Turf Topics.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IV, Issue 168, 12 October 1893, Page 7

Turf Topics.

Amongst the entries for the Pakuranga Hunt Club’s Meeting we notice the name of Markinch, from Mr John Marshall’s establishment. It is some time now since Mr Marshall’s colours were seen on a racecourse.

Whakawai, by Leolinus, gained championship honours amongst the thoroughbreds at Albury Show.

Mr D. O’Brien wants some more St. George stock, so he has sent Calin on a visit to Chester’s brother. Criin is by Johnny Faulkner—Zephyr. The South Canterbury Club has decided to abandon the Timaru Guineas on the ground that the race does not pay.

The recent horse parade at the Addington Show Grounds was remarkable for the fact that although there were some splendid animals on the ground not a single sale was effected.

The committee of the Canterbury Jockey Club decided at their last meeting to remit the question of the taking over of trotting to the next Conference.

A prominent Sydney writer says Cremorne cannot be compared with Stepniak, and consequently will not have the ghost of a show in the Melbourne Cup while the other New Zealander, Loyalty, remains in the race.

Messrs Alison Brothers intend mating Tamora, Friendship, and Mystery with Regel, the son of St. Leger—Atalanta. Madcap (dam of Malvalio, a Melbourne Cup winner) has been mated with Malua. This union should be productive of something good.

The stallion Piscatorius put one of his hips out last week through falling iu his paddock while gallopping.

Albatross (dam of Merganser) has produced a fine colt to Cuirassier at Mr T. Morrin’s Wellington Park Stud.

The scratching of Paris for the Caulfield Cup will upset the double backers considerably, for Paris was backed very largely in conjunction with Portsea for the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups.

H. Cusdin, the ex-New Zealand jockey, has been refused a license by the Victoria Racing Club. The committee of the V.R.C. are evidently using the broom pretty freely.

The drawing in of the financial horns of clubs, large and small, is apparent right through the island. The Marton Jockey Club paid away in stakes during the year £615 as against £445 the amount for the previous year. But, notwithstanding this increase the nominations and acceptances failed to realise by £5 15s the previous year’s amount. Therefore the club is going to ‘ judiciously curtail’ their stakes in future.

Mr D. O’Brien’s New Zealand Cup candidate Viscount dropped dead last week at Riccarton after performing a gallop. Viscount was by Sir Garnet—lona.

Numerous metalhcians from all parts of the colony attended the late Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club’s Meeting, three of the number who did not conform to the club’s rules were turned off the enclosure.

Judging by the entries received by the Pakuranga Hunt Club, this popular annual fixture should prove both a financial success to the club and an enjoyable day’s outing to visitors attending Ellerslie on the 21st inst.

Trainers are beginning to put some strong work into their charges with a view to the Auckland Spring and Pakuranga Hunt Club Meetings.

The Pakuranga Hunt Club hold their next ‘ meet ’ at Mr John Rae’s place at Otahuhu on Saturday at 2.30 p.m. Ingorina’s owner intended to enter him for the Auckland Racing Club’s Spring Hurdle Race, but by some means or other it was overlooked.

The next payment (ysovs) for the New Zealand Cup will fall due on the 20th inst.

Mr Fred Watson, of New Plymouth, has changed the name of his filly by St. Leger—Miss Laura from St. Mary to St. Laura.

A special meeting of the committee of Auckland Tattersail’s Club will be held at the club rooms to-morrow (Friday) for the purpose of granting licenses to bookmakers for the ensuing year.

Pigeontoe, who threatened to become something sensational some time back, has been returned to Mr W. Long by the Australian trainer Carslake. ‘ Lost his pace,’ says the trainer.

The starting and time recording apparatus invented by Mr Bartlet, of Auckland, is greatly praised by Southern sportsmen. A trial of the invention took place at Christchurch last week, and proved to the satisfaction of those present that it can do all that its inventor claims. Mr Bartlett intends to sell the Australian rights and work the machine in New Zealand himself.

Shortly after the arrival of the Sydney boat on Saturday last evidence that a change had come over the Caulfield Cup betting was afforded by the way Brockleigh was inquired after straight out and in doubles. Good prices were obtained until the mails were delivered, and then there was a decided shortening in the figures quoted. Monday’s telegram stating that Brockleigh had been made a firm favourite for the V.A.T.C. event explained everything. The total prize money at the recent Randwick Meeting was £12,774, an d °f Mr H. O’Brien took £921, Mr S. H. Gollan £470, and Mr G. G. Stead £413. The biggest winner was Mrs H. C. White, who netted £1832. The Rangitikei Racing Club made a profit of £5O over their recent meeting.

Nominations for the Auckland Coursing Club’s Northern Challenge Stakes will be due on the 27th inst. Two doubles worth backing :—Caulfield and Melbourne Cups : Brockleigh and Swordbearer and Brockleigh and Portsea.

A Southern exchange says that G. Wright has engaged boxes at Riccarton for his string.

Mr Garrett has made a sporting wager of £lo with Mr Markham in connection with the next Waikato Hunt Club Cup by backing his nomination against the latter gentleman’s. The chestnut mare Rowena foaled a colt on Oct. 2nd. to Cap-a-pie.

Good Day is expected to drop a foal to Cap-a-pie very shortly.

Mr T. J. Howard, the owner of Otakeho and other racehorses, arrived from the South during the week on a visit.

Mr D. McNicol’s jumper Yarraman was brought down from Hamilton on Monday last to fulfil Iris engagements at the Pakuranga Hunt Club’s meeting next week, and has been taken to Mr Geo. Paul’s place at Mangere.

Mr Hay Chapman rode a grand race on Isidore in the Waikato Hunt Club’s Hurdle Race. A well- known sportsman bet Mr Chapman that he would fall off at the first jump.

Sporting writers on the Australian side think Stepniak has a big chance of winning an important stake at the New Zealand Cup meeting. One well-known writer considers he has a very large mortgage on the Cup.

There was a very decided change in the feeling re St. Hippo in the New Zealand Cup market at the beginning of the week. The books were offering any amount of money at 100 to 12 at first blush which looked as though a good deal of hedging was going on in connection with Mr Nathan’s horse. A lot of money was placed at the price named, but the figures showed no evidence of shortening, which looks as though there is something worse than hedging going on. Whrt price the favourite followers if St. Hippo does not start ?

Writing of Vakeel, one of the Caulfield and Melbourne Cup candidates, “ Terlinga,” of the Australasian, says he has improved a bit since he won the Adelaide Cup, but he is a horse some people do not take to at first sight, and it may be the touts at Flemington will not gush over him until they see what a great, commanding galloper he is when seen in full stride. For my own part I think him one of the finest geldings ever seen at headquarters, and I am quite satisfied as to his being a racehorse. Vakeel stands just 16.1, and is a remarkably long horse. He still seems somewhat unfinished and slack over the couplings, but this is more apparent than real, and when you come to look along his back and then stand behind him you see that he is a massive, powerful horse in everyway. He takes after Talk o’ the Hill in length and general sty’e, but those splendid quarters and thighs have probably beeen inherited from his sire, Robinson Crusoe. Below the knee he is a trifle light for such a big horse. V akeel is not very muscular, but his trainer tells me he has done a deal of work, and he looks clean and well, but doubtless a race or two in public will improve him. It is not always safe to seize a racehorse in payment of a debt unless you are very certain as to the ownership of the animal; a by no means easy puzzle to solve in connection with horseflesh. At the Flemington Court (Melbourne) recently a Mrs Grey, a judgement creditor of a Mr Brazie, seized the racer Grand Turk, but it turned out that the horse belonged to another party, and the lady not only had to restore the horse but had to pay £6 15s 6d costs in addition. Efforts are being made by the Hamilton ladies to secure a Ladies’ Bracelet, to be run for at the summer meeting of the South Auckland Racing Club. An entertainment in aid of the movement is being organised, and with the help of the sporting men of the Waikato a sufficient sum should be quickly raised.

The D.J. C. have disqualified William and Timothy Hayes for cash betting at a meeting of the Hunt Club at Dunedin.

The Eridspord stock opened its winnings on September 16th, at Williamstown, Victoria, when Eridsfoorde, by Eridspood—Spinningdale, won the two-year-old handicap. Messrs Hugo Friedlander, (of the Ashburton Racing Club) and R. H. Pearpoint (of the Geraldine Racing Club (have been nominated as representatives of the Southern Country Clubs to the Metropolitan Conference. Mr S. Powell, senior, father of the well-known starter, died down South last week. Marvel is to be put into work again.

Mr. W. R. Wilson, owner of Carnage, states that the Derby candidates case, although not hopeless, is sufficiently nearly so to make his chance of starting in the V.R.C. Derby very remote. Though no heat, swelling or decided blemish is noticeable, the colt continues to drag his leg behind him in a manner that prevents his trainer giving him anything like hard work such as is necessary to fit him for his spring engagements.

Froude, who won the last four races he started for on the Australian side, was submitted to auction at Kirk’s Bazaar, Melbourne, recently, but the son of Oceana was passed in at £230. Albatross, dam of Merganser, etc., has presented Mr. Morrin with a colt foal by Cuirassier—a little fellow that should be worth a pound or two. Radiant, dam of Lustre, has followed Albatross’ lead, and AU There’s sister, Lyrelinus, has a filly to Hotchkiss. Major George’s Florence (dam of Coalscuttle) has foaled a colt to Nelson.

Mr. B. Thompson’s Tamora, by Musket— Moonlight—as nice a Musket mare as you would wish to see—has foaled a colt to St. Leger. St. Leger on Musket is a good nick.

Mr. G. S. Budge’s stallion Albert Victor has quite a number of mares under his care at present. Stella is in foal to him and goes to him again; Yum Yum was stinted by him last Saturday, and Duchess visits this stallion shortly.

The suppression of the big Sweep in Sydney is a blessing to ringmen. Business on the Melbourne and Caulfield Cups has improved wonderfuUy of late, and when the events are run the books promise to be very heavy. Mr J. B. Williamson leaves for Wanganui today with Eve and Despised.

Messrs. Quinlan and Sinclair made a wager respecting the points of their ponies this week. The bet is a fiver a side, and the question of the respective merits of the ponies is to be decided at the Agricultural Show. If one pony is awarded a prize and the other is not, then the owner of the prize taker wins. But if neither gain the commendation of the judge, the question is to be directly referred to that official.

There was the stamp of merit about Brockleigh’s gallant victory in the Epsom Handicap (says “Ribbleden” in the Australasian) and there can be no doubt that he is a great racehorse. Brockleigh is credited with being a horse of that accommodating and profitable kind which may always be depended upon to win when his owner “ tips him the wink,” and probably the report is correct, for I find on reference to his record that every time he has won—he has won five races—he has startedabsolutely first favourite. The winner had been highly tried at Newcastle, and the Novocastrians threw in for a good stake.

Paris never looked worse (says “ Terlinga,” the sporting editor of the Australasian) than he did on the occasion of his Metropolitan victory at Randwick, but as he won easily I suppose he must have been better than he looked. Apart from his rough coat, the little fellow did not fill the eye as he did last spring, but he galloped as well as ever, and but for this penalty he would once more be dangerous at Caulfield. Ido not think the stable won much on the race. He disappointed them in the Epsom Handicap, and they let him go almost unbacked in the Metropolitan. Paris has been scratched for the Melbourne Cup, and ashe now has lost ilb. for the Caulfield Cup, I do not suppose Melbourne will see him this spring. The little fellow is beginning to show signs of wear and tear, and Mrs White may give him a spell prior to the autumn meetings. We have since heard of the scratching of Paris for the Caulfield Cup.

The form displayed by Brockleigh, Trenchant, and Paris shows what the Yattendon blood can accomplish. The first horse is said to have been obtained by his owner as the result of a raffle.

Ingarangi, the steeplechaser, has been purchased by Mr Tom Halstead, and will return to Auckland in a few days.

Brockleigh, the favoured Caulfield Cup candidate, is by Goldsbrough from Ethel, by Yattendon from Decoy, by Kelpie from Dilemma, who runs back to the well-known mare Betty, by Hector.

Our Wanganui correspondent informs us that Stanmoor is going to Wanganui to compete in the Derby.

The Avondale Jockey Club contemplate laying a plough down at their course for training shortly.

At a committee meeting of the Auckland Racing Club held on Tuesday last, the disqualifications were removed from MessrsNuttall, Adlane, and Monroe, as recommended by the Gisborne Racing Club. Major Banks was elected to the position of judge, and the committe resolved that anyone attempting to enter the course except by the gates, should be prosecuted. The contract for painting the stand was left to Mr Wilson ; and the programme of the Onehunga and Otahuhu Suburban Racing Club for December 9th was passed.

Caulfield Cup scratchings up to date: —Paris f Correze, Jonathan, Buccleugh. Panoply, Lady Trenton, Birinji, Grenadier, Fairfield, Currandooley, Harefield, E.K., Mahee. Melbourne Cup : —Zalmski, Jonathan, G’Naroo, Prime Minister, Birinji, Panoply, Emin Pasha, Jack Robinson, Lemnos, Fairfield, Colossus, Currandooley, Gala, JEolus. New Zealand Cup — Merganser, Blizzard, Riversdale, Viscount, Miss Letty and Satyr.

Major George returned from Napier on Monday.

Training at Ellerslie has been going on this week as follows Wednesda y: Brown Alice, Van Dieman, Fright, Acone, Royal Rose, twice round at half pace, and Eve and She a mile and a quarter at top, Eve finishing very strong. St. Kilda and Tulloch went 6 furlongs at top pace, and the Nordenfeldt colt joined them at the five furlong post. A good gallop, of which St. Kilda had slightly the best. Keen’s string went at half pace, and The Workman and Cleopatra four furlongs at top speed. Lady Nelson, Derry, Despised, and Adam twice round at half pace. Spectator twice over the Steeple course. Fishmonger and Belmont were sent a couple of miles over the hurdles.

The annual meeting of the Drury Racing Club was held on October 7th, Mr Owen Cummings in the chair. The balance-sheet submitted by the secretary, Mr D. Maher, showed a credit balance of £25 10s cash. A programme of seven events with added money to the amount of £175 was approved of.

The report of the second day’s racing of the Napier Park Club’s Meeting reached us too late last night to be inserted in this issue. Ua won the principal event. A full report of the meeting will appear in our next issue.

A programme of eight events carrying 325 sovs in prize-money, has been arranged for the Boxing day meeting of the Waeranga-a-Hika Jockey Club. The events on the card are:—Maiden Plate of 25 sovs, ij miles ; Half-mile Scurry of 10 sovs, 4 furlongs ; Boxing day handicap of 120 sovs, 11 miles; Handicap Hurdle Race of 60 sovs, 2 miles ; Hack Hurdles Handicap of 15 sovs, 1 mile; Flying Handicap of 60 sovs, 6 furlongs ; Handicap Hack Flat Race of 15 sovs, 1 mile ; Forced Handicap of 20 sovs, one mile. Nominations are due on November 25th, acceptances on December 9th, and weights will be declared on December 2nd.

The Matamata Racing Club have drawn up the programme for their annual meeting to be held on Tuesday, December 26th, as follows :— Maiden Plate Handicap of 8 sovs, one mile; Maiden Handicap Hurdles of 8 sovs, one mile and a-half; Matamata Handicap of 20 sovs, one mile and a-half; Pony Handicap of 7 sovs, one mile; Flying Handicap of 12, sovs, three-quarter mile; Handicap Hurdle Race of 12 sovs, one mile and three-quarters ; District Handicap of 8 sovs, one mile. Nominations close on December 9th, at 9 p.m. ; weights -will appear on December 16th, and acceptances close on December 20th.