THE TURF.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume I, Issue 22, 27 December 1890, Page 2

THE TURF.

[by

OLD TURFITE.]

The acceptances for the minor races on Boxing Day which were declared last Friday night are much better than Mr. Evitt had any right to expect. As I mentioned last week he had no reason to be congratulated on them. Luckily for him there is a certain class of men in Auckland that really do not know what their horses can or cannot do, or their proper distance ; the consequence is they enter their horses in all kinds of races and over all distances, and accept with them. After losing all they can they throw up racing in disgust. lam not so egotistical as to think that I can point out the winners of all races, and shall think myself lucky if I can pick out two, or at the most three, in one day. The majority of my readers are not heavy bettors, therefore I strongly recommend them to wait till the numbers go up and then invest their money.

The first race is the Trial Stakes, w.f.a., with allowances. This race I shall decidedly leave alone until the numbers go up, as it lies between Cissy and St. Andrew if they both start; if neither do it will be an open race. At one time I thought that the Great Northern Foal Stakes would be a great race between Lebel and The Workman, but from what I can learn

the former is not as well as should be, so there is Brigand and Rosefeldt to be taken into consideration. The former ran a good second to The Workman in the Welcome Stakes, and had been well tried in private. His being beaten was rather a surprise to the party behind him. However I think the race will result as follows : — Rosefeldt or Lebel.

The Handicap Hurdles has only four struck out: Waterfall and Orlando reading the best of those remaining in. The Railway Handicap has eight who have cried content. On paper Pani and The Baron read the best, but intending backers should use their own judgment when the numbers go up. The Nursery Handicap is the worst of all the handicaps. How Mr. Evitt could compile such a one is more than any racing man can make out. Of those remaining in Brigand reads a moral, but he may have as much as he likes in the Great Northern Foal Stakes, so something—as often is the case —may turn up and save the handicapper’s credit. The Christmas Handicap is dependent on previous running, but if Cissy come fit and well to the post she ought to beat the lot left in.

Now last, not least, comes the Auckland Cup. When I first went though the weights I selected six that I considered well in, finally reducing them to Strephon, Dudu, and Leorina. I see no reason to alter my opinion as regards the first two, but I have with regard to the last, so therefore shall leave her out and take in her place the reported non-stayer St. Andrew. There is no reason why he should not get the course. His breeding is right enough. A connoisseur might find fault with his action, which is rather high for a horse to get two miles in a fast run race. In the good old days the bookmakers used to lay you 40 to 1 you did not bunch them. If such was the case I would take Strephon, Dudu, and St. Andrew, and in that order I like them best.

The first of \ the annual S sales that attract so many people to Auckland takes place at Wellington Park on Wednesday, December 31st. The chief lot belongs to Mr. Morrin, and consists of four colts and six fillies, and are worthy of inspection. This stud has produced some really good racehorses. As I have twice before gone through them, I will only call the attention of my readers to what I consider the gems. First of all is the brown colt by Nordenfeldt out of Ouida (dam of Trenton, Niagara, Cuirassier, Cissy, and many others) is a well made colt with plenty of size, standing on good legs with no lumber about him, he is also a beautiful mover in the paddock, and is, in my opinion, the best that the old mare has produced. The brown colt by Nordenfeldt out of Albatross (dam of Teksum and Loch Ness) is but little inferior to the other, being a well grown colt, but he stands rather too high on the leg to suit my fancy. Of the fillies, the bav filly by Nordenfeldt out of Ouida (dam of "Artillery, Balista, Hilda, Hazel, etc.) and the bay filly by St. Leger out of Necklace must be bracketed together, as it is hard to say which will turn out the best. The latter is worth a great deal of money for her breeding alone, as St. Leger is by Doncaster out of Atlantis by Thormanby out of Hurricane by Wild Dayrell. Doncaster by Stockwell out of Marigold by Teddington. Necklace by Musket out of Locket by Thunderbolt. Better breeding than this is not to be found South of the Line. At the sametime Mr. L. D. Nathan, of Whitford Park, sends up a draft of three yearling colts by the Dauphin, a filly by Nordenfeldt out of Aconite, a two-year-old filly by Swordance out of Duchess, two brood mares, Duchess and Lady St. Clair, with filly foals at foot by the Dauphin, and the chestnut horse Fabulous out of Atlantis. Not having seen theml can pass no opinion on them, but it is to be hoped that this is a weeding-out sale to make room for some of the Sylvia Park Stud. There is not the slightest doubt that if Mr. L. D. Nathan likes to buy judiciously it will eventually turn out a most profitable investment to him for years to come. The Middle Park Company (Christchurch) have brought up the two-year-old Eros and the yearling colts by St. George out of Fair Nell and by Apremont out of Flattery. Judging from

the high reserves put on them at their November sale they must be worth looking after. Mrs. Walters also sends up two colts and two fillies, a much smaller number than usual. The fillies by Hippocampus out of Yatterina and Rosarina should, from their breeding, be a ble to gallop, as both the dams are well bred, and have produced winners, especially the former, who, it is to be regretted, is now dead; a gamer mare than Yatterina never faced the stciT*t or * Mr. Philson, of Hunter and Nolan, ought to have a good afternoon of it, as some of the yearlings are sure to realise high figures. I will reserve my remarks on the Silvia Park Stud until another issue, as I have not been out for some time, though the majority of the matrons are well-known to me.