TURF TOPICS.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1355, 13 April 1916, Page 12

TURF TOPICS.

It would seem probable that Chortle is to race at Ellerslie at Easter time.

Aruake will be ridden by A. J. McElvnn at the Manawatu meeting. „ * * *

Taringamutu will not compete at Ellerslie at Easter time.

Balboa has been second twice in the Trentham Gold Cup. * * * *

A good three-year-old should always beat Balboa at weight for age. * ♦ *

Seadown ran two seconds at Trentham. Hard luck. * * * *

Avondale nominations are due on Friday.

Acceptances ana final payments foi the A.R.C. meeting are due on Friday.

• * * * Harbour Light is expected to race at Ellerslie at the Easter meeting. * * * *

Amongst Auckland visitors to Trenthan were Messrs. E. W. Alison and W. J. Ralph.

The stipendiary stewards met in Wellington to discuss matters to lay before the Racing Conference.

Mr. George Morse, the A.R.C. handicapper, attended the Wellington meeting.

A meeting between Desert Gold and Eligible in the Awapuni Gold Cup should end in favour of the

Panmure is now reported to be suffering from an internal trouble, and, it is said, has not broken down. * * * *

Desert Gold has accounted for the North Island Challenge Stakes in two successive seasons.

Chortle was not accepted for in the C.J.C. Easter Handicap, in which he was considered nicely treated.

Harbour Light looked very nice at Wellington, and should shortly catch the eye of the judge.

Eligible has incurred a penalty for winning at Trentham, which brings his Easter Handicap weight to 9.5. * * * *

Mr. W. Lyon, solicitor, has been appointed secretary to the Woodville Jockey Club.

Wireless, by Soult—Golden Mairs, won a pony race at Lancefield, Victoria, on March 21st.

Cherubini was awarded 9.12 in the Oukaparinga Cup, with a 6.7 minimum.

Mr. G. M. Currie’s seven yearlings arrived safely in Sydney on April 4th. They are well spoken of. US 3F * *

The prospect of getting the tote into Victoria or New South Wales again looks remote.

Balboa, it is thought in some quarters, may not stand training long. He stood both his rtces well at Trentham.

Monojack’s breakdown at the Taumarunui meeting was more serious than at first expected. He will not race again for some time.

Mr. G. L. Stead v as unlucky to lose the Bonitorm colt The Monk at Trentham through an accident while racing there.

Hyllus, who came nearly beating Desert Gold through the last-named not beginning well in the Wellington Stakes in January, has gone right off.

Mullingar bled again last week while doing a gallop, but worked on Saturday morning and there was no recurrence of the trouble.

Starting before time cost tote investors on five horses at the Auckland Trotting Club’s meeting some money.

There was a falling off in totalisator returns at the Auckland Trotting Club’s meeting last week of £4598 10s.

Some people think Sweet Corn was lucky to beat Chortle in the Railway Handicap at Trent bam, notwithstanding that she had 321 b. allowance in weight and six-furlong record for the track to her credit, gained in January last.

Multiply had the first Jumpers’ Flat at Wellington won a long way from home, and when S. Reid moved him up it was all over.

A southern writer says that there is much more track than tan at Trentham, and that there are many sore horses there.

Downham’s jumping lessons may be postponed while he gets off so well in important handicap races on the flat.

Woorak, who was a strong favourite last year for the Doncaster Handicap, is again favourite. No favourite has won for fifteen years.

There was a decrease of £1572 10s. in the tote returns at the Wellington meeting, though £71,4-21 was handled during the two days.

The totalisator question will not come up again this season in the House of Assembly in Australia, so says a cable.

F. McCabe has enlisted for service in Melbourne. He is North Auckland born, and, as most people know, a fine horseman.

In more than one race at Claudelands things were not quite in order. Reversals of form are sometimes easily explained away.

Kirikau, by Downshire from Silk Govzn, won a race amongst the ponies at the Ascot Sydney meeting last month.

Battle Eve was no doubt suited by the going on the second day at Trentham, as also other competitors, but it was not slow by any means.

Panmure has broken down, which is really bad luck for his owner, “Mr. Highden,” for whom he was purchased by George Price in England.

Mr. J. McMahon, chief stipendiary steward, underwent an operation last week, which w r as performed satisfactorily. Mr. A. Gordon acted in his stead at Pahiatua.

There were ninety-eight applications for the position of secretary to the Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club. Eight of the applicants are to be interviewed for final selection.

Plenipotent’s rider, McCurdy, had a 51b. allowance when Thoolomi won the last race at the Taumarunui meeting. No overweights were exhibited at the meeting, but some were carried.

Ring Lupin had the pace of his opponents in the hack races at Wellington up to five furlongs, but the weight and the extra furlcng stopped him. The racing should do him good.

Egypt has an enlarged hind fetlock joint, the result of getting galloped on the last time he raced at Wellington. He is reported to be doing well, however.

Eligible has been considered the best three-year-old gelding in the Dominion over a distance for some time, and is likely to maintain his reputation.

Desert Gold’s actual winnings in cash now amount to £10.015. Warstep is credited with £lO,lBO, which includes the value of cups. Desert Gold’s winnings this season amount io £6360. Those of Warstep last season amounted to £lOO less.

Chortle was a little unlucky in the Railway Handicap at the Wellington meeting, as he had to cover a good deal of extra ground.

Sweet Tipperary is a sweet enough filly in her box. but when she comes out to race she misbehaves herself, and good looks don’t then count with racegoers.

A straight-out trotter is worth money somewhere in New Zealand. A visitor is reported to have paid £350 for the Ghoai four-year-old gelding Eruption on Saturday.

Cease Fire, who won the Pacific Handicap at Trentham on Saturday, is one of the Highden team trained by G. Price, and is by Field Battery from Truce, a Wanganui Cup winner.

Purse’filler, who is engaged in the A.R.C. Easter Handicap, does not stay beyond a mile, judging from his form at Trentham, where he led the field in the Autumn Handicap.

Hyginas 'finished last at Wellington in the Railway Handicap. It is very hard to understand this young horse, as he won very easily at Napier Park and showed no signs of stopping.

Doughboy, by Gluten, still continues to win, and he scored in the 14.2 Handicap at the Victoria Park (N.S.W.) meeting on March 29th, and followed this performance up by winning the 14.2 Handicap at the Ascot meeting on April Ist. Glussa, another Aucklander, was third.

Hydrus showed a lot of pace in the big race the first day at Trentham, and when raced over shorter courses will have to be reckoned with sometimes.

As anticipated, Desert Gold won the North Island Challenge Stakes in hollow fashion, and it certainly looks as though Mr. T. H. Lowry’s filly is to retain her unbeaten three-year-old certificate.

Franbonnet, by San Fran—Sunbonnet, showed up in a very promising light in the Silverstream Handicap at Wellington, and when a little more seasoned will be sure to have a winning turn.

Red Ribbon finished very fast in third place in the Railway Handicap on the first day at Trentham, and should certainly catch a race before many moons have passed.

Winterbourne, like his brother Danube, is likely to stay. His handy impost helped him to do so at Trentham. He was receiving 181 b. from Koesian, the Elysian colt, whom he just beat last Thursday.

Eligible is the only A.R.C. Easter Handicap candidate to incur a penalty since the weights ai peared Of those left in Chortle, Balboa and Multiplication had placed performances to their credit.

It looks as if Lady Glen may be the only opponent Desert Gold will have in the Great Northern St. Leger, and Sea De’il may be the only one to oppose her in the Great Northern Oaks. If Nones should come North she will be sure of second money in each race. Her only chance to win would be in the event of Desert Gold being off, as she was last year, when Arran sprung a surprise victory over Mr. Lowry’s filly.

At the Wellington Racing Club’s meeting in January Heeltap, a Blen-heim-owned candidate, was successful, and was again a winner on the same club’s course last week. Horses for courses.

The hacks had good money to race for at Trentham. We can remember when £lO, sometimes with a sweep of Isov., but as often as not without, was considered a fair prize. Now 200sovs. is given.

Eligible established a new record for the N.Z. St. Leger Stakes on Thursday, when he ran the mile and three-quarters in 3min 1 l-ssec. Undoubtedly this is the best three-year-old gelding in the Dominion over a distance.

Koesian looked all over a winner half-way up the straight at Trentham on the first day, but Winter bourne, finishing fast, got up in time to win by a head. The winner is a full-bro-ther to Danube, and is considered sure to make a name for himself.

Oxenhope won the Thompson Handicap pulling up, after being one of the rear brigade into the straight. He has a fine turn of speed, this gelding, and is sure to go cn winning. His enforced spell off las been the mak ing of him.

Mr. E. J. Watt has placed Maori King and Mountain Knight in the sale list with Messrs. Inglis and Co., to be disposed of on May Ist, also seven brood mares from his New Zea-

land stud, four of them served by All Black and three by Wolawa.

What a great betting race the Tinakori Handicap was on the first day of the Wellington meeting. The majority of people on the stand thought the third horse, Bairnsdale, had won. He was paying about three and a-half times the limit.

The pruning knife has been used in connection with Australian jockey Club events, but the Derby will still be worth 5000sovs, and other classic events will be such as no other club will provide in the coming year.

The ’chaser Jackman was seen out at the recent Pahiatua meeting, being a competitor in the Hack Hurdles. The Handsome Jack gelding was by no means ready, and after being prominent in the early stages, dropped back, eventually coming to grief at the last fence, his rider escaping unhurt.

Elysian’s son Koesian had all the honours of the race with him when defeated by Winterbourne in the Plunket Nursery Handicap on Thursday, as he was giving weight to all he beat. Ohiwai, who won the Belmont Handicap, of 200sovs., on the concluding day of the Wellington meeting, is also by Elysian, and Carlysian, who won at Rangitikei, is another of that horse’s gets.

It remains to oe seen whether Tete-a-tete can carry 9.7 to victory in the C.J.C. Great Easter Handicap. She should run well if she starts. Cruciform at three years old won the race carrying 9.9. Tete-a-tete is a year older. Machine Gun at four years old won with 10.4, and Boreas won with 9.12,