TURF TOPICS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 3652, 12 October 1912, Page 9

TURF TOPICS.

(By “ Argus.”) 'Hi? Australian Jockey Club’s Spring Meeting, which was inaugurated last Saturday, was full of interest for New Zealanders, on account of the number of horses that represented the ■Dominion in the various races. From hurdles to “classic” events there was one or more New Zealand owned or bred horses in every race, hut the majority failed to hold their own with the Australian competitors.

Paisa no put up two excellent performances in the two hurdle races, and without doubt lie is the best hurdler that has ever gone from these shores. On Saturday last he won the First Hurdle Bac9 (2 miles) in 3.49, (carrying 12.2), or 2 3-5 seconds slower than when he won the Grand National Hurdle Race in 1910 with 12.1 on his back. However, he demonstrated that lie is a much better horse over the’ small sticks than Continuance, for he conceded him 131bs and beat him by eleven lengths. Good as this performance is his effort to carry 13.8 into first place in the Second Hurdle Race (2 2 miles) was even better. He just failed by a length from Warwidgerie in 4.49 3-5. The only hurdle race over a similar distance in the Dominion is the Great Northern Hurdle Race, and the record for that is held by "Wimmera (10.9) 4.52, so when Paisano’s performance is looked at from tins standpoint it shows what a really good horse he is . He was conceding IV arwidgerie, who beat him, 2st 41bs. Warwidgerie finished third to Uxbridge and ‘Wimmera in the last Australian Hurdle race, about 3J miles, and won the Arkaringa Hurdles, about 2 miles, on the second day of tlie V.A.T.C. meeting. Paisano, while in Australia wil lprobably be given a run in flat events. * * *

Shuja, ridden bv C. Emerson, is another New Zealander who put up a fine performance by winning the Sydney Handicap in the clinking time of 2.33. He practically led all the way and scored by five lengths. He was fourth in the Metropolitan Handicap and made the running to the distance where he faltered and Duke Foote, Piastre, and Ladies’ Man passed him. Shuja is by Soult —Sprite, by Dreadnought—Eiflock, by Nordenfeldt —Elfin, by Musket —Sylvia, by Fisherman —Juliet. He showed great promise early in his career, but went amiss, and after being spelled he did not do much good till recently . Last June he won a hack race at Otaki, and in the following month he was successful in the Winter Oats Handicap at the Wellington Racing Club’s Winter Meeting. i * •

Mr. G. D. Greenwood .does not appear to be having moch luck at Randwick. . Allegory, the favorite for the New Zealand Cup, finished third in the Trial Stakes, one mile and a quarter, while Peirene finished in a similar position in the Suburban Handicap.

"Mr. Highden" has met with similar success, and it hard to account for Bronze’s failure in the weight-for-age events. She was a particularly brilliant three-year-old, and when she was sent across to the other side it was confidently expected 'mat she would have annexed one of the events in which she was engaged. * * *

The A.J.C. meeting will bo concluded to-day. Blakeney is engaged in tho High-weight Handicap and Shuja in the Waverley Handicap. Sir Letho ; John, Hautapu, Ivairoma and Continuance are the New Zealanders engaged in the Dowling Steeplechase, while Vice-Admiral figures in the Randwick Plate. Blakeney, Theodore, and Shuja are the only New Zealanders in the Final Handicap, the concluding event on the programme.

During the week I had the pleasure of visiting “The Nationals,” *h© headquarters of G. Jones, who successfully trained Paisano, Continuance, and Co. and lie kindly showed nie round h’S team, which at present -'onsists of eight, and a very useful lot they aie to. ’The first to come under notice was My Lady, by Birkenhead— Lady Rcay, and therefore a full sister to Iney. She is owned by “Mr. L. Purr,” and has only started a couple of times and they were at the Poverty Bay Turf Club’s Spring meeting last year, when she ran third to "V\ aiorewa in the Maiden Scurry on the first day and second to Waiorewa in the Maiden Scurry on the second day. , She is a rather low eet filly and beai s a very striking resemblance to Iney, except, perhaps, that she is lighter in color. Since I saw r her previously she has furnished out into a fine cut of a filly, with good legs and quarters, and one that should easily pay her way. She looked in perfect condition. Miss Jewel, by Marshal Soult —Jewel, was next viewed, and she filled the eye most pleasingly. She is a really nice mare in every respect, and looked to. be in great heart. One of her legs w r as giving trouble some

time ago, but she lias now quite recovered and the limb is quite as good as ever. Multiano is a nuggety sort with good strong legs, and just the typo to make a successful hurdler. His trainer assured me that he was a most promising sort, and he looks it. In one of the boxes was an nn-named half-brother to Iney and My Lady. He is only a year and nine months old, but for size and quality he is undoubtedly at present the best colt in the district. He has a fine intelligent head, good shoulders and quarters, and clean legs. He shows plenty of bone and conformation, and he is just the sort to gallop when asked. He is growing fast, and Jones will not try him out till the autumn. A chestnut yearling colt by Strowan—Romany Girl, owned by Mr. C. Morse, is a nice little fellow. He is well turned in every respect, and stands on a good set of logs. He will be seen at the yearling class at the Show. Callybridge, a half-brother to Te Arai by Sabretache, occupied one of the boxes, and he has wintered well, for lie appeared to be in the pink of condition. He is a splendid type of thoroughbred and is expected to prove more than useful over the big fences. Iney, who has just been taken in hand, also looked well. Altogether Jones has got a good team and they will no doubt be heard of before long. » * » The result of the Breeders’ Plate, the principal two-year-old event at the Australian Jockey Club’s SpAng Meeting, would probably be just v hat was expected, so far as the winner was concerned, as Beragoon has for some time past been freely heralded as the best juvenile at Randwiek. He was bred by the Hon. G. Lee, .and was sold as a yearling last Easter for 700 guineas. Beragoon's pedigree is of special interest in New Zealand. His sire, Multiform, was bred and did all his racing in the dominion, while the colt’s dam, "Wigelmar, by Bill of Portland —Etra "Weenie, is a sister to Merriwee, who was a very successful sire while he was located in Hawke’s Bay. * * M

Ivoatanui, who won the Queensland Guineas on Saturday, was bred in Auckland by the late Mr. J. B. Williamson, and was sold with his dam to Mr. G. M. Currie, of Koatanui, Wanganui. As a yearling he was sent to Sydney, where he realised 300 guineas. He won only one race last season, but he ran into a place in several other engagements, and he was looked on as one of the best two-year-olds in Queensland. Ivoatanui is by Soult —Alannah, by Salvadan—Curiasette, by Cuirassier —Dolosa, by Leolinus —- Lure, by Traducer —Mermaid, so that lie combines several strains of blood L.iat have been very successful in New Zealand. * * *

The public received Golden Loop with great ‘‘warmth" (says tne “Dominion") when lie returned to the birdcage after winning the Open Hurdles at Napier, and the stewards held an inquiry into the horse’s running. At the first blush it rather appeared as if there were reason for the outcry, as only one short hour previously the chestnut gelding had run a poor third in a hack hurdle race, and had Faunus and Master Stead stood up he would only have been fifth. Then, with 91b. less on his back, lie came out, and shook the New Zealand record for 12- miles to its foundations. But there it is. People who know the Lupin gelding say that he is one of the most in-and-out animals racing toMay and it is common talk that Trainer J. Cameron had openly remarked that, if he started fn the Stewards’ Handicap at Riccarton, he would have to back him, knowing the great pace which he possesses. Still, the public must always bo the first consideration of the racing authorities and, after witnessing the previous essays of Golden Loop in hack huidle races, the Napier stewards did right in giving the owner and trainer an opportunity to explain matters.

* * * ~ Sir Lethe is not a strikingly handsome specimen of the ’chaser, and he was rather laughed at by the track watchers at Randwick. However, the old saying applied that “beauty is ns beauty does," and Mr. Vallance’s jumper made hacks of some of the more showy ones in the First Steeplechase at Randwick, but failed to stave off United Kingdom’s run in the straight. - The Wairarapa jurnpei should certainly win races on the other side. a * *

If Royal Scotch really did fetch £2OOO, with a £IOOO contingency if he wins the Caulfield Cup, and if £IOOO was given for Theodore it must ho admitted the pair were uncommonly well sold. * * *

At Masterton last month Mr. Fred. Dorset’s mare Vito threw a one-eyed fcal to Chats worth. He is a fine big colt, but it is doubtful if he will boof any nee for racing purposes.

The gelding F&unus, who met with an accident at the Napier Park meet-

ing, was subsequently destroyed. The Karamu stable has certainly been experiencing the wjorst kind, of luck with the jumpers this year. * * * Tlie victory of Lady Medallist in the October Stakes at Flemington last week will cause the St Alwyne mare to harden still further in the Caulfield Cup market. At the present time she occupies the position of favorite with Royal Scotch next in demand. To-day, the pair are likely to meet in the Caulfield Stakes (one mile and a quarter) and the issue will no doubt go a long way towards determining their Cup chances. The winner of the Caulfield Stakes, however, very seldom wins the Cup, although always one of the favorites. * * * The New Zealand jockey, A. Oliver," has never met with much success when riding at Randwiek, but he broke the spell when he steered Gigandra to victory in tlie Shorts. * * * Bleriot, who showed such good form at Avondale, is not engaged in the Great Northern Derby. Hall will rely on his smart Obligardo colt Obligant in that event.

At the conclusion of the Park Stakes at Napier the owner of Sian Pluie was approached, and asked to put a price on the San Fran mare, but, at a figure of 200 guineas, no business resulted. As she seems to be on the eve of striking form, the figure asked was not bv any means prohibitive.

The Native was sold at Feilding on Saturday, and is to bo shipped to Melbourne at an early date. The Mahaki gelding, Awahou, also changed hands at the same time.

The Sydney jockey, Mr. Connell, is one of the few who keeps a record of his mounts. Since 1900 1 he has ridden in 3896 races, of which ho has won 737, been second in 651. and third in 541. Certainly it is a record worth keeping. X « * The Hastings stable, presided over by J. M. Cameron, was very much in form at the Napier meeting on Saturday. Horses representing this menage won three races right off the reel, while Thrave, another inmate, was second to Diavolo in the Railway Handicap.