Sporting Topics.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume VII, Issue 346, 11 March 1897, Page 4

Sporting Topics.

Castle Warden, aftei’ running second to Ebor in the G-reat Midland Steeplechase in England, went over to Ireland and won there.

The Camden correspondent of the Sydney Mail reports most favourably of the thoroughbred yearlings at Kirkham. They include five colts and a filly by Abercorn, three colts and three' fillies by imported Gossoon, three geldings by Martini-Henry, and two colts by Carbine. The Abercorns include a full brother to Coil and a full brother to Vivian. Imported Gossoon’s stock include a half brother to Abercorn. A full brother to Metford is among Carbine’s progeny ; and Martini-Henry is responsible for a full brother to Vanitas. Ihis season’s foals include the first of Fitzdonovan’s stock —a very fine lot of youngsters ; and imported Ayr Laddie, by Ayrshire, has been put to stud duty this season. The scholars in a Sunday School class not far from Randwick were undergoing examination by a visiting clergyman, who asked one of them if he knew what “ absolution” was. He scratched his head and gave it up, and so did the next boy, but the third, who, although in knickerbockers, wore a silver watch chain with a horseshoe locket, answered unhesitatingly, “ Absolution, brown filly, three-year-old, by Australian Peer out of Penitent, imported. Penitent, the dam of Penance, the colt as once stretched old Carbine’s neck, but bust hisself up a doin’ of it.” As the reporters say, the meeting then closed. It’s a far cry to the V.R.C. Derby (writes the “Special Commissioner” to the Melbourne Sportsman), but I fancy we saw the prospective winner at Caulfield last Saturday (February 20). Of course I refer to Aurum, who made such an exhibition of the field in the Electric Stakes. It was with a run worlhy of Malua in his best day that the brother of Auraria cut down Patriot in the straight, after giving Mr Dan O’Brien’s colt half a dozen lengths start from the home turn ; and to concede a year to a well tried and heavilybacked three-year-old like Reka at a difference of 31b only, and to beat him by a dozen lengths, is a performance that cannot be rated too highly. The . St. Albans stable is very strong in two-year-olds this season, but it is open to question whether it ever sheltered a better one than Aurum. Although not a big colt in the ordinary acceptation of the term, Aurum is powerfully built—a regular multum in parvo. “ T.T.” in the same paper adds his testimony as to the prowess of Aurum, and he prophecied that he would win everything he started for at the V.R.C. meeting. That prediction has turned out correct. An Auckland gentleman has already backed Aurum for the Melbourne Derby and Cup to win him a monkey. There were only five starters in the Weald Steeplechase at the Lingfield Park New Year’s Meeting, viz., New Abbey, 10.4,1; Prioress, 10.7, 2 ; Daimio, 12.10, 3 ; Ballyohara, 11.0; Mayday, 10.5. Ballyohara was favourite at 2 te 1,7 to 2 was Daimio’s price, 4 to 1 was available about Mayday, 9 to 2 against New Abbey, and 5 to 1 against Prioress. Referring to the race, the Sportsman (Eng.) says : —“ Now came the Weald Handicap Steeplechase, for which the starters stopped short at five, and Ballyohara, who was second to Swanshot for the principal steeplechase at Manchester last week, quickly settled down favourite from Daimio, who although finding plenty of admirers in the paddock was nothing like ready, and receded to 7 to 2 after a point less had been accepted, with each of the others well backed. The supporters of Ballyohara never received the least encouragement, as she seemed all at sea in the soft going. Nor could Daimio do much better, as although he jumped well he was hopelessly beaten a mile from home. From this point the issue was a match between Prioress and New Abbey, who drew right away, and after a bard-fought battle New Abbey pulled through by a couple of lengths, and thus avenged the defeat he had sustained at the hands of Westmeath (a stable companion of Prioress) at Kempton Park on Boxing Day. Third on sufferance, Daimio was beaten 200yds, atid although he can be made better with more work, he does not seem the good horse the Australians had Q made him out.”

“ Martindale,” in the Sydney Evening News, gives up guessing as to who is the owner of Newhaven. He writes “We shall probably know in about three months hence who does own Newhaven. First Mr Cooper purchases him from Mr Jones, then another cable tells that Mr Jones has him ; and so on. The .matter is so mixed now tnat it is hard to say to whom he belongs.”

There are few horses better known in New Zealand than St. Clements, the speedy son of St. Leger and Satanella, and we learn from an advertisement elsewhere that he is for absolute sale, together with Volcano, by Torpedo—Maid of the Mountain. The owner, it is explained;is leaving for Australia, and this is the cause of the sale. St. Clements will no doubt be eagerly sought after, because when his racing career is over he should be a valuable sire, his breeding being undeniably good.

The programme for the Wellington Racing Club’s Autumn Meeting, to be held on April 29th and May Ist, appears in our advertising columns. The programme is an attractive one, the leading items being: The Thompson Handicap of 300 sovs, one mile, and the Autumn Handicap of 200 sovs, one mile and a quarter. The total amount of added money is £1405. The date of nomination for all events except the hack race is Wednesday, March 31at. Full particulars may be obtained by reference to our advertising columns.

The Trafford Park Handicap Steeplechase, won by Ebor, attracted a dozen runners, and class was well represented. Ebor had won the principal event in such dashing style at Nottingham that he was established a strong favourite, fractional odds being accepted about him. The only other backed with any spirit was Idalus, who met him on 71b better terms than at Nottingham, where he fell on the flat when going well. Forcing tactics were again pursued with Ebor, and with the same successful result, as he fenced in bold fashion and had the race well in hand a quarter of a mile from home. Idalus, who was ridden out to the end, finished second, but he could make no impression on Ebor.

C. H. Wallis, lessee, and H. Johnson, jockey, recently reaped their reward for incriminating the plunger Nathan in the Patricia scandal, the balance of the twelve months’ disqualification imposed by the Aspendale Park stewards in May last being remitted by the V.R.C. committee, to whom the local stewards referred the matter. In extending this clemency the committee repeated the leniency with which they recently treated another offender who informed against others and thereby benefited the turf.

It is a singular fact (says “ Javelin” in the Melbourne Leader') that a large proportion of owners and trainers who belong to what is somewhat erroneously known as “ the clever division” are stonebroke. Instead of always trying to pick up small crumbs, these silly people will run half a dozen or more “byes” to get a bit of weight off, and having succeeded in doing so they will pick the race on which to have a “ royal dash,” put on all the available cash they can command, probably get “ pipped,” and then, because their last try in six or seven starts has not come off, declare that they can’t understand what’s the matter with their luck. You can’t reason with these people; they like to be “ clever,’, which on the turf simply means cunning; and so they go on making no money, scratching along somehow or other, but earning nothing but the odium they deserve.

Did it never strike you how very different might have been the record and ultimate fate of Carbine if he had not fallen into the hands of a man like Donald Wallace ? He would certainly not have run second for one Melbourne Cup with lOst, and have won tne next with 10st 51b, nor is it likely that at the present moment he would have been luxuriating in his palatial quarters at Welbeck, surrounded by the feminine aristocracy of old England. A so-called “ clever” owner, after just missing the Cup with lOst, would have tried to run a bit- of weight off, messed about with the best horse in the world, and in the long run would certainly not have won with him half

the number of races that Donald Wallace did, and in consequence the famous champion would never have realised anything like the 13,000 guineas which the Duke of Portland paid for him.

T. Hales, the owner of Carlton, took 1000 to 40 about his horse for the Newmarket, and also had a substantial sum of sweep money laid him. As a yearling Carlton cost his present owner 160 gs.

Idolater must have improved wonderfully since going to India, as at the Calcutta meeting he carried 8.9, in the Metropolitan Stakes, six furlongs, and succeeded in defeating Courallie (9.1) in Imin 16 2-ssec. The English mare, Moth, finished third, and among the other starters were Jack-o’-Lantern (9.0), Fortunatus (8.7), and Amadeus (7.13). When in Australia it would, l have been very long odds against Idolater downing Courallie at a difference of 61b, and as for j giving Fortunatus weight, well, that would have been out of the question. The latter, however, appears to have gone right off, and as he is now an eight-year-old, the chances are against his recovering his brilliancy. An Indian exchange says that even Idolater’s owners were surprised at the result, but as the chestnut started second favourite the public were evidently not unprepared for his good form.

The reply of the V.A.T.C. stewards to the request of Mr O’Brien, for an inquiry into the running of Patriot in the Electric Stakes, was a decided snub (states “ Pepperpod” in the Melbourne Sportsman) for the bookmaker who loudly affirmed that the colt had been pulled. “ Had the complaint against a leading bookmaker mentioned in your letter been brought officially under notice of the stewards on the course,” it runs, “ and been proved to their satisfaction, the offender would have been dealt with in a sum-

mary and effective fashion.” Bravo, stewards ! This is as it should be. Any judge of racing could see that Aurum had Patriot at his mercy almost as quickly as he caught him. Now that the Sires’ Produce Stakes has set the seal on Aurum's fame as a champion two-year-old, the gentleman alluded to will surely come forward with a frank apology to the injured veteran New Zealander.

The New Zealand cross-country horses. Conscript, St. Leonards, and Ulysses, were not long on the other side before they did something to bring Maoriland under notice, They were shipped immediately after the Takapuna meeting for Sydney, and on February 27th they started in a field of five for the Rosehill Steeplechase. The course at Rosehill is perfectly flat, but the fences are stiffer than those encountered at Ellerslie or Takapuna. The Sydney horse Norman was made favourite at the start, while 3 to 1 was St. Leonards’ price, and 7 to 2 and 5 to 1 was taken about Conscript and Ulysses. “ Umpire,” in the Referee, remarks :— “ The Steeplechase was a most remarkable affair. The only one locally known to have any prospects was Norman, the hurdle-racer, but the presence in a field of five of three New Zealand horses, lately brought over, was rather puzzling. There seemed to be very little light thrown on the matter by the betting, excepting that St. Leonards was half a point shorter than Conscript. The latter' is a handylooking bay horse, Ulysses a big, chestnut, plainlooking animal, and St. Leonards something after the same character on a slightly smaller scale. Before they started Norman was favourite, but as only one of the five stood up it was only to be expected the lucky one would win, which he did. This was Conscript, but he would not have had a look in barring the accidents, and appears to be of little use as a fencer. Ulysses fell before going a mile, and when they came round to the

treble Manager fell on his head, Norman bungling over him. This accounted for three of the five, and left St. Leonards easily leading Conscript, who appeared to have had enough a mile from home. When St. Leonards toppled over, Conscript was left to go on at his ease. The former was remounted and went on in pursuit, getting up near enough to race Conscript down the straight and finish within three lengths. It was a sorry cross-country exhibition altogether?’ Entries are due to-morrow for the following events to be run at the Autumn Meeting of the Auckland Racing Club : —Easter Handicap, Autumn Handicap, and Autumn Handicap Steeplechase. One sovereign is the amount required in each race, and 9 o’clock is the closing hour. The privileges in connection with the Avondale Race-meeting, which is advertised to be held on Wednesday, 17th March (St. Patrick’s Day), and Saturday, 20th March, are to be sold on Friday, 12th inst., by Messrs. T. C. Beale and Co. at the Brunswick Mart.

The railway arrangements for the South Franklin Agricultural Show appear in our advertising columns. The train arrangements for the Paeroa races on March 17th also appear.

The “Aristocratic Tout” in the London Licensed Victuallers' Gazette contributes a long article on Antipodean jumpers. During the course of his remarks he expresses himself thus : —“Two successive successes,scored over very different courses, have enabled Ebor to prove beyond a doubt that the cross-country representatives of the land of the Southern Cross are equal to our own. . .

Mr Spencer Gollan, a leading New Zealand sportsman, determined to send over his two well-known steeplechasers, Ebor and Norton, and their arrival was duly noted at the time in this paper. Naturally time was allowed them to acclimatise, and at Lingfield on January 10 they were introduced to an English public. . . Ebor may be said to have trained himself by means of the numerous contests in which he has taken part since his at Lingfield, for he has fulfilled no fewer than seventeen engagements, half a dozen of which he has won. It is the same with all the Antipodean ’chasers —the bigger the country the better they like it; thus Ebor, after being bothered and running slow over our flying courses, was quite at home at Ludlow, where, under the respective—if not excessive burden of list 51b, he disposed of a large field for the Country Steeplechase of three miles. This back end he has scored tbriee, taking the Cheveley Hurdle Handicap at Birmingham in good style from Grimpo, Idalus, Aminte, Argonaut, and Champs d’Or, all subsequent winners, and the veteran Ben Wyvis. At Nottingham, carrying the substantial impost of 12st, Mr Gollan’s good old gelding secured the Great Midland Steeplechase, beating Castle Warden, list 61b, Cestus, list 51b, and eleven others —a rare good performance ; while on Saturday last at Manchester, under 12st. 31b, he secured the Trafford Park Handicap Steeplechase from Idalus, Whitehead, and nine others. This is very good form indeed, and it will no longer do to consider lightly the claims of our Australian and New Zealand visitors. On the other hand, there seems more reason than ever for the long-prevailing “ tip” that an Australian steeplechaser would win the Grand National of 1897.”

The Auckland Polo Club is having a carnival this week. After the completion of the tournament, which is sure to cause some exciting play, the poloplayers will indulge in a sports meeting at Ellerslie on Saturday. The programme prepared for the occasion is a most interesting one, and includes a bending competition, a polo ball race, a hurdle race, a thread-the-neeclle race, the Auckland Polo Cup, a tandem race, a steeplechase, a costume race and a consolation. Three interesting and novel events should be the threading-the-needle race, in which ladies will take part, tandem race, and the costume race.