TURF GOSSIP.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1572, 10 June 1920, Page 16

TURF GOSSIP.

Splendid fields were the order of the day at Ellerslie on the King’s Birthday, when the Auckland Racing Club opened their Great Northern meeting in ideal weather. Notwithstanding the fact that armumber of people were persuaded to stay away from the race under the nlea that their action in so doing would assist the jockeys in securing an early settlement' of their claims, the percentage of absentees was not large enough to be noticeable. It was a. largo holiday crowd for a winter meeting, and the sport witnessed was of a particularly pleasing character, affording patrons a capital day’s enjoyment. Visitors from the country districts around Auckland were present in very strong force, the winter fixture at Ellerslie invariably attracting wide patronage from this quarter, while sporting enthusiasts from all parts of the North Island were also numbered among the attendance.

The King Mark — Target gelding, Middlemark, made a bold showing in the Maiden Hurdle Race on the opening day .at Ellerslie until tie blundered at the hurdle near the sixfurlong post and came down. He was running second just in behind Kerehone (the winner) at the time, and it appeared as though he would have had something to say at the finish of the event.

Kerehone, who was responsible for a very creditable showing in his winning effort in the Maiden Hurdle Race on the opening day of the A.R.C. winter meeting, promises to make amends for his long list of disappointments on the flat during the present and last season. Kerehone, who was capably handled by J. Roach, was responsible for the pace throughout, and though Meltchikoff made an effort to get on terms with him at the last two fences, Kerehone stuck to his task in resolute fashion, stalling off a determined challenge from the Menschikoff gelding inside the distance, and registering a popular victory.

Judging by his disappointing display in the Maiden Hurdle Race on the opening day at Ellerslie, Graftella, will have to make considerable improvement before he can be classed with his illustrious full-brother, Lochella. In the race in question. Graftella, though he jumped well, was never forward enough at any part of the journey to give his many supporters on the totalisator cause for hope, and he eventually finished eighth in a not overstrong field.

The well-known southern horseman, A. Oliver, rode in all four flat races on the opening day of the Great Northern meeting, and in each instance had the mount on the topweight. He piloted Sir Fanciful and Asterina in the First and Second Division respectively of the Jervois Handicap, in which neither were placed, while he rode the topweight, Parisian Diamond, into third place in the Cornwall Handicap, and was unplaced on Bedford in the Members’ Handicap.

Had the little three-year-old Merry Moments —Nocturne gelding, Night Time, reversed places with the favourite. Royal Abbey, when he ran second to the latter in_ the First Division of the Jervois Handicap at Ellerslie on the King’s Birthday, his supporters would have received a substantial dividend. As it was, they secured the largest dividend of the day. Night Time, who was formerly trained by P. Brady, but is now prepared by his owner (Mr. R. Dysart), has run very consistently this season, but must be considered unlucky, as he has filled the role of runnerup in several of his most important engagements to date.

Although it is unlikely that they would have troubled the winner, it was a matter for regret that two well-fancied Great Northern candidates from the south, in Omahu and Lord Nagar, should have come to grief during the running of that event. Lord Nagar’s effort was a short-lived one, for the second fence —the hurdle opposite the stewards’ stand —saw the Masterton-owned gelding come down heavily. The Rangitikei representative, Omahu, was running prominently throughout until a faulty jump at the hurdle near the five furlongs post the last time brought him to grief.

Lochella’s victory in iho Great Northern Hurdle Race was of so convincing a character as to leave no room for doubt regarding the Dunedin - owned and trained gelding’s superiority at the weights. G. Fielding kept the son of Grafton Loch in a handy position throughout, the proficient manner in which he negotiated the hurdles compelling admiration from the onlookers. Half a mile from home when he ran up to the leaders, Lochella’s victory was thus early proclaimed and once in the straight he never left the issue in doubt, winning very easily from Mill o’ Cowrie, who was responsible for the pace almost from start to finish, Slowcoach being a close third.

When at the Eltham R.C.’s recent annual meeting, which was held on the Hawera racecourse, Ngata, the four-year-old gelding by Maniapoto— Daisy Paul, credited his owner, Mr. J. Bull, with a victory in the Maiden Handicap, the opinion was freely expressed that he would win in better company at no distant period. This prediction was fulfilled at Ellerslie on the King’s Birthday, when Ngata, finishing with a late run, outpaced his opponents in the Second Division of the Jervois Handicap, registering a narrow victory from Scrap o’ Paper, with Khublai Khan in third place. Ngata was ridden a welljudged race by B. Morris, who just got the big gelding up in time to catch the judge’s eye, a good dividend being attached to the win.

Last year’s Great Northern Hurdle Race winner, Cynic, rapidly came into favour at the eleventh hour for the big two miles and a-half hurdle event at Ellerslie on Thursday last, there being quite a rush to obtain tickets on the Gisborne candidate’s number. Cynic was well back for about two-thirds of the journey, but six furlongs from home he commenced to improve his position, and just before the straight was reached the task set him did not look impossible. However, he failed to act up to expectations in the run up the straight, finishing fifth. The veteran, Sir Solo, was in a good position during the greater part of the race, but failed to display the dash required when the serious end of the business came to be tackled.

The Comedy King gelding. Comedy Prince gave evidence of his galloping powers when he placed the Members’ Handicap to the credit of his owner. Mrs. Harvey Patterson, on the opening day of the Great Northern meeting at Ellerslie. When the field turned for home a number appeared to hold winning prospects, notably Ring Lupin. Ruddy. Taraa-a-roa, Arran, and Comedy Prince. A fine set-to ensued, in which B. Deeley just managed to get Comedy Prince home by the narrowest of margins from Tama-a-roa, with Hyllus, who put in a phenomenal run. finishing under the judge’s box, third. The success of Comedy Prince marked the most important secured by the Australian-bred four-year-old to date. The son of Comedy King, however, has all along borne a quiet reputation as a galloper of no mean order, and if taken south for the C.J.C. Winter Cup (one mile) would be entitled to respect.

A successful future was prophesied for Glen Canny when the three-year-old, son of Pistol —Bridge of Roses filled the position of runner-up to Simonides in the Welter Handicap at the Takapuna Jockey Club’s spring meeting, in November last. Subsequently Glen Canny let his backers down on several occasions, and it was not until the second day of the Avondale meeting that he gave his owner an overdue win by capturing the Dominion Handicap. At the recent Royal meeting at Ellerslie the impressive manner in which he defeated the field in the First Division of the Massey Handicap furnished further evidence of his improved form, and immediately upon the appearance of the weights for the Cornwall Handicap, the principal flat event on the opening day of the Great Northern meeting, he came into marked favour for that particular race. That Glen Canny was equal to the task required of him on Thursday last he amply demonstrated when he practically led from start to finish. Once in the straight, Trespass made a determined effort to head Glen Canny, but the latter finishing strongly held his opponent safe, gaining the verdict by two lengths. He was ridden by C. Reed, who has piloted the Pistol gelding in each of his three successes.

Oakleigh. who in his track essays at Ellerslie prior to the Groat Northern meeting gave the impression that he had returned to the form that enabled him to capture several hurdle events early in the year, fulfilled expectations by the manner in which he led the field home in the Maiden Steeplechase on the opening day of the A.R.C. gathering, though he nearly came down at the sod wall entering the straight. Oakleigh’s task, however, was made easier by the fact of Garryowen and Yankee Jack both falling at the first fence of the double on the hill the last time, but for which the finish would have been far more interesting. Garryowen was remounted by his rider (W. Keepa), and finished close up third, John Bunny being second. Up till the time he fell, Garryowen had cleared every obstacle in his best style, and was making his run

when a faulty jump extinguished his prospects. Yankee Jack appeared quite at home over the big country at Ellerslie, negotiating the various obstacles confidently, with the exception of. the - second fence of the double in front of the stand, which he struck heavily, A. McDonald making a good recovery, and the double on the hill, which he failed to get over the second time.

Ernest Barry, England’s champion sculler, and Alfred Felton, the world’s champion, have decided that their race for the world’s championship will be rowed over the full course on the Parramatta River, Sydney, on August 28. The race will start at 3.30 p.m., which is half an hour earlier than is customary in big races. The change of time was due to Felton’s desire to allow Barry to choose an hour which, with the tide slightly against them, would be more to the Englishman’s liking. It will be full tide at 7.50 p.m. on August 28, and when the challenger and the champion had argued the matter out it was agreed that by bringing the starting time forward half an hour the conditions would be more suitable.

The Auckland horseman, S. Henderson, was riding in good form both over fences and on the flat on the opening day of the A.R.C. winter meeting. HP piloted Night Time into second place in the First Division of the Jervois Handicap, was second on John Bunny in the Maiden Steeplechase, third on Khublai Khan in the Second Division of the Jervois Handicap, and won the Hunt Club Hurdles on Koura, giving undoubted proof of his versatility.

A member of the English Northern Union team, which is at present in Sydney, mentions the interesting fact that “Charlie” Seeling, the greatest forward New Zealand has known, has played his last game with Wigan. Since going to the Old Country, Seeling played many years for Wigan, but now recognises that his football days are over. Seeling had never won a Northern Union medal, and had his last chance in the Cup final last season, in which Huddersfield and Wigan met. Wigan led by 10 to 8 at half-time, but Huddersfield ran all over them in the second spell, winning by 21 points to 10. Now that August 28 has been definitely fixed for the Barry-Felton world’s championship sculling match, ■the promoters of the Sydney Handicap, which carries with it prize money to the value of £3OO and in which Barry and Felton are to compete, have fixed July 31 as the date of the heats of that event, while the final and consolation race are to be decided on August 7. Extraordinary interest is being taken in this handicap, for in addition to Barry and Felton competing, others who intend taking part in the event are: Dick Arnst, James Paddon, Bob McAlpine (Barry’s trainer), and W. McDevitt.