SPORTING.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2222, 11 April 1881, Page 3

SPORTING.

AUTUMN MEETING. The following general entries and acceptances for the Autumn meeting were received by the secretary on Saturday evening : CHAMPAGNE STAKES. Somnus ( Yattendon Peeress Amulet J colt Nonpariel I Gold Dust La Mode | Uinemoa EPSOM STAKES. Norseman I On Dit Frailty I Sir Garnet Romeo j Nautilus The Joker | GREAT AUTUMN HANDICAP. Prospero Grip The .foker Luna The Governor Hilda Lady Emma Harkawiy Bandwick Sir Modred Natator Libeller NUBSEBY HANDICAP. Hinemoa Gold Dust Dauphin Envy filly (by CassiveAmulet launus) Nonpariel Fomnus La Mode Yattendon Peeress Legerdemain colt SELLING BACE. Norseman Harkaway Frailty Sir Garnet Coldstream Hilarious Randwick Billingsgate Fishhook THE AUCKLAND MEETING. [PRESS ASSOCIATION TBLEGBAM ] AUCKLAND, April 9. Good work was done on the raoeoourse this morning, about thirty horses undergoing their preparation. Foul Play and Paramena did a fast two miles in the presence of their owner. The former is looking in grand fettle, and if fit on the day should take a lot of beating. Matau, who is first favorite at 2 to 1, only did walking exercise. Dan did about two miles with rugs od, moving very free. King Quail did slow work. Lonehand did about . two miles stripped, moving well and looking grand. The rest of the work was unimportant, with the exception of Major George's filly, Tenambra, which did one and a quarter miles in fine form, finishing in grand style. SPORTING NOTES. By Sinbad. The general outries, which appear elsewhere, are very satisfactory, and give almost oertain oromise of two capital days' racing. So far as the Autumn Handicap is concerned, there have been several changes in the market during the last few days. Sir Modred still holds the pride of place, and at present I think he will be very close to it, having most to dread from Luna, the Governor, and Lady Emma. Somnus should win the Champagne, uut it is anything but a foregone conclusion, as Nonpareil, Amulet, and La Mode, judging from their work, will prove formidable opponents. The Epsom Stakes has filled well, and will I think be appropriated by either On Dit or The Joker. Owners are reminded that the Free Handicap will appear to-day, acceptances being due on Wednesday night. As some doubt exists about the final payment for the Selling Race, I am authorised to say that it must be made before 9 p.m. on the evening of the first day's racing. Lure and Mischief were scratched for all engagements on Saturday evening. The acceptai c a for the Autumn Handicap appeared on April 2nd, and are twelve in number, the greater portion of whom will, I think, go to the post. Considering the number of animals on the sick list, I consider the acceptance a very fair one indeed. The two stable companions, Natator and Grip, top the list, and it is as yet quite impossible to say whioh will be the elect one. I hear Grip has been doing excellent work lately, and should this be the case, he must be pretty hardy at the finish. Of the two, however, I prefer Natator. Sir Modred is again the publio favorite, being already at very short odds. If as fit bb he was in Dunedin, he must have a great say. lam not particularly prepossessed in favor of either Bandwick or Libeller, the latter especially. His severe running at Taranaki must be much against him, though I do not think the writer of the telegraphic report of that meeting meant to convey the idea that the little eon of Yatterina and Traducer had really broken down in the usual aooeptation of the word. Harkaway is as yet a maiden, and from what little I have seen of him, I should scarcely think he could foot it with his company. These remarks also apply to Joker, though in a less degree, if all accounts be true of his qualifications in the way of pace. I should think much better of his chanoe with half a stone off his back. Prospero is another maiden, and a good-looking oolt too. There is not much wrong with his breeding either, being by Castaway out of Templeton's dam Belle of the Isle. So far, it must be confessed, this big son of Traducer and Mermaid has not begot any racehorses, but it may be that Prospero is the animal to make the first exception to the rule. Luna at seven-twomust be labelled dangerous, though, nicely in as she certainly is, a quarter of a mile less would suit her ideas a good deal better. I think the same of Hilda, and whether the Governor, who has been mercifully treated, oan keep with his horses right through such a fast race as this will probably be, remains to t>e seen, but I rather question his being quite fast enough. Lady Emma is well, and Keane is satisfied with her so far. Her pace as a two-year-old was very high clasß, and five thirteen is not a heap to carry. It's a mere question whether she stay or not, and of her abilities in this direction many good judges entertain serious doubts. At present, I think the final issue will be between Mr Robinson's best, Sir Modred, and Luna. The Taranaki Meeting seems to have passed off well; the big event, the Jockey Club Handicap of 300 sovs., falling to Matau, the winner of the Hurdle Race at Hawke's Bay. He is a son of Dainty Ariel, and though, from the light weight he carried, his performance cannot be looked on as a very high olass one, he is certainly a oomicg horse, particularly in the oross-oouatry line. Mr Walters had again to be satisfied with barren place honors, except in the Oup, which Libeller won from a moderate field. King Quail won the Autumn Handicap, Opawa and Libeller being his immediate attendants at the finish. Billingsgate took the Ladies' Purse and Resolution the Country Handicap. Dan and Hippooampus were amongst the unsuccessful ones in the Consolation. I remind those interested that the sale of booths, sports, &o. for the forthcoming Autumn Meeting takes place at the Commercial Hotel, on Wednesday, 13th, at 2.30. By the Mataura, which is daily expected, will arrive six couple of harriers (• hree sluts and nine dogs). These have been presented to the Ohristchurch Hunt Club by Mr G. B. Starkey, and are being brought by the New Zealand Shipping Company free of charge. At the Tokomairiro races, held on April Ist, I notioe that for the Tokomairiro Handicap of 50 sovs., the event of the day, Chaffe ran first and second respectively with Atlantic and Nautilus. In the Maiden Plate, the Taßmanian horse Quamby, the property of a Ohristchurch owner, and ridden by Cutten, won from a large field. The Palmerston meeting, held on the same day, was confined to local performers. The Auckland Handioaps have been very fairly adjusted. For the Easter, Mr Macdonald should have a fair show if old Foul Play be anything like himself. Of the reßt I like Hilarious, Maid of Honor, Matau, and Dan; for the Steeplechase I should seleot the three top weights, Lone Hand, Matau, and btrey Momuß. If any horse turns up to upset thiß prediction I should expect to find him in Sportsman. It seems that Keane is likely to take up his abode in the South Island, as the Hon. G. McLean is building some fine stables on Mr M. Holmes' land near Oamaru. For bringing up young stock there is no finer place in the colony than the limestone country in that locality. Another gentleman who intends, I am glad to hear, to go in for breeding as well as racing, is Mr A. McDonald. This gentleman, I loarn, from a kindly correspondents Gisborne, has just purchased some nice country in that locality, and intends establishing a racing ansl stud farm on his new property. Here ho intends breeding on a large scale, and training whatever animals he may have in work. It is more than likely that the establishment will be under the care of Profitt, who occupied a similar position with Mr Farmer, of Longlands. Since that gentleman's departure for England, Profitt has been in Mr McDonald's employ. Mr A. M'Donald's string of racehorses (says the " Hawke's Bay Herald") Foul Play, Paramena, Badsworth, and the two-year-old colt The Squire were shipped on board the Rotorua on Saturday. The two first go to Auckland to fulfil their engage- ( menta there, and the two latter go to Mr M'Donald's place at Gisborne.

' The "Hawke's Bay Herald" of the 30th | says .—" It is stated that an aocount of the | Jockey Club's races which has been published in the " Wanganui Chronicle," will find employment for gentlemen of Ithe long robe. Some scurrilous strictures onjthe judge's decision in the Tradesmen's Handicap will form the bone of contention. As L is intended to bring the matter into a court of law it would manifestly be improper to oomment on the " Chronicle's " article. The Ellesmere Club have a nice entry, the Ellesmere Cup and Open Hurdle Bace hiving filled very fairly. If Albion be the old Tasmanian horse, he should be near winning the Cup, and old Shark or Wenfield should take the Hurdles.

The Auckland Stud Company have (" Phaeton " says) decided to give a prize of 200 sovs, to bo run for by three-year-old colts and fillies, the produce of mares served by the company's horses, during next season. The English mare Queen of the Stud, recently imported by Mr Carter, of the Ashburton, and at present running in the Middle Park paddocks, has dropped a filly foal to the well-known English sire Camballo. MR WENTWORTHS STABLES. These have an entrance in Dowling street, and are in the charge of James Monaghan, a trainer well known to the New Zealand turf. The buildings form three sides of a square, with the yard in the centre. The boxes range down the right and left sides, while the end building is occupied with the harness room, moßt splendidly fitted up boys* apartments, feed room (which is well fitted up with bins containing the best of feed), and the store room for hay, &c, in which are the corn crushers, oat bruisers, &o. The first of the equine inhabitants visited was Sardonyx, a close relation to First Water who lately won the Australian Cup, being by Fireworks from Onyx. He is at present being prepared for the two-year-old events of the autumn ; he had only been up a fortnight at the time of my visit. Mistletoe, by Rapid Bay out of Parasite, has grown well since the spring, and will also contest at the autumn trysts. Rapid Bay, bedded in sawdust, next appeared to view. He is being got ready for the autumn campaign. When this horse's career is brought to a close, 1 know of no better horse than he to produce fine upstanding carriage horses, and no doubt when he is put to the stud he will be well sought after. Besides these there are two fillies by Rapid Bay, one from Chrysolite and the other from Sylvia. The whole place is well supplied with gas and water, and the b.xes are built with all the most modern conveniences, being fitted with the latest pattern of manger used in England, which is made of iron and enamelled on the inside, and so constructed that the horse cannot knock his feed out. There is also a good sized piece of ground alongside suitable for exercising in. There are also excellent apartments for the trainer, &c. GRAND FLANEUR. This wonderful three-year-old, that has made a world-wide reputation by his brilliant performances was (says the "Sydney Mail ") bred by the Hon. Edward King Cox, at Fernhill, near Penrith, and is by our much to be lamented "King of Sires" Yattendon, from First Lady, by St. Albans from Lady Patroness, by Orlando from Lady Palmerston, by Melbourne, &c. He made his debut as a two-year-old by winning the Normanby Stakes at the Y.R.O. Summer Meeting, and since then he has carried Mr Long's colors to the front for the A.J.O. Derby and Produce Stakes, the V.R.O Derby, Melbourne Oup, Produce Stakes, Champion Stakes, V.R.O. St. Leger, and Town Plate. He is a fine raking bay, standing 15 hands 21 inches, but looks taller. His head and eye bear evidence of unusual intelligence, and, thanks to the courtesy of T. Brown, his talented trainer, Mr Pottie, the well-known veterinary surgeon, and myself were permitted to run the tape over him on Tuesday last, and the following may be taken as a fair and oareful measurement:—Height 15 hands 2J- inches, girth 5 feet 10 inches, arms 17J- inches, legs 7i- inches, gaskins 16 inches, shoulders 271 inohes, hip to hock 471 inches, knee 12 inches, under knee 10 inches, hip to hip aoross loins 23 inohes, rein 41 inches, pasterns 101 inches, hock 16 inches. He is not nearly so large a horse as Prince Charlie or Robert the Devil, who are almost giants, but he has bona and muscle everywhere it is needed, and is as equally proportioned as either, as the following comparisons will show : GRAND FLANETTB. Height, 15 hands 2.{in. Gaskina, 16in. Girth, sft. lOin. Shoulders, 27i'in. Arms, 17£in. Hip to hock, 47-iin. Legs, 7iin. PBINCK CHABLIE. Height, 16 hands 'dim. I Oaskins, 19|in. Girtn, sft. llfin. I Shoulders, 30Jin. Arms, 22in. I Hip to hock, 52in. Legs, B|in. ! BOBEET THE DEVIL. Height, 16 hands 2in. I Gaskins, 18Jin. Girth, sft. llfin. I Shoulders, 29iin. Arms, 19£in. I Hip to hock, 50in. Legs, Bin. Concerning Grand Flaneur, Mr Pottie, the well-known veterinary surgeon, writes as follows: —"The celebrated racehorse, Grand Flaneur, is worthy of some mathematical study. He is known not to be a big horse. A stranger who has seen the English modern celebrities would look upon this piece of stuff as rather small. Many of the present English winners of to-day are as big as Yorkshire carriage horses, but, of course, much finer drawn. But Grand Flaneur is a hand less in height, and yet capable of covering as much ground in three minutes as any of these enormous animals. Wherein dwells the secret of his success ? Three words answer this question—his length and posterior depth and thiokness. Measure his full speed stride, and it will be found as long as the longest. He has a long deep shoulder, set well forward, and fixed to a long middle, with an upper and under oblique stays of great strength. The saddle is thrown right back from the withers on to well barrelled ribs, more remarkable for their barrel form than depth ; the back vertebrae are connected with a pair of hips which would grace a Teeswater bull, yet though massive they are not out of proportion, simply because the symmetry passes on in breadth to the gaskin, hock, and pasterns' joint; then follows a round, neat pastern and hoof, and in this combination dwells the secret of his fleetnesß. His girth indicates a pair of bellows that would flame up Mount Etna, and a heart which makes him a general in any campaign ; but there is one point left —strange to say, always overlooked by horse critics —the sheath. Look at that organ of long life and indomitable pluck ! This alone would make him a sundowner. Would any of your readers say how many big, great, kingly-acting horses they have seen with a small sheath ? Of oourse thera must be exceptions, but there is far more in the conformation of these organs than is generally thought of. Any old squatter who had to do his sixty miles a day for a month always chose a large-sbeathed horse ; and hence we have in Flaneur speed, staying powers, and superhuman endurance."