Turf Topics.

Free Lance, Volume VI, Issue 268, 19 August 1905, Page 21

Turf Topics.

By the "Old 'Un."

THE result of the Grand National Steeplechase and! Winter Chip, which weire run. off at Ricea-i'ton on Tuesday, were not unexpected in, local spor | tn<ng circles. Haydn and Inniskulleui had been heavily backed both by tibear Auckland and Wellington adirnorers. Haydln would certainly have proved a more popular win, as he was selected in. double wagers with every horsie in. the Hurdle. Race, in 'addfrtian to being a strong favourite with starting-price bettors. Imniskillen. -has rapidly come into prominence as a siteepleehaser. As late as February last he won a hack hurdle race at Taranaki, and he was then traed in open company, but, with 9st 61b, failed to run prominently at Wanganm in the hurdle handicap won by Trumpery. At Takapuna May meeting, Inmiskillen opened has steeplechasing career by wimniing the Maiden Steeplechase, and a couple of days later he defeated Kaitere an the Takapuna Open Steeplechase. At Auckland, in th© Gaeat Northern Steeplechase, hedidl not finish the course, being pulled' up at th© end of a couple of mdes. He ran am the Great National Hurdle Rao©, but fell early va the race, and was not again started' in public until Tue&dlaiy, when. he won,, from end to end, the most important jumping event of New Zealand. Haydn has been a most oonsii&tent performer, having preiviously won the Grand National Steeplechase, and also the Grand National Hurdle Race. Haydn must have run up> to about his best form, and displayed) some improvement on his Auckland running last June, when he ran second to Kaofere. It is bard luck for his owner to findl bis horse filling the position of runner-up for two such important events in one season, especially as Haydn is getting on in years, and may lose his form, ere another steeplechasing season comes round. Kremlin's victory in the Winter Cup was no surprise to those who have watched tins horse's form dturing the past two seasons. Since becoming the property of "Aleck" Hall, he has not done muieh racang, but every time bis owner supported him he 'has caught the judge's eye, and has proved a very profitable speculation. His previous efforts were over shorter distances, but good) judges held that a mmle was not beyond his galloping ability. Full Cry nearly brought off a surprise, being jus* beaten by a head, and would naive paid nearly £20 of a dividend. Tfe. Porirua horse, Exmoor, evidently ran the best race of his life, and,, in getting within two lengtihis of the winners, surprised even his admirers, as he was by no means leniently treated in the matter of weight. The owner of the local horse, Shxapnel Shell, as soonjs he saw the weights for the Winter Cup, selected Kremlin as a well-handicapped horse, and was lucky in obtaining a fair wager about the norse at 100 to 5. His own hoi-se, Shrapnel Shell, he considered had only an outside chance, but he was allowed to run for the stake. * » • Mr. H. Oxenham and Mr. So] Green, both bookmakers, won £5382 and £4319 respectively on the Australian turf last season, and were the biggest winners. Horses owned by these men, and indeed horses owned by most bookmakers, run most consistently, for the reason that they never lay against them, and when they win their owners are not troubled tb> pay out to their clients. Mr. R. J. Mason, with the YaJdhurst team, had a rough trip across to Sydney, but landed all safe. Isolt, the untried Multiform — Bellicent filly, is look' ed upon by some Sydney sporting scribes as the pick of the team so far as appearances go. The whole of the team were, however, much admired. Mr. Geo. G. Stead is expected to arrive in 1 Sydney during the first week, of September. The A. J.C. meeting oommenoes on September 9bh, on> which date the Epsom Handicap and A. J.C. Derby are Ho be decided. It must be gratifying to the Squire of Yaldhurst to find his old favourite, Lochdel, heading the list of winning Australian sires in the Commonwealth.

Lochiel sired no less than fifty-two winners, who won sitakes amounting to £17,552 last season. During eight seasons Loohael's stock have won 1013 races, valued at £112,448, this being tihie biggest record made by an Australian stallion. Weights for th© New Zealand. Cup are due next week (Monday). The C.J.C. weight adjuster, having had good acceptances sine© he adopted a medium maximum weight in his important handicaps, is unlikely to overload the best performers engaged l in the Cup. Much curiosity is evmoed by racing folks as to what the maximum impost will be. Most are agreeid that Achilles will be placed in the position of honour, notwithstanding that he has so far not won over a distance beyond one and a-quarter miles. Mahutonga has the Auckland Cup and Metropolitan Handicap to his credit, and may not be placed far below Achilles. Mr. W. Davis, who recently vmsited Sydney on pleasure bent, was hopefud of being able to pick up a useful handicap horse or two. He realised, however, that be could' do as well in New Zealand. The majority of horses of a class that could win races in thus colony are hugh'ly valued, and, in fact, are not for sale. Those purchasable- aire eitther under suspicion of unsoundnass, or have been found wanting when, tried on the race tracks. Mr. Davis informs me that BaJlarat, Black Reynard, Ropa, Melwood, Xavier, Grand Circle, and his Stepniak three-year-oldls out of Ledia and Wish, are all progressing favourably, and, as soon as the Hutt tracks will permit, they will be .sent along in earnest in view of the October meetings. Field Battery has gone to the stud, up Fedldinig way, Onewa is for saJe for stud' purposes, and St. Winifred! is still being allowed to run in her owner's paddocks. Followers of the Porirua-tramed horses do not appear to be much interested in. the Grand National meeting. Wihen Prosser takes a strong team South, his patrons and their friends generally take a run South, and assist at the meeting. With only Exmoor to represent the stable, enthusiasm seems ait zero, as few, if any, of the stable's followers are attending the National meeting. Mr. Prosser himself has been slightly indisposed during the past week, and' C. Jenkins went Soutfh in charge of Exmoor. Mainiapoilo and the balance of tlhie Porirua team have been indtulged 1 in useful work recently. The former will be well forward by the date of his departure for Sydney. Mr. Pirosser is busy with the two-year-old members of his team. The most forward of them are displaying plenty of pace, and should 1 be able to take part in the Wellesley Stakes, which is now run at th© W.R.C. spring meeting.

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