TURF TOPICS.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVIII, Issue 1017, 2 September 1909, Page 6

TURF TOPICS.

Entries close to-morrow for classic races of the following clubs: —Auckland, Canterbury, Dunedin, Feilding, Hawke’s Bay, Manawatu, North Otago (Oamaru), Wanganui, and Wellington.

Weights for the Ashburton and Rangitikei Meetings are due to appear on Saturday.

Handicaps for the minor events on the first day’s programme of the Avondale Jockey Club will be declared on Monday.

Acceptances for the first day’s racing of the Horowhenua Jockey Club’s Spring Meeting close to-morrow.

The first forfeit in connection with the Palmerston North and Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes is due to-mor-row (Friday) by 10 p.m.

Advices from the South bring news of the death of the imported horse St. Ambrose, who died on Sunday last. St. Ambrose was a bay horse, foaled in England in 1899, and was by St. Simon —Ambleside (half sister to Shotover, winner of the Two Thousand Guineas and Derby). St. Ambrose was brought to Australia, where he raced successfully on the Turf, his best performance being when he won the Williamstown Cup of 1000 sovs., one mile and five furlongs. He was purchased for stud purposes by Messrs. J. B. Reid and lan Duncan. St. Felix was the first of his stock to score last season, and he only won a single event.

The V.R.C. have reduced ther programme for Cup Day to six events. The event deleted is the Eucourage Stakes, won last year by Lady San.

Bribery is one of the very few jumpers to win over £5OOO in stakes. His second in the Australian Steeplechase was worth 200sovs. This brings Bribery’s total winnings up to £5004 10s.

Clanranald, who was destroyed at Stonyhurst last week, was foaled as far back at 1888. He was a chestnut by St. Leger from Scottish Lassie, by Scottish Chief from Rosette, by Lord Lyon. Clanranald was a useful performer on the turf, and won, among other races, the Stewards’ Handicap at Riccarton and Dunedin Jockey Club Handicap. As a sire he proved a great success, and during the past ten seasons his stock have won close on £55,000 in stakes. He holds a great record in connection with the Great Northern Foal Stakes, his representatives having won that race on the last four occasions. Other important events won by his progeny include the A.R.C. Royal Stakes, C.J.C. Challenge Stakes, Middle Park Plate, Champagne Stakes, Hawke’s Bay Guineas, Feilding Stakes, Wanganui Guineas, Wellesley Stakes, Wellington Stakes, and North Island Challenge Stakes. Among the best of his representatives may be mentioned Kirriemuir, Glenculloch, Fleetfoot, Flitaway, Broadsword, Sharpshooter, Signalman, Glenowlet, Windwhistle, Golden Vein, and Cannie Chiel. Clanranald’s place at the stud is to be filled by Gravitation (Birkenhead — Stepfeldt).

A football match, says a Wanganui exchange, was played on Friday last between the local trainers and jockeys combined v. owners. “ The spectators all very much enjoyed the game, and were of the opinion that, though the time was short, they had had their money’s worth. In the scrum work especially the owners had the best of the game, their weight carrying all

before them, but it was their ‘ condition ’ that was the cause of their defeat. The average weights would be about eight or nine stone to about fourteen stone. The jockeys were by far the more nimble, and lasted out each spell much better than their opponents. The three 20-minute spells had evidently been arranged for the benefit of the owners, but they were not short enough for most of tnem. The collaring of the jockeys and trainers was of no mean order.” The game ended in a win by six to nil for the trainers and jockeys, for whom Atkins scored two tries. Among prominent players for the owners were Messrs. Hugh Speed, owner of D’Nil, Fred Faber (Overtime), and W. Glenn (Maniapoto), an “All Black.”

A horse named Daystar is said to have jumped 39ft., from take-off to landing, over a 3ft. hurdle, at Horsham, the other day. Previously the widest jump recorded for a horse was 37ft. by Chandler, over water, in England, after it had stood for some years at 36ft. Emblem jumped 36ft. 3in. in the Birmingham Grand Annual Steeplechase, and Lizette, when ridden by R. Batty, cleared 35ft. over a steeplechase fence at Caulfield.

A private totalisator, or pari-mu-tuel, has figured as a speculative medium at English race meetings. After the operator of the system had transacted his business for two days at the Salisbury races, the bookmakers in attendance threatened to “ strike” if e use of the machine was further permitted. The “ tote” was promptly stopped by the authorities, and the ringmen resumed business. In England no law appears to exist against the totalisator.

All Red is the ruling favourite in each of the centres for the N-Z. Cup. Master Soult follows the son of Stepniak in the betting.

It is to be hoped that the disappointing Celtic, who is again in work at Ellerslie, shows improved form when he next faces the starter.

There is very little betting on the Avondale double; in fact, there is hardly any betting on the New Zealand Cup in Auckland.

It is stated that the party behind Los Angelos came in for a big win over their horse’s success on the concluding day at Riccarton. A substantial sum was distributed amongst the books in Auckland.

Ngapuka, the hero of the Great Northern meeting, is striding along in good style on the tracks.

The little Menschikoff mare Necktie should be quite used to carrying a decent weight. When galloping on the tracKS Necktie is always ridden by “ Bob” Hall, and he must be getting on towards lOst.

Ballyheigh was withdrawn from the New Zealand Cup at 4 p.m. on Monday.

Since the appearance of the weights Bulletin, Ballyheigh and Passive have been withdrawn from the New Zealand Cup.

George Morris, who was for some time in the employ of the late G. G. Stead, and who afterwards had charge of the pony Mistime, has joined the Hon. J. D. Ormond’s stable .at Hawke’s Bay.

Aimwell was well backed in Auckland yesterday for his Marton engagement.

I have just received a copy of the New Zealand Racing Diary for the season 1909-10. The little book, which is edited by Mr. H. E- Wanklyn, is very neat and of handy size, and should prove a boon to owners and trainers of horses, as it contains the list of race meetings held in the Dominion during the season, while each day gives notice of the closing of nominations, handicaps, acceptances, etc. Various other information is given in the work, and those who are not in possession of the New Zealand Racing Diary should secure one at once. The publishers are Messrs. Whitcombe and Tombs.

Muskerry and Wimmera were withdrawn from the Avondale Cup and Flying Handicap on Friday morning last.

Verdun, the winner of the Grand Prix de Paris, cost £ 800 as a yearling, and has already won £26,000 in stakes.

Lady Wayward 11., by Ladas — Vane, will be mated with Boniform this season. Vane is a sister to Flying Fox. <

Magnificent, by St. Leger—Dauphine broke both legs while taking part in a hurdle race at the Amberley Steeplechase Meeting last week, and had to be destroyed.

Fred Hill, who is getting a useful team togethei’ at Ellerslie, has at present in his employ W. Meredith, who was apprenticed to that pastmaster, Mr. Alec Taylor, of Melbourne. Meredith can scale 7.3, and has ridden winners all over the Commonwealth, and his last employer was Mr. M. McArthur.

Frank Wootton still continues to ride winners. At the Gatwick Meeting on Monday the lad rode three horses to victory.

It was anticipated that when the yearlings in the estate of the late Sir Daniel Cooper were offered at auction at Newmarket they would make good prices, but (remarks an English writer) it is questionable whether anyone reckoned on the nine realising the remarkable total of 21,490 gns. There were four colts and five fillies, and when the Galiinule—Concertina filly was submitted Mr. W. W. Bailey led off with a 3000-gumea bid for her. Mr. Singer capped this with 3,500 guineas, and Mr. Bailey replied with 4,000 guineas. Then Sir Robert Jardine and the trainer W. T. Robinson (acting for a client), joined in. The latter went to 5700 guineas, but Sir Robert stayed longest, and secured the filly at 5,800 guineas. The sale of the nine yearlings resulted as follows: —Filament, b f, by Robert le Diable—Film, Mr. W. W. Bailey, 400; Harmony (half-sister to Winifreda and Red Lily), b f, by St. Frusquin— Melody, Sir Robert Jardine, 1650; Wildrake, br c, by Wildflower —Dame Fortune, Mr. W. Clark, 510; Quetzal (first foal), b c, by Collar or Arizona —Greenbird, Mr. F. Cobb, 630; Laelia (half-sister to Perola), ch f, by Galiinule —Edmee, Mr. W. T. Robinson, 4,100; Pusilia, b f, by Galiinule —Concertina, Sir Robert J. Jardine, 5,800; Lady of Grace, b or br f, by St. Frusquin—Lady C., Mr. W. W. Bailey, 1600; Porphyrio, ch c, by Galiinule—Flair, Sir Ernest Cassel, 3,500; Romeo (half-brother to Flair, Lesbia, and Vivid), b or br c, by Flying Fox —Glare, Mr. R. J. Mills, 3,300.

A peculiar case has cropped up in Western Australia. J. Spiers, whose horse Leonatus finished second to Reliance in the Belmont Hurdles on July 10, has decided to apply to the club for the amount of the first prize on the ground that the owner of Reliance, Mr. Meares, was at the time a disqualified person or liable to be disqualified. Since the race Mr. Meares was disqualified as a matter of form by the West Australian Turf Club, but was reinstated immediately. The trouble arose over a horse, leased by Mr. Meares, having raced at an unregistered meeting.

F. Wootton’s fall at Ascot was brought about through his mount Arranmore getting on to the heels of another competitor. Another jockey tried to help Wootton back to the saddle, but, after holding on for some distance the lad came off, and then it was the damage was done, one of the horses in passing striking him on the head and in the stomach. Fortunately his injuries did not prove to be anything near as serious as at first supposed.

Nominations of sires for the Third Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes close on Friday, September 10th.

Tawhaki, the promising colt by Mencchikoff —Armilia, will be amongst the runners at the Rangitikei meeting, and should worthily represent the Porirua stable in the Maiden Hack Race.

Bulletin was scratched for the New Zealand Cup at 3.20 p.m. on Wednesday of last week.

The Tasmanian Racing Club lost on ten meetings out of eleven last season.

At the Napier Park course last week, Kohinoor easily asserted himself over War Song and Miriam (Merriwee—Moira) in a two-furlong sprint, says a Napier writer. On the same grounds Bobrikoff, with F. Davis in the saddle, comfortably silenced Multiple (Multiform —Soult Girl) and Chanteuse in a four-furlong dash, while Downfall had the best of Merriwa and Erl King in a gallop over 10 furlongs. Mr. Lowry’s team looks in

the best of heart and condition, and if all goes on well in the meantime the navy blue and gold bearers will have a victorious innings during the justopened season. That is the conclusion that must be arrived at by all who have seen his team doing their preparations- There is no getting away from the fact that there is no tail to the team, for Davis’ pupils have all demonstrated that they can perform in a meritorious manner.

Waione, by Waiuku—Leoine, who performed so consistently at Trentham last month and secured a welldeserved win in the Corunna Hack Hurdles on the third day, has been purchased by Mr. J. R. McDonald, owner of Gold Crest, Tauira, and Co. The price at which Mr. B. T. Bennett, of Hawera, disposed of the Waiuku gelding, is reported as 250sovs. Waione was bought by Mr. Bennett as a yearling for 150 guineas.

At the Rosebery Racing Club’s meeting at Sydney, for ponies and galloways, the principal event was won by Merry Delaval, by Seaton Delaval —Marry Maid- Merry Delaval only won by a head after an exciting finish. The time for the eight furlongs was recorded as lmin 42%5. The winner carried 7.7;

Sportsmen generally will regret to learn that the King’s well-known stallion, Florizel 11., dropped down dead while at exercise, says an English exchange. The loss to the Sandringham stud is rendered the more severe from the fact that the famous Persimmon died little more than twelve months ago. Florizel 11., who was bred by His Majesty, was eighteen years old, and was an own brother to Persimmon and Diamond Jubilee. He was a good racehorse in his day, and the staying qualities he possessed he transmitted to his stock. Among the races he won were the Manchester Cup, Goodwood Cup, Gold Vase at Ascot, and Jockey Club Cup. The best horses he sired were Volodyovski, Mackintosh, Doricles, Floriform. Prince Florizel, Princess Florizel. Champagne, Victorious, Kuroki, Golden Measure, and Vedas, of whom the last-named won the Two Thousand Guineas in 1905. Volodyovski won many good races, and was victorious in the Derby of 1901, while Doricles won the Doncaster St. Leger the same year, inflicting an unexpected defeat on the Derby winner, and starting at 0 to 1.

The thoroughbred stallion Gladstone, winner of the Great Northern Derby, Summer Cup, etc., was sold at the yards of the Loan and Mercantile Company on Friday for 290 gns.

It is rumoured that the crack lightweight jockey R. Hatch will have the mount on Master Soult in the New Zealand Cup.

The Wellington Racing Club has decided to include a special weight-for-age race, to be run over a mile and a-quarter, at its forthcoming spring meeting, to be held in October. The stake will be 550sovs, 50sovs of which will be distributed between the breeder of the winner (75 per cent.) and the A. and P. Associations (25 per cent.); and in addition the owner of the winner will be presented with the handsome silver cup recently donated by the president of the club, Mr. J. B. Harcourt.

Tyrannic and Otus were non-start-ers at the Wairarapa Hunt Club meeting.

The appeal lodged by Mr. L. F. Russell, owner of Otus, against his disqualification, and the horse Otus for two years by the Woodlands Hunt Club, will be heard this week by the Wellington Racing Club.

In Wellington, All Red, Master Soult and Sir Prize (late Kilmarnock) are the most fancied candidates for the New Zealand Cup. The former is receiving a sound preparation, and will probably start at the Horowhenua. Rangitikei, Wanganui, and Wellington meetings. He is handicapped at only lib less than weight-for-age in tne big race at Riccarton, so therefore he can only incur lib penalty should he win a race in the meantime.

The Wairarapa Hunt meeting brought into prominence two doubleevent winners, Merry Land on the flat and Sir Lethe over both hurdles and steeplechase—and both of them won in a manner which suggests them gaining further honours in the near future.

Sir Frisco, who is top weight in the Avondale Cup, will receive a stone from All Red in the Horowhenua Cup, to be run on September 8.

Sir Lethe (Lethe —Master Agnes mare) is a big, long-striding gelding with plenty of pace and stamina, and a perfect jumper, and he won both his races at the Wairarapa H.C. with such ridiculous ease that his future movements are being looked forward ■o with much interest. His next appearance will probably be at Marton.

Mr. J. H. Pollock, handicapper, who went to Brisbane with the N.Z. athletic team, returns to Wellington from Sydney this week-

The first forfeits in connection with the New Zealand Cup are due on Monday next.

It is stated that there are 300 horses in work at Flemington.

Erl King and Downfall registered some very good work over a mile on the try-out grounds at Napier Park a couple of days ago.

Merriwa gave a very good exhibition over the mile distance on the Napier training track the other morning.

Mr. W. E. Bidwill’s champion colt Provocation was shipped to Sydney on Friday last, and this splendid type of the thoroughbred can be relied on to worthily represent New Zealand at the A.J.C. Meeting, which opens at Randwick on October 2. The wellknown lightweight, Arthur Olliver, will do the riding for Mr. Bidwill.

Mr. E. J. Watts, the well-known Hawke’s Bay sportsman, has been on a visit to Wellington during the past week.

The big commission that was floated in Wellington in favour of Los Angelos on the concluding day at Riccarton has sadly depleted the layers of their surplus cash, with the result that one well-known firm styled the leviathans of the Dominion, resident in this city, have decided not to lay anymore tote odds, but will in future devote all their energies on the racecourses and straight-out betting.

Lovell, who declined his nomination at Marton, owing no doubt to the weight allotted, will be a starter in the Rangitikei Steeplechase, and on paper the half-brother to Pilot appears to hold a mortgage over this event — that is, of course, assuming that Lovell negotaites the obstacles safely, and on his recent Riccarton form there seems no reason to doubt his ability under this heading.

Mr. C. G. Winder, who went on as an emergency for the Auckland footballers on Saturday, is the well-known Thames owner, who races Foremost and other horses.

A meeting of the stewards of the Wellington Racing Club was held on Monday evening. It was decided that the annual meeting of members be fixed for Friday, September 17. An application for reinstatement from the jockey T. O’Brien was refused. The disqualification imposed on S. Reid last January was removed as from October 1,1909. In regard to the appeal of L. Russel against the disqualification imposed on him and his horse Otus at the Woodlands Hunt Club Meeting, it was held that, under Rule 7, Part 31, of the Rules of Racing, the Metropolitan Committee had no jurisdiction in the matter.

The Feilding jockey, Aruiur Oliver, is fully engaged at Marton, and, at the conclusion of that fixture, he goes to Wellington, to catch Friday’s steamer for Sydney.

A Wellington sportsman is negotiating for the purchase of the hurdler Showman, and there is every probability of a deal resulting.

The following horses have been nominated for the principal event to be decided at the Wanganui Jockey Club’s Spring Meeting:—Spring Handicap (one mile). —All Red, Mendip, Broadsword, Sharpshooter, Lady Menschikoff, Longner, Diamond Star, Coronetted, Lady Lucy, Sir ’Frisco, Mahuta, Irish Rifle, Guiding Step, King Post, Pohutu, Waikaraka, First Mate, Roosevelt, Uhlando, Wee Trinket.

It was recently reported that Mr. G. P. Donnelly is retiring from racing, but according to a Hawke’s Bay paper he has one or two horses still in work, and one of these is a three-year-old brother to El Dorado.

The latest Australian example of “ originality ” in nomenclature is Namelbon, which is the name of his sire spelt backwards.

It is reported that Volume, who won the New Zealand St. Leger in 1907, died recently in India. His record in India was a series of disappointments.

Early in June Mr. J. B. Joel refused an offer of 35,000 guineas for the four-year-old Your Majesty, ronowing on this the horse was beaten into third place in the Princess of Wales’ Stakes, and finished last in a field of four in the Sandown Park Eclipse Stakes. These two performances took the gilt off his three-year-old record, and his owner would probably have some difficulty in getting 10,000 guineas for mm now.

Among the horses in work at Randwick, nothing is going much better than the Merriwee gelding Aborigine.

When a man wins a race with a horse, says a Southern writer, and all the owner’s friends and acquaintances, and the friends’ friends and acquaintances, and the acquaintances’ acquaintances and friends, and Lie trainer’s triends and acquaintances, etc., the jockeys friends and acquaintances, etc., the stable boys’ friends and acquaintances, etc., and their sisters, cousins and aunts are not in the joke, then somebody’s popularity is bound to drop a yard or so below zero. Some years ago a hard-headed racing man said to the writer that if three persons knew a horse with a good winning chance in a race, experience of the game taught him to put the three units together and make it 111, and each additional unit has to be marked down in the same way. That’s why the wise men in the racing world maintain sphinx-like silence, and keep their extra special information to themselves. They only tell, with a little air of good-natured generosity, wnat is common property, and at times pass on the gossip of the racecourse as if it were a profound secret.

The Workman gelding Shrapnel is in work at Ellerslie, and there is every probability of his standing a preparation.

Te Aroha and Loongana have resumed work at Ellerslie. Both look well, and are still inmates oj‘ F. Macmanemin’s stable.

Signor, who was the hero of the last New Zealand Cup Meeting is reported to be training on well in his preparation for next season’s business.

Apollonaris, the half-brother (by Phoebus Apollo—Janet) to Scotty, managed to win the Open Handicap at the Wanganui-Egmont Hunt Club’s meeting on Thursday last.

From Northern Wairoa comes news of the death of Puhipuhi, the disappointing son of Soult and Lady Musket. Few descendants of Soult, given a proper chance, have gone off the scene without once claiming the attention of the judge, but that is the record down against the name of Puhipuhi, and a second in a hack race and a second in the Avondale Guineas were ‘ est performances. When Mr. S. Tvofliey tired of the brown horse, Mr. Charles Peoples, of Maungaturoto, bought him.

Among the bequests of the late Sir Daniel Cooper, were a picture of Fisherman (painted by Barraud) to the Australian Jockey Club; and £5OO each to his trainer. George Blackwell, and his stud groom. W. Spire.

The well-known crack pacer Dan Patch, with L. Robertson holding the lines, recently stepped a mile in 2min 10 4-ss. at the Eagle Farm racecourse.

It is stated that when Mr. E. J. Watt returns from Australia the committee of the Wellington Racing Club will interview him concerning the running of Wimmera at the recent Trentham meeting. Mr. Watt was away in Australia at the time of the meeting. —“ Otago Witness.” * * * «

The two-year-old brother to Pretty Polly, who made a successful debut at the Ascot Meeting in June, followed up that performance by winning the Fulbourne Stakes at Newmarket.

In France some of the race clubs are decidedly up to date. At the recent Grand Prix Meeting at Longchamps, a staff of men, with caps bearing the words “ Interpreter ” was engaged to look after visitors who were unable to speak French fluently.

At the yearling sales at Newmarket (England) last month Sir Robert Jardine gave 5800 guineas for the yearling hal ."-sister by Gallinule to Playaway, who a few years ago won the Caulfield Futurity Stakes and Newmarket Handicap. The 10,000 guineas paid for Sceptre still stands as a. record price in England for a yearling.

T. Quinlivan. stud groom for Mr. E. J. Watt at Longlands, has railed four of that owner’s mares to Waikanae. The bunch consisted of Blue Water, Biuey, Float, and Brown Alice. The two latter will go to Benzonian, while Blue Water and Bluey vis’t Achilles. Mr. Watt is sending La Notte and Barley Bree to Birkenhead. The remainder of his brood matrons will consort with King Billy.

The well-known racehorse Foremost, by Phoebus Apollo—Forme, has finished his career on the racecourse, and is to be relegated to the stud, hav’ng been purchased by Mr. Coffey, of Manaia. He was shipped to his new owner by the Rarawa on Sunday last.

Entries for the Stepniak Stakes of 200sovs four furlongs, to be run at the North Otago J.C. meeting, are due to-morrow (Friday). No money is required at time of entry, and in the event of any horse dying before the first forfeit becomes due the entry becomes void, and the owner freed from liability, provided the death is notified prior to the date on which the first forfeit is due.

A disqualification removed by the committee of the Wellington Racing Club on Monday was that imposed upon the Reynard gelding, Full -Cry, for inconsistent running at the winter meeting at Trentham two years ago in hack hurdle events, the second of which he won. It will be remembered that the Hawke’s Bay jockey, I. O’Brien, was also placed in retirement over Full Cry’s runn’ng and ownership. An application for the removal of his disqualification was considered yesterday, but met with a refusal.

Bollin has been accorded strong support for the N.Z. Cup. So far Bollin has only started on five occasions, his record being three firsts, a deadheat - for first, and once unplaced.

Ataahua, who was so badly injured by a fall while being schooled over hurdles, has recovered from the effects of his accident, and is being given gentle exercise at Melbourne.

The Dunedin Jockey Club contemplate still further improvements to its property at Wingatui, and the Works Committee has been paying frequent visits of inspection lately.

Le Beau is doing gentle exercise at Riccarton, and has apparently recovered from the accident which he met with while jumping in tne Grand National Steeplechase. It is his owner’s intention to run him in the hurdle events at some of the Southern meetings before returning to the North.

There was no fluke about the result of the Grand Prix de Paris, says an exchange, and Verdun has followed up his victory by winning, a week later, the rich Prix du President de la Republique at Masons Laffitte, easily beating at weight for age the four-year-old Sea Sick, the five-year-old Roi Herode, and the six-yearold Moulins la Marche, all reckoned in the top class of their respective generations. But would you believe it, after the French Derby Baron Maurice de Rothschild declared that he would strike Verdun out of the Grand Prix . “ I have too much bad luck ever to .win such a race!” he declared. His friends tried to comfort and persuade him; but he would not be persuaded, and he refused to be comforted. Then one of his relatives, who had won a Grand Prix himself, -who knew much about racing and had a supreme belief in Verdun, said: ‘‘Maurice, I’ll have a bet with you.” At these words Baron Maurice bucked up a bit. “What will you bet?” he asked. “I’ll bet you that if you let Verdun run he will win the Grand Prix!” “You’re mad! I win the Grand Prix ? Pooh! That is Vanderbilt’s affair or yours. Luck like that is not for me.” “Never mind that. I’ll bet you a hundred louis that you win the Grand Prix this year. Is it a bet?” “Done; it’s a bet!” That is how Verdun came to run for the Grand Prix de Paris, and Baron Maurice is trying to make out that he is st’ll unlucky because he lost a bet of 100 louis.