SPORTING.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1300, 20 May 1878, Page 3

SPORTING.

THE GRAND NATIONAL STEEPLECHASE. The following acceptances were received on Saturday evening for the Grand National Steeplechases on May 24th: — Maiden Plate of 100 sovs., with a sweepstake of 5 sova. each for acceptors, to go to the second horse; weight for age. About two miles. Sir Tatton Cannonball Te Whetumarama The Agent Shark Stockman Mickey Free The Turk New Zealand Grand National Handicap, of 200 sovs., with a sweepstake of 5 sovs. each for acceptors, to go to the second horse. Nomination of 2 sovs. to go to the fund. Distance, four miles. Zetland Even-ley The Agent The Don Fakir Shillelagh Shark Mousetrap Moose Lunatic Te Whetumarama Hunt Club Cur, of 150 sovs, with sweepstake of 5 sovs each for acceptors, to go to the second horse. Weight for age. Gentlemen riders allowed 7lbs. Distance, three miles. Shark Shillelagh Sir Tatton The Agent Te Whetumarama Mousetrap The Don Eversloy SPORTING NOTES. By Sinbad. [fbom the press.] The most noticeable event in turf matters since I last wrote has been the advent of St. George by the Wakatapu from Sydney. This colt was purchased by Mr Hill on behalf of the Middle Park Company at Mr Cox’s sale in Sydney for 1300 guineas. He is by Arattendon from Lady Chester, and is own brother to Chester and Roodee, whose performances on the Australian turf arc too ■well known to require recapitulation. The colt has since his arrival been at Mr Page’s stables, where a considerable number of sporting men have paid him a visit, the verdict in all cases being decidedly in favor of his being an exceedingly grand colt. _ St. George is a bright bay with black points, standing now about 15 hands. His bone is flat and good, though not very large. He has long drooping muscular quarters, good thighs and gaskins, and a neat well turned hock. His feet arc good, and his shoulders deep and powerfal. He has a very strong back and loins, and is closely coupled. His neck is short and muscular, and rises well from his shoulders, and his head is nicely put on. He is altogether a very neat, taking colt, and the more you look at him the better you like him. He has evidently been well nurtured, and appears to be without a blemish. I paid a visit during the week to the Bush Inn stables to see Mr Farmer’s two colts, who have come down here to undergo their metropolitan preparation under Mr Webb’s tuition. , Dundee is by Traducer from Renga. Renga by Diomedes out of Waimea. He stands about fifteen-one, with plenty of length, strong powerful shoulders, sound legs and feet, and a particularly muscular chest. He has a plain head with rather a light neck, his quarters are nice and lengthy, but he has fair thighs and gaskins. He is engaged in the Derby. His shipmate is a dark brown colt about the same height, and is bj the English Tim Whiiller from Januettc. Ho was imported by Mr McLean, of Napier, from Australia, and by him subsequently exchanged for the well-known mare Ladybird, His head, neck, and shoulders are all good; he has very long arms, short cannon bones, and excellent sound legs and feet. He has rather slack loins, and long plain quarters, but is altogether a very powerful colt, and looks as if he might make into a good one. In another box is Papapa, who arrived by the same boat, and who will be quartered at the Bush Inn during next season. This handsome son of Pavcna worth has furnished into a strong powerful horse, and has quite lost that effeminate appearance which he had on the turl. To all appearance he is as sound as a bell, and the blemish he received in Auckland has entirely disappeared. He is a horse showing a great deal of character. lie was certainly one of the fastest that ever ran on the New Zealand turf, and his breeding is very high class. Under these circumstances he should have an excellent season here. There was a fair amount of work done on Tuesday morning on the course. Bide-a-wee went twice round at almost half pace. Agent, stripped, wag SO nt over a couple of jumps ; blundering at the second one, he put Pat McCoy down, but on being remounted he jumped in good style, and finished by going once round the plough at a clinking

pace. Shark was schooled over a jump or two, and then was sent three miles at a moderate. Eversley and Silveratrcam did a similar amount of work. The latter is a big grey standing nearly sixteen hands, and shapes fairly over his fences. Dan O’Brien with Te Whetu and the Don were schooling at Mr Hepworth’s. The latter was ridden by Mr Goodman, who has recently arrived here, and who, report says, shapes in the saddle almost as his father. Lunatic did a slow three miles on the plough, and the Chokebore team were doing exercise work. I am again requested to call the attention of trainers to the fact that no schooling on the steeplechase course is allowed, I understand that owing to the heavy expense attendant upon its construction, the secretary of the Grand National has decided not to have a water-jump. There will be, however, a stone wall opposite the stand, and two new jumps near the turn into the straight. I remind owners of cross-country horses that acceptances for the New Zealand Grand National Handicap close this evening with Mr Egan, the lion, secretary, at eight o’clock.

Queen of the South, dam of Pinfire, The Chief, Mini Mini, and others, died at Mr Redwood’s place at Spring Creek during the week.

For the Ashburton County Handicap Steeplechase the following entries have been received : —lvanhoe, Lone Hand, The Raven, Te Kooti, Fangh-a-Ballagh, The Hake, and Billy Buttons. Some of the above are very fair performers, and I hear there is every probability of the Ashburton meeting being a very good one. Now that coursing appears to be thoroughly established amongst us, it is satisfactory to learn that a good trainer has recently arrived in the person of Mr Bird, who brings with him high testimonials both from England and Victoria. Mr Bird has at present taken up his quarters at Dan O’Brien’s place at the Racecourse, and will be glad to hear from owners of greyhounds. Bide-a-wee left for the Dunedin Birthday meeting on Thursday morning, under the care of Wattie, who will gride him in the races in which he is engaged.

Guy Faux, who has been recently purchased from Mr Emerson by Mr W. Keith, arrived on Tuesday per Hawea. The old horse went at once up to Addington, where he will go at once into work under Albert Lyford’s supervision. Mr Brock, who recently executed such an excellent portrait of Traducer, is now engaged in painting Trump Card. Of the Dunedin horses, “ Pegasus” writes as follows : —“A few of the horses engaged at our approaching race meeting are in work at Forbury. Mason has Oberon, Atlantic, and Mountaineer at their old quarters at St. Kilda, but the first named is of course the only one in active training. The colt seems none the worse for his unsuccessful Christchurch campaign, aud as the company he will meet on the 24th inst is considerably inferior to that against which he was pitted last month Oberon may show to better advantage. Arthur Smith has had to throw Swede out of work, he having been going steadily back since our big mooting. This owner has, however, two strangers in work. The first is a three-year-old gelding by Architect—Lady of the Lake ; the second is Endymion, and he is a three-year-old son of Manuka and Electra. Manuka will be remembered as one of the best horses bred in this country, and he was sent to Victoria and entered for the Melbourne Cup, but broke down at work, and was put to the stud. He passed into the possession of Mr Learmonth, at whose place Endymion was bred. Manuka has not so far proved a success, the best of his get being perhaps Troy, out of Fair Ellen; but Endymion may be good enough quality for a small gathering. Goodman is giving Chancellor quiet work, this colt having come round very quickly after breaking a blood-vessel at Mosgiel races. J. Allan has arrived at St. Kilda with Merry Monarch and Mountain Maid. The former will bo remembered as an extreme outsider for the Dunedin Cup in Pungawerewere’s year, but he has been performing creditably since then on the WestCoast and in Canterbury. Mountain Maid is a Canterbury mare of no great reputation. Kildare is doing good work under J. Cotton’s care, and T. Cotton is looking after Warwick, now called The Baron. Camelia is at St. Kilda stables, in Harrison’s charge, and the trotter Darkey is also located there. Polly and Mystery is doing steady work, but Tommy and Bella have not yet put in an appearance. Blue Peter is reported to be doing satisfactorily at Oamaru. Betting on the meeting is confined to doubles on the two handicaps at 50 to 5, and trebles on the Trot and handicap at 50 to 2.”