SPORTING NEWS. [By Hippona in the " Auckland Star."]

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 381, 3 July 1889, Page 4

SPORTING NEWS. [By Hippona in the " Auckland Star. "]

SHIPMENT OP THE HON. J. WHITE'S DERBY COLTS. The embarkation of the Hon. J. White's horses and Lady Betty for England was effected without "the slightest difficulty, for despite the novelty of the surroundings, the horses were as tractable as could be desired. The ordinary passenger gangway was prepared under foot with matting, and properly secured at the sides ; and old PJutarch leading the equine procession, the quarbettn inarched on dec-k as unconcerned as though they were being led into the stables at Newmarket. The boxes w ere in perfect order for the reception ot the horses, and everything that utility, comfort, and safety demanded had received due attention. Messrs Day, V.S., and T. Pay ten superintended the shipping of the horses, and the latter accompanied them to Melbourne, so that any improvement that may bo deemed necessary in the accomodation could be effected while the vessel remains in Fort Phillip. D. Bowes, the well-known jockey, has charge of the horses, and is accompanied by a lad named Tophair, who lias been in the employ of the Hon. tfamefc White for sometime, and also served in JSlr Cooper's stables. They have been provided with snug quarters in tho second cabin, immediately underneath where the horses arc located, and as the boxes are situated just opposite die smoking room on deck, a caieful watch can be kept on the colts in rough weather without experiencing any inconvenience. Great numbers of visitors boarded the Orizaba to see the Derby candidates, and general adiiiiration was expressed afc the completeness of the arrangements, as well as the docility of the colts. T. Payten, who has since returned to Sydney from Melbourne, leports that the Derby candidates — Xii kham and Narellan — settled down to their new surroundings with the greatest composure, and never exhibited the slightest restiveness or discontent. Plutarch and Lady Betty were also in good form, but that could only be expected from old campaigners.

MR STEAD'S HORSES. The turf scribe of the "Canterbury Times " has been looking over Mr Stead's team at Yaldhurst, and at this period his impressions of the lengthy string are interesting. He writes : — Maxim has just been taken up after his long spell, and as he came striding along the sand track lie looked every inch the great horse he unquestionably is. He has not altered much since we last saw him in public ; thickened out a bit perhaps, and put on flesh ; but if he will only drop that unfortunate trick of over-reaching, and escape the other ills to which valuable horse flesh is especially heir, he will do doughty service for the yellow jacket next, season. Gipsy King is taking his ease in a paddock, but disports himself like a frolicsome yearling as we approach, and to all appearance is as sound, or rather sounder, for the matter of that, as when he performed those mighty feats at Forbury, sixteen months ago. Sextant is a member of the afternoon team, and appears at last to have regained some of the substanco he di^ayed as a two-year-old. If the horse has done any work —on this point we ask no questions — his great arms and quarters denote plenty of muscle, but we fancy from the way he walks thathis forelegs still occasion Mason some anxiety. Scots Grey struck us as being lighter than when he won the Challenge Stakes, but this is hardly likely to be the case, and we shall only commit ourselves to the statement, that he promises to train on to the Derby colt so many of his friends predict. Rainbow is indulged with a run in the paddock during the daytime, and looks sound and well, but at home they have no reason to form a very high opinion of this filly's capabilities. Enids fetlock joints have assumed all sorts of shapes since the mare's retirement to the paddock, and probably the i - eal explanation of her repeated failures in public may be that some long-standing tiouble prevented her confirming, on hard courses, the good form she showed on the sand track at Yaldhurst. She is supposed to be in foal to Le Loup. Crosier has not, in our judgment, borne out the promise he gave as a yearling ; yet the most serious fault we can find is that he is more like his siie. Bose Argent still has that unlucky krfee which deprived New Zealand of one or two additional victories in Austialia, and, we fear, will never stand the woik a jrieat bijr tilly requires. Medallion, by Nordenfeldb— Locket, who, we believe, has not yet been saddled, is undergoing tieatment for a splint, and perhaps we saw him at a disadvantage, but our first impression is that a good slice of the 500 guineas he co.st at the last Auckland sale was paid for his blood. He certainly hasa capital tore end, but behind the saddle he shows none of the nicely-balanced power one has just noticed in Maxim, and ragged hips and a badly turned croup — not fatal faults we admit — do not make him a good one to follow. PalJiser, by Isordenfeldt from Radiance, is much more to our liking, and we fancy he will come earlier than most of the Nordenfeldts we have yet seen. Carronado has not the best-looking hocks one can imagine, but should gallop notwithstanding, and Liquidation, the sister to Wapiti, and half eister to Maxim, will requiietobe rather better than she looks to add much to the reputation of her dam. Marion, who came down from Auckland last January, carries unmistakeable evidence of her union with Nordenfeldt, and everyone will hope that this time she •will make a worthy contribution to the stud book.

DEATH OF BETRAYER. From Canterbury comes news of the death of Betrayer (Sir Modrod's elder brother), who was found dead in a cre^k. He was owned by IMr O. O. Matthews, of South Canterbury, and of late years had been performing stud duties in that district. During the time Betrayer was on the turf he won bheC.J.C. Champngne Stake?, Canterbury Cup, Wanjjanui Cup, and Timaru Cup. It will be rememljered he was brought up here to take part in the Auckland Summer Meeting, but did not start). Betrayer was a very handsome horse in appearance, but his size was against him carrying weight.

NELSON'S ACHIEVEMENTS. Anenfc Nelson's retirement from the turf announced by me last week, a valued correspondent writes : — As an ardent admirer cf the old horse, let me add a line or two to your remarks. Nelson has started in 68 events, and to those who, like myself, love to wanderinthe misty realmsof imagination, these figures suggest some startling results. For instance, it will be fair to assume that King Cole's son in each journey that he undercook with the colours up averaged a mile and a half, so that he accomplished 102 miles in his efforts to win renown. It will be remembered that while in Gaining he was credited with being a veritable glutton, five-mile spins being negotiated with the same ease that a stable boy gets rid of his breakfast. Well, presuming that ■he accomplished, say, three miles on each occasion while in training,' and that he was a regular attendant oh the track for six days out of the week, this would give an average

of, 18 miles traverjseU ' per week. ,'lt iß'safe to assert that he trained for at least six months out of' the year, or say, twenty-five weeks, and this produces a total of 450 .miles .traversed. for the twelve months. The old hero is now nine years of age, and commencedhis turf career as a two-year-old ; assuming then that he trained continuously on the above lines from that period up to the time of his retirement, we arrive at a grand total of 3,150 miles that must havo been encompassed by the gallant che&tnut in his endeavours to emulate the doughty deeds of his fashionable and stoutly bred progenitors. His journeys by land and sea are subjects worth considering, especially when it is remembered how ho travelled from ono end of this colony to the other, to say naught of his trips to " the other side," and in this connection it is worthy of note that he was one of the best of sailors, for no sooner was he safely housed than he made himself perfectly at home by laying down until his journey was completed.

THE HAWER A. TWO- YEAR-OLDS. Writes " Gipsy King " : — Before leaving Hawera after the race I had a look at threo of the local to-be Carbines. The iiist one I had a look at was Mr Davidsons bay 18-month-old colb by The Dauphin from Zom Zem The colb is looking rough, bub shows theTraducer quality, and has any amount of size (The Dauphin excels in transmitting this desiiable quality to his progeny) and is very level along the back and strong across the loins, gi\ ing one the idea bhab hurdle racing will be in his line. Mr S anley's colt Imperial was the next I inspected. Since Recluse's victories I presume this colt's breeding will be considered "fashionable." He is by The Dauphin from Satoria, by Sabor — Voltarina. Satoria in her day proved herself a very slippery mare, and always performed creditably in firsfc-class company. The colb has a p'.ainish head, and behind this and above the pasterns he is remarkably well pub together. Bqt another colt of bhe same age as bhe above bhab I have a fancy for is one owned by Mr Hall, ot Norman by. He is by Souwesber from Barbara, by Barbarian. Barbara ran fairly well some few yeai'S ago aboub Wellington, and if she has given her son any pace he will pass as regards looks. He is bhe handsomesb colb I have seen for a long bime. The sevoral owners of the above colts have each received tempting offers for theii young 'uns, but decline to part.

KEMPTON PARK JUBILEE STAKES. Under date May 17th, our London correspondent sends the following description ot the race for the rich Kempton Park Jubilee Stakes: — "Kempton Park, ou Friday and Saturday afternoon last, more nearly resembled Ascot on Hunt Cup day than a mere suburban racecourse meeting. It was l the thing, don't you know ,' to be there, and from the Prince of Wales (who, to the distraction of masherdom, came in a ' pot ' hat and ' dittoes ') downwards, eveiy 1 chappie ' able to beg 1 , borrow, or annex what the ' Pink 'Un ' calls sufficient 'oof for exes, made a desperate effort to put in an appearance. Owing to the victories of Bendigo and Minting, the Jubilee Stakes at Kempton has become the most important of all the spring handicaps, and the result of this year's contest will certainly not detract from its prestige. There were sixteen runners, and of these eight) had strong parties behind them, who honestly believed the race all over but shouting. First and foremost came the great Goldseeker (4yrs, 9st lib), who looked trained to the hour, and whose connections were confident of his emulating the unexampled feats of the two previous winners. A horse backed for tons of money with surprisingly little justification was ,the three-cornered Orbit(4yrs 7st 131b). Money poured into the Ring all morning for him. The result was that Orbit finished up first favourite at 5 to 1 and ran nowhere. The three-year-old Amphion (7st lib) and Screech Owl (sst 71b), though well-backed by their connections, were left alone by the publio. Amphion, it was reckoned, would have to be a crack indee I to give nearly a stone to True Blue 11. and to meet The Rejected (syrs, Bst 31b) at a disadvancape of 41b on the weight for age scale. Screech Owl, too, the same experts condemned as second class. Lord Cholmondeley's well-named son of Wisdom and Noisy nevertheless led the field a i-are dance. For three parts of the journey, he was fully two lengths in front of everything, and looked like winning easily. The field, however, closed up as they neared the turn for home, and then Amphion drew out. There was a bit of a scrimmage as they swept round the corner, in which it is possible True Blue (of whom I caught a momentary glance) and one or t«o others suffered. Amphion, however, was always in front, and from this poinb had the race in hand. Scieech Owl got to his haunches again once, but nothing else thieatened the least danger, and General Byrne's colt eventually won comfortably by three lengths, a similar distance separating Lord Cholmondeley'fc. colt from The Rejected,- who finished a bad third. Limerick Boy (another thiee-year-old) ran fourth. Bullion fifth, Martley sixth, and Goldseeker last but one. Amphion has unfortunately no classic engagements, but may meet Donovan at Ascot.

SOUTHERN RACE PROGRAMMES. The Canterbury Jockey Club programme for next season shows a reduction of £500 on bhat of 1888-89. Despite repeated loss, the Club have again fixed the Summer Meeting for New Year's Day, but only £595 is given in added money. The Dunedin Jockey Club programmes have also seen the light of day. A substantial increase has been made in the added money compared with la^t season, as will be gathered from the following figures : —

ENGLISH JOCKEYS. With Fred Archer dead, and C. Wood under the ban of disqualification, the brothers Barrett have now taken up the position of leading jockeys in England. Even while the two famous horsemen named flourished, however, Georgeand Fred Barrett were rapidly coming to the front, and for the season of 1886 (at the close of which Archer died) the rive best records in England were — F. Archer, 170 wins ; C. Wood, 167 ; G. Barrett, 121 ; F. Barrett, 94 ; and J. Watts 93. ] n English racing circles the race for supremacy between the two brothers will not be the least interesting feature of the present year. Up to the departure of the last mail 'from England (the season being still young) Fred Barrett held a slight lead of his brother, with T. Loates and J. W atts close up.

REMINISCENCES OF A 'FLY FLAT.' " How I Lost £500,000 in Two Years " is the title of the book in which- the irrepressible Benzon proposes to lay his .woes before a sympathetic public (writes our London correspondent). Of course "the Jubilee", does not write the moving tale himself. , He merely supplies the matter, which iid being "thrown. into form'^ by a journalist of some' repute. Naturally, Plunger Benzon's name will alone appear

on the title-page, * ;The book (if !ofte-half I hear about the contents be true) should cause a sensation in sporting circles, and lead to a .very pretty orop of libel actions. Like all "fly flats" who come to grief, Benzon flings the wildest accusations broadcast. A flood of light is cast>onthe inner histories of the great races $£ 1886 and 1887. The Plunger represents himself , as a judicious combination of the dove and the serpent — frank and honourable, yeb shrewd and watchful. Had he got fair play, he inti-' mates he would have been a match for the King, whose tuctics soon became familiar to him. The people he was not equal to, he adds, were the noble rampers and aristocratic thievep, who, whilst pretending to be his friends and to give him information about their horses, really laid "plunging" traps for him to fall into. Tins may be true, but the Jubilee forgets on how many occasions ho forestalled an unfortunate owner who came into the Ring to back his horse for some small race after having eeen it saddled and put up the jockey, only to find " the plungor " had appropriated every cent of the money, and that instead of getting 30r4t0 1 he mubt take evens. Natuially, after " dead sharps " (like certain " sellingrace '" owners I could name) had suffered once or twice through Benzon'a forestalling, they found ways of retaliating.

MIXED ITEMS. The Hon. James White's mare Volley, together with lanbho, is at present revelling in the enjoyment of a spell in the Kirk ham paddocks. " Carlyon is also at Kirkham, and is beins: treated to gentle exercise. An Englifch bookmaker made a bet recently that he would enter a cage in which the lions were confined at a circus at Plymouth. He surely must have stood badly against Donovon for the Derby. However, the intrepid metallician won his wager, nob only entering tho cage, but coming out unscathed. A risky lodking double this to pull of, and I think I might safely namo more than one of our local layers of odds who would have considered " 10 to 1 this and the next " good business. It was of course easy enough in such a case to " got a leg in," bub tho trouble was in respect to tho probability of leaving it there.

ISBS-8E £ lunt Club Meeting . . 515 inhibition Meeting .. 1325 Dunedin CupMectinp: 3260 ITarch Meeting . . 740 Birthday Meeting .. 1030 9. , 1889 9i £ 650 6070 3540 850 1310 )£>. Increase £ 135 4745 280 110 280 Totals .. ..£6370 £12,420 .-65550