TURF TOPICS.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVII, Issue 1006, 17 June 1909, Page 6

TURF TOPICS.

Mr. W. Lyons, who recently purchased Don Hannibal (now in Sydney) left for Sydney by the s.s. Wimmera on Monday. * * * * Mr. M. Barnett, of Christchurch, who some time ago severed his connection with the old-established firm of Barnett and Grant, has entered the ranks of journalists, and will in future conduct a paper entitled “ Daylight.” The publication is mainly devoted to sport, and contains all information bearing on racing, football, hockey, cycling, etc. The first issue of “ Daylight ” came to hand last week, and in extending to Mr. Barnett fraternal welcome we feel sure that we are only voicing the wish of all who know him. * * * * The Forbury Park Trotting Club on Friday, after an inquiry lasting three hours, disqualified for life George Rodgers, John Russell, John Forbes, Thos. Butler, and T. B. Mortimer, for ringing in the horse Conocrach in the Dash Handicap at the Club’s last Winter Meeting. They also disqualified A. F. Taylor for five years. The Club being satisfied that the horse Conocrach died since the meeting, it was not deemed necessary to disqualify him. * * * * The Auckland bred Annapolis, by Phoebus Apollo—Roxana, who recently scored a double in West Australia, has won two more races in that State. * * * * The only fresh distance record established this season is Armlet’s 1.26 2-5 for seven furlongs, in the C.J.C. Easter Handicap at Riccarton. ■ * * * The Rosehill R.C. received New Zealand support in connection with its Guineas of 1910, Mr. W. E. Bidwill nominating two Birkenheads —one being a brother to Provocation —while Mr. G. D. Greenwood’s entries include Boniform’s brother, Formeden, for whom he paid 1450 guineas, and his 700 guinea purchase Acrostic, who is a half-brother, by Multiform, to Solution. * * * * “ The Gaming and Lotteries Act of last session,” said Mr. G. V. Pearce (Patea) in the House on Saturday, “ was supposed to reduce the amount of gambling. But what has it done? It has increased it very much.” (A Voice: “It has not.”) Some time ago, he added, he had been at a race meeting where two or three bookmakers were nearly killed by the crowd. If such things were allowed to go on there would in time be murder done. He thought anyone who knew anything about racing would confirm what he said. * ♦ ♦ * The 1908-9 racing season for two-year-olds having closed, “ Pentagraph II.” has compiled a list of their respective winnings, the leading dozen being as follows: Provocation, £2560; Broadsword, £1265; Maori King, £1132; Elysian, £955; Nautiform, £770; Sharpshooter, £710; Theodore, £665; Kakama, £635; Xylophone, £600; Kilwinning, £530; Salute, £490; Expansion, £461.

The disqualification of C. Chesterman in connection with the Full Cry case has been removed.

Pony racing at Miramar will be revived on Thursday, July 22, when a special afternoon’s sport will be put on, sandwiched in between the second and third day’s of the Wellington Racing Club’s winter fixture.

C. Jenkins was the most successful of those riding at the Otaki Meeting, notching four wins. One each came the way of the following; H. Telford, L. Wilson, E. Lowe, P. O’Brien, T. Pritchard, G. Price, H. Cairns, A. Oliver, C. Cochrane, and W. McKay.

Kiatere has been awarded 12.5 in the Victorian Grand National Steeplechase. This is exactly the same impost the son of Castor carried in the Great Northern Steeplechase on the second day of the A.R.C. Meeting just concluded, when he acted as runner-up to Capitol. The manner in which Kiatere finished up his task at Ellerslie would point to him being a nuisance in the Victorian Grand National, and he will not want for support in New Zealand. * * * 4= The Soult gelding Waipuna ran unplaced in the Birthday Cup at Adelaide on the sth inst. * * T. 1* Pink-’un has been put into work again by D. J. Price, who will prepare the son of Strowan for spring engagements. * * * 9 At the Victorian Racing Club’s Meeting last week, Monody, who scored in the Birthday Handicap, was ridden by the New Zealand jockey R. Cameron. The Soult horse Seddon was made favourite, but failed to gain a place. * * * * The New Zealand “Referee” says: —“At a moderate estimate the bookmakers are paying the racing and trotting clubs using the totalisator something between £40,000 and £50,000 per annum in license fees.” 5|C * A • Poseidon’s stud fee for the comingseason is to be 25 guineas. * * 4: * Two-year-olds by Birkenhead have won nearly £4OOO in stakes this season. » * * * R. Hatch’s winning mounts now number 82. Hatch is at present on a visit to Australia. * 's * * The Hawke’s Bay Steeplechase decided yesterday, fell to Jack Pot. He was 'well supported localjy. * * There is hardly any betting on the English Derby nowadays in comparison with the heavy gambling in the years gone by. Mr. Merry won £lOO,000 over Thormanby’s victory, Count de Lagrange netted £70,000 over Gladiateur’s success, and Mr. Chaplin, it was reported, won close on £140,000 when Hermit won. The owners of the second and third in Blink Bonny’s Derby always vowed that their horses had won. Black Tommy, the second, who was only beaten by a neck after a desperate race, started a rank outsider. His owner stood to win £50,000 over his success. So little was Black Tommy’s chance esteemed that one bold bookmaker laid the owner the extraordinary bet of £20,000 to a coat, waistcoat, and hat!

Mr. W. H. Churton took his three-year-old filly Celebration, by Renown —Barbell, to Otaki, and started her in the Maiden Race. The filly had only been up about a month, so it was not surprising to find that she did not gain a place. She is a likely-looking youngster, much like Research in appearance, and may do well next season.

St. Michael, the Auckland Cup and Wellington Cup winner of 1902, very nearly came to an untimely end the other day. The St. Leger—lch Dien gelding is turned out at New Brighton, and somehow or other he got one of his hind legs entangled in a wire fence. Endeavouring to free himself, he fell over the fence into an unformed road, and remained for some hours head downwards. Some children going home from school heard the poor animal’s groans, and Mr. Pilcher, the tenant of the place whereon St. Michael was running, and Albert Kerr, the trainer, being summoned, the sufferer was released from his precarious position. The old horse was quite frightened and very exhausted, and could not be got on his legs for a couple of hours afterwards.

Orcus (Positano —Jacinth), the highpriced full brother to the great Poseidon, and Sir Aymer, who for a while was the favourite for the last Melbourne Cup, have been put into work again at Randwick.

Chamade, who won at Warwick (N.S.W.) on May 7, was taken from New Zealand by Mr. D. O’Brien at the same time as Maranui. She is a halfsister, by Uhlan, to Multified, After disappointing him on two or three occasions, Chamade was leased by Mr. O’Brien to Mr. A. Gollan, who trains at Rosehill.

The amount received from the bookmakers by the A.R.C. at the Northern meeting reached the large sum of £2460.

The sum of £40,318 was handled at the machine, during the meeting just closed. The amount put through lasi year was £33,551.

That Turbine is a great beginner he demonstrated at Ellerslie. In each of the three races which he contested, the big Menschikoff gelding was out by himself for halt a mile. He just managed to last long enough to defeat Santa Rosa a head in the Farewell Handicap, which brought thej meeting to a close.

S. Waddell has thirteen yearlings of the Hon. J. D. Ormond’s in hand, eight of which have already been put through their facings.

I wonder what “ about two miles and a-half” means? At Ellerslie during the meeting just concluded the Maiden Steeplechase, about two miles and a-half was won by Le beau, in 4.42. On the same afternoon the Great Northern Hurdles of two miles and a-half took Bully 4.55. Taking into consideration that the hill had to be negotiated twice in the steeplechase, the course is evidently a long way short of two miles and a-half.

Jerrold: As I was saying, I had fifty pounds on Topnotch at 100 to 1. The race was six furlongs, and Topnotch won. Harold: What was the time? Jerrold: Why—er—er—heard the clock strike two just as I woke up. * * 5K * A man named Alfred Farrell was charged at the Magistrate’s Court with trespassing on the Trentham racecourse. He was fined £l, with costs £8 14s. -T -T >: jjc At a meeting of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, it was decided to petition Parliament against enclosed coursing, and also to lay an information against those in charge of the recent coursing meeting, if a legal opinion is favourable. * * * * The New Zealand Cup nomination list numbers sixty-nine, which, though up to the average of recent years, falls short of last year’s total, when seventyseven horses were nominated. * * * * The nominations of Plunderer (an Australian bred horse) and Auratus for the New Zealand Cup were received too late for inclusion in the list. * * * * Simple though they are, some betting men discovered the other day that a telephone message comes to hand quicker than a telegram, and, the use of a private telephone somewhere outside Oamaru having been secured, money was put on in Dunedin after the races were run. This happened in three events, the winners then used being Miss Gal, Merry Lass, and Lady Orizoin. At last the bookies of Dunedin guessed something, and the spoiling of the game came, they say, through a man who was not “ in the know ” going to the telephone at the Dunedin end on other business and learning information which he accepted as a gift from the gods. It is understood, however, that not much harm was done to anybody, as the bookies properly refused to pay. * « » • The latest innovation on French racecourses is the hoisting of a flag from the judge’s box, denoting that all the horses are under the control of the starter. ♦ * * * The New Zealand bred pony Talepitcher, by Soult from Fairy Tale, won a small race at Gundagai recently. » * ♦ * Lady Lucy, Frisco, Guiding Step, and Signor are the only horses nominated from Wanganui for the New Zealand Cup. Frisco has got over the injury to one of his heels, which put him out of work for some time, and he is now apparently as sound as ever he was. * * * « After his attractive performance in the Great Northern Hurdles, it was thought that Bully would be equal to disposing of the weak field opposed to him in the Campbell Hurdles, but, much to the chagrin of his supporters, Bully was never in it. Bully ran last but one till the stand was reached, when he began to drop back, and the further they went the further they left him, and at the finish he was about a furlong behind the winner. The stewards held an inquiry into the running, but no action was taken. * * * * A time record for the race was put lip by Minoru when he won the Two Thousand Guineas, viz., 1.37 4-5. The Australian record for a mile is 1.37%, and stands to the credit of Montcalm.

Only three aged horses are engaged in the New Zealand Cup out of the sixty-nine nominated. * * * * The Auckland-bred Multiform, at 50 guineas, is the highest fee stallion standing in New South Wales. * * * ♦ Starshoot, the chestnut son of Hotchkiss —Crescent, recently ran unplaced in a hurdle race decided at Moonee Valley. Starshoot was a good performer on the flat in New Zealand, his best performance being perhaps when he downed the brilliant Wairiki in the Auckland Plate. Starshoot, however, was a very erratic gentleman, and would always cause delay by his refusal to face the barrier. * * * * Soult was responsible for the winner of the principal flat handicap on each of the three days at the recent A.R.C. meeting. * » * ♦ Aborigine, who was purchased some few weeks ago for 1200 guineas, to go to India, and is now training at Randwick, is in the same ownership as Mooltan. The new owner is Mr. Gordandhas Khatan. * * * ★ All Red has been nominated for the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups. Bourson and St. Felix, two other New Zealand horses, are also engaged in the latter race. Recently an offer was received by cable from Australia for Moloch, who was wanted for jumping purposes on the other side. The Wairarapa owners, however, took too long to consider the position, and it was declared off by the inquirers. * ♦ * * The Hon. Geo. McLean has had the misfortune to lose his rising yearling filly got by Quarryman from Noblesse, the sister to Nobility. The youngster got jammed in a fence, and met with fatal injuries. * * ♦ * Up to April 23rd F. Wootton was well in front of the other jockeys riding in England, with twenty-eight winning mounts. * * ♦ ♦ When Sir Tristram won the Raukawa Cup in 1907, his win was preceded by a victory in the Summer Handicap at Trentham in January, and in the Autumn Handicap at Trentham in April. By a strange coincidence he won the same three events this season. * * * * The yearling brother to Orloff, by Stepniak—Sortie, which has been under the care of J. A. McGuinness at Riccarton, was shipped to Melbourne on Friday, and will go into D. J. Price’s stable. * * * * Etna, the pony, recently returned a winner at Ascot, is to be shortly shipped to India. Etna is only two years old, and was bred in New Zealand. ♦ Michaeloff, who won the Ranfurly Handicap at the Auckland meeting last Saturday week, is a half-brother to the steeplechaser Kiatere. * * * * Artillerie, who has been spelling at Randwick ever since the A.J.C. autumn meeting, will resume training immediately. * * * * Double winners at the Ellerslie meeting were Bachelor, Le Beau, Cymri, and Ngapuka. * * * * Something like £3OO was obtained from the totalisator at Ellerslie by forged tickets during the A.R.C- Winter Meeting. At the Police Court on Thursday Arthur Roberts and Emanuel Cyril Martin were charged with having forged and uttered totalisator tickets. The defence in both cases was that the tickets were purchased by the defendants in the ordinary way. Both accused were remanded on bail.

Ngapuka returned his supporters a surprisingly good dividend when he won the York Welter after his attractive performance in the Cornwall Handicap.

C. Jenkins has been engaged to ride King Post at the Trentham and Riccarton meetings.

Waitarere and Pawa will be the ’chasers representing the Porirua stable at the Trentham meeting, and Exmoor, it is understood, will be given a chance to earn distinction over country later on.

The Soult pony who has been purchased by P. Fleming with a view to being raced in India was shipped to Sydney by the s.s. Wimmera on Monday. By the same steamer Rosavere was sent to Sydney.

North East continues in winning form, and carried 11.3 to victory in the Hack Scurry at Hawke’s Bay yesterday.

Reservoir was well backed in Auckland yesterday for the Turamoe Hurdles at Napier, but he failed to return his supporters a dividend.

Le Beau easily turned the tables on Capitol in the Winter Steeplechase, and R. McMiken’s horse is sure to be in good demand for the C.J.C. Grand National. Le Beau filled the role of runner-up to Eurus last year.

A horse that gives promise of turning out well over country is the Monarco gelding Te Arai, who scored a comfortable victory in the Tamaki Steeplechase.

The hurdle horses Sen Sim and Indian Mutiny have joined Mr. J. Cress’ team. The first-named is galloping in a convincing style on the track, and should be ready to race in the near future.

It is quite evident that F. Wootton has pretty well his pick of the best mounts in England when a lightweight is required, and it seems pretty certain that he will top the score of winning jockeys at the end of the season, as up to the time the last mail left England he was first on the list, with 31 wins out of 122 mounts, the nearest to him being C. Trigg, with 1 wins.

Those who have the management of race affairs in France look well after the interest of breeders. There were 37 days’ racing this season in what may be termed the Paris area and Chantilly, the added money to which was £160,000, and of this quite £40,000 will go to the breeders of winners.

Master Soult figures among the nominations for the Toorak Handicap.

Among the stallions doing stud duty at a low figure in England is Tasso, a half-brother, by Orme, to Cyllene. His fee is nine guineas, and among the mares he served last season were several owned by Mr. C. D. Rose, who used to own Cyllene.

The largest nominators for the New Zealand Cup are: —Mr. J. C. N. Grigg, 4; Mr. Highden, 4; Mr. T. H. Lowry, 3; and Hon. J. D. Ormond, 5.

Colonel Hall Walker is reported to have sold six yearlings to a London syndicate for a lump sum of £lO,OOO. The Colonel bred and owns Minoru, who is raced on lease by King Edward.

According to the London “Standard,” the betting on English races cabled from New York to London averages £lO,OOO per racing day.

An offer was made for Pikopo at the Otaki Meeting, but he is not for sale. Overtures were also made for the hurdler Diplomatic, but they did not eventuate.

Concerning the “crouch,” now called the “ American seat,” it has been traced back by some to the American jockey Taukesley, who rode for and came to England with that brave old American Turfite, Mr. R. Ten Broeck, and had the mount on Prioress in her Cesarewitch on the occasion of the famous dead heat with El Hakim and Queen Bess. It is not proved that Taukesley was a croucher; in fact, a picture showing him riding a desperate finish on Peytone against Fashion at Long Island in 1845, shows him sitting erect as ever Tom Hales, and there was never a sign of the “ monkey-on-a-stock ” about poor Tom, who seemed to me to have the most perfect of seats in the days when our riders approached very correctly to perfection.—“ Referee.”

We direct our readers’ attention to the fact that Messrs. Curzon Bros, are now distributing their new season’s patterns. An amazing wealth of colour is revealed in this collection of fabrics, and it is perfectly evident that Messrs. Curzon Bros, have abated none of their energy in their efforts to provide clients in New Zealand with something distingue in the matter of clothes. All the dominant shades for the coming season, greens, browns, olives and purples, are included in the collection, while the qualities are, as usual, up to an unparalleled standard. Readers should drop a postcard —local address c/o Arthur Cleave and Co., Vulcan Lane, Auckland —or direct to the firm’s depot in England.—Curzon' Bros., the world’s measure tailors (Dept. 117), 60-62 City Road, London, England.

E. J. Rae has made arrangements with Mr. G. P. Donnelly to retain the stables and buildings now occupied by him when Mr. Donnelly retires from turf matters so far as the racing of horses is concerned- With his wellknown ability and great knowledge of the game, Rae should not want for patronage.

John Mclnnes, a well-known jockey, who resided at Terricks East, near Echuca, died in the hospital recently, aged 52 years. Deceased, in 1870, rode The Flying Dutchman in the Melbourne Cup, and The Foam in 1871. In 1875 he rode Scanmag in the same race, and was placed fourth. He won the Bendigo Cup in 1870, on The Flying Dutchman. Altogether that year he had five cup wins to his credit, including the Wagga Cup.

A Southern writer has compiled the following list showing some of the festest times recorded in races on the flat in New Zealand, for distances from half a mile up to two miles and aquarter:—Four furlongs: Conqueror (Bst 51b), Riccarton, 1897, 46 l-ssec. Five furlongs: Machine Gun (list 51b), Riccarton, 1904, 58sec. Six furlongs: Lord Soult (7st 21b), Feilding, 1906, lmin 13 2-ss. Six furlongs: Penates (Bst 101 b), Riccarton, 1908, lmin 13 2-sses. Six furlongs: Munjeet C9st), Awapuni, 1906, lmin 13 2-ssec. Six furlongs: Provocation (7st 61b), Wanganui, 1909, lmin 13 3-ssec. Six and a-half furlongs: Royal Artillery (9st 21b), Hastings, 1902, lmin 20sec. Seven furlongs: Armlet (7st 131 b), Riccarton, ’O9, lm. 26 2-ss. Seven furlongs: Savoury (7st 21b), Riccarton, 1904, lmin 26 3-ssec. One mile: Tui Cakobau (7st 121 b), Ellerslie, 1908, lmin 39 3-ssec. One mile: Bobrikoff (9st), Riccarton, 1908, lmin 39 4-ssec. One mile and a furlong: Waipaku (7st 111 b), Awapuni, 1908, lmin 53 l-ssec. One mile and a distance: De la Rey (7st), Oamaru, 1905, lmin 54 l-ssec. One mile and a-quarter: Tirole (7st 71b), Horowhenua, 1904, 2min 6%sec. One mile and a-quarter: Marguerite (7st 81b), Bulls, 1907, 2min 6 3-ssec. One mile and a-quarter: Muskerry (7st 101 b), Feilding, 1908, 2min 6 3-ssec. One mile and a-half: Ropa (6st 111 b), Trentham, 1906, 2min 33sec. One mile and three-quarters: Truce (7st lib), Wanganui, 1907, 3min 2sec. Two miles: Canteen (7st 121 b), Riccarton, lao3, 3min 27 l-ssec. Two miles and a-quarter: Signor (9st), Riccarton, 1908, 3min. 53 4-ssec. * * * ♦ Mornington Cannon, one of the most famous and successful of race riders in England, has definitely retired from the saddle. Cannon, among his successes, included the Derby once, St. Leger twice, Two Thousand once, The Oaks twice, and City and Suburban Handicap six times. He headed the jockeys’ winning list on six occasions, his best year being 1895, when he rode 184 winners. • • « * Mr. F. Howell has shipped from Sydney for Mr. R. G. Baldock, Bombay, by the s.s. Gowanburn, 300 native cavalry horses, 30 polo ponies, the racehorse Master Delaval (Seaton Delaval —Campania), and the racing pony Ngakapa. The New Zealand Metropolitan Trottings Club has issued a record programme for the August Meeting. Apart from the two Ladies’ Bracelets, there is no event during the three days of a smaller value than £135, with £ 100 of that amount for the winner. The club made a very large profit this season, and it is understood that extensive improvements are in contemplation, with a big increase in stakes for the November Meeting. * # * * The ploughed track at Riccarton is being altered at the request of the trainers. When the work is completed the track will be reduced to about a mile and a furlong in circumference. According to London advices there is a likelihood of Wool Winder, who won the St. Leger in 1907, being trained again. • • « « Birkenhead’s two-year-olds have accounted for something like £4OOO in stake money during the present season. The bulk of this large amount has, of course, been won by Provocation. * ♦ ♦ ♦ At Alexandra Park (Eng.) on April 17 a colt by the Melbourne Cup winner (The Victory) won a selling race, and was subsequently sold at 500 gs. * * * • Pretty Polly’s three-year-old brother Cock-a-hoop, who has not yet raced, is to make his appearance in England this season.