TURF TOPICS.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XX, Issue 1121, 5 October 1911, Page 4

TURF TOPICS.

The nominations for the City Handicap and King Edward Memorial Handicap, to be decided at the forthcoming spring meeting of the A.R.C., c'osed on Friday last. The City Handicap attracted 25 nominations, as compared with 21 last season, while the Memorial Handicap drew 21 candidates, as against 26 last year. « * * - Only two favourites, Ireland and Labour Day, to get winning brackets at Wanganui. Five of the best supported candidates ran into second place * * * * John Rae has added Manette (Soult —Cuirasette) to his string at Ellerslie » » * * Dawn has been getting through some useful work at Ellerslie, and will be given an opportunity of proving his worth over hurdles at the A.R-C. spring meeting. * * * * At the Wanganui Jockey Club’s spring meeting £26,486 passed through the totalisator, as against £17,558 for the same meeting last year. * * * * Sir George Clifford headed the winning owners’ list at the Wanganui meeting w?ith £385, E. J. Watt £245, and “Mr Highden” £220, were next in order. ® » Ben Deeley was the only jockey at Wanganui to score a double win. He rode Partiotic and Labour Day. That brilliant colt Antagonist has been blistered and is to be given a spell. All chance of the Middle Park Plate winner putting a Derby to his credit is thus at an end. © * a e Bandiera, Canute, and Teviotdale returned from Sydney by the Moeraki, which arrived in Wellington last week. The three were to have filled engagements in the A.J.C. meeting, but all went amiss. •. • • ® The report of the Racing Commission caused no small amount of adverse criticism when it was issued, but the criticism came more particularly from country clubs. The Metropolitan clubs refrained from making any vigorous protest; but the president of the Wellington R.C. gave ex- . pression to his views in very definite terms last week when he addressed the annual meeting of his club. This is how he states the case of his club. “Unfortunately this commission’s report affected the Wellington Racing Club, and, while we have not taken any part in the public outcry against this reduction, we feel it very sorely. Wellington 'is peculiarly situated—there is no racecourse within fifty miles of us. We have a population to cater for in the town and suburbs of somewhere about 80,000, and, in the past, we have only he’d a jfew hours’ racing on ten afternoons in the year. It is difficult to see eye-to-eye with the people who contend that there is too much racing provided for our population, and it is still more difficult to account for the action of the commission in applying the pruning knife to us, particularly in view of the amount of racing which has been permitted to remain in the Napier district.” * * * s I; The Wellington Racing Club’s report for last year shows that its indebtedness was roughly about £lB,OOO, and between £40,000 and £50,000 had been spent on the course since the club removed from the Lower Hutt to Trentham in 1905. **♦ . » The Te Kuiti R.C. have decided to largely improve their course. The track has already .received attention, and is likely to be in good order by Febraury, when the annual meeting will be held. Negotiations for the purchase of the freehold of the course are also proceeding, and the A. and P. Association have agreed to enter into agreement with the club to contribute £250 towards the imrn.ed.iate erection of a grandstand.

Conn .the Shaughran, who ran so consistently last season —he got placed 13 times out of 17 starts —is now being trained by J. Pine at Hawera.

F. Lind, who injured his knee-cap when he fell off Pleiades in the Avondale 'Steeplechase, is making a good recovery, but it will be some time before he will be able to ride again.

Rangi Thompson is booked to leave for Sydney immediately after the Hawke’s Bay meeting to ride Hoanga in his engagements on the other side. Rangi will be the first Maori horseman to ride in Australia-

A promising “Highden” two-year-old, by Boniform .from Kitchenmaid, was killed last week. The youngster was kicked on the head by Lockwood, another skittish two-year-old, and died instantly.

It is reported from South that Our Queen, a Birkenhead mare, is to join J. W. Lowe’s stable at Trentham. ■She started five times last season, and was twice placed second and once third. Better things are expected of her this season.

On Thursday, Captain Paul gave Hunakaha’s brother a lead over the hurdles. The latter shaped fairly well till the last fence, where he came down and parted with B. Cowan, his pilot.

Jack Pinker got a severe fall off Regain at Avondale, and on Thursday (last week), he started to school the “green” Master Theory, who turned dirty, and finally came down, giving Jack a bad shaking.

Harry Gibb, of Ngarauawhai, sold Caruso to J. Ramsey, of Kawhia. Fred Tonge has charge.

Waimunga and iSanta Rosa (who did not race at Avondale), put in a good circle on the grass on Thursday, cutting out the 9 furlongs in 1.56, finishing together.

Ashby has been taken up after a lengthened spell. The gelding has lengthened and grown a good deal, and the unbeaten son of Obligado may yet keep sound.

Sabine had too much pace for Bon Cyr in a round over the schooling ’battens. A pity the Soult cannot stay, he jumps well, and has pace.

The wife of A. Barron (the Ellerslie trainer), died and left a large family of small children last week.

Bullock Webster and Geo. Dunnett, are regular attendants at Ellerslie to see the morning gallops. On Saturday Davestation was spurted a couple of furlongs on the inner grass track.

On Saturday morning Fogarth (by Nestor) acted as schoolmaster to Mildura over the small sticks. The latter gave a fair showing for a novice.

Rumor has it that the New Zealand St. Leger is to be expunged from the W.R-C. programme, the race has always been more or less a frost. Last year was the last “straw” —an infirm (Danube) won pulling up from a couple of moderates, in the slowest time on record.

Last week Denbies was given a turn over the schoo’ing hurdles, he negotiated a few well, and then disgraced himself by running off.

The old battler Wellcast, who latterly has not been a success over the hurdles, R. Hall has sent home to his owner.

Several “optomistic” punters, who are always looking for “beans,” have been coupling War Scare (in the C.J.C. Stewards) with the favourites in the New Zealand Cup.

W. C. Watts, the Onehunga owner, has a 3-year-old (by his old favourite La Aasseur), who shows great promise, and is a natural pacer. Watts expects something out of the common from the young-’un.

The Takapuna Club is to be congratulated on their successful season, and it is a reproach to the Northern province that the Racing Commission should have reduced the racing days at the North Shore ..from seven to four days for the coming season. It was very scant justice to mete out to so progressive a club.

The Te Kuiti Racing Club held their annual meeting last week, when the following officers were elected for the ensuing year:—Patron, Mr W. T. Jennings, M.P.; president, Major Lusk; vice-presidents, Messrs W. Taylor, T. E. Foy, W. I. Coombs, R. Bailey, and L. Jacob; committee, Messrs. N. B- Lusk, Falwane, Matthew Wallace, McCardie, Mursen, Mursen, Cochrane, Vercoe, Sneddon, and Quirke. In the report it was stated that the club had applied for February 8, as the date for their annual meeting. * * • • The following is a comparative summary of nominations received for the principal events at the A.R.C. summer meeting: —

*The Alexandra Handicad of last season will appear in this season’s programme as the Islington Plate. The Jockey Club Stakes (10,000 so vs), run at Newmarket, England, on Thursday last, for three-year-olds and upwards, resulted as follows: — Lord Derby’s ch c Stedfast, 3yrs, by Chaucer—(Be Sure 1 Mr. Fairie’s b h Lemberg, 4yrs, by Cyllene—-Galicia 2 Lord Derby’s b f Hairtrigger 11., by Fowlingpiece—Altcar 3

Malt King’s time for the Metropolitan Stakes (2.35%) is the slowest for eleven years, when Queen of Sheba took 2*36 to cover the mile and a-half.

On Tuesday morning Goodwin Sands bolted on to the course, and 1 run 7 furlongs (on the sand) in 1.40- * * * «

Tattoo, on the same track, spurted 4 furlongs in 51.

Monathal sprinted a few furlongs at top.

Maxwell alone strode round the sand in free style. :J: * *

Soultoria, with assistance, covered 5 furlongs on the grass in 1.5.

Waimangu and Santa Rosa, not all out, and after a round at half-pace, ran 7 furlongs on the sand in 1.33, with nothing between them. * * * *

Waerenga and a mate left 5 furlongs behind in 1.8 3-5. * * * *

Prince King, getting a break on Goldsize, made mincemeat of the colt at the end of a few furlongs. * * *

Haremoa spurted 4 furlongs on the grass in 50 2-5.

Blue Garments had his full-sister, Blue Thread, in a tangle at the end of 5 furlongs (on the grass) in 1.6 3-5.

Frontino easily settled Mildura on the same track in 1.6 4-5, with a feather-weight up. • «** * .

Jack Delaval, not chasing time, left 5. furlongs behind in 1.7 3-5.

Manuera (C. Coleman’s) had a 4 furlong spin in 53 2-5., on the grass.

Maheno, with Royal Armour ( to bring her home), ran 6 furlongs in 1.17 4-5.

Aristos and a mate slipped over half a mile in 50 3-5. * * * * Muskawai slipped over 4 furlongs in 49 4-5. • * » « The 2-year-olds Prince Soult and His Emminence, had a couple of spurts on the new grass. •I’ -i" Master Wairiki did useful work, and looks well. ss * * * . McHugh’s team, First Wairiki and Black Bird, were content with half pace work. **, * * Hautere (J. Pinker), Commotion (McFlynn), negotiated the steeplechase country, and gave a good display over the mixed obstacles. * * ¥ Master William had Lloyds for a schooling mate, but the latter proved unreliable, and baulked. The former jumped fairly well. * * * # A. Robertson’s team were not out for time making. * * * « W. Gall has left his old premises and taken up his new stables at Green Lane. He has every modern convenience, feed-room, boys’ room, grass and water, 6 roomy looseboxes, and a commodious cottage. * * * * Sabine had too much pace for Bon Cyr in a round over the schooling battens. It is a pity the. Soult gelding cannot stay, he jumps well, and has pace.

The cabled news form England that Swynford broke one of his forelegs while being exercised, means that Lord Derby lost perhaps the finest colt at the present time in England- He was a four-year-old by John o’ Gaunt from Canterbury Pilgrim. In the Derby last year he was very backward and ran badly, but from thence onward made tremendous improvement, winning the rich Hardwicke Stakes, the Liverpool Cup, and then defeated the Derby winner, Lemberg, in the St. Leger. This season he has unmistakably proved his superiority to. Lemberg, winning the rich Princess .of Wales Stakes at Newmarket and the Eclipse Stakes, of £lO,OOO, at 'Sandown. No doubt the colt will ’be put in slings, and an effort made to save him, as he would still be of great value at the stud..

The annual meeting of the Takapuna Jockey Club’ was held on Monday. The report read as follows: — “During the past racing season three meetings were held, extending over seven days, ! stakes to the amount of £6255 being paid away. The profit and loss account shows the receipts for the year were £ll,lll 3s 2d and the expenditure £9943 10s 4d, leaving a surplus of £1167 12s lOd. Totalisator investments amounted to £82,918, and the amount paid to the Government as taxation upon totalisator and other receipts amounted to £2173 12s Bd. The who’e of the club’s property, including the course, training tracks, and buildings, is in excellent order. During the year, in addition to the ordinary upkeep, the sum of £795 Ils 9d was expended in improvements and alterations on the racecourse and appointments.”

Cisco, the winner of the A.J.CDerby, was bred by Mr John McDonald at the Mungie Bundie Stud, Moree, N.S.W., and as a yearling was sold to Mr D. I. Watt for 1050 guineas. He was got by the St. Simon horse San Francisco (who formerly stood at Sylvia Park, Auckland, and is now in Canterbury), his dam being that once great mare Lady Wallace, winner of the V.R-C. Oaks , St. Leger, Caulfield Guineas, A.J.C- St. Leger, and other races. According to “The Judge” Cisco’s sole success as a two-year-old, was in seven starts was in the Breeders’ Plate, of £1692, at the A.J.C. spring meeting last year. It was generally thought that the mile and a half might prove too far for him.’ Jacamar no doubt started a strong favourite. One of his heels had been giving trouble, and it is possible the colt may have been a little short of work. Last season he won the Nursery Handicap, of £553, and the Easter Stakes, of £467, and was given a great chance of pulling off the two Derbies. * * * « The failure of Lady Medallist to stay out the Epsom Handicap means a big disappointment to many New who thought the mare would be sure to win. She appears to have been ridden a good race, and was first into the straight, but failed when the pinch came.

Mr E. W- Alison, in moving the adoption of the report and balancesheet of the Takapuna Jockey Club for last season, referred to the recommendation of the Racing: Commission to reduce the club’s totalisator permit and number of racing days as “a most sweeping and unjustifiable recommendation.” There can be no doubt the action of the Commission created intense dissatisfaction, and Mr Alison voiced a generally accepted sentiment when he said ft was a matter for regret that the Takapuna Club, which is unquestionably one of the most popular and straightly-managed clubs in the Dominion, should be penalised so seriously. He put the position very plainly when he said: “I hold that the legislation enforcing a reduction of 54 racing days per annum is too drastic, as our population during the past 10 years has largely increased, whilst the increase of racing days to clubs’ totalisator permits has been proportionately small. I hold, too, that racing requires proper regulation, but not regulations, impositions, and restrictions which make it almost impossible for the majority of clubs to carry on successfully. People are entitled to a class of sport which is suited to their tastes, and racing is a sport and a recreation which a vast number of the people thoroughly enjoy.” *** . * - After over thirty years’ active association wtih the Wellington Racing Club, Mr John Wilkins, one of the keenest and best esteemed “sports” in the Dominion, announced his retirement from the vice-presidency of the Club at the last annual meeting held this month. Referring to the retirement the president of the Club (Mr J. B. Harcourt) said:—“Mr Wilkins has been associated with the club as an active member for over thirty years, during a great portion of which he served as clerk of the scales. I desire to place on record the stewards’ appreciation of Mr Wilkins’s valuable services, and hope that we will see him on the stewards’ stand at Trentham for many years to come.” *** ' * Midnight Sun was numbered amongst the “also started” in the Trial Stakes at Ranwick on Saturday. * * * * At the annual meeting of the Takapuna Jockey Club the following officebearers were elected for the ensuing year:—President, Mr E. W. Alison; vice-presidents, Messrs J. Bollard, M.P., L. Phillipps, M.P.; committee, Messrs. E. W1 Alison (chairman), E. R. Ford, J. Mays, R. S. Reynolds, E. Alison, G. S- Lintoil, R. H. Duder, A. Alison, Major W. Coyle, and Dr. Grattan Guinness; judge, Mr W. J. Ralph; starter, Mr C. OlConnor; clerk of scales, Mr F. Marks; clerk of the course, Mr A. iSdl'by; handjicapper, Mr Geo. Morse; timekeeper, Mr S. R. Speight; hon. veterinary surgeons, Messrs. E. D. and C- E. Halstead; treasurer, Mr W. J. Ralph; secretary, Mr R. Wynyard. * * * :!■• The first two days of the Australian Jockey Club’s spring meeting proved a big disappointment to New Zealanders- Very sanguine expectations were entertained for some of our contingent across the Tasman Sea gaining winning brackets, but only one New Zealand-owned horse, Ventura, scored. E. J. Watt purchased this Tranquair—Sonoma filly last April for 420 guineas. « » • * An outstanding feature of the recent Wanganui meeting was the substantial dividends paid by horses trained by F. Tilley at Fordell. The stable, in common with several others, had been out of luck for some months past, hence the big dividends that were paid by Tiwari and Goodwin Park. 5k -k Last Saturday “Charlie” Hill retired on a well-earned pension from his position as caretaker of the Ellerslie racecourse, after 16 years of faithful service to the A.R.C. The veteran was not allowed to retire without the racecourse staff showing in tangible form their appreciation of the popular chief. The token of esteem took the form of a handsomely mounted and suitably engraved walking-stick. * * The Regel gelding Hoanga was shipped to Sydney on Monday by the Wimmera, in charge of H. Irwin. * * « * The victory of Boanerges in the Higgle Handicap has earned him ~a 51b penalty, for the New Zealand Cup,

Auckland Cup 1910. . ... 60 1911. 49 Grafton Hurdle Race ... .... 20 16 Railway Handicap .... 62 55 Summer Cup ... . 74 61 A.R.C. Handicap 56 47 Grandstand Handicap ... .. .. 79 67 Auckland Plate ... .... 16 36 ♦Alexandra Handicap 13 44 380 375