HAWKES BAY.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume VIII, Issue 397, 3 March 1898, Page 11

HAWKES BAY.

Charles Joyce and Kapango—Libretto— T. Jones’ stable—Hawke’s Bay Plumuton—Mr R. J. Neagle and Rasper’s silver cup. Napier, February 24. Charles Joyce, who has Nukurau under his guidance at Napier Park, has had the full brother to him (Kapango by name) placed with him to prepare for future engagements. The new comer is better looking and more furnished than his speedy brother, and the way he annexed the Flying Handicap at Woodthorpe a fortnight back, with list 31b on his back, in Imin 22 l-ssec —the distance being six furlongs over not a particularly good course —stamps him as not a bad sort to come On. Mr J. Cheer, who owns Nukurau, also claims Kapango as his property. A three year old daughter of Spinfeldt, belonging to Mr J. Parker of Greenmeadows, has been sent to Joyce to learn the rudiments of the game, and if she possesses any ability at all he will not be long in developing them, as he is a first-class man at his business. Joyce can hold his own with the best of them in educating the horse, but, like many more in the profession, luck seems to have deserted him for some time past. However, there is almost certain to be a turn in the tide of his fortunes, and when it comes it is to be hoped that he will take it. at the flood and keep with it. The. full sister to Cynisca, in Gooseman’s stable, is coming on very well, being improved considerably since her location at Hastings. Should she take after her relation in the matter of speed and gameness her opponents will have to shift to conquer her. Libretto, an aged son of Stonyhurst and Mignon, whom J. Maher had in work for Bracelet honors *t the last Winter Meeting of the H.8.J.C., but

who went queer just prior to the decision of that, event, and a good-looking half-br.>ther to Rangipuhi and Muriwai (by Strenuous) are engaged in cab work in this city. Maybe they will earn more in their new calling than they would at the sport of kings. There is one certainty —their dividends will be more regular, if hot so extensive, than if they were carrying the silk and satin. I had a Dok round T. Jones’s stable at Hastings last week. He has only got four horses in work —Whiritea, Blackberry, Aphony, and Rhino. The former is a son of the Australian-bred Armorer from Kitty Totara, and is wonderfully improved since I saw him competing at Hastings at the commencement of t he year; when half well he showed he was a “ cut and come” kind of a customer, so that with condition on him it is only fair to expect that he will be found at the head of affairs in some of the engagements that he will shortly fulfill; he is a good limbed horse, with a great strong back, who looks as if weight would never trouble him. Blackberry (the half-brother to that good one, Douglas) has not been long in toil after an absence from the racing arena of twelve months ; the spell has worked an apparent change in him, as he now looks well and hearty, the raggedness that he showed previously having now disappeared; he. jumps well and gallops a bit besides, which should make him more than useful at the obstacle business, a branch of the game I believe it is intended that he shall devote his energies to. That good track performer Aphony is looking nice, his coat showing the bloom of health ; he, also, has been in retirement for a time, which seems to have been beneficial to him; being a full brother to Pasha, who was a real good one in his day and who is half-brother to a N.Z. Cup winner (Rosefeldt), he t-hon'd be looked for as a winner at no very distant date. The Dauphin's chestnut son, Rhino, has not been giving his owner the satisfaction that, it w as expected he would; although he gets through his victuals in an all-right manner they do not seem to do him much good, and his state of health puzzles his trainer not a little, so that for the last week or so he has been eased in his tasks, which has not done him so much good as was expected. I quite agree with Jones when he says that steeplecbasing is Rhino’s forte, and I believe it is intended to let him have a go at some big timber as soon as his preparation can be proceeded with. Flaneur is enjoying the run of the paddock, but shortly will be called upon to resume his duty, for his mentor thinks he looks well on the spell he has been enjoying for some time past. A good number of coursing men attended the annual meeting !of the Hawke’s Bay Plumpton Park Coursing Club yesterday. Mr S. H. Swan presided. The annual balance-sheet was read and adopted, and it was decided that three coursing meetings should be held during the year. The secretary was instructed to provide 100 hares from Canterbury. A sub committee was appointed to draw up a programme for the season. The following officers were elected : — President, Mr R. D. D. McLean, M.H.R.; vice presidents, Messrs S. H. Swan and J. Wyatt; committee, Messrs F. Bennett, J. Lopdell, J. Rouiston, W. A. Alexander, W. Ward, W. Proffit, G-. Glassford, O. Siddells, and J. McStone; treasurer, Mr H. S. Swan; secretary, Mr W. Gray. The silver cup won by Mr R. J. Neagle, with his hunter Rasper, at the last meeting of the Wellington Agricultural and Pastoral Association was received by him yesterday. The trophy remains his property for a year, and in the event of him again proving successful next year it will become his own property. Mr N. Mcßae has since become the owner of Rasper at 40gs.