TURF TOPICS.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1358, 4 May 1916, Page 10

TURF TOPICS.

The war tax for the Avondale meeting amounted to £1099 ss. The Avondale Jockey Club’s meeting will leave a very handsome profit. The Ponsonby Drum and Fife Band played selections or. the lawn at the Feilding races.

Egypt’s stock has fallen since racing this Easter, but the spring may see him much improved. The Wanganui owner Mr. W. Duncan was a buyer at the yearling sales at Randwick last week.

Mr E. Alison, jun., of Devonport, Auckland, was an extensive purchaser at the Randwick sales of yearlings. When Camp Kettle won the Maiden Stakes at Feilding his supporters received a dividend of nearly £2O.

Old Byron was started twice on the last day of the Feilding meeting, running unplaced in each event. The Pakuranga Hunt Club will hold their annual race meeting on August 26th. That date has been approved by the District Committee.

Mr. Newton King, of Taranaki, was amongst the visitors at Avondale on the opening day of the meeting held there.

Mr. Gerald Stead, the well-known Canterbury horseowner, and a married man with a family, has enlisted for active service.

Glenroy always moves like a sore horse, but while that is said to be not so, he invariably gallops best when the going is soft. Signo changed hands after racing at Avondale on the opening day, J. Chaafe purchasing the filly, it is said, for 300 guineas.

Harbour Light, who fell on the flat in the Feilding Cup, fell at the 'first obstacle next day in the Kimbolton Hurdle Race.

Tararu Jack’s withdrawal from the Kimbolton Hurdle Race on the second day of the Feilding meeting was attributed to soreness.

Ngatimaru, in poor condition, was purchased at Feilding by one of the owners of Ring Lupin and brought back to the Waikato last week.

The Lupin mare Lady Amai does not appear to be showing any better form down the coast than she did in Auckland.

Sir Solo ran well enough at Feilding to cause his prospects of winning a race in the winter to look favourable.

Conqueror, the sire of Orleans, was one of the finest-looking horses that ever trod a New Zealand racecourse or entered a New Zealand show-ring. Interlude is one of the useful of Bezonian’s gets and is a fair three-year-old that may do better at four years. Her dam, Prelude, was a good mare.

Naupata, who represents good form over hurdles, and is by Stepniak’s half-brother Mahaki, claims Lorelei, half-sister to Advance, as his dam, and he should be good.

In addition to Mr. Ewin Alison, of Auckland, Mr. W. Duncan, of Wanganui, and Mr. A. W. Rutherford were each buyers at the Sydney yearling sales.

Captain Jack and Fireaway finished close together in the Autumn Steeplechase at Ellerslie, and dead-heated for third place at Avondale on the second day.

The rain which fell on Saturday and Sunday in the Auckland province would be of great assistance to sportsmen, as it would swell the creeks and watercourses and bring the ducks out. Try Fluke was saddled up four times in the two days of the Avondale meeting, and one win, once unplaced, a second and a third were registered by the black son of Motiti. The Feilding Jockey Club acted very nicely to their starter, Mr. R. H. Skipwith, by permitting him to come to Avondale for Wednesday’s racing last week, the second day of the Feilding meeting’. It was, of course, not foreseen that the meetings would clash when Mr. Skipwith accepted the position for Auckland’s suburban club. The starting on Saturday in some of the events left something to be desired, but it was such an exceptionally bad day that excuses can be offered for the barrier raiser, who, like the riders, had to do his work under exceptional circumstances. Some of the starts were very good indeed.

Some of the riders at Avondale on the concluding day of the meeting rode also at the Auckland R.C. and Feilding meetings, and bad a busy time of it travelling.

Tete-a-tete confirmed her superiority over Bimeter once more at Riccarton, and. though beaten, each of her races there emphasised the fact that there is no filly of her age her match in the Dominion.

The Bezonian —Snowstell colt, fullbrother to Tinkler, made 750 guineas at the yearling sales at Randwick. If a bit better and as consistent as that filly he will do all right at the price.

Though Reputation has only won one race outright, the Autumn Stakes at Randwick, since going to Australia, his dead-heat with St. Carwyne in the Spring Stakes and second money in the Craven Plate bring his winnings to SOOOsovs. Sea Pink, who is now trained in Melbourne by G. Delaney for Mr. E. J. Watt, ran second in the Sandown Park Handicap, 1% miles. As he was a rank outsider, bis good form must have come as a surprise to backers, says “Pilot” in the “Referee.”

Waikarangi, who sired Tarero, who accounted for two of the open steeplechases at Ellerslie and Avondale last week, was got by Soult from one of Mr. J. George’s mares at Taranaki. King of the Valley, who won the Mt. Roskill Handicap, is by the same sire. Lady Penury has frequently shown early speed in her races, but sometimes comes from behind. Marabout, her bigger half-sister by Elysian, does not show the same dash, but usually finishes well, and may be picked to do better next season.

The two leading races at the Avondale meeting fell to gets of imported Marble Arch, Mullingar and Castalia running first and second in the Avondale Handicap on the first day, and Te Papapa and Mullingar first and third in the Autumn Handicap on the second day.

Morning had never won a flat race before he pulled off the Maiden Plate, a weight-for-age event, at Waipukurau. His supporters received a fine dividend. Woodlark, who was third, is said to be a nice two-year-old by Hymettus from Woodhey, and is owned by the Hon. J. D. Ormond.

Centenary, by Seaton Delaval from the hurdle racer and ’chaser Miss Nelson, should make good this season in his new role as a jumper. He will do a lot better than he did at the Avondale meeting, where he won the Maiden and ran third in the open hurdle handicaps.

There were nine starters for the Nursery Handicap at Avondale. The three placed ones carried overweight, from 21b. to 101 b., and two of the riders of others received 51b. apprentice allowance. This is the way the work of handicappers is being continually altered. Bluestone’s last win prior to scoring on Saturday was in the Farewell Handicap at the A.R.C. winter meeting in June last, when he beat Tact and a good field, and presented Try Fluke, who was unplaced, with 91b.

It was up to him to beat the latter again in receipt of 41b. from that

gelding. Saturday at Avondale was the wettest day any club has experienced during the present racing season in the Auckland provincial district. It came down a treat for the farmers, who were perhaps the only people on the course who were enjoying themselves under the circumstances.

We shall be told that Kitty Bellairs returned to form at Avondale, but the nice impost and her favourite distance (five furlongs) counted for a lot. She was eight lengths in front of Try Fluke, who was third. In her next essay, over six furlongs, Try Fluke turned the tables, but neither had a chance with Bluestone. The cause of the accident which brought about the death of Thoolomi has been enquired .nto by the Auckland Racing Club’s stewards, and was adjourned till last Friday and again until this week. The evidence of a number of persons who were close to the spot where he fell is expected to be taken. Just before the A.R.C. Easter meeting we referred to the successes of horses by Multifid, and expressed regret that such a good sire had been used so little i.y owners of good mares in Gisborne. The gets of that horse that were racing at Ellerslie proved of the best material, and others were racing prominently in different parts of the North Island at Easter meetings.

The Waipukurau race-card contained a note saying that the first meeting of the club was held on the Woburn course in 1872 and the next in 1873, after which no meetings

were held until 1884, when Mr. H. Gaisford lent a course. This is correct, but racing was held before 1872 in the same district, but the meetings were of the scratch order and not under the management of a recognised club.

The Bezonian filly Independence has raced throughout the season on different courses since she commenced and showed promise at Avondale in the spring and has been knocking at the door several times. Her first win was on Saturday at Avondale, and it was pleasing to see her score for her trainer-lessee, W. Irwin. She travelled well in the dirt.

Te Onga did not win a race last season, nor had he done so since he captured a double nearly two years ago at the A.R.C. Great Northern meeting until he scored in the Waikumete Handicap Hurdles on Saturday, and then he was favourite, nearly a level money proposition. Accidents to others and a not formidable or completely industrious opposition, made matters easy for him. There was a would-be purchaser for Spalperion at the Avondale meeting after that gelding had run second to Captain Jack in the Chevalier Steeplechase, but no business resulted when a price was named. If Spalperion had not had such a hard race to make up the ground he lost when he went on the wrong side of a flag he might have run even a better race the second day than he did. If he had not

been raced so strenuously in pursuit of Captain Jack Mr. Morse woull probably not have raised him as much as 131 b. while putting Captain Jack up only 21b. for the second day event.

Emperador, second in the C.J.C. Challenge Stakes, seems to have lost some of his pace, and as he does not stay well is hard to place now. He has proved a decidedly useful horse in the past.

There is a lot of luck in steeplechasing. On the opening day at the Avondale meeting the winner of the Chevalier Steeplechase, Captain Jack, was the only one that did not make a mistake. Next day, when the weather was wet and pec ph were predicting all sorts of dire results, not a horse was at fault during the contest for the Mt. Eden Steeplechase, though the winner, Tarero. was nearly down at the water the first time round.

Melodist broke a leg at Feilding, Thoolomi a shoulder at Ellerslie, and Doggerbank had tc be destroyed at Avondale for injuries received to a shoulder. For two seasons past the jumping meetings during May, June, July and August have provided many horse fatalities in New Zealand. Fancy old Doggerbank, after so many jumping contests, finally meeting his fate by colliding with a post on the flat.

Reputation’s win in the Autumn Stakes at Raudwick. coming on the eve of his partial break-down, was fortunate and well deserved, and he has paid his way and satisfied Australian racegoers that he was good when at his best. His is a combination of blood that should make for a good s.re when he goes to the stud. Provocation and Elevation, his halfbrothers, have left some useful ones with limited chances.

The new number board erected in front of the grandstand at Avondale is appreciated by racegoers who attended the meeting last week, and has brought the club another step more up to date; indeed, there are few clubs that have anything better in that line, and not many that have one so good. There is much diversity of opinion as to whether the black letters and figures would be better on a white background than on the yellow one adopted in this case.

A record turnover for the course may have been reached on the Feilding Easter Handicap, but as over £5OOO was put through on the Feilding Cup on the first day, and it was said that that was the largest sum invested to date on any lace at the club’s meetings, a mistake has been made in the paragraph which has been appearing in different papers giving the amount at over £4OO0 — £6OOO is probably nearer the mark, though we have not the figures before us.

The Campfire—Countess Cole mare Lady Louisa, one of the first to score of the Carbine horse’s progeny, still retains form. On the first day of the Feilding meeting she won the Ha.combe Welter, and on the second day, after starting in the Easter Handicap and running unplaced, she came out, carrying 9.9, top weight, and was only beaten in a field of fifteen by the bottom weight, Martial Air, a three-year-old, to which she was conceding 301 b. Princess Moutoa, who ran second to her the first day, was third. George, Miralma and Mystified were left at the post.

J. Cameron, who trains and races Tarero, winner of the Autumn Steeplechase at Ellerslie and the Mt. Eden steeplechase at Avondale, and who, prior to coming iNorth, won a hurdle i ace at the Rangitikei meeting, was a first-class cross-country horseman himself, as his father/ Mr. Alex. Cameron, was before him. Jumping horses have been a specialty with other members of the family also, Tom Cameron, the well-known starter, one of the number, being known as a one time capable horseman between the flags. Jack Cameron won, amongst other .races in Australia, the Caulfield Steeplechase, and he had so many smashes up at one time and another that he and Jack McGregor, another New. Zealander, must have unequalled records. Cameron had Tarero very fit for his engagements here last week, and the drop of Soult blood in that gelding’s composition with the dash of Day Dawn strain on the sire’s side counts in jumping. Tarero is a clever, medium-sized gelding, not to say small, though probably the lightest of those that ran in the races he won.