NOTES

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIV, Issue 821, 30 November 1905, Page 7

NOTES

(By “ The Judge.”)

Handicaps for the first .day of the Thames meeting are due to-morrow.

Acceptances for the Ngaruawahia Racing Club’s fixture close to-morrow. * * * *

It has been decided to register the Ohinemuri Jockey Club under the Unclassified Societies’ Registration Act.

Mr. O’Connor’s starting on Saturday was quite up to his usual standard, and even at the very difficult five-furlong post good dismissals were made. *

It must not be forgotten that acceptances for n the Auckland Cup (ssovs), Railway Handicap (3sovs), and Auckland Steeplechase (3sovs) close to-morrow (Friday) evening, by 9 p.m. Also, that general entries for the A.R.C. Summer Meeting are due on the Bth prox. * * * *

For his win in the St. Andrew’s Handicap Geordie has incurred a penalty of 51b in the Auckland Cup, .his weight now being 7st 81b. Although we have no convincing proof that he can stay two miles, we certainly have that he is in rare buckle and all going well is certain to meet with support for the race in question.

There is a suggestion to alter the Canterbury Cup from the spring to the autumn meeting. On the face of it this would seem to be a good move for the C.J.C., for at present the race rarely draws a field.

E. Cutts leaves Christchurch next Wednesday for Ellerslie, bringing with him Quarryman, Gay Spark, Tomorrow, Kirriemuire, and Clanchattan.

The Manchester (England) November Handicap has resulted in a win for Ferment, with Imari in second place and Spinning Minnow third.

Marguerite and Gold Crown have been scratched for all engagements at the A.R.C. Summer Meeting. * * * *

Quarryman and Mahutonga rank as even favourites for the Auckland Cup, short a price as 5 to 1 having been accepted about each.

The catalogue for the dispersal sale of the Wellington Park Stud is to hand. December 30 is the date of the sale.

Gladsome is to be treated to a spell, and has been sent up to Bacchus Marsh with that object. The chestnut daughter of Seaton Delaval has certainly done her full share of racing.

After running an exceedingly moderate third in the Trial Handicap, the form did not look good enough to suggest that Miss Winnie had any chance in the Cheltenham Handicap. She led from start to finish, however, and, as the dividend was nothing like so large as was expected, it looked as though someone had not under-estimated her sprinting capabilities.

Roseplot had far too much foot for Vexation in the Tiri Hurdles. He jumped very wildly, and was all but down once, when Jenkins made an exceedingly clever recovery, but when the last quar-ter-mile had to be taken on there was only one horse in it.

Opotiki was very freely backed for the First Pony Handicap at Takapuna, and went out first favourite. The St. Crispin mare was very slow to move when the barrier rose, and she finished absolutely last.

Seabird fell at the second jump in the Maiden Hurdles at Takapuna, but continued with the field riderless, jumping in good style. The daughter of Ben Godfrey shapes very well over the small sticks, and it looked as though she was rl °t altogether to blame on Saturday when she came down. * * * *

Lovelink, Lucrece, and Dardanus fell at the top bend when contesting the Cheltenham Handicap. Fortunately nothing more serious than a few cuts and a shaking resulted to the riders, but for the moment it seemed as though the accident was a bad one.

Young Brown had an unpleasant experience at Takapuna on Saturday in the Melrose Handicap. His mount, Legerite, got away with him and bolted twice round the course before he could be pulled up. The son of St. Leger was returned to the paddock, while Brown looked as though he had done quite enough fbr a bit.

The jockey, B. Towers, met with a very painful accident at Takapuna on Saturday. He was to have ridden Vexation in the Tiri Hurdles, but just prior to getting into the saddle the mare lashed out, kicking him badly. As a consequence Neary had the mount on the daughter of Linstock.

There were but three investors on the winning double, Geordie and Miss Winnie, at Takapuna on Saturday, and these dropped in for the nice little windfall of £255 18s for a£l investment. Not a bad return this.

News comes from Glenora Park of the death of the filly by Soult from Rose and White. As the youngster was a fullsister to Wairiki it can be understood that the loss to Mr. Walters is a severe one.

Deeley had a brace of wins on the first day of the Takapuna J.C. Meeting. He steered both Franklin and Bromide, in the Trial and Cheltenham Handicaps respectively.

A rumour comes from West Australia that John Rae intends to give up training for Mr. T. Fenton, and turn public trainer.

The Waihi Hack meeting took place on Saturday last (a non-tote meeting), and, all things considered, must be classed as a success. Geo. Absolum’s cast-off, Yolette, won the Cup from nine others.

Franklin won the First Handicap at Takapuna very easily indeed from Silica and Miss Winnie. As the latter subsequently won the Cheltenham Handicap from end to end, it would seem as though Franklin’s performance was a pretty fair one. The winner is a five-year-old son of Leolantis from Coryphee, who is trained by Jones.

Achilles has been scratched for the Auckland Cup and Railway Handicap. His defection did not cause any surprise, as the general feeling was that the son of Medallion was harshly treated, especially in the two-mile event.

The Cyrenian—Melodin colt Conductor won very easily when contesting the Cambria Handicap at Takapuna, for he was quite four lengths ahead of his nearest rival when the judge’s box was passed. The youngster is closely related to Savoury.

Hohoro’s running in the Cheltenham Handicap was a great disappointment to his many admirers. The big gelding looked in rare buckle, and he got away in the first flight, but Cross had to ride him hard all the way to maintain his position, and he could get no nearer than fourth.

Noctuiform is now on his way to England on board the good ship Ruapehu, which sailed from Wellington on Saturday. A well padded box was fixed up for him on deck, everything done that was possible to minimise the risk of the long and trying journey round the Horn.

The committee of the Auckland Racing Clnb have decided not to alter the present location of the members’ carriage paddock, and a circular has been issued to members giving reasons for the committee’s action.

It was a piece of very hard luck for Mr. Stead to lose Sungod so soon after he had sold Noctuiform. The colt was out at exercise on Saturday at Yaldhurst when he shied at something on the track, ran into a fence, over which he toppled, and received such injuries that he died soon after. If Noctuiform had not stood in his way Sungod would have been considered a great colt, for he would certainly have won the A.J.C. Derby. As it was the son of Multiform and Otterden captured the A.R.C. Juvenile Plate and Foal Stakes, and at Randwick accounted for the New and Grandstand Stakes. All going well, Sungod would have been seen at Ellerslie at Christmas in the Derby, which race looked “ a moral” for him.

Waikato folk must be more than satisfied with the first day’s record at the Takapuna Jocke.v Club’s meeting. The leniently treated Franklin led off by winning the Trial Handicap, and was followed by Sol with a win in the Maiden Hurdles, Miss Winnie treading on his heels with another winning score in the Cheltenham Handicap, while Bromide annexed the Melrose Hack Handicap and Forth (a Waikato-owned pony) ran a good race in the Pony Handicap, getting second to the well-performed Girton Girl.

The floral fete will be held next Saturday on the Ellerslie racecourse. The function is invariably a very picturesque one, and this year it promises to be even better than usual. All sorts of attractions have been arranged for, and in the event of fine weather it is safe to predict an immense attendance.

The agricultural show on Friday and Saturday proved a great success, there being a huge crowd present on the second day. The exhibition of thoroughbred stock was poor. The Hotchkiss horse Rambler was given winning honours, as was the Maxim horse Musketry. The jumping events were well contested, and some good form was shown.

The A.R.C., who lately acquired the property adjoining the racecourse facing Green Lane (known as the old agricultural showgrounds), have started to pull down the old building, which it is intended to re-erect in the new carriage enclosure. The timber, although standing for a great many years, is sound, and will do for carriage houses and stalls.

No enthusiasm can be worked up by writers in the sporting papers about the class of the two-year-olds in England. Says the “ Field,” in reviewing the situation : —Black Arrow has performed in such erratic fashion that his brilliant early victories are forgotten in his more recent disgraces. Admirable Crichton is no doubt smart, and likely to improve, but he is kept in his stable when there is money to be won, and it may be that he is wanting in hardy, cut-and-come-again constitution. Colonia, too, is very smart, but beyond these two what is there? Lally, a speedy horse, likely to develop into a great sprinter, Sarcelle, Ulalume, and the American-bred Waterflower, who has been under a cloud since she won at Newmarket in July. Perhaps the two meetings at Newmarket may introduce something good—and there are many highly-bred youngsters in the Middle Park and Dewhurst Plates which have not run as yet—but we have heard no gossip of a really reliable nature concerning dark good ones, and it now very much looks as if mediocrity will have to be associated with the rank and file of this season’s two-year-olds. Having shown J hat great performers are not to be found in training at the moment, we may go on to say that this is quite in accordance with the usual run of things. Only an odd occasional year is an all-round good one, and in many years there are no horses which stand out as being more than fairly good. Last year we had Pretty Polly, before that Sceptre and Ard Patrick, and before them Flying Fox and Cyllene, and a little earlier Persimmon and St. Frusquin. These seven are the only great horses of the last ten years, and if we take the previous ten years we can hardly get so many, though Isinglass, La Fleche, Ormonde, Minting, and perhaps The Bard and Donovan woulcl be inchided. It is then futile to complain against what appears to be. the ordinary course of events, but two things may be pointed out, one being that just at present we appear to have fewer good second rank horses than usual, and the other that many of the best horses of the present day appear to be very badly off for constitution.”

In the Champion Stakes, one mile and a-quarter, at Newmarket, on the 17th of last month, that great mare Pretty Polly simply made a hack of Hackler’s Pride, for whom Sir T. Sykes recently gave 5000 guineas. Backers sent Pretty Polly out at 5 to 2 on, and she never gave them any anxiety. Hackler’s Pride must have been in good form, too, as on the following day she beat Nabot and Evergreen as she liked in a mile weight-for-age race. On the day that Pretty Polly disposed of Hackler’s Pride, the former’s sister Adula was sent out at 11 to 10 on for the Newmarket Oaks, in which she was in receipt of 91b from Cherry Lass. The distance, one mile and three-quarters, was supposed to be somewhat against the latter, as in the St. Leger she did not shape like a genuine stayer. However, she stayed too well for Adula, whom she beat in a canter, and it is now reckoned that she must have been off colour when Challacombe and Polymelus downed her in the Leger.

So far this season Australasian-bred sires do not figure very prominently in the English winning list. Carbine has done best, but up to the middle of last month only £3950 stood to his credit. Isinglass is on top with £21,535, followed by Gallinule £20,861. and Cyllene £17,813, while there are twenty other sires with £4500 upwards credited to them. As regards successful racehorses, Cherry Lass is still leading with half-a-dozen races, of a total value of slightly over £13,000, opposite her name.

E. Wheatley was the first of the English jockeys to score 100 wins this season, his record up to October 13 being 448 mounts, 104 wins, 73 seconds, and 58 thirds. Up to the same date, the trainer, W. Elsey, for whom Wheatley rides, had scored 104 wins with 60 different horses, the nearest to him being W. T. Robinson with 46 wins by 22 horses. The latter, however, was a long way ahead of Elsey as regards the value of stakes, his total being £32,614, as against £15,006.

The skeleton of the great English horse Ormonde has been exhumed from the Meulo Park Farm, near San Francisco, and sent to the British Museum, where it will be mounted on a pedestal next to that of his sire, Bend Or.

It is stated that F. Bullock, who rode Blue Spec in the Melbourne Cup, will probably go to England in time for the start of the next English racing season.

The new owner of Grand Rapids is C. Watson, the well-known bookmaker, of Perth. The price of the horse is stated at £4OO.

The V.R.C. profits for the late spring meeting are estimated at about £7OOO, exclusive of bookmakers’ fees.

The English Stud Book shows that in 1904 there was a decided falling-off in thoroughbred foalings as compared with the three previous years. In 1901 the returns were 1743 colts and M? 97 fillies; 1902, 1797 colts and 1651 fillies; 1903, 1629 colts and 1564 fillies; and 1904, 1565 colts and 1524 fillies.

The longest flat race of the season in France was run at Paris last month. This was the Prix Gladiateur, three miles seven furlongs, at weight for age. There were only four runners, M. Edmond Blanc being represented by Gouvernant and Chanaan, and M. J. de Bremond by Maximum and Toast. Odds of 100 to 30 were laid on M. Edmond Blanc’s stable, but backers went down, as Maximum, fairly outstaying Gouvernant, beat him home by eight lengths in 7min 40 3-ssec, the other two finishing a long way back. The prize-money was 1200sovs added to a work of art of the value of 400sovs.

Mr. J. B. Joel has leased Bill of Portland to W. T. Robinson, and this very successful son of St. Simon will (writes the “ Special Commissioner” of the “ Sportsman”), stand in future at the Foxhill Stud. Bill of Portland no longer depends solely on the great reputation which he gained in Australia. His Eng--1 ish-bred two-year-olds have done exceedingly well for him this season, few, if any, of them being incapable of winning a race, while some, such as Bill of the Play, Peter Jackson, and Noisy Bill, are smart indeed. There is a prevalent idea that Bill of Portland is not sure with his mares, but this is a mistake. He is a horse of curious moods and fancies, and needs at times to have a good deal of patience exercised in the management of him, but his foal record is a very fair one, and he will be all the better for another change of air and surroundings. Besides the two-year-old winners by him in England, there is also Cinder Bill in Ireland, quite a good colt. He is out of that very good little Trenton mare Cinder Ellen.

At Poona, India, on October 21, the English light-weight, Melsom, rode in five races and won the lot. The smallest number of runners in any of the races won by Melsom was seven.

At a meeting of the English Jockey Club last month, the following rule bearing on apprentices was confirmed : “ All lads .. . . are permitted during their apprenticeship, to claim 51b allowance in handicaps (with not more than 200sovs added) and selling races, except those confined to apprentices. They will be entitled to this 51b allowance for three years (of 365 days, not including the day upon which an apprentice has won his first race) after winning their first race in any country, or until they have won 40 races, whichever shall happen first.”

The English jockey W. Lane, who recently visited the colonies, was, at latest, in Canada. His weight has gone up to lOst 41b, so that it looks as if his riding days are nearly over.

The races at Yarmouth (Eng.) are managed by the Corporation, and a London exchange mentions that at a recent meeting sufficient profit resulted. to enable £5OO to be allocated to the relief of rates. Formerly the bulk of the profits, when the races were under private management, were given to local hospitals and other charities. This is the second year the Corporation has managed the races, but the first year’s profits were devoted to course improvements.

Sol has now won five jumping races without a break, and it would seem that Mr, Morgan has a very fair gelding in the son of Soult.

The Rakino Steeplechase at Takapuna looked like giving rise to a great finish. Sol and The Swimmer raced into the straight together, but at the last hurdle the Swimmer toppled over, leaving Sol to finish a dozen lengths ahead of Nor’west. Ido not think, however, that the mishap to the son of Cannon really affected the result.

The double—Gweniad and Millie—was well backed at the Shore yesterday, and the machine only paid £l7 ss, a contrast to the first day’s record. By the way, the double machine is so popular that it will be necessary to add to the number of windows. A lot of money was shut out yesterday.

Millie fairly ran away with the Spring Handicap yesterday at Takapuna. She was making play throughout, and won comfortably, Rookby being the only one of the crowd able to get near Mr. Hannan’s mare.

Geordie ran a very poor race in the Spring Handicap, although he started favourite. It was too bad to be true.

The combination, Gweniad and Deeley, is a very deadly one for a short dash. The speedy daughter of Brigadier never left the issue of the Stanley Handicap in doubt, although Black and Gold made a fine finishing run.

It is stated that the 1898 Melbourne Cup winner, The Grafton, is now drawing a cab in London.

The prominent English trainer, James Waugh, died last month at the age of 74.

Mr. David Weir, who runs a small tsud at Boree Park, near Barmedman, at the head of which is the Bill of Portland horse Biltalto, is a great supporter of the Southern district shows, and, as a prizetaker, has made something like a record during the past six years (says the “ Daily Mail.”) This year he took four Biltalto yearlings around the shows, and carried off 20 prizes with them, and the only youngster by the son of Bill of Portland shown last year won seven prizes. Biltalto’s record in the show-ring up to date is 44 first prizes, and seven seconds; on two occasions being beaten by his stable mate Pioneer, in classes for horses to get heavy hackneys and hunters. Mr. Weir’s record this year at the south and south-western districts’ shows is 69 first prizes and 35 seconds, making a total of 232 first, and 83 seconds in six years.

The well-known sire Sunrise died at the Silver Pines Stud Farm, near Jerilderie, on November 13 (says the “ Town and Country Journal.”) The old fellow was rolling when he injured himself internally, and died shortly afterwards. Sunrise, who was a full brother to the crack New Zealander Sextant, was a brown horse, and was foaled as far back as 1880. He was therefore 25 years of age. He was by Robinson Crusoe from Sunshine, by Maribyrnong from Nightlight (imp.), by Archy from Rushlight, by Bay Middleton from Torch, by Lamplighter. Sunrise was never raced, owing to meeting with an accident as a youngster, but he was a wonderful success at the stud, and it may be fairly claimed for him that his pr ogeny have won more races than those of any other sire in the annals of the Australian turf. For many seasons past Sunrise has occupied a prominent place in the winning sires’ list, and the winnings of his progeny during his stud career must have aggregated close upon £60,000 or £70,000. A remarkable feature in Sunrise’s progeny was their shapeliness, and the old fellow produced winners from stud book mares as well as from mares whose ancestry was shrouded in doubt. In addition to siring good winners on the flat, quite a number of his progeny earned distinction over the hurdles, notable performers in the lastnamed connection being Rushlight 11., Blitz, Sunflower, Sunbeam, and Sunshower, whilst he also sired such celebrities on the flat as Orient, Old Gold, Denbies, Heiress, Heritage, Sunbeam, Sundial, Eastern King, Meridian, Roseleaf, Moss Rose, Rosy Morn, Bay Rose, Sweet Rose, Silver Rose, May Day, Belgiorno, Sunora, Dawn, Marechai Neil, as as a host of lesser lights. In connection with Sunrise’s stud career, it is worthy of mention that not one of his progeny were chestnuts.

The Yaldhurst jockey, F. D. Jones, has returned to Christchurch from Australia. Bulawayo, who was nicely treated in the Auckland Cup, pulled up lame after running in the Timaru Handicap.

Gay Spark may not start in the Auckland Cup, as the Derby is more likely to be his mission. Quarryman will be the stable representative in the Cup.

The Stepniak colt Makar off ran two good races at Timaru, and is evidently very well just now.

Franklin was very easily treated in the Welter Handicap at Takapuna yesterday, and he was made a very hot favourite. Deeley got his mount away in a good position, and when heads were turned for home the Leolantis gelding silenced the opposition without an effort.

Hohoro ran a very different horse in the Cautley Handicap to what he did in the Cheltenham Handicap on Saturday. In the latter event, although he got well away, Cress appeared to be riding the big horse all the way, whereas yesterday he won with very great ease.

As Landlock has such a rooted objection to facing the barrier, it was deemed advisable to blindfold him in the Cautley Handicap, the bandage having a string attached, to be removed when the barrier rose. It failed utterly in its purpose, for after the son of Flintlock had almost fallen, he lost so many lengths at the start that he was not persevered with.

Says the London “ Sporting Times” : —There is rare fun to be had in the French law courts, and a case tried a few days ago shows how a teller of the dear old tale came to grief. A mild crushing mill dollar punter in the milk trade listened to the seductive story, handing 50 francs to his clean-shaven, horsey-looking acquaintance of the racecourse. The money was to go on Ginette 11. in the Prix Vanteaux at Longchamps. The mare had been picked for a loser, being a safe ’un on her form, but she trickled home an easy winner at the luscious odds of 24 to 1. The little prophet, in a puttycoloured aquascutum, was not to be seen. The milkman, who had stood sparkling wine to a large circle of dairy friends as soon as the number went up, found himself jammed close home to the marble fact that he had been scientifically welshed. Some time after the victim ran his Tamper to earth behind a parimutuel box, and gave him in charge. The defence was that there had been a simple misunderstanding. The money from the milk walk had gone on Violette, another mare in the same race. The judge asked the defendant to prove this statement by producing the ticket or witnesses. There was no answer, and the silence of the accused tipster, coupled with his eclipse running after Ginette ll.’s victory, brought forth a verdict of three months in gaol and a fine of 25 francs.

There is some interesting information in the latest volume of the Stud Book published by the Messrs. Weatherby. It is the twentieth, and appears after a four years interval. Reviewing the publication, the “ Field” remarks that, from the usual analysis, in tabulated form, it will be observed that in 1901 5801 mares were accounted for; in 1902, 6004; in 1903, 5768; and in 1904, 5661. Of these no fewer than 1416 were barren in the first year, 1380 in the second, 1364 in the third, and 1272 in the fourth, and it may be added that the four years’ total of foals reaches 13,188. A desirable improvement, from a convenience point of view, is the inclusion of Irish mares amongst the general body of the book, they having been hitherto at the end of the entries. The section devoted to Arabs, though limited in extent, is very interesting reading, whilst under the heading of “ Horses sent Abroad” the bulk appear to have gone to the United States, and on the Continent Austria and Hungary, Belgium, France, Italy, and G'ermany, especially the latter, figure largely. It is also a healthy sign to see so long a list under the Cape, Natal, and South Africa, especially in mares; nor must the exportations to Australia and New Zealand during the four years be overlooked, the increase being quite marked as compared with Vol XIX. This likewise applies to South America, so that there can be little doubt about the export trade in bloodstock being in a very flourishing condition.