THE TURF.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 144430, 18 July 1914, Page 8

THE TURF.

(By "Field-glass.”)

FIXTURES. July 18—'Wellington B.C. Winter. August 11, 13 and 15—C.J.C. Grand National Meeting. HUNTING DATES. July 23—Mr. H. Street’s, 801 l Block. July 30—Mr. 'i'awhauga’s, Waihi. Manawakaha has been tnrned out. It is to bo hoped that the breakdown to Goodwin Park will not prore serious, and tha-t he will bo fit and. well to take part in the Grand National Hurdles. Ho was one of the ruling 'favourites. Tiie Hawcrn trained Tabora (stepson—Ardane) is said to bo a good jumper. . , Tree Lucerne is in work again, and will probably be seen with the colours up in the spring. H. W. Johnson is also working Aster’s fuil-bvoihcr, Coropet, but he is unlikely to bo raced before Christmas. Oerbcrga, New Plymouth’s candidate in tho Stewards’ Handicap at Wellington, was never sighted on the journey. Evidently sho is not partial to heavy going. Bonny Helen is in work again at Wanganui, with a view to being got ready for the Now Zealand Cup, the daughter of Boniform is looking well alter the spoil, which has evidently done her good. The New Zealander Lalla (Obhgado —Cyronaicn) won tho 14.2 Handicap at tho Victoria Park (K.S.W.) on Thursday week. She started a hot favourite. Cheddar made his debut overjumps in the Hack Hurdles at the Wellington meeting, and finished third. Five furlongs from home ho appeared to have a good winning chance, bnt finished indifferently. It is reported that the horse will shortly bo shipped to Melbourne. Aruako has not been doing any work at Wanganui of laic, and the chances arc that ho will not fulfil his Grand National engagement, bnt be kept im l the, Wanganui spring meeting. Tho smallness of the dividend returned u - Immensity in tho Winter Hurdles at Wellington "came as a surprise, to New Plymouth punters. Tho daughter of Multilid—lmincr.silcoff won the Metro Hack Hurdles at Napier Park a few weeks ago, beating Sunbeam, Diavolo, Lcapuki and others, Peary was greatly fancied hy his party in tho Wellington Steeplechase, hut ho hit a hurdlo when about to make his rim, and soon dropped back, and did not complete the course. Cornelian, who, it will be remembered, went amiss some lime ago. has been blistered and turned out for three months.

Kew has been given a few trials over the schooling hurdles, and has shown his ability to jump. Ho will probably be given a rim in one of the minor hurdle events at tho Grand National meeting. Bcrcola has been an expensive horse to follow this season. He does not seem to bo nearly the horse he was last season. Ton furlongs from homo in tho Wellington Steeples he was a beaten horse.. Despite his poor performances Mr. Henri'S has given him 11.13 to carry in tho National Hurdles, or 31b. more than what ho failed with in tho ‘Wellington Steeples. Leonta has recently been knocking his hurdles in his schooling tasks, and as'a result has boon a hit sore during the last few days. It is exported, however, that he will soon ho right again. Tho Conqueror gr-lding . has given evidence of hir, ability to lump fairly well, and all going y.-cll will he a starter in the. Grand Nntioanl.

The Bluest on» bubble duly burst at Wellington. In tho Parliamentary Handicap ho went out a good favourite. but after making the pace for most of the journey tired over the last farlong, and was well beaten. J. Fryer's team at Uawera is likely to bo reinforced shortly by tho addition of Draft and a full-sister to Sir Prize, rising two years old. both owned by Mr. G. Smith, of Stratford. A threc-yenr-old gelding by St. Paul from Mirth is also going to Fryer’s, says Sir Single. As anticipated, Royal Arms ran a great race in tho Winter Hurdles. To run second in his initial performanco over jumps and in such good company, is indeed a fine performance. A southern writer says: “Royal Arms is without doubt good, for ho was always in the thick of it. Ho appeared to strike trouble at the back, and lost his position, but came again in tho straight, and wight have won had tho race been another half furlong.” Ho was not started at tho meeting to-day. After this performanco Mr. George will probably start the horse in tho Grand National Hurdles and forfeit his engagement in the Winter Cnp at th'o C.J.C. mooting. Ho has boon allotted 9.13 in the National Hurdles and 9.7 in tho Winter Cup. Old Antarctic lined up to contest; tho Wellington Steeples, looking half ready, and was soon chasing his field. He came to a sad end three-quarters of a mile from tho post, when ho toppled over and broke his neck. There aro several more old “racehorsgs” on tho racing track in Now Zealand who will end by breaking their necks, and also punters. A yearling full-sister to tho Now Plymouth owned Princess Flo (St. Paul — Flagolet mare) is said to have been sold recently for £l, and her dam for £4. Ono buyer gave a fiver for the lot, and should not have much trouble in getting his money back, as Princess Flo and Master William (another out of the same marc) boil; won races. At tho Racing Conference on Friday a committee was set up to inquire into tho whole question of tho shortage of competent jockeys. Trainers of numerous stables all over New Zealand, including some of tho have been complaining lately of their inability to secure suitable boys for thoir stables. Probably tho chief reason why boys are hard to secure is that parents think the racing life is a “very low down game,” and will not hear of allowing their boys to go into stables. The average jockey can earn a very comfortable living, and tho work on tho whole is not very strenuous. Berg, who won tho 14.1 Handicap 1 at the Victoria Park meeting last week and returned just double-figure odds, and incidentally put up a record for the track, is a New Zealand-bred golding by Signalman—Cartouche. He lias done fairly well in and around Sydney of Into, and has won a number of races. Calipha, who finished third, is also a Now Zealand-bred pony, by Slartian —Son of the Desert mare, and at ono timo was sold in Christchurch for £9. Clontaft, who won tho Australian Grand National Hurdles, lias contested 39 races, won 13, and had five see-

ends and three thirds. His wins comprise eight hurdle races, two steeplechases, one open fiat race, and two steeplechaser’s Hat races. He has fallen four times in jumping events. The heaviest weight he lias carried to victory was list. 101 b,, with which he won the steeplechaser’s fiat race, at Mooueo Valley, last month.