SPORTING.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11578, 23 December 1915, Page 5

SPORTING.

RACING AND TROTTING. NOTES BY "ARGUS." FIXTURES. Dieimbel 27—Taratahi-Carteitcm Kacmg Club - December 27 —Kaikoura, Racing Crab. December 27—Aahbiu'tcm Trotting Club. December; 27—Goia Trotting Club. club - ■ . December 37, 23 —Wastport Trotting ClubDecember 27, 526 —Thames Jockey Club. December 27, 28—Tarannki Jockey Club. December iJ7, 2S—Duiiedin Jockey Club. December 27, 28 —Reetton Jockey Club. December 27, 38, 29—Manawatu Racing Club, December 27, SO, January 1, 3—Auckland Racing Club. „ _ ... December 28, 29, 81-Auckland Trotting Club. ' December 81, January I—Greyl—Grey mouth Jockey Club. January I—'Wyndham Racing Club. January I—Waikouaiti Racing Club. January I—Karamea1 —Karamea Eacing Club. January 1, !!—Vincent Jockey Club. January 1, 3—Hawke's Bay Jockey Club. January 1, 3 —Marton Jockey Club. January 1, 3—Wairarapa Racing Club. .January 1, S —Stratford Racing Club. January 1, 3 —Canterbury Park Trotting Club. January 3, 4—Groymonth. Trotting Club. January 3, 4—! North Otago Jockey Ciub. January 3, 4—Southland Racing Club. January 5, f—West-land Racing Club.

For tho "Waterloo Stakes, a weight for ago raco (with penalties), of one mile, to b© run at the summer meeting of tho "Wellington Eacing plub next month, the nominations consist of Balboa, Chortle, Expect, Einperador, Nones, Flying Start and Wishful. So far as numbers go, it is a somewhat disappointing response, but for a race of this description owners do not usually nominate " rough stuff. Desert Gold is tli© most notable absentee from tho list, and the field' would unquestionably be stronger were she eligible to compete. It is true that she lias incurred tho maximum penalty of 101b, hut that would, not bo considered an absolute bar to success by thoso who have seen her racing this season, laking a line from recent, official estimates, more than one liandicapper would expect her to win, even with a 101b penalty. My own idea is that Nones would hold her at that difference in woight; in fact, I do not think there is a great deal between the two fillies. In saying this, I have no desire to underrate Desert Gold', who is undoubtedly a fine galloper, but so, also, is Nones. EVcnwithout Desert Gold, Mr T. H. Lowry has a useful representative, as Balboa is not out of his place in any company. Mr G. D. Greenwood has two strings to his bow. Nones I have already referred to, but even should _ anything occur to the three-year-old being at her best, Bmperador would be an excellent substitute. Last autumn he was top class up to seven furlongs, and, as ho has gone on nicely during the last few weeks, ho should be capable of keeping his opponents very busy over a mile course. Chortle was not quite so good as Emperador _ when they met over .seven furlbnga in the autumn, but ho registered two fine performances afterwards. one at a mile, when ho finished second' in tho Thompson Handicap, and the other at a milo and a quarter, when lie won tho Awapuni Gold Cup. He was not far short of his best when he raced at. Riccarton last month, despite a dis- ' appointing performance in the Stead Gold Cud. Expect gave promise of being a Jiigh-claas horse till he became affected: in the wind, but I doubt his ability to cope with tho cracks over a mile now. Flying Start is another who is touched in the wind, but he has already demonstrated that lie can get seven furlongs well, and a milo may not prove beyond, him. Wishful has been off the scene since he raced at Wingatui in October, but he lias no special qualifications yet for a race like the Waterloo Stakes. Ho may, of course, have come on. but his form at Ellerslie will provide soiho information on. that subject.

Though; Desert Gold l does not figure among the nominations for the Waterloo Stakes, the mile weight for age race at the Wellington Racing Club's summer meeting, she claims an engagement in the Kelburn Plate, decided 1 orer four furlongs.

The Asliburtom Trotting Club received extraordinary nominations for its meeting on Boxing I>ay. The acceptances, however, are not so good as might have been expected' from such a large entry, and especially is this noticeable in the chief event of the day, no fewer than twenty-two having failed to accept out of an original entry ot" thirty-two. I cannot understand the poor acceptance for this race, as it is a big stake, and all the horses that have Failed to accept are in work. At the same time, the acceptances are quite Qarge enough to provide excellent racing; in fact, there is a better chance of good' contests, because the fields'aro even now above the average, and they represent a high class of horses.

With so few horses loft at home, there was very little of interest in the track work at Riccarton! this morning. Kaminohe galloped six furlongs in lmin 18sec, moving well. Rillena sprinted four furlongs in- 52sec on the plough, Bonation taking 50* see on the tan. Trevena was going better than IMalvolia over five furlongs, which occupied! lmin 4sec, while- Glenyar and Sport took lmin 6 1-osec over a similar task. Melford was also stretched outover fire furlongs, moving in good style.

H. Ellis left for the West Coast this morning with Jean not, Canterbury, Tokorahi and Concordia, while Bonation is booked: to roafeo the same trip to-morrow.

P. \. Mason will leave for the north to-night with Emperador to fulfil his engagement in the Palmerston North makes, to be decided at the Manawatu Kacing Club s meeting next week Last year he ran second to Gladiolo in this race. The nominations for the. summer meeting of the "Wellington Racing Club include about fifty horses from Canterbury, representing the strongest con- & n + \- 0f com P etl ) or s ever attracted fiom this quarter for a meeting at to* lg i ] ? em aro Warstep, Sff T r an + ?i' Moltchikolf, TeviotdaLe, Bee, Sir Tarka, T?^v m n ln - Vfonlu ' dishful, Bonny Dream, Hahna, Tho Toff FlvStart, Battle Ere, San Sebastian, Wisebird Nightwatch. Harlequin, Adl lutant, Good; Hope, Wrestler, Tantalus, Errvperad'or. Nones, Bimeter Ti cino, Xanthos, Swale, Worth, Ncnno .Down, Deltonio, Killena, Ivilkie, Bandy. Comely, Week End, Bore. Specialform, Daytime, Find-horp, Margcrine, , Arclcnvhor, Moidant, Pyjama, Mall Tolia, Martuk and Chudic.

It looks as if tho field to oppose Emperador m the Palmerston North Stakes nest week will be rather weak The best of the others available appear to be Rangitero, Hythread' and FlyinoSpin. Emperador is in the fortunate position of having avoided a penalty

Honorine, the sister to Anna Car!ovna, by Soult—Czarevna, was beaten ht the chief event at Aspendale Park, Vlelbourne, this month. She had the race won in the straight, but her rider was watching a horse on the outside and did! not see Lady Morcton slip up an. the rails.

Tljp leading jockeys cannot bo accnseu! of leading a life of leisure. Several of them, including Deeley, Oliver, Emerson and the tiro Reeds, ivill be riding at Auckland on Monday next; the same evening they will entrain for "and after travelling all night fc-" ~

tliey -will tide at the Man&wotu meeting, on Tuesday and' Wednesday, leaving the same evening for Auckland, whero they will again be in the saddle on Thursday.

Anions; tho liorses now in work at Ellerslio is tho disappointing Ohaminnde, who was sold! recently for fifteen: guineas. Ho is a six-year-old by Sylvia Park—Ora, by Seaton Dolaval— Tamora, by Musket—Moonlight, bo that ho comes from the same family as Chortle.

Posket, who won tho Third Division Handicap at Aspeudalc Park, Melbourne, this month, is a four-year-old raave by Positano—Lady Fisher, tho dam of Maniapoto.

The ex-New Zealander. V. O'Neill, has been granted a trainer's license "by tho Victoria Eacing Club.

Tho connn.itteo of the Victoria Baring Club has refused renewal of licenses to one or two trainers and jockeys who have, during terms of disqualification, attended raco meetings or otherwise acted contrary to tho rules of racing.

Tho Victorian steeplechaser, Bullawarra, who was sent to England more than a year ago, will leave shortly on his return journey to Australia.

At Moorefield', Sydney, on December 11, the Flying Handicap was won by tho three-year-old colt Three Star, bv Malster—Astron. Brattle, a five-year-old sister to Three Star, filled second place, only a head dividing them at tho finish.

Tho Duke of Portland has presented to tho Victoria Racing Club a handsome gold-mounted inkstand, made from one of the hoofs of Carbine, who died in England in 1914. The hoof is highly polished', and has an ordinary racing shoe, or plato, encased in gold, attached. Tho gold lid of tho inkstand bears the following inscription:— "Carbine, by Musket—Mersey, foaled in New Zealand, 1885, died at Welbeck Abbey, 1914. The gift of tho Duke of Portland, K.G." The members of the V.R.C. Committee .received the Duke s handsome present at meeting last week, and expressed gratification at his kindness. This is not the first present the V.R.C. has received from tho Duke of Portland. Some years ago_ lie presented' the club with an oil painting or Carbine, and it now hangs in the committeo's luncheon room at Flemmgton.

At the Second October meeting «it Newmarket, England, Stanley Wootton, son of R. Wootton, the well-known: trainer, won a couple of races, the Spring Nursery, with a gelding by Phalei ; on from Cannon Ball, and the Houghton Handicap, with tho White Eagle gelding, Whitfield, both, of whom were piloted by W. Smyth. Stanley Wootton is a lieutenant in the 7th Royal Fusliers, and was under orders to join his regiment at tho front on the following day. When the war broke out last year, Stanley was the first of the flat race jockeys to join tho colours, and his elder brother, Frank, "who for several years held the championship on the flat, followed 6uit, while William Griggs and William SaXby also enlisted in the early stages of tho war.

Polymelus, who headed the list of successful sires in England last year, was again in first place this season, (vith sixteen wins, worth £17,781. Following him came Dark Ronald £12,103, Sundridge £10,506, Llangibby £8572, Desmond £8561, St Frusquin £Bll4, Orby £7664, and Symington £4931. The only colonial-bred sires in the list were Fitzgrafton with one win worth £227 and The Victory, one win, worth £139.

"Terlinga." of the "Australasian," announces that the Champion Stakes, instituted in 1859, has gono as far as the Victoria Racing Club is concerned. Hie committee is going to have a three-mile weight-for-age race in the autumn, but it is to be called the King's Plate, and the added money has been reduced from £ISOO to £IOOO. Possibly tho Australian Jockey Club i may take the title, but the chances are they won't. They added £2OOO to their , three-mile race last autumn, and only got three starters. In these days, owners do not care about running horses three mites, and the Champion failed to hold its own after the date was shifted 1 from Now Year's Day to the autumn meeting, although there was never a more interesting Champion than tho first one run in March. Le Grand won,' and the horses ho beat wero Off Colour. Commotion, Sting Navigator, Martini-Henry and Ironhand, the last-named being in to assist Commotion. In its earliest days the Champion was run in different States, the only ones which had never had tho race run within their borders being South Australia and. "West. Australia. It was an Australasian, not a Victorian event, but the first raco was run at Flcmington in 1859. Next year Zoe won in Sydney, and the following year she Avon at Ipswich, Queensland. Talleyrand won at Geelong, Mormon in Tasmania and at Wagga, Ladybird in New Zealand'. Tarragon and Volunteer ran their dead heat at Flemington in 1866, and The Barb won there in 1867.. After that Tasmania had the race for several years, but it was on a small scale, and they let it go in 1873. The race was not run again until the V.lt.C. took it up in 1876, and it has been run at Flemington every year since. It must be admitted that in recent years the race was not worthy of its high-sounding title, and, although many will regret the loss of an old friend, I suppose it is just as well to change tho liamo to King's Plate.

ASHBURTON TROTTING CLUB. [From Ouk Correspondent.] ASHBURTON, December 22. The following are the acceptances for the Ashburton Trotting Club's Boxing Day meeting: TRIAL HANDICAP (in harness), of 125 sovs; one mile and a half—lrvar 2sec, Alphie k '2sec, Bloomfield 3sec, Wood Drift 3sec, Liittlo Hector ssec, Green Ribbon 6sec, Vermilion Bsec. Silver Prince Bsec, Perfect Day Ssec Branslon Usee, Princess Hosey Usee, Great Britain Usee, St Louis Usee, Cocoaleen Usee, Blackford llsec, Rorke's Drift Usee. MITCHAM HANDICAP (in saddle), of 110 sovs- one mile and a half—Bushranger 7sec, Bowbeils 17sec. Bellwind 18sec, Rudaton <>"> sec Thora 23sec, Lionheart 25sec, Campaign 26sec, Succorv 26sec, Miss Woodlands "6«ec Postillion 26eec, Happy Jack '2Bsec, Iteal'il'Kay 28sec, Dan Patter 28sec, Sherry 28sec. ASHBURTON TROTTING CLUB HANDICAP (in harness), of 450 sovs; two miles— Frandocia lsec, Adonis 2sec, Cello Sydney "Wilkes 3sec, Stanley's Child 3sec, ftmco Akwood 4scc, Emilius 4sec, Michael Galindo Osec, Disappear Gsec, Moneymaker 7see, Succeed 7sec, AMATEUR HANDICAP (in harness) of 100 sovs; one mile—Proud Hazel 3sec, Ts'loornfieltl 3sec, Vermillion 6sec, Perfect Da\°™3ec, Silver Prince 6sec, Ttaoey Dillon 6sec Great Britain Bsec, Princess Elmo Bsec, St Louis Ssec, Cocoaleen Ssec, Rorke's Drift W<> Eltrin 9sec, Elvino Osec, Robert Lyon lOsec, Ecclefeehan lOsec. M'LEAN HANDICAP (in saddle), of 175 sovs- one mile and a half—Phingari scr, Andy Regan 4sec, General Wvlie 7sec, Annie Dillon 7sec, Lady tattoo 7eec,. Gee Whiz 9s"c Capprocia 9scc, General Wilkes lOsec, Imperial Princes 3 lOsec, Will 0' tho "Wisp lOsec, The Sovereign lOsec, Myrtle Palm llsec! Lyndhurst Usee, Honest Mao llsec, Pastime' llsec, Louis Drift Usee, Rhodesia Usee. BOXING DAY HANDICAP (in harness), of 250 sovs; one mile and a quarter—Eratuelmo scr, Solo lsec, St Levin 2sec, Eccentric 2sec Sherwood 4sec, Don Caesar 4sec, Frandocia. 4sec, Adorns 4sec, Bell Metal Ssec, Little Tib osec. Childsdalo ssec, The ijing's General 6sec, Breeze 6see, Franzalena 7sec. PRESIDENT'S HANDICAP (in harness), of 110 sovs; ono milo and three-quarters— Quincey scr, Havana 12sec, Bellwind ISsec, Macwood 20sec, Rudston 23aec, Lady Patricia 24sec, Franz Hanlon 2-lscc, Dandy Lyon 24see, Lulu Child 2l3ee. FINAL HANDICAP (in harness), of IGO sovs; one mile—Piecework 3sec, Andy llegaa Ssec, Prince Toronto 4see, Salcombo 4sec, Lady Itattoo 6sec. Lindett.ll Dunspey (Jsec, Drum-Major Csec, Annie Dillon Csec,

La Franz 7sec, Lady Poole 7sec, Geo Whiz 7sec. '

GREYMOUTH TROTTING CLUB. [Per Press Association.] GREYMOUTH, December 22. The following acceptances have been received for tho Groymoutli Trotting Club's meeting-: GIIIXXKSS HANDICAP {in harness), oE 70 soys; one mile and a half —Rita H. ecr, Trinket lsec, Woodland Dell asec, Captain Woodburn 6sec, Counsel 7sec, Mangatini 9sec, Trixie Adair Usee, Miss Marion I3see, Colonel Havelock 15aec, Florence losec, Roeela losec. SUMMER HANDICAP (in saddle), ol 70 aovsj two miles —Telltale scr, L&uderhill 2sec, Miss Rye 2sec, La' Fontaine 7see, Dictatoress 7sec, Fairy Whispers 7sec, Garrett Bsec, Inquisitive Bsec, Prudish Bsec, King l William 9sec. Navigator 12sec, Maimot l2geo Duncelyn 16? Ed, Wayistntr 20s*c, Oapeweli 20seo. MAWHERA HANDICAP (in harness), of 175 soys; out mile end a half —Makomako scr, Promotion scr. Galician &cr, True Spec 4sec, Peony oscc, Flor.i, Tracey 6sec, Beach (Boy 6sec, Sceptre 6sec, Pax "see, Theseus 7sec, Lucy Wallace 7sec, Young Dillon 7stc, Star Rose 7s^c. LADIES' BRACELET HANDICAP ■ (in saddle), of 60 sovs; ore mile and a half — Overland scr, Dictatoress lsec, Genial lsec, Garrett 2s-ec, Glen llseo. Westland Lass 13520, WattJowDod Msec, Yankee Sal 14sec, Woodvine Ifeso, Whispering Boy 16sec. GREY VALLEY HANDICAP (in saddle), of 100 sovs; two miles—Galician scr, Beach B:>y 9sec, Maud Allerton 12sec, Red Prince 14sec, Olive Child ISsec, Sergeant Havelock 16seo, Telltale lfseo CYCLONE HANDICAP (in harness), of 80 sovs; one mile—Miss Rye scr, Nora M'Kinney lsec, Diction lsec, Romany Rye lsec, Overland 2sec, "Woodland Dell 3sec, Genial 3&ec. Prudish 4s&c, La Fontaine -lsec, Ethel; Ball 6sec, Amazon 7aec, Wattlewood 9sec, Rosella 9sec, Dreamland 9sec, Colonel Havelock Osec, Fernl«igh 9sec, Yankee Sal 9sec, Oliver 3seo.

AVIATION HANDICAP (in harness), of 100 sovs; one mile—Promotion scr. Miss Audrey scr, Galician scr, Roosevelt lsec. Peony 3sec, Young Dillon 4sec, Flora Tracey 4 sec, Kitty Dillon 4sec, Sceptre 4sec, Theseus osee, Lucy Wallace osec, Star Rose ssec. TEI/EGRAPH HANDICAP (in saddle), of 7') sovs; one mile— Chief Spec Bsec, Olive Child 9sec, Rita H. lOsec, Trojan lOsec, Rouble lOsec, Trinket Usee, Signorette Usee, Little Rose Usee, Lady Sefton 12sec, Silverine 13sec, Lluvia d'Oio 13sec, Camille ISsec, Triumph 13sec.