THE TURF

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 243, 2 July 1918, Page 7

THE TURF

NOTES AND COMMENTS

fBY GMiNCOB.I

Coalition in reported lo be doing remarkably well at TroiHhani. lie jlionld bo very lit, for liis Wellington and JticTlicy liavo a high oiuyion of Waimai in Auckland. The. "Herald" remarks:"Waimai is training on splendidly, and if 1 lie sun of Spalpeen conlm-ies to eomiiort luniself as lie is doing at present ho may hi; expected to play a prominent part in the .settlement of uroog-coimtry events at Trciitluni and Jiiccartou respectively." Oluepol proved a good speculation to \V. Windsor, for when lie secured liim ill 1915 tlio Bum involved in tlio purchase only amounted to £18. In the interval (lluepot won stakes to tho valuo of J826U0. A steamer bound from England to Australia that was torpedoed by a Herman submarino had on board a couple of high-ly-bred mares—Danse use and iipartau liirl —the property of Messrs. Clark and ltoliinson. Though badly damaged, the steamer remained ailoat and reached port safely, Tho mares wove landed in Ireland. The Australian-bred gelding Hopfleld is carrying himself well, and the manner in which he has been admitting himself 111 his schooling- essays makes his loyal friends in the north reckon that the big bay will loso his maiden status as a jumper at an early date.

American papers to hand by tho latest mail record tho death of Mr. John Splan, *at tlio age of sistv-nino years. About forty years ago he was the leading reinsman and trainer of trotters, and in addition ho was widely kurivn as the author of a publication, "Life with tho Trotters," which had it very wide sale.

It is not often ono can get F. Davis to express an opinion as to the merits of the horses ho has trained, but as a group of us were standing in his private room at his residence, gai-.ing at the pictures of Desert Gold and Bobrikolt, one of the party put tho Question as to which ho was that over a mile and a quarter, both in it, and it would not bo a raco to bet on.—Aucklaud "Star."

Yellow and Black, who won the Juno Steeplechase at the Hastings Meeting on Saturday last, can boast of quito a highclass pedigree, for he was got by Alt Black from Yellow Bird, a daughter of Hilad and Miss Stead, who trace to tho Trumpeter mare Miss Laura* Ililad. whose name figures in the pedigree oil Yellow and Black, will ho remembered as a very line bay son of St, Juegcr and Hilda, for Whom the. late Mr. Jlugh Jlosniau paid 1050gns. at Wellington Park at tho auction held at- the I'amnuro Estate in January. 1893. Hilad was first raced under the name of Hengist, and a great deal might have been heard of him but for an unfortunate accidont, which sent him oil the scene at an early stage of his career.

When Uvmestra ami his two-year-old sister, Torl'iedn, were winning honours under silk some peoplo were found wondering whether Strabo, a full-brother to tlio Biicedy pair named, and tho first foal thrown by Straga to Hymcttus, was still in the land ot' the living. Writing from Table Cape, Jfaliia Peninsula, Mr. J. Awlubio Rendu tho "Mow Zealand llcralfl soino particulars in regard to the sou of Hy melius. llr. Aislabie writes as follows: —"I aui pleased at being able to give you some information concerning Htrabo. lip went wrong in the back—how, .1 don t know—and was sent up here about, two years ago. Unlit about, a week ago ho never had a hand placed on him. To seo Strabo galloping about, the paddock you would consider he was perfectly sound, but onco alongside him you knew different. Anyway, 1 have broken liiiu to harness, and one run a week is enough for him. 1 might tell you when I look at hiiu I nearly cry, for ho looks as if ho could race a motor-ear, and is tho kindest and Quietest horse one could conceive."

In 1901 the New Zealand (.loyernment imported several English stallions. another ilrait being secured tho following year. In the early part of tlieir solourn hero (says at exchange), they were neglected by breeders, and despite the litct that tliey were all bred on souud Hues, they bad few opportunities with thoroughbred mares. Four of thein, Aniasis, jNuplial Itite, Scranion, and Tyranny, were, in fact, neglected to the cud of their stud careers. Tho other four had rather better chances, or made better use of tlieiu, and they still figure among tho winning sires in the present season's list. ■ (jlenapii has Intel an e»!ei>iionally good season, the successes of Picry Cross and Glcmlower being chielly responsible for bis record of £i<!9s, which is easily his best. Lupin, whoso stock have won £3200 (King liujiin ,£llsO, Gardrona £895, King Lupin &80, and Tree Lucerne £220), has been a. prorninout niro for several seasons, llalachi owes his £295 entirely to the jumper Marton, while ilxpedition Is responsible for the £-15 opposite the mimo of Singlestick 11.

With Desert Clold ongaged in the Melbourne Cup, tho performances registered by mares in tho settlement of the great handicap havo already beguu to form a subject of discussion. In tho 67 Metbournu Cups that bavo been decided to date, the records show that only, oil three occasions lias a maro led tho iiold home. The Jirst maro to gain distinction was Brioeis (a daughter of Tim WluKler), who scored in 1876 under 6st. 41b.; and 19 years elapsed bcrore one of tho weaker sex achieved liko distiuctiou, Aurariu, (by Trenton) winning under 7st. 41b. iu 189 i. Both Hriscis and Auraria won tho great Flemington raco at three years old. Aino years alter Auraria led tho field liomo tho aged Acrasia (by Gozo) carried Vat. 61b. to victory, which completes the mures' triumph to dflte, In tho Gup coutciL of 1905, however, the honours of the raco were undoubtedly on tho side of Wakeful, though she suKored defeat, for under tho great impost of 10st.. Trenton's daughter ran Lord Cardigan (6st. Bib.) to hall' a length. Desert, Gold is confronted with a. much less severe task than wa,s Wakeful, lor Trenton's daughter ivaß c-alled upon to carry lJlb. over weight-for-age, and to meet a good thrcc-year-oid iu Lord Cardigan, who was put in-at 121b. uuder weight-for-age. Another victory for ji_ma.ro in the Jleihourno Cup is overdue. Will Desert Gold break tho spell?

The fact that racing inquiries in Queensland arc not opeu to tlio Press has attracted tho attention of tho Minister of JusLicc (Mr. Gillies), and he has informed tho clubs that if tho inquiries arc .not ir.ado open at once iie will place a Government oliieial there. ■ it is difficult to see why racing olubs should object to publicity, it often happens at these inquiries that half-educated jockeys or trainers incapubla of conducting a. cross-ex-amination or- of defending themselves, are bullied and intimidated. Tin: officials arc both prosecutors and judges. This is not British. Several times an eltort has been made al, the Racing Conference to gel tho New Zealand inquiries conducted ill othor than Star Chamber methods, but regularly the matter has been defeated.

While racing in the Ilawke's Bay Steeplechase, St. Elmn broke down badly, and ho can bo regarded lis an unlikely starter at Trenthaui or Hfccartou.

At the conclusion of tlio Napier Meeting, Styrax changed hands. Jle is now owned by itr. f. E. Whelch, iu whose colours he raced at Hastings on Saturday.

The Hawkc's Bay Hurdles winner, Art, is an unlikely starter at Trenthaui, and iH to bo reserved for tho National Hurdles, which event lio won two years ago.

Quality is well represented ia tile Wellington Steeplechase, and next week's race looks liko attracting a better class lield than lias previously raced at Trcntham. With the exception of Collector, who is Buttering from a cold, all the top weights are looked upon as su.-e starters. They olono, would bo a high-class lield, and should provide a great race.

The well-bred Rood Bay, who was lo have raced at Wellington and then go on to Sydney, with some others of Mr. W. 0. Stead's team, has gone wrong, and hottrip has now been cancelled. St. Elm'n and Alino were also to have fuliillcd the same programme, but as the former has gone wrong, and Mr. .Richmond has given /iluio away, j; may be that the trip to the other side will bo abandoned.