TURF TOPICS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXX, Issue 3551, 15 June 1912, Page 9

TURF TOPICS.

FIXTURES. June 19 and 20—Hawke's Bay J.C. Winter. June 26 and 27—Napier Park RC. Winter. July 4 and s—Gisborne R.C. Steeplechase. (By " Argus.”) The Gisborne Racing Club has every reason to feel satisfied with the support that lias been accorded their steeplechase meeting which eventuates early next month. The nominations which were received on Wednesday last constitute a record, and entries have been received from Auckland to as far south as The whole of the races have filled well. .Some excellent racing should be seen if Mr. Chadwick’s .handicaps are acceptable to the various owners. % * * Baldos, who was operated on for respiratory troubles some, time ago, .figures among the entries for the Gisborne Park Club’s Steeplechase meeting. * * * Alexis and Zetland, two horses nominated for the local, meeting have done a great deal of racing. The former is by Lord Roslyn.—Plevna, and was bred by Sir Geo. McLean, while Zetland is a son of Lady Zetland by Obligado. * * * Recent arrivals at Porirua include the hurdle gelding Hawick, who has been spelling on his. owner’s station at Bulls, and a couple of youngsters from the Elderslie stud, which are to be trained by J. H. Prosser. One of them is a two-year-old filly by St. Ambrose from Steppe (St. Leger— Stepfeldt), and the other is a yearling filly by Charlemagne 11. from the same dam. Another- youngster expetced at Porirua is the Achilles- — Report colt,* which was bred at- Waikanae, and the Menseliikoff mare. Lace Collar, which was sent to the stud. As, however, she proved barren, she is to be again tried on the racing tracks-

_ * * * The old hurdle gelding Pushful came to an inglorious end last week, when he was sent to the Kennels at Hastings. Such a good horse surely deserved a better end. * * * Espartero continues to train on satisfactorily at Hastings, and it is quite likely that the good-looking Torpedo horse will be seen out in the Hawke’s Bay Hurdles.

Mr. E. J. Watt’.', imported horse All Black (Gallinule —Vortex) has a half-sister in England that is considered to he the beet two-year-old of the present season. This is Bonnie Bird, who won her first two races in brilliant style. In a- lecent reference to her, an English writer says: Her dam, Vortex, is by St. Angeio, and hitherto has only produced on«* decent animal, viz., All Black, but Sir Tatton Sykes thought her good enough to buy from Lord Clonmel, and his judgment has certainly been vindicated by the production of Bonnie Bird, who is quite a Pretty Polly in her methods of beating her field ‘•from the jump.” Bonnie Bird is a wonderfully good filly, and cost only 260 guineas, and it is on record that Spearmint was bought from Sir Tatton for very little more. But in these days all the Sledmere stock are winning, whether they cost much or little.

Black Northern is to he brought down to Hastings hv C. Coleman to run at the Hawke’s Bay meeting. The black gelding’s showing over hurdles at the Great Northern meeting bordered on the hriliant, and it will he interesting to note how lie shapes when asked to tackle the big country next week-

T. Williams’ team for Sydney, which left Auckland on Monday, comprises Sir Artegal, Blue Mountain, Putter and a filly by Soult —Lady Regal. The horses should pay their way if not too highly assessed by the handicappers.

Negative, who was recently leased by Mr." H. Hodge, is being kept busy by N. Williams at Clareville. The Birkenhead gelding is very partial to the going when the sting is out of the ground, and consequently he should he well suited during the remainder of this season’s racing events.

Effort (Advance—Endeavor) will this season bo mated with the imported horse Bczonian (Valasqucz Gras.)

Para wanui, who is expected to develop into a fine hurdler, lias been nominated for jumping events at the Napier Park meeting. F. Garment, at Levin, is sparing no pains with a view to bringing the son of Advance up to concert pitch. Being possessed of pace and stamina Parawanui should do well over the battens.

m * * J. Ayres is keeping Semaphore and Lady Kilcheran up to the collar at Trentham. The pair should be in capital trim by the Julv meeting of the W-R.C. * * * The jumper Maku has gone amiss, and lias been turned out fdr a spell. * * * The hack hurdler Donzel was' gcholed over the steeplechase fences at Hastings last week, and gave, a most pleasing display. He may prove useful in minor cross-country events this winter. * » * It is to be feared that all is not quite as it should be with Corazon. The other morning he pulled up anything hut soundly, and it. is evident | that ho has a leg which is causing his trainer considerable anxiety. It would be a great pity if lie should be unable to compete this winter, for horses of his class are decidedly scarce. * * * The Auckland trainer, T. Williafns, is leaving for Sydney to-day with a team which includes Sir Artegal. » » » Cheddar is again in commission at Hastings. Since winning the Great Autumn he lias performed disappointingly. * * * It is not surprising to hear that ,7. M. Cameron lias decided to abandon his trip t-o Sydney and Melbourne with a team of jumpers. Ever since the expedition was decided upon, illfortune has dogged the members of the team, and, one by one, they have gone wrong, till to-day To Puia is the only sound member of the team, and she has 'not shown, form over fences sufficient to make her trainer wax enthusiastic over her chances of winning a Caulfield or Flemington National. * * * It is reported that L. H- Hewitt, the ex-Xew Zealand jockey, had the mount on Tagalie when she woli the Thousand Guineas, and 3 if he bad the mount on the filly in the Derby it would be the cause of much congratulation. * e -*- -HWhakaweira, who was not sent up to Auckland as' at first intended, is being schooled over .the big jumps at Hastings and should be quite ready tc play Ills part at the Hawke’s Bay v. inter meeting. * * * The yearling brother to. Salute and King Soult that was bought in at 400 guineas on behalf of In's breeder,. Mr. W. Walters, at the last January sales, lias become the property of .ur F. E. Ross. He is now under the care of R. Hannon, in the- Waikato.

The New Zealand-bred mare Cora Linn, by Foulshot —Lalla Rookh, who finished second in Cruciform’s Great Easter Handicap, was sold in Sydney the other day for 20 guineas.

A newspaper, published in Suva (Fiji), has the following:—‘‘Mr. Mitchell, who is one of the owners of the racehorse Trafalgar, passed through Fiji recently. Mr. Mitchell said that when Trafalgar was foaled lie had some defect in one of his legs, and his owner doubted if lie would be of any use': iSo disgusted was he that he determined to end the foal’s existence at once, and actually took down hi|s rifle from the rack land went outside to shoot. But somehow his heart would not let him pull the trigger, and so he decided to give the youngster a chance. Tins was exceedingly fortunate both for Messrs Mitchell and for their chestnut champion.