TURF TOPICS.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVIII, Issue 1059, 23 June 1910, Page 5

TURF TOPICS.

Racing at Napier Park and Ashburton to-day. ♦ ♦ • * Nominations for the principal events to be decided at the Canterbury Jockey Club’s Grand National meeting close to-morrow (Friday) at eight p.m. * * * « Handicaps for the opening day of the Wellington Racing Club’s meeting are due to appear on Monday. * ♦ * • Acceptances for events to be decided at the iwinter meeting of the -Gisborne Racing Club close on Wednesday next. • * * « Harry Hayr, jun., left for a trip to Sydney by the Maheno on MondayHis many friends will wish him the best of a holiday. « * « * Mahinga, Roselike and a pony by St Paul were shipped to Sydney by the Maheno on Monday. Audax is said to have been very much distressed after winning the Hawke’s Bay Steeplechase, in which he had only to beat Prospector, the other starters all falling. * * • • Astrea has again been placed in Walter Raynor’s hands. Raynor’s, stable is fairly full at present.

The New Zealand Racing Conference opens on July 21. * * * * Prophet has now won three hurdle races in succession. * * « • The Hon. J. D. Ormond was the most successful owner at the Hawke’s Bay meeting, and his horse Birkenhead the most successful sire at the meeting. * * « * Oxton, a member of the Hon. J. D. Ormond’s string, made his debut as a hurdler at Hawke’s Bay. On the first day his display was very poor, but on the second day he won comfortably. Oxton is said to be promising, and should pay his way at the illegitimate game. «« * e That Prophet is a very fair horse over hurdles he further demonstrated at Hawke’s Bay last week, when he won both the chief hurdle races decided. Jack Chaafe, who has the St. Paul gelding very well just now, is one of the quiet, unassuming kind, and is to be complimented on the horse’s success.

Backers must have had a!l the best of the argument with the pencillers at Hawke’s Bay. On the second day favourites were first home on five occasions. * ♦ • » J- Jones received a broken collarbone when Explosive fell with him at Ellerslie one morning last week, and in consequence he will be kept out of the saddle for some months. This is a piece of bad luck for Jones, as the jumping is now on, and his services would have been in demand in jumping races- ■■• • • • Owing to injuries received when Sir Lethe came down in the Hawke’s Bay Steeplechase, C. Cress could not ride Prophet on the second day, and J. Percival, who has not been having the best of luck, rode the St. Paul gelding. * ♦ .» . • The Multiform colt Multiple, purchased a few weeks ago by J- McLaughlin,. scored in his new owner’s colours in the Final Handicap at Hawke’s Bay. , ... .

Boilin continues to be a disappointment, and failed again at Hawke’s Bay. ♦ « * * The Auckland-owned gelding King Hippo was a disappointment at Hawke’s Bay, the best he could do be.ng to gain second place behind Sir Lethe in the J une Steeplechase on the concluding day. Sir George Clifford has disposed of the two-year-old filly Windrush, by Quarryman—Windwhistle. She has gone into T. W. Cotton’s stable at Riccarton. • • 9 9 Golden Water, who won the Hack Hurdles on the opening day at Hawke’s Bay, is only a three-year-old-Golden Water raced as a two-year-old at Ellerslie last season. i* « * « Cullinan, who iwon the Ladies’ Bracelet at Hawke’s Bay, is the first of the horses claiming an engagement in the New Zealand Cup to score a win since the nominations closed. Cullinan is a full brother to Kohinoor.

In the Hawke’s Bay Hurdles Woolloomooloo was favourite on the totalisator, but with the pencillers Prophet had pride of place. * * * ♦ A rising two-year-old half brother to the Hawke’s Bay Cup winner, Bridge, has had the name of The Rubber bestowed on him. ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ Auckland horses nominated for the big jumping events at the Wellington meeting are, Te Arai, Ben Jonson, Prophet, Tui Cakobau, Red McGregor, Le Beau, Capitol, Loch Fyne. • i* 4 The racing season of 1910-11, so far as Auckland is concerned, will open on September 17, when the Avondale Jockey Club inaugurate its spring meeting. A substantial increase will be given in stake money, and on® most noticeable item is that no race will be worth less than lOOsovs. This is certainly a step in the right direction, and the club is to be complimented when the. Government’s increased taxation bn all receipts is : .taken intg.

The ex-Auckland gelding Waipuna is being schocned over hurdles in Adelaide. * * * ♦ The thoroughbred stallion by Pheobas Appollo—Forme, is on the private sale list. *V* ' . The Prince Imperial mare Lady Clare, who has a record of 4.40 2-5 down against her for two miles, was sold in Ashburton last week for 165 guineas, Mr. W. Clinton being the purchaser. * * « * The trotter Piecework was sold in Ashburton a few days ago to Mr. J. Brankin for 100 guineas. ♦ Bayardo, who won the Ascot Gold Cup last week, has now won 14 races in succession. * * * * As a slight recognition of Mr. F. Foy’s liberality in presenting it with a gold cup of the value of 100 guineas, the Queensland Turf Club has elected that gentleman a life member of the club. * * * * M. Smith, who used to train for the Gisborne sportsman, Mr. C. J. Parkes, has again been commissioned by that gentleman to look after his horses. A peculiar racecourse incident is reported from Sydney. After the race for the Nursery Handicap at Randwick, the starter reported to the stewards of the day that, as Lady Frisco had twice thrown her jockey, H. Farrell, before the start, he ordered the lad not to remount, and the filly took no part in the race. The stewards recommended to the committee of the club that the entry of Lady Frisco be refused in future. * * T * During training operation at the Ashburton racecourse on Monday Mr. W. Lindsay’s racehorse Formursa slipped while doing a gallop and broke one of its fetlocks. The animal was subsequently destroyed. * * * * W. Young has been engaged to ride Paisano in the Grand National Hurdles, for which event, it is said, the horse will be specially reserved. Last week (says a Southern writer), at Napier Park Paisano ran six furlongs in lmin 21sec, jumping three hurdles on the way. Although the nominations have not yet closed for the Grand National meeting, the Strowan gelding is already being supported in doubles. * * n: * Frank Wootton celebrated his reappearance on the turf by riding a winner and three seconds at the Ascot meeting. * sic * * The Australian-bred gelding Woolloomooloo has filled the role of rnn-ner-up for times in succession. A win for a change would do no harm. e $ a * Prior to showing such a bold front in the Brisbane Two Thousand, the Birkenhead colt Mischief won the weight-for-age Royal Stakes at the Queensland Turf Club’s meeting. He started an odds-on favourite and had an easy victory. * * w 9 Bayardo has won over £40,000 in stake money.

A peculiar repetition of history has occurred in Victoria in connection with the racing career of the jumping horse Groper, who, in November, 1908, won the Hurdle Race at Bacchus Marsh, and, a few weeks later, the Steeplechase at Sandown Park. The other day Groper again won the Hurdle Race at the Bacchus Marsh meeting, and one more followed up his success in this event with a victory in the Steeplechase at Sandown Park. What makes the coincidence all the more remarkable is the fact that R. Hoyt, who was bn the back of Groper in his 1908 successes above referred to, and has since been riding in India, again piloted the Inquisitor gelding to victory in both his recent winning engagements. * * • « Vivace, who raced without success this season as a two-year-old, is now :>i an inmate of J. Rae*s< stalMe^c^v-

: The winning jockeys at the Hawke’s Bay meeting were: —Hercock, three, Julian two. Cress, Percival, Thompson, Jenkins, Olliver, Gray and F. Jones one each, while Messrs. Beatson and Ormond rode the Bracelet and Necklace winners. W. Huxley, who went to England some months ago and attached himself to Mr. R. Wootton’s stable, made his first appearance in the saddle on Mr. H. Lytham’s Trau in the Apprentices’ Plate, at Epsom, on the 20th April,- and,- leading all the way, beat five others, the winner sharing favouritism with a colt by St. Frusquin from Acunha. W. Huxley is the elder son of E. Huxley, the Randwick trainer of that name, who in his day was a succussful jockey. • In connection with the Horse Show at Olympia, Mr. A. G. Vanderbilt won the Bushy Bark Marathon. Belgian officers won the late King EdwArd’s cup for jumping. * , • ' . ‘ . ♦ •-- • ■ The record price for a gelding in New Zealand was paid last year for Aborigine, viz., 800 guineas. Oiyoi, another gelding, was recently sold for 1000 guineas. *■ . :- * ' ♦ ♦ At Riccarton, Los Angeles continues to do well in his preparation for the Grand National meeting. In his schooling essays at Riccarton, The Seer has been giving every satisfaction. * * ♦ ♦ Prim is about to be placed in work again, and at the present time is being hacked about by her trainer. * * * * . The V.R.C. refused to accept the entry of the True Blue—June colt for the Melbourne Cup because it was not described by name. The carelessness of some owners about naming their horses is little short of remarkable, and it is well that they occasionally get a sharp reminder about it. » * * During the two days' racing at Hastings, Mr. T. H. Lowry was approached by a large number of members of the Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club to allow himself to be nominated for the presidentship of the club at the ensuing annual meeting. After consideration, Mr. Lowry consented to accede to the wishes of his friends. - * * » In addition to the bracelets and necklaces, valued at £lOO and £65 respectively, the Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club last week offered £2020 in stakes, which amount was divided among 24 owners, as follows: —Hon. J. D. Ormond £495, V. Bolger £360, T. Carson £215, C. E. Brewer £2OO, R. A. McDonald £l2O, G. P. Donnelly £9O, J. McLaughlin £9O, D. Simmonds £75, D. Buick £75, W. Care £4O, A. F. Douglas £4O, A. J. Ellingham £35, G. C. Hamilton £3O, W. Roberts £2O, Sir W. R. Russell £2O, G. D. Rutherford £2O, H. J. Cameron £l5, F. J. Bassett £l5, W. Telford £l5, J. Hannah £lO, E. J. Watt £lO, B. Keeper £lO, F. Martin £lO, A. Helm £lO.

Williams and Kettle, Limited, held a sale of thoroughbred horses at Hastings last week when the following were disposed of on account of Mr. E. J. Watts: —Yearling ch f by Achilles —st. Amy, Signs, Mr. J. T. Blake; yearling b f by Stepniak—lllusion, 33 gns, Mr. J. T. Blake; yearling br f by Merriwee—Bubbles, 40gns, Mr. J. T. Blake; br g two-years by Merriwee —Bubble, 60gns, Mr. J. Chaafe; b g Julian, two-years, by Merriwee, 35 gns, Mr. D. Kemp. The blk m Peaceful, by Mahaki—Vista, £3O, was sold to Mr. Scoons.

A most remarkable occurrence is reported from Mundabullagana Station, in the north-west of West Australia, the property of Mr. Sam. P. Mackay. In a communication addressed to Mr. J. Morton Craig, of Perth, Mr. Mackay states: —“A valuable mare on the station gave birth to a foal, and four months later to a mule. The circumstances under which this occurence has to be recorded are in themselves unusual. The mare was visited by the well-known stallion The Corsican. Four months later, as there did not appear to be any likelihood of issue I determined that Don Quixote, a valuable jack donkey which I had previously sent to the station, should be mated with the mare. The outcome was, to say the least of it, unexpected. The mare first gave birth to the foal.and exactly four months later the mule appeared, both having been dropped to time. The twain are living, and: the mule particularly is a very fine specimen of his kind. Mr. Mackayadds that . the evidence is to be seen* on the staton and the dates can be-touched; for by the,station au-

Writing of Captain Jingle’s performances at , Hastings, the local scribe, “ The Barb,” says that the gelding ran a very good race on the first day, but on the second he ran as badly as he did well on the first day. Those twho know this horse will remember that he has long suffered from kidney trouble, and this came back on him the second day, and he ran badly. At the conclusion of the race he was led out of the birdcage with difficulty, and on Friday Mr. Brodie, M-R.C.V.S., had to be called in. It is therefore doubtful whether this horse will be able to race at the Park. •S * * * Sea King, who has not carried silk for some time, has been handed -over to the Riccarton trainer, E- Scoullar, to be got ready for the resumption of the fray- Mr. H. F. Nicoll’s bay gelding is reported to be looking very well after his respite from toil. * * * * Among the entries for the Epsom Handicap appear the names of Maori King, Aborigine, Golden Slipper, Full Sail, Snowfoot, Artillerie, Iranui, Gold Lace, Penates, Armlet, Sunburnt, Martyre, and Crucinella, a formidable contingent of New Zealanders. * * * * The Hawke’s Bay meeting last week removed two steeplechasers from the New Zealand turf. Jack Pot broke his neck while contesting the Hawke’s Bay Steeplechase, and Diplomatic broke his back in the Hack Steeplechase. # s * * The Stepniak gelding Oiyoi is to be shipped to the other side this week. • * « ' ' The Nestor gelding Nero, who won both hack steeplechases at Hawke’s Bay won the Napier Park Steeplechase yesterday, and has now won three races in succession. Jfc # * * Oxton was made a strong favourite for the Hack Hurdles at Napier yesterday, but the Birkenhead gelding could only get second, the winner turning up in Arc Light. * Doughboy and Waiata were on board the Maheno when that steamer left for Sydney on Monday. * * * * Bully has again been placed in commission and is now a regular attendant at Ellerslie. * * * * Messrs. G. Dunnett and H. T.Gorrie have been appointed delegates to represent the Auckland Racing Club at the Racing Conference to be held m Wellington next month. ® * * * Aotea, who made a bold showing in the Campbell Hurdles on the concluding day of the Great Northern meeting but fell at the last fence when racing in front with Prophet, won the hurdle race at Napier Park yesterday. However, in the absence of Woolloomooloo, who was withdrawn, Aotea would be a strong favourite. >c * » ® Mr. C. Ring has nominated Wauchope for the principal flat handicaps to be decided at Wellington next month.* * ■ * # The good-looking Beach, at one time in T. Williams’ stable at Ellerslie, figures in events at Wellington. * * * Iranui and Effort did not leave for Sydney on Friday. The three thoroughbrdes shipped by J. Lo^ e were Artillerie, Dixie Girl, and the Sir Laddo —Orchestra colt. On arrival at Sydney they go into J. Whitworth s stable. ~ .

White Lie created some excitement at Trentham in a schooling effort over hurdles. Recently it was decided to test her jumping capabilities, and her trainer decided to mount a hack to give her a “lead” over the fences. The hack cleared the first fence in good style and White Lie followed suit satisfactorily, but the Merriwee mare had too much pace for her schooling companion and was alongside of him before the next fence was reached. Just as they approached the jump White Lie cannoned into the hack, knocked him over, and then laid the hurdle flat. Her trainer was considerably bruised and shaken as a result of the mishap, and the schooling lessons have been postponed indefinitely.

The Waikato trainer, R. Hannon, has entered Master Paul for hack hurdle events; at Wellington.- ; f For this year’s Derby, won by Lemberg, there were 382 subscribers, and the value of the stakes was put down at 6,50 Oso vs., made up by subscriptions of 50 sovs. each,, and out of this 500sovs. went to the nominator pf the winner, second 400sovs., and third 100 sovs. It will thus be seen that it is a valuable stake to win, but nothing like the richest in England. It is the honour of winning the “blue ribbon of the turf,” as it was styled by one of England’s greatest statesmen, that makes it the most coveted race in the world. * * * * Master Soult, who is one of the favourites for the New Zealand Cup, is going along the right way at Ellerslie. * * * ® Ambrosian, who started favourite for the Great Northern Oaks, won by Sea Elf, annexed the principal flat handicap at Napier Park yesterday.