Sporting Topics.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume X, Issue 510, 3 May 1900, Page 10

Sporting Topics.

[By

Petronel.

The Avondale Jockey Olub got a good send off at the sale of privileges, and if Saturday is fine the officials of the club will have to be congratulated upon a most successful and satisfactory meeting, I hear that Mick McAuliffe goes to Sa° Francisco by the next mail boat. He has no c had the best of luck since he came over from Queensland, but I hope he may meet with plenty of it on his travels in America. Mr Alic Phillips bought Major George’s two-year-old filly Minerve, at Messrs Buckland’s sale on Friday. The owner of Knight of Athol gave 36gns for the daughter of Nelson and Hestia. Tolstoi, St. Elyn, Matamata-harakiki, and the St Leger —Janet yearling were offered for sale on Friday, by the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Co., but as the reserve was not reached for any of the quartette, so all were passed in.

On Friday Messrs Churton and Co. sold the privileges in connection with the Avondale Jockey Club’s Meeting this week. Mr A. B. Dunn, of. the Market Hotel, obtained the booths for £7l; the gates were bought by Mr L. Adams for £129 5 and the cards were purchased by the proprietors of the Sporting Bevibw for £B2. As I thought would be a very likely event, Record Beign has been nominated for the A R.C. Grand National Hurdles. Mr Boulston’s gelding can only receive a novice’s weight, and therefore, his debut over sticks will be anxiously awaited. If he is as proficient over hurdles as he is on the flat, hie future should be of a roseate hue. Flying Fox will not race in the Ascot Gold Cup to be decided next month. There was some difficulty about training the colt, as Porter could not—owing to prior calls —undertake the task. Mons. Edmond Blanc sent his valuable animal over to France on March 16. Flying Fox will stand at Meautry, his owner’s stud farm. Screwgun did not accept for the Challenge Stakes, ran at Wellington yesterday, so a meet-' ing between Mr Stead’s colt and Advance is out of the question so far as this season is concerned. Perhaps the Yaldhurst owner is wise, for after Screwgun’s recent attack of influenza he would hardly have been fit enough to try conclusions with the Vanguard flier. H.B.H. the Prince of Wales ran his first candidate for the Liverpool Grand National honors seventeen years ago. The Irish sporting brigade generally have something good for the Liverpool Spring Meeting, and it is reported that they did very well over the victory of Ambush 11. in the contest for the blue riband of the jumping season. St Hippo, who has not been at all successful as a sire of winners, will not stand at Sylvia Park during the coming stud season. Messrs Nathan’s horse has been leased to Mr J. Stevens, of Palmerston North, and breeders in that district will have the advantage of the services of the St Leger horse. Mr Harry Piper will act as starter during th® ’ Dunedin Jockey Club’s Winter Meeting, which will be held on the 24th and 26th of the present month. The Dunedinites have long wanted the services of Mr Piper, but hitherto, previous engagements have stood in the way of his fulfilling a task that would be agreeable to the Olub and to himself. Torpina, who is nominated for the A.B.C. Grand National Hurdles, is said to be jumping m great style. He is engaged in both hurdle races at the Wanganui Meeting, so we shall see then whether the reports as to his prowess are based on solid fact, Torpina has always been going to do something really good, and now is the time for him to bear out his admirers’ opinion. Messrs Duder Bros.’ handsome jumper, Drum Major, is nominated for the A.R.C. Grand National Hurdles. After his conspicuous position in last year’s race he is sure to be well fancied on June 9. He has been entered for the Takapuna meeting, so we should be able to tell if he has made the improvement nine people out of ten thought he would. Drum Major ought to get off very fairly in the handicap, for his retirment has been a long one. The Hon. Hugh Mosman’s two year-old, Hengist, has, it is reported, pretty well recovered from the contretemps which prevented his sporting silk at the A.R.C. Autumn Meeting. The news is good, and it is to be hoped that all may go well with the Bt. Leger—Hilda colt during the witter. By-the-way, I hear that it is not improbable that the Mosman string will presently make a change of training stables. The nominations received by the Takapuna Jockey Club for the approaching Winter Meeting are excellent all round. The jumping events have filled exceptionally well, and this goes to prove that we ought to cater more for jumpers at the autumn and winter meetings, and confine spring and summer meetings to flat racing. Handicaps for the first day’s and for the Steeplechase, are due to-morrow (Friday). I hope Mr Knight’s adjustments will be framedon a scale that will attract a big acceptance list. Messrs Pyne and Co held a sale of blood stock at Christchurch lately, when the following horses changed hands :—Macintosh, by Olanranald — Black <. loud, 2yrs, Mr J. Hayward, Masterton, 21gns ; Terrapin, by Olanranald —Teredina, 2yrs Mr J. A. Holmes, 48gns ; Crow’s A est, by Stonyhurst —Weathereye, 3yrs, Mr J. M'Lauchlan, 15gns ; Romanoff, by St *pniak—Ranee Nyna, 2yrs, Mr W. Orossan, 29gns; Sequin, by Ouirassier—Badiant, syrs, Mr J. B. Reid, 29gns ; The yearling colt, by Stepniak—Adulation, was passed in at 170gns, Prospect at lOgns, a gelding by Lakeshell —Dudu at 19gns ; Borty at 22gns, and Leather Medal at 17gns. During George Fordham’s long career as a jockey, he was very seldom disqualified through any fault of bison'll —indeed, he rather prided himself upon his carefulness in this respect. Like the rest of mankind, however, he was not perfection, and on one occasion was caught tripping. At Stockton, seventeen years ago, the Demon was engaged to ride Mr John Bowes’ Pride of the Highlands in the Lambton Stakes, which was regarded as a good thing for Teviotdale, the property of Mr Jardine. Thanks to a fine finish by Fordham, however, Pride of the Highlands won by a neck. On returning to weigh in, the suoessful horseman was surprised to find an objection had been lodged against him on the ground of wrong weight having been carried by the winner. George leaped out of t e saddle, and in a moment knew his suddenlyformed suspicion was correct. Believing Pride of the Highlands to be a filly, he had claimed the 41b allowance. Someone in the weighingroom, noticing this, had a plunge on Teviotdale, and then informed the defeated favorite’s owner immediately the race was over, with the result that Mr Bowes’ colt was promptly disqualified.

The Dunedin disappointment, Abercrombie, is shortly to be educated over hurdles.

Prior to starting at the Wellington meeting Advance had won £3,385 during his three-year-old career.

Handicaps for the first day’s events of the Wanganui Jockey Club’s Steeplechase Meeting are due to be published on Tuesday next, Bth May.

A very fine enlarged plate of Advance, the champion three-year old colt of New Zealand, is now on view at the Edward’s Studio Union Bank Buildings, the corner of Queen and Victoria streets.

Nominations for the Otaki Maori Racing Club’s Autumn Meeting close on Saturday next, May 5. A very good programme has been framed for the two days’ meeting, and the secretary should re ceive very satisfactory entries. The gathering takes place on Wednesday and Thursday, May 23 and 24.

Mr Joe Evett declares the weights for the Grand National Hurdles and Great Northern Steeplechase on Friday, May 11th. Hie adjustments are eagerly awaited, for punters want to begin picking doubles. They will find the layers equally ready to accommodate them. The horseboxes provided for the conveyance of racers from Taranaki to Feilding were very unfit for the purpose, and it is rumoured that some owners and trainers who were badly served in the matter of accommodation for their animals are not going to let the matter rest with a mere grumble.

Included in our illustrations this week is a picture of Goblet, the three-year-old colt by Hampton out of Sterling Love, who ran third to The Grafter in the City and Suburban Handicap last week. A grey son of the great Hampton is such peculiarity that the picture is more than usual interest. Goblet was purchased at the Kingsclere ■ale for 5000gns. At the Riverton Annual Meeting, an aged gelding by Vanguard out of Queen of the Flat, named Picket, won four races during the two days. On the first day he scored once, and on the second was first past the judge on three occasions. In one race he only had a stablecompanion (Black and Red) as a competitor, and there were no totalisator investments on the race.

Latest Indian exchanges bring word that at the Meerut Spring Meeting on the second day, Tamino, by Mozart— T ady Fisher, and formerly the property of Mr R. G. Talbot, won the Cambridgeshire Stakes, of 1500 rupees. The “journey” was about one mile and a distance, and Tamino, who carried Bst 61b, and started at 10 to 1, got home by half a length in 2min. The Australians, Pope and Sackcloth, were starters, but both were out of a place. Messrs John Ohurton and Company will sell by auction the various privileges in connection with the forthcoming meeting of the Takapuna Jockey Club. The rights include the gates, booths, cards, and refreshment stalls. The nomination lists are excellent and the meeting will undoubtedly be a most successful one, so there should bs a great competition for the privileges offered. The Wellington Park-bred St. Leger—Hilda and St. Leger—Hazel fillies, purchased by the English buyer, Mr W. Nicholls, have arrived home safely by the lonic. It is rumoured that Mr Nicholls was a buyer for a leading light on the English Turf. Time will prove whether the rumour is correct or not. Judging by his anxious demeanour at the sale, I should certainly say that Mr Nicholls was buying for himself.

It is reported by cable that The Grafter’s win in the City and Suburban Handicap meant a gain of £20,000 to the well-known bookmaker, Mr R. Sievier. It is also said that Mr Humphrey Oxenham’s horse Syerla was better fancied by Australians for the race, and that in conequence of The Grafter’s victory all Mr Oxenham’s horses have been removed from Brewer’s stables and placed in the care of Halsey, another Epsom trainer. The reason why the public preferred Syerla, was because the air was thick with the report that The Grafter was off colour. A most remarkable performance was put up by a riderless horse in a race won by Luxury in Sydney lately. This was on the part of Silver Forest, one of the backed starters. He stumbled and lost his rider soon after the start. Then the horse raced along, passing horses in turn until in the straight he was behind only the leader. Like an intelligent animal, with a sense of what was required of him, he then i. ettled down to catch Luxury, and actually beat him home by a head. After such a performance it is only reasonable to suppose Silver Forest might have been very troublesome to Luxury had everything gone well and his rider remained on top, who, as it was, came in on the ambulance with a nasty scalpwound as the result of his-mishap. At Ellerslie, the other day, St Peter, after unseating Jack Chaafe, ran close up to the winner of a sprint race.

Mr J. G. Clarke has not had to wait a very long time for a return of the money he gave for the Gozo —Industry gelding, The Grafter, winner of ’9B Melbourne Cup. On Wednesday in last week The Grafter won the City and Suburban Handicap at the Epsom Spring Meeting. This the first big southern handicap of the English racing season. The Grafter carried Bst 101 b, and ran the mile and a quarter in 2min 11 l-Ssec. The Grafter is trained at Epsom by Brewer, who rides Mr Clarke’s jumpers in their races. By-the-way, Battalion 11., who promised to do well for Mr Clarke over the sticks, has succumbed to injuries received through falling in a hurdle race at Manchester. In the City and Suburban The Grafter was followed home by Innocence and Goblet. The latter is a three-year-old by Hampton out of Sterling Love, for whom Mr Bird gave s,ooogns at the Flying Fox sale.

Romanoff did not start at the Timaru meeting.

Australian racing talk is responsible for [the rumour that Bobadil will race no more.

Cherrystone was backed all over the country for the race she was beaten in by Nihilist at Timaru.

L. Hewitt rode four winners and four seconds at Timaru. Buddicombe had three winning mounts, and was second once.

Acceptances for the Egmont Racing Club’s first day’s races close on Saturday with Mr J. W. Hirst, the secretary of the club. Albert Colley, who lately left Auckland for Adelaide, has, so report says, purchased Captain Sandeman’s stable near the Eagle Farm Racecourse, and intends starting as a private trainer. The Stepniak—Adulation gelding, passed in at Messrs Pyne’s recent sale of bloodstock, was subsequently purchased by Mr G. G. Stead for 250 gs.

Mr Frank Lawry, M.H.R , has received a large number of letters bearing upon the question of New Zealand consultations. If the member for Parnell gets all the promised Parliamentary support his measure should be carried. The Grandmaster gelding, Paris, who is now in his 13th year, is again in J. Allsop’s stable at Randwick, and is to be given another trial on the race track. It seems almost time that he was pensioned off. Romanoff, who beat Beddington at the 0.J.0. Spring Meeting, was the other day sold fo.r 29gs ! Mr Stead’s weeds, however, generally manage to pick up a race or two, and this Stepniak gelding ought certainly to bring back the 29gs his new owner gave for him. Cavalier will in future be trained by Jack Thorpe. The Cuirassier gelding shapes very well over the small sticks, I hear, and if he doesn’t sco e at Avondale on Saturday he will have another opportunity at Takapuna on Queen’s Birthday. Dundas’ running at the O. J.C. Autumn Meeting has occasioned a lot of talk, and one trainer, who saw the racing, is stated to have said that if his horse had finished second to Dundas in the Great Autumn Handicap he would have promptly put in a protest. Some members of the Dunedin Jockey Club are talking of proposing to reinstate trotting races on the club’s programmes, with a view to add to the exchequer. Such a course would seem rather an offence against the dignity of a Metropolitan Jockey Club, and I should say it will never take place. Conqueror, who has not been seen out since two-year old days, started in one race at the Timaru Meeting last week, and simply smothered his four opponents —Abercrombie, First Blood, St. Denis, and Gladys 11. Conqueror, who is now four years old, was let in with a light weight, 6st 101 b, and ran home an easy winner byjfive lengths in front of First Blood.

In the First Hurdle Bice at Randwick the most-fancied horses were badly beaten. Statesman 11. was done with seven furlongs from home, while Brokerage, after running well up to the home turn, tired to nothing over the last furlong. The New Zealander, Nor’-West, was never in the hunt, and possibly he is not quite so well as when showing such good form both in hurdle races and steeplechases in his own colony, says the Sidney Referee.

Of the First Steeplechase the Sydney Referee says:—The steeplechase was exciting to some extent, and provided a good finish beeween that old stager Whitef jot 11. and T. Lamond’s Taipo. The betting favored Orusado, who looked to have a good chance of beating the very moderate opposition with lOst 81b to carry. But Crusado acted in a rather erratic manner. He fell a long way back after going a mile, and then, after striking a fence hard, he got a new lease of life. He was catching Taipo and Whitefoot 11. so comfortably in the last round that odds would have been laid on his winning. But he ran off, and that settled it. After leading all the way and jumping well, Taipo led into the straight, and looked all over a winner. But hitefoot 11. got up and put in a challenge, which brought him into trouble, and he was beaten at the end by two lengths after an exciting set-to. Mist fell, and lonian t’red to nothing at the end. 1 had almost struck Whitefoot 11. off as having prospects of further distinguishing himself, but he appeared in very good condition, and showed that he was’ not yet done with by the rattling finish he put in when he appeared well beaten. In the Sydney Cup La Carabine proved herself once more a sterling mare, just as she did by winning the Australian Cup at Flemington. There has never been a doubt about her gameness and staying abilities, and these are the qualities which are required in a race over two miles which is run fast. Mr W. R. Wilson’s absence from the scene was regretted, but his manager, Mr Leslie McDonald, was present to receive the many congratulations tendered on the success ot the St Albans colors. The smart team taken to Sydney by H Munro has been much more than useful, for Kinglike scored on the Saturday, and he was destined to win again later on. The success of La Carabine in two races like the Australian Cup and Sydney Cup atones for failures such as those of Scorn and Symmetry. The mare’s splendid victori s credit Carbine as a sire, and may tend to reassure owners of stock got by him in England, and inspire the hope that age will develop some of them into winners. La Carabine’s dam is the imported mare Orotava, by Barcaldine from Tullia, by Pe rarch, and it is worthy of note that both the St Albans winners at the meeting — Kinglike and La Carabine—are the product of Barcaldine mares, one by a son of Musket and the other by a grandson of Musket, and remarkable that both Carbine and Wallace preceded La Carabine in the list of Sydney Cup winners.

Crusado has been sold, and will remain in Sydney. When the last mail left England the subscription for twenty mares to Aurum for the current season was full, and his list for next year open. Trenton is in such demand that his 1901 list was nearly full, while for this year he could have filled twice over. Patron, too, is coming in for attention, his list of forty mares having filled.

Mr Dan O’Brien has written to southern papers denying that he backed the winning double —Malatua and Dundas —for the Great Easter and Great Autumn Handicaps He did not receive or obtain a shilling, or any other sum of money, through the victory of Dundas. He backed Malatua and Skobeloff in the race, and he says he thinks the stewards should act of their own motion in a case ot inconsistent running, and that they should not throw the onus of entering such protests upon owners. The stewards of the South Canterbury Jockey Club held an inquiry into the running of Vandyke in the High Weight and Autumn Handicaps. In the former Vandyke could only finish third, but an hour and a half later he came out and easily beat a better lot of horses in the principal race of the day. The stewards held a lengthy enquiry, and on the second day passed the following motion : “ That a vote of censure be passed upon J. Fitzgerald, the owner of the horse.” The stewards also stated that similar running at any future meeting of the club will be more strenuously dealt with.

The people of Canterbury are getting quite accustomed to seeing a horse get “ donkeylicked ” in a weak field, and then come out and beat a much better lot of horses. The public give vent to their feelings by hooting the horseowner and jockey, but the stewards, as a rule, look on without taking any steps to put a stop to these frequent malpractices perpetrated under their noses. If a man desires to resort to crooked tactics he should make Canterbury his headquarters, and if he is unfortunate enough to get called before a body of stewards, the most he need expect is a strong lecture from the chairman, or, perhaps, a gentle reminder to be more careful in the future.

Parthian remains in possession of the three-year-old supremacy, which he won after defeating Merriwee in V.R.O. St Leger and Champion Race last month. At the close of his two-year-old season he was rated with Chesney as leading their contemporaries. In the early Spring he was not in condition to do himself justice, a circumstance mainly attributable to the long illness of T. Brown, the Chipping Norton trainer. Though he was handed over to the capable hands of J. Burton later on, that arrangement was made a little too late to be of service in keeping his record up at the A.J.O: Spring Meeting, where he was of no use to Cranberry, the Derby winner. In Victoria he ran a good race, however, for the Derby, won by Merriwee, subsequently beat Merriwee at a mile and a quarter, and won a handicap, showing that under Burton’s care he was getting into form to show what he was really capable of. Mr W. Alli on, the Special Commissioner of the London Sportsman, writing of Ambush 11. before the Grand National was decided, said : — “ When in Ireland during the Christmas holidays I was told by the best judges there that Ambush IL. with, anything about list, would win this year’s National, so I took the opportunity to go tj Kempton Park on Friday to see the horse. I had not previously seen him, and I must say I was greatly struck with his good looks and general appearance, and I do not think I ever saw a more typical steeplechaser in my life. He may not have the best of hocks, but, taken all round, he is one of the most useful-looking sorts for the jumping game I have ever seen in my life. Nor is he by any means slow, as proved by the way in which he led his field for about a mile and a half in the Middlesex Maiden Hurdle Race. But nobody anticipated he would beat such a horse as General Peace at even weights over two miles with only hurdles as obstacles, and I should say he acquitted himself just as well as he was expected to.” There are various ways of losing a race (says the Live Stock Journal), and perhaps that discovered by a gentleman jockey riding his own horse at a steeplechase at a local meeting a couple of years ago was the most exasperating. There was but one other competitor, and he was jumping so badly that the gentleman jock felt the stakes were in his hand, but to get away from his swerving opponent, he put on steam and came down. His horse was big and he was small, and as he could not remount alone, he called a bystander to give him a leg up. There was still nearly a mile to go, and if he could only get into the saddle at once the chance was still a good one, for the other horse, deprived of his lead, was jumping worse than ever. “ Give me a leg up, if you’re not afraid of the horse,” he shouted for the third time in desperation. “ I ain’t feared of the horse,” replied the bystander slowly; “ but my bet’s on t’other one, and I ain’t agoin’ to take no risks.”

The A.J.C. stewards had doubts as to the genuineness of Crusado’s performance when he ran off in the First Steeplechase at Randwick, and held an inquiry (says the Sydney Referee). Nothing came out of it, however, and the black gelding, with a different jockey on this time, came out and won on the Saturday. It is doubtful whether the win benefited his owner to any extent beyond the prize-money, as Nor’West, in the same stable, was a strong favorite. As luck would have it, however, Nor’-West came down when going well, and Orusado won. On New Zealand form, the winner had not the slightest chance with Nor’-West, and if the latter had stood up the chances are that, as in a couple of races shortly before they left their own colony, they would have annexed first and second money between them. Our own steeplechasers are a very poor lot, and Crusado’s succeses should further enourage New Zealand owners to send over a jumper occasionally.

Americans do not make a success of the start-ing-machine for some reason or other, at the Tanforan Park (San Francisco) meeting there was a lot of trouble over one race owing to the majority of the jockeys being unprepared when the barrier rose. Touching on the affair, a writer in the Spirit of the Times remarks: — Friday’s racing was marred by what the newspapers here styled the worst start of the season. “ Starter Caldwell has grown grey (wites a critic) in the profession of starting racehorses, and one time achieved a prestige unprecedented in the annals of the American Turf. But such another start as he made at Tanforan will completely shatter his reputation.” In the race in question Loving Cup, second, choice in a handicap at six ■furlongs, was the only one to get away. The jockeys had no idea the barrier was about to be sprung, and the race was a veritable frost. This incident might not be worthy of note save for the fact that the general work with the startinggate at Tanforan has been such that influential critics have been absolutely converted to the use of the starting-gate without the re call flag, and some of our best racing authorities are of opinion that its uses exclusively in that fashion will prove one of the realities of our racing millenium.

Tha Edwards Studio is one of the best places in the colony to get photographs taken. The studio is open from nine o’clock in the morning till nine o’clock at night on Saturdays. Visitors to Auckland should make a point of visiting the studio, and inspecting the number of latest novelties in the way of photographs, mounts, enlargements, etc. An important feature is the enlarging business. A beautiful enlargement, 15 x 12, will be made from any cabinet photo, forwarded to the studio. In this issue readers will find a coupon ; this, together with the picture from which the enlargement is to be made, and a postal order for 8s 6d, must be sent, and then the enlarged picture will be conveyed to the sender.