Sporting Topics.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XII, Issue 748, 7 July 1904, Page 7

Sporting Topics.

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“The Judge.”)

Spalpeen has been doing steady work of late and is on the improve.

The Gisborne .Racing Club’s Winter Meeting commences to-day.

The Wellington Racing Club’s Winter Meeting will take place next Wednesday and Thursday.

Beau Seaton, Roseshield, and the Explosion—Wait emat a filly were shipped South last Saturday by the Talune.

*•* * * Slow Tom will not be sent to Wellington, but will be reserved for the C.J.C. National Meeting. He is very well.

Mark Ryan has gone to Wellington, where he will ride Te Aroha and Scotty in their engagements at the Empire City.

Creusot has won three hurdle races in succession. He has been given a great chance to score again in Wellington.

Rhyl has been keeping up the family reputation for jumping lately, the double win at Napier Park being highly spoken of.

A i o:trait o. Messrs Duder Bros.’ coming two-year-old colt by Soult —Anna appears in this issue. The youngster was at Takapuna at the recent trotting meeting, when he came in for general admiration.

Hylas ought to prove equal to winning the Gisborne Steeplechase to-day, and Hippowai should be able to account for the Hurdles. There are only three acceptors in each event.

It is said that Rose of Wellington's perhaps the most famous of all the brood mares at the Wellington Park Stud, is not in foal this season.

Pampero dropped dead last week after performing a half-pace gallop at Wingatui. Rupture of the heart was found to be the cause of death. The sonof St. Clair and Mistral had many good performances to his credit, but his track work suggests that he was never seen quite at his best under silk.

It is generally agreed that in awarding Wairiki 9st 61b in the Melbourne Cup the Victorian handicapper lias been unduly harsh. Abundance is the only one among the 155 entered who is asked to concede weight to Mr Bradley’s horse, and staunch admirer as I have always been of the son of Soult the task seems to me to be beyond his powers.

Landlock, who was offered for sale by the Loan and Mercantile Company last Friday, was withdrawn, as there was no bidding at all. A would-be buyer after the race was prepared to give a couple of hundred guineas, intending to send the horse to Sydney, but it was understood that nearer five centuries would be wanted. As there are still eleven months to run before the horse is free from his disqualification buyers were not keen on purchasing the gelding.

Backers were quite astray in their calculations as to the probable winner of the V.R.C. Grand National Hurdle Race last Saturday. The fielders laid eery liberal odds, 10 to J being offered <>n the field. The winner turned up in the five-year-old brown gelding Sar.is.iti (Tesiig —Halle), who appears to have won fairly easily from another outsider in Bellis. Mr Elliott’s gelding started at the remunerative odds of 25 to 1.

’fhe result of Mr Jeffs’ appeal to the Chairman of the Racing Conference in the Petrovna —Bagpipes case will be awaited with interest. In the recent Gladsome —Convoy case the Wellington Racing- Club’s decision was upset on appeal to the higher tribunal. Mr Jeffs’ appeal is virtually on all-fours with this, and it remains to be seen whether the Appeal Board will also differ from the Canterbury Jockey Club’s ruling. It is difficult to see how this can be avoided by the Appeal Board without stultifying Themselves.

I have to acknowledge receipt from the Secretary of the New Zealand Racing Conference of a copy of the pamphlet containing The proposed re-drafting and ; .renumbering of the rules. The object of this aims solely at simplification, and no alteration of any rule is affected thereby. Only forty-nine Rules of Racing would be required if this new scheme is approved, the remainder being divided into clauses under the different rules. The pamphlet is neatly got up, and gives ample marginal space on each page for notes on the proposed improvements.

Haydn, looking well, in company with his stable mate Scotty, was given two circuits on the sand on Saturday morning.

The Wingatui-trained Oxvdonor appears among the list of nominations for the A.J.C. Derby.

The Trump Card mare Flower o’ Clutha has now a record of eighteen firsts and eleven seconds, and she has won £862 in stakes. * * * * The Otaki Racing Club has voted Mr J. 11. Bollock a bonus of fifteen guineas as a mark of appreciation for his successful handicapping at the recent meeting. # # w * Spalpeen's two-year-old half-brother by Cyren-idh has been named St. Cyril. Auckland appears to have too many Saints, at all events on the race track, and one would have welcomed a change. * # * * On Saturday Weal's team did good schooling, Crespin and Aka Aka goingover the Steeplechase jumps in the centre of the course. Both acquitted themselves well.

Newtown and Tahae ran a circle, both facing the obstacles boldly. The former, for a green horse, did especially well. In the afternoon Geologist was schooled alone, but jumped in a slovenly manner.

Very little work is doing on the tracks at present on account of the heavy state of the ground. On Thursday afternoon Geologist was given a turn over the schooling hurdles, but did not shape at all well. Kaitere was given a circle over the Steeple jumps.

It seems rather surprising that a I i institution like the Australian J ockey Club should sell their gates every year. The V.R.C. always keep them and also allow their patrons to use the flat free of charge.

On Tuesday afternoon Star and Moccasin were shipped to Wellington by the s.s. Zealandia in charge of J. Quinton. Mr R. Hannon was also a passenger by the same boat to see his horses perform.

Only one lucky backer is said ta have spotted the winning double over the Napier Park Steeplechase and Hurdle Race (won by Papatu and Creusot). 20 to 1 was the price he accepted.

Aka Aka, Crespin and Tahae left’by the Rarawa yesterday to carry out their Southern engagements. C. Weal accompanied the trio.

Haydn, Scotty and Te Aroha left Auckland for Wellington yesterday by the West Coast steamer. S. Fergus xbqok the horses down. • •

Roller was very sore after the Napier Park Meeting, and although he was taken to Wellington it is very doubtful whether he will carry silk at the meeting there.

The yearling colt by Multiform out of the one-time, speedy mare Palaver is said to be a very prepossessing specimen of the young thoroughbred who should earn winning brackets later on.

Havdn, Slow Tom, and Pipi, coupled with Waiwera, Roseshoot, Kremlin and Creusot are the favourite combinations down South for the C.J.C. G.N. Steeple and Hurdle double.

The Prix du Diane, which is generallv known as the French Oaks, was won this year by Mons. Blanc’s Profane from a good field. The race attracted the largest crowd ever seen at Chantilly, among the spectators being the King of the Belgians, who motored to the course on his car, which is one of the fastest on the road.

Two of the big prizes in Tattersall’s No. 1 Consultation on the V.R.C. Grand National Hurdles have been won by New Zealanders. P. Murphy, of Foxton, drew Bellis, the second horse, and thereby won £2OOO, while A. Johnson, of Queenstown, secured the ticket on Pierrot, which ran third, and therefore won £lOOO.

The one flaw in Mr Henrys’ adjustments for the New Zealand Cup appears to be Achilles, who is over-burdened with lost. The Porirua champion is such a favourite that despite his tremendous impost he figures very nearly at the head of the betting quotations. His backers argue, I suppose, that to a good one weight is no object, but he might well have received a few pounds Jess.

According to English files to hand, Mornington Cannon, who had the mount on Gouvernaut in the Derby, attributes the poor showing of the French colt to the. tremendous thunderstorm which broke over Epsom while the race was beino run. The son of Flying- Fox appeared to be terrified by the vivid lightning and deafening peals of thunder, and consequently failed to do himself justice..

Arthur Law, the Wellington penciller. who has been on a visit to Auckland during the last month returned home on Wednesday. During his stay in town he transacted a fair amount of business on the New Zealand Cup and Grand National Meetings.

Wairiki is reported to be wintering well, and there is an inclinlation in the) local market to back the son of Soult at 100 to A for the Melbourne Cup, but too to 5 is the best price offered by the bookmakers. There has not been much speculation so far on the Melbourne Cup.

John Rae has four yearlings in hand, and these are being ridden about the roads and in the centre of the racecourse, with The Needle acting as schoolmaster. The brother to Avalanche looks the most forward of the quartette.

The crack New Zealand horseman, L. H. Hewitt, is now in Melbourne, and is daily to be seen out at Flemington.

Since the weights appeared for the N.Z. Cup, a few lines have been written. Some of these are as follows : — Melodeon, 500 to 25 (taken) ; Canteen, 200 to io (taken) ; General Symons, 200 to 5 (taken) ; Achilles, 100 to 6 (taken) ; Romeo, ioo to 4 (wanted) 4 The handicap is generally considered one of Mr Henrys’ best productions.

Syd. Hodge has had charge of Bacchus and Lavadel since their arrival from Fiji last week. Hodge intends making Auckland his home once more, as the Fiji climate did not agree with him.

Alf. Coleman, one of our Auckland bookmakers, has been granted a license to bet (by Sydney Tattersall’s) during the A.J.C. Spring campaign.

Speculation over the Wellington double Hurdle and Steeplechase is a trifle dull this week, pending the arrival of the acceptances. Comfort, Papatu and Haydn, coupled with Creusot, have been backed at ioo to 3.

An unnamed filly by Sir Hugo from Acmena won the Leonards Plate in Mr L. Brassey’s colours at the Gatwick meeting last anoiMh. Acirena, who is by Martini-IHenry from Acme, was a well-known performer in Australia, and has also won in England.

By winning the Princess of Wales’ Stakes at the Newmarket Meeting Rocksand has placed <ne of the “ ten thousand pounders ” to his owner s credit. The Derby winner of last year was followed home by Salpetre (St. Simon—Billow) and William Rufus (Melton —Simona). It seems evident that Mr Bass was not allowed to start Sceptre to the 4 4 warning off ” of her nominator, R. S. Sievier. Rocksand is by Sainfoin from Roquebrune, by St. Simon from St. Marguerite, by Hermit, and runs in the white and primrose colours of Sir James Miller.

The Wellington Racing Club intends running a double tote on Ihe Wellington Steeplerhase and Winter Hurdles on the first day of the approachinq meeting, and on the July Sleeplechase and Final Hurdles on) the second dav.

Sportsmen who have visited Sydney will remember the Forest Lodge racecourse. After being closed up for some time, the place has been re-opened under the name of the Epping Racecourse. According to the “Town and Country Journal,” the place has almost undergone a complete transformation’, which necessitated the expenditure of several thousand pounds. The principal feature consists of a handsome grandstand erected at a cost of over £iooo, which includes accommodation for a bar, tearoom, and oyster stall, the structure being most compact and convenient. Not only is the building useful, as an excellent view can be had of the races, but it is ornamental in design. All the out-buildings have been newly built ; while the few old structures, which it was thought might be useful, and have been allowed to remain standing, ha- fbeen thoroughly renovated, and are in keeping with the surroundings. The grounds have been levelled and terraced, and all the old eye sores in the shape o p rocks, undergrowth, etc., have been removed. The patrons of the leger who will be located opposite the grandstand, and near the centre of the course, have been well looked after, as the ground is as clean and level as a bowling green, while a shelter shed, capable of hole)' a v out moo persons, has been built. Mr Smith, in attempting to make a presentable place of the course, undertook a herculean task, but bv degrees the work of a large staff of practical men began to make itself felt, 1 and the result is one of the prettiest pony courses ir.' 1 Australia. It is on this ground . that New Zealand’s champion pacer, Ribbonwood, will ira’ e his debut.

The Napier Park Racing Club handled the sum of £10,731 at the totalisator at the recent meeting. This represents an increase of £1609 on the corresponding meeting last year.

Messrs A. H. Harris and C. F. Mark leave for Wellington shortly to attend the trotting Conference on behalf of the Auckland Club.

A commission in favour of Ghoorka was worked inf Auckland during the week. Is the black horse to be the elect of the powerful Southern stable in the New Zealand Cup ?

Che crack English filly Pretty Polly has a warm attachment for the hack of her trainer, Mr Gilpin. The latter, according to an English writer, accompanied her down to the course on One Thousand day, and when she had won her race “ the commoner immediately was led near her and recognition and congratulations were immediate.”

Those backers who favour Lord Cardigan’s prospects for any of the Spring long-distance handicaps will be pleased to hear that he is the picture of health ; in fact, I do not think he ever looked better (writes 44 Pilot ”). He has been pottering about the Randwick tracks ever since the Autumn meeting, and has built up without developing soreness, as often happens when a horse is eased up after doing a lot of racing. Perhaps he may now have enough weight to stop him in the handicaps,. but in the weight-for-age races from a mile and a-half upwards lie will prove a tough nut to crack. His trainer is highly pleased with the way the colt is progressing, and reckons that what he has done is nothing compared with what he will show in the future. He takes exception to Lord Cardigan being called 44 little,” and says he is 15.1, and big in the parts that go towards making a galloper.

Not often has a reigning monarch performed a more gracious act, or one better calculated to win the affections of his subjects, t-han did King Edward when he patronised the races at Hurst Park on the Whit Monday Bank Holiday (says the 41 Licensed Victuallers’ Gazette”). The way in which he motored on to the course, unheralded and unattended by anything in the shape of escort, would have been an object lesson to sovereigns whose ill-fortune it is to reign in countries where anarchists abound, and it is needless to say .that His Majesty was cheered to the echo by the thousands who thronged on tlie course, and enjoyed themselves in true holiday fashion. The King stayed till the close of the proceedings, and . before taking his departure complimented the executive on the excellence of the arrangements, at the same time signifying his appreciation of the racing.

It may confidently be stated that, with the single exception of His Majesty the King, there is no owner of racehorses who is so generally popular with the sporting community as Mr Leopold de Rothschild (says the 44 Licensed Victuallers Gazette ). It is scarcely necessary to say, therefore, that the victory of St. Amant in the Derby was received with an enthusiasm which untoward weather conditions could do nothing to damp. The fervour with which the winner was greeted was intensified, perhaps, by the manner in which the victory was" gained, for it is no exaggeration to say that the Blue Riband has never before been won in quite such “ smashing ” style. Going to the front the moment the barrier was raised, St. Amant increased his lead until, by the time the descent for home was reached, he must have been fully ten lengths ahead, and it may be said with confidence that not for a single instant did any of his opponents look like catching- him. It was, indeed, a repetition of the Two Thousand Guineas’ triumph with a more liberal margin, and that the son of St. Frusquin, when in the humour to put his best foot foremost, is a real good horse is a fact which few will now care to dispute.

Utterly without shelter as war thousands of those who witnessed this memorable Derby, it may safelv be said that the wettest man at Epsom was 41 Mr Leopold ” himself. Apparently forgetful of tlie fact that lie was provided with a mackintosh and umbrella, he stood out in the heavy rain throughout the whole of the preliminaries and during the race. and the thin frock-coat in which he was clad appeared to be drenched throuoh and through even before he descended to lead the winner in. It -is under such circumstances as these that one can understand the full significance of that 44 superb groan ” which .Lord Beaconsfield credited Lord George Bentinck with uttering when that somewhat autocratic nobleman found that he had sold out of his stable a winner .of the 44 Blue Riband of the 1 urf.”