Turf Topic

Free Lance, Volume I, Issue 46, 18 May 1901, Page 15

Turf Topic

By Seahorse.

There arc over two hundred applications for the post of secretary to Queensland Turf Club. Con Boyle, who was many years in Mr. R. J. Mason's employ, prior to coming to the North Island, has joined Lonsdale Lodge. Mr. W. T. Whitaker's Viotta uas among the successful competitors at the Auckland Trotting Club's meeting at Pottei's Paddock, on Saturday last. Imitators of Tod Sloan are increasing, and with them the advantage of the "crouch" style is becoming more pronounced. There is an Australian back-block jockey named Jordan, a Sloan follower, whose recoid is a pretty good one. Of 146 mounts, he has 54 wins, 36 seconds, and 17 thirds. The West Australian Turf Club has resolved upon the separation of the offices of secretary and handicapper. Mr. J. Handran Smith has been appointed handicapper at a salary of £000 a year. The salary of the secretary under the new regime is fixed at £350 per annum. At a recent suburban meeting an unbacked outsider flopped home, and an elated bookie exclaimed "Ah' ah! a skinner at last. Now we can open out the prices a bit." Then he invited his clerk to share a small bottle, and, returning to the ring, after facetiously ypilrng, "I'll pay the winner," he "open<*d out on the next, race with— "Even money on the field !" The Waikato sportsman, Mr. P. Jones, has sustained a severe loss by the death of the racing mare Moment, who died last week from internal inflammation. Moment, who was a daughter of Freedom out of Memento, was a game little mare, and had a good many wins against her name. Her latest achievement on the turf was her victory in the Railway Handicap at the Avondale meeting, when she beat Hastings, St. Olga, and some other good ones. The Auckland Racing Club, after several reminders and a good deal or persuasion by the press, has decided to purchase an ambulance. Although there is no ambulance corps at the Hutt similar to Wanganui, the Wellington Racing Club's arrangements for attending sufferers by accident are most efficient. The room is most convenient, and the appliances the best in the colony. Honorary Surgeon Dr. K. JPurdy's assistant has qualified by examination for the work. Mr. Kvitt has taken no liberties with Battieaxo (12st bib) and Boreas (12st 81b) in the Great Noithern Hurdles. Kit he i of the pair has only to score once to get an almost prohibitive weight. Last year Cavaheio was let in with lOst and won also the second day with list 51b, and at the Hutt with 12st. At Riccai-ton he ian third with 12st 91b, when record time was put up. Another maiden the handicappers had to deal with last season was Record Reign Ho won his first raee — a maiden handicap—wjth 12st 121b, and the Grand National Hurdles with a similar impost Boreas (who is bred to jump) and Battleaxe are better performers on the flat than the two jumpers mentioned, and both are in the best of hands. Two systems' of pony measuring would appear to exist at Auckland, judging by the following remarks by a Northern writer — "The Slave and Ivan both passed the measurers at Potter's Paddock, but they would not pass the A R.C official measurer, Mr. G. Cutts. Theie is something wrong here that needs lighting. Supposing an objection should be lodged against ponies competing at Potter's Paddock on the ground that they are over the height, who is to finally "judge ? Are the pony races at Potter's to be run under the authority of the Auckland Racing Club in future, or what is to be the position p " The Goodwood Handicap the principal sprint race in South Australia, was this year w on by the Victoria horse Finland. Last year Ranfurly won the Goodwood Handicap, starting a rank outsider, and the year before he was second to Foicst, who had previously won thr> Newmarket Handicap. Several pretty good hor&es have won the Goodwood in other years, the list including such as Coulston, Chetwynd, Goldstream, Fulham, Britisher, Mo&tyn, Tinstream, Orient, and Australian, and somo very good horses have captured the Adelaide Cup such as Sting, Malua, Stanley Port Admiral, War Paint, Mora, Paul Pry, and Tarquin.

"Boz" asks — -"Why have the rules of the totahsator chsappeard from the race cards? Do the authorities consider the public have learned them, by heart?" Having disposed of Macintosh, J. Y. Reid is no longer an owner. He has applied to the Wairarapa Racing Club for a rider's license, and is to appear in person before the stewards at their next meeting. Ismene, recently purchased by Mr. E. J. Watt, has been enteied at the Otaki meeting. It is the intention of the Napier sportsman to endeavour to win a race with the daughter of Dreadnought. She will be one of Merriwee's mates next season. The Manawatu Racing Club has decided not to go on with the trespass cases against the bookmakers. The recent meeting is probably the first and the last in which the pencillers will take part, as the club are taking immediate steps to get on their new course at Awapuni. Blue Jacket has gone into retirement for six months, and will, all going well, make his reappearance in the Auckland Cup, which event he has already won twice in succession. He has to go one better to equal the record held by Ariel and Nelson. The Australian-bred Cranberry, under the name of Stoccado, ran third in the Chester Cup. He is owned by Sir Edgar Vincent, owner of Screw Gun. Voltigeur 11. and Dummy are the previous winners of the Great Northern Steeplechase engaged this year. The first named, Dingo, Nor'-west, or Moifa may supply the winner, unless there is something up to Grand National form in the 9st division. Acceptances for the Otaki meeting were not available when these lines were written. Owners of the undersigned will probably pay up, and their horses should run well on recent performances if the going suits — Hack Hurdle Handicap, Turanganui , Otaki Hack HandicaD. Plaidie , Raukawa Cup, St. Mark • Welter Handicap, General Wolfe , Flying Hack Handicap, Gipsy Jack. Rangiuru Handicap, Sylvie. The Wanganui meeting will be held on the 23rd and 24th instants. Moifa and Doctor Bill have a nice racing weight in the steeplechase. Torpma and Cceur de Lion may be the best in the hurdles. Bush Rose has been given a chance with lOst, and appears much better handicapped than Boreas. One of the 7st division will probably win the Flying. Sundial and West Guard look as well in as anything on paper. The Hack Flying takes some picking. The best of the local pair (Fakir and Roseplot) may be there or thereabouts. Mr. W. Robinson's stud farm at Te Auto was recently visited by "The Squire." The thoroughbreds on the farm are — Half-brother to Will-o'-the-Wisp— by Waterfall, Hilltop (Burlington — Gladiator mare), four years, gelding by General Thornton — Virginia Water; gelding by Somnus — Scylla (dam of Minos and Purimu) , Sou'-west-er — Scvlla gelding , gelding by Orion's 80lt — Martini-Enfield mare , gelding by Martini-Enfield — Painter mare . filly by Somnus — Taw h era gelding by Orion's Bolt- — Nadine, by Dreadnought fill y by Orion's Belt — sister to Barbarossa filly bv Orion's Belt — Tauhara, prelding by Oiion's Belt — Martini-Enfield maie, liy by Strephon — Heavenly Twin. The Hawke's Bay jumping contingent this winter will include Moifa, Chris, Rhino, Bush Rose, First Blood, and Awahuri. The strongest of the division will be Moifa, and there are more unlikely things than that he will follow in the footsteps of his half-sister (Ruby) and dam (Denbigh) and annex the Hawke's Bay Steeplechase. He is negotiating the big fences in a most creditable manner. Chris has had a lengthy spell. He has already show n proficiency over the small sticks, and is big enough for cross-country events. Rhino, who won the Hawke's BayNapier double three years ago, may or may not stand a preparation. He is not getting any younger, and is giving his trainer some trouble. Awahun is related to Mangaohane, a great performer, and will represent the same owner, Mr G. P. Donnelly. At the Avondale Club's lecent meeting one of the competing horses figured on the cards as Injustice (late Zeehan). The name was applied for, and granted in proper form, but the owner has since receaved an intimation from Mr. Wanklyn, secretary of the Conference, to the effect that the name has been disallowed by the chairman, Sir George ClifFoid. No doubt, Sir Geoige has looked upon the name as a reflection on the Ta,kapuna Jockey Club, as the horse was disqualified at that club's summer meeting, when running under the- name of Zeehan, and it seems to me that he lias s-ome reason for taking this view of the case. The owner of the horse at the time freely expressed the opinion that an injustice 1 had been done hence the change of names as a set>off. Ho did not, however, fool disposed to stand to his guns, and has now named the hoiso Mount Zeehan.

King Edward plays the banjo; so does the Duke of Cornwall. * • • It js stated in Dunedin that Mr. P. R. Dix is negotiating for the purchase of the Provincial Hotel and the Princess Theatre. * • # May Lewis (a norn de theatre), of Fuller's Empire Company, is the daughter of a well-known universal provider of Wellington. She adopted the stage simply as a pastime. * * * Miss Annie Kinnaird, a Dunedin soprano, who is appearing with Mr. William Neil&on, tenor singer, in operatic duets, at the City Hall, Auckland, will shortly appear at the Theatre Royal, Wellington. » • • It i& said that a young lady, well known in the profession in New Zealand, is shortly to shine forth as a "magnet," something after the style of Miss Annie May Abbott, the "Georgia Magnet." The young lady in question was recently in Wellington, and has already made a hit in each of the four cities as a balladist, comedienne, and a trick cyclist. » * # Prima donna Ella Russell, to a Melbourne "Outpost" interviewer —"Yes, I have sung before the Duchess of York, and I have good reason to remember the last time, because I lost a brooch worth £300. It was at a patriotic concert at the Hotel Cecil. Most of the English and some foreign Royalties \\ ere there." Rather rough on Royalty this. ♦ * * The Pollards are in Brisbane just now, and, according to a local scribe, Charles Carter, the young and beauteous tenor of the company, has played great havoc among the hearts of the impressionable damsels of Brisbane. We heard two girly-girly gushers in a tram the other day ecstatically voicing his charms. "Isn't he lovely?" said one. "What a fine open countenance he has," remarked the other. "And such expressive eyes'" "His smile is heavenly!" "He's a perfect love!" And so on. Mr. Carter may be summed up, from the Brisbane ladies' point of view, as "just too sweet." • • • After leaving Sydney, Musgrove's Opera Company will play for three weeks in Brisbane, and will then embark upon a long tour of New Zealand. They open at Dunedin on September 23rd. Recent additions to the company's repertoire are —"The Flying Dutchman," "La Traviata," and "Mignon." • • • A propos of Mr. Williamsons new Grand Opera Company, which is now in its way out from Home, and is to open at Melbourne next month, some fuller particulars are now to hand. Of the twelve principals engaged, the prima donna is the dramatic soprano Signora Lena di Benedetto, and the principal tenor is Signor Commendatore Vincenzo Larizza. These two artists, with Signora Edwige Faceari (soprano leggiero); Signori Fernando Cattadori and Ignazio Bozzoli (baritones), Signor Evandro Cannonieri (tenor), and Signori Olinto Lombardi and Baldo Travaglini (basses), will appear in "Aida," the spectacular opera that will open the season in Melbourne at the beginning of June. • • • "Aida" is to be followed by "Lucia," "Ernani," and "La Boheme." "UnBallo," "La Fayonta," and "La Sonambula" are also in the repertoire. The remaining principals had not been engaged when the mail left. So far, Signor Travaglini is the only principal known to colonial opera-goers. Here, in Wellington, as elsewhere, he will bo remembered as the basso profundo of the Cuttica Concert Company, of eight or nine years ago. He is said to be in splendid voice now he was always good. The orchestra on the way comprises the leading violin, 'cello, viola, double-babb, two French horns, bassoon, flute, oboe, and harp, and will be made up on arrival to the number of forty-one performers, for part of whom twelve orchestral instruments are being specially sent out. In the same way, the chorus leaders ?me been engaged in Italy. The chorus, numbering forty-eight, have been rehearsing in Melbourne for some time. • • • The Royal Ballerinas, numbering twenty-four, will appear in "Aida" and the other operas containing ballets. As to costumes, the company is bringing these complete for all operas, as produced on the La Scala stage. Scenery is also on the way for every opera but "Aida," which has already been painted by Mr. Gordon. Altogether, the season promises to be a most brilliant one.

That penny dreadful, " Deadwood Dick," Perhaps may charm the vulgar mind, Though rather apt to turn one sick Whose taste is cultured and refined. But though the mind is high or low, The body must its ills enduie ; The thing for coughs and colds we know Is W. E. Woods' Great Peppermint Cure.