Turf Topics

Free Lance, Volume I, Issue 43, 27 April 1901, Page 15

Turf Topics

By Seahorse.

At the Westland meeting five of the races produced fields of three, and the other seven races were reduced to matches. L. Davis intends to mate Leda, who has a Sylvia Park colt at her side, with the recently-imported Trenton horse Mernwee. Dan OBrien is disposing of some of his team privately. Gold and a filly by Musketry — Alethe have been sold to a Dunedin sportsman. The Manawatu Racing Club has appointed Mr. T. Cameron starter. He will officiate at the club's meeting on May first and second. The disappointing Natator eelding Pipi, who was some time ago trained at Porirua, won a steeplechase at the Southland meeting last week. A difference of 2st 21b in weight did not bring Right Metal and Roderick Dhu together, or alter the result of the Hurdles on the second day at Nelson. The well-bred, but disappointing, Legion of Honour (Medallion — Iris) was sold at Taranaki last week for £15. Mr. E. A. Laurent, owner of Full Cry, was the buyer. Patchwork (Piscator — Patch), who was Bold recently in Hawera for £3 15s, is the sire of Bowfield, a localowned gelding who ran into a place at the Horowhenua meeting. At Dunedin last week, a totalisator clerk, who was making his first appearance in Mason and Roberts' employ, was sentenced to one month's imprisonment with hard labour for the theft of £50. Ruamahanga did not accept for the Welter Handicap at the Hutt, on account of the weight allotted. According to their recent Nelson form, Ruamahanga should have met Volley on about a stone better terms. Lady Lillian, who won a double at the South Canterbury meeting last week, is the first of the progeny of Lady Zetland. She is a three-year-old filly, by the Trenton — Sapphire horse Phaeton, bred and owned by Mr. E. Gates, and was ridden by R. Derritt. Ruamahanga has not had any luck in connection with the Nelson Cup. In 1897 he ran second, and last year third. A local sport, who was present last week, states that he won by a neck, but the judge decided it to be a dead heat with his sister Volley, who won the race in 1899. After competing at the Hutt, some of Sir Geo. Clifford's horses may be taken on to the Manawatu meeting, where Somerled and Glenaladale are engaged. There are so few meetings in Canterbury that owners have to go further to look for their winter oats. At the yearling sales in Sydney, Mr. J. McMasters purchased a chestnut gelding, by Projectile-Russet (by Russley) for 90 guineas. He has since joined his half-brother (Red Gauntlet) at Wmgatui. A brown colt, by Grafton — Profane (by Clieveden) was also knocked down to Mr. McMasters, for 110 guineas. Messrs. Prosser and Jenkins, with Advance returned from Sydney on Wednesday and were present at the Hutt the following day. Advance started seven times in Australia, being twice first, twice second, twice third, and once unplaced. He added £1425 to his winning record, and more than paid expenses so far as he was concerned. The imported horse Benzoin got a mile and a quarter in 2min 12sec at Timaru, and won with ridiculous ease. The five starters in the race (Autumn Handicap) were all backed on the totalisator. The totalisator turnover the first day showed a falling off of £178 compared with last year. The club also lost the fees of bookmakers, who were present in large numbers and appeared to be doing a good business. The expense of keeping such a large establishment as Mr. G. G. Stead's Yaldhurst must be pretty heavy. The Canterbury Jockey Club provides in stakes sufficient to pay a great part of the bill. During the present season Mr. Stead's horses have won at the spring (£1535). summer (£1160) and autumn (£1185) meetings a total of £3880, which is about one-fourth of the stakes given. As the visiting trainers have won the greater part of the balance, some of the Riccarton trainers must be getting a bit tired. For the small number of horses he has had through his hands, Free Holmes has, comparatively speaking, been particularly successful.

Scottish Minstrel must be considered remarkably well sold at £200. The Wairarapa Racing Club cleared £350 over their recent Easter meeting. The jumper Long Tom was started three times in flat races at Timaru, and ran second on each occasion. Harry Francis thinks that had Boreas had his usual pilot up in the Century Stakes the judge would have put up his number. At a recent meeting the starter offered to stand whiskies for the half-dozen runners in the concluding event if they would get away all together. Dan OBrien would have disposed of Malatua for £300. Calibre would hare brought £250, but was knocked down before that figure was reached. The reason Joe Gallagher was not on the back of Battleaxe in the Auckland Century Stakes was because the Messrs. Nathan have first call on his services, and he had to steer Beddington. Percy Johnston's injuries when Cannongate fell with him in the Hurdles, at Auckland, were not of a serious nature. He came down from Taranaki in charge of Mr. F. Watson's team to the Hutt. Menschikoff is a pony alongside his brother (Skobeleff). the latter is, however, a great stayer, but was the worst of nine two-year-olds trained at Yaldhurst, and for that reason did not sport silk till three years. The brother is a champion two-year-old, and in a brush-up early in the season galloped two furlongs in 24secs. Cruciform, who defeated him recently, has improved as the season wore on, but was no use to the son of Stepniak in the spring. Prior to the start for the Century Stakes, at Ellerslie, Mr. Fred. Watson, a New Plymouth correspondent advises me, most carefully inquired what was the exact weight Battleaxe had to carry. It seems rough on the Taranaki owner, as even the two pounds extra would not have altered the result. Mr. L. D. Nathan is a steward, and Mr. N. A. Nathan a committeeman, of the Auckland Racing Club. They are the owners of Beddington, and have objected to the first and second horses. L. H. Hewitt was in good form at Timaru, up to the race where he got put out for crossing. He will continue to ride until his appeal is heard by the Canterbury Jockey Club. Even if it is upheld it will not affect him a great deal, as it will be off before the spring meetings come round. The enforced spell would give the successful imitator of Tod Sloan the opportunity of paying a visit to England. He was suspended by the Southland Racing Club a couple of seasons back, and took a run across to Melbourne, and rode Alva to victory in the Toorak Handicap during the time he was standing down. The Avondal© Jockey Club made a wise step in deciding to hold their autumn meeting at Ellerslie, the most popular course in the colony. The suburban club's totalisator turnover on the first day jumped from £4646 to £7365. The Needle, who pulled off the Avondale Handicap, won last year, when St. Ursula and Laetitia were second and third. Last Saturday they reversed places. Several of the other winners have recently showed good form at Ellerslie or the outside meetings. The profits over the meeting, which will be concluded on the 27th, should about pay for the extensive improvements the club is having effected to its own course. Although the attendance at the trotting meeting at Petone last Saturday was up to the average, speculation was anything but brisk, and did not reach four figures. The Christchurch division, the brothers B. and M. Edwards, as usual were very successful. They won with Onward, a handsome two-year-old colt, who got under even time. Billy Wilson won the big event, although the victory of Modesty who ran third, might have brought in more money. Naughty Girl, formerly owned in the Wairarapa, whoi has shown considerable improvement during the short time she has been in Edwards' hands, won a double. She races well. The Member (B. Edwards) got the harness handicap through Sweet Marie and The General being disqualified. The Sharps, who generally score at local meetings, won with Trio> and Revenge. There was no pony race on the card, but Revenge. Trio, Sweet Marie, and Naughty Girl all come under the standard.