Sporting Topics.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume VIII, Issue 404, 21 April 1898, Page 8

Sporting Topics.

They had come down for the autumn meeting, and went to stay with their pal of the brave, wild, hard-riding, hard-drinking days. He had married and settled not a hundred miles from Auckland, and on the night they came the host suffered a serious relapse from the sobriety which had blessed so many years of domestic life. One of the visitors, speaking about it afterwards, said “ My word, his wife was wild in the morning.” “ What did you say to her ? ’ ’ was the natural query. “Oh, I just said, ‘Good morning,’” replied the visitor ; “ she said the rest.” St. Simon’s fe.es have brought in the highly respectable sum of £16,000 to the Duke of Portland during the last two seasons. This year the horse’s fee is 500 guineas, so that if he has a subscription of forty mares there will be a clear profit of upwards of £20,000 for his owner. Mr Archie Yuille thus expresses himself in a letter to the “Special Commissioner”:—“lf Aurum gets home well you will find him one of the best and most generous of horses. He is a good weight-carrier and a great stayer.” E. Huxley, associated for such a length of time with Tom Pay ton’s stable at Rand wick, and who won the Caulfield Cup on Cremorne, has taken to hurdle race riding. Some English critics are of opinion that the starting machine has much to do with the very equable temperament which characterises Australasian horses. The Duchess of Montrose once said to a jockey after a race : “ Why did you not come away at the turn, as I told you ? ” “ Because I could not come without the horse,” replied the jockey. The question is often asked (writes “ Martindale ”) : What becomes of the host of yearlings bred every season ? It is a difficult one to answer. Only a limited number find a place in the training stable aftei three years, and at six perhaps a dozen that raced as two-year-olds can be trained. Take, for instance, the animals competing at the forthcoming A.J.C. Autumn Meeting. A glance through the entries will reveal the fact that only two aged horses ars nominated in the weight-for-age races, viz., Battalion and Ronda. Of those nominated in various handicaps only thirteen are of the aged division,Jviz., All There, Whakawatea, Sundial, Lethe, Annadour, Beverley, Wat Tyler, Pharamond, Rock Rose, Clyde, Theorem, York, and Ophir. It would thus appear that, despite our splendid training tracks and well laicj-out racecourses, the life of a racehorse is a very short one. Many finish up their career as hurdle and steeplechasers, and it is amongst the jumping horses that we only find the aged division well represented. Out of the score of horses nominated for the First Hurdle Race a dozen are aged: while the six-year-old Ditto is the most youthful in the Steeplechase. Frisco won the high jump at theN.S.W. Royal Agricultural Show, jumping 6ft 2in.

Vedette cannot be credited with the best o£ luck in New South Wales, notwithstanding that he won the Final Handicap of the meeting. This is what the Sydney Referee of April 13 has to say concerning him : —lf Vedette had won the Doncaster Handicap on the work he did during the interval between , his arrival at Randwick and the day of the race, the touts would have been surprised beyond measure. As generally anticipated, however, the New Zealander failed when the pinch came, as after shooting out at the half mile as if he was going to clear right out from the remainder of the field, he died away in the straight. He showed great brilliancy, and consequently the handicapper was particularly ca.eful with him in the Flying Handicap on Monday, but for all that he ran second, though he was subsequently disqualified on account of his rider weighing in three-quarters of a pound short. That Vedette is every bit as good as his New Zealand admirers credit him with being is a certainty, and if he had done the necessary preparation he would at least have filled a place in the Doncaster Handicap. As it is his weight has gone up without a win being recorded, but even with the substantial imposts he will probably receive he will not want for backers if his owner decides to keep him here for the Birthday and Winter meetings at Randwick. - On Friday afternoon last a number of prominent sporting men attended at Mr Jack Gallagher’s Metropolitan Hotel, by invitation of Mr W. Walters, to take part in the “ christening” of the Wanganui Cup, won at the Jubilee Meeting by Swordfish, the well-known son of Hotchkiss and Fishgirl. The duty of proposing the health of the winning sportsman fell to Mr Chas. Hesketh, who wns in turn supported by Mr A. Harris, each speaker highly eulogising Mr Walters as a sportsman, breeder, and colonist. . The toast being duly-honored, Mr Walters briefly responded and apologised for the absence of Mr French, his trainer. The health of the winning jockey, Jas. McTaggart, was the next toast honored, and -responded to in first-class style. McTaggart said that, as a native of Wanganui, his ambition had been to win that “ Jubilee Cup.” He had a racehorse under him, trained to the hour, and one that was as game as a bulldog. He hoped to win the New Zealand Cup fnr Mr Walters, who was a thorough sportsman and a good employer. Mr Fred Howard then gave some interesting reminiscences of the early . days when the Hon. E. Petrie imported from the Old Country, the celebrated horses Ether and Riddles worth (this was in the 40’s). These horses, he said, were mated with mares belonging to Mr Henry St. Hill, and gave to the colony such horses as Doch an Dhoris, Dainty Ariel, etc. Mr Walters, senr. (father of the owner of Swordfish), ably assisted in those days in upholding the good old sport of racing, and he < (Mr Howard) trusted, that the present proud possessor of the Wanganui Jubilee Cup, would follow in such worthy footsteps. After a* friend y sporting chat, proceedings terminated Full particulars of the Cup have already appeared in the Review. The Australian sire St. Swithin, who, thanks to the recent performances of Merloolas (winner of the Huwkesburv Handicap, Sydney Cup, and A.J.C. Jflace Handicap) and Gnullo (winner of the Onkaparinga Cup and other races), has rapidly come to the front, may be said to have a \ thoroughly New Zealand pedigree, as he is by Cadogan (formerly owned by Mr G. G. Stead) from Malice, by Traducerfrom Mermaid. Malice is therefore full sister to the famous Lurline, dam of Darebin. With such blood flowing through his veins, small wonder is it that St. Swithin begets racehorses. The Motu-Korea breeding establishment is to congratulated on the highly creditable show made at the Autumn Meeting of the Auckland Racing Club, when the island stud was represented by three successful horses, Rex, Miss Nelson, and Brilliant. The successes of these three will make the Motu Korea stock go up in the market, and we particularly congratulate the proprietors upon the success of Brilliant, who has demonstrated the potency of that young sire, Regel, to get winners. Brilliant is a three-year-old out of Mystery, and showed his ability to gallop at Avondale where he was just beaten, but since then he' has come on, and those who saw the style in which he finished third in the Eden Handicap, beating a lot of unquestionably good horses, must regret that they did not follow the colt when he paid such a good dividend on the last day. Rex challenged him boldly at the finish, but he fought the battle out in a style that redounds to the credit of his young sire and dam. There was not the slightest sign of his shirking .it, and that is what we expect of our thoroughbreds. Rex’s victory in the event of the meeting, the Easter Handicap, was another feather in ' the Motu Korea cap. There is no doubt about the chestnut’s ability, and although he finished second twice afterwards, he was not disgraceji. In the opinion of many, had the jockey moved on him sooner in the St. George's Handicap he would have beaten St. Paul, and then when he was beaten again it was only by a head, and this time at the hands of Brilliant, who also first saw the light at Motu,Korea, the representatives of the island stud thus finishing first and second. Miss Nelson is the third of the Motu Korea lot, and. this raking mare requires nothing in her favour to be said. The owner oi Little Wonder was in a measure compensated for previous disappointments and losses by the pony’s victory at Ellerslie on Saturday/ The pony won handsomely from a good field,’ and what was perhaps still more satisfactory for the owner he paid the substantial dividend of £24 9s. The New Zealand bred Norton, ridden by his owner, Mr Spencer Gollan, had little difficulty in winning the Park Steeplechase at Ligfield on February 25 from Wilhelmsbad, who was his only opponent. Odds of 6to 1 were laid on him, and taking the lead a mile from home he won by a distance, repeating the success he gained in the same race last year.

Saturday’s dual winner at Ellerslie, Victoria Cross, left for home yesterday by the Westralia. The daughter of Medallion —Flattery looked exceedingly well after her efforts, and Mr Connop is very sanguine as to her future success. The Wellington weights are published elsewhere. The Thompson Handicap gives evidence of having been carefully fr >med. Waiuku is on the top with 10.3, while St. Paul has 31bs less. If the little fellow's itijured leg does not come against him, and he can only repeat his Ellerslie performance, when he carried 10.3 to victory over a mile in Im in 41sec, then he would have a claim on the stake, but his 71bs penalty seems to put him out of court. We prefer the chance of Multiform.

By the steamship Westralia yesterday the Hon. J. D. Ormond’s horses took their departure homewards under the fostering care of their trainer, Mr Stuart Waddell. The string consisted of Daunt, Nansen, Target, and Dasher. Upon arrival at Napier Dasher will be left at home, and the others, reinforced by Martyrdom and Sir' Launcelot, will then make a descent upon the good things provided by the Wellington folks at their coming meeting.

We are glad to note that Fortune smiled once again at the Autumn meeting upon our Mangare friend, Mr John Lennard. It may be that his old idol, Fabulist, is for the time being under a cloud, but two other occupants of the stable, Roxana and Brilliant, have made amends, and paid the sensational dividends of the meeting, viz., £45 and £4l 3s. All this tends to show what a blessing it is to have a private training track, for if Brilliant and Roxana had been asked to undergo their training tasks under the scrutinizing gaze of the Ellerslie touts they probably would not have returned many more shillings than they did pounds. Both on public form should have been better backed than they were, Roxana on her- Takapuna form, when she defeated Dayntree and St. Innis, and Brilliant on his Avondale form and his subsequent running in the Eden Handicap, when he finished in front of a lot of good horses. Although the stable did not throw in for a very big stake, the Mangare Maoris, who had made the acquaintance of the little filly at harvest time, had scraped up enough for two tickets, and there has been joy and beer in the Maori whares ever since. A discriminating North Shore sportsmen had three tickets on Roxana.

The New Zealand-bred Osculator gained a great distinction at the Royal Agricultural Society’s Show in Sydney. In’ the class for thoroughbred stallions, 4yrs and over, seven were paraded, viz., Osculator, Lord Lynne, Prince of Wales, Goodfellow, Thespian, Gigue (imp.), and Brockleigh. The coveted honor was bestowed on Osculator, who was also awarded the championship, with the imported horse Gigue second, and Thespian highly commended. Osculator was bred at the Wellington. Park Stud (N Z.) by Mr Thomas Morrin, and is by that successful sire Hotchkiss (son of Musket) from Pungawerawera (dam of Tranter, Crackshot, etc.), by Golden Grape from A'alanta, by Towton, etc. The imported hor.-e Gigue, who was awarded the red ribbon, is by St. Simon from Danceaway, by Doncaster (.-on of Stockwell) from Scotch Reel, by Scottish Chief, etc. Thespian was bred at the famons St. Albans Stud (Victoria), and is by My Lord (son of Epigram) from Tragedy, by Hamlet from Azimuth, by Julius Caesar, etc. Though Mr S. Hordern (who owns Gigue) missed the blue ribbon in the class just mentioned, he secured that for stallion three years old and under four years with the brown colt Admirer, a son of Nordenfeldt and the Newminster mare, Dearest; while second honors in that class fell to a son of Splendor and Devotion. Mr Hordern was also successful in the class for brood mares, securing first and champion honors with Novelette, by Newminster from Quida ; while Golden Fleece, with foal at foot by Gigue, annexed the red ribbon in that class. The prize for stallion, one year arid under two years, fell to a colt by Goodfellow (son of Trenton) from Ladylike, by Epigram ; and second honors were awarded to a bay colt by the same sire from Lady Monmouth. The I’ot of the handicapper, no doubt, is not a happy one, but if the discontented did rail against Mr Evett’s adjustments at the late Autumn Meeting there are two distinct and solid facts in connection with the fathering quite sufficient to console him. These facts are (1) the number of starters and (2) the splendid dividends. If these facts are worth anything they prove, in the first place, that a large percentage of owners were satisfied with the handicapper’s adjustments, and in the second place the substantial dividends show that Mr Evett had succeeded fairly well in concealing the winners from the persevering punters. During the three days the average number of each field was nine, while the average dividend was within a shilling or two of £lO. It would, therefore, have paid a speculator to have invested a pound on every horse that started. Rex did not fight out the finish of the St* George’s Handicap with all his usual resolution. There is a circumstance little known that accounts perhaps for his swerving right across the course. On Saturday morning a big nail was discovered in his foot, and verg great force had to be used to withdraw it. That foot must have been very tender, and Rex probably felt it when Stewart asked him to beat St. Paul.

In the Grandstand Handicap Ja.k Booth’s gelding suffered at the start, and the others had a good lead before he was.going. This bad sendoff lost him the race, for Rex was going very fast at the finish, and must have won had he got away from the mark with the others.

Atalanta has gone into Stenning’s stables, and will be tried at the jumping game. The mare should win a race or two if she takes kindly to the hurdles, for she has pace enough. Stenning will also have under his care a couple of horses from the Waikato. If the newcomers can do as Kapai did on Saturday, people will be enquiring after Waikato jumpers.

Stewart Waddell thinks that the right-hand running at Ellerslie Is responsible for the rather disappointing running of the Hon. J. D. Ormond’s team. Daunt ran very well, but if the course had been left-handed Waddell thinks he probably would have won at least one of the big handicaps. Waddell said that his horses would not race until they were in the straight. The victory of St. Paul in the St. George’s Handicap was received with a rousing cheer. It was positively refreshing to hear, for the downfall of favorite after favorite throughout the meeting had made “ dumb dogs” of even the enthusiasts. Though it must be admitted that St. Paul was lucky to win, Jack Chaafe quite deserved the congratulatii ns showered upon him. Luck or no luck, to win with 10.3 up and do the journey in Imin 41sec is a great performance, and one which the racing world will talk about for ages to come. What a speedy one Cuirasette is, and what bad manners she shows at the post. When her behavior is perfected we shall expect to see her accomplish victories that the brothers Cherryble will be proud of. The following appears in the Canterbury Times —“ H. Thompson was to have ridden Strathbraan in the Great Easter Handicap, but Mr Piper (starter) objected to his riding because he always got left. It seems hard lines on a rider, after he has been wasting, that he should be objected to by the starter. It is only once that Thompson has been left, I fancy, and that was in the Oaks Stakes on Sequin. The owner of Strathbraan still wanted him to ride, but did not press the matter.” This seems an extraordinary affair. Surely the Canterbury rules do not allow the starter such latitude as mentioned above.

Mr Tom Pollard’s gelding, Djin Djin, seems to have been unlucky in the Champagne Stakes, at Christchurch on Easter Monday, as, after getting away almost last, he was made a great deal too much use of, and finally wound up by getting his tongue over the bit, thus nearly choking himself. With all this given in the son of Apremont — Dudu was only beaten by half a length.

Although only two events of the late A.J.C. meeting fell to the lot of New Zealand horseowners—viz., First Steeplechase, won by Ditto (The Dauphin—Fair Lillian), and Final Handicap by Vedette (Vanguard—Venus. Transit) — most of the principal events were won by horses having the best of New Zealand blood coursing through their veins. Amberite, who proved quite the hero of the meeting, is a son of the great Carbine (Musket—Mersey) ; the St Leger, Cumberland Stakes, and A.J.C. Plate falling to Mr Duggan’s crack, whilst he covered himself with glory by running second with Bst 121 b in the Sydney Cup. Hempie, the High-weight. Handicap winner, boasts a thorough N.Z. pedigree, as she is by Lochiel from Nonsense, a mare formerly raced here by Dr. Prins. The Sydney Cup and Place Handicap winner, Merloolas, is by the Canterbury-bred St. Swithin (Cadogan—Malice), whilst Spark (winner of the First Nursery) is by a son of Sir Modred (Antceus) from a mare by Lochiel from La Mode. Then again the mighty Bobadil, who won the Champagne and All-aged Stakes, is from She, a daughter of grand old Steppe. Flodden (by Lochiel) won the City Handicap, whilst Miss West (a daughter of Nordenfeldt) was the winner of the Second Nursery. Taken altogether New Zealand folks have every reason to be satisfied with the late A.J.C. meeting.

The progeny of the Wellington Park sires were in strong evidence at the Autumn Meeting of the Auckland Racing Club. St Leger, with four wins gained by those brilliant thoroughbreds, St. Paul, Hermosa, and Rex, holds the pride of place, while Dreadnought, through the instrumentality of the speedy Nansen and Miss Rose, with three wins was second. The other winning sires were Castor, Cuirassier, and Medallion two each, and St. Hippo, Natator, Cruiser, Hotchkiss, Betrayer, Woolbroker, Foulshot, Muskapeer, Nelson, and Regel one each.

The next big local racing meeting to occupy the attention of racegoers is the Winter Meeting of the Takapuna Jockey Club, which takes place on Saturday and Thursday, May 21 and 24. The Takapuna officials have, as we have before pointed out, made great improvements to the course and to the public stands. The convenience of visitors has been thoroughly studied, and we are sure the consideration shown will be appreciated at the meeting.

The disqualification of J. Rae. has been the topic of ‘conversatio in sporting circles during the week, and it is not likely that the subject will be allowed to drop for some time. The latest phrase of the case is a letter addressed to the Auckland Club from Mr Hanna, solicitor on behalf of his client, Mr Adam Byers, the nominator of Miss Nelson. In . this letter the club is asked to impound the stakes of the Steeplechase, on the grounds that Miss Nelson was interfered with by Levanter and Magpie. It is not likely that the stakes will be paid over until an opportunity has been given Mr Hanna to prepare his case, and, if possible, obtain fresh evidence. A meeting of the stewards will then be held to deal with the subject. The most successful jockey at the late meeting in point of winning mounts was Joe Gallagher with three wins. Other winning jockeys were Sceates, Creamer, and Whitehouse, with two wins each, while the following scored one win each : —Waldron, Stewart, J. Chaafe, W. Bird, F. Davis, J. Alexander, Julian, Connop, Comer, Pennell, Johnson, Tate, and O’Neill. Harry s-Quealy-ng when Brilliant won the Grandstand Handicap was pitiable to a degree. The clever little comedian badly wanted to back the 50n.05 Regel, butthough he had the horse’s form at the tips of his fingers and tongue, he could not come across anyone whs would risk half a ticket with him. After the race was over there were plenty of “ Why didn’t you ask me’s ? ”

In connection with Miss Nelson’s victory in the Handicap Steeplechase on Saturday, it is noticeable that the time, 6min 35sec, is identical with the time occupied by Magpie in the Autumn --

Steeplechase run on the previous Tuesday. The Canterbury Trotting Club may confidently expect a most successful Winter meeting. Fritz and other Australian horses are on the way, and we may anticipate a meeting of the best trotters in the land. The fnll programme appears in our advertising columns. The programme of the Otaki Maori Racing Hack Meeting, to be held on May 24 and 25, is an attractive one. The chief events are the Otaki Cup, of 120 sovs, on the first day, and the Ranfurly Stakes, of 100 sovs, on the second day. Nominations are due on May 4. The Hawke’s Bay Hounds met at Ngatarawa on April 13 (writes our Napier correspondent). It was a scorching day, and the ground being very dry and hard it was decided not to have a hare hunt, a drag being laid for a few miles, resulting in a fair run. The old members who were constantly in attendance last season were upon this occasion conspicuous by their absence, a well-known lady follower and Messrs H. A. Russell and N. C. Edwards being the only old. hunters in evidence. The hounds, consisting of nine couples, were in excellent condition. Those who engaged in the day’s festivities were Messrs H. H. Jackson (huntsman) on Revenge, the whip (A. Mundsen) on Waipuka, J. Scott on Prince Charlie, J. McNiven on Nectar, H. A. Russell on Tomirangi, T. Sweeney on Vengeance. Alf. Ellingham on a bay, Arthur Hyde on Aorere, A. Neagle on N. 0. Edwards on Ruby, Douglas Watt on The Monk, J. T. Blake on Great Britain, Brandon on Gift, Nat Noble, J. Page, George Fuszard, and a score of natives. Several of the horses out were qualifying for forthcoming Winter events. Amongst the old faces that were missed were those of Mr, Mrs, and Miss Donnelly, and all lovers of the sport hope that their absence will only be of a temporary nature.