TURF TOPICS.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1360, 18 May 1916, Page 19

TURF TOPICS.

Empire is the name claimed for the General Latour —Lady Musket colt in D. Moraghan’s stable at Ellerslie.

Hacklers Bey and George 8., recent winners in Ireland of steeplechase events, are by Kosmos, sire of First Glance.

Crown Pearl’s first attempt over hurdles in public last week amongst the hacks at Egmont pleased the onlookers.

All War, a full-brother tc. El Gallo, is amongst the beginners being schooled at Riccarton for jumping honours, and is said to shape well.

Isene, a two-year-old by King Rufus from Holyrood, was sold at the Randwick sales for llOgns. Red Car, a colt of the same age from Carmania by the same horse, made 50gns.

The value of racing stock fluctuates according to supposed usefulness. Briseis, one of Mr. Highden’s discards, sold last year for 70gns., could have been sold for 400gns. at Randwick at' the recent sales, but the new owner wanted more.

Sir James Carroll arrived in Auckland on Monday, en route for England to take part at the conference of parliamentarians from all colonial British countries. A good sportsman, Sir James will carry the best wishes of thousands of New Zealanders of both races with him

It transpires that the reported sale of Morning to a Melbourne owner was not a fact. It is now stated that Morning, Sleight of Hand and The Hound are to go over for the V.R.C. and Caulfield Grand National meetings in charge of A. Goodwin, and, therefore, we may not see them at Riccarton.

When Black Northern had 13.1 on his back in November last in the Manukau Hurdle Race at Ellerslie infatuated supporters made the son of Salvadan favourite, but he would not try with the weight, and no weight would now be likely to encourage him to go straight at Ellerslie. His owner declined to pay up with him on Friday • for the Great Northern Hurdle Race with 11.4, for which his followers should be thankful.

Golden Grafton, who won her second race this autumn at Egmont last week, is a half-sister to Harbour Light, Welcome Nugget, Coronetted and Quo Vadis, from Golden Eagle, who once paid a good dividend at Feilding, one investor taking out over £6OO as a result. Golden Grafton’s sire, Lord Grafton, was from Ghoorka’s dam, Fiancee, and her dam, Golden Eagle, by the one-time brilliant horse St. Clements, brother to St. Paul. When Nordenfeldt won the Randwick Plate over thirty years ago, in the slowest time on record for the race, one of the starters, Eagle Grange, was allowed to get so far away that had he been of goOfrtflass Nordenfeldt would not. have caught him. As it was the Musket colt had to be ridden for some distance, and

those who had laid five to one on got a bit of a shock. In these days a race lost through such laggard tactics the rider would be sure of suspension.

A full-sister to Seahorse named Seamoon, foaled in 1902, was amongst the mares sold at Randwick Having been a failure at the stud she was sold for As a yearling she was sold for llOgns. Rattler, a full-sister, at ten years old made lOOOgns. at the dispersal sale of the late Mr. G. G. Stead’s stud, and Nautiform, a two-year-old by Multiform from her, made 1050gns., and Vice-Admiral, a yearling, afterwards a New Zealand Cup winner, realised 250sovs.

Two geldings that between them did good service for Mr. W. G. Stead at three years old are Eligible and Bon Reve. The first-named has won £4730 in stakes, and Bon Reve, who was sold some time ago for 30sovs., won £3742 at the same age. They are members of the famous No. 9 family, which as a running as distinct from a sire line has no better, so many good stayers having come from the same fountain head.

Mr. E.' J. Watt did not get big prices for his mares sold in Australia. Rose Seaton (1901) 50 guineas, All Blue (1907) 32J guineas, Bon Bon (1909) 95 guineas, Dame Rumour (1911) 50sovs, Tupono (1902) Esmeh (1907) 50sovs, Wordy Warfare (1907) 65sovs, Musetta (1907) 70 sovs were the sales. Sir George Clif-

ford’s lot fetched better prices. Court Martial 360 guineas, Snapdragon 110 guineas, Wisebird 130 guineas, Fair Slave 70 guineas, Floweret 130 guineas and Merry Trick 160 guineas were the sums obtained.

Messrs. Gorton and Sons, in conjunction with Messrs. Abraham and Williams, will sell on behalf of Mr. Donald Fraser on Friday, May 2G, at the Emporium of the last named at Palmerston North, two yearling, colts and three fillies by' Advance and a three-year-old filly by Seaton Delaval. The colts include a full brother to postillion and Square Deal and a full brother to Prosper, all three good horses. The fillies include a sister to Ararat and a half sister to Gladiole and Daisy Paul, and as Mr. Fraser’s young horses invariably turn out well the attention of buyers of racing stock can be directed to the sale with confidence.

The death occurred in England recently, at the age of 84, of a jockey named James Covey, who rode the rank outsider Black Tommy when that horse ran Blink Bonny to a neck in the Derby of 1857. In mentioning Covey’s- death, the “Sporting Life” says that a number of remarkable wagers were recorded in connection with Black Tommy, for though, as stated above, the public regarded the colt as a negligible quantity, the owner held other views Among other bets were 10,000 to 20 and 10 000 to 150; hut the most weird of the lot was one of £2O 000 to a coat, waistcoat and hat! The anxiety to get the items of wear mentioned went close to moving very costly to the layer of the cdds.

Hundreds of letters and post cards have been received by Mr. H. Byron Moore from Australian soldiers in Egypt and elsewhere (says a Melbourne paper), expressing appreciation for the gift from the Victoria Racing Club of tobacco, cigarettes, lollies, condensed milk, butter, sauces and other edibles forwarded some time ago. Judging by the remarks of a number of the soldiers, their delight at the receipt of the luxuries was unbounded, and they are deeply grateful for the thoughtfulness and generosity displayed towards them. One writer observes that “such gifts go to show plainly what real men and sports we have at home thinking of us.” Another quaintly wrote: — “Sorry not being able to be present at last Melbourne Cup; important business elsewhere. Tell bookmak ers they can keep us in the bag. It’s a million to one on us very shortly.”

The death of Castadrift, the nearly 18-year-old son of Castor and a Musket mare, took place last week after the ancient one had been schooled and had had a fall at Ellerslie. Castadrift raced at Paeroa in March last, and at the time we commented on the fact that he was perhaps the oldest horse racing in the Dominion. It is a shame to race even well preserved ones at that age, and we cannot imagine anyone hoping to win races with ancients, however good they may have been. At no time in his career was Castadrift anything like first-class. We have known

horses to win when older, both in and out of the Dominion, but the time is past for racing such old horses, and especially over obstacles, where there is the risk of acciden: to riders as well. R. Conway was riding Castadrift when he fell and he received a severe shaking.

On the two-year-old form in Australia “Pilot” thus discusses: Of the Sydney-trained colts it is difficult to select one that is likely, to develop sufficiently to have much chance of proving superior to Wolaroi in the spring, and it seems the same in regard to Melbourne. Wedge ran well in a couple of races at Flemington, but his form fell far short of that of Wolaroi, and it was the same with Bourlang, who may be South Australia’s representative. Stageland cannot be rated nearly equal to those mentioned, but I still regard him as likely to stay, and it cannot be said that many of the colts give promise in that direction. Still it is fairly certain that Wolaroi will be the only youngster allotted weight for age in the next Melbourne Cup. At present, at any rate, Wolaroi’s most dangerous Derby opponents appear likely to come from the ranks of the fillies, and of these Thana and Ettefred may be most deserving of consideration. Admirers of a great racehorse were keenly enthusiastic over Woorak’s fine performance in , the All-Aged Stakes at the A.J.C. autumn meeting at Randwick, and the opinion was expressed that had he been strongly rushed from the two furlong post. Mr. L. K S Maokinnon’s horse wou’d have put up a new Australasian mile record. Cetigne certainly finished

with great dash after being last for a good part of the way, but Woorak always had the measure of the field. Alongside the most brilliant milers known in Australia Woorak is entitled to the highest place, and his form stamps him as worthy to be bracketed with Marvel, Malt King, Sequence, Bungebah, Sir Foote, Famous and all the great middle .distance champions. With a little more luck Woorak’s stake winning total of £15,707 might easily have been another five thousand, lie ran second in the Newmarket Handicap and the Doncastor Handicap, and since his two-year-old days he has never figured as conspicuously in Melbourne as he does at Randwick. Woorak likes the going solid, and the track on AllAged Stakes day was just to In ing. Woorak was bred by the late Mr. James Redfern, and was sold privately as a yearling to his present owner. While Wolaroi’s total of. £7215 in stakes stands alone as a record for a two-year-old, other winning juveniles of past seasons won big amounts at that age. In the 1913-14 season Woorak carried off the juvenile honours with five wins and £6317. . Last season Cetigne won three races and £5356, and Red Signal, in the same year, claimed three successes and £4828. Wolawa’s two-year-old record was five wins (including a success in a match with Tadanga) and £4960. Desert Rose won £4830 and Beragoon £4383 in juvenile events of their year.

In preparation for the Jubilee Cup next January, the Westland Racing Club is having the course at the mile post widened so as to give a straight start for the important anniversary event. Hitherto, the start foi' the Westland mile has been just on the turn. This will be avoided for the future, with the result that the competing horses will have a clear straight of about two furlongs before Having to negotiate a turn. The improvements should be greatly appreciated by owners and riders alike. Writing in connection with the debate in the House of Commons and of the speech made by Sir Arthur Markham “Rapier” said: “He did not, indeed, call names, but he at least talked nonsense when he charged the Government with ‘carrying on a gambling business.’ Some of these foolish people in the House of Commons have a rooted idea that no one can have anything to do with racing unless he bets. If there is any harm in betting, any illegality or immorality, a multitude of those who have contributed to make England great have acted illegally and immorally. Kings, Prime Ministers, great judges and lawyers—at least one Lord Chief Justice of England—members of the learned professions, have all been accustomed to back horses; but, as matter of fact, a great many owners and visitors to racecourses never bet at all. It is known that a considerable number of members of the Jockey Club refrain from betting. It does not amuse them, they’ find plenty of interest in the sport without. On the whole, the debate on the subject of the National Stud was only instructive as showing the ignorance and vulgarity of some of the burlesque legislators who now contrive to get into the House of Commons.

For one of his Mountain King yearling colts Mr. J. W. McDonald received 1350 guineas at the recent Randwick sales. This was the top price. Castera’s Daughter, an imported mare, is his dam. “Milroy” in his interesting notes on the sales mentions that the auctioneers sold 534 yearlings for £68,636, of which number Messrs. Inglis quitted 399 for £48,725 and Messrs. Chisholm-and Co. 135 for £20,763. The total number sold was larger than last year and a drop of about 20 per cent, was the result. About the same falling off occurred in Melbourne at Messrs. Yuille’s March sales, when 85 yearlings were quitted for £24.995. This year the two States sold 619 youngsters for £90.631. Last year I made up the records at the conclusion of the sales and published them in tabular form, but. . subsequently several private sales were made of youngsters passed in during the week, and they increased the total to the above. As there are tw r o more selling days for mixed stock, and the probability of private, business. T will leave the records for next wee 1 ’ At any rate, up to date, one thing is certain —this year’s average is at least 20 per cent, lower than last year’s, which, considering the awful droughts that have hampered pastoralists in Queensland and in New South Wales, as well as the war, is a most satisfactory return.