Turf Topic

Free Lance, Volume I, Issue 37, 16 March 1901, Page 15

Turf Topic

By Footlight.

Topsail (a full-sister to Pegasus) won the Otahuhu Pony Cup on February 27th. After so many disappointments, Dreamland, at nine years of age, put up a time record for the Australian Cup. T. Wilson was again associated with the Porirua colours at Wanganui. He rode Ostiak in his engagements on both days. Princess of Thule, ridden by her owner, Mr. M. Deeble, won the Hurdles and Steeplechase double at the Thames meeting. George Price, who is associated with Messrs. W. Davis and J. Paul's horses, was riding for Mr. E. J. Watt and A. Shearsby at Wanganui. The two-year-olds Diplomat, Benefactor, and Spun. Gold are engaged at the Masterton meeting in races in which older horses are engaged. Judging by the entries, the fields in the hurdle races at the Blenheim meeting promise to be quite as interesting for the "books" as the previous year. Waterford did W. Davis a good turn at Wanganui, and the bookmakers a bad one. The price he paid on the second day (£10) came as a big surprise. Grey Ribbon made a very creditable performance in her first appearance in open company at Wanganui, beaten by Moita in good tune, two miles and a distance, -imin IS 2-ssec. Illumination won on the first occasion that she started in the South Island. JNonne ran unplaced in the same race, in the name of Mr. T. Watson, who was given as the buyer of Illumination. Paladin was one ot 'the most profitable horses Mr. Victor Harris has owned. During the short time the son of St. George carried the (Jhristchurch owner's colours he won nearly £iUOO in stakes. F. Jones, one of Mr. Stead's apprentices, who was injured while riding Mr. Harris's Magnificent at the Hutt, was sufficiently recovered to take several mounts at the Dunedin and Wanganui meetings. Troubadour ran in the name of his new owner (Mr. S. E. Cooper) in the Hurdle Itace on the second day of the Wanganui meeting. He was made favourite, but Moira had too much pace for him. I learn, on most reliable authority, that the disqualified mare Ethel was taken to Australia and raced there. Will Gooramadda (late Music and Melody) be identical with the New Zealand pony? Wakeful, winner of the Oakleigh Plate and Newmarket Handicap, was bred by the late Mr. W. R. Wilson, at St. Albans. At the clearing sale she was purchased by Mr. Leslie Macdonald for 310 guineas. Trenton, sire of Wakeful, is a son of Musket. United States, winner of the Oakleigh Purse and Sires Produce Stakes, was also bred at St. Albans. His dam (Happy Land) is a daughter of Musket. J. E. Brewer scored twice at the Victoria Racing Club's autumn meeting. With Cicero, a member of the wellknown Neckersgat — Hortense family, he won his first race for the well-known South Australian owner Mr. John Crozler. With So Long, who ran in his own nomination, he won the Farewell Handicap, with his old acquaintance "Bobby" Lewis on top., Kudor pi onuses, to turn out as useful as her brother Somnambulist. Another of Nil Desperandum's progeny who did good service was Spreydon. The last of the family to represent Mr. T. Leen is Nabochhsh (by Haere), who ran second in the Scurry at Woodville. Considering the winning form shown by Sudor at Woodville recently, it was surprising that she should have paid such a good price at Wanganui. The whole of the weight-for-age races at Fleminp-ton went to one stable, by the aid of La Carabine, Malster, and Clean Sweep. Had the meeting been continued over a couple of days more Scobie would probably have had Paul Pry on hand to take a turn at Advance. The latter had the distances mixed on him pretty severely — Newmarket Handicap (six furlongs), Australian Cup (two miles and a quarter). Champion Stakes (three miles) and All-aged Stakes (one mile). Had the - .i-aged followed the Newmarket, with a mile and a half race the third day, and a longer distance to finish up with, Advance might have got his head in front.

The St. Leger — Armilla colt, purchased by the Hon. Geo. McLean at the last Wellington Park sale for 50 guineas, never recovered from an accident he met with while running out in a paddock, and died lasfc week. Mr. Laurent probably wishes he had accepted the good offer, said to be £350, made for Full Cry at the Wellington meeting. The gelding recently met with an accident which will prohibit him sporting silk for some time. Until Fulminate put up lmin 13sec for six furlongs, at Randwick ; last month, the record for the distance of lmin 14sec was conjointly held by Amiable (Flemington), Loyalty (Riccarton), Barmby (Ashburton), Menschikoff (Riccarton), and Fulminate (Randwick). The Dunedin Jockey Club had a good meeting last week, and came out £600 ahead of it. The progeny of St. Clair, bred at Warrington, by the Hon. Geo. McLean, won a number of races, including the Cup (Jupiter), Jockey Club Handicap (Pampero), Trial Handicap (Mosca), Flying Handicap (Brisa), and Farewell Handicap (St. Denis). The Stratford Racing Club holds its annual race meeting on Monday next. The acceptances received are particularly good. The following horses are suggested as likely to run prominently . — Hurdles, Avante Guard, St. Patrick's Handicap, Siandra; Flying Handicap, Wai-iti, Welter Handicap, Lady Bell, Cup, Dartmoor. Although Advance failed to score at Flemington, he ran into a place on three of the four occasions that he sported silk. His place winnings amount to £500, which should about pay the expenses of the trip. Boreas was also started once each day, but was not on his best behaviour, and failed to get a place on any occasion. The New Zealand sports who journeyed across to follow the pair must have had a pretty bad time of it. Judging by the acceptances received for the Horowhenua Hack Racing Club's annual meeting on Monday next, the journey to the picturesque course overlooking the Horowhenua Lake should be well worth taking. The following horses may be successful in their engagements — Trial Handicap, Eketerine Passaperoulo , Electric Handicap, Horoeka, Horowhenua Cup, Ngatihuia, Stewards' Handicap, Mackintosh, Flying Handicap, Gipsy Jack; St. Patrick's Handicap, Tokotea, Handicap Hurdles, Kaiwhakaroa. Both Hutt stables that were represented at the Wanganui meeting secured expenses. Waterf ord's victories will bring his winnings up to the amount required to debar him competing in hack races. A. Shearsby was represented by Queen's Guard and Fashion. The latter was well backed when he ran unplaced, having obtained a bad position. He paid the good dividend of £5 lGs when he won the Farewell Handicap, in which Queen's Guard ran second. The progeny of the successful little Painter mare Denbigh, who won the Wellington and Hawke's Bay steeplechases, are at last showing some form, but appear to require age. Ruby (by Turquoise) won several races last season, and at Wanganui recently Moifa (by Natator) showed that he is a cut above the ordinary by capturing both hurdle races. He was ridden by Douglas Watt, who was associated with Ruby in most of her jumping successes. Alf . Ellengham, who owns the pair mentioned, used to ride Ruby. Judging by Nobility's Wanganui Cup form, the New Zealand Cup may not have been the good thing it looked for Renown, who was conceding Mr. Watt's colt half a stone in the big Riccarton handicap. Nobility has done no racing to speak of this season, and Renown has done his share, and may be getting weary on it. Nobility is out a daughter of Castor (Lady Emily), the first one that has thrown a racehorse. Should Nobility down Renown at a difference of 51bs in the Hawke's Bay Cup, next week, he must be considered one of the best of his age seen out this season. The autumn meeting of the Hawke's Bay Jockey Club will be held on the 16th and 18th instant. The following horses may run well in their engagements on Saturday —Autumn Handicap Sinus , Handicap Hurdles, Moifa Hawke s Bay Cup, Ideal , Welter Handicap, The Herapie , Nursery Handicap Destroyer, First Hack Handicap Ngaio; Scurry Handicap, Hiamoe , Railway Stakes Handicap, Oingo. The acceptances were not to hand when the above anticipations were written. The meeting will be concluded on Monday. Ihe principal event is the Hawke's Bay Stakes, which will probably be won by Mr. G. G. Stead's Cruciform