TURF GOSSIP.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1573, 17 June 1920, Page 13

TURF GOSSIP.

The Wellington Racing Club has donated £lOO to the New Zealand Olympic Team Fund. Friends will regret to hear that Mr. Monte McCallum, the well-known sportsman, entered a private hospital on Monday, a painful operation being deemed necessary. The Auckland ’chasers Oakleigh, Peneton and Waimai have been entered for the Hawke’s Bay Steeplechase, to be run on Wednesday next. Notability, who is now trained at Hastings, also figures among the entries for the big cross-country event. The ex-Aucklanders Mill o’ Gowrie and Rekanui have been nominated by Mr. W. R. Kemball for the hurdle events at the Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club and Hawke’s Bay Hunt meeting, which takes place next week. Will Comfort, who is topweight in the V.R.C. Grand National Hurdle Race, with 11.6, won the same event last year with 10.8. Sir Prim, who Qeadis the V.R.C. Grand National Steeplechase imposts with 12.3, scored in that race last July with 11.0. The Sea Prince —Tenterhook gelding Tenterfield, ' which was recently purchased in Australia by the Masterton sportsman, Mr. W. R. Kemball, raced with bad luck in the Commonwealth, not having secured a win in three seasons’ racing, though he has earned £l5OO in minor place money. Wolaroi is returning to Sydney at an early date in order to be trained for the spring meetings (says the “Referee”). The leg that brought about his retirement is seemingly sound again, and his owner is hopeful he will stand another preparation. Kennaquhair (10.9) heads the list of horses engaged in the Prince of Wales Gold Cup (one mile and five furlongs), to be decided on the concluding day of the Australian J.C.’s meeting in honour of the Royal visitor, which takes place at Randwick this Thursday (June 17) and Saturday. Three ex-New Zealanders are engaged in the race in question, the trio being British Arch (7.7), Silent Way (6.12) and Finmark (9.5). Last month the Victorian sportsman Mr. E. A. Connelly sold his goodlooking imported horse Cyntoi to Mr. John Hay, a New Zealand studmaster, at a high price. Cyntoi is ’ reported to possess plenty of galloping ability, but so far has not proved reliable. Mr. Connolly gave 1000 guineas at auction in Sydney for Cyntoi, who has a rare pedigree, seeing that he is by Santoi from Lady Cynosure, a sister to Polymelus, and he may prove a success at the stud.

At the Queensland Turf Club’s autumn meeting at Brisbane on May 29 Countess Acrasia (Powhatan— Acrasia) won the Hamilton Handicap (nine furlongs) in Imin. 51%sec., thus clipping _ a quarter of a second off Gloaming’s Australasian record for that distance. Countess Acrasia’s dam, Acrasia, won the Melbourne Cup in 1904. At the same meeting the ex-New Zealander Bunting suffered defeat by a length in the King’s Plate (1 X A miles), which was won by Had-i-wist.