TURF TOPICS.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVII, Issue 1010, 15 July 1909, Page 6

TURF TOPICS.

J. Deerey, who piloted Cymri and Te Arai to victory at the Great Northern Meeting, will have the mount on Scotty in his Southern engagements.

Cymri is said to have over-reached himself last week, but it is not considered serious, although the son of Cyrenian had to forfeit his Wellington engagements.

B. Deeley, by his two successes at Gisborne, has raised his total number of wins to 63.

Irish may be ridden in his Wellington engagements by the well-known Southern jockey, C. Cochrane.

In an advertisement in this issue Mr. Walter Davies intimates that he will seek re-election as a member of the Auckland Racing Club Committee at the annual meeting, which takes place on Monday, August 2.

Lionheart is said to be coming on rapidly in his training at Awapuni, and may be seen out under silk shortly.

Consolation, who filled the role of runner up to Aborigine in the Thompson Handicap at Wellington, is to be retired from the track, and will be mated with Elevation.

Evidently another attempt is to be made to get a race out of Mahutonga, as an exchange has it that the chestnut son of Quilt is to be sent to Melbourne from Sydney, to be given another chance of standing a preparation.

Certificates of identification in the case of Messrs. J. B. M’Arthur and C. B. Kellow’s New Zealand bred gelding Haeremai; 1902, by Freedom from Leogwin, and Mr. W. Brennan’s Englishrbred horse Linacre, 1904, by Wolf’s Crag—Lismaine, have been accepted as satisfactory by the V.R.C.

Sea God is the name conferred on the yearling brother to Archilies.

By his s access in the steeplechase at Gisborne, Te Arai will have to put up a 71b. penalty in the C.J.C. Grand National Steeplechase, and his weight is now 10.6.

Messrs. McKenzie (chairman) and F. Yonge (secretary) will represent the Otahuhu Trotting Club at the approaching Conference in Wellington.

One of the smartest rising two-year-olus at rtandwick is a inly by Machine uuu from oy nanny irom Aussie, by Welcome jack, one oi the crack sons oi iraducer. It will be interesting to note how the biend of the two crack New Zealanaers will ngure during the coming season.

A arelbourne cabie states that the hurdler Ataahua is now out of danger, but that it will be many months before he is able to race.

Carrying top weight (9 st.), the four year-old son ot St. Frusquin, Santo Strato, owned, by Mr. Leopold De Rothschild, won the Chester Cup, over a distance of 2 miles, in 3mm. 58 4-5 sec., the second fastest time recorded in the race during the whole of its history. The weight, too, is the heaviest since that of Knight of the Garter’s in the “ sixties.” When Santo Strato took up the running 300 yards trom home the cheering was loud and iong-sustained, the weighted horse’s win being exceedingly popular. He ran in blinkers, and while he was walking about in the paddock prior to the race his head was encumbered by a heavy leather muzzle. Madden, his jockey, said of him;—“ I think he is game, but he is a tunny horse. I aave never seen him with a muzzle on before, and was surprised to see it. ’

According to reports from Australia, in the mishap to Ataahua the Mordialloc stable had extremely bad luck when the New Zealander injured himself recently. The Melbourne Age reports a gallop which Ataahua accomplished a few days before his accident as follows: —Ataahua, who is trained at Merdialloc, recently performed a sensational gallop over hurdles. Ridden by F. Burn, he ran two miles and jumped nine hurdles in 3min. 48%sec., with his shoes on. Starshoot attempted to accompany him during the last half of the journey, but was beaten right off. Taking into account the heavy state of the going, the gallop was an extraordinarily good one, meritorious enough to win a two-miles race on the flat among racehorses, let alone hurdlers.”

By winning the V.R.C. Grand National Steeplechase on Saturday, under the steadier .of 12.11, in easy fashion, the Malvolio gelding Bribery must surely be entitled to a place amongst the best steeplechasers Australia has produced, and a pleasing incident in connection with his victory is that he is owned and trained by a New Zealander, D. J. Price. No one will begrudge him his success after the stroke of bad luck he experienced prior to the meeting, when Ataahua, the ruling favourite for the V.R.C. Grand National Hurdles, met with an accident while schooling, and received serious injury. Bribery has now won both the V.R.C. Grand National Steeplechase and Hurdles, also the Caulfield Grand National Steeplechase.

Says “ Moturoa,” a Taranaki scribe: —“ That Waihuka can jump smartly and cleanly is plainly evident to those who have been following track doings during the past fortnight. Waihuka, in company with the veteran Paritutu, was responsible Lor an attractive round of the hurdles on Monday morning, with the pace on, and it only remains to be seen whether the new aspirant for hurdle race honours can stay or not. The idea that his nomination for the Grand National Hurdles was mere flattery has been effectively dispelled.” Waihuka, who is a half-brother by San Fran to Waipu, will probably make his first appearance in public over the battens in the Peninsula Hack Hurdles at Trentham on Saturday.

Sublime, who won three races at the Gisborne meeting, is a half-sister to the Wellington Stakes winner, Theodore.

When the last mail left England, F. Wootton had ridden 45 winners, and his victories since that date include a win on Perola in the Oaks. D. Maher, who was second on the list, had only 25 wins to his credit.

Acceptances for the C.J.C. Grand National Hurdles and Steeplechase close to-morrow (Friday), when nominations for all other events to be decided at the fixture will be received.

Maidi has been scatched for all !engagements at the Wellington meeting, and Kremlin for his first day’s engagements.

Ngapuka was withdrawn from the Winter Cup, to be decided at the C.J.C. Grand National meeting on Monday. . ~ .

Advices received here from Melbourne state that the New Zealand steeplechaser Kiatere is suffering from a poisoned hind leg, which necessitated his withdrawal from all Flemington engagements. It is considered unlikely that Kiatere will have sufficiently recovered to enable him to race at Caulfield next month.

Bookmakers, English and Australian, complain, with good reason, that betting, even on the Epsom, Derby, and Melbourne Cup, has fallen off greatly of late years, and it seems inclined to run itself to a standstill before long. In Daniel Rourke’s Derby £50.000 went into one bookmaker’s bag, and another satchel was shut on £40,000, the famous fielder, Davies, having laid the odds on both occasions. Mr. Steel returned to Mr. James Smith £60,000 as the first instalment of the Rosebery commission when he won the Czarewitch, and our own brave old battler, poor Joe Thompson, paid out £BO,OOO to Mr. Sep. Stephen, under the verandah, who represented Chester’s owner, in 1877. It is too much to expect we’ll ever see betting like this again in Australia, for I (says “Boondi”) doubt if we have the money, and we certainly have not the men. This latter fact may not be worth regretting, however, for “ our boys” who hold the “ready” don’t seem to also hold the necessary nous to invest it safely.

The Canterbury Jockey Club’s committee to-day approved of increases in the stakes for the season amounting to £2440, making a grand total of £30,240. The increases are divided as follow: —Grand National meeting, £710; spring meeting, £1330; autumn meeting, £4OO.

During the past season the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club collected £3988 in bookmakers’ licenses, while the Plumpton Park T.C. augmented its funds from the same source to the extent of £1249.

Seabreeze, a famous mare in her day, died recently after foaling. She carried off the Oaks and St. Leger in 1888, and when she won the rich Lancashire Stakes was followed home by the Derby winner, Ayrshire, and the French horse Le Sancy. Altogether Seabreeze, who was a very beautiful daughter of Isonomy and St- Marguerite, won nearly £30,000 in stakes, but as a brood matron she was more or less of a failure.

It is an extraordinary thing with Newmarket stable lads (says a writer in a London paper) that their favourite form of relaxation if they get off for a day is to go to Yarmouth and ride donkeys, and this they will do as long as their money holds out. The contrast of a thoroughbred on Newmarket Heath and a donkey on the sands at Yarmouth must be great indeed. Sublime won three races at the Gisborne meeting, and Te Arai, Baldos. and Gladsmuir each won doubles. • « * * Winning jockeys at the Gisborne meeting were: F. Porter four, E. Lowe three, A. Selby two, B. Deeley two, F. Howard, W. Young, and Horne, one each. • • « • Minoru, the Derby winner, is not engaged in the Eclipse Stakes of lO.OOOsovs, to be run at Sandown Park to-morrow, nor are the other classic winners, Electra and Perola, engaged. The field, however, is likely to include Bayardo, Signorinetta, and Your Majesty. * * * * A win in the Wellington Winter Hurdles and Steeplechase carries a 141 b. penaltty for the big events at Riccarton. * * • * One of the bookmakers registered to do business on the Flat at Caulfield recently made use of offensive language to a backer, for which he was fined £lO by the committee. * * * * Another New Zealander may shortly find his way to Australia, as negotiations are being made for the purchase of Playmate.

L. J. Ornstein and J. Mciviullian, who recently ran a race of three miles on the Domain cricket ground for £25 aside, and which ended in favour of Ornstein by the narrow margin of a yard, are to meet again on the cricket ground next Wednesday, for a similar amount, over the same distance.

A good word is spoken for the imported three-year-old filly Good Shot, by Pistol —Alveary, which was bought for 225 guineas by Mr. G. F. Moore when in Australia. Good Shot is said to resemble her grandsire, the famous Carbine, possessing the same colour, blaze, and markings that distinguished “ Old Jack.”

The Cunningham appeal case is to be decided by the Racing Conference at Wellington on Monday, the 19th inst. Mr. H. H. Hayr, secretary of the Avondale J.C., leaves for the South today.

Pretty Polly’s three-year-old brother, Cock-a-hoop, who nas not yet raced, is to make his appearance in England this season.

A Christchurch writer says:—“A number of locally trained horses have left or are under orders for Wellington, to assist at the Trentham Meeting. Kent is taking up Sweet Angelus and Pronun, but neither is quite forward enough to show to best advantage. Southern Cross and Inchbonny have left under R. Longley’s care, and the former is so forward that with ordinary luck he should pick up a stake. Inchbonny, on the other hand, is backward, and if the going is heavy at Trentham she can barely show to her best advantage.” ♦ ♦ * * Grafnax, who looked like winning the V.R.C. Grand National Steeplechase, but fell at the second fence from home, would probably start favourite. On the opening day, in the Maiden Steeplechase, Grafnax made hacks of his opponents, and cantered home a winner fifteen lengths in front of Goschen. * * * * A somewhat unusual case connected with the Turf was heard at Hastings last week, when David Hogg sued E. J. Hains for £lO, money alleged to have been lent. The plaintiff’s case was that he met defendant on the Hastings racecourse, and was asked by defendant for a loan of £lO, which he gave. The evidence showed that plaintiff was aware that the money was to be used for the purpose of betting. Defendant denied having borrowed money, although he admitted that the cheque he received, which was endorsed by him, was made out in his name. It was contended as an alternative that the amount was not recoverable under the Gaming Act. His Worship held that at the time of the loan betting had not actually occurred, but he gave judgment for defendant on the facts, with costs amounting to £2 2s. M ■ ■ ■ Sportsmen will be able to see the King’s colt, Minoru, win the English Derby of 1909 next week for the small outlay of Is. or 6d. The opportunity will be provided by Mr. H. Hayward, at the Royal Albert Hall, on Wednesday evening and following evenings, when the victory of Minoru in the English Derby will be the “ star ” film. • * * 0 Seddon’s victory in the Winter Handicap at the V.R.C. Grand National meeting was of a most convincing character (says “ Martindale.”) The 18 runners included some horses of tolerably fair quality, and the handicapper had let Soult’s son in at such a nice weight that quite a rush set in for his stock, especially as he was understood to be very well. Owing to her runaway win at Moonee Valley, Ristori was the most solidly backed of the others, though Thistlebrook, Dhobi, and Monody were not neglected. R. Lewis, who had the mount on Ristori, tried to win all the way, but she was done at the distance, where Seddon. who was nicely handled by McLachlan, took charge, and scored easily from Monody and the unbacked Posture. • • * ♦ The question of providing a race for two-year-old horses was raised at the meeting of the Poverty Bay Turf Club by Mr. D. J. Barry. Mr. Barry said that there were a number of small stud farms in the district, and he thought owners might be encouraged to go in more for breeding by the inclusion of races for youngsters in the programme for the February meeting, because at that time trainers were anxious to get their young charges into galloping order. The president of the club (Mr. J. W. Nolan) promised that the committee would consider the suggestion.

The nominations received in connection with the Grand National meeting would have been large had the secretary accepted all that came to hand. For some time past (says the Possible) the club has experienced trouble with a few owners in different parts of the Dominion in collecting the fees due for nominations, more particularly in the case of horses, which did not put in an appearance at the meetings. In order to put a stop to the practice tha secretary recently informed the offending owners that in future no nominations would be accepted from them unless they were accompanied by the fees. Last week one of these owners awarded two nominations without any cash, and he was promptly instructed that the money must be sent along. When the closing hour arrived the money was not to hand, and though it was subsequently received the lists had already been closed, so that the nominations were rejected. At one time the Rules of Racing provided that entrance money must, unless arrangements were made, be paid at time of nomination, but the conference saw fit to delete this provision, leaving clubs to manage their affairs as they saw fit. This is all right as far as it goes, but I have always thought it a mistake to allow the Unpaid Forfeit List to be used for the collection of nominations and acceptances. In the meantime, however, the Canterbury Jockey Club is to be congratulated on the firm stand which it has taken in dealing with owners who refuse to meet their engagements. The course adopted last week will probably have the effect of preventing further trouble in the case of others.

A movement is on foot amongst some of the Flemington trainers to secure an increase of the minimum weight in early two-year-old races, as they consider the light boys who have now to be put up do harm to young Korses by their inability to properly handle them.

It appears that Sir. Martin did not actually fall in the English Derby, won by Minoru. In explaining the cause of the accident to an English sporting writer, J. H. Martin, rider of Sir Martin, said: “ The colt came on his head and knees, and scrambled along for quite a bit. He did not fall. If he had fallen he would have brought down some others. I think he interfered with two or three. I remember hitting the ground, and telling the people who crowded round to keep away. Then some policeman came, and I don’t remember any more till I found myself back in the weighing-room.” Martin was carried back on an ambulance over a journey of three-quarters of a mile, a way being carved for him through the dense crowd by half a dozen mounted police and a small army of police on foot. He knew nothing whatever about this. It was news to him.