SPORTING NOTES.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2181, 21 February 1881, Page 3

SPORTING NOTES.

By Sinbad. It is not my intention to write on this occasion a full account of Middle Park. A long experience has taught me that stud farms are best reserved for the long and dreary winter when racing is over, when the eporting correspondent has to make use of all sorts of expedients to make up his weekly pile of bricks, often, like the Israelites of old, without much straw to make it of. Thus I shall can fine myself to the yearlings, which will be offered after tho Autumn Meeting, and which I think judges will pronounce on the day of sale to be an uncommonly nice lot. The colts are four in number, and giving Idalia’s the first place, I may say that the brother to Betrayer and Sir Modred shows the family quality, and, like his elder brothers, is a very symmetrical colt. He rather takes after Sir Modred than Betrayer, and looks like furnishing into a very powerful colt. He is not a faultless youngster. This might go without saying, fur “ He who thinks a faultless oolt to see, Expects what is not, has not been, and cannot be.” but he is a beauty, and so is the colt by Traducer from that grand old mare Aglaia. Purchasers will, of course, be able to judge best for themselves, but I question whether this very racing-looking youngster will not run the Idalia colt very close in price when the two are knocked down by Mr Tabart, and I hare great doubts as to whether he will not make things very merry for his more fashionably-bred relative when they meat in their subsequent lurf career. The third is a brown colt by Traducer out of Gang Forward’s half sister, En Avant. This is a very taking looking young gentleman, reminding me somewhat of Piscatorious, but with more quality, a grand mover, and standing on the best of legs. Good goods for whoever purchases him. The fourth oolt is a handsome son of Miss Flat, by Traducer. He has a rare back and quarters, good hooks, and is all over a very even oolt. The yearling fillies are eight in number, and taking them in tho order in which I saw them we commence with the brown filly by Traducer out of Hammock. She is scarcely built on ns big a scale as her promising brother Somnus, but she shows, perhaps, more quality, and it may well be that before the sale comes off her big elder brother may have scored a win that will cost intending purchasers an extra century. Closely resembling her in colour, inasmuch as she is also a whole brown, is the Traducer— Rupee filly, a very even and powerful young lady, too. The Fieurange filly, also by tho old horse, is small, but very like her mother. This filly has much improved since I was last at Middle Perk. Amulet’s really good two-year-old performances so far should give a prestige to his own sister, who is a much better looking yearling than Amulet was. At any rate, if looks go for anything, tho daughter of Charm will not be the wooden spoon in the matter of price, as was the case last year. The last of the Traducer fillies is a big upstanding sister to Chancellor. She is the tallest of the lot, and looks and moves like a racehorse. She is just the sort of filly to catch Mr Goodman’s eye, and I don’t think he will make a great mistake it he should decide she will suit him. The yearlings out of Becky Sharp and Red Bose claim Fapapa as their sire, and the latter is not a bad looking one, bat so far as getting racehorses goes, the son of Bavensworth has, up to the present, proved himself so indifferent that I must decline to place much faith in the racing future of either. A rare good legged wholecolored chesnut is the symmetrical filly by Leolinue out of the highly bred Watereprite, and one who I think will bo hard to beat some day. I had almost forgotten to say that a very good looking bay two-year-old filly by Traducer out of Bn Avant will be offered at the same sale. She is very neat, and looks like going fast. I bavo taken every opportunity since last week to con over Mr Evett’s handicaps for the Hawke’s Bay Meeting, and have come to the conclusion that my first impressions were correct, and that Mr Bvett, whoever he may be, has produced a most creditable handicap. A handicapper for a race like the Napier Handicap has a lot to contend with. The running at this meeting naturally dep-nds a great deal on that of Dunedin. Were he in a position to apportion the weights after the Southern fixture his handicaps would in all probability be very different. Another difficulty in the way of making a good handicap in a place like Hawke’s Bay is that a resident naturally forms perhaps higher conclusions as to the merits of the local animals, while being an absentee from the big Southern meetings he has only tho Southern papers to go by when he strives to arrive at a fair estimate of the merits of animals whom he only knows by hearsay. Hawke’s Bay and Wanganui under existing circumstances are the moat difficult handicaps in New Zealand to make. But to come to the one under notice. I see nothing amongst the light weights, except perhaps the rough outsider Dan, who is likely to be at all formidable. On Dit, if the improved filly she is represented (Dunedin should tell us something of her form) should run very forward, while King Quail, Soukar, Merlin and Hailstorm are on paper decidedly the best of the local horses. Hailstorm, however, is on the sick list at present, and Merlin, though an improving horse, is not great class. Nor indeed is Soukar, though ho is nicely in. Virginia Water may have got round by this time, in _ which case she has nothing to complain of but I cannot stand Norseman or Luna. Betrayer will not start. Ariel is very unsound, and Volunteer, from his performances so far, has not shown that he is entitled to Bst 51b in comparison with other proved performers. It is questionable whether Sir Modred will venture north. In fact, appearances seem rather against his doing so, but I think Longlands a very improving animal, and if he train on should have a good show in the race. What form Libeller may show in Dunedin I cannot, of course, say, but he is not out of the big Napier stake by any means. Altogether, I prefer at present on paper tho chances of Natator, Longlands, and Libeller amongst the higher weights, and Soukar, Dan, Merlin, King Quail, and On Dit among tho light weights. My sympathies are at present, however, altogether with the heavier weights I have mentioned. The Railway Stakes should lie between Natator, Libeller and Rand wick, unless On Dit be reserved for it, and turn out speedier than she has yet shown herself. The Hurdle Race should fall to either Agent, Grey Momus, or Venture, but I must confess to my ignorance as to the merits of some of the lower weights. The proprietors ot the " Wanganui Herald” and “ Yeoman” offer a 30 sov prize to the lucky man who can send in aesupon spotting the winners of the Wanganui Stakes, Plying Handicap, and Wanganui Oup. The arrangemonte are very similar to those made by the “ Canterbury Times” last Metropolitan meeting. In the event of more than one person placing the horses correctly on the same day tho prize will be divided. All letters must be addressed “Yeoman Coupon, ‘Herald’ office, Wanganui,” from which office copies of the “ Yeoman” containing the coupons can bo obtained. It is satisfactory to learn that Sir Arthur Gordon does not disapprove of racing. He has consented to become patron of the Waikato Turf Club.

Since I wrote on Wednesday last (says “ Spectator ”) I have seen Hailstorm, and I regret to say that ha has gone wrong, necessitating his having o spell. After leaving home for Napier he went off, and ho has lost flesh very fast, and I doubt whether six weeks will allow Mr Powdrell time to get him fit for his Wanganui engagements. Mr Powdrell has brought the grand little mare, the dam of Hailstorm, Queen of the Vale, Resolution, Clematis, Ringleader, Tally Ho, and others, over with him, and she is stinted this year to JavTin.

Owners are reminded that nominations for the Southland handicaps close on Monday next, the 21st, also that Wanganui general entry night is on Friday, 25th inst. Nominations for the Oamaru handicaps are due on the 21st. Acceptances for the Napier Handicap Hurdle Race and Railway Stakes close on Tuesday, 22nd. In Dunedin on Monday, February 21st, payments of 10 sovs on the Dunedin Cup, and on the 23rd a sweep of 5 sots for the Champagne must be sent to Mr Sydney James. On Tuesday on the course Sir Modred went a good striding gallop twice round, Hilarious accompanying him the first round and Longlands the second. Sir Garnet was sweated twice round, Somnus going the first circuit with him. Fishhook, stripped, did a capital gallop of a mile and a half. Luna, stripped, was sent a slow three miles. Harkaway, with the ruga on, and Laertes, stripped, went twice round the plough. Talent and Amulet were sent once round, finishing the last half-mile at a good pace. Clarence did three miles at a steady pace. On Dit and Natator cantered

once round slow. Grip did walking exercise. The Bush Inn team then worked as follows: — Gold Dust, Eugenie, Holderness, and Blue Jacket went a mUe at a strong pice, which brought the morning’s work to a conclusion. T. Stewart has gone down to Horseshoe Farm to handle the colt* by Maroro out Misfortune and Malvina. Should they turn out well, it is Mr Mitchell’s intention to put them into work soon. The programme of the Tai Tapu Meeting, to be held on March 22nd, has been issued. Nominations for the handicap events close on the 28th inst. The French Government have purchased Bay Archer for £BOO.

The Grand Military and Household Brigade Steeplechases will take place at Sandown Park early in March. Sterling’s subscription for the ensuing season is full. His fee, like that of Hermit, is 150 guineas. The Death of Blue Gown. —The following details are to hand respecting the death of the famous Blue Gown on board the steamer Victoria, which met with an accident at sea on her voyage out by losing her rudder : —Some of the heaviest weather on the trip was experienced before the accident happened to the rudder. A special stall had been erected on the upper deck for Blue Gown. It it had been used he would probably have been washed overboard during the first twelve hours. It was found on inquiry that the poor animal, who had a stall on the third deck, had died on the 25th from sheer exhaustion, It was a high spirited beast, and every time the ship rolled pranced and kicked about violently, and fretted to such a degree that it became absolutely worn out. The animal’s death was a groat grief to the groom, J. Hewat, who came over with it, and it is said that he cried like a child when the noble steed died and his body had to be thrown overboard. Two valuable mares, the property of Mr Keene, who owned Blue Gown, were on the ship and stood the passage well. One of them foaled on the trip, but the foal died.

Formosa, who won the Oaks and the St. Leger of 1868, died a few days ago at the Ohamant Stud in France. She cost Mr Lefevre 1000 guineas last year. She was bred by Mr Cook son in 1865, and was by Buccaneer (son of Wild Dayrell), dam Eller, by Oantioleer; 2nd dam by Tom Boy, out of Tesane, by Whisker. Formosa died on the same day that Blue Gown was dropped over the side of the steamship Victoria into the Atlantic, and what renders the coincidence still more striking is the fact that Blue Gown and Formosa were the hero and heroine respectively of tho Derby and Oaks in 1868. The latter also ran a dead heat for the 2000 guineas with Moslem, won the 1000 guineas, and ended her triumphs of ‘that year by winning the Newmarket Oaks and St. Leger. Formosa’s three-year-old career was one of almost unexampled brilliancy. She and Bine Gown divided nearly all of the great three-year-old races ot 1868. Blue Gown, in addition to winning the Derby, went straight to Ascot and won the Gold Cup, and he stands alone as having done this. It is seldom that two such stars show at the same time in the firmament. The above were her principal victories on the turf. As a brood mare, Formosa never realized the success anticipated for her, none ot her produce having distinguished themselves on the turf, MATA’S DISQUALIFICATION. I have had repeated requests to publish the letter of “ Fair Play” on tho Mata question from the “ Australasian.” It is as follows TO THE EDITOB OP THE AUOTBALASIAN. Sir, —It will naturally be inferred that the above unpleasant subject has been buried for over—in fact, buried in oblivion—but circumstances alter cases, and an account of some racing in your issue of the 18th inst., headed “ Sporting Notes from Home,” so materially bears on tho subject that I trust you will grant me space for a few remarks. At the Cambridgeshire Meeting, held in England, your correspondent, in giving particulars of the foul riding and cross by Greaves, who rode Lucetta in the Cambridgeshire Stakes, mentions the following : “ Apropos of the objection, it may be said that all the leading jockeys wore very indignant that the race was not given to Fernandez. They assert that the cross was a very bad one, whether intentional or not, and beyond all doubt lost Fordbam the race. Anyhow, as one of them said to mo last week, ‘ What is the good of calling on us, and taking our evidence, if they don’t, mean to act on it ? ’ The evidence given by the jockeys was all in favour of Fernandez, and many of their friends were busy taking the slight odds offered on Lucetta getting it. 1 quite expected Fernandez would have got it, for Fordbam is so much respected, and so implicitly believed in, that the fact of his making any objection at all was in itself sufficient guarantee of its being no frivolous ore. I fancy if the two owners had been reversed tho case would have gone differently, for the burly brewer is very much disliked, while Prince Soltykoff is of course himself a member ot tho Jockey Club.” Then there is the in-and-out running of Bui Gal in tho Middle-park Plate and the Dewhurst Plate, in reference to which your correspondent odds : “ Here was indeed a wonderful reversal of public form. Granted that St. Louis carried heavy penalty for his easy win in the Middlepark Plate, how could it be expected that Bal Gal, who had been out of the race all the way the week before, and whose pipes were supposed to account for it, was here made a strong favourite over the severe seven furlongs, and won a good race by a neck ? It is most astonishing —not her winning, these sort of things come off often enough ; but it is most wonderful that she should have been, in the face of her late defeat, backed for pounds, shillings, and pence, and indeed, should leave off as good a favourite for money as the other two. It is known Lord Falmouth does not bet, and both trainer and jockey are supposed to bo beyond suspicion, but if it happened to any ether stable, all sorts of nasty remarks would ba made.”

Now, Sir, in respect to the foregoing, I would like to ask, to what tribunal are our racing men to appeal after such decisions as these in English oases and this one in reference to Mata ? For it must be evident to all that unless owners of horses are either composed of “stewards of jockey clubs” or are far above the ordinary mediocrity, they never can expect to get fair and equitable justice on the turf.

The crossing by Lucetta was clear and palpable, and, in the face of a preponderance of evidence to that effect, the committee of the Jockey Club decide in favour of the horse doing the mischief. Will the racing world over belie re bit what this decision was influenced by the relative social positions of the cottending parties, and, as your correspondent very justly remarks, “I fancy if the two owners had been reversed, the case would have gone differently, for the burly brewer (Mr F. Gretton) is very much disliked, while Prince Boltykoff is, of course, himself a member of the Jockey Club.” Then, again, wo have the running of Bal Gal in the Middle-park and Dewhurst Plates, and the fact of her being backed for pounds, shillings, and ponce in the latter race after her very easy and ignominious defeat in the first event; but because she belongs to Lord Falmouth, who is like Cupar's wife, no action is taken. Well, sir, I ask, in the face of the above, what would have been the action of the V.R.O. stewards in the Mata case had the owners of the first and second horses in the V.R.O. Handicap changed places? The more the “Mata disqualification” is spoken of amongst racing men, the oftener the action of the V.R.O, stewards is condemned. Why did the committee refuse to re open the case ? For the simple reason there was undeniable evidence supported by uncontrovertable facts that the horse whs run fairly and honestly in the Cup. He was not persevered with in the Royal park Stakes because the rider found that he had not a 100 to 1 chance, and he did not feel justified in unmercifully punishing his horse to try and make an appearanco of a finish, when he knew ho was hopelessly out of the race. And in addition to the foregoing, the horse did not carry Is public money, for none would back him after his Cup running. Yet the stewards maintain he was deliberately pulled, and they inflict the severest possible sentence. But how and when do they inflict this sentence ? This is the most extraordinary part of the affair; they punish the horse and rider because on the second day, after his defeat in the Royal-park Stakes, ho comes out and heats a very ordinary field in good time —a field composed of horses none of which, except one, had he ever met before. Then, and only then, do they discover ha could not have gone a yard in the previous r-ces, nor do they forget the fact that Mata upset a great pot on the second horse, which belonged to a brother steward of the A. J O.

In writing the foregoing I take the urns view an your correspondent j does of the Lucetta case, or eren Bal Gal’s running. Of

course, it is well known “the King can do no wrong j” and stewards at times are kings, in their way (some of them are very insignificant monsrehs) ; but in regard to the Mata affair, I maintain, and every right-minded man will also, that the horse or rider should have been disqualified at the termination of the race in which he was supposed to be so glaringly pulled, because, to merit such a severe sentence as the disqualification of horse and rider for ever, there should be no doubt in the minds of the stewards as to their action. The malpractice should have been so public, to merit _ this sentence, that there and then tho punishment should have been inflicted, and not to have allowed the horse to run in a subsequent race with this heavy crime upon him, and, because he wins, disqualify him for ever. And, on what evidence was this un-heard-of sentence inflicted ? Merely the belief and opinion of two or three official persons—one ot whom had backed Mata in the Oup, and, like a great many more of hi* class, is a good winner, but a howling bad loser. The reason offered, I am informed, by one of the stewards why Mata was not disqualified after the Royal-park Stakes was because they (the stewards) wanted to make sure he did not go for the two previous races, which could only bo arrived at by tho horse winning the V. 0.8. Handicap. Nice sort of justice this is for racing men, when the contingency of either winning or losing a race is to decide their fate.

In conclusion, I maintain if the turf is to bo purged of evil-doing and malpractices, the executives of the various leading clubs must adopt tho maxim of “example, not precept,” and, if they want the great unwashed to act fairly and honourably on the turf, stewards and committee-men must do so themselves, and social positions must ba ignored. I trust some abler pen than mine will take the matter up and thoroughly ventilate the subject, for it is one of vital importance in the interests of a noble sport.