TURF GOSSIP.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1501, 30 January 1919, Page 18

TURF GOSSIP.

The ex-Aucklander, Loyal Arch, figures among the nominations for the Egmont Cup.

Marc Antony, who won the Great Autumn Handicap in 1916, has resumed work, and it is thought that he might stand another preparation.

Sixteen horses have been entered for the Gisborne Cup, among the number being Sweet Corn, Vagabond, Gazique, Master Moutoa, Cynic, Slipstitch, Athens 11. and Cleft.

Turpenite is reported to be showing proficiency over the hurdles, and it is anticipated that the son of Field Battery will do his owner a good turn ere long.

Trainer “Jim” Hathaway, who, for a number of years, has resided at Palmerston North, has left for Hunterville, having taken over an hotel in the latter township.

According to word from Dunedin, Mohawk has been definitely retired from the race track, while it is regarded as certain that the 1916 New Zealand Cup winner, Ardenvhor, has also finished his racing career.

The Trentham - trained Esperance (Martian —Mary of Argyle) has been engaged in the Taranaki Cup. She is- a three-year-old full sister to Mascot, and at Hastings at New Year time ran second in a Maiden Hack Handicap.

Tigritiya, who in his last four efforts under silk has occupied the position of runner-up, has been nominated for three events to be run at the Gisborne meeting next month, and will be decidedly unlucky if he fails to record a win at the fixture in question.

The name of China has been claimed by Mr. James Ritchie, of Invercargill, for a filly by Balboa from Old China by Calibre — Sevres China (imp.). Old China cost the Nightcaps sportsman 36 guineas at a sale of Mr. J. C. N. Grigg’s stock at Invercargill in December, 1917.

Excellent nominations have been received for the Egmont Racing Club’s summer gathering, which takes place at Hawera on February 12 and 13. Twenty-two horses have been nominated for the Egmont Cup (one mile and a-half), including Rewi Poto, Henry Clay, Depredation, Bingham, Snub, Wishful, Form Up, Killard. Almoner and Dingle.

Multifual. who has proved a disappointment on the flat during the past two seasons, his victory in the President’s Handicap at Hastings on New Year’s Day being the only win recorded by the Multifid gelding during that period, claims an engagement in the Handicap Hurdles and also in the Gisborne Cup, to be run at the Gisborne Racing Club’s meeting on February 6.

It was a good thing that Mr. Perrett, at Mr. McMahon’s request, decided to alter his disputed decision at Feilding (remarks “Sir Lancelot,” in the “Wellington Post”). During the time the mistake was under discussion, the writer heard one admirer of the late Mr. W. H. Hartgill say that official had never made a mistake, which reminds me there is a photograph at the Wellington Racing Club office of the finish of the first Cup on the Trentham course. The position shows Ropa first, Achilles second, and Paritutu third. Melodeon, who was officially placed third, is some distance back. It is fortunate that the rules were altered in the direction of allowing a judge fifteen minutes in which to correct a mistake. The writer is satisfied the judging business is not so easy as it looks. A person in the box wants a fairly good idea of the horses, colours, and riders. An instance of the difference of opinion in witnessing a finish occurred at the Feilding meeting. The writer stood alongside Mr. George Currier, the Wanganui ownerbreeder, at the division of the stewards’ and press stands, during the running of the Cheltenham Hack Handicap. Before the numbers were hoisted the writer declared in favour of Sonnino, while Mr. Currie was equally confident Tigritiya would get the verdict. There was certainly little in it between the two.

Word from Christchurch 'is to the effect that Oxenhope, who is suffering from a badly cracked foot, is to be given a spell for two or three months. * * * * Although she failed to run into a place in the principal handicap at the South Canterbury Jockey Club’s meeting at Timaru, Margerine should not be long in accounting for a good handicap, as her gallops at Riccarton have been of a most attractive order. There was an unusual incident in connection with the Tycho Hack Handicap at the South Canterbury Jockey Club’s meeting. When doing her preliminary, Loraine bolted round the course, and when near the entrance to the straight she jumped a wire fence. Her rider (C. McGregor) was thrown off, and appeared to be badly injured. He was taken to the hospital, where it was found that he was suffering from a broken collarbone. Permission was given to withdraw Loraine, and the totalisator investments on her were refunded.

At a sale of yearlings held at Feilding recently Mr. Norman Short •purchased a Signor—Helen Portland filly for 250 guineas; Mr, D. Barrett secured a chestnut colt by Hallowmas —Oka for 195 guineas; a chestnut colt, by Hallowmas — Seaspray, realised 125 guineas; a bay colt by Hallowmas —Rosie Desmond, Mr. WH. Gaisford, for 160 guineas; a bay filly by Hallowmas —Formless went for 80 guineas.

Some people consider that King Offa may dispute with Kennaquhair the title of champion stayer this autumn (says an Australian writer). He will need to improve upon Melbourne Cup form to have a chance against the Sydney horse, for in that event Kennaquhair gave him 41b. and a beating by any number of lengths at the end of the two miles. His admirers assert, however, that King Offa was not seen at his best in the Melbourne Cup, and, taking a line through the form of Magpie, who ran Kennaquhair to a neck in the C. B. Fisher Plate, they consider that there will be little to choose between King Offa and Kennaquhair over a distance this autumn. This deduction is based on the fact that King Offa beat Magpie in three private trials before he won the Caulfield Cup, and is therefore the better of the two imported horses over a distance. Kennaquhair looks well after his short rest. He also moves with more freedom on

the track, and appears to have shaken off the indolence which characterised his track work last spring. It is expected that he will compete in the early autumn events at Caulfield and Flemington, and his chief mission in Victoria will no doubt be the Essendon Stakes, one mile and a-quarter; the Governor’s Plate, one mile and ahalf; and the King’s Plate, two miles, at Flemington. All are weight-for-age events, and having proved himself the best stayer in Australia at the present time it looks as if the handsome chestnut needs only to reproduce his spring form to win at least two of these stakes.

The imported horse Shadowland, who was second in the last Sydney Cup, is getting through a satisfactory preparation at Flemington for his autumn engagements. The Sydney sportsman who races as “Mr. W. T. Nowlan” gave 3500 guineas for him last Easter, but he went amiss in his training for the Melbourne Cup, and has not appeared on the racecourse for nearly a year. He is

now trained by James Scobie, and if seen in action this autumn is sure to take some beating in any of the long-distance races selected for him.

The private residence of the Western District trainer James Thistleton was recently totally destroyed by fire at Riverton. Mr. and Mrs. Thistleton were away from home at the time of the outbreak and nothing was saved. Thistleton will be a very heavy loser as the insurances only totalled £lOO on the house and £75 on the furniture. Mrs. Thistleton also lost two valuable Pekingese dogs in the flames.

A horse named Kroo Boy was imported to Australia a few years ago, and for some time has been racing in West Australia. On November 16 he was third in a minor race there. Three days before that a horse of the same name, and also claiming the same age and pedigree as the West Australian performer, won the Visitors’ Plate at a meeting at The Curragh, in Ireland. There is no doubt about the horse named Kroo Boy having been imported to Australia from Ireland, for the Australian Stud Book authorities have an export certificate from the compilers of the English Stud Book, showing that he was placed on board ship. There has evidently been a mistake somewhere with regard to these two horses. The English Stud Book

shows that there is a record of only one Kroo Boy, and it also reveals that he was sent to Australia from Ireland. Yet the English papers just to hand show a horse of the same name is still racing in Ireland. The matter will probably, be brought under the notice of the West Australian racing authorities, and also Messrs. Weatherby and Son, English compilers of turf records.

At the last meeting of the committee of the Dunedin Jockey Club, a letter was received from Mr. R. Acton-Adams asking the committee to obtain an explanation of the handicapping of Nocturnal. It was decided to forward a copy of the letter to the handicapper, asking for his reply.

The yearling colt by Martian —Two Step, who cost Mr. W. Stone, of Invercargill, 550 guineas at the November juvenile sales at Christchurch, has now joined the Wingatui training establishment presided over by T. Sitven, Junr. It is understood that the full brother to War March has changed hands.