INTER – PROVINCIAL.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIV, Issue 831, 8 February 1906, Page 9

INTER - PROVINCIAL.

(From Our Own Correspondents.) CANTERBURY. Christchurch, February 7. The Canterbury Jockey Club’s summer meeting takes place at Riccarton on Thursday and Saturday next. Cuneiform has bruised his foot and will not be able to start in the Middle Park Plate. Isolt, who has only lately resumed work, will be the stable’s representative in the classic event. Capital entries have been received for the Great Easter and Great Autumn Handicaps There are fifty in the short race and thirty-one in the mile and a-half. This is a fine entry, and easily eclipses last year’s figures, which were thirty-three for the Great Easter and twenty-five for the Great Autumn. Kirriemuir has put in an appearance on the tracks during the past few days, but has only done gentle exercise. The crack filly is looking well, and Cutts hopes to get her ready for autumn engagements. Tirole and Chivalry have been suffering from severe colds since returning from the Wellington meeting. Neither will be able to compete at the summer meeting this week. This is a piece of bad luck for George Payne, who was confident of the horses winning a race. Cannie Chiel, who is probably one 'f the best handicapped horses in the Midsummer Cup, has been galloping in in and out fashion recently. On several occasions he has been badly beaten by one of his stable mates, Chryseis. This filly is very well just now, and possesses an excellent chance of winning the Craven Plate. Beau Seaton, who has been absent from the tracks for some time, put in an appearance one day last week. He is looking big and well. It is stated that F. R. Jones has received an offer of a retainer of

£5OO a year to ride in England, and that he will leave New Zealand this week. It is more than likely that Jones will be seen up on Noctuiform before many months go by Two untried Yaldhurst youngsters are likely to make their first appearance in public at Riccarton this week. These are Cream Jug, by Royal Artillery—Saucer, who is In the Filly Stakes, and Highland Reel, by Stepniak —Strathspey, who is in the Midsummer Handicap. The Hororata Racing Club made a handsome profit over its summer meeting, and intends spending a portion of the money in effecting improvements to the course. Mr. Stead has entered Cuneiform, Savoury, Munjeet, Delaware, Porcelain and Eden in the Great Easter Handicap, and Savoury, Delaware, and Nightfall in the Great Autumn 'handicaps. Backers will therefore have a somewhat difficult puzzle before them in their attempts to hit upon the right representatives of the stable in this year’s big autumn handicaps. Other stables well represented in these two events are Mr. E. J. Watt’s, Sir G. Clifford’s, and Prosser’s. Machine Gun is in the Greater Easter Handicap, but having left for Australia I would not advise anyone to back him. For the first day’s events at the C.J.C. summer meeting, the following may run forward: — Hornsby Welter: Pas Seul, Speculate. Filly Stakes: Volodia, Cream Jug. Midsummer Handicap: Cannie Chiel, Highland Reel Lyttelton Plate: Aimee Soult, Lady Landon. Halswell Welter: Catherine Gordon. Craven Plate: Chryseis, Master Alix.

OTAGO. Dunedin, February 7. The Maniototo Jockey Club held a fairly successful meeting last week, when the Stepniak gelding Stepenfeldt and the Obligado gelding Cathron accounted for the principal items on the programme. Punters have been what might be termed so suspiciously successful over pony races decided in the North that our local S.P. merchants intend declining to do business on these events in the future, and are also casting a reflection on the Takapuna and Avondale meetings by contemplating the advisability of cutting these gatherings out of their future operations. The Cuirassow —Adulation gelding Curiosity was the medium of some S.P. speculation for this race on the second day of the M.J.C. meeting, and the good things would have come undone had Rosebloom got a clear run at the finish. Curiosity was bred

by R. Derrett, and is a half-brother to Bracelet and Courtier. The pacer Otama was sold at the conclusion of the Maniototo meeting at a price which is said to be in the neighbourhood of £IOO. The Maniototo Jockey Club is satisfied with the result of its experiment in confining the trotting events on its programme to district horses. There were no Dan Patches amongst the field which raced last week, but it encourages the local sports to keep a good horse or two, and should also give breeding to good stallions a boost. Amongst the runners at Maniototo were some lights of other days, who, although lagging superflous on the scene, would have made an excellent field for “old buffers’ races.” A few of their natal years read as follows: —Maremma 1891, Vandyke 1891, Realistic 1893, Ulto 1893, Puzzle 1894, Lapidary 1893, and Galileso 1894. The Mannlicher gelding Capetown, who ran third to Cruciform and Tercelet in the field of three which contested the Challenge Stakes of 1903, was the wiseacres tip for the sevenfurlong hack races won by Battleaxe at Manitoto. The latter came with very late run, and in winning on the post upset the pot. King of Trumps, the disappointing brother to the well-performed Flower o’ Clutha, goes to Christchurch this week, and joins the Messrs. Solomon Bros.’ stable. He will probably be given a trial over hurdles.

Flying Spark has joined Flockton’s stable, and will be trained by him for future engagements.

E. McKievan showed his versatility in the pigskin at the Maniototo meeting by riding Cathron In both ms races, and also steering White Stockings in the Mile Trot on the second day’s card. Convoy, Master Alix and Lady Landon were taken up to Christchurch the latter end of last week to fulfil their engagements at the C.J.C midsummer meeting. Each of the trio is said to be in good order, and should capture a stake or two between them. The Obligado—Primrose filly Rosebloom, who was bred and is trained by her owner, Mr. W. Winchester, won a couple of races at Maniototo in a style which suggests that she has made a fair amount of Improvement since she made her debut in the spring. Rosebloom should have won her third race at the meeting, but got a bad bump at the finisn, which made the difference between winning and losing. She may never develop into a first-class racer, but there is no doubt she is bred on undeniably good lines, as her sire, Obligado, was got by Orville (son of Ormonde and Shotover) out of the Trappist marc Flirt, and ner dam, Primrose, is a daughter of the Goldsborough horse Hilarious, whose dam, Mermaid, was got by New Warrior out of the Fisherman mare Mermaid. The Grafton colt Tom Moore, who is a half-brother to Wallace, was amongst the winners at a recent Caulfield meeting. The colt spent bis babyhood days in. the splendid paddocks at the Elderslie stud, where his dam (Melodious) had been sent on a visit to Stepniak. The Forbury Park Racing Club made a profit of £B6 6s 3d over their meetings last season, and will hold their races on March 23, the anniversary day of the province. Beau Seaton has been bought by Mr. R. O. Campbell, and has joined Franks’ team at Riccarton. Menschikoff passed through by Sunday’s boat on his way to Melbourne.

The Romney is being schooled over hurdles by L. Carr

WANGANUI. Wanganui, February 7. A number of Wanganui enthusiasts journeyed through to Pahiatua for the annual gathering of that club, held last Wednesday and Thursday. They report having spent a most enjoyable time, though evidently none too profitable. Hipporangi, an aged mare by Rangipuhi—Hippodrome, who scored in the Telephone Hack Handicap at Foxton, was whispered about as a “ good thing” for the Hack Hurdles at Pahiatua, and was entrusted with a lot of money by local punters. She managed to get second each day, so that backers made a little. Hipporangi is a fine jumper, and will be worth watching in future. Had Rosewood got home in the Maiden Hack Scurry at Pahiatua, the bookies here would have been hard hit, but Tetai, by Gold Reef —Waiau,

prevailed by a neck over the former, who was sent through as a moral. At the above meeting, just prior to the start of the Racing Club Handicap, the riders were called into the stewards’ room and cautioned that the running of each horse would be watched.

Heavy rain set in on Friday evening, and has continued almost without intermission ever since. Unless the weather improves, quite a number of those who intended visiting Karioi for the annual meeting to be held there on the Bth (Thursday) will not undertake the trip. The acceptances received by the club are really good, and no doubt the gathering will be one of the most successful in the club’s history, providing the elements are favourable.

There is every probability of old Halberdier being seen on the track again shortly. When the son of Cuirassier —Miss Stead broke down some time back, it was thought that the last had been seen of the New Zpaland Cup winner on the turf. However, the leg has been successfully “ fired,” and there is no reason why Mr. B. T. Bennett should not be able to get another race or two out of his old champion. Mr. Bennett is, however, too good a sportsman to run any risk of breaking his horse down badly, and if Halberdier shows any sign of going lame again, he will be permanently retired. Weights for the Wanganui Cup are due on the 17th inst. Already some betting has been done on the event, Nightfall, Master Delaval, Multifid, and Bourrasque having each been supported for a fair amount. One or two are greatly enamoured of the latter’s chance, as the Sou’-wester— Lady Isabel gelding showed such excellent form when he won tne Foxton Cup. Bourrasque is a five-year-old, and is trained by Alf. Shearsby, who, I am given to understand, considers le gelding will have to be reckoned with in the Cup here, provided he goes on all right hi the meantime. The Foxton Cup performance was certainly a good one, as not only did the gelding beat some rair performers, but he won very easily in time given as 2min 11 l-ssec. However, Bourrasque will be meeting a number of better horses here to those he defeated at Foxton.

It may not be generally known that Ironmould, one of those engaged In the Wanganui Cup, is a Sydney-bred gelding by Metal —Hopabout. A few weeks ago I referred in these columns to the opinion given expression to by a gentleman who has been connected with the turf for thirty years on this coast, and one who is recognised throughout the length and breadth of the colony as an authority on all matters pertaning to horse-rac-ing, that a jockey’s ring was in existence The gentleman in question spoke strongly on the matter, and said that he was convinced of the truth of what he asserted by what he had seen after watching things carefully for months. The last issue of the “ Weekly News” contains some strong comments on an incident which happened at the late Foxton meeting, and says that it certainly looks as if there was some truth in the statements made in the North re a jockey’s ring. From what I can here, there is a movement afoot to arrange for a meeting of owners at Wellington at an early date to consider the matter. Several owners have declared that they are perfectly satisfied that such a ring is in existence, and are hopeful that the stir which has been created over tne allegations made recently will lead to some steps being taken which will prove effectual in breaking up the alleged ring. Considerable curiosity is being evinced as to who the light-weight jockey is who contemplates fetching an action against a certain owner tor statements reflecting on the straightness of his riding. The general opinion here is that a Wanganui rldetis referred to. Science, the half-brother to Shi apnel, is improving with each gallop, and it will not be long apparently before Walter Raynor, his popular trainer, scores a win with him. The gelding showed a lot of pace for five furlongs in the Trial Hack Race at Foxton, when he finished second. The Egmont weights have made their appearance, and Mr. J. E. Henrys has set backers a severe task to pick out probable winners, though it will no doubt be easier to narrow tne fields down after the acceptances re out. At first glance I like Multifid 9.0, Lady Annie 8.7, and St. Claimer 7.8 in the Flying. In the

Mere Mere Hack Handicap of six furlongs there are thirty engaged. Of this lot perhaps Discoverer 9 2, Gleam 8.5, Silver Shell 7.10, Destruction 7.9, and Splendid Idea 7.6, may prove the best. They may finish: Gleam 1, Discoverer 2, Splendid Idea 3. In the Wharehoa Hurdles old Waiwera figures at the top of the list with 11.9 against his name. Next to him comes Khama with 10.12. On his running at Takapuna the latter must be very dangerous, bur if St. Lyra (9.10) strips well on the day the winner will not be hard to find. Weary Bill (9.10 must have a cnance, while Vexation (9.0) should also run well. I shall look to St. Lyra, Khama, and Weary Bill to fill tne places. The Hack Hurdles may be won by Numa (10 8), or Lion Heart (9.10), with Cassiopea (10.13) next best. In the Egmont Cup, one mile and a-half, Landlock (9.0) reads the best, Paritutu being in at a pound less, while Multifid has 8.11. If the latter is started for this event in preference to being kept for the Wanganui Cup, he will very nearly win, though it appears a most open race now. After the acceptances are declared it will no doubt be much easier to size up the chances of the contestants. Scotty (8.9) appears to be well in, but if he goes to the post I should rely on Ghoorka (8.8) The son of Lochiel has not raced since the New Zealand Cup, in which he got kicked. Ropa (8.1), Armistice (7.12), Gladstone (7.11), Boomerang (7.10), Bourrasque (7.9), Submarine (6.13), and G 1 enullin (6.12) will all have admirers if paid up for. Ghoorka, Paritutu and Multifid may fill the places. In the Welter Submarine (9.6), Kuroki (9.5), Polycaste (8.7), and Waikato (8.5) may fight out the finish. The Waipipi Hack Handicap, one mile, should provide a good race between Nova (8.0), Gleam (7.11), Merriwai (78), and Science (7.0), if they all face the starter.

WELLINGTON. Wellington, February 6. Al admirers of a good horse will be pleased to earn thati Achi les came through his trying ordeal at Trentham without feeling any ill effects. Mr. Monk’s champion has been allowed to have an easy time of it since the Wel’ington meeting. Ghoorka and Exmoor, who were not raced at Trantham, are doing useful work in view of the AVanganui autumn fixture. Ailsa, Bor's, Moscow, and Prosser’s other charges are being kept up to the mark and a few strong gallops will fit them for any contest which their respective owners may desire to “ take on.” That useful gelding Gold Crown , who has been laid aside since the Feeding meeting through accidental y getting staked by a splinter from the rails of the racecourse, is again :.n work, and may be got ready in time for the back end meetings. From the absence of Achilles’ name from the list of horses engaged in the Wanganui Cup and C. J .0. Great Autumn it is obvious that his owner intends restricting Ach’Tes to distances less than a mile and ahalf. Mr. Monk’s splendidly proportioned chestnut is a very hard puller, and Jenkins has to let him run along at his best pace, otherwise he fights for his head. Races from five to nine fur'ongs should suit Achilles, and with a reasonaWe impost he should establish fresh records for these distances. The Pahia'fua Cup. as was expected, proved an easy victory for Letherin, who, including his penalty, had 7st 71b in the saddle.. The dividend,, £2 19s, was a surprise to most students of form, as after his prominent running at Trantham his chance appeared “ two to one on.” There must have been something amiss, as Capu et was whispered about in wall-informed circles as the correct thing for the Pah atua Cup. Recent form... however, prevailed, and backers will more often find that pull them through than “ whisperer’ ” tips. As evidence of the prosperity of the

Wellington province it can be pointed out that the recent Wellington, Foxton, and Pahiatua race meetings have each been freely patronised by the speculating public. Increasing totalisator turnovers have gladdened the hearts of the above clubs’ offic’a s, and it is reasonab’e to anticipate that next season’s programmes will show proportionate increased stakes. The Porirua stable sent a couple of horses to Pahiatua, Aotea and Tetia, but the first-named cut up ing oriously in the hack events. Tetai, after running third in the Tria 1 Hack Plate, weight-for-age, managed to secure the Maiden Hack Scurry from a moderate field. Needless to add that the Porirua reps, were freely supported by the stable’s followers in each of their engagements. Mr. J. R. McDona’d, a patron of the Porirua stable, attended the sale of the Te Mahanga yearl ngs week. His so'e purchase appears to have been the Gold Reef—Nymph colt, a full brother To Gold Crown, for whom Mr. McDonald gavve 160 guineas. Mr. Da 7 ton, the owner of Auratus. secured the San Fran— Maude filly at 155 guineas and this pair were evidently the pick of the lot submitted to the hammer. The Hutt-trained horses, Wind and Black Squad, made an unsuccessful visit to the Nelson J.C. meeting. The former, who won the Second Hurdle Race at Trentham, was started in the Nelson Cup with F. Jones up, but fai’ed to make any kind of showing. Horses raced over hurd’es one week and on the flat the next are invariaably unsuccessful. Black Squall ran a poor third in the N.J.C. First Hurd’es, and was not started on the second day. Solution, Tupono, and Destruction, the property of Mr. R. W. Paterson, have been brought to the Hutt and placed in J. Low’s hands. Some differences as to who should ride these horses in their engagements led to a rupture between their former trainer and Mr. Paterson. J. Lew is a thoroughly capable man, and his boxes have now ten occupants, including the Soult—Satanella filly recently purchased at the Papakura yearling sa’e.

As the resut of the vis t of interprovincial pressmen to the inaugural meeting at Trentham the racecourse and appointments have cime in for much criticism. It must be pleasing To the Wellington executive to note that, except for a few details, which will be rectified ere another meeting, the arrangements and racecourse have met with unanimous approval. Some critics considered the race track somewhat hard, but what courses are otherthan hard during m'dsummar. I visited the course subsequent to the racing, and found that on all portions . of the course the horses’ hoof marks had cut in upwards of an inch, and whera the hurdle horses had landed over the jumps the impression was much more pronounced. My companions during the inspection wera racing men of mature experience, and they unanimously agread that the course was one of ‘the best in the colony, and no owner of a reasonably sound racer need fear galloping his horse on it. Messrs. L. H. Hewitt and R. Derrett, a couple of the colony’s mo& experienced horsemen, speak 'in high praise of the course, which they designate “as level as a bowling green,” and “ the turn of tha very best.” The Wellington Racing Club Executive nevertheless will if possible, furthar improve ‘the track by topdressing it forthwith; and when the autumn comes round visiting trainers will be enabled to whila away their spare moments by playing bowls on the course. Mr. J. H. Pollock, the W.R C. handicapper, has been tha recipient of a number of congratulatory letters from racing experts, who closely followed his adjustmants during The Trentham meeting. One admirer presented the handicapper with a framed photograph of the finsh of the raca for the Wellington Cup, and underneath is written the investments made on the totalisator on ecah runner in the Cup.