TURF GOSSIP.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1553, 29 January 1920, Page 18

TURF GOSSIP.

The imported English horse, Arrowsmith, figures among the nominations for the sprint events to be run at the Dunedin Jockey Club’s forthcoming meeting.

The death of the six-year-old mare, Belair (Hymettus —Enyo), is reported. The mare, who had been on the sick list for some time, got a leg hung up in a fence, and, being too weak to extricate it, got down in the ditch and died. She was trained by J. McCombe, and raced in the joint interests of Messrs. McCombe and Griffen.

The triple dead-heat in the Ruapehu Handicap (six furlongs), the concluding event on the opening day Of the Wellington Racing Club’s summer meeting at Trentham, when Nursing Sister, Hepta and Borealis finished in line, the judge being unable to separate them, was made all the more remarkable by the fact that the two first-named were both outsiders in the 17-horse field, while Borealis ruled third favourite. The dividends in all three cases were of a sufficiently remunerative character to place backers of the trio on good terms with themselves, even Borealis returning a handsome price.

After declaration of the first forfeit, the following remain in the Champagne Stakes, of 500sovs (six furlongs), to be run on the opening day of the Dunedin Jockey Club’s autumn meeting, which takes place on February 11 and 14: —R. Rewcastle’s ch f Ruena, by Solferino — Ruenalf’s Daughter; C. Hazlett’s b g Windermere, by Sunny Lake — Angele; Sir G. Clifford’s br f Moorfowl, by Autumnus — Kirriemuir; Sir G. Clifford’s br c Winter Wind, by Antagonist—Wind Whistle; H. H. Fisher’s b f Bebehead, by Birkenhead — Bebe; C. G. Dalgety’s ch f Reproachful, by Bonny Glen — Lady Disdain; W. Stone’s b f Mantua, by Solferino —Rose Salterne; W. A, Nicholls’ br g Brown Willey, by Masterpiece—Avarice; R. C. Gillies’ ch f Sunshower, by Sunny Lake —Polliwog; E. Russell’s b g Listening Post, by Solferino — Eager Eyes.

Double winners at Rotorua were Queen Abbey and Miss Leslie. The last-named was raised 141 b. for her Maiden Handicap victory, and won the Mokoia Handicap (a welter), with 9.10 in the saddle. Queen Abbey was raised 191 b. for her Rotorua Cup success, and that did not stop her from winning the Farewell Handicap with 10.1 up. The minimum weight in each case was 7.0.

Two generals were in evidence as winners at the Northern Wairoa meeting. General Stephen and General Joffre, both by General Latour, whose half sister, Merry Nell (by Marble Arch), won the Railway Handicap at the same fixture, which serves to remind us that the Northern Wairoa Racing Club have reason to be satisfied with the purchase of Marble Arch, whose stock keep winn.’ng at meetings all round.

Highly pleasing nominations have been received for the Dunedin J.C.’s autumn meeting, which is to take place at Wingatui on February 11 and 14.* Seventeen horses have been nominated for the Dunedin Cup, of 1500sovs, one mile and a-half, including the North Islanders, Affectation, Kilrush, Mascot, Rose Wreath and Rose Pink. The Foxton-owned Amythas, winner of the two principal handicaps at the Dunedin summer meeting, also the Invercargill Cup and Wellington Racing Club Handicap, who is trained at Riccarton for Mr. F. S. Easton, also figures in the list of Dunedin Cup entries.

Waima (not. Waimai), ridden by S. Henderson, paid the largest dividend received this ,season per medium of the tote in the Auckland province, when he won the County Handicap at the Kawakawa meeting. S. Henderson was on Some Boy 11. when that fine horse paid over half a century at Avondale when he won the Plumpton Handicap from end to end.

“Melos” in the “Bulletin” thus writes: It was by a mere accident that Yattendon, prince of stallions, was .saved from an early end. When a few days old the illustrious youngster fell into a hole in the paddock at Ramornie station, Clarence River (N.S.W.), and was on the verge of finish when he was discovered. Had he snuffed it the turf would not have had Chester. Grand Flaneur, Calma, Clieveden and other topnotchers.

Mr. R. H. Skipwith has been reappointed starter for the Dannevirke Racing Club’s autumn meeting. He has also been appointed to act at the Poverty Bay Turf Club’s summer meeting, owing to Mr. A. G- Wood being engaged at Dunedin.

It was recently found necessary to make a rearrangement of the dates on which the respective meetings of the Thames Jockey Club and Ohinemuri Jockey Club are to be held. The Thames fixture will take place on March 6 and 8, while the Ohinemuri gathering wil be held on March 17 and 20.

During a visit to Levin about the middle of the present month, the Prime Minister (Hon. W. F. Massey) received a deputation dn behalf of local sportsmen, Messrs. J. and A. McLeavey, C. Blenkhorn and J. Proctor, who stated that the township was desirous of securing an additional race day. The Premier promised to favourably consider the matter. Statuette, who brought Off the biggest surprise at the Wellington Racing Club’s summer meeting, when, on the opening day, she defeated a strong field in the Telegraph Handicap (six furlongs), returning her supporters a dividend of over half a century, is a four-year-old filly by Marble Arch —Seatonella. and is thus a full sister to Sir Samuel Hordern’s crack performer, Arch Marella, winner of many important events in Australia. Statuette is owned by Mr. G. D. Beatson, well known as the owner of Parisian Diamond, and is trained by Sid. Reid. Statuette was one of the early fancies for the last Railway Handicap at Ellerslie, but through an oversight she was not accepted for in that event, her defection proving costly to early double backers.