Turf Topics.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume III, Issue 136, 2 March 1893, Page 7

Turf Topics.

LBy “ Sir

Launcelot."]

If the treatment meted out to The Dancer in the Brunswick Stakes Handicap of a mile anda quarter, to be run on the first day of the Victoria Racing Club’s Autumn Meeting, is a sample of the treatment he is going to receive there he is not likely to win much. Mr Dakin has given him 8.1 in this race, and he actually has to give 21b to Yarran, who ran up in the last Caulfield Cup. Those weighted above The Dancer are Ascot Vale 9.6, Chatham 8.12, Prime Minister 8.6, Comedian 8.6, Gresford 8.5, The Swell 8.5, Norbert 8.4, John S., 8.4, Goldreef 8.3, and Steadfast 8.2. In the Hurdle Race, about two miles and a-half, run on the seeond day, Redleap is top weight with 13.1, Corythus coming next at 12.10. Mikado 11. has 10.12, Donald 10.12, Captain Webb 9.13, and Omaha 9.10. In the Steeplechase, about three miles, Redleap has the crusher of 14.9 ! Missile, with 8.0, was third to Tripaway, 7.5, and Maypole, 8.0, in the Selling Race, five furlongs, at Williamstown (Vic) on Feb. nth, and at the same meeting Alcinous, 7.8, was unplaced behind Josephine, 8.0, in the Newport Handicap, one mile. A curious coincidence 1 Last year Hopetoun ran second in the Hobart Cup, and a few days later the son of Pandora got home in the Launceston Cup. This year Comedian finished second in the Hobart Cup and won the Launceston Cup. There died at Murndal, near Hamilton (Vic.), at the end of last month the well-known stallion King of the Ring, who 20 years ago was one of the celebrities of the colonial turf. Bred at Maribyrnong by the late Mr G. W. Petty, King of the Ring was got by Ace of Clubs during the only season that horse (who was sire of King of Clubs, who stood for some time in Canterbury) had in Victoria. His dam was the celebrated Rose de Florence, and so good-looking was the colt when sold that Joe Thompson took him for 900 guineas. On the same day he bought Argus Scandal, who as a two-year-old proved better than the King, although the latter beat him in the Ascot Vale Stakes. Neither colt went to Sydney in the Autumn, but in September King of the Ring was at Randwick, and there he met Loup Garou, who beat him for the Derby. When Loup Garou had to carry a penalty in the Produce Stakes, the positions were reversed, and at the end of the meeting the Ace of Clubs colt won the Randwick Plate. Coming on to Melbourne King of the Ring had again again to put up with second place in the Derby, his conqueror, of course, being Loup Garou. If less brilliant than Mr Winch’s colt, Mr Thompson’s was, at all events, the more constant of the pair, as he beat the New South Wales representative in the Royal Park Stakes, and finished the meeting by polishing off Warrior, Dagworth, and Horatio in the Queen’s Plate. All this hard work told on the King, who could not beat Blue Peter in the autumn, and did not race as a four-year-old. At the stud he made a brilliant start, by getting First King in his first year. Then followed Petrea, one of the best mares ever saddled in Australia, while Avernus, South Hamilton, Caspian, and other useful animals kept up his reputation for some time, but eventually he showed signs of getting them too small, and in Mr Crozier’s time he left St. Albans and went to Murndal, where he died. The nominations for the Te Aroha Jockey Club’s races are as follows; —Te Aroha Jockey Club Handicap: Try Fluke, Clarion, Folly, The Laird, Melifera, Caprice, Taihoa, Ingorina, Hornpipe, Saint, Hinemoa. Railway Plate: Ingorina, Clarion, Minnie, Folly, Caprice, Peerless, Melifera, Taihoa, The Laird, St.. Mary, Saint, Hornpipe, Nellie, Ernest, Hinemoa. Hurdles : Catch’em, Pretender, Te Ata, Platch, Selwyn, Duchess, Mistake. Publicans’ Purse : Minnie, Peerless, Honour Bright, Bide-a-wee, Megoulet, Countess, Daphne, Hinemoa, Hornpipe, Nellie, Mistake, St. Mary, Melifera, Folly. *** D. McLeod —Newmarket Handicap and Australian Cup double. Will be at the Hawke’s Bay J.C.’s Autumn Meeting. I have to acknowledge the receipt from the publisher of that useful publication “ Centaur’s Index,” giving a list of the performances of the horses engaged in the Newmarket Handicap and Australian Cup. Never Miss, the hurdler, has been sold to a Sydney sportsman, and was taken over there on Saturday. By the death of his father in England, announced in yesterday’s papers, Mr G. H. Clifford, the owner of Cruchfield, Stonyhurst, and other racers, becomes Sir G. H. Clifford, Bart. May his pretty “ blue and gold chequers” be once more seen in the van at an early date with E. Cutts leading the bearer of them back to scale. Major George has gone down South, and The Workman goes down next week with a view to the C.J.C. Challenge Stakes. Mr F. Reynolds, the proprietor of the Tocal (N.S.W.) Stud is over here on a visit at present. He came from Sydney last Saturday, and I need hardly say lost no time in looking up Mr Morrin and inspecting the Wellington Park Stud, which has a special interest for Mr Reynolds, in that he bred Frailty. Mr Reynolds also looked over Cuirassier at Mr “ Burke’s ” place at Devonport, and was immensely pleased with him. Mr Reynolds returns to Sydney on Saturday. The South Auckland Racing Club are to the fore with another liberal programme for their Autumn Meeting, which will be held on Saturday, April B—the Saturday after Easter. is to be given to eight races, with the Autumn Handicap of 55 sovs, miles, and Stepelchase Handicap of 55 sovs, 3 miles, as the principal items. Nominations close on Friday, March 17. The full programme is advertised in another column. Mr H. Ellison has kindly forwarded me a copy of Mr H Oxenham’s book giving the placed performances of the horses engaged in the Newmarket Handicap and Australian Cup*’\lt is a most complete is. worth. Mr Ellison is the Auckland agent for its sale, and has had a bnsk demand for the little work.

The prices on offer' in town last night on the Newmarket Handicap were 100 to 12 against Warpaint, 100 to 10 Bungebah, 100 to Io Buccleugh, 100 to 8 Malolo, 100 to 7 Wild Rose, 100 to 6 All There and Spring of Myrtle*, 100 to 5 Ascot Vale, 100 to 4 The Harbour Light. T. Hodson has returned from his trip to Taranaki, and I believe leaves for Sydney on Saturday. The Bell Block (Taranaki) Racing Club’s Hack Meeting will be held on Thursday, April 27th, and the programme is advertised in another column. is to be given to seven races, the most valuable prize being the Bell Block Cup* Handicap of 50 sovs., one mile and three furlongs. Nominations close with the Secretary, at the White Hart Hotel, New Plymouth, on Saturday fortnight, the 18th inst. #-,i Messrs. Cohen & Stock, the well-known Napier totalisator proprietors, announce by advertisement in another column that they are prepared to re-/ ceive monies for investment at the respective meetings of the Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club, Woodville Jockey Club, Waipukurau Jockey Club, and Hawke’s Bay Trotting Club. The charge on all winnings will be 2| per cent. W. Hatfield, the cross country jockey, has returned here from Sydney. The representative of the Sporting Review at the Egmont Racing Club’s Summer Meeting sends me the following notes of a visit paid by him to the stud of Mr Elliott of Waitara: — “ Owing to the s.s. ‘ Gairloch ’ being advertised to sail from Waitara I found myself in that quiet little town, and having a little spare time I availed myself of the invitation of my respected friend, Mr W. Elliot, to visit his stables, which are situated on the banks of the Waitara River, within five minutes’ walk of where the ‘ Gairloch ’ was berthed. On arrival, in company with a friend, we were met by the proprietor, who was very pleased to show us around his highly-bred little stud, and I must admit we were agreeably surprised to find such a splendid lot of thoroughbreds in this quiet little town. Our first introduction was to the handsome three-year-old bay colt Gay Deceiver, by Woolbroker—Jilt, who is halfbrother to that speedy filly Eve, and what a handsome colt he is. If ever I saw a colt showing indications of galloping it is this one, and, as Mr Elliott remarked, it was a shame that he was compelled to take him out of training for the time to cover a few mares, owing to his having sustained such a heavy loss in the death of his thoroughbred horse Cruiser. We were now taken to see the two-year-old bay colt Grape Shot, by Foul Shot, dam Fishlass, by Leolinus—Fishwoman —breeding good enough for anything, and a real good colt he is, showing both strength and quality. He is shortly to be put into work, and from his appearance should give a good account of himself. This handsome colt was bred by Mr Thos. Elliot of Waitara, who still owns his dam Fishlass. We now moved to a little paddock adjoining the stable, and here we found a black yearling colt by Cruiser, dam Speculation (late Hippodamia). He is a rattling good colt, and barring his head shows heaps of quality. He is in tip-top condition, as he is fed with the rest three times a day and gets his rug at night. We now returned to the stable, and found there a fine upstanding dark-brown gelding, five years off, by Redeemer, dam Myrtle, by Puriri. This horse, I was informed, had only recently been picked up by Mr Elliot, but I may say I think he is a coming nag. Taking this little lot owned by one man, you would have a hard matter to beat them anywhere in your travels, and a quieter lot of horses I never came across. Mr Elliot deserves the highest praise for the quality of them and the condition they are in.” Nordenfeldt’s brother Enfilade now keeps the Sydney Cup winner Progress and the Melbourne Cup winner Dunlop company at the Linwood Grange (Vic.) stud of Mr J. V. Smith, and this is what “Terlinga,” in describing a recent visit to that establishment, has to say of him : — “ Enfilade is a rich brown, of great length, and since leaving the turf has let down and improved in every way. There is less of the Musket character about him than I have seen in any of the young sires by the New Zealand horse, Enfilade being more of the Fisherman type, the likeness to the old Maribyrnong horse being especially noticeable in the drooping quarters. He is a nice horse and possesses a beautiful temper.” The New Zealand-bred Wairua, with 10.8 up, beat a field of seven in the Hurdle Handicap of 70 sovs, about one mile and five furlongs, at Mentone (Melbourne) on February 7th. Missile, 7.4, was third to Charlie Rudings’ Despised, 7.3, and Doncaster, 7.2, in the Disposal Stakes of 100 sovs, five furlongs and a half. The Apremont gelding Mikado 11., 7 10, was beaten a head by Marco, 7.11, in the Mentone Handicap of 70 sovs, one mile and a furlong. The Nordenfeldt—bister Agnes colt Cannon, with 6.9, once more ran unplaced at Rosehill (Sydney), on the nth inst., in the February Handicap of 100 sovs, one mile and and a quarter and 100 yards. The winner was Refuse, 6yrs, 7.9, who is by Wellington (winner of the V.R.C. Derby and Champion Stakes) ont of Result, a half-sister to Maxim. The Nordenfeldt—Tres Deuce pony Tresfeldt carried 7.3 to the front in the Cumberland Handicap (14.2) of 25 sovs, furlongs, at Rosehill, on the Bth ult. Antic, with 8.3, was unplaced in the Welter Handicap (14.1) of 30 sovs, five furlongs, won 8.1. Cambria, with 8.0, was beaten out of place in the Galloway Handicap of 50 sovs (14.2), seven furlongs, won by Miss Elsie, 6.10. At the Williamstown (Vic.) Meeting on the II th ult., according to a Melbourne scribe, it was paddock gossip that the much-talked of Malolo had done a splendid gallop the previous evening, when, with P. White in the saddle, he made a great show of Happy Jack. Caulfield trainers seem agreed as to Malolo’s great pace, but they are just as positive on the subject of his being one of the infirm sort that can only be driven along at rare intervals. “ After a gallop we may not see him out again for a few days,” says one authority, “and often when started cantering he gives you the idea of a horse utterly unable to extend himself, but once he does get going he just can get over the ground.” The privileges for the Onslow Trotting Club’s* meeting on Saturday week will be sold by auction by Messrs. D. Tonks & Co., to-morrow at noon. * *F. Whiting, Newmarket Handicap and Australian Cup double.