NOTES.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIV, Issue 813, 5 October 1905, Page 7

NOTES.

(By

“ The Judge.”)

Auckland Cup weights are due on November 17.

The Otahuhu Racing Club’s meeting will be brought off next Wednesday. * * * *

The Possible, like Wairiki, has sufficiently recovered from a broken leg to be able to take up stud duties.

The Hawke’s Bay Spring Meeting and the Marlborough R.C. Spring Meeting will be concluded to-day.

It seems as if decent hurdlers are getting scarce round Auckland. The A.R.C. only got seven entries for the Manukau Hurdle Race.

Rumour has it that Geo. Wright has purchased Lady Annie, but so far the rumour has not been authenticated.

“ Father Bill” Lyons is due to arrive back in Auckland. to-morrow. The genial penciller is sure of a cordial welcome.

A strong opinion appears to exist that the spring fixture of the Auckland Racing Club should be held on some other course than Ellerslie, so as to give the course every chance to be in perfect order for the summer meeting.

Among the list of horses engaged in the Auckland Cup appears the name of Achilles. We should all be very pleased to see the champion carrying silk at Ellerslie.

Nightfall appears to be the actual favourite for the New Zealand Cup, while Noctuiform is also at a very short price. The betting is, however, of a very restricted character.

It is to be regretted that the nominations for the big events to be run at the summer meeting of the Auckland Racing Club should show such a big falling off. the actual deficiency being no less than 54. This is very disappointing, but is partly explained by the fact that all of Mr. Stead’s nominations arrived too late. There are 31 in the Auckland Cup, 48 in the Summer Cup, 32 in the A.R.C. Handicap, 37 in the Railway Handicap, and 15 in .the Steeplechase Plenty of quality is represented, however. and there is some good material for Mr. Evett to exercise his skill unon.

Mr. H. T. Gorrie was in the judge’s box at the Pakuranga Hunt Club’s meeting, but was not called on to adjudicate upon any very exciting finishes, as most of the successful horses simply romped home.

The Pakuranga Club received the sum of £5O from bookmakers for betting privileges on Saturday, and there were eleven pencillers doing business.

Messrs. Kinloch and Lewis, the joint secretaries, worked very hard on Saturday to make the Pakuranga meeting go. Both are good men at the game.

A curious incident occurred in connection with the late Avondale meeting. A punter who had supported Apologue for a decent amount thought he would have a saver on Kilderkin (the winner), and asked a friend to put him on a fiver at 4’s to 1. The friend thought this a good tip, and invested £4O for himself at the same price, and was all smiles after the race.

Rumour has it that the owner of Lunette had a decent win over the little mare’s victory at Avondale. Some of the trade were in the know, and also profited by the knowledge.

General Average looks a bit light after his efforts at the late Avondale meeting. The big son of Hotchkiss does not like to be saddled up too often.

Old Haydn looks very little the worse for his Australian trip, and with a few weeks' spell will soon put on his New Zealand bloom again.

The Middy, who was backed in the doubles (prior to the nominations) for the Railway Handicap, has been given a few months’ spell.

Fifty pounds was offered and refused for Tua Kitua after he won the Farmers’ Handicap on Saturday. He is a big, upstanding horse, who should be given a chance over the battens.

Mr. Stead’s nominations foi' the Auckland Cup, which arrived too late, were Noctuiform, Sungod, and Nightfall. Some of the owners of the others will not be sorry that the squire of Yaldhurst “ missed the ’bus,” as it will give some of their moderate nags a better chance. The absence of the yellow and black livery in the big events will, however, not enhance the interest in the racing.

The handicaps for the Otahuhu annual fixture have made their appearance. The meeting will take place on Wednesday next, October 11. The following read to have a reasonable chance: —Maiden Plate: Blueskin or Te Papa. Hurdles: H inemoa or The Major. Cup : Sir Gilead or Soultfish. Pony : Inspiration or Hurihuri. Railway : Lucrece or Lunette.

According to Australian files to hand, 122 men lay tote odds on the Adelaide racecourse, and do not contribute one shilling to the revenue of the club. The race club surely stand in their own light in not licensing the men to do business at their meeting. As an example the A.R.C. received something like £2600 in betting fees last season from members of New Zealand Tattersail’s Club.

Mr. Ross, the contractor for the fence (round the Ellerslie course proper) from the five-furlong post to the old mile-post, has nearly completed his contract, and everything has a most workmanlike appearance on the course proper. The other side on the sand track is quite a different picture, and it seems possible the bolts are likely to do some injury to the horses in training on that track, where probably a hundred gallops take place to one on the course proper.

Four started in the Hunters’ Steeplechase at Alexandra Park, and Mr. R. Johnston’s Cannoneer made the pace a cracker, until the last; half-mile from home, when he came a cropper and left the old plodder Boxer to canter in alone, Ngaru being half a furlong away. The latter in the early stages of the race ran round a jump, or would most likely have won the race.

Ngaru, at the opening of the betting on the Ladies’ Bracelet, was an evenmoney favourite, but for some unaccountable reason receded, and 2’s to 1 was freely laid about the winner, Lockie being an odds-on favourite, while Bryan O’Lvnn was well backed at 3’s to 1. The favourite was beaten after going, a hundred yards, and eventually pulled up. making a most sorry exhibition for a red-hot favourite. The winner was nicely handled by Mr. Harold Cotter, who rode a waiting race. Nothing else .’.ad a chance.

The rich American two-year-old race, the Futurity Stakes, was run at Sheepshead Bay (New York) on the 26th of last month, and was won by Ormondale, who started at sto 1 in a field of fifteen. He had never previously won a race, but it was understood that he was being saved in order to have the advantage oi a maiden allowance in the Futurity. The allowance brought his weight down to 8.5,' and he cut out the six furlongs in Imin 11 4-ssec. Ormondale is the joint property of Messrs. W. O. McDonough and A. Miller, and the first-mentioned sportsman, it will be remembered, gave £30,000 for Ormonde. The result was a triumph for English blood, as Ormondale’s dam, Santa Bella, is an imported mare by St. Serf. In appearance the Futurity winner is said to be as like his sire as possible, and stands over sixteen hands. It was anticipated that the value of the race would be £lO,OOO, but it only came to about £8536. It would be somewhat curious if Ormondale should turn out a really good horse, because although one of Ormonde’s first sons Orme was a topnotcher, he never got another worth anything. To begin and end his stud career with champions would be something quite out of- the ordinary.

Yestei- Lily, a filly sired by the Musket horse Trenton, won a race in August last at Copenhagen, Denmark. There are few horses whose stock have scored successes in so many different countries; inasmuch as his progeny have secured winning brackets in Australia, New Zealand, India, South Africa, France, America, England, Russia, Germany, and Denmark.

In an interesting review of the career of the Yaldhurst trainer, R. J. Mason, “ Martindale” points out in the “ Town and Country Journal” that he made an excellent start for his future career in the fact that he served five years with a veterinary surgeon. I have often thought that every licensed trainer should have such a training. In 1866 Mason started as a jockey, having mounts for Mr. E. Stafford, and took part in race meetings at Nelson and Wellington. He also rode for Mr. Henry Redwood, and for that veteran won the first Champagne Stakes at the Canterbury meeting on Wainui. I also find him as the rider of Mr. Redwood’s Papapa, when that colt won the Canterbury Derby in 1873. Mason also acted as rider or trainer of those grand old horses, Lurline and Calumny for their races, which included Lurline’s Dunedin Cup, and also the Melbourne Cup won by Haricot. Prior to that he had won the Derby on Manuka, and he had the mount on Kapau when he won the first St. Leger Stakes. I find Mason and Vallance as the owners in 1883. of Bundoora, when he won the Midsummer Handicap at Christchurch ; also Camballo, winner of the Great Autumn Handicap; Lara, Auckland Racing Club Handicap; Salvage, Auckland Cup Handicap; and Spade Guinea, when she won the New Zealand Cup in 1886, raced in Mason’s name. Mason is a shrewd business man, and it did not take him long to discover that the totalisator was not favourable to professional racing men, and, retiring from horse-owning, he took charge of Sir William Robinson’s horses, and brought over that owner’s team, which included Liverpool, Vanguard, Thunderbolt, and Winchester to Melbourne. With Vanguard Mason won the Great Autumn Handicap at Canterbury in 1884, and Welcome Stakes with Liverpool. Tn 1878 Mason purchased Yaldhurst, and in 1887 he took charge of Mr. Stead’s horses, with much material advantage to that gentleman. Since then the majority of the most important races in the New Zealand calendar have been won by horses sent out of Yaldhurst. Included among these are the following : —

New Zealand Cup: 1886. Spade Guinea, Lochiel Grand Rapids. Auckland Cup: 1874 -Templeton; 1883, Salvage; 1884, Lochiel; 1901. St. Michael; 1902, Siege Gun. AuckbL erb y ; 1888, Sextant. Medallion, MenschikofT. Auckland Royal Stakes: 1896 Bloodshot, Gold Medallist (2), Screw Gun Royal Artillery. King* Log'. Dunedin Gup; 1874, Lurline;... 1875, Templeton; 1885 Vanguard, Spade. Guinea. Gipsy King. Welcome Stakes: Hilarious, Oudeis, Liverpool, Stepniak, Bombshell; Multiform, Conqueror. Tolstoi, Romanoff. Orloff. Golden Lily. Munmet. Canterbury J.C. Handicap.—lB76, Guy Fawkes, Mata, Grip. Auckland R.C. Handicap: 1880, Lara. New Zealand Derby: 1873. I apapa, Cheviot, Oudeis Desmond, Maxrm. Scots Grey. Stepniak. Blue Fire, Uniform. Muliform, Altair, Menschikoff, Orloff, Nightfall. Canterbury Cup: 1873, Lurline, Guv Fawkes. Maxim. Stepniak. Mulifo’.'m (2). Menschikoff Cruciform. Martian. Oaks: Enid. Ich Dien, Blue Fire. Bellicent. Motto Isomcne, Cruciform, Nightfall. Champ igne Stakes: 1874, Wainui. Maxim. Strowan. Blue Fire,- Mannlicher, Bombshell, Multiform. Altair, Screw Gun, Formosan. Orloff, Munieet. Middle Park Plate : 1887 Maxim, Rose Argent, Strowan, Dioodshot (2). Gold Medallist, Conqueror, Screw Gun, Menschikoff. Cruciform, Machine Gun. Great Easter Handicap: Cruciform. Machine Gun. Great Easter Handicap: Cruciform, Machine Gun. Challenge Stakes Scots Grey, Blue Fire. Mannlicher, Mu tiferm (3), Cruciform 12) Martian. Great Autumn Handicap: 1876. Templeton (trainedV 1880, Camballo: 1896 Bellicent (dam of Isolt). Midsummer Handicap: 1883. BunGooia; 1894. Reynard Altair, Skobeloff.

Four yearlings purchased in England by Mr. William Brown reached Sydney by the Aberdeen last week (says the “ Referee”), viz. : A bay colt, by Oberon (son of Galopin) from Polly Marden (Marden —Polaris); bay filly, by Sainfoin (sire of Rock Sand) from Cerasi, by Orvieto (son of Bend Or) from Cerisette, by Galopin from Cherry; chestnut filly, by Avington (son of Melton) from Lady Beautrix (dam of Lady Var), by Salisbury from Fair Lilian, by Muncaster; and a bay filly, by Uncle Mac from Sagittari, by Oberon from Mitrailleuse, by Stafford from Musket’s dam.

Pretty Polly’s three-year-old sister Adula, opened her winning account in the City of London Breeders’ Foal Stakes, of 1180sovs, at Kempton Park, on August 17. She started favourite at 5 to 4 in a field of five, and eventually won by half a length after getting shut in on the rails, and having to come round at the distance. She carried 8.2, and ran the mile and a-quarter in 2min 7 3-ssec. When she first made her appearance Adula gave the impression of being particularly massive. She has fined down a’lot, however, and in addition to looking very lengthy, runs up a trifle light.

It looks as if the-English trainer, W. E. Elsey, will go close to accounting fur 100 races this season. Up to August 12 he had scored 84 races with 49 different horses. W. T. Robinson was next, with 19 winners of 36 races, and with £28,910 to his credit, had won more in stakes than any other trainer. J. E. Brewer was eighth on the list with 13 winners of 17 races, value £9909.

In Adelaide recently a stipendiary magistrate dismissed a charge of street betting against a man because he was of opinion that no particular interpretation could be placed on the phrases, “ What price Whirl?” and “Three to one.” As was only to be expected, the police appealed, and the S.A. Chief Justice gave his decision on Wednesday last. His Honor was of opinion that the magistrate, in his desire to be perfectly fair, had gone a little too far. It had been laid down on eminent authority that judges and magistrates were entitled to use the knowledge they possess as men of the world in common with the general public a Tl d that as the defendant was saying “ To invest on the Flying Handicap,”. and in response to an inquiry of “What price Whirl?” replied “Three to one,” any man in the street would be exceedingly simple if he did not understand that this was an invitation to bet, and an inquiry as to the terms on which wagers could be entertained. His Honor was, therefore, of opinion that the magistrate was wrong in dismissing the case, and consequently upheld the appeal, fining the defendant £25, with £5 5s costs of court.

When our horses were triumphing all along the line in Australia the other day, there was a general outburst of rejoicing all over the colony. Lest we suffer too much from swelled heads, the following from the pen of the Sydney writei' “ Milroy” should be worth reading:—The New Zealand record on Metropolitan day was a good one (he writes), but I recollect one perhaps just a trifle better done by a single stud, and I am bound to say there was not half so much fuss over it. I allude to the Kirkham record at the V.R.C. Autumn Meeting of 1888, when Tom Payten opened the ball by winning the first four races on the programme with four horses belonging to the Hon. James White, bred at Kirkham Stud in this State, and each winner was ridden by the stable jockey, Tom Hates. Carlyon led off by beating Nelson, the champion of New Zealand, a mile and a-half at w.f.a. in the Essendon Stakes, and Volley followed with the Ascot Vale Stakes, in which she easily beat the crack New Zealand filly, Pearl Shell. Abercorn won the St. Leger from the Australian Peer and Moorhouse, who beat the two New Zealanders Enfilade and Niagara. Cranbrook, a three-year-old, made very light of the thumping impost of Bst 121 b, and won the Newmarket Handicap in a canter, numbering among his victims those two crack New Zealand mares, Spade Guinea and Mittrailleuse. The second day saw the blue and white banner again to the fore; the Sires’ Produce Stakes was won by Volley, while Carlyon, a three-year-old, led throughout the two miles and a-quarter of the Australian Cup. and won cleverly, and the four-year-old Acme failed by a short head to give 251 b to the Tocal bred Chicago in the Bourke Handicap, but she beat Escutcheon, a highly-thought-of New Zealander. giving him 301 b. Abercorn, pulling up, beat Nelson and Enfilade in the Champion Stakes, Cranbrook won the All Aged Stakes, and Carlyon the Loch Plate, thus crediting Kirkham with nine races, and Tom Hales rode 11 winners.

Boomerang was a strong order in Auckland for the King Edward Handicap at the Hawke’s Bay meeting yesterday, but Mr. Watt’s colt could only get second to Mystification, a four-year-old son of Apremont and Mystic.

Catspaw was served up pretty warm for the Tomoana Hack Hurdles at Hastings yesterday, but had to cry enough to South Star, a six-year-old gelding by Sou’-wester from Stella.

Owners of trotting stock would do well to bear in mind that all nominations for events to be decided at the spring meeting of the Auckland Trotting Club close with Mr. C. F. Mark, the secretary, tomorrow (Friday) at 9 p.m. The programme, which appears in another column, is a very good one, and no doubt when it is made up' the list of entries will be found to be lengthy. Handicaps for the first day are due next Monday. * * * *

The spring meeting of the Auckland Trotting Club will take place at Alexandra Park on Saturday and Wednesday, October 21 and 25.