Turf Topic

Free Lance, Volume I, Issue 41, 13 April 1901, Page 15

Turf Topic

By Seahorse.

Stepma, who is now trained by A. Shearsby, at the Hutt, won three races at the Maniototo meeting in February last. The Ohinemuri Jockey Club have given Mr. Blomfield ten years' right for the use of the totahsator at the club's race meetings. Mr. Thomas Mornn, the Wellington Park studmaster, passed through Wellington last week, on his way to the C.J.C. Autumn meeting. Ayrdale, who has been engaged in the sprint races at the Hutt, is a two-year-old filly by Gipsy— Fairy Maid, trained by J. McGuinness, at Wingatui. The Grand National Steeplechase winner, The Guard, who has had a lengthy spell, appears among the entries for the hurdle races at the Hutt. W. H. Keith is training the Hawera horses Discount Sundial, Forward Guard and Employer. They were engaged at Feilding this week , also at the Hutt. Mr. H. McPhee has changed Lethargy's name to Dormitory. The first name belongs to a five-year-old mare by Apremont — Comatose, belonging to Mr. W. Rathbone. Although Kohunui is barred from competing in hack hurdle events, haying won £150 in stakes, he can still run in hack flat events, and was engaged in hack welter races at the Wairarapa meeting , also at the Hutt. Mr. F. Walcot has purchased from Mr. J. Curne, of Wanganui, a four-year-old brown colt, named. The Dane (by Vanguard — Lady Grey), half-broth-er to La Petite Fille. The youngster will shortly join A. Shearsby's team, at the Hutt. The latest addition to Percy Watson's team is a two-year-old chestnut colt by Handsome Jack — Niobe, named Adonis He was purchased from his bieeder, Mr. H. N. Harrison, of Wanganui. Niobe (Natator — Sunshine) is full-sister to Waterbury. Mr. G. G. Stead has won the C.J.C. Champagne Stakes nine years in succession. The bearers of the yellow jacket who put up this great record are Strowan, Bluefire, Mannhcher, Bombshell, Multiform, Altair, Screw Gun, Formosan, and Cruciform. The squire of Yaldhurst had previously won the race with such known performers as Trenton, Maxim, and Medallion. An owner last week realised very forcibly how difficult it is now-a-days to get a private trial. He had everything arranged for a gallop on an off afternoon. A strong canter once round in the morning might have deceived the touts, but as it was "they were all there" waiting when the time came. "A million of 'em," says the owner, though that is a slight exaggeration, of course. The result of the appeal case Paterson v. the Canterbury Jockey Club is that the stewards of the club, as trustees for the racecourse reserve, have no power to exclude bookmakers or other persons from Riccarton on race days. It is stated that the bookmakers intend to bring a test case against the Wellington Racing Club to decide whether that club has power to exclude them from the Hutt Park racecourse. The telephones out Ellershe wav are kept busy just now. There is a spirit (relates "Boz") of freemasonry amongst our amateur "touts" — none like their friends to miss a "good go," so when any extra move is on after the regular work, the "switch" is on and oft sixty times a minute, warning friends in town, and these pop out by tram or bike all managing to reach the spot in the nick of time, and trainers wonder how the deuce they get to know what's moving. At the Papakura meeting, on the 30th March, Pungarehu, a grey gelding by Eros (St. George — Idalia). from tho lumping mare Maritana (by Hippocampus), won the Hack Handicap, putting out a hot favourite in Pandarus. Other winners at the meeting were — Maiden Handicap, Sly Miss (Flintlock — Miss Sly), owned by Bookmaker R Blaikie , Flying Handicap, Belfast (Seaton Delavel — Lady Antrim) Pony Handicap, Go It Sir (Howitzer — Ongo) . Papakura Handicap, The Needle (Brigadier — Dressmaker). The meeting was held on the Glenlora Park course £101 was given in stakes, without a permit. Next season, with a permit, the club would, no doubt, see their way to double the stakes.

The spieler's grace . "For those we are about to deceive may the Lord make us truly thankful." Ostiak struck form at Feilding, wheic he won a double. On the second occasion he put up 9st 71b, and ran six furlongs in lmin 17sec. Long Tom, who won the two hurdle races at Riccarton, is by Artillery, from Clarence's dam, and evidently a useful sort. The opposition he met was anything but first-class. Hohoro's performance in the St. George's Handicap at Ellershe was a brilliant one. He carried 9st 81b over a mile and a quarter in 2mm llsecs, and beat such as Ideal (Bst 61b), Materoa (Bst), etc. Cruciform put up two first-class performances at Riccarton, finishing in front of her stable mate (Menschikoff) on each occasion. The St. Leger filly should win the Oaks, and be useful in other classic races next season. Judging by their recent performances at Ellershe, Cannongate is a better performer over hurdles than Cavahero. The latter was neglected in the totalisator, whereas Cannongate carried some weight of gold each day. It is not often a horse wins two races in succession the same day. Solo (Blairgowrie — Dolly) put up this performance at Ellerslie. The field he boat on the second occasion, however, was weaker than the first. Feilding has become a happy hunting ground for Crusoe. He won the Cup and ran second in the principal event on the second day this week. He won the double there last spring, and at the autumn meeting in the previous year won the St. Andrew's Handicap. The Hutt trainers H. Peters and F. Barry each had a winning turn at Tauherenikau. With the useful Ruamahanga the latter won three events. Osborne showed a glimpse of his old form, and effected a great surprise in putting down West Guard and Queen's Guard. Shearsby's stable was out of luck. They failed to get a win at the Wairarapa, and Fashion, who was supposed to be the best of things for the Feilding Cup, finished in the ruck. Seahorse and Boreas met in the Easter Handicap at Ellerslie, but both finished out of a place. Rosella, who was sorted out when the weights appeared, went back in public estimation in favour of Hohoro, who had been putting in some slashing work. Rosella won by a length, and paid the good price of £7 13s. Mr. L. D. Nathan was not present to see his colours carried successfully, having left a few weeks back on a trip to England. Jemima, who was racing at Tauherenikau this week, is full-sister to Stepma (Stepniak — Glorina), in Shearsby's stable. Jemima is a brown. Most of the Stepmaks are chestnuts, but Mensohikoff, Stepina, and Ostiak's yearling brother are bays. Stepina was entered for hack events at Feilding, but did not accept. She was not eligible for hack races at the Hutt, having won an open event at the Maniototo meeting. Jemima is engaged in hack events at the Hutt. The Sydney Cup winner, San Fran, was accountable for most of the running in the Australian Cup, and ran himself and Advance to a standstill. San Fran is trained by T. Payten, and is by imported Gozo, who sired Gaulus, Grafter, and Co Australian Colors, who was meeting the winner on similar terms as to weight and age, might have ian a better race had he not ran earlier in the day. Australian Colors is a full-brother to Mr. Gollans Australian Star, who has recently been performing successfully in England. Joe Gallagher, who has been riding for Fred Watson this autumn, returned to his old employer (Geq. Wright), on the second day at Ellerslie, and elected to ride Beddington in the Century Stakes, in preference to Battleaxe, on whom Fred. Davis (Hon. J. D. Ormond's pilot) got the mount. Battleaxe was first, and Beddington third, the pair being split by Boreas, who was only beaten in the last few strides. Lovors of a good horse, who witnessed the race, would no doubt express regret to see Seahorse and St. Paul whipping in the field in such company.