SPORTING NEWS

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 449, 26 February 1890, Page 5

SPORTING NEWS

By HIPPONA.

V.R.C. AUTUMN MEETING. The Victoria Racing Club Autumn Meeting commences at Flemington next Saturday, and will extend over Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday in the week following. New Zealand owners are represented on this occasion by Scots Gr6y, Corunna and the two-year-old c*!t Medallion, by Nordenfeldt—Locket, and the trio should be able to maintain the prestige of the land of the Maori. The final payment for the Newmarket Handicap and Australian Cup fell due on Thursday last, but for some reason the list of those left in has not been cabled. This leaves us in the dark, so that summing up the chances of the candidates i 3 of little use. My own fancies for the Newmarket Handicap are, Scots Grey, Gladstone, and White’s selected ; and either Dreadnought or Singapore should win the Australian Cup. In the absence of the acceptances, the following anent the Newmarket Handicap, condensed from “ Vigilant's ” notes in the last issue of the “Melbourne Sportsman,” will be interesting reading :

Dkeadnoucht, 9st lib, has been very heavily backed down to hundreds to nine to win the short race. His stable companion, Cranbrook, ran away with this race, carrying Bst 121 b. Dreadnought, who is a very much smaller colt, has been allotted three pounds more, and if he contrives to win with that weight in the saddle,seven pounds more than weight for age, he will estab.ish a three-year-old record for the distance. As I have always contended that a three-year-old in the autumn is as good as he ever Jvill be, I shall not be in the slightest degree astonished to see Dreadnought win the Newmarket Handicap as easily as Cranbrook did in ’BB.

; i Apropos, Bst lOib, is another Newmarket Handicap candidate who has been genuinely supported, herowner, I understand, having backed the daughter of Apremont to win ja biggiehstake. Nicholson has got bhechestnut ;better chan she ever was before, and I hear that the trial she showed herparty during the Geelong race week, and on which -they backed her so heavily, was good enough to win any Newmarket Handicap ever run ; and if the mare races as well with the colours up, I regard her as being almost certain to run first, second or third. ■ Quite a number of Maoriland horses have been backed for this year’s Newmarket, Audacity, Dunkeld, Corunna and Scots • Grey each having admirers. Consequence, 7st 101 b, has been backed to win more money than any horse engaged in the Newmarket, barring perhaps Dre-td-nought and Apropos. As a two-year-old this beautiful filly was wonderfully fast. She is credited with having carried Bsb 81b in the December Stakes :at Randwick, and run the five, furlongs in lmin 2 ; jsec. Believers in the mfallibility of the time test here have a nice .little sum in rule of three set them. If Consequence, carrying Bst 81b, can run five furlongs in lmin 2jsec, in what time should she run the Newmarket Handicap, six furslongs, with only 7st 101 b in the saddle? Something under lmin. 15sec. Don Giovan, 9st 21b, is another horse who already carries a heap of money. He has been backed at prices ranging from . thousands to thirty-five down to bhousandsto fifty, to win about twelve thousand pounds, and as he doesn’t evince the slightest symptoms of lameness now his chance must be respected. Fishwife, ho is still my prime fancy for this race, has been very freely backed . down to thousands to fifty, and several other horses have also been nibbled at to win a few thousands ; bub the five 1 have mentioned have been entrusted with most money so far. The Australian Cup has up to the present been productive of very little straight-out betting, Dreadnought and Chintz being the only horses inquired for by the public.

BOUND FOB SYDNEY. J. Kean, who returned from Havvera on Thursday, is making arrangements to take a team of horses over to Sydney for the meetings during the Easter period. The date of shipment has not yet been settled, but Kean himself tells me the horses will probably consist of Cuirassier, Montrose, Leopold, Fusee, Escutcheon, Gatling, and a trotter and pony. Escutcheon is expected from Wanganui to-day. So far as I can gather, it is Kean's intention to return here in due course. ST. JAMES’S VICTORY. Contrary to general opinion, St. James appropi-iated the Dunedin Cup on Wednesday, Occident meeting with defeat by the shortest heads. From the tone of the telegrams, it would appear that the result was due to White's riding, and the sprightly-looking young horseman would thus further add to his reputation in the South, where a vast number of turfites swear by him. Last year White steered Sultan home. Two noticeable matters in connection with the race are the fact that the field was the smallest on record that started for a “big” event in the colony, while St. James’s dam Pungawerewere won the Cup in 1876, just fifteen years ago. Up to date St. James has started in 23 races, of which he lias won 5, been 4 times second, twice third, and on 11 occasions unplaced. His full list of past performances is: —

AT TWO YEARS : Did not race. AT THREE YEARS: Canterbury Spring Unplaced in Metropolitan Handicap, 7.3, won by British Lion 7.0, with Ruby 7.6 second and Leopold 6.12 third. ~ ~, , Dunedin Spring Won Maiden Plate, one mile and a-quarter, 2min 17Jsec, beating Matamata, Parvula. and four others. Unplaced in President’s Handicap, 6.5, won by Hermitage 7.9, with Wolverine 8.2 second and Enid 6.12 third. Dunedin February—Unplaced in Cup, 6.7, won by Sultan 8.0, with Vandal 6.7, second, and Occident, 6.3, third. Unplaced in D.J.C. Handicap, 6.0, won by Dudu 8.11, with Vandal 7.1 second and Manton 8.9 third. Unplaced in Forbury Handicap, 6.0, won by Occident 6.7, with Vandal 7.5 second and Quibble 7.4 third. Tokomairiro March—Won Tokonmiriro Handicap, 8.2, one mile and a-quarter, 2min 17sec, beating Windsor 9.0 and Quickstep 6.7. Third in St. Patrick’s Handicap, 8.4, won by Alanna, 7.0. with Miss Ann 6.3 second. Dunedin March—Won Anniversary Handicap, 7.8, one mile and a quarter. 2min 16Isec, beating Captain Cook 8.12 and Moss Rose 8.2. Third m Cliff's Handicap, 7.12, won by Apres Moi, 8.2, with Quickstep, 6.7 second, beating three others. Second in Holiday Handicap, 8.10. won by Mon Lonp 8.3, beating Captain Cook 8.12, and three others. _ Dunedin May—Unplaced in Birthday Handicap, 7.7, won by Chudleigh 7.12, with Ruby 8.5 second and Forget-me-Not 6.7 third. Second in St. Clair Welter, 9.0, won by Moss Rose 9.12, beating Golden Crest 9.3. and seven others.. Dunedin September-Unplaced in Kensington Handicap, 8.2, won by St. Malo, 7.3, with Quibble 7.11 second and Wolverine 8.12 third. Third in Telegraph Handicap. 8.0, won by Wolverine 8.12, with Occident 8.5 second, beating two others. . _ Taieri November—Won Taien Handicap, 8.12, one mile and a-half. 2min 49jsec, beating Cinnabar 6.12, Alanna 7.11, and two others. Dunedin November Second in Exhibition Gup, 6.13, won by Occident 7.9, beating Wakatipu 6.5 and six others. Second in President s Handicap, 7.3, won by Occident 8.5, beating Quibble 6.10 and four others. Unplaced in St. Andrew's Handicap, 7.7, won by Lady Florin 7.2, with Mon Loup 6.10 second and Quibble 64Q third. Unplaced in Consolation Handicap,

7.9, won by Mon Loup 7.3, with Masthead 7. second and Forester 8.10 third. Canterbury January Unplaced in Midsummer Handicap 7.6. won by Sultan 9.8 with Wakatipu 6.5 second and Scots G*ey 8.4 third. Dunedin Autumn— Won Dunedin Cup, 2 miles and a distance, 7.12, Occident 9.5 second, Ixion 6.12 third. Time, 3.5-'J; unplaced in D.J.C. Handicap, K mile, with 8.3, won by Blizzard, 6.2. THE HON. J. WHITE’S RETIREMENT. When the news was cabled here that the Hon. J. White intended retiring, it was hardly grasped that he intended retiring from active turf pursuits in Australia for a couple of years. Particulars now to hand show such is the case. This conclusion has been arrived at on account of Mr White’s contemplated visit to England, which will be made as soon as his health permits. Accordingly he has instructed Mr T. S. Clibborn to auction his yearlings at the close of the A..J.C. Autumn Meeting in April, and Mr T. S. Clibborn and Mr W. C. Y.iille conjointly to dispose of, about the same date, his horses in training (with the exception of Abeicorn), about 20 in all. The batch will include Dieadnought, Titan, Singapore, Rudolph, Marco, Sinecure and Co. Mr White will still keep his breeding establishment intact. Such a chance of seeming really first-class racehorses and tried performers of undeniable breeding has never before been offered to colonial sportsmen, and with the fact before buyers that Mr White has always been most conservative with the “Chester blood,” large prices ai - e sure to be realised. During the period Mr White has been so honourably associated with Australian racing (since 1877), Derbys, Champions, Oaks, Legers, Maribyrnong Plates, a Newmarket Handicap, and, in fact, every great race in Australia, barring the Caulfield Cup and Hawkesbury Handicap, have at one timo or other been appropriated by horses running in his colours. His record, as far as the rich races are concerned is : —Eleven Derbys, eight Legers, three Champions, three Maribyrnong Plates, three V.R.C. Oaks, three Australian Cups, three Metropolitans, two Melbourne Cups, four Ascot Vale Stakes, one Newmarket Handicap, one Sydney Cup. An astounding record this ! Mr White has won more Derbys in thirteen years than any one of the English Turf magnates during the hundred and ten years that the British Blue Riband has been an institution.

A QUEENSLAND VISITOR. Mr Oeorge Markwell, of Queensland, who purchased the brood mare Lady Walmsley (Carbine’s full sister), is at present on a visit to Auckland. He is in search of a stallion, and among those he has looked over is Brigadier. Remus, at one time in Mr S. C. Cook’sstable, is “ lord of the harem ” at Mr Markwell’s stud, and it is with the intention of procuring something better that the gentleman in question is in this colony. Lady Walmsley was among those who visited Remus this season. THE WANGANUI MEETING. Until the general entries and acceptances became due, the Autumn Meeting of the Wanganui Jockey Club gave promise of large fields. Tirailleur, Cynisca, and Leonardo are the only ones who have paid up for the Derby, and. the Hurdle Race has dwindled down to two, viz., Oddfellow and Armourer. Five have accepted for the Flying Handicap, which on paper looks next to a certainty for Cynisca. There ha 3 also been a great weeding • out in the Cup, only nine being leftin. Nevertheless, it should be a good contest. My fancies are Hilda and Dudu. St. James’s weight is increased to Bst 61b by his Dunedin Cup victory, and Patchwork has earned a 51b penalty. Those that have paid up for the Cup are : si lb si lb Dudu .. .. 9 2 Lady Florin .. 79 St. Jam:, n .. .. 0 6 Patchwork .. 7 8 Recluse .. .. 8 5 Masthead .. 7 4 Hilda .. .. 8 0 Wakatipu .. 7 0 Lenorc .. .. 7 9 TOO MUCH RACING. In Sydney it is said that the proprietary racecourses are killing the business. Not satisfied with the bakings at the legitimate race meetings, they are crowding pony race dates to such extent that they are slowly, bub surely, baking all the money away from the sporting community. The people find that they cannot stand the expense, consequently they are now satisfied to stay at home and pub the' money that they would expend in the way of expenses on the private totalisators. So says a Sydney scribe.

BITS OF TURF. Leopold was put in work again this week. Major George leaves on a visit to England on Monday. Harry Harrison will have control of the horses in training during the absence of the Squire of Wapiti. Reprisal and Vendetta arc not likely to be seen out again till next spring, while Raglan will in future again carry the “ black and white hoops.” Mr I. Earnshaw, the head man in Mr W. Kelso’s stable in Sydney, is spending a holiday here just now, and has been making himself acquainted with local racing matters. Mr Kelso’s establishment is known as the “ Auckland stable,” for among those who tenant boxes there are Cinderella, Paddy, Miss Alice, Lady Alice, Ricochet, The Don, Too Soon, a King Cole two-year-old, and the ponies Secret and Makiri. Mr Earnshaw enthuses on the New Zealand thoroughbred, andalsosays our hay is extensively used in all the Sydney stables. He further states the Hobartville yearlings are poor-looking alongside the Sylvia Park-bred youngsters, and are weedy. With his usual diberality, Mr M. Gallagher has been showing Mr Earnshaw the “ lions of the place,” and in such good hands it is needless to say the visitor is enjoying himself. J. Rae tells me ho intends shortly taking a trip to Sydney, with a couple ol his jumpers. The juniper Volcano, who was brought up from Napier for the Auckland Summer Steeplechase, is being hacked about the roads at Ellerslie.

Harry Hickton is working Quadrant during the absence of George Hope at Wanganui. E. Vaile, who at one time was in the employ of Major George, died at his parents’ residence, Oamaru, last week. The cause was consumption. Deceased was an excellent horseman, and ir. the colours of Mr P. F. Tancred and others he rode a number of important winners. Messrs Wilson Bros.’ first experience of racing in New Zealand has not been the success we would have liked. Pygmalion’s defeat in the Dunedin Champagne Stakes must have been a severe blow to the Broken Hill silver kings, and the son of Apremont appears to have also been easily defeated at the hands of Merrie England on the second day. This cannot be the colt’s true form. Mr P. Butler’s Champagne victory with Thackeray would be a popular one, for the genial and open-hearted Christchurch owner has been unlucky till lately. In the Waimate Handicap at the Egmont races Patchwork ran the mile and threequarters in 3min. 8 l-sth sec. Mr Frank Reynolds, the New South Wales studmaster, lias suffered a loss this season by the death of a brown colt foal, by

Goldsbrough out of Corisande, by drowning. Corisande is dam of the Caulfield Cup winner Chicago. At the Egmonb races, it was remarked as a curious coincidence that on the first day the horse numbered 2 on the card in the first four races won ; on the second day, the horse numbered 1 on the card won the first four races. Dudu and Wakatipu are in Wanganui, with a view to the meeting next month.