SPORTING ITEMS.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume I, Issue 8, 20 September 1890, Page 5

SPORTING ITEMS.

Mr. Martin Baird has sold Athens (St. Leger—Maid of Athens) to a Napier sportsman for — Wanganui Chronicle. I hear has been offered for Pyramus and refused, £ 250 being the price wanted. Wanganui Chronicle. Mr. R. Blaikie, the well-known penciller, has purchased the racing pony Sepoy, and the horse is in McMinimin’s stable. Piako has been sent into town to be trained by Mr. S. Powell, with a view of competing in Hunt Club events in Auckland. — Wanganui Chronicle. “Oeo” of the Wanganui Chronicle writes that Antelope, the dam of Minnie and the Dream, also Fame and Foam, will be sent this season to Somnus who is located at Napier. Mr. J. Armitage’s hunter Kairuna died on Monday from stoppage and strangulation of the intestines. The horse was in J. ,B. Williamson’s stable, and was to have been prepared with a view to the Pakuranga Hunt Club races. Full particulars of the Hawkesbury Spring Meeting are now to hand, and we gather from the Sportsman that on the first day five went out for the Hawkesbury Guineas, 5 to 1 being freely laid on Prelude, who won in a very easy manner from Wilga, who had the misfortune to be kicked a day or two before, from which she appeared to suffer a lot. When the starters’ numbers for the County Purse were hoisted it was found that only a score would sport their owners’ colours. Of these the Queensland colt, Megaphone, had the strongest following, going out favourite at 3to 1. The race was a very good one, the pace sound all the way. At the home turn the followers of the favourite thought the race all over, but he was never able to get up to the New Zealand horse Teksum, who won, and many thought somewhat comfortably, by a good half length. Teksum started second favourite at 6to 1. Megaphone’s rider, Ryan, entered a protest against the winner for interference in the straight, but it was dismissed, and deemed so frivolous that the £z was retained by the stewards. On the second day the Produce Stakes was the great sensation, as it not only gave the greatest surprise, but also the best finish. Such a good thing did the backers think Prelude that they freely laid 5 to 1 on her, though she had a 71b. penalty. A full brother to Chicago, called Ataoity made all the running for the first five furlongs, when Power, who had been laying last on the favourite, brought her to the front with Victor Hugo, while Cobham fell back for a few strides. As they came into the straight, however, Cobham again joined them, and a most desperate race home ensued, resulting in a head win from the favourite, who just beat Victor Hugo. Right up to the fall of the flag the Hawkesbury Grand Handicap looked to be a very open event. The Queenslanders could not be shook off Megaphone, though he was carrying 3ilb overweight, sent him out favourite at 3 to 1. The Newcastle folk, however, were not so confident about Ellerdale, while Federation found a lot of friends towards the close of the betting. The race was a veiy fast one, made so by Simon, who went away at a great pace, and stopped at the head of affairs for a mile and a quarter. After that he was beaten, as also Tridentine. Then Megaphone put in a claim, and coming away, won easily in 2min. 35£sec., which equals the record made by Prince Imperial when he won. Little Bernie ran a good second, and Vespasia’s third, with Bst up, was a capital performance. Ellerdale, however, was hopelessly beaten from the fall of the flag and was last when they had gone a furlong. Old Lancer was another that ran well, but the simple fact is that nothing had a chance at the finish with Megaphone.

The consideration of the protest against Mount receiving the stakes for the trotting races which he won at the recent meeting has been postponed for a fortnight.

The brood mare, Waitiri, by Musket —Uira, was brought up by the steamer Australia from Napier on Thursday on a visit to Nelson. During the passage up the mare dropped a filly foal to The Mute.

The annual meeting of the members of Auckland Tattersall’s Club will be held on Tuesday, 30th inst., when the balance-sheet, statement of accounts, and election of members of Committee will be considered.

.Mr. W. Elliot’s black mare Veneration, by Patriarch out of Fides, by (imp.) St. Aubyn out of Chance, by Sir Hercules out of Finessee, by (imp.) Toss, was brought up in the s.s. Gairloch from Waitara on Thursday, on a visit to Mr. T. Morrin’s (imp.) stallion Castor. Mr. H. H. Hayr has purchased the black gelding Moderator, by Isaac Walton out of Sleevelink, from Mr. W. Elliot of Waitara, and the horse arrived in Auckland on Thursday. A pony was also brought up for the same stable. Bravo withstood the journey to India all right, but we regret to hear that since his arrival he has been so much affected by the climate that fears are entertained that he will never again face the starter, even if he recover at all.— Sportsman. An Australian writer speaking of Megaphone, the Hawkesbury Grand Handicap winner, says: —“ He is without doubt the best horse ever foaled in Queensland, although his performances are not so brilliant as Le Grand’s yet, but the latter hadn’t as good performances as a two-year-old, and if he keeps on improving with age he’ll be one of the best twelve racehorses in Australia, mark my words. He is a very big bay colt with a small head, and great girth, and a big stride, though not overreached, and a very quick recovery. He is a stone better colt than Greytown over any distance, and I can’t help thinking that he will win a big race or two in Sydney, where he is at present.” The following are the performances of the brilliant colt Megaphone who won the Hawkesbury Grand Handicap As a two-year-old, at the Queensland Turf Club Meeting, he competed in the Hopeful Stakes, in which he fell, the race being won by General. At the same meeting he ran second to General in the Second Nursery Handicap, General carrying yst. 81b. and Megaphone Bst. 41b. At the Queensland Hunt Club Meeting he annexed the Tyro Stakes after a dead heat, carrying 9St. Queensland Tattersall’s Meeting: Second in the Fairfield .Stakes, won by Greygown; second in the Jordan Stakes at the same meeting, won by General. Boxing Day, Q.T.C.: Won Sandgate Trial Stakes. Q.T.C. Midsummer: Won weight-for-age race and Flying Handicap of 6 furlongs. At Tattersall’s Autumn Meeting he won the the Champagne Stakes, five furlongs (gst), General (gst 21b) second . and Q.T.C. Autumn ; Unplaced in weight-for-age, won by King William. Same meeting won Produce Stakes, 1 mile, Refused second and Greygown third ; same day won weight-for-age race, 6 furlongs, King William second, Sir Anthony third ; on the third day of the same meeting he won the Criterion Nursery, gst 81b, Left-on-Hand, 6st 121 b, second. Maryborough Annual Meeting : Walked over for the weight-for-age race ; won a mile race, Bst 61b, Stamboul yst rolb second, Highwater third, time imin 45sec; ran second in the mile and a quarter with yst izlb, won by Dumboy yst gib; won 7 furlongs, gst 81b, Ormonde 7st 81b second, Miss Newbold, 6st rolb third. Rockhampton: Won Two and Three Year Old Handicap, 7 furlongs, gst 81b, Refused Bst 61b second, Levant 7st 31b third; won 5 Furlongs Handicap, Bst 81b, Beckwith 6sl 81b second; won Produce Stakes, 1 mile, Refused second. As a three-year-old : —Second in County Purse won by Teksum ; won Hawkesbury Handicap, Little Bernie second, Vespasia third. A.J.C. Spring Meeting : Second in Epsom Handicap with Bst 41b, won by Bungebah 7st rolbs, beating twentyseven others; won Squatters’ Handicap, miles, Bst i2lb, zmin. rosec, May Queen yst 81b, second, Amnia 7st i2lb third; Second in Craven Plate if miles 7St nib, won by Carbine gst 41b. Mr. Brown, Megaphone’s owner, purchased the colt as a yearling for

Mr. A. E. Glover, the local penciller, has returned from his trip to the Islands. Mr. Scarr, the Sydney handicapper, has taken care of the Auckland-owned Leopold, as I notice he has awarded him gst 31b in the Kensington Handicap of one mile. The Auckland Racing Club Committee have finally decided not to pass the Onehunga Racing Club programme, on the ground, it is stated, that so many mushroom meetings are not required, as they are detrimental to legitimate racing, and that the use of the totalisator is being abused.

All true sportsmen will be pleased to hear of . the finding of the stolen horse, Cranbrook. This famous son of Chester and La Princess, it will be remembered, was stolen a short time back out of his box at Mr. Henry White’s station, Havilah, near Mudgee. Every effort was made by both the station people and the police, aided by black trackers, to find him. On Monday last the station manager, Mr. Paul Stewart, who had worked night and day to find the horse, with one of the station hands discovered Cranbrook in a cave in the Munghorn Ranges. It is reported that the horse looks none the worse, and is in good condition. Every one will be pleased to hear of Mr. White's good luck in recovering such a valuable animal. —Town and Country.