The Turf.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume II, Issue 88, 31 March 1892, Page 7

The Turf.

[by

OLD TURFITE.]

The Napier Park Club held a most successful meeting on the 23rd and 24th inst. There is one thing that must strike race-goers, and that is the different form horses show on the Hastings and Taradale courses. This has been noticeable for some years. In the Hawke’s Bay Cup Crown Jewel and Retina finished first and second, but in the Napier Park Cup, with 141 b and 81b more up, they ran nowhere to Scot Free, Bst 21b, who is considered a nonstayer. Free Lance also cut up badly, so did Strephon. However, the latter has been some time on the shelf, and cannot at the present time be thoroughly wound up. Whalebone gave us another taste of his quality over the sticks, as he made all the running and beat Waterbury a neck at the difference of 141 b., and on the second day he again defeated him with only 61b the best of the weights, though he had to succumb to Couranto, who was giving him 81b. However, taking his form all through, he is a horse worth watching for future events, as he is only five years old. Bay Bell, with none the best of the weights, won the City Stakes Handicap pretty easily from a erood field, thus proving Scot Free to be a better horse than most people thought he was, and that on account of having e hip down a lefthanded course suits him better than a righthanded one like Ellerslie. Strephon and Retina again ran badly, and they must both be decidedly off, especially the former, who was again beaten in the Waverley Stakes.

The Dunedin Jockey Club held their Anniversary meeting on the 23rd and 24th. It was chiefly confined to local horses, but it is worthy of notice that the programme on each day included a trotting race, thus showing that at least one Metropolitan Club has the good sense to recognise the sport. The class of trotters cannot be very brilliant, as the winner of the three-mile trot took 9min. 38secs. to cover the distance. There was also a pony race and a pony trot. If such a mixed programme was held at Ellerslie it would prove very attractive, and be much better than seeing the same horses running over and over again. The Anniversary Handicap was won by Galtee, Bst 71b, Miss Mack, Bst 51b, second, Tempest, Bst 91b, third. Derby, Leinster, and Don Pedro also ran. Tempest and Galtee were great favourites. Mr. Stephenson secured the Seacliffe Handicap with that smart filly Huguenot, and on the second day he was first and second with Hippomenes and Tempest for the Holiday Handicap, Leinster being the only other starter. The Hon. G. McLean had a win with Conjuror in the Electric Stakes, beating Mistral, Huguenot, and five others, but the start was a very bad one. The other races call -for no comment.

The nominations for the Auckland Trotting Club’s meeting, to be held at Potter’s Paddock on April 16th are exceedingly good, the pony entries being very numerous, there being no less than 27 in the Autumn Handicap, seven furlongs, 16 in the Hurdle Race, and 34 in the Flying Stakes. For the trotting races there are 14 in the Harness Trot, 14 in the Electric Handicap, and 17 in the Easter Handicap, three miles. It is to be hoped that the handicappers will not spoil what promises to be a good meeting by inferior handicaps— giving the limit horse too much start. They must bear in mind that the Club isn ow in a flourishing position, and that the thing that is now required is a good class of Jhorse, not the rubbish we have been accustomed to see at Potter’s Paddock, and the only way to obtain them is by not crushing out a good horse because some

persons are so foolish as to enter a horse that cannot trot. On looking through the entries there are some that should never be on a track. There are two especially of this class in the Easter Handicap, and the handicappers would do well to show disapproval of such a thing by placing these horses close on scratch, then their owners will perhaps take the hint, and either put them in the minor races or keep them at home.

The weights for the C.J.C. Great Easter and Autumn Handicaps are to hand, but as the acceptances are due to-morrow it is not worth while going into them until after they appear. Mr Henry has certainly succeeded in making them flattering, although some of the horses can have no chance. Taking the Great Easter Handicap, 7 furlongs, Clanranald, 9st 51b, heads the list. He is a horse with a great turn of speed and should have a show. Huguenot, Bst 11b, and Flinders with lib less have nothing to complain of, nor has Hippomenes, 7st 111 b. Then lower down comes Ilium, 7st 41b, and Pique, 6st 121 b. The latter is an in-and-out runner that may any day effect a surprise. Lady Zetland, 7st 61b, and Conjuror, 7st 41b, also read well, but my predilection at present is for Clanranald, Huguenot, Flinders, Ilium and Pique. The Great Autumn Handicap, one mile and a half, is a far better race to speculate on than a sprint one. Dudu, 9st, after her race at Wanganui, must be passed over, as she then pulled up sore, and is, I am informed, in foal. Merrie England, Bst 131 b, is being specially prepared for this meeting, but he never was a fancy of mine. Cruchfield, Bst 101 b, is nicely weighted, and his running at Dunedin shows that he has come back to his form, and this is his distance. Morion is an overrated horse. Prime Warden, Bst 21b, if in his old form, must be a dangerous one. Palliser, 7st 101 b, may be a rod in pickle, but I prefer Kulnine with 11b less. Diadem, 6st 131 b, reads well, but she has been too long on the shelf. Ilium 6st 91b, is not unlikely to land the double. The only other one that takes my attention is Awarua Rose, 6st 81b, as I doubt if we have seen him at his best. Taking four, Cruchfield, Prime Warden, Kulnine and Ilium I prefer the best, but Awarua Rose is worth watching

The Helensville Meeting takes place next Saturday, and promises to be one of the best meetings held there for some years, as the acceptances are particularly good, and reflect great credit on Mr. Halstead, as it is no easy matter to satisfy owners of scrubbers who train their horses themselves. The course is a nice one, and the bank on one side forms a natural stand from which any number of people can obtain a good view of the racing. It only rests now with the Railway Manager to make the meeting a success. If he makes the same blunders as he did last Saturday, not many will patronise the train, and it is too far to drive. The Maiden Plate has an acceptance of sixteen. Many of them are unknown to me, but on late form Assassin, Acacia, and Tiger read about the best, but it is a race that should be left alone until the numbers go up. Nine have declared content for the Hurdle Race, the majority of them are very moderate. Kate lost 51b, Rewarewa lost, and Assassin 9St lolb, reading about the best. Of these I prefer Kate, but should she not go up it would be well to watch the machine as regards the other two. For the Helensville Cup Leorina, gst lolb, and Ingorina, gst 51b, are brought pretty close together, but the latter has not been out lately ; Warrior, 7st lolb, is given a good show ; Brigade, yst 21b, is a jade or she is well in; - Ida, 7St 21b, on her running at Papakura, must not be despised. Of the two I prefer Ingorina if well, but if compelled to back one it would be Leorina. with Ida to hunt her home. The Hack Race has no less than sixteen acceptances, but this race should be left until the numbers go up, as they are generally “ readied ” and should be struck out of all programmes, but from what I am told Tiger and Blue Ribbon are pretty smart at this kind of game. There are thirteen left in the Flying Stakes, but this race is greatly dependant on previous running, but it will be most likely a repetition of the Cup unless Brigade takes it into her head to try, therefore I think that Leorina is the

best to stand as she has benefitted by the rest she has had, and in the Flying Stakes at Papakura, if she had been rim independently, she would have won easily enough.

The entries for the Avondale meeting are very good, and considering the quality of the horses engaged, Mr. Halstead has been very successful in his handicaps, though one or two races look pretty nearly certainties, if they are not waiting for the Ellerslie meeting. One thing is noticeable—there are two Transits entered. This is in d\ect contravention to Rule 64. The minor clubs say it is the duty of the Metropolitan clubs to see that this rule is adhered to. At present it is completely iff: noted There are two Strephons, two Torpedos, two Transits, and if one was to go through the list other duplicates could be found. The different Metropolitan clubs should insist on seeing that the rules of racing are carried out by the subordinate clubs. What is the use of having rules if they are not properly carried out ? But my work now is to go through the Avondale Handicaps. The first on the list is the Steeplechase, for which there are seven entries. Ingorangi, lost izlb, fit and meant for it, one need not look further for the winner, but if he was, I do not think it would be the stable’s tactics to show him up in a race like this. Silvio, tost ylb, is unfairly weighted as he is played out. Stepper, lost bib, if he can get the course, might have a show. Kate, lost 41b, reads the best of the lot, as it is doubtful if the others will get round. There are ten in the Pony Race. These are races I am not fond of, so shall leave it alone. The same remarks apply to the Novel Race, and I shall confine my remarks to saying that the top and bottom weights should not be out of it. There are no less than fifteen in the Maiden Steeplechase. Of these Kate is ineligible. The question is, which of them will get the course ? I rather fancy that Neli, gst gib, and Tim, gst ylb, will. There is a nice lot of seventeen to pick the winner from in the Maiden Plate, the veteran maiden Warrior, Bst izlb, heading the list. St. Clements Bst ylb (if he can get the distance), Kildare yst i .lb, Tiger yst idb, Acacia yst gib, and Echo, yst ylb, all read well. There are fifteen in the Avondale Cup. Here Mr. Halstead has been most successful. As until the acceptances are made and owner’s intentions arc known, it is hard to pick the winner, the followingall look well in on paper: —lngorina gst 51b, Yattaghan Bst 51b, Belmont yst lolb (after the way he looked and ran at Papakura is out of it if his running was true), Tuna yst ylb, Tulloch yst, Kildare 6st 121 b and Vasator 6st gib. If all on the square Ingorina, Yattaghan and Tulloch read the best; while Kildare and Vasator I have reasons to suppose are better than is generally imagined. There are twenty-two in the Flying Stakes, so there is no use going through them until the acceptances appear and the numbers go up, as it is dependant on previous running : but the following are decidedly leniently treated : — St. Clements yst i2lb, Vasator yst 51b, Tulloch yst zlb, Octopus yst (this horse has never won a handicap, still there is no reason why he should not, as he wins selling races easily enough at all kinds of distances, and depend upon it he will crop up some day when not expected), Echo yst, and Kildare 6st lolb. There are fifteen in the Hurdle Race —such as they are. Ingorangi, lost i2lb, as I said in the Steeplechase r/’fit, is not likely to spin. Stepper. lost ylb, has got off easily considering the company; Never Miss, lost 51b, is uncertain; Cloth of Gold, lost 41b, is not fit. Among the ragged division Neli, gst gib, and Ika Vuka, gst ylb, especially read well. The latter at Papakura jumped the wing of the hurdle below the stand and should have been pulled up, but be kept with the others for a certain distance and then dropped back. It struck me that the jockey knew the mistake and had a public feeler, but did not like to come too far in case he got into trouble. Capella, gst gib, on paper is turned loose, but those who saw her at Papakura ought to have seen that she is far from fit, and if I am not mistaken she is forward in foal; in fact, she should not b,C.raced in her present condition. Warrior, gst ylb, appears for the first time, and I have had no opportunity of finding out how he shapes at the illegitimate game.

A well-known Native interpreter told me yesterday that he had been asked by the Secretary of the A.R.C. to interpret some of the Rules of Racing into Maori.

The acceptances for the Taranaki Jockey Club Handicap are very poor, only ten out of the original thirty accepting. Of those remaining in Whisper, Bst 101 b heads the list, Scot Free, Bst 71b, including his penalty, coming next. Of these two Whisper reads the best. Eochness, 7st 121 b, is not badly in, but the trainer of Krina, 7st 61b, should have his line. Of the others, Awarua Rose, 6st 121 b, reads the best, but my preference is for Whisper, though Eochness and Krina my bring her home. For the Flying Handicap only nine of the original twenty-four entries declared content. Of these I prefer Cretonne, 7st, Heather Bell Bst, and Torpedo, 7st 51b, in the order named.