THE TURF.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1506, 31 July 1912, Page 7

THE TURF.

NOTES AND COMMENTS,

[BT Glexcoe.]

Tho Poiut-to-Point Steoplechuso meetVr lg "'.connection with tho Rangitikoi Hunt Club, was held at Marton on Saturday lifst in bad weather. Mr. J. Bull's Riro Atu won the Welter-weight Steeplechase, and Mr. J. H. M'Loan's Wisdom in? s ®" CCG ssful amongst tho light-weights. Iho Members' Race was won by Firefly, and Carroiiade had a very easy victory in the Farmers' Race.

.Mr. J. Bull went to Bulls yesterday to arrange for tho shipping of The Native, Irish Rifle and Coronetted, to Riccarton. This trio will arrive in Wellington this evening, and will go south to-morrow iught. It is stated (on* what appears to be excellent authority) that both Tho Native and Coronetted will start in tho National Hurdles.

Antarctic is still standing up to his work on the Wanganui tracks. He will start on his journey to Riccarton on Thursday morning, arriving in Wellington the me evening, and proceeding south by Friday's boat.

Mr. G. F. Moore, of Kai Iwi, has donated' a trophy to be added to the prize for for the winner of the Hack Hurdles at the Egmont-Wangaehu Hunt Club meet-' ing on August 29.

The full-brother to S'onite, in J. Maher's Hastings stables, has grown into a finelooking horse,' and can gallop well. Ho is already "in tho boom," and will be favourite when he steps out.

Last week the brood mare St. Winifred slipped her foal to Field Battery, and subsequently died from inflammation. Her loss was a severe one to her owner.

There is just a-probability that Equitas will not race after the spring. It is whispered that she is to go to tho stud.

What will be the last race meeting of the 1911-12 season will tako place at Pahiatua to-day, when the Woodland Hunt Club will run off its annua" meeting.

Mr. W. Mansell, treasurer of the Rangitikoi Racing Club, has been spending a few day 3in Wellington., While there he was advised that his club had been permitted to alter the dates, as indicated elsewhere in this column.

A racing reform, recently introduced in Germany, is to prohibit two-year-old races before July 1.

The Special Commissioner of the London Sportsman" gives it as his opinion that no better stayer ever won tho Ascot Gold Cup than Merman, who fairly slaughtered Perth 11, and his pacemaker in 1900. It is strange that Merman's most notable success at the stud should be Slievo Roe, a sprinter.

. Prince Palatine,- tho Ascot Gold Cup winner, was bred by Mr. W. Hall Walker, who sold him privately to his present owner for 1000 guineas. Minoru was leased by tho late King Edward from Mr. Walker, when ho won the Derby, so that it can be said of Mr. Walker that he bred a Derby and St. Leger winner, neither of whom carried his own colours.

Latest reports from Riccarton state that the tracks are still very bad, and that training operations are carried out under difficulties.

It is not of very frequent occurrence for a jockey to ride half a dozen winners in an afternoon, but that feat was accomplished by Horton at Kimberley Races on June 18. Ho had a mount in each of the, eight events on the card, and rode the winners of five of them in succession, tho other success coming at the close of tho afternoon. Horton served his apprenticeship with Chaloner at Newmarket. He is now located at Johannesburg, and is regarded as the cleverest jockey in SoutVAfrica. .

Sea Queen was shipped south to Riccarton on Monday night, to fulfil her engagements at the C.J.C. Grand National meeting. . . ■,'

English files to hand last night show that tho New Zealand jockey, L. H. Hewitt, was not on Eton.Boy when the latter'won: the Royal Hunt' Cup at Ascot.

The feature of the sporting world on July 22 (says the Melljourno "Age") was the launching on the market of a commission in favour ofJßobadea for tho Melbourne Cup. Bobadea, who is at present a five-year-old bay horse, by Bobadil— Ardea, is engaged in tho Melbourne Cup at 7st. ,121b., a nice, handy weight for a six-year-old of his calibre. The commission when completed represented by far tho greatest amount of money stood to be won on a single horse for very many yrfars. Bobadea is trained at Cauliield by Charles Wheeler, and is .% stable companion of last year's winner. The Parisian.

Tho Prix du Jockey , Club (French Derby), decided at Chantilly last month, resulted in the easy victory of Friant 11, who was followed into second and third places respectively by Amoreux 111 and Ukase 11. The winner is tlie property of Prince Murat, who was thus credited with tho Derby for tho first time. Princo Murat, whose name is so closely connected with Napoleonic legend, since his ancestor was the dashing cavalry officer who became King of Naples after his marriage with Caroline Bonaparte, the sister of the Emperor, has held high rank in sporting circles for many years past. Ho is tho president of the Steeplechase Society and a prominent member of tho French Jockey Club. Beyond the services lie has rendered to all branches of sport, he was closely connected some years'ago with M. A. Abeille, in whoso name and colours Champaubert won the French Derby.

The Auckland Racing Club's programme for the coming season carries the largest amount of money yet given by any club in the. Dominion. Tho principal events at the different meetings are:—Spring' Meeting—Great Northern Guineas, of 750 sovs.i City Handicap, of 650 sovs.; King Edward Memorial Handicap, of 650 sovs.; Welcomo Stakes, of 500 sovs. Summer Meeting—Auckland Cup, of 2000 sovs.; Great Northern Foal Stakes, of 1000 sovs.; Summer Cup, of 1000 sovs.; Great Northern Derby, of 1000 sovs.; A.R.C. Handicap, of WOO sovs.; Grandstand Handicap, of 1000 sovs. Autumn Meeting- Easter Handicap, of 1000 sovs.; St. George's Handicap, of 1000 sovs. (the distance of this event has also been increased to a mile and a half); Great Northern Champagne Stakes, of 750 sovs. Winter MeetingGreat Northern Hurdle Eace, of 1000 sovs.; Great Northern Steeplechase, dF 1000 sovs.; Cornwall Handican, of 500 f.ovs.; Prince of Wales's Handicap, of 50!) sovs.; York Welter, of 500 sovs.; and Winter Steeplechase, of 500 sovs. In addition to the above increases, tho Great Northern. Derby o£ 101-1-15 has been raised to 1500 sovs.; the Great Northern Guineas of 1914 to 1000 soys.; .the Great Northern Champagne Stakes of 1514 (0 1000 sovs., and the Twentieth JlovaV Stakes ! of 1911-15 to 1000 sovs.

AUSTRALIAN HURDLE RACE.

By Telecraph—Press Association—Copyrijht (Rec. July 80, 0.30 p.m.) Melbourne, July 30. In connection with the Y.A.T.C. races on Saturday next, the following are the final accentances for tho THE AUSTRALIAN HtiRDLE RACE. Threo miles and a half less 92 'yards — Arquebus©, list. 1311).; Forest Prince, lOst. 1311).; Lord Desmond, lOst. 111b.; Monarch, lOst. 111b.; WingaTara, lOst. 91b.; Flavel, lOst. 91b.; Wimmera, lOst. 71b.; Uxbridge, lOst. 711).; King's Hansom, lOst. 31b.; Lion, lOst. 31b.; Tundiilya, 9st. 131b.; Wavwidgesrio, 9st. 111b.; Flash Jack, 9st. 91b.; Light Ballast, 9st. 31b.; Zal, 9st.; Cannon Wheel, !)st.; Rogue's March, 9st.; Cullinan, Pst.; Ballista, 9st,; Black Native, 9st.