ARNST V. WEBB.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVII, Issue 1006, 17 June 1909, Page 5

ARNST V. WEBB.

WORLD’S SCULLING CONTEST. (From Our Own Correspondent.) Before the next issue of the “ Review,” another sculling race for the championship of the world will have been decided on the Wanganui River, and the much-discussed question as to whether Arnst or Webb is the better man will, in all probability, have been settled. There are many Wanganui people who have all along declared that the last race was absolutely no test, maintaining that the local man was on the day utterly unable to do himself justice, owing to his left arm having gone back on him. That his form on the day was a long way below his best admits of no doubt whatever, as his rowing that day was devoid of any of the dash and brilliancy which he had shown in previous races, and in his training a few weeks before he met Arnst. That he is himself again now is equally certain, and if he keeps as well to the 22nd then he may be depended upon to put up a race worthy of the occasion, and if Arnst beats him at all it will only be after a desperate race—one worth going many miles to see. Webb is now sculling as wel! as he ever did, and has never been fitter. He has done some exceptionally fine work, and to all appearances he is in perfect condition for the gruelling task in front of him. Personally, I like the way he is rowing, much better than prior to the last race, as he is sitting up to his work particularly well, has shortened his stroke a little, and has got rid of a crouching habit which he fell into last year. He did a solid row yesterday (Sunday) over the championship course, his boat travelling well all through. He left George Whelch well behind in the first half of the journey, and finished with a spurt that greatly impressed those who witnessed the spin. It was a remarkably fine bit of sculling, and as proof that he was quite sound, after covering the course he rowed right down the river home —a four mile extra row.

Arnst is going well, and looks as if he would be fit to put up a great performance on the day. He has certainly improved in style, and providing he is as well trained on this occasion as last he ought to be a faster man now than ever. He has done plenty of hard work, and should be thoroughly well on the day. A week ago he had a couple of days’ spell, owing to not feeling too well, but has since “ come on ” again, and reports himself as being well satisfied with his condition and confident of going to the post in capital nick. He will row at about 13.3 or 13.4; Webb at about 11.3 or 11.4, or two stone lighter. No doubt that extra weight, if properly applied towards the end of the journey, will be a big advantage to Arnst. but he will be meeting a thoroughly sound man on this occasion, and will realise that Webb is a tremendously hard man to beat. It should be a most exciting struggle, and notwithstanding the ease with which Arnst gained the title it would not surprise the writer to see the Wanganui scullei’ reach the post first. To do so he will, however, have to put up a wonderful performance, as the present champion is admitted to be one of the best scullers who ever sat a boat.

Further particulars bearing upon the world’s sculling championship will be found in our aquatic columns.

WELLINGTON RACING CLUB’S STEEPLECHASE MEETING.

Owners of horses and those interested are reminded that nominations for the Wellington R.C. Steeplechase Meeting, which takes place on July 17, 21, and 24, close with the secretary on Monday next. The Club have increased the prize-money attached to the Winter Steeplechase and Winter Hurdles, and there is every inducement for owners of horses outside Wellington to patronise the Club. The other races which go to make up the three days’ programme are each endowed with a substantial amount of prize-money, and there is certain to be a good response from owners on Monday next. THE DEATH OF MERRIWEE. News came to hand last week of the death of the well-known sire, Merriwee, who was owned by Mr. E. J. Watt, of Napier. It was found necessary to destroy the horse owing to paralysis, which set in a fortnight previous. Merriwee, who was by Bill of Portland—Etra Weenie, was bred in Australia, and at three years ov’ was a great performer on the Turf, and amongst his victories were the V.R.C. Derby and Melbourne Cup. Merriwee did not last long as a racehorse, and was bought for stud purposes in New Zealand. As a sire in the Dominion Merriwee soon made a name for himself, and almost without exception his progeny proved that they could all gallop fast. Merriwee’s first winner was King Billy, who scored in the Hastings Stakes, and defeated his stable mate Boomerang, also by Merriwee. Besides the two mentioned, dore, Merrigal, Tumut, and Bally Shannon claimed him as their parent. Amongst the principal stakes which fell to the prowess of the offspring of Merriwee are:—Northern Champagne Stakes, Hastings Stakes, Thompson Handicap, Burke Memorial, Wellington Stakes, the First Manawatu Sires Produce Stakes, Great Northern Guineas, and several events of more or less note. For a single year his best individual winner was Boomerang, who in the 1905-6 season secured 1890 sovereigns in prize-money. BLACK REYNARD IN AUSTRALIA. Concerning the victory of the New Zealand Black Reynard at the Australian Jockey Club’s Meeting on June 5, the Sydney “Referee” says:—For the First Handicap Hurdles the New Zealand gelding, Black Reynard, who was making his first appearance over the sticks in Australia, was elected favourite. Never further back than third, he and Protector joined the pacemaker, Auckland, entering the straight. The latter then retired, and on landing over the last hurdle Black Reynard outstayed Protector, whose chance must have, been affected by the way he hit a hurdle at the nine-furlong post. Blue Streak and Dinyah tailed off fully fifty yards in the first couple of furlongs, but the latter made up a tremendous amount of ground in the last five furlongs. A few years ago Black Reynard, who is rising eleven, was a really good horse on the flat from six furlongs to ten, on one occasion winning a good race at the latter distance in 2.7 2-5, and a few months prior to Solution winning the Metropolitan at Randwick he was successful with 7.12 in a six-furlong race, in which the Soult mare, with 9st., missed a place. If I mistake not, he holds the N.Z. record for a mile and threequarters over hurdles, but possibly owing to not having been over the obstacles for nearly a yeai- his jumping on Saturday was by no means perfect. Still, he won, and the public were satisfied. AN AUCKLAND PONY IN MELBOURNE. The Auckland pony, Leo Grand, recently taken to Melbourne by J. Gallagher, made a somewhat sensational first appearance at the Richmond racecourse on Tuesday. Ridden by the West Australian jockey, Egan, Leo Grand passed the judge’s box the. first time six lengths ahead of the field. Egan, under the impression that he had won, eased up, and was passed by

the field. The shouts of the spectators and the pace of the other horses made him realise that he had miscalculated the distance. To the surprise of everyone, Leo Grand caught the leaders in a dozen strides, but in the straight the Auckland pony stumbled and got rid of Egan, an outsider winning. The stewards severely reprimanded Egan for carelessness. Leo Grand carried a lot of money. AUCKLAND RACING CLUB’S WINTER MEETING. THE WINNING PAYMENTS. The following is a list of the winning payments to be made by the A.R.C. over the Great Northern Meeting:— ..J Twohill —Ist Great Northern Steeplechase. £625, 2nd Winter Steeplechase, £5O £675 J. Nelson —Ist Great Northern Hurdle Race 500 R. C. Wallace —Ist Cornwall Handicap £250. Ist York Welter Handicap £250 500 R. McMiken —Ist Winter Steeplechase £225, Ist Maiden Steeplechase £l2O, 3rd Great Northern Steeplechase £75 420 H. Kneebone —Ist Prince of Wales’ Handicap 250 D. McKinnon—lst Maiden Hurdle Race £95. Ist Orakei Hurdle Race £95, 3rd Campbell Hurdle Race £l5 205 A. F. Douglas—lst Remuera Huddle Race £l5O. 3rd Great Northern Hurdle Race £5O 200 W. S. Davidson —Ist Campbell Hurdle Race £l5O, 3rd Remuera Hurdle Race £l5 165 J. Cameron —2nd Great Northern Steeplechase 150 Walter Davies—lst Farewell Handicap £l2O, 2nd Jervois Handicap £lO, 3rd Members’ Handicap £lO 140 R. D. Tindall—lst Hunt lub Cup Steeplechase £BO, Ist Hunt Cllb Hurdles £4O 120 R. W. Dud er—lst Members’ Handicap 120 J. Pawson —-Ist Jumpers’ Flat Race 120 J. B. Williamson —2nd Great Northern Hurdle Race 100 C. Morse —Ist aTmaki Steepledchase 95 J. Muir—lst Jervois Handicap . . 90 Dawson and Waller—lst Ranfurly Welter 90 W. Gall —Ist Fitzray Welter .... 90 J. H. Walters—2nd York Welter £5O. 3rd Cornwall Handicap £25 75 Mrs. Dennard—2nd Cornwall Handicap 50 Hon. J. D. Ormond—2nd Prince of Wales’ Handicap 50 W. Douglas—3rd Remuera Hurdle Race 35 H. Wright—2nd Campbell Hurdle Race 35 H. Weal—2nd Maiden Hurdle Race £l5, 2nd Orakei Hurdle Race £l5 30 T. Wylie—2nd Members’ Handicap £2O. 3rd Farewell Handicap £lO 30 W. G. Irwin—3rd York Welter Handicap 25 W. Ci Morgan—3rd Winter Steeplechase 25 D. Walker—2nd Maiden Steeplechase 20 R. T. Eennett—2nd Jumpers’ Flat Race 20 G. Robinson—2nd Farewell Handicap 20 C. Shaw—2nd Hunt Club Cup ... 15 S. Darragh—2nd Tamaki Steeplechase 15 Mrs. Rull—3rd Prince of Wales’ Handicap (dead heat) 12% T. A. Williams—3rd Prince of Wales’ Handicap (dead heat) . . 12% A. C. Selby—3rd Maiden Steeplechase 10 J. Paterson—2nd Hunt Club Hurdle Race 10 F. Nicholls—2nd Ranfurly Welter 10 E. H. Mackey—3rd Jumpers’ Flat Race 10 James Hill—2nd Fitzroy Welter . . 10 F. P. Selby—3rd Hunt Club Cup 5 Rracelets— M-s. J. McNicol—lst Ladies’ Bracelet. value 50 Miss N. Gorrie—2nd Ladies’ Bracelet, value 15 Total £4,620 THE SCRATCHING OF MASTER SOULT IN THE LONGBURN HANDICAP. MR. D. MORAGHAN’S POSITION. In our issue of May 6th, we inadvertently published a paragraph by our Wellington correspondent, commenting on the Longburn Handicap, in which Mr. D. Moraghan, the trainer of Master Soult, was somewhat severely blamed for the late scratching of the horse, and mention was made that those who suggested an understanding between trainers and bookmakers seemed to make much of the incident, Mr. Moraghan was away when the paragraph was published, but the Managing Trustee for Mrs. Coombes’ Estate, representing the owners of the horse, promptly wrote a letter definitely stating—(l) That the horse was scratched at 1 p.m. on the day, and that if the public were not made aware it was through the delay of the authorities in posting the scratching. (2) That he himself (Mr. Foss) scratched the horse, and the trainer had nothing to do with it; and (3) That Mr. Moraghan held the confidence of the Trustees and was, in his opinion incapable of taking part in any underhand transaction. We published Mr. Foss’s letter in

full, and thought that if any stigma had attached to Mr. Moraghan by reason of the unfortunate paragraph, it was removed by this letter. It now, however, appears that Mr. Moraghan has been subjected to annoyance from those who read the first paragraph, but not the letter following, and we have no hesitation in expressing regret mat any annoyance should have been so caused. Mr. Moraghan has been a public trianer at Ellerslie for several years, and with conspicuous success. During all that time his name has been kept remarkably clear of all questionable practices, and we feel sure that no one who knows him would allow the inadvertant paragraph to weigh for a moment against the reputation of years.