TURF GOSSIP.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1555, 12 February 1920, Page 18

TURF GOSSIP.

Word from Christchurch states that Murray Hobbs has sold the chestnut gelding Indian (late Actiniae) to a Sydney buyer for 500 guineas. The Fordell horseman C. Price contemplates retiring from the riding game, and is shortly taking over a hotel in the Feilding district. Punka, for whom Mr. H. Gaisford paid 1225 guineas in November last, has not so far succeeded in winning a race for her new owner.

The Awapuna trainer, T. George, is shortly leaving on a holiday trip to Sydney. During his absence the racehorse Ahika is to be spelled at his owner’s place at Levin.

Astinome, the four-year-old daughter of Maniapoto —Hellenois, who raced very consistently last season, winning five races for her owner (Mr. G. A. Palmer), has been sold to Mr. J. Tocker, of Featherston.

The Highden-trained Hurry Up will be shipped to the Old Country in a few weeks’ time, in charge of J. Hastie. It is understood that Mr. GoringJohnston has made a gift of the son of Advance to a military friend in England, where he will in all probability figure in the hunting field.

It is stated that a leading owner was anxious to purchase Trespass during the progress of the Wellington Racing Club’s recent meeting, but Mr. W. R. Kemball would not do. business, though it is said he was offered 2000 guineas for the Australian-bred colt.

The stable mates. Caricature and Chrysostum, who are trained by J. H. Jefferd, but are the property of different owners, both fulfilled their engagements in the Maiden Scurry on the opening day at Gisborne. Caricature, who has run prominently in two-year-old events this season, was elected a strong favourite, while Chrysostum, who was making his first appearance under silk, was third in the estimation of backers. The winner turned up in Irapuka, who was second favourite, Chrysostum acting as runner-up, while the favourite ran unplaced.

The Greymouth Jockey Club has decided to improve its racing track by putting in a. wing, so as to bring the starting point more in line with the back stretch, to suit the five and a-half furlong events. The work will be put in hand at once, and will be completed in readiness for the April meeting.

The Trentham trainer, H. Telford, is reducing the number of. his string to make room for rising two-year-olds that will shortly be taken in hand. Phio (Bezonian —Philomel) has been sold, and will be raced in Sydney. Idle Talk and Fail- Fight have been put under offer to buyers in Southland and Gisborne.

Two Sydney sportsmen had an argubent anent the dam of Cathedral Chimes. One gave Jean Armor and the other Proud Lady, (says the Sydney “Sportsman”). They sought to get corroborative evidence, when they learned that there were two horses named Cathedral Chimes. One racing in New Zealand is by Four Chimes —Jean Armor, 8 years old, and the other in Victoria is by Abbey Bells (imp) —Proud Lady, 10 years old. A Sydney sportsman who saw Cathedral Chimes in action declares he would beat in a two miles match on the grass any two horses in this country, each going a mile.

Cherry Day, a two-year-old colt by Tressady — Cherry Dance, owned by the ex-New Zealand sportsman, Mr. E. J. Watt, brought off a big surprise in the First Nursery Handicap (five furlongs) on the opening day of the Australian Jockey Club’s anniversar> r meeting at Randwick on January 23. Mr. Watt also had another representative in the race in Orient Maid (Sands of the Orient — Orlay). who started second favourite. There were 18 starters. Cherry Day being one of the outsiders of the field. Orient Maid led almost from the barrier until well up the straight, where Cherry Day came fast on the outside and held command at the distance. Teremarau threw out a determined challenge, but Cherry Day maintained his advantage, getting the verdict by a length, Orient Maid being a head away third. In their gallops Orient Maid had easily beaten her companion. Perthshire was the favourite, but he finished in the ruck. The winner is a handsome colt, and bids fair to develop into a clinking three-year-old. Mr. E. J. Watt received £338 as his share of the prize money.

Dr. Paget has accepted the position of honorary surgeon to the Manawatu Trotting Club. The doctor, who usually rode his own horses among the gallopers a few years ago. hopes some day to ride or drive a trotter in a race.

Chillies, the aged gelding by Achilles —Bellicent, promises to turn out a useful hurdler, as the win registered by him in the Hurdle Race on the opening day of the Gisborne meeting on Thursday last marked his second attempt over the sticks with the colours up, and though he had to be hard ridden at the finish to win by a neck from Happy Valley, he showed an aptitude for the lepping game that should prove the means of securing for his owner further stake money in the future.

Master Moutoa, who won the Waitara Hack Hurdles on the opening day of the Taranaki Jockey Club’s autumn meeting at New Plymouth, won many good races on the fiat when owned by Mr. F. S. Easton, among them being the last Nelson Cup. He was purchased some months ago by a well-known Otaki sportsman, who races as “Mr. Harvey Raynor,” and in whose colours he won the Trial Hurdle Race on the opening day of the C.J.C. Grand National meeting on August 12 last.

Norman Ross, the famous American swimmer, when in Sydney the other day referred to a statement said to have been made by him at a mayoral reception in Brisbane, at which “commercialism in sport in Australia” was the main theme. Ross says that his remarks were entirely misinterpreted. “What I meant,” he said, “was- that if I picked up a paper here and saw a reference to a great ‘sportsman’ I immediately thought, ‘Hullo, here’s a man who has done something big.’ On the other hand. I find that he is some person who takes a big roll of bills out to the races to put on horses. Whenever I asked why sport is not organised here, I am told ‘We have no money.’ Out at the races you will see every man —no matter how shabbily dressed —with a roll of bills to back horses. But there is no money to educate the young idea physically and morally. The reasons I have given explain why America is supreme in a great many branches of sport, why participation is so general, and why athletes of that country are so keen.”

Mascot, who ran three fourths at the Auckland R.C. summer meeting, but failed to run up to anything like her old form in the three races which she contested at Trentham last month, has probably run her last race, as it is reported that the daughter of Martian —Mary of Argyle is to go to the stud shortly.

Surveyor, who won the Taranaki Cup on Thursday last from Karo and Bonnetter, was not nominated for the Wanganui Cup. to be run at the end of the present month, it being the intention of Mr. W. G. Stead to give the son of Nassau —Pedometer a spell after his recent exertions. The ex-New Zealand filly. Fluency (Demosthenes —-Las Vegas), was a starter in the Flying Handicap (six furlongs) at the Canterbury Park meeting, in Sydney, on January 17. but the best she could do was to finish fifth in a field of 12. The event was won by Sydney Damsel, who defeated Ru.nning Fire by a length and a-half, with Sweet Rosa ieen half a length away, third That Silver Link only sustained very slight injuries as a result of the fall which she met with whilst contesting the Kelburn Plate on the second day of. the Wellington Racing Club’s recent meeting at Trentham was borne out by the t.radesmanlike manner in which she defeated Hymestra, Right and Left and Golden Bubble in the Sixth Taranaki Stakes (six furlongs), winning with 9.0 in the saddle in the good time of lmin. 14 l-ssec.

In addition to winning the Waitara Hack Hurdles with Master Moutoa at New Plymouth on Thursday last, the ex-Petone sportsman who races as “Mr. Harvey Raynor” annexed the Okato Hack Handicap, with the exAuckland gelding Fisher later in the afternoon. Fisher was well fancied in view of his victory in the Carnarvon Hack Handicap at the recent Foxton meeting, where he returned his supporters a substantial dividend. In the Okato Hack Handicap Fisher defeated a warm favourite in Starland by a head, the three-year-old finding the task of conceding the aged Maniapoto gelding 231 b. in weight just a trifle too much for him. The pair met at a difference of 161 b. in the Kawau Hack Handicap on the second day. when Starland won in convincing style by four lengths from Self Alliance, with Haversack third, while Fisher ran unplaced.