TURF TOPICS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 128, 6 July 1914, Page 8

TURF TOPICS.

J. Hennah is expected back in WeUington from Sydney on Wednesday with Julian and Forest Prince, both of whom claim engagement at the Wellington Racing Club's Meeting.

As the result of his dual victory on I the first day of the Gisborne Raupani is now one of the most fancied candidates for the Winter Cup. Only for the serious accident he met witli a few weeks ago, it is quite probable that J. M'Gregor would have had the ride on Clontaft in the V.R.C. Grand National Hurdles. Under the circumstances H. Cairns was decidedly fortunate in securing such an excellent mount. In past seasons horses hailing frojn Gisborne district have earned considerable distinction at the winter meetings, and this year, with three such highly - tliought-of representatives as Player* Chortle, and Grey King, the northerners are sure to play a prominent .part in some of the valuable jumping events at Wellington and Riccarton. It is quite probable that Clontaft will be given the opportunity of emulating Bribery's achievement in winning both the big jumping the V.R.C. Meeting, for he figures amongst the acceptors for next Saturday's steeplechase. According to a Press Association message from Dunedin, the Otago Jockey Club, after spending £3692 on improvements, has a credit balance of £350 against £334 last year. In addition the club gave away £1075 more in stakes. As the result of his fall off> Merry Lad on the first day of the Gisborne meeting, F. Tutchen -sustained a fractured collarbone. This marks the fourth mishap of a similar nature that lias befallen the Aucklander during the past j twelve months.

On the first day of the Gisborne Meeting, Mr W. S. Davidson expressed dissatisfaction to the stewards • concerning the manner in which his horse Reservoir had been handled by J. O 'Connell. After enquiry the stewards . decided to administer a severe caution to the horseman, pointing out to him that it was his duty to ride to a finish, especially in a hurdle race.

The V.R.C. Grand National Hurdles winner, Clontaft, has improved out of all knowledge as a jumper during the past twelve months. He was amongst the competitors in last year's race, but, though only weighted at 9.7 on that occasion, he was never in the fighting Saturday 's contest the son of Godwin carried 11.4, and won in record time. After being schooled at Eiccarton on Saturday morning, Tint Doolan and Ohakea, both of whom claim engage-, ments at the North Canterbury Meeting, I were sent back to their owner's place near Amberley. A final, reminder is given those owners who have horses engaged at the Wellington Racing Club's' Meeting, that acceptances fall due this evening. For some time "past Chortle has been regarded as a very likely candidate to 'attain Winter Cup honours, but his displays at the Gisborne Meeting were not of a reassuring nature. . - j Obi's display in the Y.R.C. Grand; National Hurdles must have come as a shock to his connections, who were very confident that the son of Coil would repeat his achievement of twelve months ago. As it was, Obi raced in the rear throughout and was one of the last to finish. Both the first and second place fillers in the V.R.C. Grand National Hurdles were ridden by ex-New Zealand horse:inen. .. Up to the middle -of last month the best two-year-old seen ;,out in England this season was a filly named Bambusa, who is by St. Amant from Cahtalpa. At Newmarket on May 14 :sIMS carried 8.9 in a field of twelve for the Breeders' Stakes, and won as she lilted by six lengths, running the five furlongs in lmin 1 4-ssec.

A Press Association message from •Melbourne mentions that Clontaft, the V.R.C. Grand National Hurdles winner, •has had an interesting career. Twice he was badly injured, then as a four-year-old he was given away as a hack, but the receiver regarded him as a dismal failure and returned him to his former owner. After subsequently running with varying success, he was sold for 500gs. The American trainer, Chas. James, is at present piitting several young trotting horses through their paces at the Addington track, which is now in greatly improved order. The same mentor has Albertorious and Albertoria in steady work, but the former still shows signs of stringhalt. Australian rising two-year-olds are always much more forward at this time of the year than those that receive their education in the Dominion. Already at Bandwick several trainers are having their juveniles exercised at the barrier. The well-known trotting gelding T.F.C., by Electioneer, was sold at Tattersall's on Saturday for £l3. In honour of the late Mr Godfrey Watson, who was starter at Flemington, Caulfield, and other Melbourne courses, the V.A.T.C. committee has named the event over fences to be decided at the July meeting the "Godfrey Watson Steeplechase. '' .

Undoubtedly the most remarkable of Derby owners was John Gully, grandfather of Speaker Gully, of the House of Commons. Butcher, publican, prizefighter, bookmaker, financier, and M.P., he won the Blue Ribbon on the turf on two occasions. When he died, in 1863, he was estimated to be worth £2,500,000 sterling. The following new rule regarding the registration of hopples has been adopted by the New South Wales Trotting Club: '' On and after August 1, 1914, all hoppled horses competing at meetings of the New South Wales Trotting Club and the Australian Trotting Club that have a winning record of 2min oOsec, or better, to the mile, must register with the New South Wales Trotting Club the exact inside measurement of hopples used. The hopples to be measured inside, as shown by the dotted lines and arrow in diagram. (Example shown in printed rules.) The length of the hopples to be stated on the entry form. After the length of the hopples has been registered, no alteration will be allowed unless with the sanction of the stewards. The-latter measurement will stand as the registered measurement. Failing compliance with this rule, the stewards shall have power to disqualify, suspend, or fine the person or persons connected therewith, and may disqualify, the horse concerned."

According to an Auckland authority, Admiral Soult is in great heart just S s,t present, and ran away from King Soult a few mornings ago at the business end of a circuit on the sand at Ellerslie. Bleriot joined in the effort in the lead at the latter part, and The Admiral almost got on terms with the Soult mare at/'" the close. Coleman's charge is a distinct fancy fpr the Winter Hurdles at Tren-

Amongst the notices of motion to come before the Racing Conference is one forwarded by the Taranaki district clubs which provides: '' That in all cases where a jockey or apprentice is suspended or disqualified for having committed a breach of any of these rules, the jockey or apprentice so suspended or disqualied shall be entitled to employ legal assistance to appear on his behalf, and to represent him upon the hearing of any subsequent appeal or appeals therefrom. ''

The reason why Grey King was not entered for Wellington (says a northern writer) was because he claimed engagements at Gisborne, and his party wish to give the son of Strowan every show to get over recent efforts before the big Riccarton fixture. Grey King is a deceiving customer, being of the lengthy, raky order; but there is no doubt as to his pace. In both hurdle Events which he won during the past fortnight, the results were hardly ever in doubt, though he rapped quite a number of his fences. As. a Grand National candidate lfe'is to be considered, if only because of the „ pace and breeding that he claims; but there is reason to believe that the Gis- . borne-owned grey would develop into even a better horse next season if given the opportunity to fill out. He is-not » horse that would impress any keen judgeas a weight-carrier at present; but, of course, he is not pitted against anything of note at Gisborne.

Details to hand concerning the raee for the Derby go to show that the contest was little better than a fiasco. An English writer says of it: —"For a time Kennymore was fairly sober. Then the favourite began to break out. He started by making little rushes backwards and to swing and pivot on his hind legs. Time after time O'Neill brought him back to the bad position he had drawnon the outside. Fifteen minutes passed, and by that time he was thoroughly roused. He shied and jumped away from' the dense crowds lining the rails on either side of the course hereabouts. The long ordeal of the mobbing in the paddock, the solemn parade, and the slow progress across the thickly-populated ravine to . the start had begun to tell, and soon Obe had given way altogether, and stood oiit as a maddened favourite. When Mr Wflloughby had performed the formality of his office by pulling the lever and releasing the horses, what a spectacle-, was there! Instead of leaving in the Ideal way, each as well served as the other, they began their struggle like horses finishing an irregular cavalry N» need was there to look twiee for the favourite. Kennymore's colours; were conspicuous in the rear. The horse had swung round as the tapes flew upwards, and had therefore been left.'' The favourite 's left!" What a world of dreadful meaning was conveyed by the shouted words, and what a pang smote i>pon*all who, in the interests of sport, apart from any other consideration, 'wanted to see him have a fair chance to justify himself. Tragedy there was enough/ in that. But that was not all. The King's colt, Brakespear, was also left. He had not begun to move when .those first, sftvay were a hundred yards in front—Polycratea,: Black Jester, Flying Orb, "Durbar 3CL ? and others all tearing along. " TEMPL.AB.