Turf Topics

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1466, 30 May 1918, Page 12

Turf Topics

Alf. McFlinn is to ride Gold Fran in the Great Northern Hurdles. • * * * * Idealism broke down when leading in the Hack Steeplechase at Wanganui. * * L. Wilson, who recently took up training in Hawke’s Bay, is to go into the Cl Camp. e. * * * Harbour Light is troubled with shoulder lameness, hence his absence from the A.R.C. meeting. * * * * J. Tilsley, who rode Onipoto to victory at Wanganui, has been in camp for the best part of two years. * * * * The North Taranaki Hunt Club is to hold a meeting on August 29 on the Taranaki Jockey Club’s course. « » * ♦ Seventeen horses engaged at the A.R.C. winter meeting on Saturday are nominated for the Gisborne meeting. ♦ * • * Braeburn was not long in getting his new owner a return of his pvrchase money. He only changed hands recently. * * * Teka, who finished last in the Connolly Handicap at Wanganui, got galloped on and could not start again at the meeting. * * * * Form Up, by Formative, was sold at auction on Friday for 430 guineas, Mr. Brown, of Wellington, being the purchaser. * ♦ * * A patriotic carnival is to be held on the Ellerslie racecourse on June 15. A good programme has been mapped out. * * * * Hyginas has at last got Mr. A. E. Symes, his Waverley owner, some of his cost back. His win on Saturday was quite due. # # # ♦ Midnight Star, winner of the Kaitoke Hurdles at Wanganui, was bred by Mr. H. R. Mackenzie, at Ascot Farm, Mangere. » * * * Some twenty-odd Auckland-trained horses have been entered for the Gisborne meeting, to take place on June 13 and 15. e * * * J. Lowe arrived at Ellerslie from Wanganui before Seadown and Coalition, and was watching the work there on Saturday morning. * * * * Though reported broken down at Wanganui, Idealism’s name appears amongst the horses entered for steeplechase events at Gisborne. * * * ♦ Iceberg has gone sore, and his stable mate’s (Royal Park) acceptance was received too late for the first day of the A.R.C. meeting. * * * ♦ Depredation made his re-appear-ance in a race at • Wanganui after a long spell, but was on the big side and in no form to do himself justice. * # * » Polydamon, the Polymelus horse intended for stud service in Poverty Bay, has been nominated for the chief handicaps at the Gisborne meeting. * * * * R. Tapp, in consequence of injuries received while schooling Ambassador in the Waikato, had to give up rides on Munster and Marton at Wanganui. * * * * The Hamilton, Waipa, Te Kuiti, Te Aroha, Rotorua and Ohinemuri racing clubs have formed an Auckland Country Clubs’ Breeders’ Association. * * * * Onipoto and Colorado, the former a winner over fences at Wanganui, are by the defunct American - bred Frisco, winner of the New Zealand Cup. * * * He Polymelus, Swynford and The Tetriarch are the highest priced stallions in England just now, 300 guineas being the fee charged for each of these horses. * * * * Almo, reported not forward enough to do himself justice at the A.R.C. Great Northern meeting, was allowed to drop out of his G.N. Hurdles and Cornwall Handicap engagements, but has been nominated for the leading flat and hurdle races at the Gisborne R.C. meeting.

Volo, winner of the two chief flat handicaps at Wanganui, is a four-year-old by Husbandman, who has sired a few useful horses with limited chances.

Arch Marella, winner of Tattersails’ Stakes at Randwick, was got by Marble Arch from Seatonella, and was bred by Messrs. Dunn, at Aroha Park, Waihou, Te Aroha.

With the exception of the two chief steeplechase events, the nominations for the Gisborne meeting are very good. There are nine in the leading steeplechase event.

Bluejacket is represented by a few winners each season in Australia. Blue Gull, winner of the Rosehill Hurdles this month, was got by the Auckland Cup winner.

Gang Awa’, who won the Rata Hack Hurdles at Wanganui, and Colorado, who was racing at the same meeting, are descendants of Policy, who raced there in the sixties.

It is given out on the authority of the owner, Mr. Richmond, that St. Elmn is lame and that is the reason he is not to race at the Great Northern meeting. Almo is said to be too backward just yet. Golden Glade ran at Wanganui twice. Evidently the report that boxes had been engaged at Ellerslie for two of these horses is incorrect.

Golden Glow broke down on the eve of the Wanganui meeting, and that is probably the end of the Saracen gelding, who was the veteran of the horses engaged at the A.R.C. meeting.

It has been given out that one of St. Elmn’s legs filled and in consequence he could not be brought -to Auckland for the Great Northern meeting. He has been nominated for the Gisborne meeting.

Ibex and Turangapito have been purchased by Auckland owners. Ibex has gone into J. Lambess’ stable and the Maori named one into W. Sharp’s hands. The last-named was taken to Otaki by Sharp to fulfil engagements there.

The hurdles were not formidable at Wanganui, nor were the steeplechase fences difficult, but they pulled a lot of the hack ’chasers and others up nevertheless, and amongst them Bore, a good jumper, tripped up at one of them.

H. Hickey took the English - bred horse Polydamon with him to work him at Wanganui while there with other members of the team, and it seems to have been the intention to race him at the Gisborne meeting after the A.R.C. gathering. Pursefiller’s acceptance came too late for the Great Northern Hurdles. Idealism, in the same stable, broke down at Wanganui, and the plan of campaign may be altered in consequence.

The sum of £71,937 was passed through the totalisator during the two days of the Wanganui meeting, as against £54,233 last year. The increase is a large one and the profits will further swell the patriotic funds and help Wanganui to further augment liberal disbursements.

All Over has proved a pretty consistent performer and useful amongst the hacks down the West Coast of the North Island; in fact, is just about the top of that class, but Volo, who is the same age, presented him with plenty of poundage and got all over him in the Empire Handicap. The son of Husbandman is the more seasoned and consistent too.

Braeburn, winner of the Wanganui Steeplechase, who was beaten a neck last year and won it the previous year, claims as his great granddam imported Sissie, dam of Egalite and Fraternite, two useful horse, and of Armament, a fair performer and a useful sire. His granddam, Caller Herrin, performed fairly and was by Hippocampus.

Simonides has evidently not been made to steer or guide any better since changing ownership, judging from displays at Wanganui, in training and in one of the races he started in, though it was quite expected that he would be well under control and run true. As a consequence he lias not been brought to Auckland for the meeting this and next week.

The following are horses whose acceptances by telegram were received too late by the secretary for the A.R.C. Great Northern meeting: — Great Northern Hurdles: Pursefiller, Dingle, Paul Moore. Cornwall Handicap: Hushman, Welcome Nugget. Members’ Handicap: Movement, King Chiara, Royal Chef. Jervois Handicap: Paddington Green, Royal Park. In addition the acceptance of Sandy Paul for the G.N. Steeplechase and seemingly of Midnight Star for the G.N. Hurdles were overlooked.

Auckland horses, as a lot, did not run so conspicuously as was anticipated at Wanganui on the opening day, but on the second day they performed better. Glucian won the Balgownie Hack Handicap, Kauri King ran second to Pursefiller m the. May Hurdles, while Fionnuala and Flying Gowrie finished third in their respective engagements. During the meeting horses bred in Auckland got some of the money, Midnight Star (a winner) and Rawakore being of the number.

Sir Fisher, twice winner of the Century Hurdles, is by Maniapoto (son of Soult and Lady Fisher) from Dear Dolly, by Brigadier (son of Musket) from Dolly, by Randwick from Locket, a mare owned 30 years ago by Mr. Noble, on the Waipa River. Dolly and a full brother were of pony stature, and the brother ra'ced in pony events about Sydney, while Dolly started a few times at Alexandra Park, and she bred Solo to Blairgowrie, and Sonica, a crack pony, to Soult.

The recently-purchased stud horses Day Comet and Archerstown are to be located in the vicinity of Hamilton. Only members of the associated clubs bearing the cost of purchase and transportation are to be permitted to use them, and thei fees are to be fixed later on. They are expected to arrive in July. Day Comet at two years old won the Chesterfield Stakes and Prince of Wales Stakes, of lOOOsovs. each, and ran unplaced in the Two Thousand Guineas and Derby and in five other races unsuccessfully. Archerstown won his only engagement at two years old, the Bedford Two-year-old Stakes, of £554, and the Easter Plate, worth £856, at three years old. Hei started in nine other races that season, four at four years old and once last season without success. Day Comet is a No. 14 horse and Archerstown a No. 27. * * * * Mr. Spencer Cornford (“Early Bird”), one of the first turf writers on the “Referee” in the early eighties and for many years afterwards associated with the “Sun” in Sydney, died last week, says the “Referee.” “The Sunday Times” was started a few years before “The Referee” was first produced, and “Corney,” as he was popularly known, did the gallops. When the late Mr. Edward Ellis, assisted by John Woodhill, who was sub-editor, starter “The Referee,” “Early Bird” joined the turf staff, and after a while became turf editor. He

and Nat Gould were the principal turf writers for some few years. “Early Bird” then joined the “Star,” now the “Sun,” and “Verax” went to England to give his whole attention to his novels. Mr. Cornfield looked remarkably young for his years, for he was 68. & $ Sergeant-Major William Keith Willis, who died of wounds, in France, on April 21, was the younger son of the well-known sporting pressman, Mr. Tom Willis (“Milroy,” of the “Sydney Mail”) and brother of Mr. Norman Willis (“Wolaroi,” of the “Referee”). The deceased soldier was a fine stamp of Australian, 6ft. 3in. tall, and a splendid athlete. He played a lot of football in the country districts, representing the Robertson and Denman Clubs for some seasons. While in Sydney he played with the Randwick Presbyterian Club, one of the best combinations in the junior ranks. He was a prominent member of the Clovelly Life Saving Club, and also made a name as a boxer, being successful in several competitions, both here and at the front. Although only 24 years old, Sergeant - Major Willis had seen nearly three years’ active service, and his last letter, received here on the same day as the news of his death, contained the intimation that he had been recommended for a commission. A few months ago SergeantMajor Willis was married to Miss Evelyn Dand, daughter of an English Treasury official. —“Referee.”