THE TURF.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume I, Issue 7, 13 September 1890, Page 2

THE TURF.

[by old turfite.]

The Hawkesbury meeting was continued on Saturday, 6th inst, when the Hawkesbury Grand Handicap was run. The information to hand is very meagre, as owing to the great expense of cablegrams we cannot afford to go into details. The race was won by Megaphone, a three-year-old by Newbold —Sound, with yst. up, a bay horse called Little Bernie, by CheviotMyrtle, being second, and Vespasia, aged, Bst., being third. Twelve others started, Megaphone winning easily by three lengths. This performance must be looked upon as a good one, as the winner was giving the second one 41b. and a year, while he was only receiving a stone from the aged mare Vespasia. The racing season has only just commenced, but on looking through the few races that have been run the three-year-olds this season appear to be above’ the average, and when the principal meetings commence it is to be expected that some of last year’s fliers will have their wings clipped. ♦

There were thirty applicants for the position of secretary to the Christchurch Jockey Club at a, salary of a year. Mr. W. H. E. Wanklyn, of Hawera, who has for some time acted as secretary to the Egmont Racing Club, which owes a great deal of its success to Mr. Wanklyn’s energies, was elected after a very close contest with Mr. Westmacott (who gave general satisfaction as temporary secretary during Mr. Penfold’s absence in England). Mr. McKellar Wix, late secretary of the Nelson Racing Club, was a good third. In electing Mr. Wanklyn the Christchurch J. C. Committee have made a wise selection, as not only is he perfectly up in the business, but he is very popular with everyone, and will therefore perform his duties fearlessly and without favoritism.

On Wednesday last I went by invitation to see Major George’s Stud Farm at Epsom. Not having been there for some years, I was greatly surprised and pleased to see the great improvements that had been made. A more perfect little stud farm I do not think could be found in the Colonies. There are only 40 acres, but the most has been made of them. The paddocks used for the thoroughbreds have a northerly aspect, with a good kind of turf and plenty of feed. The stables and sheds are all that could be desired. The day unfortunately turned out most unfavourable, there being a heavy north-east gale blowing, which before I had got all round the grounds terminated in a heavy downpour; therefore I saw things at ■their worst, and made rather a harried inspection, but on a fine day one could pass several •pleasant hours among the stock. The chief object of my visit was to have a good look at Nelson, who I had not seen since he was in training.-9 On T. Hodson opening his box I was greatly surprised to find that instead of the coarse coaching kind of stallion that I thought Nelson would have grown into, one of the best thoroughbred entires I have seen for a long time. He was in splendid condition, not like a Smithfield ox, which many Colonial owners think is the proper state for a sire, but with plenty of hard flesh and muscle. Nelson is a "horse that takes a great deal of looking at, and 'the longer you look the more you like him. His temper is about the best I ever saw in a stud horse; he will let you go about and handle him like an bld hack. He stands about 16 hands 1 inch, with good shoulders, back and loins ; he is well ribbed up, deep through the heart, and remarkably long from the round bone to the hock, and has plenty of bone; his legs are •as clean as the day he was foaled. If you wished to find a fault with him you might do so with his thighs'and arms, which are rather light for a horse of his Size, but the way he ; raced shows that this has been no detriment to him. Major George has-wisely-deeided to limit him to a few approved mares. By so doing he is giving -Nelsbn every chance, and I should ! not be at ■aii ’shrpnsed if he does not make a better name ■for Himself at the stud-than he did on the turf. I am told, on good authority that Major Mair ■ has a splendid 5 yearling by him out of Corcyra ■ by 5 King Tom—Cerintha, by Newminster out 8f Queen Bee, which I intend seeing the first ■ opportunity. After a- long, look at Nelson we went into the paddocks to the-mares and yearlings. The former are four in number. The

first was The Maid, b m bred by Mr. Wilson in 1881, by King of the Ring out of Maid of All Work by imp. King Alfred—Mischief (dam of First King and Petrea). She is a long, low, roomy mare, and is overdue to Nelson. Memphis, ch m, by Gang Forward —Palmyra by imp. South Australian out of imp. Zenobia by Kingston, I did not like so much. She is a nice topped mare, with a good barrel, but is decidedly light timbered and deficient in bone. She also is overdue to Nelson. Tenambra, b m, by the Marquis —Lady Manners Sutton by Pitsford —Green Linnet, is about the best of the matrons, being a nice roomy mare, with plenty of substance. She is also in foal to Nelson. Florence, by Papapa —Marchioness, has rather a nice foal at foot by Nelson. She is a mare I do not like, either in her shape or the breeding. The yearlings are four in number. I saw them at a great disadvantage, as by the time I came to the paddock they were in it was raining heavily. The first to notice was a bay gelding by Nelson out of Florence. He is small and light of bone. A great mistake was made in cutting him too early, and not “proud” enough. He appears not to have recovered from the operation. Messrs. Barrow and Mannington, the two cleverest vets, in England, never cut thoroughbreds until they were over a year old and then very “ proud.” A chestnut filly by Nelson out of The Maid is of good size, but stands too high and straight on the legs. The chestnut filly by Nelson —Tenambra is a long, low young lady, with plenty of quality, and one that is sure to race and come early to hand. The chestnut filly by Nelson out of Memphis is another nice filly, but will require more time -than the other. Tommy Hodson, who is in charge, had the whole of the stock in good condition, but I do not like the Colonial custom of letting the young stock run out in all Weathers and only taking them in at night. On a cold day like last Wednesday they would have been much better under shelter, and the expense of so doing is not great.

The Hawkesbury Meeting, as far as can be ascertained, has thrown no light on coming events. Prelude won the Guineas easy enough and Megaphone the Handicap. This was certainly a smart performance of Megaphone’s so early in the year, as he was giving four pounds and a year to the second and only receiving a stone from the aged mare Vespasia, who was third The Victorian Club Handicap, ran at Caulfield on August 23rd, introduced a lightweighted outsider for both the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups in Vengeance. It appears that he was quite unfit, and after losing start and running all over the course, he came so fast at the finish that he very nearly won. This performance evidently struck the attention of some of the knowing ones, as all the 2000 to 1 about the double were snapped up, and he was also coupled with a good many others for the Melbourne Cup. Vengeance’s book record shows nothing, his last season’s performances being decidedly bad, therefore the knowing ones may have got hold of a duffer after all. There is no change worthy of note in either the Caulfield or Melbourne Cups, nor is there likely to be until after the A.J .C. Meeting, which commences to-day. Owing to the uncertain arrival of Australian steamers information is very meagre, as you cannot say much in a cablegram. The principal race to be run to-day is the A.J.C. Derby, for which the high-priced gelding Titan is a great favorite. Last week his admirers had- a great scare, but from all accounts he is right again. I am, not one of his admirers, and would much sooner lay against than back him. On paper there is nothing to beat him, but it will not surprise me to see him go down, or at least only just get home. The three-year-olds this season are a particularly strong lot. The final payments for the Derby are not to hand, and will not be in time for me to know what are likely to start, therefore all I can tell my readers is that I have received capital* accounts of Gibraltar and Gatling. A very shrewd judge says that the former, fit and well, will defeat Titan the first time they meet. The Epsom Handicap of 10 sovs. each, with 1,000 sovs. added, one mile. There are some fifty or sixty horses left in. Out of these perhaps half of them will see the post, therefore I do not suppose any of my-readers will be foolish enough to risk their money on such a race as

this, as it is impossible to know until the numbers go up what will start. On recent runnipg Vespasia, Bst. 21b., appears to have a..; great show, as with zlb. less she was third in the Hawkesbury _ Handicap, and her book reco.f<d 1 favors the idea that she prefers a mile to a mile and a half. Then, again, Teksum, Fabulous, Little Bernie, and several others read well, but at this distance away it would be much better to play “Yankee grab” with their money than back a- horse for this race. The Spring Stakes of 10 sovs. each, with 500 sovs. added, w.fla.J one and a half mile, is of much more interest, for amongst the entries are such horses as Carbine, Melos, Prelude, Gresford, also the Auckland champion Cuirassier. In all bability the three first will go for it, and; make an interesting race. Over this distance I fancy Carbine, but it would not surprise me if Prelude upset the pot. If it was a little further I- should prefer Melos. ■ - iXS’ On the second day the Metropolitan Stakes is the principal event. There are seventeen left in so one may expect about a dozen - will face the starter. Sir William, Bst 1 zlb,' heads the list. His performances last season dp not give you the idea that he will like a twb mile journey with that weight. Marvel, Bst’ioib, I did not expect to see left in, as he has been talked about in connection with the Melbourne Cup, if this should be his journey he will take a great deal of beating. The Queen. Bst 2,lb> is greatly fancied by some of the knowing ones. Vespasia, yst 81b, on her running in the Hawkesbury Handicap should run Well* bii£ I fancy that she will go for the Epsom Handicap, if she does not incur a penalty she ought to hold Megaphone safe. Fiis'co, 6st BJb, Little Bernie are also talked about. ‘Megaphone, from his running at Hawkesbury,;'?.i made the favorite, but I think he will find the distance a little too far for him. I fancy one of the older horses, The Queen, Marvel or Frisco and I take them in the order named. •. .)--■?

The Craven Plate, w.f.a., oneand q has among the entries Carbine,- Whimberei, Prelude, Melos, and Megaphone, in this race. I quite expect to see the mighty Carbine, go down before one of the three-year-.olds, Megaphone for choice. For the Randwick Plate, three miles, all the cracks are engaged, and Melos, in my opinion, will be returhed.the winner as I look upon him as the best horse in Australia over a distance of ground, and he may this year beat even Carbine over any cdurse7=as from all accounts he has greatly improved. -In conclusion, I will say that in my humble opinion, Titan will not win the V.R'.C. Derby and that neither Carbine or Cuirassier have-a chance for the Melbourne Cup. ■ • ' ' 1