TURF TOPICS.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVIII, Issue 1056, 2 June 1910, Page 6

TURF TOPICS.

Moccasin and Pharos both broke down while contesting the Wanganui Steeplechase.

The Great Northern meeting which opens to-morrow will be continued on Saturday and concluded on Wednesday next.

Powerful, who figures in the Hunt Club Hurdles and Steeplechase, is a full brother to the one-time champion Seahorse.

Audax was sent over the big country at Ellerslie on Tuesday and the Great Northern favourite quite satisfied his supporters by his display and he promises to start a very warm favourite.

Te Arai who has showed a great dislike to the water jumps found them no trouble at all on Tuesday morning. If he could be relied upon to get round he would have plenty of backers in the big steeplechase on Saturday.

Waimangu and Santa Rosa are in good nick to attack the winter meeting and one of the pair should bring a little grist to the mill before the meeting closes.

The statement that the Great Northern Hurdle race favourite, Wimmera, is showing signs of soreness is causing his backers some anxiety and his appearance with the colours up is being eagerly awaited.

Golden Glow, who figures in .. events for hunters, is a very moderate, jumper. .

Although exceptionally well treated in the matter of Weight Maheno was very disappointing at Takapuna and she never appeared to settled down to work with her usual dash.

The Porirua candidate for,the Great Northern Steeplechase, Lovell, made many friends by the manner in which he negotiated the country at Ellerslie on Tuesday morning.

Mr. V. Cornago, owner of Prophet, is at present lying very seriously ill and it is feared he may have to undergo an operation. His many friends will wish him a speedy recovery.

Nine entries have been received for the Amateur Billiard championship, which commences in Auckland on Monday next. Included in the nominations are several well-known cueists, viz., Messrs. Farrell, Hackett, Lovelock and Russell.

Steplink, who showed pace for a couple of furlongs at Takapuna was sold at Alfred Buckland and Son’s yards on Friday for 20% guineas, Mr. B. Myers being the puchaser.

Lovell, the ’chaser, will be the sole representative of the Porirua stable at Ellerslie. H. Telford will ride the gelding.

Master Soult is hitting out well just now and promises to be on the winning list shortly.

The Workman gelding Shrapnel injured himself while working on the tan on Friday and was consequently withdrawn from the Great Northern Hurdles.

Four previous winners of the Great Northern Steeplechase will be among the field on Saturday, viz., Capitol, Kiatere (twice), Loch Fyne and Sol.

Last week T. Williams lost the services of Leo, Maiora and Shrapnel. To lose three jumpers on the eve of the Great Northen meeting is more than hard and this painstaking mentor who promised to hold a strong hand has only Cavaliero and Westerley left to battle over the fences for him. Misfortunes never come singly!

The appearance of Tua Kitua in the list of final acceptors for the Great Northern Hurdles after his displays at Takapuna is hard to understand.

Commander who ran well at Takapuna returned to the Thames but may be brought to Ellerslie again to take part on the second and third days of the meeting.

Present indications point to the field for the Great Northern Steeplechase numbering just a dozen.

The grey gelding Flying Cloud in J. Chaafe junr.’s stable at Ellerslie was offered for sale at auction on Friday, but was passed in at 40 guineas.

The hero of the Avondale meeting, Waiata, has arrived at Ellerslie and is looking well.

After the pronounced manner in ■which Mr. “Melrose’s” mare Advantage made her opponents look cheap at Takapuna she is certain to have many supporters in any event she contests at Ellerslie.

On the opening day of the Wanganui meeting Jack Pot and Audax were wired to Auckland as the best of good things and a fair amount of money was secured about the double at a good price. Though the double did not win it was pretty close, as Jack Pot landed the Steeplechase and Audax ran second to Wimmera in the hurdles.

The stone wall to be negotiated at Ellerslie after the double is lower in the centre than at either end and it would, perhaps, be advisable to build it up level. As it is at present riders would all make for the lowest part and an awkward fence may cause an accident.

An excellent picture of that onetime champion racehorse, Hohoro, with his rider J. .Tellings in the saddle was on view at Mr. Louis Lewis’ window, Queen-street, last. week, and attracted considerable attention. The painting is from the brush of Mr. R. A. Armstrong, who, in placing both horse and rider on canvas exactly as we see them on the race track, has scored a marked success where many have failed. For some unknown reason those in charge of the Society of Arts Exhibition refused to include Mr. .Armstrong’s picture amongst ,the exhibits, much to the surprise of jwy good judges of & picture.

T. Pritchard will ride Kiatere in his engagements at Ellerslie.

n • A. Cowan will be on First Barrel at Ellerslie. -

Capitol will have his old pilot M. Deeble in the saddle on Saturday.

Blue Garment is getting through some fast sprinting work at Ellerslie and may return a dividend before the meeting is over.

A rising three-year-old in F. Macnianemin’s stable Royal News, by Wairiki —Bad News, is working in company with Apelion at Ellerslie and the manner in which he hits out in his short sprints augurs well for his future prospects.

Ngapuka appears well treated in the Cornwall Handicap to-morrow, with 9.0. Last year the son of Soult won the race with 9.6 in the saddle and on the concluding day capped this performance by winning the York Handicap with 11.0. If himself it looks as though his opponents will have to hurry to-morrow.

The jumping of the huners at Ellerslie in the early mornings would not lead anyone to think they had negotiated many stiff fences in their time.

J. Jones may ride Le Beau in the Great Northern Steeplechase and in his hands the son of Leolantis should not lose anything on the score of horsemanship.

Loch Fyne, who won the Great Northern two years ago, will be ridden in Saturday’s race by F. Speakman. This rider was on Bully when Mr. Alison’s horse won the G.N. Hurdles last year.

The Auckland horseman, B. Deeley, rode Clemora to victory in the Connolly Handicap at Wanganui and her supporters received a two-figure dividend.

Since the Takapuna meeting Prophet has been hitting out in great style and his fall evidently caused no trouble.

J. Rae has Uenuku to do battle for him in the big handicaps on the flat and a win for the son of Stepniak would be pleasing to chronicle.

Wimmera and Tui Cakobau are the favourite selections for the Great Northern Hurdles and Audax in the Steeplechase.

With soft going the Birkenhead gelding Dawn will count a host of supporters in the big handicap.

The highest weight yet carried, to victory in the Great Northern Hurdles is St. Simon’s 12.12, in 1897.

In the matter of poundage the 12.13 carried by Kiatere in 1907 stands as the record for the Steeplechase.

Paritutu and Sol who failed to gain a place in the G.N. Hurdles last year will be starters to-morrow.

Wimmera promises to start a warm favourite in the G.N. Hurdles to-mor-row and Audax will foe in most demand in the G.N. Steeplechase.

Tn this issue will be found a picture of Bully with F. Speakman in the saddle, which combination carried off the Great Northern Hurdles last year.

The whole of the horses in the estate of the late Mr. J. B. Williamson, including brood mares, yearlings, two-year-olds, and horses in training, are to be offered for sale at auction on June 6th, by Messrs. A- Buckland and Sons.

Mr. E. White, of Porangahau, Hawke’s Bay, can lay claim to having bred Jack Pot, the winner of this year’s Wanganui Steeplechase. His sire is Chain Link, who was by Chain Shot, by Musket. Chain Shot’s dam was Locket (imp.)- Chain Link’s dam was Nautilus, by Traducer (imp.), next dam Water Witch, by Camden, next dam Mermaid, (imp-). Jack Pot’s dam was Georgina, by St. George, her dam Strenna (imp.) foy The Duke (son of Stockwell), her dam Mellona, by Teddington—Honey Dear by Plenipotentiary, My ,Dear by Bay Middleton—Miss Letty : (dam of Weatherbit) , On breeding Jack Pot is closely related to . some of the best horses in New Zealand, notably Lurlihe and : Castaway. who won a Dunedin and Wellington Cup respectively. Mr- E. Cutis, the well-known Canterbury trainer, bred Chain Link.

It is reported that Eldorado will be shipped to Sydney, this week? ' * * * *

P. Brady will probably ride Prophet in the G N. Hurdles to-morrow.

The Sjoult pony -Gloss left for Sydney on Friday last in charge of T. Price.

The following were the principal winding owners at the Wanganui meeting:— E- J. Watt £4lO, Hon. J. D. Ormond £360, A. Ellingham £350, A. F- Douglas £225, G. Castles £2OO, J. H. Prosser £145, Mr. Highden £125, J. Delaney £BO, F- Preston £BO, Owen Caldwell £BO, J- Foreman £BO, Noel Wilson £5O.

Flingot and Bourrasque contracted colds while at Ellerslie, and were shipped home by the Rarawa on Sunday last.

A. Julian has been engaged to pilot Paritutu in his races at Ellerslie.

Waiari is galloping fast on the tracks, and may shortly make amends for his disappointing displays lately.

Haldane was sent out over six furlongs on Tuesday morning, but he did not finish too well, and may need a race or two before being seen at his best.

Omati was very sore after his win at Takapuna, but he has shaken this off, and is hitting out very freely again.

Lady Patricia was withdrawn from the Great Northern Hurdle Race on Monday afternoon.

There will be racing at North Otago, Otaki and Ellerslie to-day. Eurus, who won the C.J.C. Grand National Steeples a couple of seasons ago, is doing good work in the South.

Many critics are selecting Sol to run a good race in the hurdles, but after his display at Takapuna it looks as though he would have a better chance in the steeplechase-

The combination, Wimmera and Audax, is quoted at a very short price with the pencillers.

No horse is galloping better at Ellerslie than Prophet, and the son of St- Paul will be the hardest horse to beat in the hurdles to-morrow.

After exercising one morning last week, the Brisbane Cup winner Curve died from internal hemorrhage.

**’ * « Aorangi will be ridden in his Ellerslie engagements by H- Telford.

Minoru, who was leased by King Edward VII-, and who won the Two Thousand Guineas and English Derby last year, has been returned to his owner, Colonel Hall Walker.

The old Hippocampus gelding Mocassin, who has won a Great Northern, Wanganui, and several other less important steeplechase events, broke down very badly in Tuesday’s race, and it is questionable whether he can be got ready again in time to compete in further events this season.

Oryx, who had always been considered a safe conveyance over obstacles, came to grief in the Grandstand Steeplechase on the second day at Wanganui, and fracturing his spine had to be destroyed. The jumps at Wanganui are of the solid order, and they must not be taken liberties with. The obstacle which caused the trouble would stand a lot of ill-usage before being seriously damaged-

Speculation at Takapuna on the machines showed a falling off, the sum of £6509 10s being handled, as against £9585 10s on the corresponding day of last year 1 , and making £14;111 10S for' the meeting- a decrease of £1459 10s 'Qh '■ the 1909■' figures. ! Bookmakers returned in fees £9lO, as against £B2O iri" 1909-

George Ghno, 2.3 3-4, the horse that made a few Secretaries lie awake nights a year ;agb,' is a candidate for two-mihiite hbhours, says an Americanwriter. : He has been bought by Mr. M- ! owner of Dan Patch and Minor Heir, and Will; join the International' stable on September 1. ’" Meanwhile it is expected that he •will'continue In thb Tdirimy Murphy string, wfiidh may mean that; the little horse is tb take part - in' h' few races with the fast dnes this season.