TURF TOPICS:

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1144, 14 March 1912, Page 8

TURF TOPICS:

General entries for handicap events to be decided at the Auckland Racing Club’s autumn meeting close, with the secretary (Mr J. F. Hartland) tomorrow (Friday) evening at 9 o’clock. At the saffie time acceptances are due for the Easter Handicap, Brighton Hurdles, and Autumn Steeplechase, and also 'first forfeits for the Great Northern ChanTpagne Stakes and Great Northern ‘Oaks.

The Egmont Racing Club made a profit of over £5OO over their recent meeting. The Government tax amounted to £646.

It is stated that the Dannevirke Racing Club intend calling on several well-known jockeys to explain their riding at the recent meeting.

Amongst the late'st recruits to the. jumping division are Rutter, Sir Artegal, Surplus, and Bremen. With the exception of Sir Artegal they all got through their initial lessons satisfactorily.

Mr G. D. Greenwood is about to leave for a trip to Europe, and nine of his two and three-year-olds, comprising practically all bis horses in training, are in the private sale list (says a Southern writer). This does not necessarily mean that he is retiring from racing, no mention is made of his yearlings, and presumably during Mr Greenwood’s absence Mason will proceed with the preparation of the juveniles for next season’s two-year-old engagements. As a matter of fact, the horses to be sold have not proved up to the? class which Mr Greenwood would doubtless like to have in his stable. He made a good start as an owner, but has had a lean time this season, and he is probably realfsimg flow 'that, in addition to being able to secure the most

promising young horses and the best training and riding, it is necessary to have the assistance of good luck to ensure complete success in a turf career.

It is reported from South that the Highden stable will be represented in the Riccarton Easter meeting by Ermengarde, Bronze, and Nyland.

-Masterpiece appears to have thrown off the effects of his lameness, and is again bowling along freely in his tasks. The other members of ths Chokebore Lodge division, including Counterfeit, Brown Owl, Autumnus, Glenfinnan, Achilla, Countermine, and

Heatherbrae, appear to be going on satisfactorily.

Sir Walter has been such a disappointment this season that it has been decided to retire him from the turf. The brother of Turbine will ■be used for hunting this winter in the Waikato.

Mr George Morse, the well-known handicapper, has decided to take up his permanent residence in Auckland, and as a first step to this end has arranged to dispose of his property at Foruell, out of Wanganui.

The yearling colt by Positano from that well-performed New Zealand mare Gladsome, was sold last week at Melbourne for 300 guineas. At the same sale the yearling brother to the Sires’ Produce Stakes winner Sheriff

Muir, by Wallace —Miss Delaval, went at 400 guineas. Both Gladsome and Miss Delaval won the Great Northern Derby in their respective seasons. * * * . . ■' Two hurdles that are in winning form at country meetings just now are acceptors for the Ofiinemuri Joe-

key Club meeting. They are The Chef and Bonnie Jean who will carry list 31b and' lOst 91b respectively in Saturday’s hurdle race.

W. H. M Lachlan, who rode Popinjay to victory in the V.R.C. Futurity Stakes this month, won the same race on Soultline in 1909.

“Mi’ C. Kingston” has .a fine-looking Merriwee gelding in Merrie Lad, who contested two races at Dannevirke without scoring a place. He, however; went out yesterday in a hurdle race at Napier Park, and won easily. This reversal of form seems to re-

flect somewhat on the running of Merrie Lad at Dannevirke, but this much can be said, that both his owner and trainer (J. M. Cameron) fancied and supported the gelding in his two Dannevirke engagements, and his failure was a keen disappointment to them.

For the Doncaster Handicap Malt King is top weight with 9.2. Lady Medallist has\ been awarded 8.7. For the Sydney Cup Trafalgar heads the list with 9.11. Lady Medallist has been awarded 9.0, Vice-Admiral 8.11, Gunboat 8.0, Miss Mischief 7.13, and Maxwell 6.7.

The Dannevirke Racing Club’s autumn meeting was ushered in with fair weather, and consequently a large crowd of townspeople and visitors flocked to the course. Unfortunately as the day wore on the sky

became overcast, and showers fell, making things very disagreeable, while the second day was far from favourable, and there was, as a consequence, a considerable falling-off in the attendance. j sj: • • sfc - Owing to his serious. disposition; the popular secretary (Mr J. S’. Free?

man) was unable to be present at the meeting, and his absence was much regretted, while sincere wishes were expressed that Mr Freemai would soon regain his lost health. The management of the meeting rested .. largely on the shoulders of Mr W. G. Nightingale, who has for some time been acting-secretary, and every credit is due to him for the way he carried out his duties. Mr R. H. Skipworth, who officiated at the starting'barrier, was most successful with his despatches. The facilities tor betting on the totalisator were far from perfect, and the club should make an effort before their next meeting to improve their totalisator house.

Mr F. J. Barton, who is leaving the Dominion, offered his two horses, Koninoor and Cotton Reel, for sale during the progress of the Dannevirke Racing Club s meeting last week. The bidding for Kohinoor, a four-year-old horse by Royal Fusilier from Bijou, went up to 150 guineas, but was passed in at that price. Cotton Reel (Sarto —Reel) was knocked down at 51 guineas.

The Forbury Park (Dunedin) Trotting Club have fixed May Ist and 4th for their winter meeting. The prize list has been increased from £1535 to £lBOO, or an average of over 112 sovs for each event on the programme.

It is pleasing to report that the information to the effect that Advance had broken nis leg is not correct —or, rather, was an exaggeration of the real state of affairs. The black

champion, instead of breaking a bone,, cut one of the tendons of his foreleg. The injured member has since been under careful veterinary care, and there is every reason to believe that Vanguard’s son will soon be well again.

Evadue, who won the Nursery Handicap at Dannevirke. on the first day, and paid a sensational dividend of over a half-century, is by King’s Guest from Heavenly Twin. She is a fine-looking brown filly, and is owned by Mr P. P. Neagle, of Hawke’s Bay.

Comedy King, according to present arrangements, has run his last race, and no doubt Mr S. Green now regrets not having retired him after his 1910 Melbourne Cup victory. Apart from what his numerous defeats since then have cost his owner, the black horse’s failures cannot otherwise than have depreciated his stud value to some extent.

Comedy King tried to beat Trafalgar at his own game—staying—in the Essendon Stakes, and failed badly. Prizefighter went out to make a pace, and at the back let Comedy King up on the inside. Trafalgar was at once after the black, and the pair were together about five furlongs from home. Comedy King’s attempt to gallop Trafalgar down was a dead failure. He cracked up in half a furlong, and Trafalgar came into the straight with the race in hand. Com edy King was ridden out to the last stride, and could not make the least impression on Trafalgar, who simply played with him. It was a severe race for Comedy King, who is not nearly so good as he was this time last year, when he won and beat Trafalgar handsomely in 2.31^ —or 3%sec faster than Saturday’s time. Cadonia was third and he finished well.—“ Sydney Referee.”

Twenty odd years ago Carbine, was tne idol of Australian racegoers, recounts “The Judge.” To-day “ Old Jack’s” grandson, Trafalgar, holds much the same position in the affection of racegoers, and it is not surprising therefore to read that the gallant chestnut son of Wallace and Grand Canary was cheered to the echo as he came up the Flemington straight in the Champion Stakes well ahead of his rivals. If the Messrs Mitchell were to retire the champion now he would leave the turf in a blaze of glory, for at the meeting just closed he proved to be quite in a class by himself. Some people have even urged that he is a better horse than Carbine was, but with so many years separating their careers on the turf it is impossible to judge accurately. The writer saw Carbine run in nearly every race for which he started, and there can be. no doubt that he was a very great horse indeed. Has Trafalgar had to meet such doughty rivals as Abercorn, Melos, or The Australian Peer? Probably not, although even that is hard to say. But whatever thp relative merits of grandsire and grandson, it is indisputable that Trafalgar is the champion of to-day, and that his popularity has been won by many great deeds on the turf.

The Liverpool Grand National Steeplechase comes up tor decision on March 29. The New Zealand-bred Gold Seal IT. is weighted at 10.0 m - the race.

No less than thirty-three, owners divided the £l3OO stake money distributed by the Dannevirke Racing Club. Mr M. Ellerton headed the list with £l7O and Mr J. Smith came next with £105...

The resolutions recently passed by the South Island Owners’, Trainers, and Breeders’ Association concerning handicapping has attracted attention in Australia, and the well-known writer “Fritz,” commenting on tne subject, says:—They are working very strongly in New Zealand towards in troducing class racing, or at leas such a short handicap limit, that will guarantee every race to be a contest in the widest and best sense ot die word and with the large number ot high-class horses at present iacin o over there, the matter should not present the slightest difficulty. I only wish we had anything like the numbei over here, so as to start this supen 1 class of racing in Melbourne and I teel sure that, when the system has been once given a trial in New Zealand, it will never be departed fiom. veloped trotters will put up if raced in class trots and the public will pav to see this style of racing. It has been the strung-out procession we have often seen in the past tha. has tended to weaken the popular liking for the trotting horse, but m shoit salvation of the sport both m Mellimit harness races, I can foresee the bourne and elsewhere.

Desire’s victory in the Newmarket Handicap was no good for the Bar Vons. The colt came in for heavy support a few weeks prior to the i ac<. ters. Jacamar was supposed to have during the proceeding couple of days, he was written up to such an extent again on the. day of the race that L made him a loser for the Tommies. In Sydney Popenjay and Desert Rose were the principal candidates inquired for, and both at Canterbury Park and Kensington money came for each in big and small parcels right up to the time of putting up the shutters. The colt won decisively, and on his Saturday’s form it appears as though Popinjay was a bit fortunate in downing him in the Futurity’ Stakes. Still, Caulfield running is a vast difference to the long six-furlong straight at Flemington, as horses that are capable of beating their fields over seven furlongs at the former place, would not live with some of the beaten animals over the final furlong of the trying three-quarters of a mile at the Victorian premier club’s course.

Mr T. Cameron, starter forthe Feilding Jockey Club, has resigned, and Mr R. H. Skip worth, of Wellington, has been appointed to the position.

The Essepden Stakes has furnished further proof that Trafalgar is superior to Comedy King; in fact, the

chestnut appears to have beaten the ;■ imported horse somewhat easily at the finish of a smartly run race, in which everything favoured Comedy King. To ensure a solid pace the stable started Prizefighter, and by his assistance Comedy King’s rider (Clarke) was enabled to gain inside position but it was of no avail. Cadonia finished a

fair third a similar position being held by Crown Grant in the St. Leger, for which there were only three starters. Jacamar was suposed to have improved to such an extent that he went out favourite at 6to 4 on. Pike rode him a clever race, but Lambert, on the V.R.C. Derby winner Wilari, appears to have always had his measure, and won comfortably by a neck on the filly, who is by Wallhce from Murna, by Haut Brion from Etra Weenie, by Trenton. That both Wolowa and Gold Brew were beaten in the Sires’ Produce Stakes was a surprise ,but nothing to the fact that Sheriff Muir, who finished last in a race at Caulfield, was the winner. By Wallace from Miss Delaval, by Seaton Delaval, the colt, who was ridden by Pike, was allowed to go out at 50 to 1 in a field of six.

The ex-New Zealander Sunburnt (Multiform —Drought) won the Flying Handicap at the Moorefield races on Saturday.

Te Puia is being schooled over fences at Hastings and is acquitting herself well. Originally the San Fran mare was purchased for hurdle racing, but her schooling was deferred till the tracks became softer.

The “Highden” stable is represented at the Napier" Park meeting this week by Nyland and Lockwood, Cup and Trial Stakes candidates respectively.

The yearling filly by Charlemagne 11. from Ma Mie RoseCce, purchased at the sale of Mr .Moore’s young thoroughbreds at Palmerston North by Mr C. Cross for 10 guineas, has again changed hands. She is now the property of Mr E. J.W att who recently paid twice the above-named sum for her.

The acceptances received in connection with the Napier Park Meeting were eminently satisfactory and the

fixture should be a success. Among the horses engaged that have earned penalties since the declaration of weights are Park Tide, Thrave, Miss Augusta, Cullinan, Masted Kilcheran, Evadne, and Mangoroa’.

Mr George Currie, the Kai Iwi studmaster has refused several tempting offers for the yearling half-brother to Bronze, by Soult. Sydney is Mr Currie’s market (says the Dominion), and he intends to stick to it. TheKoatonui yearlings will be shipped there this week.

The light-weight horseman, P. Moore, who was riding in Auckland last season, recently got into trouble in Western Australia and was ordered to stand down for three months by the stewards.

Trafalgar, who won the Champion Stakes on S/aturday, was successful in the same event at Flemington last year.

. O. Cox has put the useful Recipe in work at Hawera. The Stepniak gelding bears a robust appearance after his recent respite.

Ermengarde figures in the list of those engaged in the Northern Champagne Stakes, and if sent up for the. race will be likely to start one of the hottest favourites on record. The Auckland colt, Prince Soult, who is also engaged, has been galloping very freely of late and may be the ‘Highden” filly’s most formidable rival.

J. Gray, who was for many years identified with S. Waddell’s team, recently took the position of trainer to Mr F. S. Easton’s horses, and made a good start by turning out Lady Moutoa a winner at Woodville. Gray was once connected with two or three of the stables in the old days when Forbury . Park was the racing headquarters.

Mr T. H. Lowry, of Hawke’s Bay, sent four yearlings to Sydney by last week’s steamer. They were a halfbrother (by Royal Fusilier) to Bobrikoff, a full-brother to Beldame, a fullbrother to Kohinoor, and a filly by Royal Fusilier from Rose Madder.

W. Young did not, after all, sustain a broken collarbone when Eiya fell with him at Woodville. Later exami-

nation showed that the injury was nothing more than a badly bruised shoulder.

The “Sydney Referee” gives expression toa doubt that appears to be very prevalent in Australia that our horses this season are not as a class equal to those of former times. In referring to Mr E. J. Watt’s Ireland (Kilcheran —Savanna), nominated for the Rosehill meeting the “Referee’’says:—“At Wellington he won the Summer Handicap with 7.10, running the mile in Imin 40 2-'ssec. He beat some fair performers, too, those behind him including Miscount, Equitas, Nyland and Undecided but a doubt obtains as to whether New Zealand horses are of the same class as in many previous

years. Perhaps our handicappers will regard Ireland’s form in the Dominion with a lenient eye.”

Miss Augusta, winner of the Trial Stakes at Dannevirke, is only a pony, but she is a decidedly smart beginner, and, with a little racing, will be very useful over a. short course. In each of her races at Dannevirke she got well away, and quickly raced to the front.

Miss Explosion, who was operated on for throat troubles, is well again and has resumed work at headquarters.

Cheap excursion tickets will be issued in connection with the Ngaruawahia Regatta on March 16. Details appear elsewhere.