Sporting Topics.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IX, Issue 438, 15 December 1898, Page 11

Sporting Topics.

In the advertisement for the Rotorua Jockey Club Meeting, the date should read January 18th instead of January Bth, the figure 1 (one) having been dropped out during “ making up.” The death is announced from Blenheim of the widow of the late Walter Clifford, of Hastings. Gallimore, a Svdney jockey, is imitating the monkey style of Tod Sloan. Gallimore is in the pony ranks. Summonses have been issued against several bookmakers, charging them with having trespassed on the Feilding racecourse during the late meeting. The Sandhurst Cup, upon which “ Tattersall ” had a consultation and in which doubtless many New Zealanders are interested, resulted in a victory for Lochaber (by Lochiel —Eily O’Connor), with Tecoma second and Acton third. • Mr Isaac Foulsham, who last year was a big puchaser at the Wellington Park yearling sales, will again be in evidence this year, either in person or through his son, who is perhaps better known as the rider of Massinissa.

The secretary of the Manawatu Racing Club has to be congratulated upon the excellence of the entries received for the ~ummer Meeting, which will be held on December 26 and 27. The total amounts to 197, or five more than last year. ■ ■ ? In quality as well as numbers the entry is a good one. The Manawatu Cup has attracted a field of sixte ;n, but Auckland horses are conspicuous by their absence. Mr G. Clarke-Walker has issued a neat little programme for the Whangarei Jockey Club’s meeting to be held at Kensington Park, Wliangarei, on Friday and Saturday, January 13 and 14. There are seven events on each day, and the sum of £305 will be distributed. Nominations may be made with the secretary or Mr Wynyard up to Thursday, December 9. The well-known New South Wales breeder, Mr H. C. White, who is spending his summer in Maoriland, has amongst this year’s foalings at his Havilah Stud a full brother to that sterling good mare, Old Olo’ (by Lochiel —Tatters), and , u : • a half-sister to Georgic, now running so well in England. This youngster is by Cranbrook from Mirzapore. The Australian bookmakers, Messrs Chailes Westbrook and Joe Harris, have been on a fljing visit to New Zealand, during which they attended the recent Wellington Meeting, and saw many of the sights of the North Island. Though strongly pressed to remain for the A.R.C. ' Summer campaign business prevailed, and they left by the Westralia for: Sydney on Monday last. Messrs Alf. Josephs and B. Allen will, however, represent the (Australian ring at our racing carnival. Mr William Kelso, the well-known Sydney trainer, has retured to his native land after an extended visit to England. Through “ Martin- } dale ” we learn that the Orville Lodge trainer has many good words to say on behalf of the English jockeys, but he thinks English trainers run their horses too big. Later on we may be able to give some of Mr Kelso’s ideas, and coming 3 from such a source they cannot fail to be interesting. The Melbourne Cup winner, The Grafter, has been sent over the small sticks by J. E. Brewer at Caulfield, his companion in the initial event being Battalion. Both shaped well, The Grafter especially so, and J.E.B. was delighted. What a valuable pair, to be sure, to risk over hurdles ; one ( The Grafter) cost £2OOO, whilst £l2oo' has beon repeatedly refused for Battalion. We wish such a game otfner every success in the Old Country. By Messrs Huddart, Parker, and Co.’s wellknown steamer, Westralia, which arrived from the South on Sunday, there came several racehorses, first among them being Mr S. H. Gollan’s New Zealand Cup winner, Tirant d’Eau, the eon of Jet d’Eau and Tirallerie being in charge of Percy Martin, and he was also accompanied by his rider, S. Lindsay. Captain Russell’s representative, Cceur de Lion, was also aboard, and as this is the sporting Captain’s first visit for many years more than ordinary interest attaches to the doings of' Dreadnought’s son. Both of these horses are located at the Harp of Erin. One of quite another class came by the same boat in Rangefinder, a good and useful member of the second class brigade ; as also did the pony Botfly, which is said to be very slippery. Th# whole of the horses were landed without a scratch.

From The Australasian we gather that the Wellington Park-bred Daystarf’by Castor —Cissy is now in West Australia, where he is engaged in the Perth Cup with 9.6, to be run on January 2, 1899. If well on the day, Cissy’s son should render a good account of himself, as those engaged are not a choice lot taken all round. There are no Waiukus or St. Pauls amongst those over in the “sand-gropers’” colony, though Le Var (Lochiel —La Valette) is a wonderfully good horse, yet with 10.5 he has a champion’s weight. The meeting of the Wanganui Jockey Club to be held on March 8 and 9 should be one of the big attractions of the autumn, as the programme is a liberal one. Fifteen events have been provided for, namely, seven on the first day and eight on the second, the total amount of added money being £l9OO. Of that sum £ll6O is set aside for the first day, and the balance, £740, for the second day. Ihe Cup this year is worth 600 sovs, the second horse to receive 75 sovs, and the third 25 sovs from the stake. The event is one that should bring about a meeting of our tracks. The American trainer Huggins has decided to accept the terms offered by Lord William Beresford to remain in England as his private trainer at Heath House, says a London paper. By a private agreement, Lord Beresford has taken over the whole of the yearlings bred by Mr Lorillard, and the four already at Newmorket will shortly be joined by a score more. As regards the horses in training, they will, in accordance with the terms of the partnership, be submitted to public auction on the retirement of Mr Lorillard. It is probable that Sloan will take up residence in England and ride for the stable next year, and there is some talk of another of the crack American jockeys coming over. In our advertising columns of to-day will be found Mr E. M. Page’s advertisement, setting, forth particulars of what can be done at the well- * known Newmarket forge, or at his branch establishment at Green Lane. Mr Page has now been before the public for over thirty years, and as a farrier, etc., his fame extends throughout the length and breadth of Australasia. During a late visit to Australia Mr Page gathered much useful information concerning the now much-sought-after aluminum shoes, and he has, since his return, considerably improved them, and he desires|it known that not only are these aluminum shoes a specialty, but also that they can be had upon short notice. The shoeing of trotters is also made a feature of .the establishment, all the latest ideas being well worked up. We may mention that Mr Page does the whole of the shoeing for Mr Chatteris’ valuable string, which contains such notable animals as Duke C., Rosebud, TipTop, Old Judge, etc. This in itself clearly proves that the Newmarket farrier understands his business. He has a big staff of competent men at all race meetings within a radius of 50 miles. Mr Andrew D.ownie’s (Sydney) patent leather shoe has of late caused a great stir in the Australian colonies, where it is pronounced a boon. We have now much pleasure in informing our readers that Mr Page has been appointed Mr Downie’s sole agent in New Zealand for these patent leathef shoes. Though but little known here as yet, there is a steadily increasing demand for them, one of the first to be shod with them being Mr John Lennard’s favorite, Fabulist, and it is pleasing to hear that the Mangare trainer is delighted with them. Owners and trainers cannot do better than interview Mr Page, who will only be too happy to afford all information on matters concerning all branches of the shoeing business.

Down at St Hellier’s Bay that capital young trainer, Alick Caulton, has again got together a fairly useful string, and despite the absence of St. Gordon, with whom he worked wonders, he may have to be reckoned with ere many months go by. Porangi Potae is too well-known to need comment; suffice it to say that Castor’s honest daughter is getting along famously after her recent accident. The Sharper is once more in evidence after a long spell, and this appears to have done Kalo’s black son no end of good. The Sharper has only just been taken up, as also has a jumper (steeplechaser) by Bryan O’Lynn. This is a wear-and-tear customer, and if appearances go for anything young Caulton should, with ordinary luck, score u win with him. A chestnut mare by Hotchkiss —Yattaghan (dam of The Afghan) shows . great improvement 5 her trainer is building her up in good style, and if she ever comes back to her two-•year-old form, then will she cause No 1. to be hoisted. The two year old by Seaton Delaval from Lady Antrim has been added to the list, and he is one of the wiry brigade. English files to hand give a full account of Georgia’s Cambridgeshire, and the Australianbred mare, who started at 40 to 1, appears to have had the race safe all the way over the last furlong. Survivor, who is reported as being one of the fittest horses in the field, was never seen near the front at any part of the race, and was not one of the first dozen at the finish. Merman, whose starting price was 10 to 1, ran well, but tired towards the end, finishing sixth, just in front of Newhaven 11. The start was a bad one, the second and third favourites—Nunsuch and Pinfold—being practically left at the post. Nunsuch was ridden by Tod Sloan, and it must have been a new and unpleasant experience for him to get away so badly that his chance was completely spoilt. It was probably good luck for Georgic’s party that Nunsuch did get left, as the latter subsequently beat the chestnut in the Old Cambridgeshire Handicap when meeting her on only 41b better terms than on this occasion.

Mr C. H. Fitzgerald’s grand trotting colt, Huon Leigh, which was so badly injured in the recent 11 Elingamitegale,” is progressing favorably under the skilful treatment of Mr Veterinary-Surgeon Halstead, but it will be a long time ere Huon’s son will be seen on the track. Yes erday it was deemed advisable to remove him to a comfortable piddock at Epsom, and to that end a trolly was, upon the advise of Mr Halstead, called into requisition, as it was feared the walk would be too much for the injured animal.

It seems pretty certain, from the tone of our Hawke’s Bay correspondent’s letter, that Daunt will not be a starter at the forthcoming Auckland meeting. Information comes from Christchurch that Social Pest and Female Franchise were to accompany Mr G. G. Stead’s horses in the s.s.Waihora. They are, therefore, due here on Sunday next. The Napier Park horses, Rhino and Moonraker, may be expected in Auckland by the s.s. Waihora on Sunday next. Both horses are reported as being very well. Mr G. G. Stead’s horses are expected to arrive here on Sunday next, and boxes have been engaged at the Harp of Erin Hotel, Ellerslie, for four horses. This will, it is anticipated, be Multiform, Altair, Screw Gun, and Tolstoi.

The pen was put through the name of Miss Rose for the Pony Handicap yesterday. She still remains in the Railway Handicap at 7st 41b, and at that she has no reason to complain, and when the field gets to the end of the six furlongs the handsome little mare will be found handy. During the past few weeks at Ellerslie Coronet has been showing as good form as anything on the track, but he has done the same thing before and slipped his backers up. Last year he went very near breaking the watches of the touts in a two-mile spin, but in the Cup he cut an inglorious figure. This year he will have the services of Mark Ryan, who may, perhaps, be able to coax the son of Castor to try. Djin Djin, Dead Beat, and Coeur de Lion have only done steady work since their arrival at Ellerslie, but they are all well forward, and a gallop or two would quickly wind them up. It is understood that Holmes will ride Djin Djin in the Railway Handicap. The much-fancied West Coast Cup candidate, Crusoe, is expected to arrive at Ellerslie on Friday next. The son of Cruiser and Satoria is reported to be in fine fettle, and his party are exceedingly confident of being very handy at the finish. Our readers may as well bear in mind that, when in commission, Crusoe seldom fails to catch the judge’s eye. Information from the South conveys the intelligence that the popular colors of the Hon. J. D. Ormond will not be seen at Ellerslie during the coming A.R.C. Meeting. There is much to be regretted, as the public are very fond of the “ all cerise,” and always follow them religiously, knowing they are sure of a straight run. The happy face of Mr Ormond’s trainer, Stewart Waddell will also be much missed in the paddock. For a chronicle of bad luck the following wagers taken by the Pollard crowd beats anything we have heard for some time. Mr Fred. Duval had the double Hymettus and Wait-a-bit running for £lOOO, and Wait-a-Bit and Tirant d’Eau for £2,250. Mr Pollard had The Grafter and Swordfish for £5OO, Tirant d’Eau and Target £4OO, while Mr W. O’Sullivan had Douglas straight out for £l,BOO, and Douglas and Chasseur for £350. The only win worth speaking of was Mr Duval’s double of Tde Grafter and Tirant d’Eau for £lOO. When it is taken into consideration that Wait-a-Bit might have won had he got a good run, the full force of the bad luck experience strikes one. The old New Zealander, Whakawatea (Apremont —Becky Sharp) won the Flying Handicap at Canterbury Park, N.S.W., on December 3. He carried 9st 81b, and was followed home by Blanche Florence (9st) qnd Nardoo (7st 71b). A field of fourteen started, and although the time for the six furlongs (Imin 18sec) was slow, the performance of Mr Hungerford’s old gelding was full of merit. Last week we ventured on the prophecy that the next mail would bring news of a Whakawatea victory, and so /it did. He is a wonderful old gelding, owned by a good sportsman, and we wish him many happy returns. The privileges for the gates, etc., of the Summer Meeting of the A.R.C., as well as the Summer Meeting of the Auckland Trotting Club will be sold at auction by Mr John Churton (of Churton and Co.) to morrow at 12 noon. Since Mr John Churton has engaged in the auctioneering business he has been singularly successful in giving satisfaction to both buyer and seller, until at present bis chintele is an exceptionally large one. In dealing with racing matters there is no auctioneer in Auckland so thoroughly au fait with the subject, and we are satisfied that both the club and purchasers will have no fault to find when the bargains are completed.

A Christchurch wire notifies that Mr Stead’s team of four, viz., Multiform, Altair, Tolstoi, and Screw Gun, were shipped for Auckland by the s.s. Waihora, and they may, therefore, be expected here on Sunday morning next. Accommodation has been secured at the Harp of Erin Hotel for Mr Mason and his valuable charges.

By the success of Georgic in the Cambridgeshire (says the Pall Mall Gazette) some of our Australian visitors brought off one of the nicest little coups that have been planned for some time. Backers may have wondered how it was Georgic was never, or very seldom, mentioned in the betting, but the fact is the animal was backed towin some £50,000 long before the Prince Edward Handicap. This the stable knew they bad at their mercy, and so confident were they of the mare’s abilities that they did not mind putting up a 101 b penalty for the Cambridgeshire. How thoroughly they were justified was apparent from the easy way in which Georgic won. When Mr Evett issued his weights for the minor events of the Auckland Cup Meeting Mr Lennard expressed himself very dissatisfied with the treatment given his horses, and in consequence he has determined to sell Fabulist and everything else he has an interest in at Mangare-

Mr Thos. Morrin’s well-known mare, Sapphire, by The Drummer —Amethyst, has produced a grand filly to Hotchkiss. This leaves only one mare (Valentinia) to foal to complete the Wellington Park foalings.

The secretary of the Auckland Racing Club announces in our advertising columns the conditions under which investments on the totalisator will be received at Ellerslie.

Cable advices from Australia convey the intelligence that Mr William Allison, the well-known English sporting man, has purchased from Mr John McMaster, of Oasilis, N.S.W., the wellknown gelding Oban, by Lochiel from Venusta, by Darebin from Aphrodite, by Kingston (imp.) Oban was bred by Mr A. Busby (owner of Bungebah, etc.), and was sold as a yearling very cheap. He is one of the most brilliant of recent Australians, and a few days ago carried lOst to victory in the Newcastle Cup, doing the mile and a quarter in 2min llsec. It will be noticed in our advertising columns that Mr H. W. Hoagland the well-known American veterinary dentist is about to visit Auckland. This gentleman has been touring the Australian colonies for the past three years, and has met with phenomenal success in the treatment of horses teeth. He claims, and. with considerable reason, that many a horse unaccountably becomes poor or unmanageable, and is either treated wrongly for some imagined disease, or catalogued as having a bad temper, when really it is nothing but that the animals’ teeth want looking after. He has treated such well-known horses as Newhaven, Grandmaster, Fadladeen, Goldsborough, Splendor, etc. successfully, and all colonial trainers and owners join in testifying to Mr’ Hoagland’s skill.