THE TURF.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1332, 9 January 1912, Page 6

THE TURF.

N.Z, HORSES IN AUSTRALIA. By Tclceraph—Press Association—CopyriEht (Rec. January 8, 11.30 p.m.) Sydney,' January 8. Blairgour, 9st, figures as top-weight in the Challenge Stakes, six furlongs, to l>e rim tit the A.J.C. Anniversary Meeting on January 20. Wild AV<wt lias been allotted Bst. lib., and Sunburnt 7st. 121b. For the Anniversary Handicap, one mile and a half, to bo decided on tho second day of the mcetiiiK (January 26), Son of the Marsh is top-weight with O.st. Hlb.; Bridge lias been handicapped at Bst. 21b.; and Chasto at 7st. 21b. NOTES AND COMMENTS. [Bt Qlencoe.] Acceptances for the first day's evonti at the Wellington Uacing Club's meeting close on Friday next. Owners are reminded that acceptances for tho Foxton meeting close on Thursday next. Counterfeit and Masterpiece woro withdrawn from the AVellingtou Cup Handicap at f1.15 a.m. yesterday. Tha Ballarat Miners' Turf Club meeting on December 27 attracted a large number of Melbourne people, the day being a public holiday. The leading event, the Bnlhausen Handicap, one mile and 75 yards went to the New Zealander Merrie Zealand, by Morrio England. Tho time, lmin. IB 4-ssec, was a (local Tecord for the distance, Merrie Zealand went out equal favourite with the recent Sydney arrival Borambil. The latter missed a place. Peroneal should have been included in yesterday's published list of horses remaining iii tho AVellington Stakes. The New Zealand-bred Contorp broke down in the Hurdle Race at Randwick on December 30, and. is now for sale as a station sire. Mr. D. Egan's Hereward, a New Zea-land-bred full-brother to Turna, won tho Flying Handicap at Emu Bay K.C. (Tasmania) meeting on Boxing Day, and also the Final Handicap at Devonport. * Tho well-known jockey M. Dunn, who was riding in New Zealand a couple of seasons back, got into trouble at the Meander (Tasmania) mooting last week. He finished first on Raheny in'the Christmas Handicap, but tho race was awarded tho second horse, Armytage, on a protest for interference, and Dunn was disqualified for six months.

At Randwick on December 30 the Chelmsford Handicap, ono mile, went to the Now Zealander, Elfbolt, who was well backed. He waited on Idyia and Maldaat until well in the straight, aud then settling both, stalled off Odist, who came from a long way back. Elfbolt, who is trained by J. AVhitworth for S. AVhifcworth, won a small race in the Hon. J. D. Ormond's colours last season. He is by Birkenhend from Elflock, by Nordenfeldt from Elfin, the lattor being a sister to Martini-Henry. Though no mention is made of it, AV. liyan would m-obably.have the mount on tho bay gelding.

A peculiar case of inbreeding is reported from Bellingen (says the Sydney "Referee"). A mare by Quiver was running in a paddock with a yearling colt foal by the Carbine horse Rifleitc. The following season the maro dropped a colt by her own yearling son. This colt was added to the list, ana turned out, and subsequently used as a stock horse. His present owner, finding that he had a turn of speed, had him trained, and he is .now racing under tho unpretentious name of Jack. He is now five years old, and on his first appearance under colours won the Hack Race at tho-Bellingen Jockey Club meeting last June. Ho followed this up by winning the Opening Handicap at tho same club's summer meeting on tho Cth instant, and a few davs later- won the Hack Race at Bowravilie. Since being put into work he has had five starts, winning three times and running second twice.

The withdrawal of the Chokebore pair of -3-year-olds from tho AA'ellington Cup came rather as a shock yesterday. Though it was freely stated that only one of the pair would start in the Cup, still very few people were prepared to hear of the withdrawal of tho two. Nothing is known as to what influenced Sir Geo. Clifford in his decision but, probably, ho did not think that either of his pair could concede Byron so much weight over a 12-furlong course. At tho present time no other horse is mentioned in connection with the Cup, except Mr. J. D. Greenwood's 3-year-old. Certainly, .when in receipt of 21b., Midnight Sun'brought about tho downfall of the bay colt in the Summer Cup, but it would be most optimistic on the part of thoso who, after seeing the race, would wager on the Multiform colt again beating Byron. Frankly speaking public form would make it seem that weight would not bring tho pair together. What are the facts of the northern running? Simply that Byron covered far more ground than anything else, in the race. At each turn ho 'hung out so Ixidlj; that his trainer decided that it would be useless to run him again at the meeting. There is little likelihood of him acting in this manner on the Trentham course, for it offers left-handed going, while the reverse is, the case at Ellerslie, and experience has shown that horses that hang out on southern courses, act directly the other way at Ellerslie—vide AVinninß AVay who, as local racegoers know, nearly ran off the course at Trentham, yet hugged the rails tho wholo way at Ellerslie, and this helped her materially to bring about the defeat of Ermengaide, who.ran wide at each turn, and thus lost several lengths.

Obsono started favourite for the Standish Handicap, run at Flemington on January 1, but finished out of a place.

William I, who used to race in this district, was recently sold in Melbourne, and wiil, in future, race in Adelaide.

Mr. W. Kelso's New Zealand-bred colt Rathlea (Royal Fusilier—Lissadurn) has now won throe times out of six starts, so that at 24Ogris. he has proved a most profitable purchase. Kelso (says a Sydney writer), has never professed to be a. wonderful judge of yearlings, but a different times he has succeeded in picking up somo fair youngsters without paying startling pricos.

It is nothing unusual for English-bred horses to win in Australia, but it rarely happens that they account for the two principal handicaps at any big meeting, as Melotoi and Sou of tho Marsh did at Tattersall's fixture at Randwick on Saturday and Monday. Another English-bred horse in Snndbath won at the meeting. In Brislwine Red Knight accounted for the Newmarket Handicap, while at the Perth Cup meetiiiE; imported winners were Apple Charlotte (Sir Geoffrey—Sweet Blenheim), Wise Lass (Lovo Wisely—Golden), and Spring Note (Thrush—Lady Pcnzance). The big Australian races won. bv Englishbred horses now include tie •ifelbourno Cup (Comedy King), Maribyrnong Plate (Murillo), Newmarket Handicap- (Playaway and Sir Foote), Caulfield Futurity Stakes (Sir Foote, Playaway, Antonio, and Comedv Iv!ng),,Williamstown Cup (St. Ambrose) Oakleigh Plato (Bright Steel) Donraster Handicap (Sir Foote), Cnrringl ton Stakes (Melotoi), and Tattersall's Cup (Son of the Marsh).

FIXTURES. Jan. 20, 22, and 24— R.C. Summer. Feb. 1 and 2-Gisborne R.C. Summer. I'eb. 1 and 3—Canterbury J.C. Summer.