TURF TOPICS.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1162, 18 July 1912, Page 8

TURF TOPICS.

Season ends on Saturday. * * * * Racing Conference meets to-day in the Town Hall, Wellington. Thrave has been scratched for the C.J.C. Winter Cup. « *■ * ' Guncap, winner of the V.R.C. Grand National Steeplechase was not mentioned in the betting at latest advices. JK ft ■ • • • ft ft Cecil, the half brother to Convoy In J. Williamson’s stable is to be taken to Riccarton to. contest hunters events. Recently the gelding finished with Hautere over five furlongs at Ellerslie, but did not finish too well and may want a race of two to sharpen him up. * * * »• E. J. Rae has three two-year-olds in training at Ellerslie; but so far none of the trio has been asked to gallop with pace on. * * * Those backers who fancy the prospects of Okaihau for the Grand National Steeplechase should not be in .a great hurry to support the son of Salvadan for the Southern race. **'=!=* B. Curran, who went to Australia with T. Williams, role Master Dix to victory twice, and also Kopane :since crossing the Tasman. * * =■= * Monoplane and Don Quex were runners at the last Victoria Park meeting. Neither were fancied in the betting and ran accordingly. *** * ■ Up to the time of the last mail leaving England, the King had been represented by nine winners this season. * ft * * British Maid will in future race in the joint interests of Messrs M. Lavery and G. Neich. * * * * The “Highden” team comprising Bronze, Ermengarde, and two Charlemagne II youngsters are booked to leave Wellington for Sydney to-mor-row (Friday). » * * * The Gluten mare Tangiwai is wintering well and growing into a fine mare. The best has not yet been seen of this chestnut and she can be ticked off to do well next season. * * * * Takanini, a half brother to Ngapuka, is one of the regular track workers at Ellerslie. Sea Pink, who was sore after his fall in the Winter Oats at Gisborne, is now striding along freely on the tracks, under trainer F. Loomb. * * * * The premier horseman this season, B. Deeley, left Wellington for Sydney on Friday. Deeley’s total of winning rides for the season is 88. <ft ft ft * After a six months’ spell the St. Paul gelding, St. Lumsden, has been placed in work again in the South. # * * * The Canterbury Jockey Club’s Grand National meeting will be held ■on August 13, 15 and 17. ■ft ft ft * The Achilles —Strathspey colt purchased at the last Waikanae Stud sale has been thrown out of training owing to his increasing size. He will not be taken up again until well info the spring. The Freedom gelding Bully is getting through his morning tasks in pleasing fashion, and if in the humor he may make good at Riccarton. * * * * Private information to hand states that the ex-Aucklander, Kopane, recently taken to Australia won the Woollongong Mile at Woollong last week. Kopane started at a remunerative price and was ridden by H. Curra.n * * * • Antoinette is now doing only the lightest of exercise and consequently is looking a trifle rough. However, she gets ready quickly and a couple of fast gallops soon puts her right. * ft ft Elevated, the Elevation gelding in J. Cress’ Trentham stable, is acquitting himself well on the local tracks. The youngster is a fine type of the thoroughbred and appears likely to run with some success.

Waiowera, one of E. J. Rae’s string, is wintering well and at present bears a healthy and robust appearance. * * * * T. Maude, a well-known sportsman from Christchurch, is at present paying a visit to Auckland. ■ The Regel—Nikau gelding Regain is back in work at Ellerslie after a long spell. It will be remembered he cut one of his hocks badly while racing at Ellerslie last spring. Royal Irish is looking really well at present and he promises to do good service for J. Williamson next season. * » * * W. Sharpe has taken Miss Livonia in hand again. The chestnut mare has filled out a lot during her spell. Arquebuse, 11.13. is top weight in in the Australian Hurdle Race. New Zealand horses in the race are Wimmera 11.7, Bridge 11.3, and Golden Cairn 9.0. In the Australian Steeplechase Bridge has 12.1, Wimmera 11.5, Home Rule 10.12. Bullwarra leads the list with 12.7.

Mr W. M. Campbell, M.P., is giving a cup for the winner of the Hawke’s Bay Cup race next season. ft ft ft ft Mahinga, the fast little Soult pony, who was badly galloped on during the Avondale Jockey Club’s autumn meeting, has made a good recovery, and is being hacked about the roads by W. Sharpe, prior to going into solid training. * * * * At the conclusion of the Wellington gathering the Ellerslie trainer E. J. Rae may return to Auckland and take the hunter Rakau to Riccarton, to help La Reina and Tui Cakobau to earn some oat money. ft ft ft ft The gelding Appin (The Possible — Lady Beckwith) has broken down, and it seems doubtful if he will ever race again. This is a bit of hard luck for his owner, as on his showing at Ellerslie the gelding ought to have won a race or two this winter. « * * * Frank Wootton, who led off in great style at the Hurst Park meeting with two wins and a second in three races, was reported to the stewards for changing positions at the post without the permission of the starter, and was suspended for the rest of the meeting Some of our own starters might well take a note of the incident. ft ft * ft The A.J.C. granted a license to C. Emerson, and the New Zealand lightweight was riding at Warwick Farm on Saturday With a strong Chokebore Lodge team under orders for Randwick, Emerson will doubtless remain in Sydney to ride for the stable at the big A.J.C. spring meeting.

Leapuki was backed for a good sum to win the Winter Cup soon after the weights appeared. A colt by the imported horse Gazeley (Grey Leg—Lygia) has been purchased to do duty at the stud in Queensland. « . * * A Sydney writer expresses the opinion that it is becoming more difficult every year for a top-weight to win the Melbourne Cup. ft ft ft ft Euroco is shaking off the ill effects of his collision with a motor-car at the Wanganui meeting, but a long holiday is before him ere he carries silk again. * * * * The Awapuni trainer, T. Wilson, is going back to Australia by to-mor-row’s steamer from Wellington. Wilson some time back took Lady Georgia to Melbourne. * * * * On May 21, F. Wootton and D. Maher had each ridden 31 winners since the beginning of the present fiat-racing season in England. ■' • ft • * * . * Bert Rae returned from England last week, having been absent from New Zealand for twelve months. He speaks of having had a most enjoyable holiday, and such racing as he witnessed, including the decision of the City and Suburban, interested him immensely.

An Australian writer is responsible for the statement that several of the mares purchased at Elderslie dispersal sale by Mr “Sol” Green have proved barren. S-: * =S * During the past year the Dunedin Jockey Club spent £3164 17s 8d in improvements at Wingatui, while the stakes were increased by £895. At the Waimate Plains Trotting Club’s meeting at Hawera on Wednesday Albertorious wajs driven an exhibition trot, and greatly pleased the onlookers, but as the going was not suitable to fast times, no time was taken. * * * # T. Pritchard is about again after his accident, but it will be a considerable time yet before the popular cross-country rider can dispense with crutches. Rangiatua, who in future will race as a gelding, has been recommissioned by Mr Buick, along with the rest of his team, comprising Gold Battery, Goldsby, Portraiture, and the Anser Anser filly. At >t ' tK M It is quite likely that Rising Sun, a winner at Gisborne, will shortly change hands, as an Auckland sportsman has him under offer for £lOO. If a sale takes place the Robin Adair gelding will go into D. Moraghan’s stables. ft ft ft Prince Soult is furnishing into a particularly fine colt, and, if appearances count for anything, then some stake money will be handled by the owners.

Jolly Boy fell in the V.R.C. National Hurdles, and it was later found that his shoulder was broken, so he was destroyed. ft ft * ft A. Barron keeps the rising three-year-old Pekerangi busy on the tracks. This filly has a lot of pace, but fails to run on. * * * Reports from the South credit Koran with getting through his training work in great style, and he can, therefore, be ticked off as a certain runner in the Grand National Hurdles. * Lance Chest, the rather badly-nam-ed son of Spearmint and Chestnut Sunday, who won the Princess of Wales Stakes last week, was successful in a race just before the mail left. This was the Yearling Plate of 1000 sovs, at Hurst Park. * * * * The American horse Whisk Broom (Broomstick —Audience), who has won a number of good races in England this year, added to hi slist by defeating a strong field in the Victoria Cup, of 1000 sovs, at Hurst Park. j Portraiture, a very shapely brown son of Papakura and the Medallion mare Miniatrue, has been put into work by Mr Buick. This two-year-old brother to that good horse Aberbrothock is expected to give a good account of himself next season. ft • .ft ft The jockey W. Retter, who has been in the Christchurch Hospital for three weeks suffering from injuries received through a fall at Riccarton, remains in an unconscious state, his condition being unchanged. *** * . When the mail left England the winning mounts of the leading jockeys were as follows:—F. Wootton 36, D. Maher 34, J. Clarke 26, C. Trigg 24, C. Foy 24, E. Wheatley 21, A. Whalley 17. * * * Peter Pan (Stepiak—Armilia), who has been purchased by Mr J. Corlett to do stud duty in the Wairarapa district, has arrived at Oamaru. The sale price of the black horse is reported to be £l5O, which seems cheap enough, when it is remembered that Armilia was the dam of Armlet. ft ft ft ft It is understood that Mr. J. Buckley has made a present of St. Aidan to the well-known Southern rider J. Beale, who has frequently won in Mr. Buckley’s colours. The latest about the Oamaru sportsman is that his health is so far improved that he has abandoned the idea of going to England. * * * * The statement that Antarctic was showing signs of lameness and could almost be written out of his approaching engagements was evidently without foundation, as the big son of Salvadan finished second to Captain Jingle in the Wellington Steeplechase. Aucklanders will remember how he ran second to Corazon in the Great Northern Steeplechase prior to which race he had not had a gallop on the track for a month. * * ■* * Since Mr F. Crossley operated on Cullinan for respiratory troubles the son of Royal Fusilier has started in four races, getting two seconds, a third, and a fourth. This is a big improvement on Mr Griffiths’ horse’s previous form. ft ft -ft ft Manukau, the black gelding by Maniapoto from Serf, purchased by T. Wilson, has been lame on and off ever since he went to Awapuni. It is quite likely that the proposal to take him to Australia will be abandoned. *** » * R. Barlow and H. Cairns returned from Sydney to Wellington last week. The former disposed of the pony Paul to a well-known Sydney owner, who formerly owned the champion Cocky. Cairns is at present Undergoing twelve months’ disqualification, and will remain in the Dominion until the time, comes for again applying for a license. ft ft ft ft From Hastings, comes word of the death of the chestnut gelding Rosegrove. He had been sleeping in the stable yard and, on getting up, the old fellow managed to break his leg, and had to be destroyed. The aged son of Rangipuhi and Forest Grove, although never brilliant, was an honest old galloper, who could always be depended upon to do his best. Last season he had the creditable record of six wins, six seconds, and five thirds in 2 8 starts.

In England this year a jockey named S. Avila won forty of the 107 jumping races in which he rode from January 1 to May 11. An amateur, Mr H. Ussher, did well during the same period, winning 21 of the 51 races in which he rode; while E. Piggott’s record was 30 wins for 84 mounts. l ♦ * * * Mr John Corlett, the well-known English sporting writer, demolishes the claim that “Present Alms” was the most appropriate name ever bestowed on the product of a sire and dam, the combined names of which were responsible therefor. This claim was made in the belief that Present Alms was by Sentinel out of Beggar Maid, which, Mr Corlett says, is incorrect, Lord Dudley’s filly of that name being by Miser out of Salute. Even so, the nomenclature was good. * * * * King Mark, the young English stallion just purchased by the Hon. J. D. Ormond for the Karamu stud, does not appear to have any turf record. Bred by Lord Falmouth, he was got by Ihe' Barcaldine horse Marco from Galeta, by Ladas—-Galanthis, by Galopin—Gertrude, by Saunterer —Queen Bertha, by Kingston. He is described as a very handsome horse, and at Karamu should have every opportunity of proving his worth. Nominations closed on Saturday for vacancies on the Auckland Racing Club. The retiring officers and members of committee were all re-elect-ed unopposed, as follows: —President, the Hon. E. Mitchelson; vice-presid-ent, Mr H. T. Gorrie; committee, Messrs S. Bradley, F. Earl, O. Nicholson, H. O. Nolan, and G. W. S. Patterson. * * * * Albert Jackson has taken John down to Trentham, where he competed in the Parliamentary Handicap yesterday. After the Wellington meeting the gelding will be taken on to Riccarton for the Grand National, in which he is expected by many to run a big race. He will be ridden in the big hurdles by Jack Stewart. * $ * * The Southern trainer, F. Whittaker, who has taken over the stables of the late Geo. Wright at Ellerslie, is getting quite a big string of horses together. At present Whittaker is superintending the preparation of the following horses: —Muskewai, Monorosae, Sky High, Chesterfield, The Corinthian, Clianthes, His Eminence, Hierarchy, Highland Chief, and the trotting horse, Glenisbury. * * * * Captain Jingle’s victory in the Wellington Steeplechase yesterday would come as a surprise to those who saw the gelding race at the Gisborne meeting. Those who were prepared to contend that there was a deal of luck attached to his victory in the Napier Park Steeplechase will now have to sing dumb, as the field in the Wellington cross-country event comprised all the best of the Dominion’s ’chasers. « « $ * The annual meeting of the Thames Jockey Club was held last week. The annual report showed the club to be in a sound financial position. Several important alterations and improvements have been effected to the grounds and surroundings during the year, and are still in progress. The following officers were elected: —President, Mr A. Bruce; vicepresident, Mr A. Burns; treasurer, Mr C. J. Winder; judge, Mr H. Lowe; hon. surgeon, Dr“ Walshe; management committee, Messrs A. Bruce, A. Burns, J. T. Inglis, and O. J. Winder: general committee, Messrs J. T. Inglis (chairman), A. Burns, C. J. Winder, E. J. Milnes, W. Taylor, W. S. Clark, J. Hope, J. Bevin, A. Bruce, D. Twohill, A. Rae, and H. Lowe; stewards, Messrs A. Bruce, J. T. Inglis, E. J. Milnes, W. S. Clark, C. J. Winder, and J. Bevin. Mr A. Bruce was appointed the club’s delegate at the New Zealand Country Clubs’ Conference, to be held at Wellington on the 19th inst. * 4* # * The deputation from the Rangitikei Racing Club that waited upon the Prime Minister last week, with a view to urging the Government to grant them a permit to hold meetings went away somewhat disheartened. The Hon. Mr. Massey pointed out that fresh legislation is necessary before the Government can reasonably increase the days of racing, and Mr. Massey further hinted that the Government did not intend to legislate in racing matters during the coming session. This will probably mean that those clubs who lost their licenses

as a result of the Racing Commissioners’ report will not be able to hold meetings for another year at least; • * S|c * It is quite a common occurrence in England to find unnamed horses competing in races, but it looks as though this careless method of doing things will shortly be abolished. At the meeting of the Jockey Club, held at Newmarket (Eng.) last month, Lord Derby’s amendment to rule 65 of the Rules of Racing, to the effect that no horse three years or upwards shall run unnamed, was adopted. With respect to Lord Derby’s resolution upon the subject of the compilation of a list of all names registered for horses, the following was adopted : “That the stewards be requested to consider the advisability of arranging for the compilation at the Registry Office of a list of all names registered for horses, and therefore unavailable. The list to include the names of celebrated horses and mares which, in accordance with rule 65, may not be made use of again. Such list to be published periodically, and to be obtained at the Registry Office at a charge to be fixed by the stewards.”