Sporting Topics.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIII, Issue 752, 4 August 1904, Page 7

Sporting Topics.

(By

“ The Judge.")

The Otago sportsman, Mr C. White, has purchased Kelburn from Mr Friedlander. * ♦ * ♦

Hautapu went South on Sunday to fulfil his engagements at Riccarton.

First payments for the Melbourne Cup are due on Monday, August 15.

The ex-Aucklander Seahorse ran last in the Northumberland Plate, won by Palmy Days, a daughter of Trenton. ♦ * * •

The crack English filly Pretty Polly has now won fourteen races without once meeting with defeat. In stakes alone she has netted £25,452.

Canteen and Gladsome will be stable metes in Victoria as both the New landers are to be prepared for the Spring campaign by F. McNamara. ♦ ♦ • • The Wellington Racing Club are contemplating the construction of an entirely new racecourse on freehold property. « * * *

Crespin badly misbehaved himself in his schooling tasks over the jumps a day or two ago. He will run better with the colours up. * w

The Cyrenian horse Cyrus is to be offered by auction this week. He has been spoken of as a likely outsider for the New Zealand Cup.

Auckland horses should play as big a part at the coming meeting at Riccarton .as they did at the recent Winter fixture of the Wellington Racing Club. # * * *

First payments in connection with the New Zealand Cup are due on Friday. A considerable weeding out should result.

Full particulars of the doings of the various horses now at Riccarton will be found in this issue.

Nothing is said to be going better at Riccarton than Aka Aka. A victory for the Aucklander in the big event would ■be very * *

Mr Stead's quartette for the A.J.C. Spring Meeting were due at Sydney yesterday afternoon. It is to be hoped that the steamer which took them across managed to escape the recent boisterous weather in the Tasman Sea.

A new scratching board is to be erected at Riccarton. It will contain the numbers •of all horses engaged each day, the scratchings being shown as soon as. they are made. This is a good idea which is •worth copying.

The date of Wairiki’s departure for Australia has not yet been fixed. Just at present the tremendous gales in the Tasman Sea do not tempt an owner to risk a valuable horse on so trying a passage. Perhaps the weather will mend, but in any case if the son of Soult is really to go there is not much time, to be lost.

The ■ Galopin stallion Grafton, easily heads the list of winning sires in. Australia on the season just closed, his descendants having won forty-three races of the value of £16,832. The Prince Charlie horse Lochiel is in second place with sixtv winners, earning £12,838 in stakes. Then follows Positano, by St. Simon (10), £11,854, and Wallace, by Carbine (18), £11,548. Haut Brion, Bill of Portland’ Malvolio, Medallion and Padlock follow in that order, their stock having all won more than £5OOO in stakes.

The annual report of the Masterton Racing Club states that commencing the year with a debit balance of £1 19s sd, thev end with a credit of £Bl 8s lid. During the year the Club has made a new departure in erecting loose-boxes and a cottage on the club’s property, for the accommodation of visiting owners, and has found this move so very successful that the stewards have decided to increase the number of boxes, and also erect further accommodation for the boys, and this further work is now proceeding. For the purpose of erecting the boxes, etc.,’the stewards have issued debentures to the amount of £5OO amongst the members, and, owing to the success of the past two meetings, have already been able to pay off £250. Although onlv £5OO was borrowed on debentures, the amount spent in new buildings, alterations, and improvements to existing ones, and furnishing rooms at the cottage, etc., amounted to about £.BOO. The revenue for the totalisator has increased during the year by about £5OO. The total profit for the year works out at £755 —more than double the profits of last year.

The Casket filly Redstart was scratched for the New Zealand Cup on Tuesday.

The Dunedin Jockey Club has decided to exclude bookmakers from the course at Wingatui during the coming season.

Four boxes have been secured at the Royal Hotel, Riccarton, for Mr Stead’s team.

The balance-sheet of the Egmont Racing Club shows that a profit of £436 17s had been made on the season’s racing.

Mr W. Walters’ crop of yearlings this year consists of three colts and five fillies.

Mr J. Leonard has a brace of two-year-plds for next season in the full brothers to Idas and Vai Rosa.

A chestnut gelding by Tostig out of Spray was recently purchased in Sydney by the Wanganui sportsman, Mr Nicholson.

The Caulfield G.N. Hurdle Race is run next Saturday and should result in a good contest, as nineteen have made the final payment.

All the Auckland horses now at Riccarton are doing good work. The stable double Aka and Tahae is a popular pick for the Grand Nationals.

It is good news to learn that Papatu is striding along all right in his work again without showing any signs of unsoundness.

An old friend in St. Peter has made his appearance on the tracks at Ellerslie, the son of St. Leger being in charge of J. Chaafe, jun.

At this year’s annual meeting of the Auckland Racing Club the election of committee was rather a boil over. Dr. Sharman was looked on as a certainty, but was just beaten out of a place.

Betting on the Melbourne Cup is very dull both in Sydney and Melbourne. The hurdler Marmont is first favourite at 10 to 1, while the New Zealanders Wairiki and Canteen are 20 to 1 and 50 to 1 respectively.

A mare little thought of or • spoken about in the Christchurch Grand National Hurdle Race is Princess of Thule, who with 9st 31b must have a real good chance if fit and well.

After The Victory had triumphed in the Melbourne Cup an English writer pointed out what a splendid horse he would be to mate with mares in the Old Countrv. The Admiral’s son is now said to have been sold to an English owner, who intends putting him to the stud.

Even crack English jockeys make big mistakes ocassionally. When Throwaway won the Gold Cup at Ascot, the favourite, Zinfandel, was apparently pulling his rider, M. Cannon, out of the saddle coming to the bend. This probably caused Cannon to think he could win at any time, and he delayed sending Zinfandel after Throwaway until well in the straight. Throwaway had an . effort left, however, and Zinfandel, though going much the faster of the two at the finish, could not quite get up.

It is a fact that at race meetings in New South Wales there is a great increase in the patronage accorded by women than was the case a few years back (says the “Town and Countrv Journal”). We cannot believe that this is a good thing for the turf. It is not a pleasing sight to see women, no matter what the weather, down in the. paddock making investments with the ringmen. There was a time when our bookmakers made it a point never to bet with women or children. That day appears to have gone by for ever, so far as the betting with women is concerned, and we are sorry to say that such is the case. We have race’meetings of the registered and unregistered order, held on no less than four days a week in the vicinity of Sydney. If anyone has the time and inclination to attend them, he will find quite a number of women present at each and every meeting. They appear to have nothing else to do but attend race meetings. They are as well versed in the form of the horses or ponies as the keenest backer on the turf. These women do not get free tickets. They pay their way. Such being the care, some would say, then why dispute their right to be there ? No doubt they do conduct themselves properly, and no fault can be found. " th® same we do not think that it is to the interest of racing, or the welfare of the turf, that women can be found attending race meetings, almost ever day in the week.

Last Monday, August 1, was the racehorse's birthday.

The Auckland-bred colt by Seaton Delaval from Stepfeldt has been named Delaware by his owner, Mr Stead.

Mr A. Moss has decided to send Canteen, the winner of the last New Zealand Cup, over to Victoria to try conclusions with the Australian cracks in the Melbourne Cup.

A maiden hurdler named Rio Shannon with 9st 41b up recently ran one mile and a-quart er over five hurdles in 2min 16sec. Not a bad performance for a first attempt.

It is understood that the Victorian Cabinet is divided on the question of legalising the totalisator ; consequently the State Premier is unable to bring forward a totalisator bill as a Government measure.

The British Team of footballers will commence their New; Zealand campaign on Saturday, when they lead off with a match against the Canterbury, Westland, and South Canterbury Unions.

I have to acknowledge receipt of the Victoria Racing Club’s programmes for the Grand National, August, October, and Spring Meetings, also complete list of nominations for all events closed to date.

Among the nominations for the V.R.C. Derby of 1905 appear the names of two Wellington Park-bred ones. These are Mr T. F. Fenton’s brown colt Hildabrand, by Phoebus Apollo—Hilda, and his brown colt Orpheus, by Phoebus Apollo—Musket Maid.

Much interest is being taken locally in the football match which is to take place next Saturday at Alexandra Park between Auckland and Wellington. The latter province’s representatives, who are due in Auckland by way of the West Coast to-morrow, have already defeated Manawatu and Hawke’s Bay, so that the Auckland men have a stiff task ahead of them.

The Auckland Racing Club had the bic - gest turnover at the totalisator in the season just ended, the figures coming out at £155,789. The Canterbury Jockey Club comes next with £150,424, the Wellington Racing Club is third with £80,263, and then follows the Wanganui Jockey Club £4B, 968, the Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club £43,711, and the Dunedin Jockey Club £41,998.

To-morrow, Friday, is the final date for taking entries in the First and Second Manawatu Stakes. This effort on the part of the Manawatu Racing Club to establish a well-endowed weight-for-age race should meet with plenty of encouragement from owners and I hope to hear that Mr E. Grant Sim, the actingsecretary, has received a lengthy list of nominations.

The cable brings word of the success in England of another son of St. Simon. This was in the Goodwood Cup, which was carried off by Mr L. Brassey’s four-year-old brown horse Saltpetre, who was got by the great sire from a mare called Bulow. As has happened more than once this season the King’s representative had to put up with second place. The Royal colours were carried by Chatsworth, a three-year-old son of Persimmon and Meadow Chat. • The well-known Melton horse William Rufus filled third position.

The personal popularity of Mr S. Bradley made his election on the Committee of the Auckland Racing Club almost a foregone conclusion. With so many good men to choose from members were in a bit of a dilemma how to vote.

Mr Fred Weiss, the well-known Australian billiard player, in a recent match with Mr Wiltshire, of South Africa, put up the record break for that country, viz., 188, thus securing the Burroughes and Watts Silver Shield offered by them for a 400 break on one of their tables. Weiss finished the game in the remarkably fast time of 75 minutes and gave his opponent no chance.

Mr J. C. Bowden, who occupied a seat on the Victoria Racing Club committee, has addressed a lengthy circular to the members of the V.R.C. setting forth what he regards as defects in the management of the club’s affairs, and the efforts he has made to place the affairs on a more business-like basis. Mr Bowden deals in the circular with the minutes of subcommittees, the printing bill, the sale of programmes, advertising, the free list, and catering. A somewhat similar circular was issued prior to the A.R.C. Annual Meeting, but the name of the author was not forthcoming.

Lissa is whispered about as having a good chance in the Grand National Hurdle Race.

Lady Lillian is said to have developed influenza, and if such is the case will not be seen out at the National Meeting.

The Pakuranga Hounds meet on Saturday at Pigeon Mountain, and on Wednesday at Mangere Pound. Other dates for the month are : August 13, Panmure; 17th, Pakuranga ; 20th, Ellerslie ; 24th, Otahuhu; 27th, Papatoetoe ; 31st, Ihumata.

It is understood that the Victorian Flagship (a very popular horse with punters in this colony), has finished his racing career. ■ When put into work again some three months ago he moved in anything but : reassuring fashion, but he improved as he went on, and his trainer was sanguine of his standing another Cup preparation. A working gallop last week, however, found out a weak spot in the game old son of The Admiral, who cracked up badly, and his racing career is plainly at an end. ♦ * # * It now transpires that St. Amant, the last English Derby winner, and Moifad, the G.N. winner, are really the descendants of the same mare. This fact has been revealed by a writer under the initials H. R. CL, contributing the following to the London “Sporting Times” “You will find on reference that Moifad is descended from the same mare as St. Amant, through his sire Natator, a horse bred in New Zealand. Natator, by Traducer (by The Libel— Arethusa) out of Waterwitch. Waterwitch, by Camden, out of Mermaid, by King Tom out of Waterwitch, by The Flying Dutchman out of Evening Star by Touchstone, and so on. Mermaid was bred by Baron Rothschild, and found her way out to New Zealand, where she threw some brilliant stocjc to Traducer, though to other horses she was no great success. I used the word ‘brilliant’ because, though they had great speed, they could not be depended on to give their full running if collared. I owned or had to do with three of her produce by Traducer, and there were none of them quite dependable, though they took a lot of catching. On one occasion I saw Malice, one bf them, when she was winning by lengths in a canter, stop inside the rails to kick and walk in with the crowd. Lurline, another of her fillies, was probably the best mare that ever ran in New Zealand. She was sold to go to Australia, where she produced Darebin, by The Peer. Darebin was the best horse of his year in Australia. He was sold to the United States, where he was for several years at the top of the list of winning sires.” * ❖ * ♦ All told (says an American paper) 13 Derby winners have been sent to this country. Diomed, who won the inaugural Derby in 1780, was brought to United States when 22 years old. was so little thought of as a sire in his own country that it was possible to purchase him for 50 guineas. Other early winners of the event imported were Saltram, winner in 1783 ; John Bull, winner in 1792 ; Spread Eagle, winner in 1795 ; Sir Harty, winner iq 1798, and Archduke, who follows Sir Harry on the Derby roster. For more than "30 years following Archduke’s importation, Derby winners were either not bought by American breeders or they could not be obtained, the next to come being Priam, winner of the event in 1830, and St. Giles, who won two years later. Another period of more than 30 years follows in which no English Derby winner came to America. The next two attempts were fraught with bad luck. Blue Gown, winner in 1868, and King Craft, who won two years later, were purchased for America, but each died on the way over. The one best known to the present generation of racegoers was St. Blaise, who was the winner in 1883, and which, after an illustrious career in the Nursery Stud of the elder August Belmont J was sold for the largest price ever. realised at public auction for a thoroughbred in this country, and which is again at the Nursery Stud, having been purchased by August Belmont at the dispersal sale of the Fairview Stud of Charles Reed in the Autumn of 1902. In 1884 St. Gaticn and Harvester ran a dead-heat for the Derby. St. Gatien was afterwards imported by James B. Haggin, and is now at his Rancho del Paso Stud in California. His get are now racing here with distinction. The recently defunct Ormonde, who carried the Duke of Westminster’s colours to victory at Epsom in 1886, is the most recent importation to the United States. He was imported bv W. O’B. M’Donough, but not directly from England. He had previously been sent to South America. Ormonde won the second vear after St. Gatien’s dead-heat.