with electricity, leaking from the lighting circuit. ' Santiago, comments “The Watcher,” has been getting the benefit of a course of electrical massage, but has not appreciated it, as shown by his behavior on release from his stall. * * * * Dirkenella, winner of tile Wellington Steeplechase at Trent ham yesterday, is by Birkenhead from Cnnella, and has had much success in minor steeplechases; but this is his first win in the top class. At the Grand National meeting last August, lie got a. second ill the Enfield Steeplechase, and won both the Hunt Club Oup and the Aylesbury Steeplechases. Subsequently be took three seconds in .succession, and then missed once before adding a first in the Waikato Hunt. Cup .Steeplechase to his record. He added a third and a. second at the Waikato .spring meeting. Last season lie raced a lot. but did not get into first money on more than one occasion, that being at. the Napier Park winter meeting, where lie won the Hunt ( lub Steeplechase. Dirkenella. is trained by W. Garrett. * * * * “Can Windbag win the Melbourne! Gup under Hist.?” is a question that will no doubt form the prime subject for discussion between now and r-lio first Tuesday in November (remarks “Phaeton” in the N.Z. Herald). The 10.0 opposite Windbag ’s name re- { presents an impost of 91b in excess of weight-for-age, but the fact of his carrying 9.2. (211> over weight-for-age) to victory in last year’s Cup will encourage many to view his chances with favor, for it cannot be disputed that his defeat of the Derby winner Manfred was accomplished by a display of grit of the highest order. Only a- great •horse could have recorded a feat such as that for which Windbag was responsible. The two miles were compassed in 2min. 22 if see. which shows that fhe pace was a cracker all the way, and, in worrying down the Derby winner, “Windbag the Great” could well be applied to the bay son of Magpie and Charleville. ’ ’ WELLINGTON RACES. Press Association.! WELLINGTON, last night. Tho Wellington Racing Club’s winter meeting opened to-day in fine weather. The course was on tho heavy side. The totalisalor put through £411,940 against £20,(529 on tho first Jay last year. Concluding results are;— Trentham Hurdle Handicap: 2 Brigadier Mill 1. 5 Lucullent 2, 11 Peter Rasa- 2. Also started; X Comedy Prince, 2 To Kawa, 4 Black Cruiser (fell),, 10 Santiago, 1 Zireoh. 12 Little River, (5 Ala vie, 7 Crown Coin, 12 Oureaform, 9 Bonomel. Won. by a length, a length between second and third. Santiago .was fourth. Time, 3.24. To Aro Handicap; 1 Sir Moment (R. Reed) 1, 10 Oardant 2, 15 Tanuadiee 2. Also started: 17 Demure, 1,(5 Musical. 14 High flown, 7 Catcall, H Dubious, 11 Black Rock, 3 Captain G a/cloy, 12 Kilns, 8 Kilims, 4 Nucleus,, 2 Llandudno, 12 Jov Bird, 19 Merle,, 21 Braemar, .18 Elvsianor, 9 Pi ton, (5 Mountain Jean, 22 Paraki, 20 Eurclla. Won by n length, with a length between second and third. Time, 1.23. Mountain'Jean was fourth.