TURF GOSSIP.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1537, 9 October 1919, Page 18

TURF GOSSIP.

The aged Hymettus —Temerity gelding Hylans, who was sold at the dispersal sale of Karamu horses tor the modest sum of 22gns., has proved a fair stake earner since then. He won a couple of jumpers’ flat races last season, while his latest successes were gained at the Geraldine and Kurow meetings. The ex-Karamu representative is now owned by P. Delargy. According to a Napier writer, Croesus looks as fresh and blithesome as a two-year-old after a short spell, and the old fellow should be good for a race or two yet. It is understood (says the “Southland Times”) that a number of good sportsmen in the Lakes district have subscribed the necessary money to put the Lake County Jockey Club on a sound financial footing again. The matter of holding a racing fixture is also under consideration, and it is expected .that a pronouncement in this direction will be made public shortly. Rieuse (Finland — Landrail), the full-sister to Chimera and Railand, was taken through to Wanganui with other members of J. T. Jamieson’s team, and though accepted for in the Debutante Two-year-old Stakes was not started, probably owing to R. S. Bagby not being available to ride him, the clever lightweight horseman being in attendance at the Avondale meeting. Cesarion is the imported American sire who prior to coming from there to Australia was voted one of the most successful sires in the world, holding for three seasons (1909 to 1911) the -world’s record of 52 two-year-old winners, and in the following season he had 11 winners. In 1913 and 1914 he was fourth and fifth respectively on the list with only a few left in America to represent him. In one season with 20 winners he was second in America, and for several seasons high up. In 1913 49 of his gets -won 112 races, second in 92 and third in 119. In Australia he has had an occasional winner of late.

Word from Christchurch states that one of Glendower’s front legs is giving trouble, and as a consequence he will not be raced until the autumn. A. E. Foreman, the New Zealand rider who was disqualified when riding Luperino at Williamstown, Victoria, on August 25, 1917, was last month again granted a jockey’s license by the Victoria Racing Club. Amythas, who is now under F. D. Jones’ charge at Riccarton, is reported to be backward, and though the three-year-old son of Demosthenes is a regular attendant on the tracks itis doubtful whether he will be ready to contest any of the spring classics. Word from Christchurch states that Mr. G. L. Stead has sold the Boniform —Shebeen gelding that was being trained at Riccarton some time back, to a North Canterbury sportsman. When Pyjama scored on the second day of the Geraldine R.C.’s meeting, the Martian gelding was ridden by C. McGregor, an apprentice from J. McCombe’s stable, the occasion marking the lad’s first success with the colours up. Sir George Clifford has Winter Wind and Counterstroke to rely on in the D.J.C. McLean Stakes, while Royal Stag and Miss Mimic are eligible to carry his colours in the Dunedin Guineas. No less than 38 two-year-olds remain in the Wellesley Stakes, of 75050v5., four furlongs, the important classic to be run at the Wellington R.C.’s meeting this month. Among those engaged are Saima, Bestir, Kildee, Acacia, Tessares, Vivation, Tropical, Sunny Smile, Wake, and Fortune Teller. The five-year-old mare Elocution, by Demosthenes —Rangiao, now trained by J. Stewart at Wingatui, will race at the Dunedin Jockey Club’s meeting on Friday and Saturday next in the nomination of Mr. F. T. Buchanan, of Mosgiel. Mr. Harley, who did the starting at the Avondale meeting, despatched on an average fourteen per race, and did not keep his fields long at the post. When there are a lot of green horses and some inexperienced riders there are bound to be some uneven despatches. There were several, but there were also a number of even ones.

The successful Victorian lightweight jockey W. Duncan has been engaged to ride Chrome in the Caulfield Cup. A new world’s trotting record was recently accomplished at Home by Mr. Walter Winans at the meeting of the London Trotting Club at Greenford. Driving his horse Myrtle Leaf, which was bred by himself and has been sold to go to America, he covered a distance of nine miles in Simin. 50 l-ssec. This is a new record for the world for amateur driving in a four-wheeled vehicle. The Christchurch owner-trainer A. Fleming is expected north for Hie Auckland Trotting Club’s meeting, and Pitaroa and Dean Dillon are mentioned as the principal members of the team which he is to bring with him. Fleming has two candidates engaged in the N.Z. Trotting Cup, Willie Lincoln and Erin’s Queen, both .of which are reported to be doing well on the tracks. The Caulfield trainer P. K. Padfield has issued a writ against the Rev. John Thomas Skelly, of Bourke Street, Melbourne, Roman Catholic priest, as executor of the estate of the late William Skelly. Padfield claims that the last-named and he were joint owners of Sir Prim, and that after the death of William Skelly, the gelding was raced on the joint account of the defendant and himself, and that he received his share of the stakes that were won, but has not been paid the one-half, £249 10s. 6d., of the amount realised when Sir Prim was sold. Kildee, who was beaten by the narrowest of margins for second place by Bestir in the Nursery Handicap on the concluding day at Avondale, was extremely unlucky not to have acted as runner-up to the winner, Landslide. The daughter of Kilbroney— Grey Linnet was going particularly weli as the field turned for home, but was hemmed in at this stage, and though she tired somewhat over the last bit it was only in the last couple of strides that Bestir got his nose in front. Both Bestir and Kildee showed marked improvement on their form in the Avondale Stakes on the opening day, and must be regarded as likely to show to distinct advantage in two-year-old events this season. The pair have both been nominated for the juvenile events at the Wellington meeting this month.

The owner of Silverspire informed “Sir Modred” of the “Southland Times” the other day that the son of Silvermark and Minaret has filled up in a very satisfactory manner since he was retired from the crosscountry game for the season. His legs have fined down again after displaying unmistakeable signs of having hooked some of his fences at Wingatui and several Southland meetings. The newly-formed Ellesmere County Trotting Club have set to work without delay to draw up a programme for their initial meeting, at which it is intended to give not less than £3OO in stakes. This amount it is hoped to subsequently increase when a totalisator permit is forthcoming. The principal office-bearers of the new club are: —Patron, Colonel the Hon. R. Heaton Rhodes, M.P.; president, Mr. P. Delargey; vice-presi-dents, Messrs. I. McGill, J. H. Prosser, W. J. Lemon, and J. Nixon; secretary, Mr. F. E. Kesteven; treasurer, Mr. R. G. Power; judge, Mr. A. Dickson; handicapper, Mr. F. C. Thomas; starter, Mr. H. Reynolds; timekeepers, Messrs. E. Clarkson and W. Mitchell; clerk of scales, Mr. W. Scott; clerk of course, Mr. E. Holmes; honorary surgeon, Dr. B. Volckman; lion, veterinary surgeon, Mr. A. Taylor, F.R.C.V.S.; auditor, Mr. R. M Robertson. The Avondale Guineas winner, Esthonia (Elysian—Baronia), only started as a two-year-old on four occasions, scoring one win, two seconds, and an unplaced. His first start was in the Juvenile Handicap (for two and three-year-olds) at the Taranaki J.C.’s autumn meeting in February last. Subsequently he ran second to Cadet in the Maiden Plate, w.f.a., six furlongs, at the Woodville autumn meeting on April 16, while on the following day he registered his first success when he annexed the Juvenile Stakes, w.f.a., for two and 'three-year-olds, six furlongs. His next appearance was in the Oringi Handicap, five furlongs, for two-year-olds, at the Waipukurau J.C.’s annual meeting on April 21, when he filled the position of runner-up to Bindle. Estonia is owned and trained by P. Scally at New Plymouth, and judging by the convincing manner in which he registered his latest success he should gain further honours before the season is far advanced.

The Heather Mixture —La Sabine gelding Heather Sprig was well backed in the Avondale Guineas, and getting away smartly was racing prominently with the leaders until just after passing the half-mile post, where he appeared to meet with some interference, badly losing his position and completely spoiling his prospects of victory.

Mr. Fred Marks, who has been clerk of the scales at meetings about Auckland for over forty years, was not in his accustomed place at the Pakuranga Hunt Club and Avondale J.C. spring meeting owing to illness, which his many friends will regret. Mr. H. Massey acted in the veteran’s stead.