Casual Jottings.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IX, Issue 462, 1 June 1899, Page 13

Casual Jottings.

[By

Taihoa.]

New Plymouth, May 27. Mr 8. McGuinness informs me that he does not intend to persevere with the training of Daystar, but will utilise him lor stud purposes. Last season the son of Castor mated three mares, who have all, I believe, proved in foal. The mares are : —Doris (St. Leger —Ophelia) ; full sister to Boreas (owned by Mr Mills), and Sellinger (St. Leger—Brassolis). There are a fair number of horses in training in the Hawera district. Mr P. Coffey has Mayday in work for the Auckland National meeting. The mare showed good form in the first part of the season, and placed a few substantial wins to the credit of her owner. She looked to be getting stale at the last Taranaki meeting, and since then her owner and trainer has treated her to a welldeserved spell With the freshening up I think the mare should be able to again eh ,w us some of her brilliancy over the sticks. The same trainer has the Foulshot mare, Nipapu, who took to the jumping business like a kitten takes to milk. This mare shaped at Whnganui last week in open company. The Vanguard racer, Sentry, who had an engagement at Otaki this week is also in the same stable. I hear very good accounts of the galloping capabilities of this horse. In the same town Mr P. Keith has the jumpers Bradshaw and Pokomoko in work. The former veteran at the cross country game had engagements at the Wanganui Winter meeting. The big jumper, Pokomoko, with whom it was intended to invade Australia, broke down just when the trip was decided on, having injured a fetlock through striking, and hence the tour had to be abandoned for the time being. I am pleased to report that Pokomoko has recovered from his mishap, is sound, and is now in slow work. Mr C. E. Major has several inmates in his stables. The flat sprinter and jumper, Faugh-a-Ballagh, was engaged at Wanganui this week, making his debut over country. I met Mr Major the other day, and he complained bitterly at the heavy weight put on Faugh aBallagh for the Hunters’ Steeplechase at Wanganui. He considered he had been harshly treated, and had no option but to scratch the horse for that- particular event. Barbarian, another inmate of the stable, wus in work for jumping events at Auckland National meeting. The mare Ohrissie /Torpedo—Christina) was also in work after a very lengthy spell. I remember seeing this mare run in the maiden race at Waitara, last November, and I was then impressed with her appearance. Unfortunately for her owner she went wrong shortly afterwards, and it was only recently that she was fit enough to be again placed in commission. Mr R. Brough is training Calceolaria (Recluse —Daisy Clipper), and therefore full sister to Wild Daisy, the hack sprinter. The same trainer has also Remus (by Tim Whifller), who was, at the time of my visit, in work for some of the minor jumping events at Auckland. This horse is owned by Mr Cooper, the proprietor of the Empire Hotel. Mr E.

Barnes has in hand the hack jumper Fox, who was engaged in the hack hurdle events at Wanganui, and the hack flat racer Dormant (Morpheus —Creeper), who was accepted for in the hack flats at the same meeting. I am sorry to report that Mr G. Gibson’s bad luck still pursues him. The hurdler Cairo, who was in excellent buckle and winning form, went wrong the other day, through slipping and straining his fetlock when doing slow work. I saw Cairo since the accident and he was very lame. I only hope the gelding will make a speedy recovery. The break-down occurred at a most inopportune time, seeing the good winter meeting fixtures in this and next month. In the same stables, which are situated at Normanby, three miles from Hawera, are located a four or five year old Sou’-Wester colt, and a four-year-old colt by Forerunner from Blanche. Mr A. Goodson has in training the hack flat racer Coraliun (Foulshot —Lallah Rook), who was also engaged at Wanganui. At Manaia, some ten miles from Hawera, Mr J. D. Mitchell is jumping Birthday (Sou’-Wester from Aquatic’s dam >. He has also in hand the disqualified Cuckoo, who is being jumped with a view to following the Hawera hounds. When the disqualification has elapsed Cuckoo should be proficient at the cross country business. At the same place Mr A. W. Budge has a two-year-old filly, by Haere from Barbarina, and a two-year-old colt bylthe same sire from Figurehead, h aere . (Malua from Darriwell’s sister), who was imported from Australia some years is, I hear, leaving some good stock in the Manaia district, While in Hawera I learned that Mr O’Council had in training a four-year-old by Sou’-Wester from Mayday’s dam ; and Mr G. Nix had a mare in training for hack events. ■ * A gentleman, who is capable of pronouncing a judgment in connection with horses, informs me that this season’s hunting with the H awera pack should bring out some excellent cross country horses. The jumps are stiff enough to try the leaping abilities of any horse, and so far the majority of mounts have distinguished themselves remarkably v ell. In an hotel parlour the other night I heard some trainers discussing the question of the Wanganui training tracks, and the general opinion seemed to be that the ground gave way too much when the horses were galloping. One trainer explained that this was caused through the sandy nature of the sub-soil. The same trainer remarked that the credit of making the course proper the grand track it is, was due to and old caretaker, who built up by carting and spreading thousands of loads of manure upon it. The same trainer added, “ I lived four years in Wanganui, and I never saw such a man for work as that old caretaker. If you went on the course at 5 a m. he was grafting away, and if you went at 8 p m. in summer time he was still at it. His whole energy, in fact, seemed to be directed in one channel, and that was improving the course.” Speaking personally I cannot express an opinion as to the condition of the training tracks, but this I do know, that, taking the Wanganui course property as it stands, it is one of the best appointed and most convenient in the Australasian colonies. Wanganui is not a big town in the true acceptation of the term, yet for racecourse accommodation it easily surpasses many cities possessing a ten times more numerous population. The (Wanganui stewards are evidently determined for the future to keep a close official eye on the running at their meetings At the winter meeting an innovation was a portable stand, run on wheels, from which coign of vantage the stewards, specially appointed, can have a close scrutiny of the running at any particular part of a race. If this plan be adopted by the other clubs in the colony “strong” bridles and foul riding will be reduced to a minimum if not totally wiped out. I head a discussion recently on the question of bad tempered horses. A well-know trainer said that he had a horse which could give points at one time in the way of viciousness. He remarked that on one occasion a southern ti ainer came to Wellington with a bad tempered horse, ind a recognised champion of the South Islan J in this particular direction. Each trainer was positive 1 that his charge was the most difficult to manage, and the point would have remained unsolved had it not been settled in an unexpected manner. Both stallions met in a race on the Wellington course. The South Islander got to the post first, and when the other was brought.up to the starting post the former began to display signs of a

fighting disposition. This was sufficient excuse for the North Island stallion to start operations, and before the trainers could realise what was wrong the latter horse had reared right in to the other (nearly knocking the jockey off) and, taking a hold on the other’s neck, began to savage him. With great difficulty the trainers separated the infuriated horses, and, luckily, without any damage being done. The attack settled the question of supremacy, for the South Island horse ceased displaying bad temper, and endeavoured to get as far away as he could from his conqueror. The Wanganui Jockey Club, who had always admitted bookmakers to their meetings,, .closed down on the pencillers at the winter meeting. The Club notified through the Press that no bookmakers or their clerks would be admitted to the course during the meeting. I heard a tun man argue the other day that the bookmakers, through their ante date betting, made a big racing club cup a success, and he instanced several big events as a proof of his assertion. These events were the New Zealand, Auckland, and Wanganui Cups —events which, undoubtedly, claim the most general attention of backers throughout the colony, not only from the production of weights date, but from the time the nominations are disclosed. As a set-off he instanced the Dunedin, Wellington, and Hawke s Bay Cups, on which he pointed ont, no books were open, and consequently did not create general public interest, and the size and quality of the field that went to the post therefore suffered. There is certainly a great contrast between the two sets of cups (that is from a general interest, size of field, and quality standpoint), but whether the turf man’s explanation of the reason of the difference is correct |is a matter for conjecture. Some punters are already evincing a desire to .back probable New Zealand Cup candidates. I heard a punter wired a bookmaker offering to take 500 to 15 about a well known handicap horse, but the bookie quoted in return, “ lay 500 to 25.” I don’t think business resulted. Wanganui, May 27. In dealing with the Wanganui winter meeting I omitted to mention that the popular and urbane secretary, Mr Freeman R. Jackson, was as usual to the fore, and the re-union passed off without a hitch under his careful and skilful guidance. Messrs Moffat and Murch, the secretary’s two affable and able assistants, must be commended for the excellent work they performed, and their courtesy in keeping the pressmen supplied with the detail information —such as totalisator investments in each race, riders’ names, times, overweights, and total investments for the day, and the comparison figures of last year. Little points like these make the pressman’s life on the course a bit enjoyable, and prevent him from wearing out his boots and worrjing himself into a premature grave, when he is compelled to rush round frantically and endeavour to pick up all requisite information for his journal. In addition to a caution the Wanganui stewards fined F. Cochrane £5 for interfering with John■on’s mount (Muscatel) in the steeplechase. Before the meeting the stewards fined Mr J. O’Eriscoll £3 for working Indian Shot the reverse way without leave. Jerry was evidently anxious to whip a bit of reverse work into the son of Torpedo in view of the Auckland National meeting. It is surprising that in a fine centre like Wanganui there are not a better class of horses in training. The reason is hard to find. The situation of the town atd the conveniences at the course are two points that should favour owners and trainers, yet at the present time I can safely say there is not a really first class flat handicap horse in training here. Probably the explanation is that the local owners, who are few, do not care to extend their operations by purchasing pedigree stock such as is submitted in Auckland every year. The hack hurdler Tangahoe did not start at the winter meeting, the reason being'that the gelding’s knee was again giving"trouble. Famous in the same stable started in the flying, but did not get a place, although she only carried a catch-weight. This mare has shown form fit to win bigger events, but latterly she seems to have lost her pace completely. Although she shapes badly on the public I am informed that she puts in some rattling private graft. Besides these two charges W. Butler has in hand a two-year-old filly, by Cuirasier from Yattagan.' This youngster looks promising. The “turf adviser” is now a recognised institution at race meetings. I saw several of the faculty at the Wanganui meeting, and was informed that each had a very large and respectable clientele. Some of the numerous clients are therefore sure to get on to good things so long as the adviser works his advice on a systematic plan. I hear that Mr Fitzmaurice intends to transfer his string from Bulls to Feilding. Before this appears in print he has probably effected the change. Silver Ray, a four year-old gelding, by Cap-a-pie from Miss Dauphin, is a likely looking cut of a racer, and is, I am sure, capable of better deeds than he has shown us. Mr W. Davies, owner and trainer of that sterling mare Leda, had a good machine bet when the little ’un pulled off the flying. He had fi teen tickets and a half for himself, and as the dividend was £l9 17s the genial trainer had a satisfactory return. He was very sweet on her chance the second day in the Winter Oats. She ran well, despite u block at the bend for home, and got a fair second to Return. In this race the mare went out with a bandage on her dicky foreleg, and after the event Davies thought that be had committed an error of judgment in putting it on. “ I was so uncertain in my mind about the bandage,” remarked Davies, “that when the mare was leav ing the paddock I was almost on the point of stopping her and tearing the bandage off.” He added, “I think it impeded rather than assisted her in the race.” I may mention tha ■ Davies is thoroughly-wrapped up in the little daughter of Castor and Welcome Katie. In connection with this race an elderly punter, residing somewhere in the Wanganui district, had seven pounds on Leda, going on the principle of backing the biggest outsider in the race. Instead of closing

his pocket after this event he must have tested the principle in every subsequent event for he wound up the day with about a tenner only left in his treasury. Mr H. Lambert, of Stratford, had a bad bit of luck at Otaki. He took down the two-year-old filly Gipsy Queen for the maiden, and as the filly was bound to pay a long price he put a fiver on her chance. The filly won, but unfortunately for Mr Lambert his filly was coupled on the machine with the favourite, or one of the favourites, called Howeka, and the dividend was reduced to £3 6s. This system of bracketing different owners horses because the field is too large for the number spaces on the machine seems manifectly unjust the owner of the outsider. Some few years ago at Egmont a similar injustice was unwittingly inflicted. lolanthe won a hack race, and instead of rewarding her backers with over a century dividend, she only paid £lO odd, being coupled with Voltigeur the favourite, who screwed a plate and finished absolutely last. H. Alexander is now training the horses formerly in G. Laing’s care. Dante, the jumper, is turned out for a spell, but Chasseur and Troubadour are in training. The latter is a somewhat erratic jumper. In the stick race on the first day at iWanganul he made a regular semi-circular effort at the stand jump, and it was not the gelding’s fault that he did not leap in the lawn enclosure. J. Belcher has a half-brother to Sedgebrook in training in the shape of a four-year-old colt Matarawa (by Cap-a-pie). The colt was accepted for in the Second Hack Flat at the winter meeting, but did not start. The running of a three-year-old gelding, Cannonade (by Needlegun), caused some comment at the winter meeting. In the First Hack Flat, a mile and a distance, it took all Jenkins’ time to steady him up to six furlongs, so mad headed did the horse gallop. He finished out of place, and many people thought he was going to shape better on the second day, over a mile, but he did not gain a situation in that race. Whitney, a four-year old gelding (Foulohot — Gladiator mare), ran a good race the second day in the Hack Flat, and had Dartmoor been out of the way would have rewarded backers with a £l4 7s dividend. After the big Steeplechase was run, Johnson (the rider of Muscatel) and Cochrane (who steered Whangaroa) had a difference of opinion. I believe the former accused the latter of trying to run Muscatel off at the last jump, and an altercation resulted in blows being struck. The stewards met to consider the question of foul riding, and after hearing the evidence of the jockeys and others, they cautioned Cochrane to be more careful in future. Johnson explained thst he struck Cochrane under considerable provocation when they met in the jockeys’ room after the race. The stewards considered that Johnson had committed an error of judgment in taking the law into his own hands, but were of opinion that Cochrane had provoked him when the two met after the race. V. Collelo, the Wanganui trainer, informs me that he has Coralinn, The Hempie, and Fireworks in his stable. He Jtold me that the lastnamed jumper is sound and in work, and will be nominated for the New Zealand National Hurdles. W. Davies, owner and trainer of Leda, had a good bet on the mare in the machine, in which he had 15J tickets invested. As the mare paid £l9 17s, the return was very good. The price paid for Multiform is reported to have been £5500. The piice asked by Mr Dover for Muscatel the night before and on the morning of the Wanginui Steeplechase was £l6O. An Auckland buyer who was negotiating to purchase the mare offered £l3O and £SO out of the Steeplechase if she won the stake, but this was declined by Mr Dover. The question of selling had gone so far that Mr Marsack, the Wanganui vet., examined the mare at 10 o’clock on the day the race was run. The‘ Aucklander undoubtedly missed a good bargain and through nothing else but incorrect reports given him as to the. mare’s condition by people who are always too ready to make damaging statements about anything in which they have no interest. The gorse jump that brought Kanaka to grief in the Wanganui Steeplechase also proved disastrous to Watershot in the Suburban Steeplechase. I asked a rider why this particular jump seemed so bad, and he replied that the hard boarding was too high up in the top dressing of gorse, and this made the jump deceitful to the horses when they rose at it, and consequently they struck hard and toppled over. I don’t know whether this is the correct explanation, but I give it for wbat it is worth. Owing to the gash Kanaka sustained across the sifle in the Wanganui Steeplechase, I understand the black son of The Australian will not be a competitor at the Auckland National Meeting. The Raukawa Cup at Otaki fell to Tukapa (Lebel —Jenny), who returned a dividend of £3 11s. Black Dust won the Hurdles, Rodara the Maiden Hurdles, Cavendish the Welter, Cornea the Flying. Tukapa has a full brother in the Auckland district bearing the name of Gatling.