TURF GOSSIP.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1574, 24 June 1920, Page 16

TURF GOSSIP.

The 266 entries received for this year’s Caulfield Cup is a record for for the race, beating last year’s total by seven. The cost of starting for the coming Cup is £5O, but horses can remain in until Monday, October 11, for £5. The first forfeit is £2. The Hon. E. Mitchelson and Mr. F. Earl, K.C., have been appointed delegates from the Auckland Racing Club to the New Zealand Racing Conference, to be held in Wellington on July 15. Messrs. J. G. Duncan and O. S. Watkins will again represent the Wellington Racing Club. The North Island-owned horses at present held up in the South Island as a, result of the seamen’s attitude in declaring racehorses “black” make quite a formidable list, and include Arlington, Bairnsdale, Seadown, Coalition, All Talk, Diavolo, Bonnie Maid, Waimai, Torfreda, Murihiku, Prince Martian. Strategy, Master Strowan, and Gang Awa’. The Kilbroney gelding Kill-’em ran third to Sinbad the Sailor and Distant Star in the Buckingham Welter (one mile) on the opening day of the V.R.C. birthday meeting at Flemington on June 5. There were 17 starters, Kill-’em being fourth favourite. On the second day, Kill-’em again finished third to Mueora and Lannion in the Birthday Handicap (one mile and a-half).

When R. Harris made a wonderful recovery on Sandale in the Hurdle Race on the opening day of the V.R.C. birthday meeting at Flemington, the Prince of Wales visited the jockeys’ room at the conclusion of the race in order specially to congratulate Harris on his skill. The incident happened immediately in front of the Royal box, so that the Prince had an excellent view of the incident. He also congratulated Boyd, who was on the winner, Leddington. Again, immediately after viewing the Steeplechase from the upper stand, he visited the hospital, and sympathised with the jockey who had had a fall.

The ex-Sydney gelding Two Blues, who is engaged in the Grand National Hurdles Race with 10.9, made his initial appearance in the Wolsely. Hurdle Race (two miles) at Mowbray (Tasmania) on June 5. Despite the steadier of 12.12, he had no difficulty in winning by three lengths in a field of 10 contestants, and this puts him in the light of a possibility for the big Flemington hurdle event.

The rising two-year-olds in J. Ayres’ team are a bay colt by King Rufus —Ma Mie Rosette; chestnut colt by Merry Moment —Jeanne d’Arc; and chestnut filly by Panmure—Cormorant. They are all well grown youngsters. The afternoon workers of the Ladoga Lodge team are: Battle Array, Hallowvonia (who broke down at Masterton, and has one of her forelegs bandaged), and Silk Rein (California — Silken Rein). Bonnie Maid is still at Riccarton, in charge of R. D. Morris.

The following resolution has been passed by a special meeting of the committee of the Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club: “That in the opinion of this committee, the sport of racing cannot be continued while there is a registered jockeys’ union, but that the reasonable and proper representations of a jockeys’ association placed before the conference in proper terms should receive the fair and full consideration of the chairman and members, and that every effort should be made to meet any reasonable demands of the jockeys bearing on their conditions of employment, and that in this respect the conference may rely on the whole support of the committee in any action it may take.”

The ex-New Zealander Beltane (Elysian — Lady Hester), who, with 10.12, is one of the fancied candidates for the V.R.C. Grand National Hurdle Race, to be run at Flemington on July 3, was purchased early this month by Mr. F. H. Scarlett, who-, in the past, under the assumed name of “Mr. F. Fairway,” has been well known to Australian racegoers as the owner of King of the Sea and the hurdle racer Thaletas, the latter of whom has been piloted by Stan. Reid in his recent engagements. Beltane was a competitor at the Moonee Valley meeting on June 12, when he registered a victory in the Hurdle Race.

Last year’s V.R.C. Grand National Steeplechase winner, Sir Prim, who will again contest the big crosscountry event at Flemington on July 10, when he will be called upon to carry 12.3, won the Prince Edward Steeplechase (two miles) at the V.R.C. birthday meeting in honour of the Prince of Wales’ visit to Melbourne at Flemington on June 5. Sir Prim was ridden by the New Zealand horseman, Stan. Reid, who also had the mount on the Sir Tristram — Primrose gelding when he won the corresponding event last year, on which occasion he established a record (4min. 41sec.) for the race. Sir Prim is owned by Mr. Norman Falkiner, who purchased the gelding for 500 guineas after he won the last V.R.C. Grand National Steeplechase, and is trained at Caulfield by the successful mentor, P. K. Padfield.

Acquittal, who broke a fetlock and had to be destroyed when competing in the Waikanae Handicap on the concluding day of the Gisborne Racing Club’s steeplechase meeting, was a three-year-old colt by Treadmill — Fairhaven, and was full brother to Quarantine, Stevedore, Wharfinger, Sailors’ Hope, Happy Captain, and Harvest Home. In his only start as a two-year-old, Acquittal won the Lyttelton Plate at the C.J.C. summer meeting. This season his only success was in the Ruahine Handicap at the Wellington Racing Club’s spring meeting, after which he was sold to Mr. W. Arnott, the well-known Gisborne sportsman.

The five-year-old bay pacing gelding Hoymetta, who took part in the Ashburton Trotting Club’s recent meeting in the Ashburton County Handicap, was run down during the evening by the Mount Somers train near the Ashburton railway bridge. The gelding, when being trucked, broke away from his attendant, and after careering down West Street, went over the cattle stops on to the railway line. He was caught, and was being led to a place of safety, when the Mount Somers train ran into and flung him down the embankment, killing him. Hoymetta was by O.Y.M. —Henrietta, and had recently nut up some promising performances. He was trained by T. H. Clarkson, and owned by Mr. F. Watts. The gelding was valued at about £350.

Mr. W. Handley, the Waikanae studmaster, is booked to leave England on the return journey by the Athenic on July 17.

Mr. P. J. Firth, who at one time was a leading jockey in Sydney, and is now one of the most prominent trainers in India, left Melbourne on the return trip to Bombay on June 9. after spending a throe months’ holiday in Sydney. Mr. Firth travelled in many countries since he left Australia, and considers the St. Alwynno gelding Poitrel the best racehorse in the world.

The crack South Australian two-year-old colt. Hesso (Charlemagne 11. —Ayrshire Maid), continues to add to his winning account. At the Adelaide Racing Club’s Birthday Cup meeting on June 7, Hesso was responsible for a meritorious performance, when, with 10.9 in the. saddle, he won the Gang Forward Stakes (six furlongs), in which he put in a brilliant run in the straight, getting up in time to defeat Terekia by a head. There were 17 starters. It is stated that there is every probability of Hesso being given a chance to distinguish himself at the spring meetings in Victoria.

The “Wellington Post” writer, “Sir Lancelot,” in commenting upon the claims voiced for the seven - stone minimum, while not opposed to the proposal, makes it clear that he does not agree to any compulsion with regard to this much-discussed subject. Let all clubs have the minimum that best suits the conditions under which they race, he says. What might be ideal conditions as to weights at a Dunedin winter meeting might be fatal to high-class horses at Trentham in the middle of summer. The writer doubts whether raising the top weight from 9.0 to 9.7 would get over the difficulty. The arguments used against the 6.7 minimum may with equal force be used against the 7.0 minimum. Some riders would, no doubt, favour the 9.0 minimum all the year round. Opportunities for bigger boys" are provided for in welter, hurdle, and steeplechase races all the year round. Marton with eight races at the beginning of the season, has only two events with 6.7 minimums. At Dannevirke four of the eight races are under similar conditions.

The Anglo-Australian jockey, F. Bullock, won his first race since his return to England on April 14, at Newmarket, where he piloted Sir James Buchanan’s colt Plymouth Rock (Rock Flint—Lady Birdie) to victory in the Wood Ditton Stakes (one mile). The winner started favourite in a field of 13 three-year-olds, and won easily by six lengths.

After her recent exertions at the Wanganui and Otaki meetings Punka is to be given a spell for the remainder of the season. Though the daughter of Cooltrim —Drowsy has failed to win a race since being purchased by Mr. W. H. Gaisford. she has a number of placed performances to her credit, a second and a third in the two principal flat events at the Wanganui J.C.’s winter meeting being among her final achievements of the present season. Next season Punka promises to do well as a five-year-old, and no doubt will recompense Mr. Gaisford for her failure so far to win in his colours.

While recently schooling over hurdles at Mentone. Victoria, C. T. Godbv’s gelding, Waxand, failed to take off at the final obstacle, and, crashing right into the guard rail on the outside of the track, dashed his brains out. His rider, L. Tinsley, had a lucky escape, for his foot was caught in the stirrup iron, which had crumpled up, and his boot had to be cut off before he could be released, so that if was well for him that the gelding was killed instantaneously. Telecles, who had accompanied Waxand, was interfered with by the happening, and also came down, but he got off with a head injury of minor importance, and his jockey, N. Annison, with a shaking. Waxand, who had been a moderate performer, had been purchased at auction in November last by N. D. Godby for 3.00 guineas.

The racing public are wondering when they are going to see Finmark in action again (says the “Sydney Sun”). This New Zealander, of whom great things were expected, has not been seen in action since October 6, 1919, when in the Metropolitan he ran unplaced with 9.0. He was entered for the Prince of Wales Gold Cup, but was scratched as soon as the weights appeared. The reason was dissatisfaction of the owner at the weight allotted him. Since being purchased by Mr. A. P. Wade, at a high figure, Finmark has won only one race, that being the A.J.C. St. Leger of last year, when he beat a weak field. Just prior to that Finmark ran third at Rosehill to West Molong with 8.10. In the Sydney Cup last year, won by lan ’Or (6.10), Nightwatch (8.2) second, and Arch Marella (8.12) third, Finmark was unplaced with 8.6. Although beaten by Arch Marella at a difference of 61b. in his favour, Finmark was called upon in the next big handicap to give Sir Samuel Hordern’s gelding 21b. —81b. against him. Both ran unplaced.

The Prince of Wales had several wagers at the V.R.C. birthday meeting at Flemington on June 5, and his bets, which varied from investments of £1 to £5 each, were made with Mr. Sam. Allen, the well-known bookmaker. . The Prince backed Lar and Pannikin in the Royal Handicap, lolaus and Kinlark in the Steeplechase, and Accrington, Menin, and Court Jester in the Cup. None of the seven horses mentioned succeeded in catching the judge’s eye, the Prince losing in all £22. On the second day of the meeting, the Prince met with better luck, making good his losses of the opening day as. a result of backing a couple of winners. As he was leaving the stand during the progress of the second day’s racing, someone in the crowd cried, “Did you back it?” and the Prince smiled and waved his hat. “At last I have backed a winner,” he answered, and the crowd cheered. The Prince had had a bet of £6 to £2 on Crescendo with Sam. Allen, and throughout the afternoon the bookmakers’ stand was surrounded by curious crowds who wished to see the Royal punter. The Prince remained in the members’ enclosure most of the time. When Sam. Allen was supplying him with 15 sovereigns for change, he asked in surprise, “Where did you get it? I have not seen so many for a long time.” After consulting a number of trainers and owners, the Prince approached A. Coleman, and backed Dr. James for the Prince of Wales Steeplechase, at £lO to £2. Throughout the afternoon it was evident that the Prince was suffering from an over-abundance of “information.” Before each race he was supplied with a variety of tips, and apparently had much difficulty in making up his mind.

Spion Kop’s win in the English Derby on June 2 recalls memories of Australia’s champion racehorse, Carbine. Spion Kop is by one of Carbine’s best sons, Spearmint. During his career at the stud in England, Carbine sired many winners. One of his first notabilities was Carabine, while a little later came Fowling Piece, who, as a three-year-old, won £6510 in prize money. Greatorek was one of these horses’ contemporaries, among his wins being the Hurst Park Foal Stakes. Pistol was another racing around the same time. Other good performers by Carbine were Mousequeton, Wargrave, Salute, Powder Puff, Gingal, Ramrod, Foresight, Cargill, Bushranger, Glacis, and Bomba, all Qf whose winnings ran into some thousands.

When Earlborn won the Prince of Wales Cup, which carried a gold cup trophy valued at £lOO, in addition to the stake of £5OO added, at the birthday meeting of the Victoria Racing Club, held at Flemington on June 5 in honour of the Prince of Wales’ visit to Melbourne, a hostile demonstration was made against the horse when returned to scale. Earlborn, although second favourite with Menin, went out at a fairly good price, and despite being third from last five furlongs from home took charge in the straight, and won decisively from Well Off. with Lannion third. At Moonee Valley the previous week, Earlborn started favourite for the Mount Alexander Handicap, but ran badly. The time fbr the mile and a-half in that race was 2min. 36sec., but in the Prince of Wales Cup the same distance took 2min. 42Jsec. The trophy was presented to Earlborn’s owner (Mr. C. B. Kellow) after the race, and the hooting was renewed for a few moments. Earlborn carried 7.13 in the race, and he had 8.0 at Moonee Valley. E. O’Sullivan rode Earlborn in his winning race, while F. Dempsey had the mount the previous week. Earlborn is stated to have had a bad passage at Moonee Valley. Earlborn is an aged gelding by Earlston from Lisbon, and has been nominated for the Melbourne Cup. When interviewed regarding the hostile demonstration against Earlborn, the owner (Mr. C. B. Kellow) said he was astonished at the set made against his horse, which had been heavily backed by himself and his friends at Moonee Valley. He invested £752 on Earlborn on that occasion, while when he won he had only £2OO on the horse. He had also put £5O each on Menin and Accrington as savers. Had Dempsey accepted the mount in the Prinde of Wales Cup he would probably have invested £5OO. The race was run to suit Earlborn, who relished' the soft going, and though greatly disappointed at the undeserved reception, he was pleased at having won the cup.

Two members of A. Goodman’s team, Trentham Rose and Gold Coast, were sent over the pony hurdles at headquarters the other morning (says the “Wellington Post”), and got round safely with W. Young in the saddle. During H. McSweeney's absence in the south with Seadown and Coalition, W. O’Halloran has jump’ed Falstaff and Mannish. Both horses gave good displays.