Sporting Topics.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XI, Issue 530, 14 February 1901, Page 11

Sporting Topics.

| By

Petronel. ]

Lancaster was withdrawn from the Newmarket Handicap on the morning of February 4. La Carabine has been scratched for the Australian Cup.

The new owner of the ex-New Zealand ’chaser Levanter is Mr J. B. Joel.

Seahorse was scratched for the Australian Cup at 4.35 p.m. on Wednesday, January 30.

Blazer was withdrawn on Saturday from the Craven Plate, to be run at the 0.J.0. Meeting to-day.

In view of the Takapuna Jockey Club fixing the second day’s racing for Saturday, the Papakura Racing Club has had to postpone its meet ing. The publication of the handicaps is therefore held over.

Mr Knight’s handicaps for the races to be run at the Rotorua Jockey Club’s Annual Meeting appear in this issue. Acceptances are due with the secretary, Mr 0. E. Clarke, junr,, on Friday, February 15 (to-morrow.)

At a recent meeting of the Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club committee the following programmes were approved:—Pakarae Jockey Club, 14th February; Woodville District Jockey Club, 27th and 28th February; Tokomaru Jockey Club, 26th March.

There is now no doubt about Advance fulfilling some of his Australian engagements, for in company with Boreas he left Wellington on Saturday. The Vanguard colt has been freely supported locally for the Newmarket Handicap and Australian Cup.

The first acceptances for the Newmarket Handicap and Australian Cup appear in this issue. The second forfeit for the former race is due on Monday, February 25, while that for the Australian Cup must be made on Thursday, February 28.

On Tuesday in last week the employees of the Wellington Racing Club made a presentation to Mr H. M. Lyon, the Club’s secretary, to mark the occasion of the three days’ race meeting held at the Hutt. Mr H. McKenzie occupied the chair, and made the presentation on behalf of the racecourse staff.

Mr Martin Taylor has decided to take up his permanent residence in Auckland and to that end he has purchased a snug little property at the North Shore. The genial layer goes South for the Dunedin Autumn Meeting and then will return with bis family, and of course, his greyhounds. Coursing in Auckland will surely benefit with such a staunch supporter of the “longtails” in the district.

The Duke of Devonshire has leased His Majesty the King’s racehorses in training for a year. The chaser, Ambush 11., is trained in Ireland, but Mr Richard Marsh who trained Daimond Jubilee, Lucknow, and others, also acts as mentor to the Duke of Devonshire’s horses so there will probably be no change of trainers. The American Tobacco Company has recently issued an attractive show card bearing the portraits of the seven Kings of England, with the Christian name of Edward. The portraits are reproduced from authentic pictures. The card, which should be of general interest just now, is being distributed throughout the colony Though it advertises Old Judge Tobacco and Cigarettes, this is no draw-back to its historical value and artistic merit.

At the re sale of the gates and privileges in connection with the Summer Meeting of the Takapuna Jockey Club on hursday last at Messrs John Ourton and Co.’s auction mart Mr 0 F. Mark became the purchaser at £350. In view of fine weather attending the remaining days of the meeting, and a possibility of a visit from some of the Imperial troops, Mr Mark will do fairly well by his deal. Fine weather and big attendances must, however, be forthcoming for success.

Mr Will Ryan arrived in Auckland in good time for the Takapuna Meeting, and in the interval arising from the postponement busied himself with backing Advance straight out for the Newmarket Handicap and the Australian Cup, and also backed the black colt heavily for the double event, Newmarket Handicap and Australian Cup. The Wanganui bookmaker is always thorough in anything he does, arid if Advance does score the profit attached to the transaction will amount to a very tidy sum.

The departure of Advance for Australia has naturally caused some discussion in regard to the terms of the lease by which Mr “ Douglas Gordon ” holds the horse from Mr Donald Fraser. The facts of the case are as follows :—- When approached by Mr “ Gordon ” and asked to “ stretch ” the lease, Mr Fraser agreed to Advance going to Australia on the condition that his trainer went with him. Prosser has accordingly gone to Melbourne in charge of Advance and Boreas, and should he be victorious with the Vanguard colt everybody in New Zealand will heartily congratulate the breeder, trainer, and owners of a really good colt.

The Calcutta correspondent of a Bombay paper photographed some of the Viceroy’s Cup candidates, and in referring to the objection some of the trainers had to their horses being snapshotted says :—“ Last year they said the photographing of Strathjoy,a few days before the race, put the horse off his feed, and caused him ta lose the Cup. This year Tom Scott would not allow me to take a photograph of Cherry, and he said that when I took him last year, just after he had won the Cooch Behar Cup, the horse went sick, and Scott put it all down to the camera. As a consequence, all snap-shot fiends were solemnly warned off the grass when Cherry was walking round.

On Saturday, the opening day of the V.A.T.C. Autumn Meeting, the Oakleigh Plate was won by Wakeful, a four-year-old brown mare by Trenton from Insomnia, belonging to Mr 0. L. McDonald. Wakeful carried 9at 11b and won very easily, running the five and a-half furlongs in Imin Bsec. The Oakleigh Purse was won by Sir Rupert Clarke’s two year old colt United States, by Bill of Portland out of Happy Land. This is the colt that was named Commonwealth, but as that name had been previously claimed by a Sydney owner Sir Rupert fell back on United States. The youngster carried Bst, and covered the five furlongs and a-half in Imin 9fsec.

The following licenses were granted by the Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club at a recent meeting : — Trainers: Leonard T. Mitchell, H. Linnell, Patrick Malone, A. H. Broadbent, and John Reid Jones. Jockeys : Howard, Thomas William Farr, Thomas H. Reedy, H. Walworth, John Nicholls, John M. Reedy, P. D. O’Shanassy, A. J Banks, H. J. Ireland, Atlas White, John M’lntosh, Roland Jackson, James M’Neil, Teira Whiri, William Ring, and Rehu. Apprentices : Harold King, Tiwa Mihaere, E. J. Patrick Malone, S. M*. L. Malone. Gentlemen Riders : Messrs W. O. Pettit, D. 0. M'Kay, R. Roake, Alic M'Kenzie, P. Hayden, J. J Groome, Chas. Bennett, J. R. Hollis, 0. E. Small, W. T. Painter, H. Sebley, H. Lansdown, E. Davis.

The customary Turf statistics compiled by “ Sporting Life ” (England) show that the total value of stakes won during the last season —not including prizes to second and third horses, and exclusive was as under : —ln England, £351,176 ss; in Ireland, £18,509 Ils 8d; in Scotland, £10,846. The value of prizes in handicaps for three - year - olds only, was — In Englano, £142,203; in Ireland (including handicaps to which two-yeir-olds were admitted with other horses), £BlB6 10s; in Scotland, £5165. In weight-for-age races, or weight-for-sex races for three - year - olds or upwards — In England, £154,102 ss; in Ireland, £5158 17s 8d ; in Scotland, £2310. In races for all ages, or two or three year olds—ln England, £4054; in Ireland, £2741 9s. In selling races (excepting those for two-year-olds only)—ln England, £29.387 ; in Ireland £1716 10s; in Scotland, £1985. In selling handicaps for three year olds and upwards —ln England, £21,430; in Ireland, £706 ss; in Scotland, £1386. The value of prizes for races for two-year-olds only comes ouf as under mentioned : — In Handicaps —ln England, £16,608 ; in Ireland, £1446 ; in Scotland, £1124. In Selling Handicaps—ln England, £4137; in Ireland, £345 ; in Scotland, £2OO. In Weight-for-sex Races —In England £96,302 18s; in Ireland, £6416 Is 6d; in Scotland, £375. In Selling Races—ln England, £17,667; in Ireland, £922; in Scotland, £4OO. During 1900, 3921 horses raced in England, Ireland, and Scotland, exclusive of jumping horses.

Mr F. Watson’s Tupara has been scratched for the Century Stakes 1901. The Kopu Athletic Sports are postponed indefinitely. Brown Bill was the only horse that failed to make the final payment for the laranaki Cup. Jenkins will ride Advance and Boreas in their Australian engagements. Coronet, Tiurne and Eton travelled to New Plymouth on Sunday by the Ngapuhi. Mr Lennard Marshall and Mr J. B. Williamson followed by the Rotoiti on Monday. Okoari, as I anticipated, easily accounted for the Stewards Handicap at New Plymouth yesterday (Wednesday), and by also winning the Flying Handicap put two wins to the credit of St Leger. Sir Launcelot and St Crispan are among the nominations for the Easter Handicap, Autumn Handicap, and St George’s Handicap, the three big handicap events of the Auckland Racing Club’s Autumn Meeting. Heliades, the Phsethon —Jess pony mare, received plenty of weight in the Pony Race on Saturday. She will need to improve a lot before she carries Bst 101 b to victory in competition with some of the Auckland ponies. The mares and foals purchased at the Tocal Stud Sale by Mr J. B. Williamson on behalf of Mr Leonard Marshall, arrived in Auckland on board the Talune on Monday. All were in good health.

Nominations for all events to be run at the Ohinemuri Jockey Club’s Annual Meeting close on Saturday, February 23rd. Either with the secretary, Mr Tom Whewell, at Paeroa, or with Mr W. Blomfieid, Durham St, Auckland.

Acceptances close with the secretary of the Botorua Jockey Club tomorrow (Friday) at 10 p.m. for the following events to be run at the Annual Meet ng Hurdle Handicap, Maiden Handicap, Cup, Hack Hurdle Race, Pony Handicap, and Electric Handicap.

The Hack Race and Bushmen’s Hack Handicap are each run over a mile. Nominations for all events close with the secretary, Mr E. L. Beart, on Thursday, Febuary 28. The handicaps will appear on Monday, March 4, and the acceptances are due on the following Thursday, March 7.

Australian Star has at last won a race in Eng land for Mr Spencer Gollan. On Saturday he succeeded in winning the big hurdle race at the Sandown Park Meeting, the Sandown Grand Prize. After running well in Australia during the early part of 1899 Australian Star was despatched to England, but up till Saturday he had given Mr Gollan no return for the 1500 guineas purchase money. The Autumn Meeting of the Northern Wairoa Racing Club is fixed to takp place on Saturday, March 16, when a thoroughly good programme of seven events will no doubt attract a good gathering to the Dargaville course. The Autumn Handicap, of 25 sovs, is the chief race of the day. This will be run over a mile and a half, for a stake of 25sovs. The Hurdle Race, one mile and a half, has 18 sovs stake money.

Elsewhere, I mention that Blazer had never galloped beyond six furlongs either in public or private. Our Canterbury correspondent wires that on Tuesday morning the St Clair gelding galloped seven furlongs in very good time. Blazer is evidently very fit just now, and he should very nearly win the Champion Plate at Biccarton on Saturday, He will have his work out out to beat Menschikoff, but, I think, he may just about accomplish it.

Battleaxe has at last won a good race. The Hotchkiss—Queen Cole gelding has not won a race since the sping of last year and then he did not get the fruits of his victory. He has been well up m the handicaps ever since, but Mr Evett gave him his opportunity, jn the Taranaki Cup and I am glad to be able to congratulate Mr Watson on his well-deserved win.

The Hawkes’ Bay Cup has only received sixteen entries. Coronet and La Gloria from Auckland, Glenaladale and Skobaleff from Christchurch, Battleaxe from New Plymouth, and Materoa from Gisborne, are the only foreign entries. The Hon J. D. Ormond has three, Renown, Ideal, and Sir Launcelot, Mr E. J. Watt has nominated Palaver and Nobility, and Captain Russell is represented by Cceur de Lion. The Porirua stable is unrepresented. It could only send Tortulla and.she would probably be outhandicapped, for Mr Henrys has a very high opinion of the black mare. Lady Avon was made the warmest of goods for the Pony Race at Takapuna on Saturday. Indeed, the “ good thing ” seemed to be so extra dry that I believe several layers had a punt. They were induced to do so by the artless guile of the owner of Orange and Blue, who put a trifle on Lady Avon. I suppose he backed his own on the machine. In the race Lady Avon looked like winning easily until the straight was reached Then the Soult —Bose and White filly put in such a strong challenge that resistance was impossible. Thirty-six pounds is a big difference and Lady Avon found it impossible to concede that weight to her smart little opponent. The Autumn Meeting of the Waihi Jockey Club will be held on the new racecourse Waihi, on Saturday, March 23 A programme of seven events his been compiled, with a total of stake money amounting to 159 sovs. The principal race is the Waihi Cup, worth 50 sovs, run over a mile and a quarter. The Hurdle Handicap has 25 sovs, and McCurdy Memorial Stakes, six furlongs, is endowed with a like sum. Pony, Maiden, Local, and Forced Handicaps make up a very interesting programme. Nominations close with the secretary, Mr John Cowan, on Friday, Febuary 22nd, and Mr Evett will declare his handicaps on Friday, March Ist. The Waihi Club is going forward and should meet with an appreciative response from owners and trainers.

Lady Agnes arrived at Riccarton from Wellington on Tuesday. Ivan, the three-year-old brother to Tolstoi, is a very levelly-made, nice-looking gelding, and when he gets some more work in him he will win. Excellent nominations have been received fox the open events to be run at the Stratford Racing Club’s approaching meeting. The handicaps are due on Monday, Eebuary 25. X 3 - On Friday next, Febuary 15, Messrs AlexAitken and Co will sell the privileges in connection with the Summer Meeting of the Otahubu 't rotting Club. The gates, cards, booths and refreshment stales should cause plenty of competition, for the club has received excellent nominations and there is every promise of a highly successful Meeting. Bluejacket presented a gory appearance when he returned to the “ Bird-cage ” after the race for the Takapuna Cup. He was scratched all over, and his near side bore unmistakable evidence of severe contact with the rails. Most of the competitors received a lot of knocking about, but Bluejacket and Dayntree were the two that suffered most.

Mr W. Percival, the breeder of St Ursula, John Chaafe, her trainer, and Jack Chaafe, her rider, were the recipients of hearty congratulations at the conclusion of the race for the Takapuna Cup In the same race last year the mare carried Bst 101 b, and was well fancied. Doctor, however, ran a great race with his light weight—6st 101 b—and never gave the heavy brigade a chance of catching him.

Voltigeur II made an example of Tim and Nor’-west in the Hurdle Race on Saturday at Takapuna. Mr Ross’ faithful grey was in the lead all the way and he never gave his backer’e a moment’s anxiety, save that he jumped the hurdle at the back of the course a little slovenly. He always had too much pace for the others and won very easily. If he jumps the water on Saturday he should win the Steeplechase. He has been schooled over the jump which has so often proved fatal to him, and has jumped it well. If he does this in the race Ido not think he can lose. He has improved immensely since the A.R 0. Summer Meeting, and as he and his rider Mitchell seem to be on very g >od terms with each other, he must be hard to beat.

St Paul is nominated for the A.R.O. Easter Handicap and Autumn Handicap. He has not been entered for the St George’s Handicap, run over what used to be considered his favourite distance —one mile and a-quarter. St Paul is going along in nice easy style in his work at Ellerslie, and should he go to the post for any of his engagements at the A.R.C. Autumn Meeting I warrant John Ohaafe’s old champion wifi receive quite an ovation, and if he wins a race why, we shall have to get a committee of Auckland citizens to organise a demonstration in the Domain or Ellerslie Racecourse, charge the public a shilling admission, and make presentations to his breeder and his trainer.

A pleasing feature of the opening day of the Takapuna Meeting was the success of Messrs B. and R. Duder’s stable. Volee scored very comfortably in the Maiden Plate, and evidently the Cuirassier —Dolosa filly is pretty good. She is a good-looking one, and will yet win higher honours. In the second race the “ Oherryble Brothers ” scored again, for Hikipene, by St Hippo out of that good mare Anna, made hacks of her field and ran home a very easy winner. I had heard that Hikipene was capable of defeating Takapuna over five furlongs, but with the usual scepticism I disbelieved in rumour and wanted visible evidence. Hikipene can be much improved and will have to be reckoned with later on if luck attends her during training. Takapuna might have scored a third victory for the stable, but he lost ground at the start he was never afterwards able to make up.

Writing last week of St Leger, I said I thought he would have more wins to his credit before the Takapuna and Taranaki meetings were over. St Ursula scored for the Doncaster horse at the first opportunity. I really thought the Cup would go to St Leger’s credit through the instrumentality of Bluejacket, and with a clear passage I still think be would have beaten anthing in the race at the weights. St Ursula’s victory was gained in very handsome style. She was in admirable racing condition, and young Jack Chaafe certainly rode a very good race. The mare galloped very strongly all the way, and stayed out the mile and a-half with relish. Admirers of Dayntree think he ought to have won, and that the knocking about the Castor horse received robbed him of victory. Butin the form that St Ursula was in on Saturday, I think she would be sure to give him a pound and beat him over the journey. Writing in last week’s Melbourne “ Sportsman,” “ Reginald ” says of Malster : —“ Right away it can be said that Malster has made average improvement in frame from spring to autumn. Of course we do not see the Derby winner tightened right up just now, but even when in full order he will be found deeper and deeper through andt through than when we last saw him under silk. He is always inclined to taper off about the waist when in top racing ‘ twig,’ but he appears to be more ’ ab ut that quarter now than ever before. Going slowly, Malster is rather * short,’ and looking at him pottering along now, one unacquainted with him might think that he is sore. But this would be a mistake. It is just his action, and he is really as free as a kitten in his limbs. There can be no mistaking, either, the glow of health in his coat, and, though he showed a trifle of anxiety on his reappearance on the tracks on Friday morning, he soon settled down, and when set to canter he dodged round the tan as contentedly as possible, Malster is quite ready for the heavy work ahead, and he gives one the impression that, with a couple of extenders on the track, and just one race, he will be well prepared to' tackle any task that might be set him, whether it be Newmaket Handicap, Essendon Stakes, Australian Cup, or Champion.”

The Poverty Bay Turf Club’s Annual Meeting takes place on Thursday and Friday in next week. The handicapsjfor the open events appear in this issue. Acceptances are due on Saturday. Mr Evett should declare the weights for the W i ganui Cup and the other open events for the opening day of the Autumn Meeting on Monday next. Mr Morse, the handicapper for the hack events, will also publish his adjustments on the same day.

Hastings ran a remarkably game race in the Zealandia Handicap on Saturday. He was tackled in deadly earnest by Vai Rosa beyond the distance post, but never flinching in the slightest degree, he finished with any amount of resolution His running in this race quite removed the opinion that he was wanting in pluck. Vai Rosa, too, splendidly demonstrated the possession of grit in the Stewards’ Handicap, in which he triumphed over Rosella. He got the worst of the start compared with the filly, and besides giving her a three lengths start he had the outside running. For the last two furlongs he wa» under punishment, but he galloped with heaps of dash, and slipping between Rosella and Tommy Atkins he gained anfidvantage which the former could not overcome, though she struggled desperately to do so. Some people considered that the colt was lucky to win. As a matter of fact he deserved his victory, and John Lennard came in for hearty congratulations upon the handsome victory.

The entries for the Easter Autumn and St George’s Handicaps to be run at the Auckland Racing Club’s Summer|Meeting, are excellent all round. They are good in number and good in quality. Advance and Boreas will probably not be back from Australia, and even though Blazer is the only South Island horse nominated, the entries comprise the best handicap horses in the colony. Blazer has never yet been galloped beyond six furlongs in public or in private, but his name figures in the Easter and in the St George’s Handicaps. Mr Solomon’s gelding is such a sterling performer that we all should welcome his appearance at Ellerslie. Record Reign is entered for the three reees, and Rex, who has had a long rest, is also in all. Then we have Seahorse, Bluejacket, Coronet, Hohoro, St Paul, St Ursula, Dayntree, St Peter, Beddington, Rosella, Hastings, Lsetitia, La G'oria, Formula, Firefly, and Hengist, to do battle for Auckland against the best that Hawkes’ Bay, Wellington, and Taranaki can send. Undoubtedly the A.R.C. Autumn Meeting should produce some fine racing. The Hurdle Race has at'racted but thirteen entries, and of these Cairo and Kaimate are the only visitors. Oavaliero and Favona are entered, ae well as Voltigeur 11, and Tim.