TURF TOPICS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXX, Issue 3533, 25 May 1912, Page 3

TURF TOPICS.

FIXTURES. June 1 and 3—A.R.C. Winter. June 1 and 3—Dunedin J.C. Winter. June 3 and 4 —Otaki Maori R.C. Winter.

June 19 and 20—Hawke’s Bay J.C. Winter.

June 26 and 27—Napier Park R-C Winter.

July 4 and s—Gisborne R.C. Steeplechase.

(By “ Argus.”)

Treadmill will occupy a prominent place among the winning sires of the season this year, for since last August ho has been represented by the best two-vear-old in Autumnus, and also by what I hold is the best three-year-old—Countereit. Besides this Brown Owl, Heatherbrae and others have also helped to swell his total. Treadmill was a fairly speedy horse and downed the redoubtable Machine Gun in the C.J.C. Challenge Stakes in 1903. He also won the Canterbury Cup in the same year, while he had other good races to his credit. Both Miss Mischief and Husbandman are descendants of his, while Taskmaster, who is at present in work at Riccarton, also claims him as his sire. With two such good stallions as Treadmill and San Francisco Sir George Clifford should have some really good stock during the next few years.

The two-vear-old season has now practically closed, and Autumnus, v ho has won seven races and has £3070 to his credit, is well out in front. He has beaten all records for a two-vear-old since racing was commenced in the Dominion. Multiform held pride of place for many years with £2761. Ermengarde has £2150 to her credit, while Winning Way annexed £IB9O. Prince Soult is fourth with £1350, and then follow: Bon Ton £735, Our King £585, Styx £530, Beldame £520, Brown Owl £4SO, Lady Georgia £450, . Tact ~430, Gnome £390, Stardancer £305, Dido £3OO, and about fifty others who won stakes varying from £275 down to £5.

Pakau, the New Zealand-bred hurdler, by Conqueror—Torpilliere, now in Australia, is having a good innings, having landed three hurdle races during the past few weeks. Last Saturday Pakau won Sydney Tattersall’s Hurdle Race under list 61b, while on the previous Saturday she won the hurdle race at the Canterbury Park (Sydney) races. lcau’s best performance in New T Zealand before crossing to Australia was to score a second in a maiden hurdle race at Otaki last season.

The gelding Black Northern, recently purchased by Mr AV. Montgomery, hag gone into C. Coleman’s charge. On Tuesday morning at Ellerslie, with F. Howard in the saddle, Black Northern was sent a schooling gallop ovei a round of the hurdles in company with Haku. At the hurdle near the five-furlong post Haku hit hard and nearly came down, and Black Noi thorn eased up a bit. Coming to the hurdle by the sod wall the son of Salvadin whippet! off, and it was only at the third attempt he was got over. After jumping, he was sent once lound the tan, but stuck up repeatedly, and had to be led for about a furlong before lie would start off. The, displaj of Black Northern would not be a pleasing one for bis new ownei, who was present to watch the exhibition.

Messrs AV. G. and G. L. Stead’s Bon Reve, the two-year-old Boniform Dreamer colt, who won the Lagmhor Plate at Ashburton, and went amiss early in the season, has apparently made a good recovery, and may Tx> looked to for a creditable season as a three-year-old. He is a halfbrother of Formless, who was a smart youngster until she became affected in the wind. * * * After Saxonite had run a dead heat with Prizefighter for the Austarlian Cup, he was sold to the Indian buyer, Air T. Scott, for £2OOO and a share of any stakes he might wi nin Australia. He raced as Mr Scott’s horse when he won the Sydney Cup last month, but according to Calcutta papers to hand this week, he is the property of the Ivour Sahib, af Patiala, on whose behalf he was purchased by Air Scott. * * * ' The Wellington- owner, Mr H. Whitney, has Mount Victoria, furna and Ceylon to represent, him at the winter meeting of the Dunedin Jockey Club and he will send Odessa and Nauniai to Ellerslie for the winter fixture of the Auckland Racing Club. * * * It is reported that the .Wellington trainer, AV. Davies, will nominate Sonite for a number of the Spring Handicaps in Australia, including the Epsom Handicap, Metropolitan Handicap, Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup. Sonite, who is a four-year-old by Field Battery—Wish, by CastorLioness, by Leolinus—Miss Laura,

finished second to Danube ill the Wanganui Guineas last season, but then went wrong and did not race afterwards as a tlmee-year-old. His form this season has not been impressive, but his owner evidently holds a high opinion of him and it is possible ho will yet develop into a useful horse, as his Wanganui Guineas performance suggested considerable merit.

Mr J. Davidson, vice-president of the Egmont Racing Club, has not missed a day’s racing under the auspices of that body since the club was formed thirty years ago.

Mr F. C. Faber has had some exasperating luck with Seaman this season. The son of Sylvia Park—Pretty Polly has taken part in fourteen hurdle races, his record being one win, seven seconds, three thirds and three unplaced performances.

The New Zealand jockey, Clarence O’Neill, is the original exponent in Australia of the Tod Sloan style of riding over obstacles (says the Launceston Daily Telegraph). O’Neill has been in Tasmania a few weeks, and he intends remaining here some time. Being a non-smoker, total abstainer and one who attends the training track in the morning, O’Neill is always in good riding form. He can scale Sst 71b, a handy weight for a cross-country horseman. Since arriving here O’Neill has had fourteen mounts and been placed first nine times. On the mainland he rode on the flat and also over hurdles and fences such notable performers as Tenakoe, Dandalla, Medallist, Machine Gun, Nigel, Antique, Cronie and Australian. O’Neill is now acting as private trainer for Mr T. Gatenby.

Martello, who has been at the stud for three seasons, is again in training at Feilding and is reported to be standing up well to bis tasks. Martello, who is a full-brother to Royal Artillery, by Hotchkiss—Rose of Wellington, cost 900 guineas as a yearling, and he was a smart galloper, but he went wrong on the eve of the New Zealand Cup of 1907, won by Frisco, and has done no racing since then.

Sharpshooter, by Clanranald —Weathereye, was taken to Adelaide for the autumn meeting of the South Australian Jockey Club, but went amiss and was unable to fulfil hjs engagements.

Mr W. Montgomery, the new owner of Black Northern, will probably allow the horse to fulfil bis engagements at the Auckland Racing Club’s AVinter Meeting next month, and will then take him to Australia, where he already has two other jumpers in training, Hoanga and Seldom. i* * *

It is reported that the Auckland breeder and owner, Air H. R. AlcKenzie, is so disguested with recent occurrences at some meetings in the north that he will not race again in New Zealand until the Turf is more satisfactorily controlled, preferably by the appointment of stipendiary 'stewards. * * * / Appin, who won the Century Hurdle Handicap at Wanganui last year, will be seen out in the hack steeplechases at next week’s meeting. If he shapes satisfactorily he will probably be sent to Ellerslie to fulfil his engagement in the Great Northern Steeplechase. * 4f * There was a lot of schooling work at Ellerslie on Tuesday morning. Rutter and Don Quex covered a round of the hurdles, both fencing well. Tipua, alone, did a like task, but the daughter of Wairiki did not give a very plasing display, knocking down several of the obstacles, hut did not come to grief. The Dayntree gelding did a like task, tiring badly at the finish. Presently finished half-a-dozen lengths in front of Alaster Theory and Blue Alountain, giving a finished exhibition of jumping. Tui Cakobau and Commander were schooled over the big fences in the centre of the course. At the first fence in the double Tui Cakobau struck hard, but his rider (A. Rae) made a good recovery, while at the sod wall Commander turned over, his rider (Warrigal Higgins) getting a bit of a knocking about. Armagh went alone over the same fences, running off at the stone wall, getting over at the second attempt, then, with Romp as a companion, jumped the two walls and the double in good style, as did Romp. Dunborve did a couple of rounds of the hurdles, fencing carefully. * -:<• * Kopane is progressing satisfactorily in his schooling displays a£ Ellerslie, and on Tuesday, with Rebel to give him a lead, was given a turn over the pony hurdles, fencing well for a beginner. -x- if- -* The hurdle mare Aliss Explosion has made a good recovery from - the operation performed by Dr Ring .for respiratory troubles, and is being hacked about again. < 0 * . *» *}h - The half-brother, by Soult, to Bronze, recently shipped to Sydney by

Mr G. Currie, and which failed to find a purchaser at the yearling sales there, has been leased to an Australian sportsman, and is now an inmate of P. Nolan’s stable.

The Hack Steeplechases at Wanganui did not fill as well as was expected, only seven horses paying up. Strictly speaking, there is hardly room on the Wanganui programme for a hack steeples, as owners >will not have their horses schooled for a single race. Had there been a similar race on the second day, the acceptances might have been better, but, even then, there is hardly room so early in the season for two hack steeple events, in addition to the two open steeplechases, two hack hurdle races and two onen hurdle races. *\ * *

The filly Miss AVinsome is a very light-hearted little lady, find in her work at Ellerslie of a morning gives her rider anything but an easy ride. On Tuesday she must have bucked for a couple of furlongs before settling down. * * * The gelding Commander is earning an unenviable reputation for falling. On Saturday while being schooled at Ellerslie, he came down at the first fence of the double, giving his rider (Speakman) a bit of a shaking, while Tuesday morning the stone wall brought him to grief, *• * * The hurdle horse Red Earl, who won races at the recent Timaru meeting, used to be known at hack meetings as Bush Rat, says a Southland writer. His sire, Black and Red, by Maxim— Aqulate, is well known, but his dam’s breeding has hitherto been .wrapped in obscurity. However, it now appears that he is from a mare by Earl of Richmond (a horse from South Australia imported to Southland by Mr F. AVilson, of Orepuki), from an Aus-tralian-bred mare. It is claimed that the breeding of the latter is good and can yet be traced. A full-sister to Red Earl is owned in Orepuki at. the present time, and two young horses by St Patrick from the Earl of Richmond mare are growing up and are expected to prove useful. St Patrick has sired a number of useful jumping horses in the Western district.

AVaiju, by AVaiuku—Juli, is reported to bo shaping promisingly in schooling tasks over hurdles in Southland.

The Taranaki gelding St Toney, by St Clements, is said to have taken to hurdling as though he relished it. Some of his more ardent admirers consider him the best jumper in New /Tealand, and if this is not very wild exaggeration he should take high honors in hurdle races this winter, as his pace is undeniable. * .. -:<• * Among the horses recently put in work at Randwick is True Form, a two-vear-old brother to Boniform, by Multiform—Otterden. .* * -* The reported sale of Merry Oliver to go to India did not take place after all. The New Zealand pony fecently toolc part in the AVarrnambool Amateur Turf Club’s meeting, where lie ran third in the pony race. * * In some quarters the suggestion is made that Napper will be equal to winning both the Hurdles and Steeples at Ellerslie next month. This is a tall order for any horse, let alone a comparative novice at the game such as the Birkenhead gelding is. * TV Advices received in AVellington announced the sale of Stepney to a wellknown Hutt sportsman, Mr J. Buckley, the late owner of the Achilles colt, is reducing his team considerably, prior to leaving on an extended tiip to the Old Country. * -x- -* Sir Solo, 'it transpires, went lame prior to the Egmont meeting through, having bruised one of his feet as a result of treading on a stone. It is expected that he will soon he quite sound again. * -» J. Delaney, who used to ride the Karamu jumpers, until a couple of seasons ago, is back in New Zealand, after a stay of some months in Australia. He,’ returned by the Moeraki a fortnight ago, and came on to AVellington from the south on Tuesday.

The stallion Penance, by Grand Flaneur —Penitent, by Rosierucian — Lucy Hylda, by Stockwell, died this month at Cornalla Station, New South Wales, where he had been located for eighteen years. Penance was foaled in 1888. As a two-year-old he had some smart performances to his credit but a severe race in the All Aged Stakes at the autumn meeting of the Victoria Racing Club, in which he ran Carbine to half a length over a mile, apparently broke his heart, as he failed to run up to early promise in his subsequent career. At the stud lie left a number of winners, but nothing of high class.

The Grand National, to he run at Riccarton next August, is to be endowed to the extent of 1400 sovereigns, of which 1000 sovereigns is to go to "tho winner. • ■ ' -* - -X* ' vr

Corazon struck himself whilst working on the Hastings tracks lost week, and on Saturday lie.was restricted to: walking exercise. It is not anticipated that his mishap.will be attended with serious results.

It would appear that Air D. Biiick, AI.P., is not going to retire from the Turf, even temporarily, after all. Goldsley has been nominated at the

Otaki Maori fixture, and is, it- is understood, to fulfil his engagements. * * -x- ---• The defection of Mangaroa from the Connolly Handicap at Wanganui was anticipated some days previously. Probably . Mr W. J. Douglas intends spelling the mare during the winter, with the intention of getting her ready for one of the big handicaps in the. early spring. * * , * The Parisian, by Bobadil—The Parisienne, winner of the Australian andMelbourne Cups last year, who has been having a spell, consequent on going lame a few months ago, is again in training. Ho is a proved stayer, and his admirers consider that had die remained sound, he must have seriously troubled Trafalger in long-dis-tance weight-for-age races at the autumn meetings in Australia. S'* * A new arrival at W. Davies’ stables at Trontham is a four-year-old gelding by Field Battery from Trix. He was bred by his owner, and is a very finelooking horse. * -it -it The gelding Jack Johnson was given a turn over the pony hurdles at Ellerslie the other day. He was very lame when he pulled up, and it does not look as if his owner would get a race out of him. •* -it -it A\ 7 immera 11.5 and Bribery 10.1 were among the unplaced performers in a hurdle race at Caulfield early this month. * it it The Caulfield trainer D. J. Price has now charge of five horses belonging to the New Zealand sportsman Mr E. J. AVatt, viz., AVimmora, Bridge, Ireland, and a couple of yearlings, one a colt by Royal Artillery, and the other a fillv by Earlston. Bridge is being schooled for hurdle-racing, and with AVimmera will figure in the nominations for the Grand National Hurdle Race. * * -:t T. Scott will send'Gunboat to India by the s.s. Janus at the end of this month. Ho despatched Saxonite and Kurnell to India from Newcastle some little time back. * it it The rival horsemen, Frank A\ r ootton and D. Maher, had their first encounter for the current English racing season in the Gatenby Selling Plate on the third day of the Lincoln Spring Meeting. The Sydney lad had the mount on Mr Claude’s Syke’s Retrenchment, an aged son of Galloping Lad, and who had lOst in the saddle, while the American rode Mr A. B. Sadler’s gelding Black Cap. Retrenchment was the popular selection at odds on, while a good price could be haa about Black Cap. Both jockeys gave a fine display of horsemanship, and after Black Cap had made the running to the distance Retrenchment joined issue, and in a brilliant finish AA'ootton’s mount proved victorious oy a head. The winner, who was trained by R. A\ T ootton, was bought in for 320gns. * * -isThe Maoriland horseman A. J. Gray has struck an unlucky patch in Tasmania. At Deloraine be had a bad fall, which necessitated .his removal to a hospital, but at Elwick he had the misfortune to be on Yellow Aster when that horse' broke its neck, Gray sustaining concussion of the Drain, which necessitated hospital treatment. Yellow Aster was a Queensland-bred gelding by Theorist from Carnation.