NEW ZEALAND HORSES IN AUSTRALIA.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1423, 2 August 1917, Page 18

NEW ZEALAND HORSES IN AUSTRALIA.

In the Sydney “Referee,” which thus refers to them, mention was made of the arrival of the New Zealand horses trained by M. Hobbs and G. Jones. Of course, says “Pilot,” Kilboy is the bright particular star of Hobbs’ team, and he wears an even burlier appearance than when here last spring. It was stated that shortly prior to their departure from the Dominion that both Kilboy and his brother, Kill ’Em, gave their trainer a deal of trouble, but they are not now showing any lameness. Kill ’Em does not bear resemblance to Kilboy in conformation, being lengthier and lighter-framed, favoring his dam’s side. He has only started a few times, but as he is a winner he evidently possesses the knack of galloping. Kilflinn, another of the team, is a medium-sized and fairly stout filly, but not one that would attract marked attention. At Christchurch Estland gave her a lot of weight and a beating in a two-year-old handicap, but Hobbs reckons she improved greatly in the few days between that race and when she downed Desert Gold at Wellington. He, at any rate, is not inclined to discount her defeat of Desert Gold, pointing out

that the latter’s track doings just before the meeting d d not suggest she was far short of her best form. Kilflinn’s sale was effected on a cash and contingency basis, which, I believe will return Mr. Reid altogether about lOOOgns. for the filly, provided she w ns a race in her present ownership. Beltane (Eiysian—Lady Hester) is a three-year-old brown gelding, and was bought recently as a working mate for Kilboy. In New Zealand he acted in a similar capacity to Desert Gold, but, though a w nner, he has not always done as well as anticipated. He is a strong-looking customer, and perhaps it is as well, for Kilboy will certainly give him plenty to do during the next two and a-half months. Fotlieringay is an imported mare by Earla Mor from Fotharta, and in the way of form has nothing to recommend her. Good Day is a bay two-year-old gelding by Boniform. and has only started once. G. Jones, who came over on the same boat as M. Hobbs, and is training Mr. W. G. Stead’s team, has in hand Sasanof, Shrill, Sweet Corn and a good-looking brown yearling filly by All , Black from Lilywhite (Martan —Cruciform). During the past year Sasanof has had so little in the way of a real spell from training that I expected to see him show

the effects of his almost continuous work, but so far from being wearied or light-looking, he has generally improved in appearance since last in Australia. He struck me as having grown a little, and is certainly much stouter. His trainer is well satisfied with him, and is rather hopeful he will not fall away in the least when he starts to send him along in earnest. Sasanof .will have 8.11 in all his we ght-for-age engagements at the A.J.C. and V.R.C. meetings, but though prior to seeing him this time I inclined to the idea that would hold him safe, I am not confident on that point now. Besides which, his easy action must also be counted in his favour. Shrill naturally looks more seasoned than last spring, and Sweet Corn much the same as that time. Both mares have shown good form since they last raced here, and that fact assures them a full share of weight, as though a year or so back Australian handicappers were commencing to discount Dominion form to some extent, they are again according it full value, if not a little over in some cases.

Curtailment of sport! The very words are a mockery, the “Bulletin,” in referring to the position in. Australia. It is not curtailment of sport we need, but the obliteration of all these wretched distractions which bring the term “sport” into disrepute. Between the ideas held by decent men of what sport really

is and the notions entertaned by wowsers, guessers, flabbergasted politicians and the assorted crowd who prostitute for gain a fine human instinct there is a difference measured by miles. To merely “curta 1” what is going on in Australia and do it in the interests of winning the war is to leave the roots of a pest as disastrous as the pear in Banana land. The racing end of it, anyhow, want', no pruning-knife. An axe is the only suitable weapon for it, and the people who wield the implement shou'd not be of the type who maunder about winnng wars, but citizens with a sense of sportsmanship atout them and a c’ear conception of decency. War or no war there is a job for them. It has been too long postponed. * » * , Par sian Diamond, one of the most fancied contestants for Winter Cup honours, left Trentham on Monday en route to Riccarton. W. Kirk has the Charlemagne II gelding in rare fettle, a,nd he ha.s but to reproduce the form displayed on the concluding day of the Auckland R.C.’s Great Northern meeting to set his opponents a severe task in the Writer Cup.

According to southern writers there is every probability of Plymouth being taken across to Sydney to compete in steeplechase events at the A. J. C. Spring Meeting at Randwick. The New Zealand Cup candidate, The Toff, may accompany the Grafton gelding and contest weigh t-for-age events at the meeting.