TURF TOPICS.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVIII, Issue 1049, 14 April 1910, Page 5

TURF TOPICS.

Nominations for the Marlborough Racing Club’s Autumn meeting close oh Saturday. • • • • . The Karamu crack two-year-old is engaged in the next A.J.C. Derby. * « * « Tn a small field of four on the opening day at Wellington the Hon. J. D. Odinond’s much-boomed hurdle horse, Audax, cut a poor figure and finished a very moderate third. * * ♦ ♦ In covering the seven furlongs in the North Island Challenge Stakes in 1.28, Formby established a record for the race. ♦ ♦ ♦ * Emblem followed up her successes at Ellerslie by winning the Tinakori Handicap on the opening day at Wellington. * * * * Armlet registered a time record for the Thompson Handicap last week, when she ran the mile in 1.40 1-5. * * ♦ * Those who saw - Vice Admiral run at Riccarton are M a bright future for the brother to Nautiform, who will in future receive his preparation from R. J. Mason. * ♦ ♦ ♦ Mr. D. Rutherford’s pair of jumpers, Eurus and Northern Star, hive resumed work at Riccarton with a view to competing at the winter meetings. * * ♦ • The steeplechaser, Jack Pot, is doing solid work on the Napier tracks and so far the gelding shows no signs of the trouble, which caused him to be thrown out of commission last season, returning. ♦ * ♦ * During the running of the Juvenile Handicap at Avondale on Saturday Lucille came down while crossing the top stretch, but except that her rider (J. Buchanan) received a bruised arm, both horse and rider escaped.

Backers will soon be getting tired of Hohungatahi. In the Oakley Handicap he was made , a hot favourite, but though he was one of the quickest away he died out of the struggle at the end of half a mile; Evidently all is not well with the son of Freedom, because this is hot his true form.

The ex-New Zealand ’chaser, Pilot,: has been sold to Mr. F. Clarke.,- and has gone to Warrnambool. V _. • • ;• .• r Full Sail has gone into L Foulsham’s stable at Caulfield. :..j .' .'1 #** * . Prim, who ran second to Penates’ in r the Great Easter Handicap, is to be treated to a spell. I *.* ■ * * The winning double on the opening day . at Avondale—Manapouri . and Waiata —was ridden by A. McMillan.' ... * . ■ * , * , * As a- place-getter Santa Rosa is making quite a name, for himself, and he- filled the role of runner-up to Man-jjjpour-i on Saturday. ..* * * ♦ 1 Manapouri and Pairawaatu, two winders on the opening day at Avondale, are amongst the entries for pony races at the Auckland Trotting Club’s i -meeting which, opens on Saturday week.. i ; Master Wairiki, a youngster in H. l , French’s stable,., showed. promise on , i; Saturday. Though he did not get too f»well away ; and had anything; but a . good passage, lie, answered the question put to him in, the straight .in ■good style and Antoinette had . to be /shaken up to win by a.neck. Master i Wairiki should- pay for his keep at . three years old. ■ , •

Coromandel keeps up his reputation for running into a place. In the Railway Handicap on Saturday he beat all but Waiata.

That his win in the Tradesmen’s Plate at Ellerslie was full of merit “Manapouri amply demonstrated on Saturday in the Avondale Handicap, which event the pony son of Soult won in style in 2m 10 l-ssec. Manapouri was always playing his part well and when the judge’s box loomed up in sight he was soon at the head of affairs and stopped there.

Haldane, the five-year-old son of Hotchkiss and Mantle, put up an attractive performance in the Titirangi Handica,p.. At the start he was on the rails but got chopped right out and had anything but a good run. Along the back he was never sighted with the leaders and he was some distance away when they turned for home. However, he then got a clear run on the rails and finishing strongly, snatched a victory by a neck. If he keeps sound he should not be long in scoring again.

Mr. Thos. H. Aston, who is wellknown in the Gisborne district,, has commenced business at Hastings as commission agent. As there is ample scope for operations in that thriving town no doubt Mr. Aston will receive a fair share of patronage from the sporting public.

i At the Wellington ' Racing Club’s meeting last week a 10s totaiisator : was in use for the first time. ' * , The amount realised , at the . recent bloodstock sales at, Randwick was £lOO,OOO, which is a record for Australia. . 1 \ . , 4 " .. :J: • • * J .r : * . • Next month Merrimanu, -Anglican, Wee Nannie and Picd.tee/ponies who have been competing at. Wellington will be shipped to Sydney in charge of R. Eager. * ♦ * * Advice received during the. week stated that the crack jockey at Home, . F. Wootton, had been suspended for a day for foul riding a the Newbury meeting. * * . ♦ . *. ■ . The chestnut Sir Rupert ran .two good races on Saturday and with a little, luck may have been returned a winner in the Chevalier Handicap. ,He finished up . well and should not be long in catching the ey.e of the . man.in the box first ; > <!. >. *.•■.* - * . •’* •Kalua'- Lumper, one of the best ’chasers in Australia, fell while con- • testing-the second steeplechase at the ■ A.J.C. Meeting; sustaining ; injuries of such a Severe nature■ ■ that■ 'it' : 1 was deemed ’ advisable to - end his caTeer with a friendly bullet! ’

To date Prince Foote has won about £15,400

. Downfall, who accompanied Bobrikoff to Australia, was sold by Mr. T. H. Lowry for 250 guineas and the white-legged horse goes .to Queensland. . Downfall’s best performance was when he won the New Zealand Cup in 1908, but since .then he has not done too well. However,. at 250 guineas he should prove a profitable purchase.

Sir Rupert, one of the competitors at Avondale, is an Australian-bred gelding by Beauchamp—Gracie, and was brought to New Zealand by the late George Wright.

The Auckland gelding Explosive failed to run into a place in either of the two races he contested on the second day at Wellington.

Mr. Crossar, of Dunedin, has purchased the hurdler Stayboy, but the horse will still receive his preparation at the hands of J. McCombe, who may, it is rumoured, take out a rider’s license again.

After many, disappointing, displays, Husbandman gave a glimpse of, his true form at Wellington on Saturday, when he defeated a good field in the Autumn Handicap, run over one and aquarter miles. That consistent niare, Lady Medallist, occupied ~ second berth.

Captain Jingle has changed ■ hands, his hew owner being Mr. Hennah, of Hastings. *. v- ’?• ‘’ ♦ •/ ’ ♦ As a result of Bobrikoff’s successes at the A.J.C. meeting,- Mr. T. H. Lowry’s cheque was £1582. • '* ■ Freemantle, whdse chance of capturing the Chevalier Handicap was estimated very highly, "did' not keep his backers in suspense ‘ long, aS he got caught in the tapes at the start and was hopelessly left. * * ♦ * The Great Northern Derby winner, Kilwinning, cut a very poor figure in the St. Leger at Wellington, and in a four-hourse race finished a poor third. Seraphic, a member of J. Cameron’s string at Randwick, has been nominated for events at Hawke’s Bay. Evidently Cameron intends returning to New Zealand with Kiatere, Bullworth and Co ;r the winter meetings. * » * Dunborve nearly came to grief at the last hurdle o n Saturday, but Jones kept the son of Bluejacket on his feet and landed Mr. Dunnet’s horse a Winner; by two lengths. ' 4 ' ■ ■ * * * ■ ' ' The Sabretache gilding "Sabre is ." one of the best fencers .we have at present, but he cannot’stay, and a mile ■ and a-half in good company finds him out; However; in poor company he should always play, a" prominent, part. The chestnut gelding Tattoo, in F. Macmanemin’s stable, was out forcing the pace for a mile in the Avondale Handicap, but after that lie was done with, and eventually finished last. . .3; * * Maheno has not been running up to form lately, and the daughter of Soult never, threatened danger in the Avondale -CUP.- . ? c : .ufc.- ■■■ ? H. Gray rode two winners on the opening, day at Avondale. Penwarden and Antoinette were each ridden by him, ;1 f:.* * * - , Three fayourites. prevailed on Satiiirday- in Penwarden, Dunborve and Antoinette, and backers would have a lot the worst of the argument with the pencillers. It is reported that W. Evans, who rode Apologue to victory in the Melbourne Cup, was ibadly injured while riding in a race at Bombay last month. • * ♦ • Prince Foote, Australia’s crack three-year-old, has won ten of the fifteen races he has contested. ■ * . •* ♦ The Papakura Racing Club’s annual meeting opens on Saturday, and in the event of fine weather there should he a large attendance when the opening, event comes up for decision; The programme comprises six events—quite enough for one day. A special train will leave Auckland at 1.15 p.m.,. to carry sportsmen to Papakura. Kiatere, who won the big steeplechase at the A.J.C. meeting, was sold as a yearling for 15 guineas. The ex-New Zealand pony, Maid of All Work, . in a three and a-half furlongs’ flutter at Ascot, started at odds on and ; won easily. At a meeting of the New Zealand Trotting Association last week, the committee set up to consider a scheme for submission to the conference for the encouragement of a modified form of “ free-for-all” racing proposed that any club during the year must give “free for all” (open to all horses) as follows:^—lf holding four days’ racing, at least one race of £100; for six days’ racing, at least two races of £lOO each; for three or more meetings, at least equal to one race of £lOO for each meeting. The proposed limits are to be: For one mile, 4s; one mile and a-quarter, ss; one mile, and a-half, 6s; two miles, Bs. ; The distances are to be left to each, club’s discretion. The report was approved and directed to be Included in the suggestions to be brought before the conference in July.

- The ex-New Zealaild horse Aborigine, who last year dead-heated-in .-the Caulfield Cup, and subsequently won ’ the Phoenix Handicap at Moonee Val- < - ley, is again in work at Randwick •.> under the care of H. Rayner. - •" • ' Mr. W. Lyons has leased his. Spult —St. Edith filly St. Margaret to Mr. ‘■ W. Miller, and she will be trained by S. Fielder. Mr. Lyons -has made arrangements for the hurfilqr Aeolus to be sent to Melbourne to S. Howie, who will, break him in. to harness and use ‘ him-between the shafts for . a time in " hope that his bad leg may thereby ■' become sufficiently sound to . permit ot his again being trained. . . , ■• / ’. * * • * The ponies Gold Cup/ Ora Pinsent, : and Franc were shipped by the s.s. Mperaki from Wellington. The nio have been racing With some success at the unregistered meetings in j this- city, and they should pay their way / at similar gatherings in Australia, especially Gold Cup, who was in a class by himself.

The Chokebore-owned Tenterhook and Husbandman were shipped south by the Maori at the conclusion of the Wellington meeting. The remaining members of the Trentham team, along with Madam Madcap, who was sent up from Riccarton were railed to Awapuni on Saturday last.

Owners who run jumpers in England for £7O plates, and consider themselves lucky when they win a £2OO handicap, must find their mouths watering when they read of the £4,000 steeplechase, the £2,000 hurdle race, and the minor prizes, ranging in value from £l5O to £l2OO, which make up the programmes of the race meeting recently brought off at Nice, in the south of France (says a writer in the “London Sporting Times”); and they must envy Mr. Arthur VeilPicard, who won with his stable of jumpers in that country no less than £25,408 during the past year.

Mr. M. T. McGrath, the well-known Opaki trainer and owner of Osiris, Tumut and Co., left Wellington for Sydney en route to Ireland, by the Moeraki. Mr. McGrath is revisiting the scenes of his youth in County Waterford, after an absence of thirtytwo years in the Dominion. His many friends hope that the trip will prove enjoyable to this veteran trainer.

“Parson” Parkes, a well-known English trainer, was once rector of Kettleby, but horse-training appeared to him as a more congenial occupation, and when opportunity offered he took it up. He now has a fairly large team of horses, and the “Special Commissioner” of the London “Sportsman,” who recently visited his stables, writes of him as follows: “That he thoroughly understands his business is certain, and if anyone can get races 1 out of horses he can. But, in addition, he has gained fame in various other fields, for instance as a county football player, and also with the gloves. Even now, so far as the latter accomplishment goes, he would, be a very awkward antagonist in a small room. To add to all this, he is a first-rate platform speaker, as the Socialists whd came to lecture at Epsom found to their cost. It has been a matter of acute regret to him that, owing to his recent illness, he was compelled to cancel ten engagements to speak at meetings during the election.

Vavasor, the winner of the Sydney Cup, has changed hands, and, according to a Sydney writer, will be shipped to India. It is to be hoped for the sake of his new owner that the Grafton colt will pay his way in the land of the 1 Rajahs;

Four more yearlings from Stoneyhurst arrived last week, and are now quartered at Chokebore etables. They are Muircock (by Treadmill—Kirriemuir). Periwinkle (by Treadmill — Nautilus Shell), Terebinth (by Clanranald—Teredina), and Swordplay (by Glanranald—Safeguard).

The Melbourne Trotting Club is inviting support for a Sires’ Produce Stake, to, which a prize, of £5OO is attached. The race will be decided in July, 1913, and will be for trotters and pacers the progeny of sires nominated by the sth ot next May.

:It is given out that the youngster purchased by the Hastings sportsman, Mr. E. J. Watt; at the Sydney sales, will not be brought to New Zealand, but she will be sent to Victoria/ and handed to the ex-Riccarton trainer, D. J. Price, to prepare >for/future engagements.