TURF GOSSIP.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1514, 1 May 1919, Page 18

TURF GOSSIP.

Gay Lad has been withdrawn from all engagements at the Wellington meeting. W. McPherson, the Victorian crosscountry jockey, is going to India under engagement to ride in that country. McPherson rode Pinon when that horse won the V.R.C. Autumn Steeplechase. Golden Bronze, who won the Club Handicap, the principal event on the second day of the Rosehill meeting, is exceptionally well bred, being by Bronzino from Golden Slipper, who was a rare galloper on the turf and changed hands at 4500 guineas when bought in New Zealand for Australia. The New Zealand-bred Wickerwork, an aged gelding by Charlemagne 11. (imp.) from Stepka, whose only start in registered company was in a Tattersall’s Novice (as Ardima) about three years ago, won a double at the pony meeting at Victoria Park, Sydney, last month. Murihiku, by Sunny Lake —Arai te Uru, who accounted for the Victoria Handicap at Ellerslie on the concluding day of the A.R.C. Easter meeting, was bred by Sir James Carroll. This was the filly’s first win, her previous best performance being recorded at the Marton Jockey Club’s summer meeting on New Year’s Day, when she ran second to Bonny Briar in the Juvenile Handicap. On the opening day of the Metropolitan Trotting Club’s Easter meeting at Addington A. Hendricksen was fined £lO for careless driving in the Easter Handicap, .and for anticipating the bell W. Smith was fined £5 and J. Tasker £5. Hendricksen was reported by the patrol stewards for crossing Mintson, and evidence was given by them and also by Hendricksen and Smith, driver of Mintson, the latter stating that the sulky wheels grazed, but that he was not affected by the interference.

Punka’s victory in the Great Autumn Handicap came as something of a facer to followers of form, as Mr. J. B. Reid’s filly displayed very indifferent form in the Great Easter Handicap on the previous day. Although she drew No. 1 position at the barrier in the Great Easter she was slow to move off, and eventually finished ninth of the 11 candidates which contested the event.

Swinton, who fell at the initial obstacle in the Kawakawa Hurdles on the opening day of the Feilding Jockey Club’s meeting and broke his neck, was an aged gelding by Birkenhead —Camelot. His only win during the present season was recorded at the Wairoa County Racing Club’s annual meeting, when he defeated a small field in the Carroll Memorial Handicap on February 20 last.

At the Adelaide Racing Club’s meeting last month a feature of the afternoon’s sport was the success of the hurdle racer, Mount Miltsin, in the chief flat race on the programme, the Bosanquet Handicap. His owner was anxious to give him a run with the colours up to fit him for a subsequent engagement over hurdles, and would not risk a penalty in the hurdles. Mount Miltsin took charge at the top of the straight, and after a great struggle won by half a head from another outsider in Kongorong. A dividend of close on £2OO was returned.

By annexing the Champagne Stakes at the C.J.C. Easter meeting, Miss Mimic gave Sir George Clifford his thirteenth victory in that event. His first success was gained in 1885 with Stonyhurst, but it was not until 1903 that Treadmill scored the second victory for the Chokebore stable, and his victory was followed by Stronghold’s in 1904. Kirriemuir registered the fourth win in 1906, and since then the following have been successful: —1910, Madam Madcap; 1911, Counterfeit; 1912, Autumnus; 1913, Nightwatch; 1915, Flying Start; 1916, Good Hope; 1917, Gamecock; 1918, Heathercote; 1919, Miss Mimic. This shows nine wins in the past 10 years, the sequence having been broken when Rencontre Avon for Mr. G. D. Greenwood in 1914.

The well-known mare, Sequinette (1909), by St. Ambrose—Sequin, with a colt foal at foot by Bezonian, is offered for sale at £l5O. Sequinette is a half sister to the successful handicap horse Seadown, winner so far of £2150 in stakes, and a full sister to Sea Queen, who has placed £2650 in stakes to her credit. The mare is in splendid condition, while the colt foal is a good-looking, wellgrown youngster, handled and taught to lead, being foaled on October 22, 1918. Further particulars may be had on application to Mr. O. S. Wat kins, P.O. Box 202, Wellington. Mr. J. McMahon, chief stipendiary steward, was in attendance on both days of the Feilding Jockey Club’s Easter meeting, when several minor matters occupied his attention. On the opening day, M. McDonald was fined £5 for breaking an engagement to ride Master Moutoa, while a similar fine was imposed on W. Bell for crossing the field in the Onepuhi Hack Handicap, in which he rode the third horse, Railand. On the second day Mr. McMahon had C. Price, rider of Acre in the Denbigh Stakes, before the stewards for alleged interference with Simonides. After a lengthy enquiry it was decided to take no action, as it transpired that Simonides was largely responsible for the trouble, while the result of the race was not affected by the incident.

In consequence of his third to West Molong and Greg in the Rosehill Handicap (one mile and three furlongs) on the opening day of the Rosehill meeting, the ex-New Zealander, Finmark, was made a good second favourite for the Rawson Stakes (one mile and a furlong) on the second day of the fixture. Rebus was sent out favourite, while the other starters were Wolaroi, Lanius, Bursar, Promised Land, Ulva’s Isle and Nivelle. Bursar led into the straight, closely followed by Rebus, Promised Land and Wolaroi. Bursar continued in front past the Leger, but Wo’aroi ran past him and won by two lengths and a-half, with Bursar a head in front of Rebus. Finmark was fourth. Then, after a big gap, came Lanius, Ulva’s Isle and Promised Land, with Nivelle last. The win brought Wolaroi’s stake earnings up to £16,300.

Whilst competing in the Gordon Steeplechase at the Victoria Amateur Turf Club’s meeting at Caulfield last month, the well-known fencer, Booligal, struck the second to last hurdle, breaking his near fore leg and had to be destroyed. Booligal was a bold fencer, but of late he appeared to have lost a lot of his early dash. Booligal ran third in the Grand Natinal Steeplechase, with 12.0, and second in the Australian Steeplechase with 12.5. At the time of his death he was owned by the Caulfield trainer P. K. Padfield. An extraordinary yearly happening in connection with the Great Easter Handicap running (remarks “Glencoe,” in the “Dominion”) is that the favourite invariably runs a smashing race in the seven furlongs event, but regularly fails in the longer race. This was the case with Expect in 1914, with Menelaus last year, and with Red Ribbon this year. It appears as if the first race is run at too fast a pace for the horses which are used to longer distances, and the hard efforts to keep within striking distance takes too much out of them to enable them to saddle up fresh on the following day. At the postponed March meeting of the Victoria Amateur Turf Club, held last month at Caulfield, the New Zealand mare Impediment ran second to Kunegitis in the St. Kilda Cup (one mile and three furlongs). On the same afternoon the Auckland-bred Beltane annexed the Übique Welter (one mile) from a large field. Beltane started favourite and won by three-quarters of a length from Nibbaul, with Kilbarron third. Included in the field was De Gama, who started a good second favourite. Beltane was ridden by W. Foul sham, and the win was popular. Beltane is by Elysian from Lady Hester. As a two-year-old he was owned by Mr. T. H. Lowry. The son of Elysian was subsequently raced by Messrs. W. G. Stead and E. S. Luttrell, and later on bought by Mr. S. P. Mackay, for whom he won last year’s Kyneton Cup. Beltane is now owned by Mr. Eli Phillips, who Avon the Grand National Hurdles and other good races with Jullundur. Beltane is trained bv Fred. Foulsham at Caulfield.