Sporting Topics.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIII, Issue 759, 22 September 1904, Page 7

Sporting Topics.

(By

“ The Judge.”)

Deeley and Burns each secured a couple of races on the first day of the Avondale Spring Meeting.

Clients wishing to communicate with Tattersail should forward their letters to the Proprietors of the “ Sporting Review,” Vulcan Lane, Auckland. **» ■ ♦

Mr A. Hughes is reported to have made a real good thing over his double win with Marshal Soult. Harry French deserves great credit for the Jioxse s condition.

That consistent old plodder, Straybird, early silenced the opposition that he met in the Avondale Steeplechase.

J. George leaves on Sunday next with his team of racers, so as to be present at the Wanganui Spring Meeting.

Owners of the thoroughbred are reminded that entries for the Auckland Cup will fall due to-morrow (Friday) week.

A horse that will see a better day is the full sister to Geordie, La Cigale (The Grasshopper), the runner-up in the Maiden Plate. She was coming at the right end in that race.

The Auckland horse Wairiki has been well supported for the Melbourne Cup, and if he pleases the Flemington touts must see a short price for the big event. 14 to 1 is now his best price.

After Martian’s win in the Craven Plate, on the fourth day of the A.J.C. Meeting, he was well backed in Auckland for the New Zealand Cup at 100’s to 8 taken.

The time for the Maiden Plate was as fast as the Flying Handicap, viz., imin 22 2-ssec, but the course was very much cut up for the last race of the race of the day.

The Flying Handicap, on Saturday last was a slashing good finish between the placed horses, Marshal Soult, Paratutu, and Desdemona. The former just lasted long enough to win. * * * *

None of the local bookmakers escaped the winning double on the Cup and Flying. They all laid their full volumes, the owner of Marshal Soult being the chief robber.

The two and three-year-olds, King Paid and Akarana, although greatly fancied and well backed in the Avondale Cup, never once flattered their backers. Akarana started favourite for this race.

On Saturday last, while the Avondale J.C. Meeting was in progress, there was a commission put into the market in Christchurch, and Akarana was backed for all the money in the market at 100’s to 3. Had the colt won the Avondale Cup the Messrs Duder Bros’, horse no doubt would have shortened in price, and still the backers have none the worst of the deal.

Mi- F. L. Armitage, the well-known owner of racehorses, who left on a visit to the Old Country recently, takes an interest in the breeding as well as the racing of horses. When chatting with him some little time before his departure he spoke of bringing- out a stallion likely to improve hacking stock.

The name of Speakman, the well-known Auckland horseman, does not figure on the list of jockeys whose licenses were granted by the A.R.C. Committee last Thursday week, but it is not to be attributed to a refusal on the part of the committee to grant a renewal. It appears that Speakman entrusted a friend with making the necessary application, but owing to an oversight the same did not reach the A.R.C. authorities.

“ Croucher ” Tod Sloan, the cause of whose fall from grace is known to all who follow turf pursuits, is beginning at the bottom of the ladder again. It is said that he is working as an exercise boy around the New York track. This is quite a come-down for the valiant Tod. He was famed for securing the most expensive apartments “ at the Cecil ” while in London, and now he has got to get up by candle-light and jog horses in the foggy dawn. It shows that the originator of the famous “ monkey crouch ” is determined to work himself to the front again. It is more than probable that the work he has taken up is for the purpose of getting his hand in after years of absence from the riding game.

A final payment of 5 so vs for the Wanganui Guineas is due on Thursday, September 29.

The first forfeit for the Wanganui T.C. Jackson Stakes is due on Friday, September 23, at 9 p.m.

Entries for the annual meeting of the Otahuhu Racing Club are due with the secretary, Mr F. D. Yonge, on September 30, by 9 p.m. Handicaps will appear on October 3, and acceptances close on October 7, by 9 p.m.

Entries for the Manukau Hurdles, City Handicap, and Birthday Handicap, to be run at the Spring Meeting of the Auckland Racing Club, are due with Mr W. Percival, the; secretary, on Friday, September 80.

Entries for the Auckland Cup, Railway Handicap, Summer Cup, A.R.C. Handicap and Auckland Steeplechase, the principal handicaps of the Auckland Racing Club’s Summer Meeting, are due with Mr Percival on Friday, September 80.

Acceptances for the Spring Handicap, Maiden Handicap, Okehu Hurdles, Gonville Hack Hurdles, Putiki Hack Handicap, Flying Handicap, also the Wanganui Guineas, to be run at the Wanganui Jockey Club’s Spring Meeting, must be made to Mr F. Moffatt, the secretary, not later than September 23, at 9 p.m.

Nominations for the following events to be run at the Poverty Bay Turf Club’s Spring Meeting are due with Mr E. L. Maude, the secretary, on Saturday, October 1, at 9.30 p.m. : —First and Second County Stakes, First and Second Hurdles, Spring Handicap, Flying Handicap, Makaraka Handicap, and Waikanae Handicap. Entries for the other events of the meeting are due on October 15, at 9.30 p.m. I # # « *

The Avondale Jockey Club’s Spring Meeting will be concluded on Saturday next, when, given fine weather, the authorities of the suburban club may confidently look forward to a large gathering of racegoers at the track side.

In a cable message sent to Christchurch last week from Sydney, Mr G. G. Stead states that Cruciform was badly pocketed in the Spring Stakes at the A.J.C. Meeting, Randwick. Her rider (Jones) is positive that but for the mishap mentioned she would have defeated Gladsome and annexed the race in quo tion. Mr Stead's ill-luck did not end on the first day, as in the Craven Plate, on the Wednesday following (14th) Cruciform was severely kicked on the. hock, and the Squire of Yaldhurst thinks it doubtful if the mare will ever race again. This is indeed bad news, and the Christchurch owner will have the sympathy of all true sportsmen should the fear be verified.

Referring to Sylvanite’s A.J.C. Derby victory, which claims to take rank as another instance of the “ glorious uncertainty of the turf,” and the vulnerability of human judgment, “ Milroy ” says “ James Scobie, who trains Sylvanite, is a man of large experience, and one whose judgment has been often tested by the most searching methods. When he left Ballarat with Sylvanite and Demas, he looked upon the Sydney Derby as a certainty for one of them, as they had both done plenty of work, and were in the best of conditioni. If! the Derby wajs run at a fast pace, he argued with himself, Demas, whom he regarded as a better sticker than Sylvanite, would win, but if it were run, as Derbys often are, at a dawdling pace, then Sylvanite’s wonderful turn of speed would stand him in good stead. After the horses arrived here they did well in the stable, but showed poor form on the tracks. Last week he sent them a mile and a-half together, and both finished badly, and made slow time. On that occasion Demas showed to advantage over his bigger stable mate. After this Scobie lost hope of winning the Derby, and neither he nor any of his principal followers had one shilling on Sylvanite, but a few pounds went on Demas, whose chance they were not at all sweet upon, but he was reckoned superior to Sylvanite. The race being run at a true pace all the way it was supposed to suit Demas, but, much to everybody’s surprise, Sylvanite proved to be the best stayer of the select party, and Demas was beaten out of a place. It may be mentioned here that the stable jockey, R. Lewis, held the same opinion as the trainer regarding the merits of the two colts, and, doubtless, had the opinions of these two good judges, who are in a better position to know more than outsiders, been public property on the day of the race, Sylvanite would have started at nearer 20 to 1 than sevens, but the public knowing nothing of the stable opinion, followed the two-year-old form, and backed the bie Grafton colt.”

Cymbal, winner of the Avondale Stakes, is one that we may expect to find playing her part in the pony class later on.

General Average, who was seen under silk at Avondale on Saturday last, is still on the big side.

The form shown by New Zealand Cup candidates —the Yaldhurst team now in Australia excepted —so far seen under silk has been somewhat disappointing.

The Whangarei Jockey Club committee have drafted a programme for a two days’ meeting, to be held on the local course (Kensington Park) on January 18 and 14, 1905. The prize-money to be distributed totals £390.

Better to be born lucky than rich. The first prize, £6OOO, in Tattersail’s on the Metropolitan Stakes was drawn by Mr H. Wallen, of Doubtless Bay Cable Station. Mr Wallen obtained his tickets through the “ Sporting Review ” Proprietary, who are in communication with Tattersall.

Grand Rapids’ victory in the Sydney Handicap increases the Gipsy Grand gelding’s New Zealand Cup impost by 71b (maximum penalty) and he will now carry Bst 51b in the Riccarton Race. This places him on terms with his stable companion Martian in the matter of poundage.

No less than ten three-year-olds were seen out at Avondale on Saturday last, and as not one of the number proved equal to earning winning distinction, turfites were left wondering where we are going to find the three-year-olds capable of staving off visitors of the same age later on. The going was, of course, against them, but they certainly cannot be classed as a very bright lot.

I am not in a position to say whether it is true or untrue, but the man in the street has been heard to suggest that Marshal Soult’s victory in the Flying Stakes at Avondale on Saturday last was made a bit easy for him. A glance down the list -of investments lends seme colour to the statement, but as I have already said I am not prepared to father it.

Martian’s victory in the Randwick Plate, run over two miles and a-qiiarter at the A.J.C. Meeting last Saturday, should suffice to satisfy turfites that the bay son of Martagon is capable of taking care of himself in very select company. Among those who followed Martian past the judge’s box were such proved performers as Cardigan, Emir, Abundance, Fitz-Grafton, and Sweet Nell.

Those who came to the conclusion that IJp-to-Date was not yet himself had their judgment verified at Avondale on Saturday last, when he was beaten very easily by Hippowai, and would probably not have finished in the placed division but for the mishaps to Geologist and Fencer in the closing stage of the First Hurdle Race.

Touching on the arrival of Canteen on the other side of the Tasman Sea a Sydney scribe says : —“ The New Zealand Cup winner Canteen arrived in Sydney the other day, and is now working at Randwick. He is a fine-looking grey horse, and should have no difficultv in handling his Melbourne Cup weight —Bst.”

The death of J. Quinton, whose portrait figures in this week’s illustrations, robs Auckland of another of her most capable and popular riders over fences, and a widowed mother of a son of whom she had every reason to feel proud. Deceased, who died at Christchurch as the result of internal injuries sustained when Mocassin fell in the Grand National Hurdles, had for the best part of fourteen years been the main support of his mother, and the hand of sympathy will be extended to the one who has been left to mourn the loss of her bread winner, and a true and loyal son.

The two-year-olds made their first appearance in the Avondale Stakes on Saturday last, when the display proved somewhat disappointing. Cymbal, who was dubbed by some as no bigger than a well-grown New Foundland dog, never left the issue in doubt, and there is reason to believe that those behind the bay daughter of Cyrenian and Melodia were quite prepared for a win, but the fact that she was the one to catch the judge’s eye does not give one much room to enthuse over the two-year-olds seen under silk at the suburban course. Master Delaval, whose chances I was inclined to extol before the event had his prospects ruined at the tapes, but [ am still hopeful that the son of Seaton Delaval and Campania will see a better day.

The stable connections of Ben Blair thought so little of the gelding’s chance that they only had a couple of sovereigns on when he won the Maiden Plate. * * * * Clients wishing to communicate with Tattersall should forward their letters to the Proprietors of the “ Sporting Review,” Vulcan Lane, Auckland. * * * • The New Zealand Cup winner, Canteen!, is being given long, easy work on the Australian tracks, and should be about ready when the Melbourne Cup comes round. * * * < Speaking of Wairiki’s arrival in Sydney, a local sporting writer says “Wairiki is a fine stamp of horse, and if he is quite himself on the day, is likely to have a good deal to say in the decision of the Melbourne Cup.”

Touching on Dingo’s win! over big country at Randwick, a Sydney scribe says :—“The First Steeplechase was a failure, as three out of the" eight runners, including the Tasmattian mare, After Dark, came to grief, and Blacktracker ran off. A mile from home Dingo and Skylark, had Railway and Driscoll badly beaten, and Dingo, outpacing the old show jumper, won the race for New Zealand.”

Marmont’s sister Merrion, one of the first fancies for the Caulfield Cup, who was galloped on while running in the Malakoff Stakes at Caulfield last month, and had her hind legs seriously injured, is making such slow progress towards recovery that her trainer, A. J. Quinn, has announced his intention of scratching her for her V.A.T.C. engagements, and it is hardly likely she will be seen under silk at Flemington later on.

It cannot be suggested that the local newspaper tipsters were in any way responsible for making Akarana favourite for the Avondale Cup, but evidently someone was there to sound his praises. Akarana was found taking a hand in it for the first four or five furlongs, but he then went right out, and when they had passed the winning post there were those who ventured the opinion that his heart is not in the right place. I, however, hesitate to class myself with those who hold this view, for as a two-year-old he gave me the impression that he was not wanting in gameness.

Marshal Soult’s dual win—Avondale Cup and Flying—was quite expected by his owner, who is said to have netted between £9OO and £lOOO over and above the stakes. The son of Soult was undoubtedly in rare buckle when he lined up at the barrier, and by his Cup performance clearly demonstrated his ability to get a mile and a-quarter in really good style. Mr Hughes has every reason to feel satisfied with his last year’s deal, when he secured Marshal Soult for £5OO, though some good judges thought that he had paid quite enough at the time.

The defeat of Gladsome in the Craven Plate at the A.J.C. Meeting last week has caused the daughter of Seaton Delaval to recede in the Caulfield Cup betting, for which eVent she had been installed favourite after her brilliant perform - ance in the A.J.C. Spring Stakes. Those who witnessed her running at Randwick are, of course, in the best position to sum up the situation, but it is pretty certain that the Auckland-bred mare will claim a good measure of support for the Caulfield Cup from racegoers on this side of the water should all go well with her in the interim. That she can gallop twelve furlongs in the very best company the daughter of Seaton Delaval has more than once demonstrated to our enmplete satisfaction, and it must not be forgotten that her Caulfield Cup weight (Bst 131 b) is only 41b in excess of the impost under which she caught the iudge’s eye in the Spring Stales.

The committee of the Auckland Racing Club have granted jockeys and apprentices’ licenses for the season 1904-05 as under : Jockeys : J. Gainsford, R. Buckland, D. Barron, H. Barr, M. Quinton, P. Watkins, A. Mitchell, J. Wilson, A. C. Percival, G. Murray, D. L. Quintal, E. Hughes, J. T. Stewart, H. Sparks, W. Satman, M. Ryan, J. Sceates, E. Munro, P. Conway, F. McCabe, E. Ross, E. W. Cotton, T. Cotton, E. Cott on, J. Chaafc, jun., W. Stewart, A. E. McDonald, B. Deeley, H. Phillips, J. Pinker, R. Hall, S. A. Nearey, T. Taylor. Apprentices : T. W. Cotton, jun., F. B. Ross, T. A. Williams, P. Conway, B. Michal, J. King, W. Stewart, J. Sceats, S. H. Hodge, W. H. Patterson, A. S. McKinnon, F. Murfitt, W. Bird, A. McMillan, J. S. Stewart, F. Stenning, J. Kean, J. Paramour, C. Kean. Trainers : H. Barr, A. Butler, J. Gainsford, H. J. Hickton, J. Chaafe, M. McKinnon, R. Hall, G. Absolum, IK.' Heaton, P. Jones, H. French. W. Moberley. G. Wright, T. McLennan, J. Chaafe jun.