TURF GOSSIP

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLVI, Issue 1, 4 January 1911, Page 11

TURF GOSSIP

By

WHALEBONE.

There is every probability of Mr E. J. Watt’s horses, Bridge and Midnight Sun, being taken to Australia at an early date. Nominations for the Iluntly Racing Club’s Annual Meeting, to be held on January 25th, close with the secretary (Mr A. Stewart) on Friday, January 6th, at 9 p.m. The performance of Culprit in the Great Northern Foal Stakes stamps the daughter of Charlemagne 11. as a very high Hass filly. From the time the barrier rose there was' only one in it. and that was Culprit, which never gave the rest of the field a chai|ce, eventually winning easily. The withdrawal of the crack Auckland filly'Miss Winsome from the Great Northern Foal Stakes was due to the brilliant daughter of. Soult contracting influenza. .In the last - couple of gallops Miss Winsome did not "show “any dash at all, and evidently she ihas been affected for the last few days. Whether the result of the Auckland Cup would have been different had all the horses stood up has been one of the principal subjects'of discussion Since the event, but jthe question can only be one of conjeetjire. Personally, I am of opinion that Waijnangu would have been capable of bettering his performance had it been necessary. The victory of Waimangu in the Auckland Cup was well received locally, for the horse's owner, Mrs Lennard, and her husband, have been most consistent supporters of the Turf practically since racing -really started in Auckland. Whether good luck or bad luck followed the colours, there was no talk of giving the game best, and: at last, after innumerable attempts, the: highest honours obtainable on the Auckland . Turf have fallen to their lot. Waijmangu was bred by his owner, which makes the victory all the more pleasing. A coincidence in connection with the Cup is that the' last occasion it was woit by- an Auckland horse was in 1906. when.it was won by Master Delaval, owned by the late Mrsl'-<’op.mbes, the’first lady to win the Cup, being the second. Cbnsiderab’e dissatisfaction exists amqifgst Southern trainers who were, fined for . being late in the birdcage - in" connection with the Great Northern Foal Stakes. •It i« not the amount of the fine that is troubling . them, but they labour under a sense of injustice, and an this view they are in the right. To my own personal knowledge, three of the horses, Peirene, Sea Pink, and Midnight Sun. were parading under the. trees in the main paddock, waiting for the signal to go into the birdcage for. at least .a quarter of an hour before the stipulated time, and, with a large crowd gathered around. sem, there is every probability that they did not hear the warning bell. -The bell is not nearly loud enough, and sliou’ld lie replaced as soon as possible. Aftier ; leaviffg the birdcage they were but on the course for just: on half an hour before they were dispatched on their journey, and the - effect it has on young horses is ■well ki)own to all- with any knowledge of racing.- -• In inflicting a fine in this-case, thp- ; stewards have clearly, done, an injustice, and it flow behoves them to reconsider their deeisioni for it is not right that trainers should be punished under such circum* •taflees. ...