Sporting Topics.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IX, Issue 455, 13 April 1899, Page 11

Sporting Topics.

Cabin Boy is said to have been sold to go to India.

On Friday week, the 21st inst., acceptances are due for the North Island Challenge Stakes. Owners and trainers are reminded that accept ances for the first day’s races at Avondale are due to-morrow (Friday). St. Bimo ran in several races at Ellerslie, but since tho Takapuna meeting the Castor —Welcome Katie horse seems to have lost his dash.

Red Lancer looked very fit and well on Saturday, and despite the rumor that he was all to pieces the St. Clair gelding ran a good race in the Criterion Handiaap, finishing well up fourth. Tauhei, Douglas, and Oingo were on board the Mararoa on her trip South. The former leaves the boat at Gisborne and the others will be landed at Napier. , Some English critics are of opinion that the starting machine has much to do with the very equable temperament which charac;crises Australian horses.

Ihe London Sportsman says that ever since Merman’s Cesarewitch victory handicappers have generally been unduly hard upon Mr Jersey’s (Mrs Langtry) horses. The well-known racing mare, Miss Anna, by St. Hippo—Anna, is suffering from blood poisoning, and is in such a queer state that even if she should pull through, it is not likely that she will race again.

At the Waipukurau Jockey Club’s meeting, a number of owners, jockeys, and horses were disqualified for the meeting, as they had taken part in a Maori Oats meeting at Matiwai on Good Friday, that being an unregistered gathering. The biggest dividend at the A.R.C. meeting was the £lB 6s paid by Drum-Major in the Maiden Hurdle Race; the smallest return was the £1 12s paid by Cairo in the Hurdle Race on the first day of the meeting. Lord William Beresford has taken a Mr Agnew into equal partnership with him in all the horses now trained at Heath House by Huggins. They number 37 The new confederacy started the season unluckily by running second for the Lincolnshire Handicap with Knight of the Thistle. Judging by Hopscotch’s performance in the Doncaster (writes “ Martindale”) Mr Long should get another good race out of the big chestnut. Had he been anywhere near the front at the turn in the Doncaster Handicap he must have won, as he was galloping over everything else at the finish.

Tauhei (with Bst 111 b to carry) appears to be well in the Thompson Handicap. She ran two very good races over a mile and a furlong at Ellerslie, and finished witn a rattling seven furlongs with 9st 51b on her back. Should the grey travel to the Hutt she will have to be reckoned with.

Joe Gallagher heads the list of winning jockeys at the Ellerslie meeting with four wins, then in order Creamer three wins, W. Stewart three, Mark Ryan two, W. Gall two, and Sceats, A. Hall, R. Hall, Jack Chaafe, W. Howard, Julian, Noble, Percy Johnson, Burns, and Berry follow with one winning mount each. The Victorian filly, Diffidence, by Pilgrim’s Progress—Etra Weenie, came in for strong support for the Doncaster inithe paddock. In a short space of time she was backed from 100 to 5 down 100 to 10, aud many books having laid her to the full amount, or thinking they knew something, declined to bet against her at the finish. Shapfell and Arkle, both sons of Angelica, who died recently, have been bought by the fwellknown American breeder, Mr J. B. Haggin. Mr Haggin already owns Order, by Bend Or out of Angelica, and Order is the sire of Ornament, the best of his season in the States. The only remaining sons of Angelica in England are Orme and Blue Green.

Following are the drawers of placed horses in Tattersall’s sweep (50,000 at ss) on the Ballarat Cup, closed with 23,000 subscribers and drawn pro rata : —lst, Sir Rupert Clarke, Bart., William Street, Melbourne, £2070 ; 2nd, M. P. Lynch, P. 0., Epping, Victoria, £621 ; 3rd, W. Jones, Bond Street, Arch Hill, Auckland, N.Z., £414. These amounts are net.

We will probably soon see Mr Jack Rae’s familiar face on our racecourses again. At the sale of thoroughbreds at Messrs Hunter and Nolan’s Yards on Friday last he paid the top price of the market for the yearling by St. Hippo out of Liquidation. This filly is rather on the small side, but she looks particularly smart, and she will have the advantage of a good tutor in Jack Rae.

On the third and final day of the Auckland Racing Club’s Autumn Meeting the stewards met to consider the protest against the pony Cuisine. The objection had reference to an alleged irregularity in the entry, but the committee, after duly considering the matter, dismissed the protest, and the impounded dividend of £8 3s was forthwith paid over to the gratified backers. The Wanganui Jockey Club announces that nominations for the Wanganui Guineas, to be run in 1900, close on Tuesday, May 16. The added money has been increased from 200 sovs to 300 sovs. The Two-Year-Old Stakes run at the March meeting has disappeared from the programme. The withdrawl of a race valuable as an incentive to breeding thoroughbreds is to be regretted.

The odd numbers were the lucky ones on Saturday. No. 3 was successful four times with Bellman, Battleaxe, Tauhei, and Rosella ; No. 7 scored twice with Drum Major and Roy; No. 1 was first past the post once with Cavalier, and the exception which proved the rule was a good one, as Miss Delaval was No. 6 on the card for the race in which she started and won.

The Autumn Harness Trot was run over a second time yesterday (Wednesday), and resulted in an easy victory for Coralie, who won by a hundred yards from the only other starters, Hollywood and Empress. The betting was 6to 5 on Hollywood, even money Coralie and Empress. Miss Emmy looked to have a big chance of success in the Criterion Handicap on Saturday. She came away from the post in splendid style, and many more than her backers thought the race was over when she came into the straight with a good lead. But Miss Delaval dashed up at the Derby stand, and once on terms the filly quickly settled the pretensions of the mare. Major George was one of the unlucky owners at the Ellerslie meeting, although he had three wins to his credit. In the race that Hastings won Laborer was interfered with, and in the Victoria Handicap, on Saturday, Seahorse was stupid enough to spoil his chance by running sideways instead of straight ahead when the tapes went up. Had he got off with the others we should have seen a splendid race between him and Rosella, for, once going, the colt ran really well and was not far away at the finish.

Mr Watson did not go away from Ellerslie empty-handed, as Battleaxe compensated for previous disappointments by winning the St. George’s Handicap in very good time. He paid a very good dividend considering that he had run third in the big race on each of the previous days. Even though it is admitted that Douglas was unlucky in the race, Battleaxe’s performance was a good one, and should not be forgotten. In the Thompson Handicap the Hotchkiss —Queen Cole gelding has been allotted Bst 111 b. Though Douglas was not successful in either of his efforts, the “red and white white stripes” were carried to victory by Oingo. Douglas got very much the worst of the start in the St. George’s Handicap, or he would most likely have beaten Battleaxe. As it was the brown gelding put in a very good performance considering that he carried the steadier of 9st 121 b and had to make up lost ground. When he was able to get through he came with a fine turn of speed. Owners of stallions in England advertise much more extens vely then do Australian owners. One can glance over the pages of the London Sportsman and find the stud fee and place of service of nearly every stallion in Great Britain. There are no fewer than 120 thoroughbred stallions advertised for 1899. Among those whose fees are highest are Isinglass, £300; Sheen and Common, £200; and Royal Hampton, £l5O. A notable absentee is St. Simon, who headed the list of winning sires for so many years in succession, as he is reserved for private service.

The Hon. J. Carroll returned to Welllington on Tuesday, after a short and pleasant sojourn in Auckland. The Hon. gentleman is a true sportsman, but does net confine his attention to horse racing alone. He likes a game of bowls, and during his stay here he visited the Auckland green, and during the three days of the Auckland Autumn Meeting his stalwart figure was noticeable on the lawn, saddling paddock, or committee’s stand. The Colonial Secretary enjoys a good race, and he was specially gratified with the success of that good mare Tauhei.

The Hon. Hugh Mosman was present at Ellerslie during the Autumn Meeting, and although his colours were seen out only once he took a lively interest in the proceedings. The anti-gambling faddists will be glad to know that the Queensland legislator is not a plunger. A modest sovereign on a race satifies him, and when he is watching a finish he evidently enjoys the race more when a goo i horse demonstrates its superiority. With the team that Harrry Franks has now in hand we may expect to see the Hon. Mosman’s colours frequently in front next year. It is probable that Mr Mosman will visit Brisbane next month.

Wellington Park bred horses have been triumphant all along the line during the Easter holidays. From Australia we have the news of the success of Osculator in the show ring, and we are confronted with the doughty deeds on the New Zealand race tracks of the progeny of Castor, Hotchkiss, and St. Leger. At Riccarton, Multiform and Screw Gun, by that splendid Musket horse Hotchkiss, were the heroes of the meeting, and here in New Zealand we think that Multiform could beat anything in Australasia at weightfor age over any distance. How fortunate for Mr Stead to own two such great horses, and both of them from Wellington Park. He deserves to have them too because he pays the price. Here in Auckland the Wellington Park stock have been in splendid evidence. At the late meeting Castor shines out as the sire of the winners of four races, and very important races too, Coronet for instance beating a good field for the Autumn Handicap, but that splendid mare Tauhei was probably his best advertisement. For a combination of substar ce and quality there are few, if any, mares on the New Zealand turf the equal of Tauhei. She has generally been regarded as a sprinter, but her conformation and her liberty of action suggest that she should, as the auctionees say, “go fast and stay for a week.” Eton is another of Castor s successful representatives. Hotchkiss had one successful representative at Ellerslie, that one being Battleaxe who is undoubtedly a racehorse. St. Leger, who has proved such a gold mine as a sire, had three winners, viz., Rex, who ran away with the Easter Handicap, St. Ursula, and Sylvia Park, i'he show made by Seaton Delaval’syoung stock will immensely enhance his value as a sire, four races being credited to his progeny. In producing that beautiful filly Miss Delaval alone the young imported sire has covered himself with glory, but the flying Rosella and Hastings are both valuable advertisements for him. Cuirassier was creditably represented by three winners, and The Workman by two, The following sires were represented by one winner each : —Gipsy King, Torpedo, Richmond, Sou’-Wester, Nelson, Tetford, and Vanguard.

The late Horowhenua Meeting resulted in a profit of £95. It is understood that the Egmont stewards have decided to bow to the ruling of the Taranaki Club in the Tangahoe case. The Taranaki Jockey Club has endorsed the disqualification by the RahotuClub of E. George for twelve months.

The issue of the Wellington weights was postponed until Monday last to permit Mr J. O. Evitt to have the benefit of the performances of the horses on the final day of the Auckland meeting.

, Epaulet is going backwards. In the Greymouth Memorial Stakes, only three started and he finished absolutely out of it, and yet last November this horse was thought by many, good enough to win the N.Z. Cup.

Reindeer turned out for the Hurdle Race on Saturday. Mr Tooman’s six-year-old was as big as a bullock, but he jumped all right and gave his trainer a not uncomfortable ride. By and bye the Brigadier gelding will be in better racing trim, and then we shall expect to see him in the van.

Little Wonder had the worst of the luck that usually waits on horses. He had his fair share of weight all through, and on Saturday, when he made his run, he was bored right on to the Lawn rails by the shifty Edison. Probably if Buchanan had delayed his run just a trifle longer, Little Wonder would have been on the inside of Edison and then the “ all blue” might have won. On Friday, when Messrs Alfred Buckland offered several of the Hon. Hugh Mosman’s horses for sale, there was a big attendance of people who were not buyers. Only one of Mr Mosman’s lot changed bands, Bango, a two-year-old brown gelding by Cuirassier from Katipo. This youngster was purchased cheaply by Mr J. Finnerty, of Waitara. for 23 guineas.

The following are the winning payments in connection with the Canterbury Jockey Club’s Autumn Meeting : —Mr G. G. Stead, £950; Mr H. Goodman, £660; MrF. Webb, £440; Mr H. A. Knight, £270; Mr C P. Murray-Aynsley, £190; Mr H. Friedlander, £145 ; Mr R. Reay, £135 ; Mr M. Hobbs, £135; Mr O. Bradley, £120; MrT. Sheenan, £110; Mr O. R. Wise, £9O ; Sir G. Clifford, £80; Mr F. Holmes, £5O ; and six amounts under £5O, the total being £3400.

Mr J. A. Harding left for Gisborne on Tuesday by the Mararoa. He is a good sportsman and was much pleased with the dual success of Tauhei. The grey mare rather narrowly missed a third victory when St. Ursula just got home in the Stewards’ Handicap. Had Gallagher not taken the opposition just a little too easily, the verdict might have been the other way about. We would direct special attention to the public announcement that Messrs Churton and Company will sell at noon on Friday the privileges in connection with the Avondale Racing Club’s Autumn Meeting. The programme is a highly attractive one, and as the Club have effected many improvements since the gates were thrown open in the spring the meeting should be a success and the privileges more valuable than usual, and that is saying a good deal, because the Avondale gatherings have been conducted in the past with a fair average success.

Mr Watty Blacklock, of Eagle Farm, Brisbane, although only a week in Auckland, made a host of friends during that time. He left by the Walhora on Monday in charge of the Hon H. Mosman’s horses, and will train them at Eagle Farm. Like all other visitors to Auckland, Watty Blacklock appreciated the kindness of the local people, and expressed the hope-that he would be able to visit this part of the world again, and at no distant date. Among others who were on the wharf to say good-bye to our late visitor were the Hon. Hugh Mosman, Messrs H. Franks, George Wright, Mark Byan, and “ Atlas.” Those well-bred mares Bessie M’Carthy, Freda, and Tiraillerie, the property of Mr S. H. Gollan, who has done so much to encourage the breeding of the thoroughbred in New Zealand, have been on a visit to Wellington Park with the object of being mated to English time with New Zealand’s champion sire St. Leger. It is to be hoped that Mr Gollan’s effort will be attended with better success than a similar attempt on the part of the Hon. James White a few years ago. However, Mr White permitted the foals to be born in Ausralia and sent them home as yearlings, but it seems to be Mr Gollan’s intention to at once ship the mares for the Old Country. The three mares who are looking healthy, were shipped by the Mararoa on Tuesday. They will be taken to Wellington, and from that port they will be shipped for England by s.s Rakaia. A companion on the voyage to the Old Land will be the New Zealand Cup winner Thant d’Eau. Mr Thomas Morrin must have experienced a sensation of real pleasure when he read the Sydney papers this week and saw that at the Royal Society’s Annual Exhibition on the well-appointed grounds on Moore Park, Osculator won the champion prize for thoroughbred stallions. The Sydney Mail remarks : —“For the second year in succession the first prize and championship were awarded to Mr C. J. Roberts’ handsome brown horse, Osculator, who was bred at the Wellington Park N.Z. Stud by Mr Thomas Morrin, and during the past couple of years has been doing stud duty in the Windsor district. Osculator is by the Musket horse Hotchkiss from Pnngawerewere (dam of Tranter), by Golden Grape from Atalanta, by Towton, etc., and has furnished into a fine-looking horse since he left the track for the paddock.” It is only a few weeks since Mr W. Miller, when passing through Auckland, expressed the opinion that with ordinary luck Osculator would have proved himself to be as good a horse on the track as Trenton, Carbine, or Abercorn. It was an accident that cut short his racing, but it must be a source of gratification to Mr Morrin to find Wellington Park producing champions not only on the racing track, but in the show ring.

The Australian jockey, W. Delaney, has arrived safely in England and has taken up his quarters with Mr W. Day, who, at one time, trained for Mr S. Hordern at Randwick.

Four of the five men who have had a hearing before the Longford Bench (Tasmania) on a charge of having conspired to defraud by aid of the totalisator were committed to take their trial at the Launceston Supreme Court at the next sittings, to be held on 19th April. Opou was the deceiver in the Hurdle Race on Saturday. The Emin Bey gelding was leniently treated and he was well backed, but in the race he cut an inglorious figure. Bellman is evidently suited by a light weight, for he romped away from the start, and though Cairo at one time looked to have a chance of beating the Tetford gelding, the weight told and, hitting a couple of hurdles hard, the coastal horse fell away, leaving Bellman to score an easy win. That was a novel way of attempting to get a horse disqualified, adopted by an onlooker at the Richmond (Vic.) pony races on Monday, March 17, writes “Martindale:”—A horse named Cherry had returned to the paddock, after winning a race. Directly the jockey got out of the saddle, a person in the paddock unbuckled the girths, whipped the saddle off, and threw it over the outside fence. The saddle was quickly recovered, and the jockey weighed in correctly, while the offender was given in charge of the police. We hear of many little points at times connected with racing, not allowed for in the rules. By the s.s. Waihora on Monday the following horses, the property of the Hon. Hugh Mosman, were shipped to Sydney, en route for Brisbane, where they will in future be raced :• —Antares, by Castor—Hilda; Murella, by Cuirassier—Muriel; Hazeline, by St. Leger—Hazel; Timon, by Nelson—Fiesole ; Adriana, by St. Leger—Aida ; and a yearling filly, Circe, who is a full-sister to Daystar and Altair, being by Castor out of Cissy. Some of these are bound to. make the fame of sew Zealand-bred horses known at Eagle Farm, which is a fine racecourse, and, and, according to Mr Watty Blacklock, wonderfully well managed by Mr Hide and his committee. All of the horses were shipped safely, and have comfortable berths on the upper portion of the hold. Antares showed the way to his younger companions, and was looking well. It is quite evident that his late trainer’ Mr Harry Franks, didjnot part with the horse without a pang of regret, but, after all, it is perhaps a wise move on the part >of the Hon. Mosman to send him to fresh fields, as the handicappers here showed a distinct inclination to jump Hilda’s son up in the weights on the slightest provocation. On arrival at Sydney Mr Mosman’s horses will be reshipped to Brisbane, and will probably leave Sydney on Tuesday next.