TURF TOPICS.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVIII, Issue 1054, 19 May 1910, Page 5

TURF TOPICS.

The Takapuna Jockey Club’s Winter meeting which opens on Saturday will be concluded on Tuesday (Empire Day).

The Wanganui Jockey Club’s Winter meeting takes place on Tuesday and Thursday next.

Ted O’Brien, the Auckland horseman, leaves for South by the Main Trunk express bn Sunday, having been engaged to ride Waitapii and Pharos in the Century Hurdles and Wanganui Steeplechase respectively at the Wanganui J.C.’s winter- meeting.

Handicaps for the minor events to be decided on the opening day of the Great Northern meeting are due to appear on Wednesday next, and acceptances must be made on the Friday previous.

Stourton, who won a double at Egmont last week, is out of Roie, and is therefore a half-brother to Rosella, a very fast mare, one time raced and owned by Messrs. Nathan.

It is understood that both Continuance ‘and Paisano, who are stable mates, will start in the Century Hurdles at Wanganui.

Maiora will make his. debut as a jumper in the Maiden Hurdles at Takapuna on Saturday. The disappointing son of Soult will be piloted by T. O’Brien-

Backers had a disastrous time at Egmont, only three favourites winning in two days.

A Queensland exchange says:—“ T. Ryan, a Queensland provincial jockey, accomplished an unique riding performance at the Warra races a few days ago. There were six events on the afternoon’s programme, and Ryan rode every winner.” Early in March A- Whitaker, the Auckland jockey, rode every winner at the Huntly meeting, and there were seven events on the card.

WooHoomooloo is getting through some excellent work at Hastings, but he loses considerable ground at every fence, and turf critics express the opinion that Cameron’s hurdler will need considerably more schooling to bring him to a state of perfection.

Up-to-Date, the Auckland-bred steeplechaser, who is now in Australia. has had a. tube inserted in his throat. He is not the first cross-coun-try horse to be so treated, as Grafnell found a tube of assistance to him when winning races in Australia-

Whhn the last mail left England, Neil Gow was a decided favourite for the Derby, to be run on the first of next month.

By riding Glen to victory twice at Marlborough, T- Pritchard now heads the list of hurdle jockeys. At the same meeting, Pritchard’s wins totalled five.

Arcturus, who cost Mr. J. C. Williamson, the well-known theatrical manager, 1250 guineas as a yearling, and who proved a very disappointing animal on the flat, has been relegated to hurdle racing, and he is expected to shortly make his debut over the small sticks.

While schooling over the big country at Napier Park on Saturday, Full Cry came to grief and injured his shoulder, consequently he will not be seen out at the Northern meeting.

Those in a position to know express the opinion that the Australian horse Woplloomooloo will not be seen at his best at the Great Northern meeting.

Multiple has changed hands, the; colt now being owned by J. McLaughlin, who purchased him from Mr- T. H. Lowry.

It is stated that T. Pritchard will have the mount on Kiatere in the Great Northern Steeplechase. Pritchard is one of the best horsemen in New Zealand, and at present is at the head of the list of winning riders over fences during the present season.

The trotting horses Kirikiriroa and Phillistina were disposed of by auction at Alfred Buckland and Sons’ yards on Friday. Each realised 3 6 guineas.

While schooling at Ellerslie on Saturday morning, the Great Northern Steeplechase candidate Pierre, broke down. Pierre was in Pat. Jones’ stable.

The Ashburton County Racing Club has decided to hold a winter race meeting on June 23 and 24 in lieu of the autumn meeting, which has been abandoned on account of the death of King Edward. The programme drawn up includes four hurdle races, and in all events substantial stakes are being offered.

At Awapuni, Pi inspector has been placed ill 0. O’Neill’s hands for preparation. .: -.J. ...- / ... ■ <*>...■.-» ■ ■ * -» ■_ ‘ ..- F. E. Jones, who rides for Sir G. Clifford;: has been married. ■ ■ fc .-' ■- -;■ • I'sj: ’ rjjt © ..." During his racing Career, our late King, won £140,000 in stakes. **• . . Denver Huon was responsible for another fine performance at -Wellington, New South Wales, last month, when he won a mile and a half race in 3min. 23sec., on what was described as a heavy track. ♦** . • a rhe Mahaki gelding Ataahua, who is in D. J. Price’s stable at Melbourne, is reported to be doing some excellent work in view of Grand National engagements. * « « « A special meeting of the New Zealand Trotting Association will be held on the evening of Tuesday, May 31, to discuss suggestions for inclusion in the order paper of the Trotting Conference. « ’» a * The Adelaide Cup of 13 00sovs (including lOOsovs cup), one mile and five furlongs, decided on Saturday resulted as follows:—Mr. R. M- Hawker’s nr Medaglia, syrs, by Medallion— Second Thought, 7st 101 b, 1; Mr. J.fame’s b m Topedi, syrs, by Tostig— Pedinga, 7st 131 b, 2; Mr. J. Lynch’s br g Prizefighter, 3yrs, by Havoc— The Prize, 6st 121 b, 3. Twenty horses started. Medaglia took charge entering the straight, and won easily by two lengths, a neck separating the second and third horses. Time, 2m. 5.1 l-ss.

Royal Day, who figures among the entries for hurdle events at Ellerslie, is a chestnut in F. Macmanemin’s stable.

Truganini and Magneto arrived from the South on Saturday to fulfil engagements at Takapuna. E. Lowe has charge of the horses, which will be ridden by W. Ryan in their engagements. Both are expected to run well at the meeting.

Tui Cakobau was taken to Ellerslie on Saturday morning and in company with Hoanga was sent over the small hurdles. Both horses gave good exhibitions, the North Shore horse particularly moving well.

Ben Jonson is rapidly getting into racing condition and promises to be a tough proposition to bump up against at no distant date. On Saturday morning the son of Ben Godfrey jumped the small fences in great style.

Haurahi, a member of F. Macmanemin’s stable, was sold last week for 45 guineas.

The Explosion horse, Pohutu, arrived from the South on Sunday to take part at the Takapuna meeting and is at present located at Devonport.

Of the jumpers at Ellerslie nothing is going better than Leo, in T. Williams’ stable. The little son of Leolantis negotiates the big country like a veteran, but it a big question to ask a beginner to win the Great Northern Steeplechase.

Although the Porirua representative Tauira was allowed to drop out of the Great Northern Hurdles the son of Mahaki figures amongst the nominations for other hurdle races to be decided at the meeting.

The defection of Grenadier from the Great Northern Hurdles was owing to son of Soult splitting a hoof last week. Sid. Hodge, who trains Grenadier, only lately lost Penwarden.

The most notable defection from the Great Northern Steeplechase on Friday, when the first acceptance fell due, was El Dorado.

Lady Medallist must be set down as one of the most consistent performers in the Dominion. So far the St. Alwyne mare has placed ten successes to Mi-. Prosser’s credit; and her winnings amount to about £l5OO.

Woolloomooloo and Prophet are at present the ruling favourites in Auckland for the Great Northern Hurdles. ~ j-"' Gj. < \ X j'l-2:r. jM/a

.....Prophet continues to stride along in great style at Ellerslie and promises to be hard to beat in his forthcoming engagements. He covered, a cirucit on the sand at Ellerslie on Saturday in 2.5, hitting out very freely. Prophet may be ridden in his Takapuna engagements ny ir. Speakman.

For the first nine month of the current season the progeny of Malster have won 117 races worth £34,254 10s.

The Auckland horseman, B. Deeley, rode four winners at Egmont last week. He scored on Stourton (twice), Shining Star and Golden Eagle.

Patil, a candidate for hurdle honours at Takapuna, has a deal of pace and if he can jump is sure to be hard to beat.

On Tuesday morning Luscombe, Noteorini and Sabine were sent over a circuit of hurdles, Noteorini came down at the first obstacle, but the two others jumped well. They had very little pace on.

Old Cavaliero is moving along pleasingly in his work and the other morning left the second of two circuits behind in 2.10 1-5 without being bustled.

The chestnut mare Lady Patricia beat her stable mate Loch Fyne by six second over a circuit on the saiid on Tuesday.

Delegate, one of the latest to be put to the illegitimate game, does not please too well as he has a tendency to run down his fences.

The tracks at Ellerslie are in a very heavy state just now and with the exception of schooling very little work is being accomplished.

The flighty little mare Miss Stella is looking very well just now arid a win for her trainer, P. Jones, would be very welcome just now as he lost the services of Pierre on Saturday when the ’chaser broke down.

On Saturday morning Leo, Cavaliero, Te Arai, Westerley, Loch Fyne and Putaruru started together for a round of the steeplechase course. Leo was in front throughout and gave a delightful exhibition. Cavaliero was close up to his stablemate at the death and also jumped well, Te Arai fenced well till he came to the water which he just scrambled over getting rid of his rider, J. Deerey.

Armagh continues to get through the tasks allotted him satisfactorily, but his stable companion, Black Northern is not jumping too well and came to grief the other morning.

Haldane is. looking well just now and but for being such a slow beginner he could be ticked off to run nrominently at Takapuna. He will be better suited by the Ellerslie course. :

*©- T @ _ Oh Saturday Dunborve, Freevata, Delegate and Spectre were associated over a round of hurdles. Freevata gave the best display and finished in frpht, while Dunborve cut a .very sorry figure and was a long way behind at the finish.

About the most humorous piece of schooling work seen at Ellerslie for a time was brought off on Tuesday morning. Two Hunt Club Steeplechase candidates in Antarctic and Hautere essayed the big country, starting at the sod wall. Both hofshs got over the first jump safely but the double proved too good for Antarctic and he came to grief. Hautere was left to go on alone but he only got as far as the old water jump when he baulked. In the meantime Antarctic was remounted and set going again with the result that he caught up to Hautere. The pair succeeded in mastering the old water jump arid Antarctic went on and finished alone. His companion, Hautere, either fell or baulked at every other obstacle arid altogether took about half ah hour to get over a circuit.

, Cudweed, Rimlock and Matarere started for a round of the small hurdles on Tuesday morning. Matarere failed to get round, but later in the morning was brought out again. However, he came down again. Both riders escaped with a shaking.

The veteran Paritutu made his reappearance with the colours up at Egmont on the second day. The son of Castor was sent , out favourite in the hurdles, but the best he could do was to “finish fourth. However he was hardly ready for the fray and may make a better showing later on.

The Royal Handicap at Takapuna on Saturday is run over seven furlongs and not five and a-half as many are under the impression it is.

It is said that the North Shore horse Tui Cakobau will be ridden in the Great Northern Hurdles by J. Jones. • • • *

F. Phillips, who recently returned from Australia, is riding work at Ellerslie and has renewed his acquaintance with Omati. The pair were associated together in hurdle races a couple of seasons ago.

On the second day of the Lincoln (Eng.) meeting last month, there were 115 runners for the six races, which is said to nearly, if not quite, constitute a record in the Old Country.

Mr. Richard Crocker states that he has refused an offer of £20,000 from the Italian Government for his Derby winner, Orby; and, furthermore, that he would not sell at any price.

Owing to the fog which gathered on Saturday week it was somewhat difficult to time Revenue’s furlongs when he was goin against the record. Mr. L. C. Hazlett started the horse and subsequently made each furlong as follows:—One furlong, 16sec; two furlongs, 31 2-ssec; three furlongs, 48sec; four furlongs, Imin 4 3-ssec; five furlongs, lmin 21sec; six furlongs, Imin 37sec; seven furlongs, Imin 54 2-ssec; eight furlongs, 2min 11 4-ssec.

The Transvaal Handicap, two miles, decided in South Africa recently, resulted in a dead-heat between Crossgar and Make Up, and as the owners would not divide the horses were brought out after the last race, with the result that after running together the full journey and fighting out a desperate finish, the judge was unable to separate them, and again declared a dead-heat. Both horses and riders received a great ovation on returning to scale. The dual dead-heat was an unparalleled performance in South African racing.

As an extreme speed sire, there is every indication that Dan Patch, p., 1.55%, is goin to be “cock of the walk.” His success, as it is, is phenomenal, . as he has the credit of 31 in the standard speed list, and at no time in his career has he been retired from the race track. This can be said of no other horse. As in every year since fame came to him, Dan will make the stud season at 300 dollars, cash or note, and a living foal insured. Mares with records of 2.10, or producers of 2.10 performers, may be bred to him on shares, if preferred. — "Horse Review.”

Touching the performance of Revenue, who established an Australasian trotting record for a mile at Forbury Park, a Christchurch writer says:—'“By covering the journey in 2min 11 4-ssec Revenue not only succeeded in this task, but he also established a fresh Australasian record for a square-gaited. trotter, supplanting the record of Fritz, who trotted a mile in 2min 13sec in Christchurch in 1899. has long been recognised as a highrgrade trotter, but probably few people were prepared for such a performance as he registered on Saturday. He is an aged gelding by- Rothschild —Georgina, so that he is a half brother to Myoso tis, who formerly held the mile record in Dunedin. The record established by Revenue, coming so soon after the great effort of Dan Patch in Auckland, serves to draw pointed attention to the worth of Rothschild as a sire. I have heard many arguments concerning Rothschild and his stock, which some prominent drivers and trainers are disposed to decry as crazy animals. L ana, however, inclined to think that Dave Price summed up the position very tersely when he remarked to me that they were only, speed crazy,.-, and that It was the men that handled, them that were to blame for the. fact,, .that "they were sometimes hard to manage.

Rangihaeta is getting through plenty of work at Ellerslie.

Kildonan, in doing a gallop at Napier Park, ran off the track, knocking the caretaker down, breaking one of his ribs and inflicting other minor injuries.

Advantage, who accompanied Truganini and Magneto to Auckland is at Devonport and will be a competitor on the second day of the meeting.

By the Rarawa on Tuesday Handsome Paul, Flingot, Paul, Red Lupin and another arrived from the South to fulfil engagements at Takapuna.

Flitaway has finished her racing career and has been sent home to the Stonyhurst stud, with a view to taking up stud duties next season. The daughter of Clanranald —Elusive has been a great disappointment, as she was a brilliant galloper on the tracks, but could rarely be persuaded to reproduce her best form when it came to the serious business of racing.

Mr. J. Wren, who has been a race promoter in Victoria for some years, recently extended the field of his operations to Queensland, and secured a course near Brisbane. That he intends to go into the business thoroughly was shown by the announcemen t of a £2OOO handicap, of seven furlongs, to be run on June 4. The nominations received total 75, amongst them being the New Zealanders Pink ’Un and Gold Thread.

Should the winner of the Hauraki Hurdles on Saturday claim an engagement in the Great Northern he will incur a 51b penalty.

El Dorado and Audax is the favourite combination for the Wanganui double.

Merriwa, who went wrong in the spring, is again in commission, but the appearance of his knees suggests that he is not likely to stand a hard preparation.

Some of the country clubs in New South Wales are finding, according to a Sydney writer, that the presence of a stipendiary steward has a beneficial effect upon their meetings, and though that official, no more than any other man, can be expected to see everything that takes place, the mere knowledge that he is looking on has a controlling influence upon some of those owners who, with only honrary stewards to contend with, are prepared to take great risks.

On her performances Emblem (7.6) reads very well in the Borough Handicap at Wanganui, notwithstanding that the company opposed to her is very select.

The Papakura Racing Club have selected Saturday, March 25, for their annual meeting next year.

Sir William Russell, who is about to leave on a visit to the Old Country, has sold off most of his blood stock. At a sale of the same last week the following were quitted:—Aged mare Rasulka, 5 guineas; aged mare St- Katherine, 10% guineas; aged mare Intrepida, 10 guineas; six-year-old gelding Prohibitionist, 13 guineas; four-year-old gelding by Coeur de Lion — Rasulka, 36 guineas; four-year-old filly Berengaria, 40 guineas; four-year-old gelding Scots Fusilier, 18 guineas.

The New Zealand-bred Pink-un has been awarded list in the Brisbane Two Thousand, which is to be decided next month.

The proposed match between Denver Huon and Sal Tasker would appear to be likely to end in newspaper talk. Mr. F. G- Geddes; the owner of Denver Huon, showed his bona fides by posting a deposit of lOOsovs with the Melbourne Trotting Club to bind a match for 500sovs with Sal Tasker, best two out of three two-mile heats. D. J. Price, Mr. Duncan’s trainer, it is stated, now finds Sal Tasker is not in a sufficiently forward condition to talk race at the present time; and Mr. Duncan was ill-judged in issuing his challenge under such conditions.

A case of interest to owners of racehorses was before the Dunedin Court on Wednesday last, when Robert Henry Ellis claimed to recover from the Jockey Club £6 18s 6d, alleged to be due as riding fees. The club contended that they could not recognise the boy in the matter, as he was an apprentice. . The magistrate held that the proper,person to sue w,as. [the boy’s employer, and non-suited the plaintiff.

Dan Leno has been turned out for a spell, and will pot probably face the starter at any of the winter meetings. •"’ » • •

Grand Rapids, who won the New Zealand Cup in 1904, is in work at Caulfield.

Emperor Napoleon, who won the Park Plate (England) of lOOsovs at Newcastle last month, is a halfbrother to the Derby winner Orby, by Lesterlin or Clonmell out of Rhoda 8., and was making his first appearance on a racecourse in that event- He was the highest-priced yearling sold in Ireland in 1908, having been privately disposed of by Mr. R. Croker, his breeder, for 3500 guineas to his present owner, Mr. F. J. Benson.

Mr. John E. Madden, the famous American owner and breeder, of Lexington, Kentucky, intends to form an important stud in France within the next twelve months, to be headed by the successful sire Ogden. Recently he purchased for £4200 from MrWoodford Clay a promising two-year-old filly by Sir Dixon out of Breakwater, and he intends that she will be one of the twenty-five high-class horses to be sent across the Atlantic. During his career Mr Madden has had extraordinary good luck with his stock, and has obtained very high prices for those he has bred himself. He sold Sir Martin to Mr. Winans for £lO,OOO, and last season disposed of his yearlings en bloc to Mr. R. T. Wilson, jun., for a fancy figure. His venture in France will be watched with considerable interest, especially in Kentucky, where so many English sires and the best of the American blood are located.

Sir George Clifford has secured first call on the services of the light-weight jockey, C. Emerson, for next season.

That consistent performer Lady Medallist is to be given a spell.

The sum of £11,918 went through the totalisator clerks at Morphettville at the S.A.J.C. meeting recently, making a total for Adelaide meetings this season of £206,568, or an advance of about £12,000 on the investments made at the corresponding meetings last year.

Playmate will represent the Porirua stable in the Century Hurdles at Wanganui on Tuesday.

Apellon is filling out into a grand colt, and he promises to play a prominent part as a three-year-old. * » O ®

A list of winning stallions m Australia for the first three-quarters of the season shows that all records have been badly beaten by Malster. A few years ago Lochiel was thought to have done wonderfully in passing £17,000 for a season, and later, when Grafton beat £25,000 two seasons in succession it was thought the limit had been reached. Now Malster, for nine months, comes out with 56% winners of 117 races, worth £34,254. His best stake-earners were Maltine £5414, Desert Rose £4830, Alawa £4149, Beverage £3667, Malt King £2073, Mala £1725, Lager £1463 and Habel £lOOO. Sir Foote, who is second on the list, with £17,016, owes his position to Prince Foote, who accounted for £14,510- Grafton is third with £14,017, followed by True Blue and Wallace.

As a whole, jumping meetings in England must be poor affairs, else “ Rapier,” of the “ Illustrated S- and D. News,” would not indulge in the following remarks: —“ Backers and bookmakers are at odds in the winter. The ring is for the most part feeble in the extreme; layers think it is not worth while going because nobody wants to bet; backers think it is not worth while going because there is nobody to bet with —nobody, that is, who will lay reasonable prices. On the whole, stewards have shown themselves on the alert, though in one or two cases, where horses after being down on the course have suddenly improved a stone or so, the attention of the National Hunt Club stewards might well have been directed to the occurrence. It is a very good thing that some energetic members of the N.H- are keenly desirous of strengthening the sport and ready to devote time and trouble to the accomplishment of that object. One recommendation is to reduce the number of meetings; but I can never see that this would be a step in the right direction. If race companies want to have meetings, owners want to run at them, and visitors want to go, why should these wants hot be gratified ?”

The Grafton ■ gelding Exmoor is reported to be going great guns In his training work, and' as he is not being overburdened with weight should not be long in registering a win. Perilous, by Pistol—Alveary, the four-year full brother to Mr. G. F. Moore’s True Shot, who has been performing so well in the Wanganui district this season, won the Eight Hours’ Handicap, on mile and a-quarter, at Moonee Valley (Vic.) on April 25. A couple of days previously Perilous won the Epsom Handicap, one mile, at the Epsom Club’s meeting. He had 6.10 in the saddle when he annexed the latter event, and his weight at Moonee Valley was 7.6, including 71b penalty. * * * *

The list of winning sires in Australia, for the first three-quarters of the present season, includes the following horses, which were either bred in New Zealand or are in other ways closely identified with racing in the dominion: True Blue £8928, Wallace £8394, Havoc £5582, San Francisco £4819, Multiform £3096, Phoebus Apollo £2615, Menschikoff £2130, Merriwee £1993, Seaton Delaval £1950, Pygmalion £1950, Stepniak £l7BB, Birkenhead £1676, Medallion £l5BB, Lancaster £1292, Sant Ilario £1157, Royal Artillery £lO9O and xxotchkiss £lO5O.

According to the Indian correspond-

ent of the “Australasian, the Calcutta racing season, just concluded, has been a regular knock-out for the Australians, and deprived as they were of both Peru and Neith there was nothing of any class to speak of. The English horses won 73 races, as against the colonials’ 59. American-bred horses won two races, and Indian countrybred ponies two races. The best of the Australians was Soultline, who, as a matter of fact, is New Zealand-bred. About five years ago the invasion of English horses first seriously conb menced, and ever since it has gone on increasing, till now the old order pf things has changed, and there are more English horses running at Indian meetings than there are colonials. Formerly it was the other way about, and the English horse was a more or less rare bird. The reason of it is that horses of good enough class to win back their purchase money and a bit more besides are far cheaper in England than they are in Australia. An owner can buy for a couple of hundred guineas a horse good enough to beat one that the Australian dealers would ask him 500 for.

There is such a great amount of racing in these days, that a successful jockeys has better opportunities of winning a number of races than was the case many years back. Still, it is the opinion of quite a number pf people qualified to do so, that we have no riders of the present day so capable as many that have passed away. They say the same thing of the horsemen in England, where at the present time, the leading jockeys are young Wootton, a native of Sydney, and the American, D. Maher- A cable published last week stated that the American had just completed his score of one thousand winning mounts. Of course, he may go on and yet equal the late Fred. Archer; but he will have to do well, as the “ Tinman,” from the time he won on Atholl Daisy at Chesterfield, in 1870, to his. last mount on Tommy Tittlemouse, at Lewes, in 1886, steered 2748 winners. Fred. Archer’s most successful year was 1885, when he rode 246 winners; George Fordham rode 166 in 1862, and J. Grimshaw 164 in 1864.

Poseidon’s yearling brother will not be trained for the big two-year-old events of next spring. He is now spelling and will probably not be seen under colours until the autumn.

Dean Swift, an ex-selling plater and a now very ancient son of Childwick, has established a wonderful record in the City and Suburban Handicap. He won the race twice, and has been placed four times in six years.

Lord Rosebery appears to have a rare chance of capturing his fourth English Derby this season. His Lordship’s colt, Neil Gow, has just won the Two Thousand Guineas, beating Lemberg, owned by the Anglo-Australian who races as “ Mr. A. W- Fairie.” One of fortune’s favourites, Lord Rosebery set out early in life with a threefold objective: to marry the greatest heiress in England, become Prime Minister of Great Britain, and win an English Derby. Lord Rosebery succeeded in securing all three distinctions. He married a daughter of the House of Rothschild, became Prime Minister on Gladstone’s retirement, and has won the Derby with Ladas, Sir Visto and Cicero.