TURF TOPIC

Free Lance, Volume I, Issue 28, 12 January 1901, Page 16

TURF TOPIC

By Seahorse.

Casabianca has been added to the list. Mr. Gerald Stead had the mount on Black Squall, who won the Hurunui Cup on Boxing Day. The amount invested at the Hawke's Bay meeting, viz., £10,621, was £1214 more than last year. Mr. J. F. Reid purchased at Sylvia Park sale a filly by St. Leger—Stepfeldt, for the Elderslie stud. The Racing Conference has approved the dates — May Ist and 2nd— for the Manawatu Racing Club's autumn meeting. Free Holmes, who did well at West Coast meetings with Cameo, Cadet, and Hypnotist, has engaged them at the Hntt. The highest bid offered for the Seaton Delavel — Miss Letty colt was 850 guineas, and the Campania colt 650 guineas. Toroa (Regal — Mystery) fell and broke one of her forelegs while racing at the Thames meeting, and had to be destroyed. Wee Tottie, who won the Maiden Pony Handicap at the Auckland Trotting Club's meeting, is by Waiuku, from Lady Onslow. Horace Reeves and Harold Connap, two well-known Hastings trainers, have sent in their names for enrolment in the Sixth Contingent. Recluse, a brilliant performer, who had a short career on the turf and at the stud, has left behind him two useful stake-earners in Marianthus and Calceolaria. Although Battleaxe and Okoire declined the Wellington Cup contest, their names appear among the entries for the minor races. Percy Johnston has also Dartmoor engaged. Hiamoe, who is engaged at the Hutt, won two races at Hastings last week. She is by Somnus— Wairuareka, a four-year-old full-sister to Manawanui, Rangiatea, and Somnolent. Last year Mr. Stead's Screw Gun vanquished Renown in the Royal Stakes, but this year the Hon. J. D. Ormond's representative accounted for both the Yaldhurst representatives. Menschikoff's win in the Great Northern Foal Stakes gave Mr. Stead his seventh victory in that race. The previous winners were Lebel, Reflector, Bloodshot, Gold Medallist, Conqueror, and Screw Gun. The Hon. H. Mossman, who regularly journeys to Auckland from Queensland at Christmas time, has won the Visitors' Plate at Ellerslie two years in succession. He did not purchase any yearlings this time. Pony punters at Ellerslie bet heavily. On the four events at the meeting just concluded no less a sum than £9909 was speculated. Over £1000 each was invested on Lady Avon and Lena in the races they won. There were four winners at Ellerslie who scored on the opening day last year, viz., St. Ursula (Trial Handicap), Bluejacket (Auckland Cup), Renown. (Great Northern Foal Stakes), and Rbsella (Railway Handicap). Russley Belle (by Russley) and Warnote (by Lochiel), who were imported from Australia by Mr. J. Macara, and were successful at Tauheriukau and Martmborough recently, had not a race for over two years previously. Mr. W. Davis was negotiating for the purchase of the Westmere — Rosalind colt from Tom Shannon, but was too late. Westerly (Westmere — Martha), who is engaged at the Hutt, is a fine advertisement for the Escutcheon horse. Donald McKinnon's Hesper, who ran second in the Visitors' Plate at Ellerslie, would have paid a dividend of £80. Hesper is by Lochness — Dreamland. His half-brother Landlock (by Flintlock) competed iiiisuccessfully at the meeting. Bowshot (Maxim — Rainbow), sire of Bowman, winner of the Taranaki Hack Guineas on Boxing Day, broke one of his legs at Hawera recently. The injured limb has been set in plaster, and an effort is being made to save the horse. The Nordenfeldt — My Idea horse Fiske sired Fireball, who won at Woodville, and Sir 'Redvers, who scored twice at Tauheranikau. Both were bred in Marlborough, Fiske being owned by Mr. John Murphy of Spring Creek.

All going well with Formula, she should play a very important part in the settlement of the Takapuna Cup. Will Fashion or Kahuwai repeat the Serformance of their dams, Dudu and •rooklet, by winning the Wellington Cup. L. H. Hewitt rode Val Rosa in the County Handicap, at Ellerslie, in which the Seaton Delavel colt paid a dividend of £56 10s. Coronet, who won the Auckland Racing Club Handicap on New Year's Day, last year won the Grandstand Handicap, and two years ago the Summer Cup. He has had four tries to win the Auckland Cup, and on 1 two occasions got second. One of the bargains at the Wellington Park sale last year was the Hotchkiss — Crescent filly, purchased by Mr. W. Ryan, for 50 guineas. At the recent meeting of the Auckland Racing Club she finished once first, once second, and twice third. Mr. Edward E. Lewis forwards the programmes of the Pahiatua* Racing Club's meeting on January 30th and 31st. The Pahiatua Club employs the successful combination of Messrs. Henrys (handicapner), Hartgill (judge), and Piper (starter). Mr. G. G. Stead holds a mortgage on the Wellesley Stakes, in which Field Battery, Menschikoff, and Cruciform are engaged. The same youngsters are in the' Wellington Stakes. A final payment for both events has to be made on the 15th inst. The Wellington Park yearlings averaged 201 guineas, Elderslie Stud 140 guineas, Sylvia Park 103 guineas, and Glenlora Park 35£ guineas. Had the Miss Letty and Campania colts gone to the highest bids Sylvia Park would have headed the list. Explosion is back again at his old training quarters at Ellerslie. The big aon of Cuirassier is reported to be looking none the worse since his retirement from the track. It is greatly to be hoped that Messrs. Nathan's fine horse will stand another preparation. The Wellington Racing Club's summer meeting takes place on 22nd (Anniversary Day), 24th, and 26th instant. Advance will make his appearance in the w.f .a. Zealandia Plate, on the third day. He has also been entered for the Telegraph Handicap, three-quarters of a mile, on the opening day. Sparkling Water, after running up to Mr. Stead's pair on the opening day at Ellerslie, was brought out again later in the afternoon, and acted as runnerup to Crecy in the Nursery Handicap. The Racing Conference should bring in a new rule barring two-year-olds starting more than once in a day. Last year Mr. Thos. Morrin sent Vivandiere to the Sylvia Park sire Seaton Delavel. The produce was a colt, and at the yearling sales last week it was knocked down to Mr. Dolph Davis, for Messrs. L. D. and N. A. Nathan, for 365 guineas. Seaton Delavel's fee is 30 guineas, which left a good profit. It will be remembered that at the C.J.C. meeting Dan OBrien was dissatisfied with Brown's riding of Malatua in the Cup, and on the latter asking for an inquiry the stewards exonerated him. At Ellerslie T. Clarke, L. Smith, Speakman, Tate, Jillings, and S. Lindsay all had a ride m the "rose and black jacket." Dan O'Brien's Calibre (Light Artillery — Sunningdale) showed his best form at EllerBlie 3 where he deadheated with Ragabrrtjjh, ran third in the Midsummer Handicap, and won the Sylvia Handicap. The yearling colt by Musketry— Sunningdale. submitted at the Wellington Park sale who is nearly a full brother, realised 510 guineas. Calibre has been entered for the A.J.C. Derby of 1902. The gold mounted whip presented to the rider of Beau Ideal, dinner of the Ashurst Guineas, was donated by Mr. John 'Co^yfe; father of the club, and who inatfg^t£|sted the Ashurst Guineas. Mr. Cotter recently returned from England, and was present at the clubs meeting last week, and got a hearty reception. He intends to present the winner of the^-1002 Guineas with a similar whip. , <i^j Mr. G. G? j§*jead gave top price (640 guineas) at tne Wellington Park sale, for a colt by St. Leger — Hilda. The youngster is full-brother to Maude (who cost the late Mr. W. Douglas 155 guineas, but was never raced ; St. Lucia, who cost Mr. Stead 425 guineas, and met with an accident ; and Hengist, who cost the Hon. H. Mossman 1050 guineas. Last year's filly brought 410 guineas, and was sent to England. Nor' -west put up a good performance in the Auckland Steeplechase. He was conceding Cannongate 2st, and put up a time record for the race, viz., Bmin 13 2-sse<;. Miss Drury, Voltigeur 11., and Tarragon came to grief. The firstnamed fell on the top of the hill, and her rider received a severe shaking. Voltigeur 11. gave Frank Burns a cropper, while Tarragon fell at the last fence, and W. Munro got hurt. The jockeys were carried in on stretchers, and attended by Dr. Walker.