SPORTING.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume II, Issue 78, 25 December 1862, Page 2

SPORTING.

HORSES FOR CHAMPION RACE. No. I—Ui/miA. Tx fulfilment of the promise we gave in a former article, when we stated that it would bo our endeavour to give, as accurately as possible, the pedigrees and performances of the several champions for the present stake, we now commence our labors with, we believe, what will be found to be a true and particular account of one of our Nelson celebrities. It would, doubtless, have been more polite on our part bad we given the precedence in these articles to one of our expected visitors; but not having the full particulars at hand regarding (heir past performances, we have thought it belter to “ bide our time” until the information wc require can be furnished us. Ultima, by Sir Hercules, out of Testa, the property ot it. k. Ncweoine, Esq. is a dark bay mare, now seven years old ; in height she stands about 15-d, and although her appearance at lirst sight does not strike the beholder as that of a racehorse -I 111 when carefully .scanned one must acknowledge there is little to liud fault with. Her head although plain and large is far from being an uglv one, possessing a good forehead and full clear eve, giving its whole appearance (hat of decided determination and gamencss. Her forehead is a low but racy one ; shoulders well let back ; good chest moderate arm, excellent back, loins, and quarters, wuh not tiie best of timbers, are her principal enaraeteristics. She is in every way a weight carrier, but her general appearance belies her foot, as she looks ail over a straycr, although one would be ioth to believe her possessed of that great turn oi speed which on several occasion she has exhibited. L ilima is at present training at Grove Farm, 1 ne property ol li. If. Stafford, Esq., whose intent ion wc believe it is to start ho for at least one ol the events at the forthcoming Nolson, meeting, should the weather prove favorable and the course in good condition, iielow wc give, as accurately as no have been able !o compile it, a full account of her running hitherto. Ultima made her appearance as a three year old in itso'd tor the (.treat Nelson Trial Stakes of 10 sovs. each with 52 govs, added, one and a half mile, the weights being colts Bst. 71b, fillies and geldings Sst. lilb., and fo which event she started pretty nearly as good a favorite as anything in t lie race. Third was, however, tho best position file managed to obtain on that occasion, the winner 1 urning np in. Ultima by Sir Hercules, out of Vesta, first Wetsail, !o second. The candidates defeated by I - idget. Ruby, Cressidu, and AVyndiiam. The race was decidedly a fast one, and snowed that (he young ones of the year were decidedly possessed of more than average speed, the time being 2 min. 55 sec. The following dav again saw our heroine busy, she being saddled to eonte.-t ihc Araideu Plate ot go sovs., added to a sweep ot 2 sovs , each, once round and a distance, and for which even. fortune befriended her a ■, although as far as running was concerned she could only manage to securoTceond place fo Miss Rowe, still her having a cross proved against her (.although quite unintentional on the pavtof.Tier rider Units) lost the race, and to Ultima was awarded the stake, Cressida, being placed second. '’ ddrako, who also started for this race, was.-un-lueaiA distanced through an accident;, lie having rim against a post and 'fallen over the ropes. The tunc of this race, one mile one furlong and IGG yards, was 2 min. 20 see. ° The Welter Stakes on the third day of the meeting, ol sovs. each, with 25 sovs added, once round and a distance, again saw our heroine shinped, but only to meet with defied, as she did not so much as secure a place ; Miss Rowe pro ring the winner, followed by Wctsail, and Phoebe in tho order named. This event closed tho public performances of Ultima as a three year old. jtstn). —The Canterbury Races in Fcbuary of this year was Hie first meeting in which I itiraa appeared as a four Tear old, the first event she contested being the Challenge Cup, added to a sweepstakes of 10 sovs.. each, two miles’ ami for which event she proved victorious by defeating with case Petty Martin, Alma, and Polka, -.ot satis/ied with tins victory she once more

proved her superiority over her Canterbury compel itoiy by also appropriating lo her own and her owner’s credit the Criterion Stakes, which she also won with perfect ease, to the discomfiture of Emperor, Tamerlane, Tom of "Bedlam, and Scamp ; and still further proved her powers of speed and endurance by pulling off the Handicap Plate, her defeated competitors being Count and-Eleanor. The Queen’s Plate of 100 sovs., three miles, on the third day of the meeting, however found Wetsail 100 many for}her, who defeated her, after an excellent race, Ultima m her turn defeating Hetty Tarim, Hector Borman, Polka, Captain \ orko, Sybil, Tamo, lane, and iNamu. The Atlson Annual Pit ting in April of the cuiucyear again saw Ultima engaged, but this lime only to meet with defeat in everv event but one she contested, her victor, on each occasion being the Auckland mare Deception. Commencing with the Turf Club Plato of -u> sovs., added to a sweepstakes of -J sovs., two miles, she run second to tiie above named mare, who won by a length, .Miss Kowc and Fidget being the defeated aspirants, the time being good viz., S min. 5-1 see. The Handicap Sweep of 10 sovs. each, with 50 sovs. added, one and a half mile, on the following day, again saw her at the starling post, when with Dst. ‘Jibs, on her back she had to re.-t satisfied with the empty honors of third place, Deception, fist. 21bs. proving the winner, followed by 10, 'is!. 91bs. in tho order named ; the time being also last, 2 mm, or- see. The aown 1 1 !a' e ol I )'■' sovs. with a sweep oi (5 sovs., three miles, proved a third victory for the Auckland mare, Ultima running second and lo third. This was an excellent race throughout and was won at the finish by Deception by a short length; time, (1 min. 5 see. The Consolation .flakes of 2U sovs., once round and a distance, proved (he only consoler for Ultima of the meeting, to the discomfiture of Alma ami 10, and the tables ouee more turned upon our heroine in the borccd Handicap, when with ‘Jst. on her back she had to give way again to Deception fist. bibs,, and io S.-l. l2lbs* her onlv defeated competitor being Ada, S.-t. who was distanced, although To who came in somewhat short ol weight, was trcaied w:ln a like punishment. Tiie time occupied in this race was J min. Ip see. 1801.—The Canterbury Paces in February of ISdi, was tlic opening oi L. lima s campaign as a five year old, and the Trial Slakes of 2 sows, each v\ iill Go sovs. adduct, one m ile, once more saw her nose first past the winning post, she having won pretty easily by half a length not withstanding the best endeavours of Eleanor, Fitly, and Antidote ; time 1 min. 52 sec. Tiie Challenge Cup of i.O sovs. each with 100 sovs. added, two miles, proved another victory for Ultima, who defeated her onlv other competitor, (Tipsy, literally in a canter, whilst she still further shov.vd iiie estimation in which she was held by her equine rivals, be being allowed to walk over tor tiie Criterion .Stakes. .Successful as she bad been in!her!o at tills meeting, defeat was yet in store for her, and (he Ladies’ Purse of IUO sovs. added to a swcei) of ].j sovs., two and a half mile, showed Wetsail a ’.’. inner, who won very easily, the two mares helm; tire only candidales that .stalled. The Metropolitan Handicap of s't so.'-., one ami a halfmiles, turned up tramps ;Ur U.i-madva with 7st. I2lbs. on her back, I hima t : .e mme age, vviui lUst 71os. being >eeo;ei, heating ieob Day, Sat. 71bs., Eilty, 7.-1., and Uito. Pst. The i’oreed Handicap at ine sane meeting again brought her out, but only once move to meet with detent. \\ etsail lust, securing first place, Antidote, 7st. 71bs., second, I. ilium, list., and |.Rob Hoy, (Jst. lUlbs., being pulled up. The Ael.-ou Ivace Meeting ol (lie same year again brought Ultima into the field, but in anything but the condition in which she ought to have appeared, the consequence being her defeat in every race she contested, with the exception of the Consolation .Stakes. In the Turf Club Plate of 10 sovs., two miles, on tliefirst day, \\ etsail, heronly competitor, defeated her with ease in 1 min. 12 see., and in the Handicap .Sweepstakes of I<> sovs. each with 10 sovs., added, one and a half mile, with fist, on her back she was beaten olf; .Revoke 7st. lUlbs., winning by a neck, min. 57 sec. The Scurry Plate on tho third day. of 25 sovs., added to a handicap sweep of 5 sovs. each, one mile heats, fell to the share of Otto, who with 7si. 71bs. on his back did not find any very great dilficulty in defeating Ultima, ‘Jst. 71bs.. in two heats, whilst the Consolation Plate, as we said above, threw a few crumbs into her owner’s pocket, and proved her only success of the meeting, to the discomfiture of Surprise, the only one of the other defeated candidates who saddled for the slake. The time for the Aclson Meeting being now changed to December, cause.l two meetings this year, and proved undeniably the excellent qualities ol si racer which Ultima pos- w-es. 1 p to tins lime, as will be perceived, our ueroine nad been running with but a moderate share of fortune, .-he never having been brought lo the post in that perfect condition in winch owner v.a- desirous oi seeing her. This meeting, however, saw her all that could be wished for, and proved unquestionably the correctness of her owner’s judgment, which ail along had (old him that iu LMir.ia he possessed a really first class horse, with speed and endurance, and thorough weight-carrying capabilities. The Handicap Sweepstakes of 10 sots, each with 10 sovs. added, one and a half mile, was ( ho first event which Ultima contested al this meeting, and with ‘.lst. Jib-, on her back she won bv a. length, 11 evoke, fist, dibs., being second and (Shadow, 7st,, the only other competitor, necessarily third ; time, 2 min. 5(1 sec. The following race, the Ladies’ Pm-se of GO sovs. with a sweep of 3 sovs., heats ccee round and a. distance, again saw Ultima a winner, J’.nclv Bird being second for each heat, and Kate. CHio. and Colonel all behind. [ his was an c-xeelient and exciting race, the first being won bv a. neck in 2 min. 23 sec., and the second heat be half a length. i he Town Plate of oO sovs. added to |a sweep of 1 sovs., throe miles, on the third dav,’showed one of the finest contested races that we ever remember to have sc on on (lie Mclson course, ami was decided by (he Judge lo he a dead beat, much

to tho discomfiture of some o i Revoke .s friends and hackers, who -were of opinion (hat .she had won the race. For this race Lady Bird, Otto, and Kute also star! ad, and came in in the order named, Lady Bird hmng an excellent third ; time, G min. 7 sec. Thg forced Handicap, once round and a distance, the last'evcnt of the meeting, once more saw Ultima in full force, and with ‘Jst. 131bs. on her hack she appropriated the stake after a good race, Otto, Sst. lidos, being second & Revoke, Bst. 71bs.’ third! l ime, l2 min. 19 secs. ISG2.—The Canterbury races of the present year is the last meeting at which our heroine lias as'yetruin ami that we hare to record, and here she also (list ingui-hed herself fully as well as at the .Nelson meeting a lew mouths previous. Tlie Canterbury Cup of 59 sovs. added to a sweep of 5 siavs. each, one and a quarter mile again secured her fresh laurels, as she appropriated the stake after a splendid race throughout with her old competitor lievoke, w ho ran her < o a neck, the beaten a-piruntsbeingßoh, Prince Charlie, Barbara, Lady Bird, and Peter Flat. The Ladies’ Purse of 100 sovs. added to a sweep oflO sovs. each, two and a half miles, scored a victory, however, for her persistent and indefatigable competitor "Revoke, who won by half a length after a splendid race, in 5 min. 1 see., Deception and Sultan being beaten oil". i' or the l ,,neon's Plate of 100 sovs. 3 miles. Ultima again retrieved her character, carrying ICst lllbs. and defeating lievoke, 9st. 101 b. Loss Rose Sst. Gib. anu i.mmeline Sst. Gibs, won after a splendid race throughout by three lengths in G min. 2 see. This c.nip.velliink.imqued ion ably be considered Ultima’s best performance, and an undoubtedly good one it is when we take into consideration the enormousweights tinder which she won. The Forced Handicap, 1 mile, is the last of Ultima's victories (hat wc have at the present time to chronicle, and in which race, carrying list., she succeeded in doloating cleverly by two lengths Pmmeline, Sst. and Prince Charlie. Dst,, 121 b. Time, 1 min 53 sec. The above list of I Lima's performances will wc think rank favorably with those of most of our tnrl celebrities at all weights and distances. (>nr heroine has proved herself to be emphatically one oi (he right sort, and wo cannot but fee! convinced that should she come to the post for the Otago Champion Race in as good condition as she was brought out last year she will bo, ii not too absolute winner, unquestionably among liio first three. At present she is as well and as hearty as her loudest admirers could possibly desire : ami wc doubt not that under the * careIvd superintendence and admirable steering of George Cults she will at least be able to prove to our ictoriau ami Tasmanian visitors that we still possess mure than one good animal fully capable oi’ sustaining the credit of Now Zealand, and more particularly that oi Xelse.a in our forthcoming lir.-t colonial Champion Pace.— XV/.voa Cw'omV, Pec. 9.