Turf Topics.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IV, Issue 162, 31 August 1893, Page 8

Turf Topics.

[By

“Sir Launcelot.”]

Mr Stead’s horses that are to compete at the A.J.C. Spring Meeting were doing good work at Randwick according to latest reports. Writing in the Sydney Referee of the 15th inst., ‘ Verax ’ sa y S “I went out to Randwick yesterday to have a glance at the New Zealanders at work, and Stepniak at once took my fancy. He is a dark brown horse, and looks strong enough to. carry considerably more weight than he has in the Metrop. He is a taking gallopper and the trip over has not done him any harm. Melinite and Ich Dien are a useful pair, and the same may be said of Launceston and Loyalty, who should pay for their keep while here. Loyalty I like very much—a real good one if looks go for anything. Another New Zealander, Impulse, also lookswell and does long slow work as usual. I have not seen him do a fast gallop at Rand wick.”

The same writer says that “ Oxide and Delaware are both being sent along, and both move well. Camoola goes all right, and if his foot stands the severe training he will be handy in the Melbourne Cup. He is a trifle sore, either in the foot or the leg, but it is to be hoped it will wear off. Chatham will be in good trim for the A.J.C. Meeting, and may be expected to render a good account of himself. Cremorne could not well be better, and Paris goes with his old dash.”

The death is announced of Darriwell, who won the Melbourne Cup of 1879. He was at the time of his death located in the far north of Queensland. Darriwell was foaled in 1874, and was by Tim Whiffler (imp.) out of Norna, by Conrad (2) out of Thalia (imp.), by Brocket—Comedy’s dam by Touchstone. Mr J. O. Inglis bred Darriwell, and raced him as a youngster, after which he sold him to Mr W. A. Guesdon, of Tasmania, but it is generally believed that when he won the Melbourne Cup he was the property of Mr W. E. Dakin, who trained him. The Melbourne Cup that year was one of the most memorable on record. The New Zealander Le Loup, in the same stable as Darriwell, was backed for an enormous stake. In all their work Le Loup and Darriwell went together, and the majority of the touts swore by Darriwell, while the trainer pinned his faith to Le Loup. The brown was always placed on the outside, and the fact of his conceding Le Loup this handicap, and invariably finishing uDsides with him at the end of their gallop, caused the touts to declare that he would beat the chestnut in the race. This he did do, but Le Loup was unfortunate, and to this day Mr Dakin declares he should have won. What happened to him was never authentically explained, but at the time there was a story that, his saddle slipping back, Yeomans had ceased to perseverve, and this was generally credited. Later in the week, with Cracknell in the saddle, he won the V.R.C. Handicap so far that Sam might have almost pulled up and allowed him to trot past the post. Second to Darriwell in the Cup was Sweetmeat —n good horse—and as in the Autumn at weight for age with a 71b penalty added, Darriwell again dressed down Sweetmeat, it is evident that he was a very good racer. He first of all went to the stud at Sir Thomas Elder’s at Morphettville, but he was a failure. Since then he has been up and down the country with no better results.

Another celebrity has ‘ passed in her checks ’ in the shape of Blink Bonny, by St. Albans— Medea,who won the Caulfield Cup of 1884 for Mr R. G. Talbot, of Tasmania, carrying 7.10. She was started for the race quite on the off-chance, having been badly beaten in her trial at Ballarat, but won in the most hollow fashion. Before the Melbourne Cup Blink Bonny went off or she must have had a great chance at 7.7, and when she ran away with the Autumn Handicap at the V.R.C. Autumn Meeting she was a 20 to 1 chance, and her owner allowed her to run almost unbacked. At the stud she produced Bloodshed and Bonnie Bairn, two fair handicap horses, but neither of them within stones of Blink Bonny’s form. When the last mail for here left Melbourne Percy Martin was laid up with the measles. ‘ Ribbleden.’ of the Australasian, who had a look at Mr W. R. Wilson’s horses the other day at St. Albans, in recording his impressions of what he saw, says :—“ The favourite for the Victoria Derby is naturally an object of interest among turfites; but why Carnage should have been placed in the position in preference to Light Artillery is difficult to understand, except it be the glamour thrown over him by his relationship to the greatest racehorse that ever graced any Australian racecourse. The only time that Light Artillery and Carnage met —it was at Caulfield — Light Artillery gave Carnage 231 b and ran him to a length and a half; and although Carnage subsequently proved successful in Sydney his performances there were not good enough to justify his being placed on the same plane as Light Artillery. The other day I was privileged to have a peep at Carnage and his companions at St. Albans, and looking him over carefully, both in the stable and on theJtraining ground, I must say, for what reason I cannot exactly tell, that he did not strike me as the beau ideal of a horse likely to have things all his own way in the Victoria Derby. As a two-year-old he was not a big horse, and since he retired for the winter Carnage has not grown at all, and dental troubles prevent his doing justice to his manager. Mr McDonald, however, has plenty of time to get his charge well for the fray, but all things equal on the eventful day I would sooner pin my faith to Light Artillery or The Sailor Prince, both of whom are doing as well as their best friends could wish. Zalinski has been in gentle work for some time, and he towers like a giant over Carnage, but neither Mr McDonald nor Hughie Munro, who trains the horses under the supervision of Mr Wilson’s manager, is by any means sanguine that he will stand the wear and tear of a Melbourne Cup preparation, and a strong gallop or two may undo all they have done for the grand looking son of Frailty. All the other members ot the string were doing well, if I except Steadfast, who still refuses to put on flesh, and as he is little good for racing purposss in any other condition, hopes of his recovering the money that was lost upon him last season are not bright.”

The South Australian Jockey Club increased their credit balance last year from £5,345 to Z 5571.

I mentioned last week that Mr O’Brien’s action against the Canterbury Jockey Club re the Challenge Stakes had been adjourned till November. Mr O’Brien left for Sydney on Tuesday to look after Launceston and Loyalty over there. H. Goodman did not take over Empire after all. C. O’Connor has now got him in hand.

H. C usdin will ride Launceston and Loyalty in their engagements at the A.J.C. Spring Meeting.

The grand old Fisherman blood was in great evidence at the V.A.T.C. Grand National Meeting, descendants of the imported son of Heron being successful in three out of the five events. Athala, winner of the two-year-old race, is by Trident, whose sire Robinson Crusoe is a grandson.of Fisherman. The Grand National Steeplechase winner, Knight of the Garter, is a grandson of Angler, who was by Fisherman, and Wellington, who ran second, has also Angler blood on the dam’s side. Division, who won the Balaclava Stakes, is descended from Fisherm in through his sire Robert the Devil, who is by Maribyrnong, a son of Fisherman. The balance sheet submitted at the annual meeting of the members of the Victorian (Betting) Club the other day showed a surplus of assets over liabilities of £2,847 15s. There is £3,54° 15s at fixed deposit, but against this there is an overdraft 0f.£809 6s 6d.

The early essays of the speedy Torpedo (son of The Australian) in Australia were not characterised by anything like the brilliancy he showed here, but with the opening of a new season he showed out something like his former self. At Rosehill, Sydney, on the 12th inst., he was third with 7.11 to Utter 8.4, and Blue Blood 7.4, in the Flying Handicap, 6 furlongs, and with 10.0 in the saddle he won the Welter Handicap, 6 furlonge, beating the large field of 22, and consideiing he was backed down to 2 to I his connections must have deemed it a real good thing. The Apremont—Miss Flat horse Moraine, once the property of Mr Stead, was one of the field. Among the 13 starters for the Juvenile Stakes, 4 furlongs, were two scions of Lochiel and one of Oudies. These were—Mr J. Northern’s br f Hirondelle by Lochiel—Vitesse ; Mr A. E. Cornwell’s blk c Loch Isle by Lochiel—Lillias; and Mr W. Miller’s ch g Nemo by Oudeis—Amazon. Hiron delle, who went out favourite, was beaten two lengths by Moorongie, a daughter of Robinson Crusoe (brother to Onyx) and the imported Lady Keith. Vitesse, the dam of Hirondelle, is by Roodee from Constance by Cheddar.

What a wonder at pony racing Signess is. He still keeps pegging along. At the Kensington (Sydney) Pony Races, on the 10th inst., he carried 7.9 to the front in the Kensington Handicap (14.2), winning easily by three lengths from nine opponents.

‘ Mazeppa ’ in last Thursday’s Otago Witness has some interesting news about some New Zealand Cup candidates. He says ‘ There has been a report in circulation that Hippomenes is or has been suffering from a bad throat, but I am able, thanks to Bishop’s courtesy in permitting me to see the horse, to give my readers the assurance that there is nothing seriously wrong with this Cup favourite. He has had a chill and this has prevented him doing anything for a few days, but on Sunday last he was pretty well right again, and the temporary spell has done him no harm. The horse is ready to go into fast work as soon as this is deemed necessary. Possibly, however he may not be seen fully extended for a week or two yet. He is a light-fleshed horse, and one that can be got ready without that long stretch of perpetual bullocking which some nags require. Depend upon it that Bishop knows what he is up to, and bar accident, Hippomenes will give his backers a capital run for their money. While at the stable I also saw Outpost. This colt always a favourite of mine—is growing into a handsome three-year-old, showing both stamina and quality and he looks so well, so like a Cup colt that though the stable are supposed to have so far rather preferred the chance of Hippomenes, I should never be surprised if at the end the youngster were to prove the better of the pair.

The Auckland Racing Club’s programmes for the season of 1893-94 have been published in book form, together with the nominations for the Club’s classic events of 18931 I S94> an d Mr Percival has forwarded me a copy. The programmes have already been reviewed at length in these columns, so I need only say here that the added money to be given away by the Club during the season totals up £8,900, made up of the Spring Meeting; £1365 at the Second Spring; £4020 at the Summer ; £ 1730 at the Autumn ; and £l3OO at the Winter. Jhe total to be distributed is exactly the same as last year. Fortunatus’ name was erroneously transmitted from Melbourne as a non-acceptor for the Caulfield Cup. He is still in the race. The Admiral has been scratched. Mr E. G. Brodribb, of erst Titan fame, has left Victoria to settle in Western Australia. Nice for those who have rushed on to Sundial for the Caulfield Cup. The owners of Sundial notifv that they have not backed Sundial, either direct!/ or indirectly to the extent of one farthing, nor have they even decided to send the horse for the Caulfield Cup. The Waikato Hunt Club will hold their Spring Meeting on the Claudelands racecourse, Hamilton, on Saturday, October 7. The full programme appears in the advertising columns of this issue, from which it will be seen that there are seven events to be decided, with a total of £l6O in added money. The principal event is the Handicap Hunt Club Steeplechase of 40 sovs, about three miles. Nominations close on Saturday, September 16, at 8 p.m., with the hon. secretary, Mr A. J. Storey, at Hamilton. Another hunting institution advertising the programme of its race meeting in this week’s Sporting Review is the Pakuranga Hunt Club, whose annual race meeting will be held on the Ellerslie racecourse on Saturday, October 21st. £2BO will be distributed among eight races, the best of which are the Open Handicap Hurdles of 50 sovs, one mile and three-quarters; Open Handicap of 45 sovs, one mile; Pakuranga Hunt Club Handicap of 45 sovs, about three miles and a half; and Open Flying Handicap of 40 sovs, 5 furlongs. Nominations close on Friday, October 6th, at 9 p.m., with the hon. sec., Mr H. H. Hayr, at the office of the Sporting Review.

The two-year-old filly by St. Leger—Ophelia is advertised in another column as being for sale or lease with her engagements. This is a beautifully bred filly, her dam Ophelia being by Musket out of Morion’s dam Madcap, so that if pedigree count for anything she should not be long in distinguishing herself at the racing game. Terms, &c., may be learnt on application to Mr W. Walters, Glenora Park, Papakura. Mr J. O. Evett has been appointed handicapper to the Poverty Bay Turf Club. The action Hobbs v. the Union Steam Shipping Co. claiming damages for injuries to the racehorse Palliser resulted in the plaintiff gaining a verdict for £l5O.

The full programmes of the Auckland Racing Club’s Second Spring and Summer Meeting are advertised in this issue. At the former £1365 will be given away in added money, the principal items being the Auckland Guineas of 150 sovs, one mile ; Welcome Stakes of 150 sovs, 5 furlongs ; Prince of Wales Handicap of 175 sovs, one mile and a half ; City Handicap of 100 sovs, one mile and a quarter ; and Handicap Steeplechase of 100 sovs, about three miles. Nominations for the Prince of Wales Handicap, Hurdles Handicap and City Handicap close on September 22nd.

At the Club’s Summer Meeting, which will be held on Boxing Day, New Year’s Day and January 2. £4,020 is the amount of the prize money. On the first day the Auckland Cup of 600 sovs, two miles, is of course the principal attraction, and another rich prize is the Great Northern Foal Stakes of 300 sovs, six furlongs. On New Year’s Day the Great Northern Derby of 500 sovs, one mile and a half, and Auckland Racing Club Handicap of 400 sovs, one mile and a half, are the most valuable prizes, while on January 2 the ever-popular Steeplechase Handicap of 300 sovs, about three miles and a half, stands out as the principal item, and the Auckland Plate of 150 sovs, one mile and a half, and Musket Stakes of 150 sovs, six furlongs, are two capital stakes. Nominations for the Auckland Cup, Racing Club Handicap and Steeplechase are due on September 22. Mr Momn’s mare Sunrise, by Rama Rama out of Grip’s dam Awatea, has foaled a colt to Hotchkiss.

Fabulous, by Leolinus—Atlantis, is announced to stand this season at the Harp of Erin Hotel, Ellerslie, and travel the surrounding districts. Fabulous is full brother to Leolantis (who won the Auckland Guineas) and half-brother to that successful sire St. Leger (who topped the list of winning stallions for the past season), and with size and power to recommend him there is no reason why Fabulous should not emulate the stud fame of his half-brother. His covering fee is 7gs for thoroughbreds and 4gs for half-breds. I shall review him later on as a “sire of the season.” The yearling colt by St. Leger—Lady Whitford, belonging to Mr L. D. Nathan, broke a leg one day last week and had to be destroyed. The meet of the Pakuranga Hunt Club on Saturday afternoon was at the Mangere Mountain. There was an average attendance of horsemen, who had two capital runs over some good country after real live hares. The secretary of the Drury Racing Club, Mr D. Maher, writes me that his club have selected December 27 as the date of their annual race meeting. Messrs F. Hill and W. Proffitt returned home on Monday. Mr Martin Taylor leaves to-day for Christchurch, well pleased with his visit here. Mr Taylor informs me that he has taken Mr J. Higgins into partnership with him in his turf commission agency business, and clients desiring to back their fancies can communicate with the firm at 188, Colombo-street, Christchurch. Messrs Upton & Co. announce in our advertising columns that they have on sale the “ New Zealand Turf Register,” “Miller’s Pamphlet.” and Australian and New Zealand sporting publications. Messrs Wildman & Lyell give publicity in our advertising columns to several books they have for sale of particular interest to sporting men.} His Worship and the Nelson—Phantom two-year-old filly are now being trained at Avondale. J. Reeves has them in hand. A private telegram received here on Friday conveyed the intelligence that Tit had won the Clyde Handicap, five and a half furlongs, at Rosehill, Sydney, on the previous day. By latest Sydney files to hand I see that she was weighted at 7.12. The standard was 14 hands ! It may be safely assumed that the parties behind the daughter of Leolinus and Titania have won a pretty good stake over her victory. The proposal recently considered by the Victorian Government to make racing men contribute to the revenue, either by the payment of a license fee on racecourses or a levy upon the stakes is to be abandoned for the present. In the event of the Government going on with the project later on in the session, clubs which do not hold more than three meetings in the year will have to pay a merely nominal license fee; consequently the country clubs will be practically exempt from the tax. The famous trotting mare Maud S. is said to be looking as strong and robust as she did when she was owned by Mr W. H. Vanderbilt, or when she carried the record in old-style sulky down to 2min Bfsec. She will not start in public till the summer is on the wane. The new committee of the Victoria Racing Club have elected the following office-bearers for the ensuing season : — Chairman, Mr C. B. Fisher; hon. treasurer, Mr J. C. Walker; starter, Mr George Watson; judge, MrR. J. M'Culloch ; handicapper, Mr F. F. Dakin; hon. surgeons, Messrs T. N. Fitzgerald, E. M. James, and A. S. Gray; inspector and stipendiary steward, Mr C. F. Fraser; secretary, Mr H. Byron Moore. Sub - committees — Works : Messrs. Lloyd, Leonard, Miller, Madden, O’Shanassy, Whittingham, and Yuille; finance, Messrs. Croker, Fisher, Robertson, and Wallace; jockey fund, Messrs. Grice, Lloyd, Leonard, Miller, and Yuille; bookmakers, Messrs. Croker, Grice, Leonard, and Madden ; trainers and jockeys, Messrs. Grice, Lloyd, Madden, Miller, and O’Shanassey.

The following scratchings have to be recorded for the Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club’s classic events: —Hawke’s Bay Guineas 1893—Mr T. R. Moore’s br f Waimarie by Forerunner —Waimarama; Mr T. R. Moore’s ro f Cut Again by Premier or Administrator—Misdeal; Mr J. Macara’s ro f Princess Agnes by Master Agnes—Princess Royal. Hawke s Bay Guineas 1894 —RMoore’s ro f by Administrator —Misdeal; Mr W. Young’s b f by Tasman—Moonray. Mr D. McKinnon has bestowed the following names upon his young stockb c, 2yrs, by Flintlock—Pikau, Haria ; b f, 2yrs, by Flintlock —Brown Rose, Lufra ; ch c, 2yrs, by Flintlock —Magnesia, Lock', b c, 3yrs, by Flintlock — Brown Rose, Dark Rose ; ch c, 3yrs, by Flmtlock—Magnesia, Resurrection-, br c, 3yrs, by Flintlock—Bay Camden mare, Lockmoor. The four-year-old son of Captivator and Pikau has been christened Stake.