TURF GOSSIP.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1573, 17 June 1920, Page 16

TURF GOSSIP.

Form worked out consistently in respect of the jumping events decided during the A.R.C. three-day winter carnival at Ellerslie. The Great Northern Hurdle Race winner, Lochella, quite fulfilled expectations by placing the Great Northern Steeplechase to his credit, in which latter event he started one of the hottest favourites on record. Mill p’ Gowrie, runner-up to Lochella in the G.N. Hurdles, was entrusted with favouritism on the machine in the Campbell Hurdle - Race —her only other start at the meeting — which event she duly won. Slowcoach, who created a surprise by running third in the Great Northern Hurdle Race, subsequently enhanced his reputation as a jumper by filling the role of run-ner-up to Lochella in the Great Northern Steeplechase, which caused him to go out favourite for the Winter Steeplechase on the concluding day, and, ridden a judicious race by G. Fielding, he registered a popular win for the North Shore sportsman, the Hom E. W. Alison. Deviation, who showed up prominently for the greater part of the journey in the G.N. Hurdles, was leading the field in the Orakei Hurdle Race on the second 'day when he fell at the second to last fence, which incident was not overlooked by backers when he took his place among the field in the Orakei Hurdle Race on the concluding day of the fixture. Deviation was made a good favourite for the latter’ event, and he Won in convincing style by three lengths. Kerehone, .who signalised his debut over hurdles by winning the Maidejr.-Hurdle Race on the opening day, gave further proof of his proficiency over the sticks by running second to Keystone in the Remuera Hurdle Race, occupying a similar position behind Deviation in the Orakei Hurdle Race on the concluding day. Oakleigh followed up his victory in the Maiden • Steeplechase by winning the Tamaki Steeplechase on the concluding day, these being his only two starts at the fixture. Totara Jack, was acted as

runner-up to his stable mate, Koura, in the Hunt Club Hurdles on the first day, subsequently led the field home in the Hunt Club Cup Steeplechase on the second day.

In Gladful and Old Mungindi, the Masterton sportsman, Mr. W. R. Kemball, had a brace of candidates to represent him in the Great Northern Steeplechase, and the main hope of his colours being borne to victory in the big cross-country event at Ellerslie was centred in the ability of the lighter-weighted Gladful to achieve the much-coveted distinction. The pair named were racing almost on level terms, handy to the leaders (Peneton, Garryowen, and Slowcoach) when the brush fence near the site of the old water jump brought Peneton, Gladful, and Omahu to grief, just after the commencement of the final circuit. Old Mungindi continued on in third position behind Garryowen and Slowcoach, who raced up the hill the last time in the order named. The fatal fall sustained by Garryowen at the top of the hill — where Lochella had greatly improved his position — left Slowcoach in the lead, and Lochella immediately displaced Old Mungindi in second position, the favourite and Slowcoach disputing supremacy, Old Mungindi being 20 lengths away third when the post and rail was reached. Although both Gladful and Old Mungindi were accepted for in the Winter Steeplechase on the concluding day, the former was not started, J. Preston taking the mount on Old Mungindi, who failed • to show up nearly so prominently as in the Great Northern Steeplechase, being outpaced by Slowcoach, Opiahu, and First Call, who filled the places, when the final portion of the journey came to be undertaken.

It was surprising to note the extent to which Arran was neglected on the totalisator in connection with his engagement in the York Welter (one mile) on the concluding day at Ellerslie. The veteran Marble Arch gelding had demonstrated his partiality for the soft going by running fourth in the Members’ Handicap (six furlongs) on the first day, and also fourth in the King George Handicap (seven furlongs) on the second day, being narrowly defeated for a place in both of the events named, in which

he was ridden on each occasion by the apprentice, McTavish. In the York Welter, on the concluding day, the services of the successful lightweight horseman, C. Reed, were secured for Arran, and with an extra furlong to go his prospects of registering an overdue win for Mr. J. McNicol were entitled to considerable respect. At the distance, Arran appeared to have the race in safe keeping, but H. Gray, by dint of vigorous and judicious horsemanship, managed to squeeze the favourite (Hyllus) through on the rails in the last few strides, and gain a narrow victory. Hyllus was responsible for one of his typical finishing runs, and, aided by the soft nature of the turf, cut down his opponents in characteristic style over the final furlong. In his two previous essays at the meeting, the Karamu-bred gelding had been responsible for phenomenal runs in the straight in the Members’ Handicap and King George Handicap, in which events he had finished third and second respectively when piloted by W. Ryan.

The one flat event at the Great Northern meeting in which gentlemen riders are given the mounts on the contestants not infrequently proves a costly race to backers of well-fanci-ed candidates. The Carbine Plate, decided on the second day of the recent meeting, resulted in the complete rout of the favourite division, Monopole and Kinkora, who ran first and second, being outsiders. The pair named, it will be remembered, won the hurdle events respectively on the first and second day of the last Avondale meeting, and among the well-known flat racers whom they easily outpaced were Kareao, Sir Fanciful, Mountain Gold, Scrap o’ Paper, and Night Time, so that in the circumstances it ' was not surprising that a substantial dividend was the reward of their supporters. Monopole must be accounted a versatile performer, for on the opening day of the gathering he contested the Maiden Steeplechase, falling at the first fence of the double on the hill the first time when running prominently, while on the concluding day he ran third to Oakleigh and John Bunny in the Tamaki Steeplechase.

The 1918 New Zealand Grand National Hurdle Race winner, Kauri King, was only started on one occasion at the A.R.C. Great Northern fixture, this being when he won the Remuera Hurdle Race on the second day, the occasion marking the first victory secured by the Soult — Sawdust gelding since he captured the big jumping event at Riccarton, nearly two years ago. The Maniapoto gelding Kareao. who was among the winners at the Egmont Racing Club’s recent winter meeting, failed to show up prominently in his three engagements at the Great Northern meeting at Ellerslie. He was well supported in each of his races, and his displays came as a distinct disappointment to those who had ticked him off as a likely winner at the A.R.C. winter carnival. In the Second Division of the Jervois Handicap on the opening day, Kareao, after being disadvantageously placed in the early stages, managed to get up into fifth position. On the second day he was sent out a warm favourite for the Carbine Plate (one mile), in which the 13 candidates were ridden by gentlemen riders. Kareao had the services of Mr. S. Clout, but fared badly at the start, being last until the five furlongs post was reached, when he commenced to make up his leeway rapidly, but the effort evidently took too much out of the son of Maniapoto, for though he was within striking distance of the leaders when the straight was entered, he failed to put any dash into his task over the concluding stage, finishing fourth. In the Fitzroy Welter Handicap, which event brought the A.R.C. Great Northern meeting to a close, Kareao left the barrier smartly, being in third position when the field settled down, while at the five furlongs post he was second, and was first to turn for home, his pilot (A. McDonald) giving him every chance to win. The consistent Royal Abbey, however, quickly had Kareao’s measure, the Waikato representative burying his rivals for pace in the run to the post, despite his substantial burden of 12.3. Nunerrant, Tuipa, and North Loburn also overhauled Kareao in turn, the last-named fading right out of the finish, clearly demonstrating that a journey extending to a mile was beyond his staying capacity.

Trespass, who was responsible for a promising showing when he ran second to Glen Canny in the Cornwall Handicap on the opening day at Ellerslie, failed to reproduce his form in either the King George Handicap or York Welter on the succeeding days, and was evidently feeling the effects of the racing he has indulged in throughout the present season.

R. Hannon, for whom Royal Abbey won a treble, and C. Coleman (Oakleigh (twice) and Deviation) were the two most successful trainers at the Auckland Racing Club’s winter meeting. C. Christie (Lochella, twice), J. Williamson (Koura and Totara Jack), and W. J. Smith (Glen Canny, twice) were each responsible for two winners, while J. Morris (Ngata), E. Pope (Kerehone), A. Robertson (Comedy Prince), Mrs. M. Shaw (Keystone), J. Lambess (Kauri King), T. M. Morriss (Monopole), W. G. Irwin (Hyllus), A. Julian (Slowcoach), J. H. Wallace (Tama-a-roa), and W. Hawthorne (Mill o’ Gowrie) each trained a winner. Mill o’ Gowrie, of course, was prepared for her engagements by R. Hannon, who sold her the morning previous to her win in the Campbell Hurdle Race on the concluding day to the Wairarapa sportsman, Mr. W. R. Kemball, and thus the daughter of Glengowrie— Millie was under W. Ha'wthorne’s charge when she registered her first victory in her new owner’s colours.

Four horses claimed the distinction

of winning on more than one occasion during the three days of the Great Northern meeting at Ellerslie. Lochella was the most notable - performer, and by capturing the two leading jumping events at the fixture —the Great Northern Hurdle Race (24 miles) and the Great Northern Steeplechase (34 miles) —credited Ills owner (Mr. R. Acton-Adams) with £2lOO, placing the Otago sportsman at the head of the list of winning owners. .. Glen Canny accounted for the principal flat events on the first and second day, the Cornwall Handicap and York Welter Handicap respectively, his victory in the latter race marking the fourth successive win gained by the Pistol —Bridge of Roses gelding. Royal Abbey was responsible for a meritorious achievement in winning each of his three engagements at the meeting, the First Division of the Jervois Handicap, the Ranfurly Welter Handicap and the Fitzroy Handicap. The Waikatoowned and trained four-year-old gelding, who is by the imported sire, Quin Abbey, from from the one-time successful mare, Uranium, won each of his races in decisive fashion, displaying ability both as a stayer and weight carrier, and his prospects of distinguishing himself when next raced in open company are distinctly promising.

Tama-a-roa appeared to thrive on the racing he had on the succeeding days at Ellerslie, judging by the brilliant finish for which he was responsible when he defeated his 18 opponents in decisive fashion in the Visitors’ Handicap on the concluding day. He was piloted by a different horseman in each of his three engagements at the meeting. T. Glover had the mount on Tama-a-roa when he was defeated by a neck by Comedy Prince in the Members’ Handicap, while R. Reed rode him in the KingGeorge Handicap, C. Reed being associated with the son of Penury in his winning effort on the concluding day. The sum of £11625 was given in stake money by the Auckland Racing Club for the 22 races decided at the Great Northern meeting, the winning payments resulting as follows: — R. Acton-Adams £2lOO, A. E. Tattley £1225, Hon. E. W. Alison £ll5O, R. Hannon £lOOO, W. J. Irwin £705, W. R. Kemball £7OO, J. Bull £425, C. and F. Peach £4OO, J. Hetet £370, A. N. Gibbons £350, Mrs. Harvey. Patterson £3OO, J. Hanks £3OO, J. Williamson £275, A. Brown £230, G. D. Beatson £205, A. McG. Grant £2OO, Mrs. M. Shaw £2OO, A. Murdoch £2OO, J. McNicol £l5O, W. H. Windsor £l2O, C. Shaw, Junr., £lOO, G. Green £lOO, H. S. Keesing £75, W. Kemp £7O, R. Dysart £5O. W. A. Henderson £5O, P. A. Herman £5O, E. J. Rae £5O, T. J. B. Stewart £5O, D. Twohill £5O, S. Bradley £5O, Mrs. J. Anderson £5O, A. Mitchell £5O, H. Swaffield £5O, E. T. Batt £5O, A. McArthur £5O, Mrs. L. Cato £25, R. McDonald £25, E. W. Alison, Junr., £25.