TURF TOPICS.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVII, Issue 1004, 3 June 1909, Page 6

TURF TOPICS.

Auckland horses who figure among the nominations for the Hawke’s Bay Steeplechase are Capitol and Creusot.

The injury to Audax is reported not to be of a serious nature.

The Birkenhead gelding Somateria broke down badly when competing at the North Otago Jockey Club’s Meeting last week.

Mr. Ben Curtis, one time ownei’ of Casket, winner of the Great Easter Handicap, is dead.

Mr. G. P. Donnelly intends to relinquish racing for the time, and his colours will shortly disappear from the Turf. Eldorado has been leased to Mr. Troutbeck, and the rest of the team in training will be nominated for future events, and will probably be disposed of at an early date.

The ex-New Zealander, Mr. H. J. Pick, recently won another race in Australia with the old hurdle horse Mainspring, who is trained and ridden by T. Cahill.

Mr. St. John Buckley has donated a cup, valued 15 sovs., to the newly formed Oamaru Trotting Club, and the trophy will be attached to the principal race decided at the inaugural meeting, to be held on June 10.

Florio broke down badly in front while doing strong half-pace work at Napier Park recently.

The well-known steeplechaser, Kaipetipeti, is to be thrown out of training, and will in future be used as a hack by his trainer.

Plateau, by Seaton Delaval from Campania, has been leased to Mr. K. S. Macleod, and goes into I. Foulsham’s stable.

Mooltan, about whose prospects of standing another severe preparation grave doubts are entertained, is at present doing useful work at Randwick.

Should Provocation be taken to Sydney in the spring, of which there is every prospect, he will be accompanied by Gravitation and Tribulation.

Sandix, who was entered for three events at the Auckland Meeting, fell on the road when returning from the Opaki course and cut both knees rather badly. This will throw him back in his preparation for some time.

I have to acknowledge receipt from the secretary of the Avondale Jockey Club, Mr. H. Hayr, of a neat little book containing the rules and regulations which govern meetings conducted by the Avondale Jockey Club.

F. Davis, Mr. T. H. Lowry’s private trainer, has purchased a property in the vicinity of Green Meadows. Consequently it may be taken for granted that the whole of the bearers of the blue and gold racing uniform of the Squire of Okawa will be prepared at Napier Park for the future.

Master Douglas, who got killed in the Century Hurdles, was sold as a two-year-old for 33 guineas by his breeder, Mr. G. P. Donnelly.

A Sydney paper of recent date says: There was at least one surprised man at Tattersall’s Club, and he was a member of the betting ring. During the busy hours of settling he was called outside and handed £lO on behalf of a person whose identity was not disclosed. The ringman was not sure that a mistake had not been made in being told that the tenner was his. He was not even told who to put the amount down to, but was ultimately assured that it represented conscience money, the bookmaker in question having overpaid a client to the extent of £lO a considerable time ago. The money was received with thanks.

Owing to the anti-gambling laws more money was wagered on the Derby in America than had ever been risked on an English race before. The bookmakers were large winners, owing to the defeat of the American horse Sir Martin. Americans resident in London wagered £50,000 on Sir Martin.

A Mount Barker (S.A.) syndicate of ten is credited with having received £lO,OOO in “sweep” money in five years. And yet few of us in long years of investment have landed even a “ fiver ” cash prize.

At a meeting of the Taieri Licensing Committee it was decided not to issue any conditional licenses for the present. This means that the Winter Meeting at Wingatui will be held without the sale of liquor.

With St. Aidan and North Head sold, and Nogi and Audax on the easy list, the Karamu jumping team is considerably reduced at the present time, but there is a big reserve force to draw on, and probably half a dozen more Birkenheads will be schooled before the winter season closes. It is stated that the stable shelters a 17hands horse, who, when he is called upon to jump, will make even Audax look to his laurels.

Mr. A. Brown, who resigned his position at Glenora Park, Papakura, in order to take up the management of the Shipley Stud in Victoria, left for Sydney by the s.s. Victoria.

The Hon. J. D. Ormond has disposed of North Head to Mr. Chas. Coleman, of Auckland, for £650, and the son of Birkenhead arrived in Auckland by the Waikare on Wednesday night in charge of his new owner. Though a very wild jumper at present, North head is a promising hurdler, and should win many a race for Mr. Coleman.

The New Zealand-bred two-year-old Snowfoot (by Soult) has been added to the list. At his few efforts in Sydney Snowfoot failed to act up to his New Zealand form.

Golden Slipper has again been sent to Windsor, and is to remain there about six weeks. There have been few greater disappointments than the daughter of Multiform, who has so far shown herself a better galloper in private than in public. That she will ever stay is more than doubtful, but her poor displays at the A.J.C. meeting should cause her to be sufficiently well treated to give her a fair chance of picking up a good sprint race in the event of a return to her two-year-old form.