NOTES.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIV, Issue 828, 18 January 1906, Page 7

NOTES.

(By

“The Judge.")

The Wellington Cup will be run on Saturday. Apologue has been entered for the Sydney Cup. The Papakura Racing Club’s annual meeting is to take place on March 10. * * « « Nominations for the Wanganui meeting close to-morrow week. * * * ♦ Putty has been sent to Wellington to try his luck in the Cup. He has won two Cups this season. Will he pull off the treble? « « * * Nervine was one of the unlucky horses at the recent A.R.C. meeting, but at Whangarei he made ample reparation. The summer meeting of the Takapuna Jockey Club commences on Saturday week. # * * » Mr. W. J. Ralph has gone to Wellington to assist at the Wellington inaugural meeting. * * * * Two records were made in Westralia on Cup Day. There were 28,000 to see tne Perth Cup, and £26,358 went through the totalisator during the day. * * * * Mr. Robert Wynyard allotted the handicaps for the second day of the Whangarei meeting. The Takapuna Jockey Club has decided to make the tickets sold at the outside totalisator for ten shillings instead of a pound as formerly. * * * * Excellent nominations have been received for the Poverty Bay Turf Club’s summer meeting, the club’s record having been broken in this respect. Noctuiform has arrived safely in England. He went Home by the Ruapehu in charge of H. Franks. * * * ♦ The Te Aroha Jockey Club have secured capital entries for the hack meeting, which takes place on the 29th inst. * * * * A double totalisator will be in operation at the Wellington meeting. The douole on the first day will be the Wellington Cup and Telegraph Handicap, and on the second day the W.R.C. Handicap and Metropolitan Handicap. * * * * The gatekeepers employed by the Auckland Racing Club have presented the late secretary, Mr. Percival, with a marble clock and an address to mark their appreciation of his long service and the manner in which they had always been treated by him. « * * The Zealandia, which sailed for the South on Tuesday, took away Mr. G. P. Donnelly’s Formula and colt foal by Seaton Delaval, Edith Cureton and filly foal by Seaton Delaval, Kilmorey and filly foal by Eton, Lady Cecilia, and yearling filly by Hotchkiss from Chrysolite; Mr. E. J. Watt’s Brown Alice and colt foal by Seaton Delaval, St. Amy and colt foal by Menschikoff, Castorlace; and Mr. F. Holmes’ yearling colt by Phoebus Apollo from Brown Alice.

Looking at the Wellington Park figures for the last sixteen years it can be seen that the average number of yearlings submitted annually was a fraction over twenty-six, while the average price realised was a little more than 178 guineas each.

The committee of the Takapuna Jockey Club have wisely decided to provide increased accommodation at the double totalisator. This machine has proved so popular that it has been found two windows far the sale of tickets are quite inadequate. The alterations will be effected in time for the approaching meeting.

The Wellington meeting will occupy the attention of sportsmen on Saturday and Monday. The following horses should run well in their respective engagements: —Anniversary Handicap, Boris or Clanchattan; Ruapehu Hack Handicap, Aotea or Mobility; Wellington Cup, Nightfall, Paritutu, Putty; Hack Hurdles, Geologist; Telegraph Handicap, Sir Tristram, Ailsa; Tongariro Hack Handicap, Togos; Nursery Handicap, Ivanoff, Glandslam; Electric Handicap, Chivalry, Ingleneuk.

The death is reported of Mr. McKenzie’s mare Frances Lovejoy. She was a very moderate performer on the race track. At the time of her death she was in foal to Wairiki. Mr. T. V. Morrin left Auckland on Tuesday to take up his new duties at Mr. Donnelly’s stud farm at Hawke’s Bay. • • • « Discoverer was in good form at the Whangarei meeting, the son of Tasman pulling off a treble. • * « « The new course at Trentham is a mile and a-quarter in circumference. * * ♦ » The Wanganui Jockey Club is effecting a number of improvements to the stand, totalisator house, and enclosures. * * * * Seatonia shaped exceedingly well over hurdles . at Whangarei, winning both jumping events. She should be heard of again at the illegitimate game before long. * * • • The New Zealanders, Maniapoto, Apologue and Landlock, have been entered for the A.J.C. Doncaster Handicap. Gladsome’s name also appears in the race. • • • • Nonette has been given top weight of 9st 61b in the Foxton Cup. The Matamata Jockey Club has changed the date of its meeting to February 10. « * « * The A.R.C. has given permission to the Waihi Club to change the venue for the meeting on March 31 to Paeroa. Among the visitors to Wellington for the opening of the new course will be Messrs. M. McLean, W. Mc-Laugh-lin, and J. F. Hartland, of the Auckland Racing Club. * * * * Auratus has broken down, and. the son of Gold Reef will not be run at the Wellington meeting. Martian is well spoken of for the Wellington Cup. He is said to be improving with every gallop. * * * * The Wellington stewards were unsuccessful in their efforts to induce Sir Joseph Ward to close the telegraph office at Trentham. * * * * The Finland colt Canada has broken a small none in the leg, and will not race again. * * * * Mahutonga’s brother, Veneer, has gone amiss, and is to be given a spell. * * * * The racecourse railway platform at Ellerslie is to be greatly improved and lengthened. This is in connection with the duplication of the line, now proceeding. * * * * The descendants of Carbine have now won £101,505 in stakes, which comes very close to Trenton’s record. “ Old Jack” is said to be showing signs of age, which cannot well be wondered at when it is remembered that it is more than fifteen years since he ran his last race.

A double event totalisator will be open each day of the Takapuna meeting. On the opening day the events on which it will be in operation are the Zealandia Handicap and Takapuna Cup, while the races on the second day will be the Suburban Handicap and T.J.C. Handicap, and on the third day the Borough Handicap and Summer Handicap.

Acceptances for all events on the first day of the Takapuna Jockey Club’s summer meeting, as well as the Rakino Steeplechase on the second day, close to-morrow (Friday) at 9 p.m.

When Grand Rapids was offered at auction in Perth last week, the highest offer for him was 150 guineas, and he was passed in.

Just before the latest mail left England it was notified that Gallinule’s list for 1906 was full at a fee of 200 guineas, but the services of his son Wildfowler —who is also doing duty at the Brownstown Stud Farm, Curragh—were available at 60 guineas. Isinglass and Cyllene are not advertised for this year, so the probabilities are that their lists are already full. Old Carbine’s fee has dropped from 200 guineas last season to £B9 this, and as age is said to be telling upon him, it is doubtful whether his list will fill over rapidly, even at the lastmentioned figure.

Nightfall and Ailsa is the favourite double for the Wellington meeting. The South Auckland Racing Club’s annual meeting will take place at Claudelands on March 3. There will be a substantial increase in the stake money. Sir George Clifford’s stable is having a run of bad luck just at present. Quarryman, Kirriemuir, Snowstell and Glenowlet are all amiss. ♦ * ♦ * Annette, who broke down prior to the A.R.C. meeting, is stated to be making a good recovery. The mishap was an expensive one for the owner, as on form the Soult filly should have beaten the winner of the Railway Handicap. * • * During the four days of the W.A.T.C. meeting, £79,026 went through the totalisator. Last year the amount was £71,073. * * « * The Rotorua Jockey Club has appointed Mr. C. O’Connor to act as starter at the club’s meeting. The pony Annoyed met with a mishap on the opening day at Whangarei, which prevented her from starting on the second day. Waikato has been sent to New Plymouth, Mr. Russell of that town having leased the son of St. Hippo. * * • * According to the Sydney “ Referee” it is understood that Wairiki’s yearling brother was bought on behalf of Mr. K. S. McLeod, and will be trained at Caulfield by I. Foulsham. The “ Sydney Mail” says the owner is Mr. Grant. * * * * During her three racing seasons Pretty Polly has won in stakes alone the sum of £35,362, which is about £3OOO less than Sceptre secured during a similar period. Sceptre won £2455 as a two-year-old; £23,137 as a three-year-old, and £12,633 as a four-year-old; a grand total of £38,225; while Pretty Polly’s successes during those three seasosn were £13,502, £18,440, and £3420 respectively. The decrease in her last season’s winnings was caused by an ailment which prevented her fulfilling several important engagements. * * ♦ * The Racehorse Owners’ Association in England has upwards of eighty members, and the council consists of the Earl of Carnarvon, Lord Marcus Beresford, Lord Hamilton of Dalzell, Lord Westbury, Captain Orr Ewing, Mr. Frank Luscombe, Mr. H. E. Randall, Mr. W. M. G. Singer, Mr. W. Bass, Mr. A. P. Cunliffe, and Colonel Dansey. In England last season the progeny of St. Simon mares won 73 races of a total value of £ 23,551. Ayrshire mares were next with 40 races value £18,486 to their credit. For the past seven years the representatives of daughters of St. Simon have accounted for £193,000. • • « « Of the 118 jockeys licensed this season by the West Australian Turf Club, only foui’ can ride under 7st. * * « That marvellous stallion. St. Simon (who was foaled in 1881- was again prominent in the winning sires’ list for the recently-concluded English season, finishing eighth with £12,385 to his credit, but it must be added that the greater part of that sum came from St. Denis’ solitary success in one of the “ ten thousand pounders.” St. Simon was first represented on the turf seventeen years ago, and since then his progeny have won no less than £518,578 15s in prizemoney, 1903 being the only season that he fell below the five-figure mark. A great number of his sons have also made their mark as sires, and in addition to St. Frusquin and Persimmon, who finished third and fifth respectively, he had 19 others in the winning list during the past season.

The South Australian totalisator returns show that last year there was a further falling off in the investments in that State, only £204,841 going through the machines, as against £213,208 in 1904, and £259,431 in 1903. It is reckoned that last year’s drop was principally brought about by rain interfering with the S.A.J.C. New Year’s Day and Onkaparinga Easter meetings, the investments at those two fixtures alone totalling well J on towards £9OOO less than the pre- Z‘. vious year.

The sale of Mr. J. B. Haggin’s Rancho del Paso stud, in New York last month, extended over four days, and, altogether over *OO horses were sold for a total of £81,055. The sixteen-year-old Watercress (Springfield — Wharf dale) brought the highest price of any of the stallions, £14,200 being paid for him by Mr. Haggin, who previously only held a half interest in him. The prominent sire. Star Ruby, was bought in at £6OOO by Mr. Haggin who also retained Goldfinch and St. Gatien at £3200 each. Golden Garter was sold for £2OOO, and Toddington for £l6OO. The successful brood mare Flora Hurst was knocked down to Mr. John Mackey at £l7OO, and another mare, named Margerique, realised £l3OO. Among the yearlings a fillv by Star Ruby changed hands at £llOO.

Australian youth are credited with understanding all the points in the game of racing, but pretty frequently we hear of one and another being “taken down.” A visitor to the recent Melbourne carnival was fleeced to the tune of £47. To start with, through two touts he put £lO on Ebullition at tens, and won; and, without seeing the money, chanced £l2O On Torah, who also was successful. The amount was now over £600; but the callow youth—a Sydneysider named McNair —consented to the winnings being risked until tne whole amount was lost, whereupon the touts gave him £1 to go to Gippsland and “ say nothing about it.” He went, but returned, and instituted successful proceedings against those who had been his “ advisors” in the matter.

A Dublin paper, in mentioning the success in Ireland of the American owner, Mr. Richard Croker, says there has probably never been a more important accession to the ranks of Irish turfites than Mr. Richard Croker, who heartily supports meetings in all parts of the country and, moreover, in addition to having an extensive breeding establishment, is a large purchaser of blood stock. In the latter respect his deals have been decidedly fortunate. Last season Mr. Croker left off with £llBO to his credit, the result of ten races, this placing him fifth on the list, but this year he has beacen aii Irish records as owner, his winnings reaching the large sum of £5299 10s. This was brought in by thirty races, just one more than was won by Mr. John Widger in 1904, when his total reached £2256.

Of the successful jockeys in England the same writer says that some familiar names that once used to stand high are missing from the lists, notably those of W. Lane (incapacitated by his fearful accident 14 months ago), Mornington Cannon, and Kempton Cannon. The brothers Cannon have won respectively only 28 races (out of 217 mounts) and 10 (out of 169), they having had very little riding this year compared with what they used to have in times when they

made better averages of wins. First place is taken, for the first time, by Wheatley, who had the advantage of riding for W. Elsey’s famous Baumber stable, which won this season no fewer than 124 races. Madden is invariably in the front rank; four times he has come out on top, and now he is beaten by only five. But it is to be taken into consideration that his mounts are far more numerous than those of any other rider. Higgs has made a great name for himself, and the accomplished American rider D. Maher might have headed the list, but after topping the “ century” a few weeks ago he gave up riding for the season, and returned to the States for the winter. He won several important races, including the Derby on Lord Rosebery’s Cicero. His percentage of wins—just on one in four —is, as usual, far the best. The ex-ama-teur jockey Randall is again well up, While Dillon has also considerably improved his figures. An immediate success has been scored by the apprentice Templeman, who in his first season has ridden 66 winners, thus taking full advantage of the 51b allowance. The lad’s successes in big handicaps this autumn has been phenomenal, and he looks like having a brilliant future. Griggs would have figured much higher on the list but . for having twice in the season fractured his collar-bone, which accident kept him out of the saddle for nearly three months. ♦ * * ♦ Complaints of foul riding are always common enough on racecourses, but are too often used by jockeys as an excuse to cover their own stupid-

ity. There was a very plain instance of this at a recent meeting (says an Australian exchange). We then saw a boy trying to force his way through a packed body of horses in front of him, and, of course, getting knocked back like a shuttlecock. The belief that the horse should have won was very general among the talent, but the jockey’s excuse to the owner was interference, and nothing else, but, he would not name the alleged foul riders. If this youngster had received his deserts, he would have been disqualified on the spot for his own stupidity, and for interfering witn horses in front of him by galloping on their heels. A great deal of this alleged foul riding is brought about by putting up half-trained boys, whom Nature never designed for jockeys. They are, generally, put up to save expense, and there is seldom a race run in the metropolitan district without some interference taking place. “ Fashionable” jockeys are generally the worst offenders, for they depend upon their popularity to pull them through if they are called upon to answer a charge, which is seldom, for there is an unwritten law among riders to give and take without “peaching.” The jockey who “ squeaks” is ostracised, not only by members of his own profession, but also by a certain class of trainers in sympathy with anything with the flavour of sharp practice in it. As it is possible for people with good glasses to see interference, even on the far side of a racecourse, the stewards should occasionally see it going on, and pick out the offender and deal with him on the spot. Instead of waiting for complaints and then taking voluminous evidence, as if it were a Supreme Court case, thereby giving the offenders the benefit of every tin-pot technicality, they should be empowered to ask him for a short explanation and decide on their own judgment. Despotism is the only cure for the evils of the turf, for the “ crooks” thereof are of a nature that will take risks if there is the smallest loophole to escape.

Apart from the satisfaction of heading the list of successful owners in England, Mr. Walker has the gratification of being able to say that all his winning horses were bred by himself, writes the London correspondent of the “ Australasian.” Cherry Lass (by Isinglass) won £13,119 for him, including the One Thousand Guineas and the Oaks; Colonia (by Persimmon), £4618; while Black Arrow (by Count Schomberg), Merry Moment (by the same sire), and Sandboy (by Ravensbury) were also good winners in his colours. Lord Derby has quite revived the glories of his old racing familv, having won the largest number of races (33) of any owner this season. Among his many winners were His Majesty (by Melton), Anniversary 11. (by Diamond Jubilee), Persians (by Matchmaker), and Chaucer (by St. Simon). Mr. S. Joel has had 16 winning horses, including St. Denis (by St. Simon), who carried off the Princess of Wales’ Stakes of £7435; and Bachelor’s Button (by Winkfield), winner of the Gold Vase and Hardwicke Stakes, at Ascot, and the Doncaster Cup; but Mr. Sjnger owes his prominent position mainly to the half-dozen races won by St. Serf’s son Challacombe, victories which included the St. Leger. Major Loder, although owner of the peerless filly Pretty Polly, and such other good performers as Hammerkop, Admirable Crchton, and Adula, is not so high on the list as at one time seemed probable; but he had cruel luck when Admirable Crichton fell a victim to the coughing epidemic in the autumn, for the colt went all to pieces.

Towards Sir E. Vincent’s total Donnetta (by Donovan), Ulalume (by Gallinule), each winner of five races, and Pomegranate (by Persimmon), were the principal contributors; whilst Lord Rosebery owes £BO5O of his total to the victories of Cicero (by Cyllene —Gas), in the Newmarket Stakes and the Derby, though Catscradle (by St. Frusquin) accounted for £lB9O by a totally unexpected win in the Derby Gold Cup. M. Leopold de Rothschild was fortunate in having last year’s Derby winner (St. Amant) (by St. Frusquin) fit and well just when the Jockey Club Shakes or £7435 came on the board, the colt being a very difficult customer to train; otherwise this popular owner would have been very low down on the list. Mr. Henning’s last year with Brewe rhas been a satisfactory one, and he has had good winners in Airship (by Ayrshire), who carried off the Manchester Cup of £2570, and the Great Yorkshire Handicap of £975; the French-bred Xeny (by Postisson), a‘ magnificent sprinter; and Best Light (by Laveno).

A good many of - the Ellerslie contingent are being worked the reverse way. This denotes the near approach of the Takapuna meeting . * * * *

The uestkii pf the superiority of the Arab on a racecourse never enters into modern discussion for the best of all reason (writes “ Milroy”). The worst plater§ n England end thirdrate Australian pon es in India have so effectually silenced many Arab champion racers that advocates for the latter have perforce dropped that part of the agrument, but instead work in the o d legends of 100-mile spr nts, which these wonderful horses are credited with having executed in their native deserts. Of course, these great feats have never been witnessd by whit men. They are chronicled by the Arabs themselves, but the fact of the average native of Arab'a be ng gifted with a fertile maginUon does not count in a d scussion "ike th s. The legendary Arab steed, such as extol 1 ed by £t Ouida” and other lady writers, mab ye all that his admirers claim, but we should 1 ke to see one perform. As there are some Arab Stallions and mares of the purest blood in Australia, the question of superiority under the sadcTe could be very easily settled by a definite challenge. If admrers of the Arab as a saddle horse—or, rather, those to whom Ju wou d be profitable if the breed superseded the thoroughbred in the estimation of Australian breeders —were to select their best Arabs and offer to pit them against thoroughbreds for, say, a “ rel ability test,” as they do with motors, over a 100mile journey—or, better st'll (for the thoroughbred), a 500-m’le trip-—it would give point to their content'on, and at show they have confidence in the Arab and the arguments they advance,. To carry a 12st man 60 miles a day for a week or a month is certain, y good work, whether the horse be Arab, thoroughbred, or any other breed; but such a task would not have been too great for many hundreds of horses the writer has known, notably by one owned by. Mr. Arthur Wilson, of Yarraberb, near Sandhurst, whom he rode from Lla Springs, west of Bourke, to Yarraberb, a little over 500 miles, under eight days. As the horse carried nearly 17st it was a good performance for a grass-fed, and one th”t could have been repeated right off the reel bv the same animal. The horse was by an junnamed thoroughbred son of Cossack, bred at Toca 1 , and his dam was a Warrego brumby. Such feats of strength and endurance were common enough n the pro-railway days, and are no doubt still so, but are not considered worth making a song over.. If. however, an Arab does anything extraordinary, or what is considered extraordinary, we quickly hear about it.

The London “ Sportsman,” which last season conducted a breeding competition to ascertain the most suitable sire with which to mate the crack English filly. Pretty Polly, is' again in the fie d with a similar competition. The mare selected on th s occasion is Hackler’s Pride, who has been performing sb well in England during the past few months. Flying Fox has been from the competition. Australia will be represented by Mr. J. Brown, and New Zealand by. Mr. S. H. Go’lan, ; n the international committee appointed to decide the question .

In dealing with the subject of the English Jockey Club, the “ Pink ’Un” savs; —“The stewards of the Jockey Club are not infrequently young men who have not much experience of the Turf. We know that young men of character end position in a county are often made magistrates as soon as they come of age, and we would not have it otherwise. It interests them in the affairs of the county, and enables them to gain that experience which in after years will enable them with advantage to take a high position on the Bench. We do not, however, see them made chairman of Quarter Sessions while they are still very young men; but with the Jockey Club in effect we do.” IN-BREEDING. The mating of horses closely related is a subject which has always interested breeders, and many are the ruguments both for and against the practice, and on the whole the latter would appear to be the stronger. As to what is really meant by in-breeding Count Lehndorff, in his “ Horse Breeding Recollections,” says:—“l am of opinion that a horse should only be termed in-bred when, in sum total, less than four degrees lie between its parents and their common ancestor;

in other words, when the children or grandchildren of a stallion or a mare are mated, I call their produce inbred; but this term does not apply to the produce of great-grandchildren of the common ancestor. We must not forget that in the pedigrees of horses the word brother or sister often means half-brother or half-sister, and that here the definition borrowed from the human family connections is not applicable. As breeding within moderate relationship, I reckon the mating of stallion and mare that are removed from their common ancestor four, five, or six degrees. It is indifferent whether they are on both sides equidistant from, or one of them nearer to the male or female progenitor than the other. The English breeder of the old school was of opinion that breeding from very clos-ely-related parents, even if possessed of the most excellent qualities, as a rule led to disappointing results; in isolated cases, however, to the production of individual animals of quite extraordinary capabilities.” Mr. Stead is trying what appears a risky experiment by mating Cruciform with Multiform. Both, of course, were animals of the greatest excellence, but their relationship is exceedingly close. The case has aroused much interest among students of breeding, and in a recent article on the suoject the Sydney writer “ Milroy” has some interesting remarks to make: —This is the closest mating (he writes) of first-class individuals that has yet been tried, at least in modern times, in Australia, a fact which materially increases the interest in the result. A great deal was written and said about the breeding of Flying Fox when that wonderful son of Orme distinguished himself in such a marked manner on the English turf. Followers of the game and students were astounded at the audacity of the late Duke of Westminster in mating the parents of Flying Fox practically a half-brother and sister; but Mr. Stead’s experiment has quite put the Flying Fox mating into the shade. Two remarkably inbred animals, Hammerkop and Llangibby, have done well on the English turf, despite the near relationship of their parents. The stamina of Hammerkop at least is not affected by it, for doubtless her success in the Cesarewitch, a two miles and a-quarter race, a few weeks back is still green in the memory of readers. Hammerkop is by Gallnule from Concussion, an almost half-sister to Gallinule, but the degrees of relationship between this pair are not so close as those existing bewteen Multiform and Cruciform. It Is an article of faith with experienced turf men and breeders that more than half a horse’s strength depends upon the virility of the female line. A descendant of Alice Hawthorn, Beeswing, or Pocahontas will always command the attention of the man who has gone to the trouble to acquaint nimself with the history of the various families, and value them by the results recorded in the calendar. The youngster by Multiform from Cruciform will have much to recommend it in this direction, for the maternal direct ancestress (Formosa) of both sire and dam was a wonderful mare, whose history forms one of the brightest pages in the records of the turf. Heisire, Buccaneer, like many another good horse, did not receive the attention he deserved in his own country, and he was allowed to go to Hungary, where he sired Kisber, who won the English Derby, and was, in the opinion of Sir George Chetwynd, the best racehorse he ever knew. Class was . well represented in Formosa’s year by Rosicrucian, Paul Jones, See Saw, King Alfred, Blue Gown, and Speculum, but she was queen of them all. She carried off the Two Thousand Guineas, One Thousand Guineas, the Oaks, St. Leger, and other firstclass races. The manner in which she won the St. Leger, beating Paul Jones, also by Buccaneer, stamped her as one of the greatest fillies ever seen. When she retired she was mated with her erstwhile opponent, Rosicrucian, whom that wonderfully successful trainer, John Porter, has been wont to declare the best horse he had ever handled. The union of this famous pair was not a great success from a racing point, of view, and in consequence Mr. G. Stead was enabled to purchase Formosa’s Rosicrucian filly Pulchra at a moderate iigure in England. Though Mr. Stead’s judgment has been responsible for many valuable additions to the bloodstock of New Zealand and Australia, he never made a better purchase than Pulchra, as subsequent events proved. After she bred him Lady Evelyn, Mr. Stead sold Pulchra and all his mares to the then budding New Zealand Stud Company at a price which an ex-director of the

stud described as half their real value, but in the end the vendor was richly rewarded by her escendants. For the Stud Company Pulchra bred Clair, that rattling good horse King William, and Formo. The latter In turn produced Multiform, Uniform, and Forme, the dam of Cruciform. . Mr. Stead purchased Multiform, Uniform, and Cruciform as yearlings, and they proved veritable gold mines.