HAWKE’S BAY.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIV, Issue 814, 12 October 1905, Page 8

HAWKE’S BAY.

HAWKE’S BAY JOCKEY CLUB’S SPRING VENTURE. NOTES ON THE MEETING. It must be truly allowed that as regards weather the metropolitan club of this district seems to have a lien on the favourable samples, for though the climate may be mixed, and that badly, just before the gathering, the days of the reunion are sure to be of the best possible description, and Wednesday and yesterday were no exceptions to the old-time rule that the best in the way of weather was not too good for the Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club’s fixture. Naturally, where the crowd is, there also is the bullion, and this fact is well borne out by the sums registered on the automatic dispenser of odds, the investments for the two increase of £2177 over the sum rung on at a similar gathering last season. Mystification, who has been battling at the business for the past two years, and always giving a respectable exposition, experienced no great difficulty in securing the coveted annual in the Kinn- Edward Handicap. Like most of his "sire’s get, he is endowed with legs of the best quality, and as his heart is in the right place, he should in the future be found worthily carrying the popular colours of the squire of Porangahau, who, unluckwas not present to see his representative hailed the winner. Boomerang carried out the good idea roimed of him as a two-year-old by running a good second to Apremont’s chestnut son, but had Whakawehi been more artistically handled he would have given a good deal of trouble to suppress. Mahutonga, the absolute last of the pack, looked big and lusty, but did not shape as well as his track efforts led to expect, but the state of the ground was gieatly against his style of locomotion and though so badly defeated, should’ later on, with the going in the top of the track be seen to greater advantage than lT aS x ™ C ? Se t his week> M y contention that Whakawehi did not have the best of judgment and talent on his side, or rather, on his back, in the Kino- Edward was borne out by the creditable style in which he ran m the October Handicap when piloted by Gallagher, for it must be borne in mind that he was giving age and weight to his conqueror. Assaver, who is a much improved horse to what he was a year ago. In this affair Mahutonga again performed badly, but his essay was too bad to be true, and on these grounds too much weight must not be attached to the third-rate display that he gave. A few more gallops will probably get him right and with the track in his favour he is sure to retrieve his laurels. Horses, like men, are suited by conditions, and it’s a certainty that with a fair wind that the handsome son of Quilt and Maude will make amends for his poor efforts this week. His half-sister by San Fran-— Kuiauaka also failed in his essay in the Juvenile Plate, owing, no doubt, to the fact that she was trained by Prosser and ridden by Jenkins. She was installed first choice; she was slow to leave the

mark, and never seemed to get going in earnest. Her educator was not too sanguine as regards her prospects, for as he explained to me, she had met with an accident some short time back, and this naturally took condition off her when it was required that she should put it on. Though defeated, and that decisively, I opine she has yet a better day to see, for the filly has quality and breeding on her side. Zimmerman, the first of Birkenhead’s productions to make his bow in public, did not signalise his debut by a win, but though not a victor, made a creditable showing, for he was a fair third to Mungista and Loftus in the Hastings Stakes. The way the contestants popped and skipped about in the straight run to the chair was of a most extraordinary nature, and one would have fancied that they were doing ladies’ chain or hopscotch, instead of being out for ducats. Their antics possibly interfered with the progression of Zimmerman, who, built on massive lines and naturally a horse of that construction, is not as nimble or clever as those lined out on neater patterns. Zimmerman looks the beau ideal of a Derby colt, and if too much use is not made of him as a two-year-old, he is sure to get his quiver full in a later stage of his life. Mungista, who, by the way, is a full sister to Rose Madder, Madrigal and Rubia, possesses the family gift of getting, and has a resolute style of galloping. It seemed like the irony of fate that her owner was not there to see her score, foi his luck has not been of the best with his purchases for Some time past, most of his annexations being gained with the homebred article. Mungista cost Mr. Hunter 350 guineas as a yearling at the EL derslie sale last November, and Loftus, who separated Madder’s daughter from Zimmerman, was bought as a foal along with his dam, Lissadurn, for 200 guineas, by Mr. T. H. Lowry, when the Sylvia Park Stud Farm lots were scattered in 1903. Birkenhead’s representatives went two better on Thursday, when Cantor, a shapely son of Guitar’s by the Englishbred stallion, secured the Juvenile Plate, Ruataumata, a sweetly-turned daughter • of Mahaki and Amoreaux (a Thompson Handicap winner) a fair second. Cantor is bred the way winners come, for his grand-dam Lyre gave to the turf Marl, Lyrebird, and other notably good ones, and Lyrebird produced that really good colt Renown to Dreadnought. Another local-owned sire in Merriwee showed by the attractive form displayed by his production that Mr. E. J. Watt did good business when he secured Bill of Portland’s son for his breeding quarters, and one of the best pleased men on the course when Merriwee’s stock were holding their own end up solidly was J. Prosser, who was instrumental in obtaining the stallion for the squire of Longlands. Merriwee’s stock started in nine events, their record reading:—Two wins (King Billy and Operatta); three seconds (Boomerang and Merriwai) ; and four unplaces ones, in Letty, May, Pluck, Sweet Helen, and Operatta. As the sire of the period, Multiform, again stood his ground, his solitary representative, Cuneiform registered a comfortable win in the Hawke’s Bay Guineas. A nice, muscular, well-turned colt, who looks more attractive when galloping than when in repose, he is sure, with breed on his side, to prove a thorn of solid dimensions to those opposing him when he again throws down the gauntlet. Cuneiform was making his debut at the business, and it must be allowed it was a brilliant display. Blue Water, dam of Submarine and Blue River, is a relative of Cuneiform’s, for the latter dam and Blue Water are half-sisters. King Billy again demonstrated that he can justly lay claim to be enrolled in the ranks of the first flighters, for the style in which he literally flew in the Flying Handicap on Wednesday with 9.1 in the saddle marks him as a brilliant colt, and it may be said that he has started the season in a very auspicious manner, his record being three starts and three wins, notwithstanding that several New Zealand Cup entrants were seen out at the meeting. Only one penalty was incurred for the big handicap of the year, this being Mystification, who will now be risen from 6.8 to 6.13 as a result of his success in the King Edward Handicap. Douche missed being penalised, as the stake won by her did not come within the limitations laid down by the club. Whitaker has got her back to form again, and she should prove useful during the 1905-6 term. Hauteria, a half-brother to Golden Plover by Sou’-wester, also did Whitaker a good tiirn by settling the opposing claim in the Maiden Hack, though his party did. not benefit to any great extent by the good price returned as a result of his efforts. British Navy attracted a deal of complimentary remarks by the fast, clean, o’ever way in which he fenced, and when better seasoned will have to be seriously taken into consideration when the dxs-

tribution of stake money comes up for decision in future obstacle events.

South Star gives promise that he will worthily follow in the footsteps of his defunct relative, Scallyway, for he made no race in the Tomoana Hack Hurdles. Romany Girl, who was one of those opposing South Star and Co., failed badly, though she made amends on Thursday by bolting in with the Open Hurdle Race, but her party had to undergo a questioning at the hands of the stewards, who, after consideration, did not disturb the judge s ruling. Truly Romany Girl’s performances were not consistent, for on Wednesday, with 9.9 up, she failed to get a place, the race being run in 3min 26sec. Next day, with 91b off her back, over the same distance of ground, she easily captured in 3min 26 2-ssec.

Comfort had a soft snip in the Pakouhai Hurdles, never giving his fancier’s a moment’s uneasiness, as he was always on the premises, and came on in good style when he was asked for his best. Gold Seal made such a creditable display in the Flying Handicap behind King Billy and Sir Tristram, that with this pair out of the road it seemed good business to come at him for the final event on the last day’s card. The reckoning, however, proved fallacious, for he was a poor third to Gawain and Assayer. The former got smartly out of the slips, and making play solid, easily annexed the stake. Gawain is one of the Hon. J. D. Ormond’s cast-offs, and was sold as a four-year-old at Palmerston North for 16i guineas. The old, though true, argument that oats and age will make the worst of them stay, is well exemplified in the case of Assayer, who in his young days used to wilt away after doing five furlongs, and the solid style in which he silenced the opposition in the October Handicap, gives truth to the adage above quoted. Stone had him working in good trim; he broke him in, and gave him the first rudiments of his education, and consequently knows his peculiarities and moods, which is standing him in good stead now that he has once more got Gold Reef’s son under his watchful eye. It is not often that Charlie Jenkins gets through a two days’ meeting without piloting a winner, but such was the case this week, for he never handled a victor, the list of victorious horsemen being headed by Davis, Whitaker, and Williams, who each steered a brace of winners, Hercock, O’Connell, Cameron, W. Price, Hewitt, Barron, Gallagher, 01liver, Sceats, and McKay adding a single success apiece to their records. September 11. Additional foalings at Karamu are: — Stepfeldt (Nordenf eldt ll.—Steppe), a colt; Content (Dreadnought—Lullaby), a colt; Hippolyte (Dreadnought—Hippona), a colt; Taihoa (Maine —Timidity), a colt; Target (Dreadnought—Straight Shot), a colt; Ideal (Dreadnought— Mount Ida), a filly, all to Birkenhead. At Mr. F. Armstrong’s headquarters at Akitio Rescue (Derringer—Ruth) has a filly to Renown. Dazzle and Lady Reay are at present located at Karamu. The former will visit Sir Lancelot this term, and Lady Reay will be mated with Birkenhead.