SPORTING NOTES.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2175, 14 February 1881, Page 2

SPORTING NOTES.

By Sinbad. Having received an invitation from Mr Nosworthy to have a look round his young stock, I started in company with my confrere, “ Martingale,” and a gentleman whose colors . were at one time most successful on our course, for the racecourse on Tuesday morning last. It had been decided we should make a day of it, so wo commenced with a little touting. Sir Modrod and Longlanda were the first to appear, and were sent stripped a mile and a-half at a good striding gallop. Tho colt was full of life, and is certainly rapidly nearing tho perfection of condition, while old Longlanda could not well look better. Ho seems to have quite come back to his old form, and slips along with much elasticity. Talent and the Ilam colt wont a mile and a-half at a fair pace, Amulet going the same distance steady. On Hit, stripped, did a pretty fast two miles, moving in good form. She was accompanied by a new arrival on the course. This is a two-year-old ohesnut colt by Oast* away, out of Mist, and is being trained at present by Higgott, at Knows ley. On Dit was looking healthy and well, and goes os if she thought her turn was coming very shortly. Fugitive and Hilarious, stripped, were seat a serviceable gallop of a mile and a halt. Somnus and Sir Garnet, with the rugs on, were aont almost three miles on the plough at

a steady pace. The latter has bean giving Cutte a deal of trouble lately from the fact that hia hoofs are badly split, and I scarcely thick anything but a lengthened rest will put them right. The Joker and Hornby did a slow circuit in company. Tba latter locks well, though on the gross aide- of condition' and lacking muscle, but he goes much sounder on his pins. Holderuess and' Eugenie were sent a fast mile together, both going ia good style, and the chesnut running nice and kindly. Gold Oust, with the rugs on, was sent twice round the plough slowly, while Blue Jacket was limited to walking exercise. We now adjourned, by E. Gulfs’ kind invitation, to breakfast,and I trust his horses will always be as good doers as we were that morning. Breakfast over, we proceeded to interview the colt by Traduoer out of Baupo, whose education is shortly to commence. He is a very symmetrical youngster and full of quality. Should he keep sound and well I think it is quite safe to predict a big future for this half brother!; o Mata. After looking at Sir Modrod and the others in their boxes, wo returned to the course to see Idalium and the Poet work. The former was sweated, the two going about four miles, but alternately sent along smart, and then walked for a hundred yards or so. Idalium is much improved in bis condition and moves well. The Poet, whom I saw at work for the first time, seems tt have done a lot of preparation since he went to Ohokebore. From Ohokebore to Enfield is not a far cry, and it was still early in the morning when we found ourselves at Mr Nosworthy’s. The mares and foals being all at the Wilderness paddocks, wo drove thither, but prior to starting wo had a look at the Enfield stallions. Albany was looking the picture of health, and has had a very good season. From a variety of causes this rather plain looking son of Thormanby has not so far made any great mark at the stud, but his owner has great confidence in him. Nemo and La Mode prove that he can get racehorses when mated to good mares, and amongst the youngsters I shall presently have occasion to refer to, the majority of whom are by Albany, will be found many exceptionally promising onesand with such unmistakeable samples of his ability before their eyes, I shall fully expect this horse, who is now in his prime, to fetch a rare good price when Mr Nosworthy bolds his forthcoming sale. Korari and Traitor were looking well, the former particularly big and hearty. In a paddock close to the stables were Aurora, a nice two-year-old bay filly, by Maroro, out of Amohia; Mignon, the big powerful filly by Korari out of Malice, who she closely resembles but the young lady is on a more compact scale than her dam ; and a sister to Poet. The last of the three is owned by Dr. Prins. Mignon is tne choice of the three, though Aurora is a very neat filly. Arrived at the Wilderness, we lost no time in getting amongst the youngsters, who had a series of paddocks for their run, redolent of red clover. We first encountered the imported mare Aurifera, whose foal unfortunately died. Close to her was Nonsense, a two-year-old, own sister to Nemo and Nonpareil. She is very like the last-named, but in many respects a great improvement on her brother. She is very short in the cannon bones, with nice long arms and rare hocks and gaskins. Grazing beside her was her own brother, a very even handsome cftlt foal, with good loins and back and powerful quarters. The dam of these three, No Name, was looking, as indeed all the mares were, in great condition. Aroma, by Albany out of Tell Tale, was a neat looking yearling, but I preferred the brown filly foal by Albany out of Waterwitch, a really rare shaped young lady, and of moat patrician appearance. Her mama was apparently aware by some occult ' means of the recent victory of her son, Natai tor, in Wellington, for the mare neverstopped kicking and plunging all the while we were there. Looking on solemnly at her antics was old Malice, whose foal by Albany is another of the good looking ones. She has a beautiful ladylike head and shows a lot of quality all over, with plenty of size and freedom of action. In point of appearance, Ido not think the bay colt foal by Albany out of old Mermaid is so taking looking as many of the rest, but he looks likely to make one of the cut and come again sort, and likely to grow into a fine powerful colt. It is not a good line, when writing of Mr Nosworthy’s present lot of youngsters, to run down goodlooking ones, for most of them are especially so ; but it must be borne in mind that— Amulet is a case in point—it is not always the handsomest yearlings that race the most successfully. The filly foal by Albany out of Tuta, own sister to Korari, ia very neat, and stands upon rare good legs, while the colt foal by Korari out of Grip’s dam Awatea is promising enough for anything. Fallacy, the only other mare in the paddocks with a Korari foal, and who was not quite up to her companions in condition, had a nice specimen of the little horse’s getand with a glance at Afghan, the son of Albany and Tell Tale, who has never been in work yet, our inspection en'ted. Taken altogether I think this lot of youngsters are, in point of condition, appearance and quality, the best lot Mr Nosworthy has ever had in his paddocks. Such was the opinion of all the visitors on the occasion of my visit, one of whom was certainly one of the best judges of youngsters in New Zealand, and who knows better than most not only how to select judiciously but to bring them out well when he has bought them. We went subsequently to Middle Park, an account of which visit I propose to insert next week.

Mr Redwood informs me that his proposed sale will be held at Spring Greek about a week before the Canterbury Autumn Meeting. The catalogue will be published in the course of a few days. The nominations for the Port Victoria meeting on March I7th are to hand, and must be considered most satisfactory, the more so as several other race meetings take place on the same day. The various events are no less than eight in number, and have all filled well, some of them particularly so. The performance of Natator at Wellington, though not a very wonderful one, has proved that this handsome eon of Waterwitoh can got two miles after all, a capability on his part hitherto considered very doubtful. It may be urged to his detraction that the enforced absence of Virginia Water and Lady Emma and the accident to Band *iok may have had something to do with his easy victory, but there can be no question that 3min. 39 eeo. in the rough state of the ground was not amiss. His weight carried him throngh, and I still think that except under very favorable imposts, a mils and a half is his best distance. From those who were present I learn that but for falling Miss Domett would probably have been homo first in the Maiden Plate, while judging from the results of the jumping races, The Agent, could not have been within pounds of his usual form. The running of the local horse Dan proves him to bo a really useful cocktail, for he was pulled out on every possible occasion, and ran well, while Libeller ran a right good horse for the W. J. O. Handicap. In connection with Na< ator's recent victory in the Wellington Gup, the following resume of his performances may be interesting to my readers j

At 2 yrs—At Canterbury Autumn Meeting, carrying Sat 101 b, won Champagne Stakes of ISO bovs (three-quarters of a mile), beating 5 others. At S yrs—At Canterbury Metropolitan Meeting, carrying Sat 101 b, won Derby Stakes of 150 sots (1£ miles), beating 4 others; carrying 7st lib, was third to Templeton (Oat 91b) and Fishhook (Oat 91b) in the Canterbury Cup (w.f.a.), 2J miles, and with 7st 91b was second to Nemo (7at 41b) in the Christchurch Plate; at the Canterbury Autumn Meeting, carrying 7st 51b, was beaten half a length by Longlanda (7st) for the Great Autumn Handicap (1* miles);

At 4 yrs—At the Dunedin Summer Meeting, carrying Bst 111 b, was third to Luna (7st) and Billingsgate (7at 111 b) in the Publicans’ Handicap (!(- miles). At 5 yrs—At the Canterbury Metropolitan Meeting, carrying 9st.. was third to Billingsgate (Bst 61bs) and York (7st 81b), in Free Handicap (1 mile) ; carrying Bst 6ib, was second to Billingsgate (Bst 61b) in the Grand Stand Handicap (1 mile).; carrying 7nt 121 h, won Metropolitan Handicap of 150 sots (1 £ miles), beating ten others ; and carryir g Bsc 51b was second to Luna (7st 101'>) in the Flying Handicap (} mile) ; ut the Wellington Summer Meeting, carrying Bst lib, won Wellington Cap of 400 sots (2 miles) beating seven others. Little Hirer racoo will take place on March 25th. On the handicapping question “ Maaeppo” has the following;—“A few months ago our sporting folk were retj much interested in the handicapping question. Now, one never hears it spoken of. I mention this because it is neoessa'ry, if anything is to be done at the meeting of delegates to be held at Ohristffenroh next April, that representatives shall me prepared with some instructions, with

a definite eobsmo for the iolution of the question. If everyone comes simply to liaten,14 nd not to speak, the coherence will again end in imob. Perhaps it is best that each should be the case after all. Canterbury iolk seem quite satisfied with Mr Griffith; Wanganui people stick hard and fast by Mr Hately •- Dunedin sportsmen have unlimited oonddbnoe in Messrs Dowse, Taggart, and' Jobberns, Probably none of these would' suit the people of Auckland, Wellington, or Napier,, who would in all'likelihood be betterpleased to get some local men to do the work. All things considered, it is hardly likely that the project will ripen ; at least, that is my judgment, though if a really good man c*tf cF be found to suit all parties—not for a week or two, but for years—l still think the idea a good one."

The Southern horses engaged at the recent Wellington meeting arrived in Lyttelton on Tuesday morning. It is improbable, I learn, that Grand Flaneur will be si nt to England; .at any rate not, till he has taken part in the A.J.O. and V.R.O. Legers.