SPORTING.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18416, 24 June 1925, Page 12

SPORTING.

dominations for the Grand National Steeplechase and Hurdles, - Beaufort Steeplechase, Lincoln Steeplechase, Sydenham Hurdles, and Winter - Cup clos9 on Friday. 31 r W. R. Kern ball's team was further reduced a few days ago by the sale of Avonloa (sister to Absurdum) to an Australian owner. The riding of Molyneux in the Ladies' Necklace on Friday at Napier was the subject of enquiry by ,the stipendiary stewards, and. trie proceedings were terminated on Saturday, no action being taken.

The report that R. Reed was going to settle 1 in Australia appears to be ill-founded, for Reed recently said that he has accepted a further retainer to ride for J. H. Jefferd'6 stable next 60ason.

The 4shburton County Racing Club lias received word that horses winning at tho meeting on Friday and Saturday do not incur penalties for the Wellington Racing Club's Winter Meeting. Nukumai should bo an improved horso after his racing at tho recent meeting at Napier, and his appearance over hurdles at Hastings to-day and. at Trentham and Riccarton later is awaited with interest. 3>r. Murphy recently informed Ha. representative of "The Press" that lie might send Cherry Ripo to Australia t-o be raced there: and it is understood that he will shortly be shipped to Sydney. Cherry Ripo might pay his way

best at the jumping game. It Is reported that Mr C. 0. T. Rutherford -bought tho jumper Jovial during the course of tho Napier Fark Meeting for 4oogns, and that, the Merry Moment gelding will be brought south this week to go into S. Trilford's stable at Washdyke. R. Johnson has given tip the idea, of tskinor Rational to Australia for tho V.R.C. National Meeting as the boats do not suit. A half-brother to Captain Sarto in Johnson's stable fell foul of some wire last week aud will have to be eased up for a while. .Owners have made a good response to the -nrizes held out for the hurdle and cross-country events at the Ashburton fixture, and these with flat- and trotting races form a well varied programme that should attract followers of. all branches of racing to the deciding ground on Friday and Saturday.

Gloaming is to be shipped from Lyttflton to-morrow to connect with the Plimaroa, which leaves for Sydney on Friday. At latest no decision had been come to regarding a companion for the chamoion. but it is possible that the Absurd—First _ Class filly

Society will accompany him. In the list of acceptances for the*

'Ashburton Oountv Racing Club's "Winter Meeting, Diibliahed yesterday, _Kukume's name should h ave _ appeared . 111 both tho Ashburton Handicap and the Lonrrbeach Hack Hancrrcap, her weight in the former event being 9, and in

the latter 10 1. i The Hawko'a Bay Jockev. Club's "Winter Meeting will be opened to-day. There are fair fields in all events, but the best class jumpers are absent from the lists. Mahia Nukumai, FirebMght. Blue Jay, Polynhemus, and the bracket Killocra and IStratecy are likely to be solidly suppoptcd in their respective -engagements. Ih. connexion with the Ashburton Countv Racing Club's Winter Meeting on Friday and Saturday, special passenger trains will leave Christchurch each day at 9.20 a.m. and Bflkaia at 10.26 a.m. The return trains will leave - .Ashburton saleyards',' siding at 4.25 pm. each vqoy.: A special horse train will leave Christ-church on Friday at 630 a.m., returning from Ashburton

at 6 p.m. on Saturday. Mr J. Donald owner of Muskctoon, was at Naoier last week on a holiday trip. He informed a. northern writer that his 1 horse would leave for Melliburno Bome time in Auarust in charce Cunningham, and that if KniehtV.ood keieps sound his owner will- send . him to accompany Musketoon. J. ' O'fthea. who is remaining in Australia, will ride .Musketoon in his engagements. ,

Prenaration3 are well advanced at Trentham. for the Winter Meeting of * tb« Wellincrton Raciun- Club (says the ' : New Zealand Times'.').. The new stand. Of 'course, is much nearer completion than it was . when the autumn meeting was held. The newly dressed Fiuid track will be ready shortly, and the tu rfinz of the' iarea in front, of the mnin tdtalisator is in progress. The ,jumps are being pot readv and put in order for the steeplechasers. The <2>nrse proper is in excellent order for tne time of the year. -

Old-time racing reminiscences are always of, interest, and no man in New Zealand can relate these so well as "Spectator," a. regular contributor to the Weekly Press and Referee. In the latest issue of this popular sporting fine story of racing in the "Wafigsmui district sixty years ago. He com? pares the steeplechasing conditions and ,the calibre of this horses with those of to-day, and no one interested in racing can fail to appreciate his very interesting article. In discussing the prospects for the Ashburton Meeting, • gives much information or value to overy follower of form> and • ia Performances at- a Glance racing enthusiasts will find puich to guide them. A budget of news forwarded by correspondents from all parts of New Zealand gives tho latest information, while/ "Wayfarer,'* 'The Book," and "Antistlieiies" each contribute columns on matters of. interest to all. In the trotting paprfts. .''Miles" tells of. a visit to Oaklands Trotting Stud Farm and of recently-imported , stallions and -well-kept bloodstock, while matters of importance to the trotting , fraternity generally aro dealt. with by special trotting writers. In every detail the "Weekly Press and Refereo" still holds -its placo as the leading sporting journal in New Zealand, and its popu- :< larity is well deserrea. Nominations dosed on June 20th for

vacanqies on the New vZealaml Trbtting Association owing to ' eOluxion of time. For the, election ot two iSforth Island residents, Messrs C. P. Mark, J. R. McKenzie, and U. AV. Sh6rfc har« been noniinatect, anrl for three vacancies in th© South Island representation, the following fire can'didates have been nominated:—Messrs

W. Hayward, John Hile, H. W. Kitchingham, JVM. Samson, and T. T. Ritchie. lYlssrs C. P, Mark and R. M. Short {North Island), H. W. Kitcliingham, J. M. Samson and P. Selifx (South Island) retire by rotation, and . each of them is offering himself for } , re-election with the exception of Mr who some Weeks «go announced lus intention of retiring from office. , The Association, was founded in 1899 and during its life of 26 years, Mr Selig has Men its only president. Prior • to that time he had occupied that : V position on the old governing body (the Soath Island Trotting Association), which, in conjunction with a similar fcody in the Nortec Island, brought into ' being the New Zealand Trotting Con* - ference. Mr Selig held the dud position of president of the Association and of the. Conference Murine five years of the latter 1 b early existence, and ever sine® tho late 90's has been ex officio member of the Conference. Ho is also a member of the Stipendiary Stewards' Committee and of the Combined Rao- . ing and Trotting Stipendiary Stewards' and Racecourse Inspectors' Committee.

CUP WINNER RIDES AGED J , GELDING. s - (•Srorzi "Sim" Service.) (Beceived June 23rd,. 11.40 p.tn.) / •' ' LONDON, June 22. Cplond Graham, of the lOthHiusaars, won • „the King's Challenge Cnp for jumping »t ' the International Horee Show, nding a geld- , jog-aged 21*

RICCARTON TRAINING NOTES. At Hiccarton yesterday- morning, all fast ivirk v/ 66 done cn the >'o. 7 grass, but after Saturday's racing nothing was asked to go against the watch, ihoush some useful work was sccomplisbed in view of the Ashburton Meeting this week. Feriuo was the first out, and wag giveii a run over six furlongs, the last two at about three-quarter j.aee. Miss Minerva sprinted half a mile, r.ieelv, in . r 3. The AVinkio mare may be raced on the econd dsy at Ashburton. Barn Owl, who is engaged at Wellington, was allotted a run over five furlongs alone. Jubilant had little difficulty in leaving six furlongs behind in J. 13 1-3—a fair gallop. Solferite, wiih a medium weight up, brushed over half a mile .in of, goinr; fairly well in the first portion of the journey.

Red Kriss and Polfello were sent five furlongs together, and there was not must between them, in ].G ?-5. If Red Kriss would reproduce his speed when racing over hurdles he would be an early winner. Youte was Eoing better than Clareina at the end of five furlongs, in 1.5 2-s—good time, which Lava and GoH'own reduced bv a fraction a little later.

His Majesty had an advantage over Tentcrfield in the last furlong of seven, th« full journey occupying 3.34 4-5. Irish and Apache, together, and Bmighleen Dhoun alone, were given easy spins over six furlongs. Castellan was allotted similar work. Chickwheat and Kapier brushed over five furlongs easily, in 3.7 I*s. En Route (W. Seobie) jumped well in a round ovei the hurdles and was accompanied over the first tv.*o obstacles by Apex (U. Choat). The latter afterwards jumped a brush fence nicely. Charlatan (A. J. Peart) dirt a round over the bier country comfortably, jumninsr nicely. Cnshman, also with P?art up, Inter did similar work, but screwed a bit when taking -off at the first of the double. Otherwise his display was pooa.

HASTINGS TRAINING NOTES. (press association telegram.) HASTINGS. June 23. In view of the Winter Meeting of the Hiiwke's Bay Jockey Club. there was a large amount of work 011 the Hastings course this morning advantage being taken of fine weather and tho improved state of the going. Uncle Dave finished ahead of Sanforte at the end of a fast-run mile and a-quarter on the flat. Polyphemus brat The Strand over fmir furlongs in 50Js, the best trial of the morning. Huikai went four furlongs alone, in 51s. finishing stronglv. Manutai easily beat Stymie over the same distance. Koodoo -was plensing in a run over six furlongs. ARkari -went four furlongs alone. Kilmero heat Snsham over five furlongs. Blue Joy ran four furlongs in 525. Fiveblight and Peshwa went once round at a good three-quarter pace. Mary Bruco and Kendal were' restricted to three-quarter pace work. Bonecto and Alabama finished in that order at the end of five furlongs. Olympic was ahead of Killoch when six> furlongs had been covered. Jovial beat Waioeka Jack over the same distance. Crisis greatly pleased in n brush over six and a-holf furlongs, finishing full of running'.. Erie vras restricted to tliree-quavter pace work.Bonny Bill was schooled over once round of the hurdles, giving a good exhibition. Trespass was too fast for Vagabond over three of the hurdles. General Carrington gave a good display over onco;round of the sticks, and Puwhero jumped a round of the country faultlessly.