. NOTES. .

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIV, Issue 849, 14 June 1906, Page 5

. NOTES. .

(Ry “ Ihe J udge,”} Not a great deal of interest will centre in the New Zealand Cup this year as far as Auckland horses are concerned, as Ironmould and Gladstone are the only entries. * * * * Mr. W. G. Nightingale, the secretary of the Waipukurau Jockey Club, is at present in Auckland on a holiday. * * * * Rose Madder, who was expected by many to win the York Welter on Saturday, ran absolutely last in a field of nineteen. * * * * L. H. Hewitt has gone across to Sydney, where he will remain until after the A.J.C. Spring Meeting. * * * *• Entries for the New Zealand Cup show a falling off as compared with last year, the number being fifty-four as against seventy-two. Neither Sir George Clifford or Mr. Stead has entered a single representative, and with Achilles an absentee, the field cannot be considered particularly high-class. * * * * There were some fine fields competing at Ellerslie on Saturday. The York Welter had nineteen horses in it, the Fitzroy Welter seventeen, and the Farewell Handicap twenty. The average for the day was nearly thirteen per race, a result very gratifying to Mr. Morse, the handicapper. Cavalry showed that he possessed plenty of courage in the Gampbell Hurdle Race. Half a mile from home O’Connell was hard at work on him, but he cut down the leaders in great style, winning fairly comfortably at the end. * * * * There can be no doubt that if the Great Northern Steeplechase had been run a fortnight later Irish would have taken a lot of beating in it. He improved with each gallop, and in the Winter Steeplechase was in the van for the greater part of the journey. If the son of Eton goes to Christchurch he should be worth watching. * * * * Sol ran a very game race in the Winter Steeplechase despite his heavy weight. At the top of the hill the last time he appeared to be beaten, but Wilson drew his whip and the son of Soult responded very gamely to the call. He settled everything but Irish, and for a moment it looked as though he had even the light-weight’s measure. The heavy going and the extra weight told its tale in the last little bit, and he finished a very creditable second. * * ♦ * Most people overlooked Fashionable in the York Welter on Saturday, and therefore the little son of Soult and Bit o’ Fashion returned the nice dividend of £lB 2s to his supporters. It was apparently forgotten that Fashionable is accustomed to carrying all sorts of weights from lOst to list, and therefore 9st 21b was something of a luxury to him, although a welter weight to those alongside him. The cross-country rider, W. Wilson, had the mount, and he rode a well-judged race, bringing the pony at the right moment. Both received a hearty cheer on returning to scale. * * * * The finish between Baritone and Kruger in the Taranaki Steeplechase on Saturday was a very fine one. Both horses jumped the stone wall together, but at the final hurdle Kruger had a fractional advantage which he maintained until two or three lengths from home, when Baritone caught him, and the judge was unable to separate them. I suppose nine people out of ten on the course thought that Kruger had won, but it was one of those close things that the judge alone can decide. Mr. Lusk tells me that Baritone actually got his nose in front, but in the last stride Kruger reached him again.

Mawhitl ran well in the Winter Steeplechase, and coming down the hill for the last time the roan gelding looked to have a great chance. He came to grief at the stone well at the entrance to the straight. * * * * At present the popular pick for the New Zealand Cup is Boomerang, and as short a price as 12 to 1 has been accepted about him. Anyone who would take such a wager before the appearance of the weights should consult a medical man. It is said that the veteran Haydn will not be seen out under silk again. The ancient son of Sou -Wester and Myra ran very disappointingly at the leceiiG meeting, ana it would certainly appear that his day is past. Such a sure fencer should make a fine hunter. * * * Another who is hardly likely to carry silk again is Cannongate. He could not quite beat Makaria in the Tally-ho Steeplechase, and in the Winter Steeplechase the old fellow came down at the last fence. Like Haydn, he was a Hne chaser in his day, but 1 am afraid that day is gone. Despite a somewhat inglorious exhibition just prior to coming to Auckland, weary Bill was freely whispered about as something pretty good for the Campbell Hurlles. ihe son of The Australian justified his name, however, by coming m at the wrong emi oi the procession. ' * A- 7.Mr. A. W. Pearson, who was formerly one of the A.J.C. stipendiary stewards, has issued a writ for £lOOO damages for libel against the proprietors oi the ‘‘Australasian.” It is understood Mr. Pearson takes strong exception to some references to the late A.J.C. stewards, in an article dealing with stipendiary stewards generally. •X- * ■X- * Mr. Ring rode a good race on Haeremai in the Ladies Bracelet on Saturday. Although perhaps not quite so good as some of our professional horsemen, Mr. Ring has no superior in the saddle among the amateur ranks. AT W Mr. J. H. Pollock, the Wellington and Otaki handicapper, was in Auckland for the concluding day of the A.R.C. Meeting. He is keenly interested in athletics, and during his visit interviewed several enthusiasts with a view to seeing whether the sport could not be revived here. A turn in the luck, or, rather, want of it, which has followed the colours of the Messrs. Duder, was fully due, and the win of Tui Cakoban was a very popular one. The gelding's elder brother, Black and Gold, came very near winning the following race, but he could not quite pace it with Discoverer in the last little bit. No one would have begrudged the double victory for the North Shore sportsmen are among the most popular owners on the turf to-day. * * * * Many people considered that Tui Cakoban (pronounced Thakambau) was not a good-actioned horse, and left him severely alone in the Fitzroy Welter. There were some who picked him out as one of the best-looking horse in the race, and stuck to the son of Cuirassier. Their confidence in him was justified, for he virtually came in by himself. Tui should do well if put to the illegitimate game, for he is just the cut of a hurdler. v vir Achilles has been nominated for the A.J.C. Epsom Handicap and Metropolitan Stakes, so that there is a prospect of the great son of Medallion going to Sydney in the spring. * * * * It is somewhat amusing to hear the number of people who intended backing Waikato in the Prince of Wales’ Handicap. If they had all been on the son of St. Hippo would have been favourite instead of paying the biggest dividend at the meeting. & * * * * C. Jenkins came up to ride at the recent A.R.C. Meeting, but had no luck as he did not ride a winner. *.. * * * Mr Hartland and his staff deserve a great deal of credit for the manner in which the recent meeting was con- , ducted at Ellerslie. Everything went very smoothly and the wants of patrons were considered in every possible manner. The new secretary believes that given a good system much can be accomplished, and at the meeting jus concluded he has proved the tr”’ ’ this.

Aka Aka had to be pulled up in the Winter Steeplechase. It was found that he had broken down badly, and it will be a long time before he carries silk again.

The Hawke’s Bay J.C. Winter Meeting will take place next Wednesday and Thursday.

Twenty-seven horses have been entered for the Wellington Steeplechase. Among the list are the Aucklanders: Hakaria, Sol, Swimmer, Baritone, Irish, Kruger, Haydn and Cannongate, but it is very doubtful whether the last two will be seen out.

Cicero, who had not raced since being beaten by Vai d’Or in the Eclipse Stakes last July, made his re-apnear-ance in public at the Newmarket Biennial Stakes, 1| miles, and, carrying 10.0, and starting at 5 to 1 on, won as he liked in 2min 4-5 sec, from his solitary opponent, Shilfa.

All the visiting horses which ran at the recent A.R.C. Meeting have now returned home.

The Pakuranga Hunt Club will meet to-day at Pukekohe, and on Saturday at Green Mount.

The special train to take visitors out to the North New Zealand Coursing Club’s Meeting on Saturday will leave Auckland at 12.20 and return at 5.15 p.m.

Mr. D. O’Brien has had the misfortune to lose his brood mare Grafin, who was found dead in the paddock last week. Grafin was got by Carbine from Loyal Peeress, and was bred in 1893 by the Hon. Donald Wallace. Heroism and Grenade are her best known descendants.

L'p to the commencement of last month Carbine’s list for this season had not filled even at the reduced fee of £9B. After Spearmint’s Derby win, those breeders who subscribed to Carbine had good reason to congratulate themselves, as in all probability his figure for next season will again touch the 200 guineas mark.

Ben Deeley, the well-known rider, left for Napier by the Mokoia on Tuesday. He has accepted an engagement to ride for Mr. G. J. Watt. will be glad to hear of Deeley s advance, for besides being a very capable jockey he has always proved himself a well-behaved and reliable lad.

By the success of Dean Swift in the Citv and Suburban, his owner, Mr. J. B. Joel, is credited with having won something over ££35,000. Had Lally won the English Derby, he would have won another £20,000, having backed that colt together with Dean Swift in several substantial doubleevent bets.

June 5 proved a busy day at the office of the A.J.C., Sydney, as no less than 1659 entries were received between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. These entries were taken, names and numbers entered up ready for the Press, and everything completed by closing time.

Major Eustace Loder is certainly one on whom Dame Fortune loves to smile. He has now won all the “classic” races except the Two Thousand Guineas, having, in 1904, won the One Thousand, the Oaks, and St. Legei' with Pretty Polly. The Major’s winnings in stakes were : In 1901, £9320; 1902, £5138; 1903, £15,738; 1904, and last year, £11,584. Now Spearmint has nlaced the Derby and Grand Prix to the Major s credit.

Airs and Graces, the dam of Jardy, who was recently sold to the Argentine for 30,000 guineas, won the English Oaks, 1898, for the well-known Australian, Mr. W. T. Jones, after which she was purchased for the Haras de Jardy stud, and is by Ayrshire from Lady Alwyne, by Camballo from Florence Aisabie, by Young Melbourne. As a two-year-old Jardy won the four events in which he started—the Prix Yacowlef at Deauville, the Premier Criterium at Paris, and the Criterium Internatonal at Maisons Laffitte, and wound up the season in England by securing the Middle Park Plate. During the last season he started three times and was successful twice—in the Prix Noaille at the Paris April Meeting, and the Prix Darn, 101 furlongs, at the Paris May Meeting, after which he was taken over to England, and was beaten three-parts of a length by Cicero in the Derby.

Mr. G. G. Stead has again been elected chairman of the Canterbury Jockey Club.

Miss King and Kuroki were shipped to Sydney from Wellington on Saturday last.

When Spearmint won the Derby he easily established a record for the race. Cicero had the previous best with 2min 39 2-ssec, but Spearmint brought the figures down to 2min 36 4-ssec.

A bronze statue of the King’s famous Derby winner, Persimmon, has been executed -by Captain Adrian Jones, the sculptor, and is a gift to His ■ Majesty from the Prince of

Wales. It is to be erected on a granite pedestal, and is to occupy a prominent place on the lawn at Sandringham, the racehorse being a particular favourite with the King.

At the Epsom spring meeting on April 25 the Gallinule colt G'allinago, carrying 7st 91b, won the Prince of Wales’ Stakes, and covered the distance, one mile, in the extraordinary time of limn 33sec.

It is melancholy to think what the afternoon’s racing would have been at Newmarket yesterday (May 3) but for the re-appearance of Pretty Polly, and no sooner had the marvellous mare hack-cantered past the post than a large number of the small company present took their departure (writes “Vigilant” in the London “Sportsman”). She was saddled in the old spot, but had a new cob to keep her company. I understand that her old companion was hunted for the greater part of the winter, and contracted rheumatism so badly that he is now unequal to the task of acting as chaperon. The understudy for that post is not so “classy” as her predecessor, but “Polly” seems to have taken very kindly to her, so all is well. I believe that Mr. Gilpin considers that the mare is now better than she has ever been in her life, and it is quite easy to credit this, for I have never seen her looking quite so well as she did yesterday. The opposition was fairly strong, for both His Majesty and St. Wulfram can gallop, but neither made the slightest show against the winner. Indeed, Mondamin, who had a big pull in the weights, was the only one to keep within hail of her, and Mr. Douglas Baird annexed the 75 sovs for the second.

Evidently the Carbine colt Spearmint did not fluke the Derby, for he has now added the Grand Prix de Paris to his list of victories. He comes of a No. 1 family, his breeding in full being as follows : —Sire : Carbine (2), by Musket (3) —son of Toxophilite (3) from Mersey (imp.), by Knowsley (3) —son of Stockwell (3) — from Clemence, by Newminster (8) — son of Touchstone (14) —from Eulogy, by Euclid (7) from Martha Lynn. Spearmint’s dam : Maid of the Mint (1), by Minting (1) —son of Lord Lyon (1) and grandson of Stockwell (3) — from Warble, by Skylark (15)—son of King Tom (3) from Coturnix, by Thunderbolt (11) —son of Stockwell (3) —from Fravolina (a twin), by Orlando (13) —son of Touchstone (14) —-from Apricot, by Hercules (2) —son of Whalebone (1), the sire of Touchstone. It is interesting to note that his engagements for the current season include the North Derby (Newcastle), Sandringham Foal Stakes (Sandown Park), City of London Breeders’ Foal Stakes (Kempton Park), Great Yorkshire Stakes (York), Champion Breeders’ Biennial Foal Stakes (Derby), Great Foal Stakes and Lowther Stakes, Newmarket anl Gatwick Stakes.

Sol, the winner of the Grand National Steeplechase and numei ous other jumping events, was. us a two-year-old, passed in at an auction sale for £2O. Subsequently Mr. Wells, of Cambridge, bought him for £4O, but sold him to Mr. Morgan for £5O, a lucky deal indeed, for he is to-day perhaps the best ’chaser in New Zealand.

Messrs. Mellsop, Eliott and Co. advertise that they have for sale the lease of the Grand Hotel, Palmerston North. This is a four-storey brick building, and contains 80 living rooms. It is indeed one of the finest hotels in the North Island, and is situated in a town which is making immense strides, and which ere long will have to be considered one of the chief towns of New Zealand. This splendid hotel will be ready for occupation early in December. Full particulars may be obtained from the agents.

Leolantis was the most successful sire at the recent A.R.C. meeting, Baritone, Storyteller, and Baltimore representing him. Soult, Light Artillery and Freedom each had two winners.

In addition to being a fine sport to those who follow it, hunting has many other uses (writes “ Chonograph”), and not the least of these is that it serves as a sort of “ school” for steeplechasers. Many a “ lepper” who has afterwards achieved renown “ between the flags” got his first lesson in jumping while following the hounds. And what better practice could they get? The hunter, to be up to the mark, must be equal to carrying weight; he must be clever and resourceful; and he must also possess a share of pace, coupled with a gift of endurance. These are the qualities that are bound to tell in the steeplechase field, too, and thus season after season we find the hunters entering the lists against the ’chasers pure and simple, and holding their own. One only has to mention the names of such cross-country giants as the three D’s —Duggan, Daimio, and Domino —to show what a jumper educated in the hunting field might be capable of. It may be that horses like these would have been “ discovered” even if there had never been a “ pack” in the land, but it is certain that in several other cases successful cross-country performers have been unearthed by hunting that, may never have been heard of otherwise. So if the different hunt clubs occasionally ask the public, through a well-con-ducted race meeting, for a help along, they, at least, in return do some service to the Turf in the way of “ finding” chasers of the right' stamp to carry the game on.