THE TURF.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1744, 8 May 1913, Page 6

THE TURF.

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

[Bv Glencoe.]

•Discussing tho recent BlenEeim trip a wen-iuiown trainer remariteu yesteruay that it would nave been "cneap" lor tne owners il several ot the noises oil 'Uie I'aieena .had been "washed overboard. 'J ills may Da true, but it is not usual to hear siicn an outspoken utterance.

Gold Uatiery, wno was sjki at Palmerston Aoriii la»i inonili, was purchased on benail oi aureymouin tpontiuan, ana has already Ijeen sent to tile West (Joast.

Nominations lor tile Otaki meeting close to-morrow. i Vibration, another cast oil' of Mr. D. uuicii s, is now a member of T. George's team at Awapuui. Jle is doing well oil the tracks, and will be a runner at anyanui m uie iiyiiig Handicap at tne end ol tne inumli. w. lien has aireauy been engaged to ride him.

The Asiiburton meeting opens to-day, and, given tine weauier, a good day's sport can be counteu on. The principal handicap is tne Lup (lj milesj, m which several yuod horses are engaged. 'iue field will most likely consist or Bulletin, Utr. 31b. (J. Ulsen); Ilia Cornet., Sst. Suii U-'. I). Jones); Gieniinnan, Sst. sib. (C. hmersou); speeiaitorm, Vst. 12ib. (K. \V. King), Canute, ist.''Jib. (ti. Deeiey); Gold Coin, ist. sib. (J. O'bUea); Muuiura, ?at. l»b. (P. Gibbous); Sunbeam, list. lllb. (U., Clark).

Now that the (iat season is drawing to u close, competition is becoming very keen amongst leaning rulers. The position is accentuated this season from the tact that I lie premiership is still veivy much in doubt. 'At Asiiburton to-uay, Dceley, Kiuersan, O'Sh'ca, and F. J). Jones will ail be riding. Ucciey will rido Thuringa, Canute, liunflash, ami Oxennope. 1). Jones will be up on Waikohua and The Cornet, and Emerson will be on Nithsdale, tflenlinuan, and Glcncannich.

Acceptances and general entries for the Auckland ltaciiitf Club's winter meeting close to-morrow night.

A Melbourne writer stales that Lord Kelvin, who now races as a gelding, is still very spur. He ran quite unbacked when lie' won the principal handicap at Mentono (Vic.) last month.

Handicaps for tho North Otago meeting arc due on liaturday.

Owners ami trainers are reminded that entries lor the Diiiiediu Jockey Club's winter meeting close on Friday next at 9 p.m.

Martel, a half-brcther to Danube, who figures in the nominations for tho Laghmor Plate at Ashburton to-day, is a member of the successful team presided, over by M. Itobbs, at lticcarton. Ho has a great reputation, and the meeting between him and Gloncannich (who carries Sir Geo. Clifford's livery) should be an interesting one.

Somo liltlo time ago it was announced that Mr. "Sol" Green; the Victorian sportsman, had offered to subscribe 15,000 guineas for tho purchase cf a high-class stallion for Australia if other Australian sportsmen would subscribe another 10,000 guineas. Mr. Andrew Robertson, manager of tho Allendale Stock Farm, Meutone, Victoria, now writes to the "Australasian" as follows:—

. "The only doubt I have concerning Mr. Green's scheme is that a suitablo horse could not bj purchased in England for the amount mentioned. f £he White Knight.has been sold to go abroad for 40,000 guineas. Ho is a son of tho St. Simon horse Desmond, 10 years old, and during his four years' racing career won ten races, including tile Ascot Gold Cup (twice). At tho close of the last racing season his block for the year won one rack of ■£253. I merely mention these facts lo back up my contention that 25,000 guineas would not be sufficient to purchase (he class of horse that we would like to see iii Australia. On behalf of Messrs. Allen and George Tye, proprietors of the Allendale "Stock Farm and Blackwood'Park, I ani authorised to >say they are willing to put in 15,000 guineas, or more if necessary, with Mr. S. Green, or any other breeders, for the purciiato of a high-class vtallion. They stipulate tho horse must bs a proved sire."

Sir. Robertson mentions four !iors;s of the right typo which do not carry St. Simon, blood, and which are not too old. They are Spearmint (Carbine—Maid of tho Mint), Thrush (Missel Thrush—ChemiBtrv), and the two Cyllene horses Polymelus and Cicero (lialf-fcrothcr to Bezonian).

The first of Cyllene's stock to race in the Argentine last season won <£13,108 prize money.

When thoroughbred'stallions are insured, tho premium is generally a stiff one, anil it does not pay to overlook the renewal. A costly omission in this connection was recently reported. According to the Hungarian papers, Gouvernant, who has been insured for the past nine years, was not covered at tho time of his death. The premium for the current year was not paid, and the previous annuities, amounting to some .010,000, represent a loss when written off against the covering fees received on his account as well as on that, of his purchase prico

English files to hand-by yesterday's mail bring an account of the race for the Lincolnshire) Handicap, which produced such a sensational finifh. The "Sportsman" says; Tliero was an immense amount of trouble in getting Saucy Vixen to the starting post, and it tools the united efforts ot her'jockcy and throe attendants to induce her to make a start in that direction'. At last one of tlio Hunt servants,, whose whip had been borrowed for persuasivo purposes, gave her a lead, and fli'2 filly'consented to canter. The trouble taken over her was, however, quite thrown away, for. as was the ease all last year, she "and Beaurepaire would not go near the gate, and any chance which either may have had was disposed of as soon as the tapes rose. As was feared would be the case, the heavy ground beat Long Set, who nover looked to have a winning chalice, and though Uncle Tat showed plenty of speed for half the distance he died away just when his backers were beginning . to diouit him home, as he has done so often previously. It was a grand finish between Cuthb-rt and Berrilldon from the distance, the pair coming right awav from their field. There was no doubt, however, that the former gradually went from near the centre of the course to the far rails, and Mr were much surprised at the objection to him, which was immediately lodged, or at its result. The theory of horses for courses worked out wonderfully.well in the case of Cnthbert. Last year Cuthbert won two races, the first at the Lincoln spring meeting, and tlio second at the Lincoln. autumn meeting, these being .his fir-t and final outings as a three-year-old. Meanwhile lie contested half a down races without gaining backers while the son of St. Aidan again finished first at Lincoln m the big handicap, though lie subsequently lost t'lie race on. protest. CASE OF G. PRICE.i (By Telegraph.—Press Association.! Christchurch, May 7. Tho Canterbury Jockey Club refused C. Price's application to have the remainder of his term of disqualification removed. "NATIONAL" STAKES RAISED. Christchurch, May 7. The Canterbury Jockov Club decided lo increase the stakes for the Grand National meeting by .tOSfl, making a total nf J277P0. The scale of penalties for the Grand National Steeplechase, Hurdles, and Winter Cup was revised. Xo altera!ion was made in the conditions of tlio Now Zealand Cup,