THE TURF.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume I, Issue 16, 15 November 1890, Page 3

THE TURF.

[by

OLD TURFITE.]

The third days racing of the Canterbury Jockey Club’s meeting, with the exception of the Cup, does not call for much comment. May defeated Union Flag, Cajolery, and five others in the Nursery Handicap, thus still more confirming my opinion that the meeting has not brought out any flying two-year-old. The Oaks, as was anticipated, fell to Diadem, who had nothing to beat except Pearl Powder, Carronade, and Aronoel. Then came the principal race of the day, the Canterbury Cup. Only Crackshot, Medallion and Freedom went to the post. After they had gone a hundred yards Crackshot went to the front, was never headed, and won in a canter by four lengths ; Medallion, the favourite, second, Freedom, third. How can one account for this running. Crackshot wins the Napier Handicap, is nowhere in the New Zealand Cup, and Medallion defeats him in the Derby. There are two ways of accounting for it; either that Crackshot is an arrant rogue, and requires to be taken to the front, or that Medallion was in waiting, and that Freedom cannot stay —a belief that has been entertained by many for a long time. The Jockey Club Stakes, one mile, produced the good field of sixteen, and resulted as follows : —St. Andrew, 7st., first, Von Tempskey, 6st. 71b., second, Ruby, Bst., third. Won easily by four lengths. Crackshot, 7st. idb. finished nowhere. This is another little nut for racing men to crack. My opinion is that St. Andrew is a good horse up to a mile, and that is the length of his tether. The Electric Stakes, four furlongs, brought another good field to the post, eleven starting for it. Florrie, 6st. 11 lb. turned up the winner, May, 6st. 1 ilb., second, and St. Andrew, Bst. 21b. third; won by half a length. This again proves that St. Andrew's forte is speed. The other races require no comment, as they were not of much interest. This meeting will be remembered for the curious running of Medallion and Crackshot. It remains to be seen if it is true, and which is the better horse—this will be seen before the end of the season.

The fourth day of the V.R.C. Meeting was not devoid of interest. Owing to the death of his son, who was unfortunately injured by the falling of Explorer at a fence at Moonie Valley the previous day, Mr. Watson surrended the flag to Mr. Inglis, who was not particularly fortunate in his starting. The Flemington Stakes, for two-year-olds, half a mile, was the first race. The large field of twenty-five went to the post; Lord Hopetown, the favourite, getting the best of the start, won by a length, Sophiaetta, second, Hartington, third, in the fast time of 49 secs. The V.R.C. Foal Stakes, one mile and a quarter, resulted in a win for The Spot, Whimberel, second, Prelude, third. Magic Circle, Litigant, Gatling, and King William being the other starters. Litigant was made favourite, but finished nowhere. This goes to prove that her Oaks win was a lucky one. Whimberel ran much better than he did in the Derby, while Magic Circle and Gatling did the reverse. The V.R.C. Handicap, one and three-, quarter miles, is looked upon as one of the principal races of the meeting. A field of sixteen horses went to the post, Greytown being made the favourite at 7 to 2, Correze and Enuc being next in demand at. 5 to 1. Correze, 7st. 1 zlb., won easily by a length and a half, Enuc, 7St. 61b., second, Little Bernie, 7st. i2lb. third. The time, as reported, is 3mm. 3sec.; this, if correct, shows the fallacy of trying to

pick winners when you are not on the spot. In the Derby, Correze never got near the winner in a slow run race, in the Melbourne Cup—a fast run race, he could only get a moderate third, while in this race, a mile and threequarters, he wins easily, breaking the Australian record for this distance. The question is, was the horse short of a galop or so when he started for the Derby, or was “ Mr. Roper ” in attendance. The V.R.C. Steeplechase fell to Sir Wilfred, izst. 41b., Marmion, gst izlb., second, Titokowaru, izst. ylb., third. Nine others started. Won by a length. The Canterbury Plate, is always an interesting race, this year more so than usual, as Carbine did not start, Mr. Wallace relying on Megaphone. The other starters were Melos, Richelieu, King William and The Admiral, the latter starting favourite (but Hales, who rode him, broke a stirrup leather and fell off), Melos and Megaphone being next in the betting. The finish was left to Megaphone and King William, the former, running very game, won by a neck, Melos half a length behind. This running makes King William either a better colt than was supposed, (in which case it is a pity that he has shown his form}, or else Megaphone has trained off and is not as good as he was at the A.J.C. meeting. Muriel, yst. 61b., won the Free Handicap . from seventeen others. This brought the meeting to a close, but it will be remembered for many years by racing men, not only for the wonderful performance of Carbine, but for the in and out running of other horses.

The Auckland Racing Club’s Spring Meeting took place last Monday and Tuesday. George Wright was most successful with the Kohimaramara stable, winning nine races, chiefly owing to the splendid condition in which he brought his horses to the post. I do not say this to flatter him, as I do not know George Wright even by sight. Cissy had no trouble in placing her four engagements to her owner’s credit. She was trained to the day, and appears to have lost all her fretfullness. She is far above the class of animals that ran at the meeting, especially as Antelope was not up to the mark, but I should not like to back her in first-class company. The Welcome Stakes introduced us to ten two-year-olds. Of these Brigand and Roie were the fittest. The former I am afraid will never be in the front division ; the latter is a speedy mare, as she proved by winning the Nursery on the second day. Orestes is a nice colt but wants plenty of time, as he is overgrown and leggy, and if his trainer continues to push him along he will be ruined. If he was mine I should throw him up at least until the Autumn, but it would be better to do so until next year. Dishonour will see a better day. The winner, The Workman, is a really nice colt, and if properly handled ought to make a mark for himselfl He was far from fit, having been overdone and then let down again. He has done more work than any two-year-old I have ever seen. The style of work he has been doing Would astonish Matt Dawson or in fact any English trainer I ever knew. Notwithstanding this he won easily. None of the others took my fancy, but at the same time they will see a better day. Leolantis won the Guineas easily, but he was the only horse that was fit, The Dreamer requiring more work, While Reprisal was not fit to run for sour apples—at the same time I put him down as a moderate colt. Orlando won the two hurdles and the steeplechase. His success must be put down to the splendid condition he was in. Sentinel, when fit, will be his master, as he can be made pounds better, and is the cut of a jumper. Orlando was especially lucky, as Hune was his master until the last fence, when condition told and she came down, while the man-trap brought Fishmonger to grief. This is a wooden bridge at the bottom of the hill, just before coming into the straight. It is also on the bend. Horses are at that time going at the greatest speed and there have been a number of accidents at -this spot, and until either someone is killed or a relative or a friend of one of the Committee is seriously injured it will not be altered, though the cost would only be about £5. The handicaps on the second day were simply disgraceful, and show the absurdity of anyone attempting to make handicaps by telegraph. Mr. Evitt, even when he is on the spot, is not

the premier handicapper in the Colonies, but I would defy even the late Admiral Rous to make a handicap for a second day’s racing unless he saw the running of the first. The excuse made is that he is at Christchurch watching the running there, in order to frame good handicaps for the Summer meeting. This is all right, but as this occurs every year someone ought to be appointed in his place to make them for the second day.