SPORTING.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11030, 19 March 1914, Page 5

SPORTING.

RACING AND TROTTING. NOTES.BY "ARGUS." FIXTURES. March 25, 26—Raugitikoi J. 0. April 1, 2--Southland R.O. April 2, 3—Mastorton R.C. April 11—Tuapoka J.C. • April 13—Beaumont J.C. April 11, 13-Auckland R.C. April 11, 13—Wairarapa R.C. April. 13—Waipukurau J.O. April 13—Kumara R.C. April 1.3, 14—Riverton R.O. April 13, 14—Canterbury J.C. April 13. 14—Fcilcling J.C. April 13—Westland R.C. April 15, 18—Metropolitan T.C. April 22—tteefton J.O. April 23, 25—"Wellington R.C. April 29, 30—South Canterbury J.O, April 29, 30—Manawatu R.O.

There has been a slight lull in important racing fixtures lately, but wo will soon, be in the thick of the big autumn meetings. These will commence at Easter, when the Caui/n'lxU'y Jockey Club and the Auckland Racing Chib will provide the principal spm-t. Following them will come the Wellington, Manawatu and Flawiie's Ray fixtures, all of which take a prominent position in the racing events'at the back end of the season. Apart from the big handicaps, ' these meetings should provide some good sport in the class races. Among these the events in which two-year-olds may co.'.npeio will be of special interest. The seaso.t has not brought many high-class juveniles' to light yet, though there are a lew. ;n commission which can be considered useful, with distinct possibilities for the future iii some of thorn.

Several promising youngsters were .racing at the Napier Park meeting last week. I hear good .accounts of. Mr E. J "Watt's Blackall, a half brother, by All Black, to Noctuiform and Midnight Sun. He is not ready for serious racing yet, but ho may be capable of something before the close of the season. Another in Quinlivan's stable is Mr W. G. Stead's Ringform, by | Boniform, from the English mare Ring-; dove, bySceptie's half brother Collar. ."When Ringdove was in training she was a flighty mare, but she was a good performer, who could stay pretty well. Ringform is her first foal, and though ho is a'slow beginner, a weakness that gets him into trouble in short races, he gives promise of developing into something above the average. Tete-a-tete, who ran two decent races at Napier Park, is a half sister, by Royal Fusilier, to Bobrikoff. She is reported to have been very green, but good things. are predicted of her later on. The fact that'she is by Royal Fusilier does not prepossess me in her favour, as he has not left many performers that have trained on, though some of them have shown a lot of speed. The fact that Royal Fusilier is very much inbred may be a reason for his comparative failure, but whatever the cause, the fact remains that he has not been a great success. I gather from some of those who saw her_ race that she is likely to play a prominent part in the Great Northern Champagne Stakes at the Auckland Racing Club's meeting at Easter. La Favourita, a winner at Napier Park, may also develop into something useful. Her sire, King Rufus, though foaled in Australia, is bred from English stock, being by William Rufus, by Melton—Simena, by St Simon—Flying Footsteps, by Doncaster —Atalanta (dam of Ayrshire), -by Galopin. Arrowroot, the dam of King Rufus, is by Morion (son of Barcakline) from Semolina", by St Simon—Mowerina, by Scottish Chief. There is plenty of Galopin blood here, but Inamorata, dam ,of La, Favourita, introduces: Musket, she being by Torpedo, by Musket —Fanny Fisher, from Lady's Maid, by Mute—Maid of All Work. The Hon J. D. Ormond started three juveniles by Hymettus at Napier Park. The first, Husheen, is from Snooze, by Flintlock —Lullaby, by Apremont—Hammock. She is credited with being the speediest two-year-old seen out this season, the manner in which she cut down the opposition in the Sapling Stakes being described as electrifying. If this estimate is correct she should be capable of all tho big things that are predicted for her later in the season. Two others by Hymettus that raced at Napier Park were Hymen, from Simois, by Bukenhead—Mount Ida, by Apremont —ldalia, and Kaimonoha, from Dryad, by St Leger—Wood Nymph, by Musket ■ —Sylvia. Hymettus has left some smart youngsters among his first batch,' and he looks like taking a leading place among the sires in the dominion.

I have mentioned some of the juveniles that raced at Napier Park, but these arc only a few of the horses that will be on the scene for the leading events of the autumn; some of tliem, in fact, may not prove up to requirements far the big races. There are, however, plenty of others to be considered. The Hon J. D. Ormond for example, will have Hymettius and Hyettus, who did well earlier in the season and who have been enjoying a spell from racing lately. If they have gone on all right t'hev may have to be seriously considered. Mr E. J. Watt had Downham to carry his colours with distinction in the spring and he cannot be ignored for events ahead, his early form being distinctly good'. Football, iu the same stable, made a favourable impression, and he may be right in the front rank when next lie is produced. It is a matter for regret that Good. Night went wrong at the end of the year, as he was a colt of great promise, and the colonial-bred sires can ill afford to lose their good representative:-, as. they are in danger of being eclipsed at present by the imported article. Auckland does' not seem to bo very. well off for two-year-olds this season, and unless Castalia comes out and repeats her early spring form, it is difficult to see any good ones in that quarter. I was nearly omitting mention of another Hawko's Bay colt, Balboa, who has claims to rank as the best of the season, but unfortunately the Varco colt is not in any of the big races of the autumn campaign. Mr W. E. Bidwill's Reputation, by Martian—Stepfelclt, was hailed as a champion by some people after his two wins at the Wellington Racing Club's Summer Meeting, but since then he has been debited with failures in the Middle Park Plate and Jackson Stakes, the result being that he has fallen from his high place. After seeing him race at Riccarton last month, I am disposed to rate him as no more than a useful colt, and he certainly does not stand out as a champion on looks. Mr Highdon's Pariform, l>y Boniform—Parera, was well spoken of early in. the season, but he has failed to justify expectations so far. Ho has, however, had his share of had luck in more than one direction, aud' it may be that lie will prove himself the star performer of the autumn. Coming to Riccarton, thero are not many youngsters in lino for the highest honours at present. Mr C. G. Dalgety's Marsa, by Martian —Nantes, opened the season well, but she has not gone on, and though she is speedy, she may never be in the first class. M. H'obbs's • stable shelters .several that have shown useful form. Tn the early pari; of the season it was thought that Mr V. H. Pyne.'s Honesty, by MartianSuccess, would turn out a good one, but f ho'has been a bit of a disappointment so far. ha.ving failed to repeat her track form in public. The most nroniisitm in this team appears +n bo Mr J. 11. P.oid's filly Angelina, by bown«hirc—Angele. but it remains to he seen whether hoi: form at -the Dunediu nioelin!!; last month counts for mud), though it has to be admitted, in

the meantime, that she won her races in nice style. Second to her in the Dunedin Champagne Stakes was Mr G. L. Stead's Moulu, by Boniform—. Ormulu, and it is quite on the cards that ho will develop into a good one, as he looked' capable of improvement when he raced at Riccarton early last month. Sir George Clifford has a big team of two-year-olds ill commission, but the results of their season's racing have been disappointing. He was unlucky to lose the services of First Flight," as the son of San Francisco— Fleetfoot looked like proving useful had he stood the strain. Wise Bird, by Treadmill Glenowlet, is , Sir George's only winner so far, and I am afraid she is not in the front rank. The others in this stable do not seem, up to the standard required, and though there may be time yet to unearth a. good one,. I cannot see where the champion is to come from. Mr G. D. Greenwood's Rencontre, by Obligado—Tournament, showed up well in the spring and summer, hut sine© tlien she has not maintained her form. Fastradi, by Charlemagne ll.—-Nauti-loid. shapes promisingly, while anything may be possible from. Camulus, by Martian—Lady Wayward 11., who has not raced yet, but who shapes like being a high-class colt. These are some of the two-year-olds that' we will he watching with interest dur-> ing the next month or two. It cannot be said that anything stands out prominently, so that the Auckland and Canterbury Champagne Stakes promise to provide plenty of excitement, while in the Canterbury Challenge Stakes, North Island Challenge Stake's, Manawatu Stakes. Sires' Produce Stakes and Hawke's'Bay Stakes there will ha the added interest provided by the presence of older horses, to give us a line regarding the class of this seaBon's juveniles.

I learn that all the members of R. D. O'Donnell's team are moving along in good style at Yalcllmrst. Bon Ton, who-figure's as top-weight in the Great Autumn Handicap, should be in the best of order for engagements ahead. Among these, it may be expected, will, he the Ttentbam Gold Cup, in which lie looks like proving one of the strongest opponents to Cherubini. Sauci is another of the Yaldhurst teani_ that the public is interested in, as he is on© of the favourite selections for the Great Easter Handicap. O'Donnell has three yearlings' under his care, and lie will commence the work of breaking -them in shortly. They are by Bomformi— Drought, Boniform—Dreamer and Varco—Pedometer, and I hear that they are a promising trio.

Acceptances for the Great Easter, and Great Autumn Handicaps, first forfeits for the Champagne Stakes and Challenge Stakes, and nominations for other events at the Canterbury Jockey Club's autumn meeting will close to-morrow night, at nine o'clock.

The English flat racing season will be opened next week, the Lincolnshire Handicap being set down for decision, on. Wednesday. The-Tjiverpool Grand National Steeplechase jrill be run twe days later.

Racing officials, such as handicappera and starters, seldom voice opinions regarding the running of horses. Mr John Daly, the Australian Jockey .' Club's handicapper, is evidently an ex- •» ception. as he is reported to have said, on his 'return from the autumn meet- • ing of the Victoria Racing Club that "he was not altogether pleased with • some of the running at the recent Mel- i bourne meetings, and fancied he saw one or two happenings that could only , be described as warm."

The Australian Gup revives memories ' of one successful rider in years of long ago, who is still hale and hearty among us. 'We refer, says the Melbourne " Age," to the veteran, Joe Carter, who reached his eighty-first birthday a few days ago. Carter, who was one of the nattiest Knights of the pigskin of all time, won the Australian Cup-on Woodman in 1866, repeating his success on Tim. Whifflcr the following year and scoring; for the third time on Gasworks in 1869.

Notwithstanding the possibilities in the way of revenue in connection with the totalisator in New South Wales, it is understood the Government will not make any move for its legalisation tliis session, but may possibly do so later. From this I ta.ke it, says the Sydney writer, "Pilot," that machine betting is as ' far off as ever in this State, "though if the wishes of country clubs and metropolitan supporters of racing, as a whole, were consulted, the totalisator would take its place on our racecourses, even if the bookmakers we're also retained. _ However } as iu the past, it seems fairly that the arguments of the anti-totalisator section"are again proving much more convincing in political circles than those 'of the section favouring the adoption of machine betting.