Turf Topics.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume III, Issue 113, 22 September 1892, Page 7

Turf Topics.

LBy

“Sir Launcelot."]

Caulfield Cup Scratchings.—Courteous, Scrip. Melbourne Cup Scratchings. — Courteous, Scrip, Target.

Among the foalings at the Hobartville (N.S. W.) Stud this season are a full sister to Marvel, and a colt by Trenton out of lolanthe’s dam, Rosedale. We have already learnt by cable that the Haw kesbury Grand Handicap winner, Selkirk, annexed that race very easily. Full details to hand by mail show that there were 11 starters, viz., Tridentine 9.3, Althotas 8.2, Gaytime 7.4, Rosstellan 7.2, Lancer 7.2, Selkirk 7.0, Barnaby Rudge 6.12, Isaac 6.1 1, Hegira 6.9, Princess 6.6, including 21b over, and Everistas 6.2. Selkirk started favourite at 5 to 2, 4 to 1 being taken about Gaytime, and 6 to 1 about Tridentine and Princess. Selkirk came out half a mile from home and held his own to the end, winning by about 10 lengths from Princess, who was two lengths in front of Everistas. Selkirk is by Onyx’s brother Robinson Crusoe out of Fratch, by First King— Repartee, by Lucifer—Badinage (imp.) by Muscovite. Princess, who is the property of astute John Mayo, is by Grandmaster —Queen’s Head, and Everistas is by Goldsbrough—Hazard. The going was very dead, so that the time registered for the mile and three furlongs was slow—2 min 33sec. Selkirk, who is now four years old, commenced his racing career at Caulfield, when he finished unplaced in a two-year-old handicap, won by Lady Carbine. He afterwards competed with similar non-success at both Moonee Valley and Caulfield, at which latter place he finished fourth. This form was considered good enough to cause his party to back him at 5 to 1 for the St. Albans Handicap at Moonee Valley, but he failed to get a place. As a three-year-old he was a fair performer, his first attempt at that age being in the A.J.C. Trial Stakes, in which he finished second to Westella. He next appeared at Cootamundra, where he won the double of Cohen Cup, 6.10, and Bourke Plate, 7.5. His next notable performance was in the Rous Handicap at Randwick, when he carried 7.0, and finished second to Danton, 6.4. At Bourke he was beaten a head by Sundial (who was receiving 21 lb from him) in the Bourke Handicap, but on the second day he won the Central Handicap of one mile and a half, carrying 8.6, and since then he had not been seen out till he won the Hawkesbury Grand Handicap. Our old friend J. Monaghan was in pretty good form on the first day of the Hawkesbury meeting, for he provided first and second in the Two-year-old Stakes with Welcome Spec and Budgeree, and Real Lace after running second to Alcides in the County Purse beat a field of five in the Ladies’ Bracelet. Real Lace is by Phil Athol (sire of Althotas) out of Suva. Pharamond for his win in the Tattersalls’ Two-year-old Stakes had to put up a 51b penalty in the Hawkesbury two-year-old event, and this caused Welcome Spec (who was second to him at Randwick) to be made the better favourite of the pair. Welcome Spec only got home by a head from her stable-mate Budgeree, who is by Marvellous out of Elsie, and Pharamond was third, two lengths away. Welcome Spec is by the New Zealander Welcome Jack out of Lady Spec by Speculum—Lady Hilda (imp.) by Lord of the Isles out of Rigolboche, the dam of the English Derby winner Cremorne, a real good pedigree. At the same meeting Thornback, a half-brother to Ascot, the sire of Cretonne and others, won the Members’ Handicap, 6 furlongs, from a field of eight, and he subsequently ran second to Blue Gown, to whom he was giving lolb, in the Spring Welter Handicap, 6 furlongs. The South Australian brood mare Footstep foaled a few days ago a full brother to The Admiral. She has had seven foals to Richmond, and this year will visit the New Zealand-bred Thunderbolt. Among other recent foalings at Adelaide is a colt by Neckersgat from Ada, and therefore brother to Newstead. Mr. A. Austin’s two-year-old filly by Brigadier —The Jilt has been named Eve, and his two-year-old colt by Brigadier—Victress Bogus. The death is announced at Mr. W. R. Wilson’s St. Albans stud farm of Vindex, the dam of Vengeance (winner of the Caulfield and Australian Cups). Vindex was by Yattendon out of the imported Stockdove (dam of The Australian Peer). The last of Vindex’s progeny, a filly by First King, was purchased as a yearling last March by the Hon. D. S. Wallace for 150 gs. The Wellington Park stallions St. Leger, Hotchkiss, Castor and Cuirassier are among the 22 stallions nominated for the V.R.C. Sires’ Produce Stakes of 1806. The other sires nominated are Gang Forward, Nautilus, Eiridspord, Newminster, Carlyon, Vengeance, Boolka, Carbine, Neckersgat, Trenton, Robinson Crusoe, Nordenfeldt, Commotion, Glorious, Malua, Mentor, Abercorn and Martini-Henry. On the fourth day of the A.J.C. Meeting the most noticeable feature was the further failure of Autonomy to distinguish himself, for though he started first favourite in a field of nine for the Randwick Plate, w.f.a., three miles, he could get no nearer than third to Candour and St. Albans 11. Candour is a son of Splendor, the Speculum—Bathilde horse that won the Payne Stakes at Newmarket for Mr. Stead, and was sold by him to Mr. F. Reynolds, of Tocal, N.S.W. The Waverley Handicap of a mile and three-quarters saw the Hawkesbury Handicap winner Selkirk (7.9) finish third to Ethelbert (6.9) and Affiance (7.6). Ethelbert, who belongs to Mr. W. Gannon (owner of Melos, etc.) is by Sylvia’s son Goldsbrough out of Sweet William’s sister Ethel. Mr. S. Hordern, owner of Nordenfeldt, won the Final Handicap, with the six-year-old mare The Gift, by Somnus—Little Wanzer, who was until lately the property of Mr. H. Oxenham, the bookmaker. The “J. B. Clark” syndicate not only suffered defat as abovementioned with Autonomy in the Randwick Plate, but their colt Ulric went down before Straightfire, to whom he was giving no less than 261 b., in the Members’ Handicap, one mile and a furlong, for three-year-olds only. Straightfire is by the unbeaten Grand Flaneur out of Crossfire, a sister to the Melbourne Cup winner Arsenal. The ex-New Zealand boy Nolan rode Clarence into second place in the Steeplechase, the winner being Frantic, who was giving Clarence 161 b.

The committee of the Auckland Racing Club held their ordinary monthly meeting on Friday last. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded to the Hon. Captain Russell and Mr. W. F. Buckland, M.H.R., for acting as delegates on behalf of the Club at the recent Conference of Metropolitan Clubs The disqualification of Mr. R. May was removed. The publishers of the N.Z. Turf Register were voted a bonus of lOgs. It was decided that all jockeys desirous of riding in the Auckland district during the present season be required to forward their applications for licenses by the 15th prox. The following.dates for race meetings were submitted to the committee and approved of by them: —Avondale Jockey Club, December 3rd and April 22nd ; Drury Racing Club, December 28th; Papakura Racing Club, March 17th ; Ohinemuri Racing Club, March 17th ; South Auckland Racing Club, December 16thand 17thandAprilSth; Takapuna Jockey Club, November 26th, January 28th and 20th and May 24th ; Matamata Jockey Club, December 26th ; Poverty Bay Turf Club, October 18th and 19th and January 10th and 11th; Ormond Jockey Club, January 2nd ; Waerenga-a-Hika Jockey Club, December 26th and May 24th. The programmes of the Thames Jockey Club and Northern Wairoa Jockey Club —both of which had selected December 26th and 27th — were sent back for amendment of dates, and the programmes submitted by the Gisborne Park Racing Club were referred back to the Club in order that certain financial questions might be answered. The committee declined to pass the programmes of the Onehunga Jockey Club and the Lake Jockey Club, as they did not consider that they were required. Ten new members were elected, and Messrs. J. W. Wallace and F. D. Tonge were elected as gentlemen riders.

The sum of £3,055 passed through the totalisators at the Auckland Racing Club’s Spring Meeting on Saturday last was £869 less than was put through at the corresponding meeting of last year.

The Auckland Trotting Club will bring off their Spring Meeting at Potter’s Paddock on Saturday. Mr. E. D. Halstead’s handicaps have produced good acceptances, there being 19 left in the Maiden, 11 in the Flying, a dozen in the Spring Handicap Trot, seven in the Tramway Handicap, eight in the Harness Trot, six in the Hurdles, and eight in the Electric Handicap. A particular interest will be evinced in the performance of Rarus, who arrived on Monday from Christchurch, where he put up the record for two miles in harness for the Colony, particulars of which appear in another “ turf topic.”

£635, exactly the same amount as last year, will be distributed at the South Auckland Racing Club’s Summer Meeting, to be held on the Claudelands racecourse, Hamilton, on Friday and Saturday, December 16 and 17. Some slight alterations in the conditions of some of the stakes as compared with last season are, however, to be found in the programme advertised in another column of this issue. Thus, on the first day the Maiden Hurdles of 25 sovs. is made a Hurdle Handicap and raised to 30 sovs., and the Novel Race of 25 sovs. is excised, its place being taken by the Waikato Produce Stakes, which last year was run on the second day of the meeting. On the second day the Hurdle Handicap is increased from 40 sovs. to 45 sovs., and a new race, the Claudelands Handicap of' 25 sovs., 5 furlongs, takes the place vacated by the Produce Stakes. The Publicans’ Purse is reduced from 50 sovs. to 40 sovs., and the distance cut down to one mile and a quarter. The County Plate of 20 soys., which appeared in last year’s bill of fare, gives place to a Novel Race of 25 sovs., 7 furlongs, and the Welter Handicap is reduced from 30 sovs. to 25 sovs. The principal events of the present programme are the South Auckland Cup Handicap of 115 sovs., one mile and three-quarters; South Auckland Steeplechase of 70 sovs., about three miles ; and Waikato Produce Stakes of 60 sovs., 6 furlongs. Nominations close on November 25. Mr. E. D. Halstead will adjust the handicaps. Appended to the S.A.R.C.’s programme are advertised the conditions of the Waikato Mares’ Produce Stakes of 1894-95, for which nominations are invited by 9 p.m. on December 2nd next. £5O is given by the Club, and will be added to a sweepstakes of 3 sovs. each, and the general conditions are liberally framed. It is open to foals out of mares the bona fide property at time of service of settlers in the five counties of Raglan, Waipa, Waikato, Piako and Ohinemuri. The noted trotter Rarus was brought up from Christchurch last Monday in charge of Edwards to fulfil his engagements at the Auckland Trotting Club’s Spring Meeting, which comes off on Saturday. It was mentioned in our Wellington correspondent’s letter in our last issue that this gelding had broken the New Zealand record for harness in a race at New Brighton, near Christchurch, a few days previously. Full particulars of the event now to hand show that the starters were ten in number, the race being the Avon Handicap Trot (in harness) of 35 sovs., second 5 sovs. from stakes, 2 miles. The field was made up thus (the figures before each name representing the number of investors on the totalisator) : — 35 Rarus, scr; 20 Sunlight, 2 sec; 19 Polly Plum 25 sec ; 3 Unknown, 32 sec ; 1 The Speaker, 35 sec; 1| Vanderbilt, 39 sec; 45 Colonial, 39 sec ; 11| Apology, 42 sec ; 21J Pride of Erin, 47 sec; and 5 Poppet, 50 sec. Rarus won by two lengths from Pride of Erin, with Apology a moderate third. The official time was smin. 36sec., and the dividend £4 Is 6d. A local writer says, in commenting on the race, says: —“The Avon Handicap produced a magnificent struggle between Rarus and Pride of Erin, and the former just won in the last 20 yards. How good Mr. Brewer’s horse is it is difficult to say. He only really settled down to his work at the end of three-quarters of a mile. At that point he had not made up any ground, but when he did commence he trotted through his field in magnificent style, and though he was quite 100 yards behind Pride of Erin half-a-mile from home he got upin the last 20 yards and won by a couple of lengths. The official time was returned as smin. 36sec., or 2sec. better than the New Zealand record held by Kentucky, but private watches made the time 2sec. or 3sec. slower. In any case it was a great performance, as had Rarus trotted right through the race as he did in the last mile he would probably have covered the distance in lOsec. or even 15sec. less time than it actually took him.”

From Melbourne I learn that Mr. D. O’Brien’s horse Freedom has had to be blistered on one of his hind legs.

Mr. W. R. Wilson of St. Albans, Vic,, heads the list of winning owners in Australia for the past year, having had 12 winners of 28 races of the total value of £14,030. The “J. B. Clark ” syndicate comes next with £13,272, won in 27J races. Mr. J. Redfearn, thanks mainly to Malvolio’s Melbourne Cup, is third with two winners of two races value £10,214. Mr. George Hill (N.S.W.), ■with Marvel and Shamrock, won nine races totalling £5,673, and Mr. S. Miller (Vic.) follows him with £5,609, won in 25j races. Three New South Welshmen —Mr. E. Keys, Mr. W. Forrester, and Mr. H. Oxenham —won £3,753, £3,224, and £3,210 respectively, and they are followed by Mr. W. Sayer, Victoria, with £3,126. Mr. I. T. Carslake won £2,885 ; Mr. D. S. Wallace £2,851; and Mr. S. G. Cook £2,765 ; and these three are Victorians. Old Jack Chaafe is well up in the list, his nominations having annexed £2,407. But what chiefly concerns New Zealanders is that Mr. S. H. Gollan had three winners of six races of the total value of £2,267. We have to go a good deal further down the list before we come to Major George, who is credited with £853. C. Rudings has £585 to his credit, F. Paneti £245, and the late Wally Clifford £2lO.

St. Hippo and The Dancer will be taken to Napier to-day to fulfil their engagements at the Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club’s Spring Meeting. George Wright goes down with them. St. Hippo was unfortunately not entered for the Wanganui Derby or he would have been a competitor at the Wanganui Jockey Club’s Spring Meeting, which follows closely on that of the H.B.J.C. Had he gone to Wanganui he would have been accompanied by The Dancer and Fishmonger. St. Hippo’s owner and trainer were rather taken aback when they found that the colt’s name was missing from the Wanganui Derby list. What was St. Hippo’s then owner thinking about that he did not enter him ?

Messrs. Cohen and Stock, who have for some time past worked the totalisators in connection with the Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club’s meetings, announce that under instructions from the Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club, they are prepared to receive money for investment at the Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club’s Spring Meeting. Money order telegrams, with instructions, will be received in Napier up to to o’clock on the morning of each day’s racing. Two and a half per cent, will be charged on all winnings. Intending investors can address their telegrams to Mr. H. P. Cohen, Napier; Mr. W. Stock, Hastings; or Messrs. Cohen and Stock, Hastings racecourse.

- Mr. D. O’Brien wired from Sydney to an Auckland friend at the end of last week that Lady Walmsley was to be put to Tasman. Mr. O’Brien also stated in the cablegram that heUind lkßt.':! ' good win over Florrie in the Sydney Handicap and that he was leaving Sydney for Wellington on Saturday last.

Looking through my Southern files the other day I noticed that in all of them Cynisca figured in the Hawke’s Bay Spring Handicap at 9.0. Now, having seen Mr. Evett’s handicap as soon as he issued it, I knew that the mare’s weight was 9.5, and, as soon as I pointed it out to him, he wired to the Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club’s secretary pointing out that the error had, presumably, been made in telegraphing. Southern contemporaries, please note.

Mr. H. Ellison, the Auckland manufacturing tobacconist and commission agent, advertises in this issue that his Turf Club Cigarette guessing coupons close on October 11th. To Mr. Ellison lam indebted for a copy of Mr. H. Oxenham’s usual Australian Sporting Guide, for the sale of which Mr. Ellison has been appointed Auckland agent. Mr. Oxenham’s Guide gives the performances of all the principal candidates for the forthcoming Australian Spring events, and is therefore very valuable to that legion of turfites throughout this Colony who “ follow form ” in Australia.

The Pakuranga Hunt Club’s Spring programme has undergone further alteration, the opening event being now made a handicap, the Members’ Tally-ho Steeplechase Handicap fixed for three miles, and the winner of the Hunt Club Cup to be penalised to the extent of 71b ; and the Ladies’ Bracelet made a Welter Flat Handicap instead of being run over the little sticks.

The Auckland Racing Club announce by advertisement in another column that all jockeys wishing to ride this season where the Metropolitan Club’s rules are in force, must make application for a license on or before the 15th prox.

The Auckland Provincial Agricultural Association will be in evidence on Friday and Saturday, November I ith and 12th. will be distributed in prizes. This is hardly a “Turf Topic,” but owners of thoroughbreds and draughts will do no harm by taking note of the dates of the Show.

The programme of the Ormond Jockey Club’s annual race gathering, to be held on the Marshlands course on New Year’s Day, appears in this Issue. is to be given to .ight races, the most valuable of which is the Ormond Cup Handicap of 40 sovs., one mile and a quarter.

The entries and weights for the Waikato Hunt Club’s Spring Meeting are published in our “Turfßecord” column.

Wright has received an accession to his string in the shape of a yearling colt, by Castor out ot Zip.

The principal feature of the third day’s racing at Rand wick was the victory of Florrie, who credited Mr. O’Brien with the Sydney Handicap of 500 sovs., one mile and a half. She started at 14 to 1, and beat a field of 19. Autonomy had again to succumb to Bungebah in the Craven Plate, w.f.a., one and a quarter miles, Marvel finishing third. Titan’s sister Trieste easily landed the odds laid on her in the Oaks, and another prominent Caulfield Cup candidate, Paris, beat Candour, St. Albans 11. and nine others in the Wycombe Stakes of a mile and three furlongs.

Radames, by Leolinus—L’Orient, and Brigadier’s brother Tetford, are two new sires of the season advertised in this issue.

/Now that the Auckland First Spring Meeting over the next big programme te be decided is /that of the Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club, on October 3rd and 4th. Here the Hawke’s Bay Guineas will be a most interesting three-year-old contest, and though, the sweepstake is not payable till Tuesday next, a glance through the list to see what is likely to start is not uninteresting. Taking the list in the order in which it appears in the Club’s official book the first probable starter I come to is Mr. W. Sinton’s colt Esca, by Gladiator—Marie Antoinette. Mr. G. Hunter may have a go with his filly Mystic, by Wonderland—Mystery, who was a decent two-year-old. The Hon. J. D. Ormond’s representatives in the list are a colt by The Premier out of Whisper’s sister Gabble ; North Atlantic, by Nordenfeldt— Atlantis, and Spinfeldt, by Nordenfeldt — Spin A ker ; and both the latter may be relied on to start if all be well with them on the day. Captain Russell has St. Katherine, by Stonyhurt—Katie Fergusson, engaged, and if she have fulfilled the promise of her two-year-old career she should be well worth starting. Mr. E. Cutts is hardly likely to send Melusina, the Tasman— Nautilus filly. The other South Island owners represented in the stake are Mr. W.C. Webb, with a colt by Burlington—Veno; Mr. H. Goodman, with Mistral, by Gorton —Lady Gertrude ; Mr. R. Brown, with Warrington, by Gorton —Mountain Lily, who wasn’t able to stretch Vogengang in the Timaru Guineas last week; Mr. G. G. Stead, with Hybrid, by Le Loup—Lady Emma, and Stepniak, by Nordenfeldt—Steppe ; and Mr. D. O’Brien, with Captive, dy Captivator — Maid of Honor. Of these Mr. Stead is sure to send one, for Hawke’s Bay is a favourite battle-ground of his, and perhaps Mr. O’Brien, on his return from Australia, may elect to journey there himself with Captive. Messrs. Baker & Co. may be represented by Rangiatea, by Somnus —Wairuareka. Mr. Rathbone may have ago with Abbotsford, by Leolinus —Maid of Athol, and Mr. Goodson ditto with The Dancer’s half-sisfer Vivat, by Captivator—Vivandiere, or Morion’s brother Captor, by Captivator—Madcap. Mr. W. Elliott’s colt Gay Deceiver, by Woolbroker out of Eve’s dam The Jilt, has been doing good work, and will probably figure among the field. Anp.kla.Tid will have a doughty champion in St. Hippo, but bar him and Mr. Douglas’ colt Chris, by The Mute—Christina, I see nothing else likely to start, for neither Whakawatea nor Vogengang was entered—a good thing for some of the competitors. At any rate, we should see quite half-a-dozen at the post, and as St. Hippo, North Atlantic, Spinfeldt, Chris, Stepniak, Hybrid, —-Abbotsford and Captive are all engaged in the New Zealand Cup, the meeting of all or some of them over the mile at Hastings will be regarded with great interest.

Taking the Wanganui Derby as the next line for the three-year-olds, we find here that Mr. J. — namely, Vivat, Captor, and Yattaway, the filly by Nordenfeldt —Yattacy. Mr. C. Goodson may send Repeator, by Nordenfeldt—Erycina, and Rangiatea may again represent Messrs. Baker & Co. If St. Katherine run at Hawke’s Bay I should think the gallant captain will send her to Wanganui, and Mr. W. Douglas may depute either Chris or Ua to carry his jacket. Saracen, the St. George—Fair Nell colt, who was not entered for the Hawke’s Bay Guineas, is in the Wanganui Derby, but I should very much doubt his being sent up from Canterbury. Many folks profess to regard him as a “ rod in pickle ” for the N.Z. Cup and Canterbury Derby, but I’m not of their way of thinking, though it must not be forgotten that in Prime Warden the stable has very good tackle to try the colt with. Mystic may be a starter in the Wanganui Derby, and so may Abbotsford and Variety, and the Hon. J. D. Ormond is certain to send North Atlantic or Spinfeldt. With many good two-year-old performers not engaged, the last-named Hawke’s Bay owner seems to have the way pretty well cleared for him, but as North Atlantic has lately been reported as not quite himself four or five other owners may throw down the gauntlet. Both the Hawke’s Bay Guineas and Wanganui Derby should throw a good deal of light on public form and serve to whet our appetites for the Canterbury Derby and Auckland Guineas, to be decided in November. At the South Australian Jockey Club’s Spring Meeting, the Nursery Handicap of 4J furlongs, fell to Innamincka, who is a half-sister to Bundoora (sire of Crown Jewel) being by Suwarrow out of Argosy.