SPORTING GOSSIP.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXII, Issue XXII, 3 June 1899, Page 770

SPORTING GOSSIP.

The ehampion racehorse Multiform, which left for the Old Country in the R.M.s. Ruahine, had a very unlucky start, as the steamer dropped in for the heavy gale- which proved fatal to the s.s. Ohan, and the mail boat had to return to port. He is now well on his way, and it is to be hoped that the rest of the passage will prove smooth. The great New Zealander will race in the colours of Sir Edgar Vincent, who so far has not made his name on the English turf; but wit'h Multiform acting on his behalf, the baronet should soon figure among the list of winning owners. I understand that Multiform will on arrival go to Newmarket, where his preparation will be undertaken by the well-known trainer J. Watson.

Snider, the five-year-old son of Brigadier, who ran second to Auld Reekie in the Maiden Plate, is a good looking horse, and should, when tried, make a name for himself over the small sticks.

Nor’-west I consider an improved horse, and he must take a lot of beating at the Grand National meeting, and if wanted for both races, is certainly dangerous.

Firefly's win at Avondale last month caused her to be one of the fancied for the Birthday Handicap, but evidently by her display mud is not to her liking. Miss Emmy, after her unsuccessful attempt at hurdling, is to be relegated to the stud, where she should prove a valuable addition to Messrs Nathan’s breeding establishment. Splinter, although disgracing himself. I consider is no duffer, for the best make mistakes at times. His Shore running may possibly put the public off him, but I should not be surprised ere the season closes to hear of him winning an important event. What price Altair? Nothing seems to be known, but if anything elaborate, Mr G. G. Stead must be congratulated, as I consider his pretensions to being first-class are somewhat meagre. The privileges in connection with the forthcoming Grand National meeting were sold by Messrs Churton and Co. on Friday last. The prices and buyers were: Grandstand bar, £Bl, W. Abbott; lean-to bar, £63, Donovan; No. 1 booth, £4l. Purcell; cards, £ll3, A. Cleave; refreshment stall, £6: total, £304, against £3lB last year.

Anita, who has been leased by a patron of D. Morrigan’s stable, has gone amiss, and has been sent back to her former owners.

The hurdler Tip, half-brother to Castashore, who was recently blistered and spelled, is shortly to be put into work again.

Castashore seems to keep up his winning performances, for 1 notice at the Waipavva Meeting on Queen's Birthday he annexed the Flying Stakes.

A rather new idea is to be introduced by the Wanganui Jockey Club. The stewards are to be provided with a moveable stand, which may be shifted to any part of the course, enabling them to view the running of the different races.

Truly a great horse has left our shores in Multiform. All we can say is that we hope and trust Wellington Park will furnish ere long a substitute, which is quite within the bounds of possibility. To-day Englishmen will be mustering in great force on the classic heath at Epsom to witness the race for the Blue Ribbon of the English turf. This year, judging by the betting, the Derby looks like going to the Two Thousand Guineas winner, Flying Fox. It is rather a pity that the great American Caiman will not be pitted against the English flyer, as a great race must have ensued. It seems probable that Flying Fox’s most dangerous rival will prove to be the Frenchman Holoeauste.

Lufra, while being pulled up after the finish of the Victoria Handicap at the Takapuna Meeting, fell and threw her rider, Stewart, who escaped uninjured. This mare, I hear, has been purchased by a well-known Fiji merchant, and she should have no difficulty in holding her own amongst the Fiji horses. Drum Major, the good-looking son of Cuirassier, came to the rescue of the North Shoreites, which’ was their solitary win at the meeting, the big horse winning the Second Hurdles in good style from end to end.

Verdi, by Sou’wester, who won the Maiden Hurdles on the first day of the meeting at Takapuna, is a good stamp of a hurdler, and proved he was no duffer at the game. He ran in the nomination of Mr J. G. Green the former owner of Antares, who is now in England. Valiant, the two-year-old trotter, by Van Clere—Swallow, who was recently shipped from Sydney to Christchurch, and has since won a couple oi good races, must be a real good one. for I notice he won at his first start, easily running the mile in 2m ss. The racing pony Roy (Vanguard— Toi Toi) was offered at Hunter and Nolan’s sale yards, Auckland, on Friday last, but failed to reach the reserve of £4O placed on her. Trooper, who ran third in the Second Pony Race at the Takapuna Winter Meeting, changed hands after the races for £ 25. This should be a bargain. for he is well enough bred for anything, being by Tasman from Locket. Placed in good hands he should pick up a race ere long. Miss Nelson’s racing career is, I fear, over, for some time to come. She was well fancied for the Takapuna Steeplechase, but on the Monday previous to the race, after doing a strong gallop on the Lake Beach, she pulled up dead lame, the ailment being in the near fore fetlock. I had a look at her in the paddock last week, and she looked very groggy, moving along on three legs. It is a great pity she has gone wrong just when jumpingevents are at hand.

The stallion Gang Forward, who was destroyed the other day at Morphettville, was a fine performer on the English turf, as among- many good races which he placed to his credit was the Two Thousand Guineas, while he was only just defeated in the Derby. This handsome son of Stockville was bred in 1870 by Mr W. S. Crawford, and he cost his Australian owner. Sir Thomas Elder, 4.loogne. As a sire he eannot be considered a great success, the best of his descendants being probably Hortense, Gladstone, Consequence, Perhaps, Marie Louise, King of the Gipsies, Tinstream. Guesswork, Moorite, Bassanio, and Conjecture. Regalia, who won the Welter Handicap, paying the large dividend of £69 9/, at the Takapuna Meeting, in the nomination of Mrs Wm. Handly, was bred by the Messrs Alison. Previous to this her only win, I belive, was the Taranaki Hack Derby.

Quilted, the Napier owned gelding, who was given out as a real good thing for the Maiden and Hack Handicap at the Shore meeting, did not run at all prominent in either races. He was very fractious, giving considerable trouble at the post.

The New Zealand Toroki. who competed in our last Grand National

Steeplechase at Ellerslie, and was subsequently purchased by Mr S. H. Gollan, ran his first race in England at Folkestone. He carried 12st 71b in the Sandling Hurdle Race, but finished out of a place: Crusado, who won the Maiden and finished first in the Handicap Steeplechase at the Takapuna Meeting, has proved a lucky purchase for Mr Dan McLeod, for I hear he picked the black son of Cruiser up for the m .derate sum of £SO when down the West Coast recently. He is a good cut of a cross-country horse, and one that should pay his way at the game. I could not help noticing the plucky way he went after Nor’west when Fergus shook him up after landing over the water jump for home. NORTH NEW ZEALAND GRAND NATIONAL MEE: iNG. Next Saturday will see the opening of the popular Auckland winter fixture at Ellerslie, and, judging by the interest already shown, a great success seems assured. On the first day the chief event to be decided is the Hurdle Race of 500sovs., which is at present causing considerable talk amongst racing people as to the prospect of each candidate. Marina, on her recent display last week at Wanganui, looks the best of good things, for she has the handy impost of 9.11 opposite her name. Both her races were won in good style, so there is no doubt about her playing a prominent part in the coming tussle. Splinter is another horse I have a great regard

for, as he has three or four wins to his credit over the sticks, carrying decent weights. He certainlv disgraced himself at the Devonport meeting by falling at the third obstacle, but it must be remembered that the Lest of them make mistakes at times. I fully' expect to see him very handy when the whips are cracking. Bellman and Nor’west, on their recent running, each read with a chance. Mayday is whispered about as a rod in pickle, but personally I do not know much about her, and at time of writing she has not put in an appearance.

The Great Northern Steeplechase, of GOOsovs., is the chief item on the card for the second day. Muscatel’s recent running at Wanganui stamps her as a first-class mare over country, and no doubt it will take a good horse to bring about her defeat. Kanaka. 10.3, should he face the starter, is bound to make a bold bid for the prize, but so far he has not raced over the Ellerslie course. Nor’west and Dummy each read to have a chance. If a surprise is to be brought about it may come from the light-weight Dingo. At the time of writing I am in the dark, as the acceptances for the minor events are not to hand.

In looking down the programme for the first day’s racing, the Handicap Maiden Steeplechase comes first on the list, for which I like the chances of Crusado, Rifle, and Dingo, in order written.

The Winter Welter, of one mile, follows, for which there is a large

field engaged. Admiral Hawke, Firefly, and Auld Reekie should fight out the finish.

Then conies the principal event of the day, the Grand National Hurdle Race, for which, by the look of the card, there should be at least ten starters line up at the barrier. Of the lot I like Marina 1, Splinter 2, Bellman 3.

The Selling Steeplechase conus next. Previous running should be a guide. At present I like Rifle, Woodcock, Natation.

The Handicap Hurdles of 1} miles should prove a good race between Straybird, Dentist, and Verdi, and I should name Hylas for a surprise. The Pony Hurdles, lAmiles, should see at the finish Nithmonf, Nellie, Recruit.

The Ladies’ Bracelet, of lOOsovs., is the concluding event of the day, which should be fought out by Shylock, Snider, Volcano.