SPORTING NEWS.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 478, 7 June 1890, Page 4

SPORTING NEWS.

By HIPPONA. RAE’S DEPARTURE. J. Rae informed me yesterday that nothing has yet been settled with regard to Orangeman and Donald accompanying him to Melbourne. Rae proposes leaving next Tuesday week, and we will see him figuring in the pigskin, probably for the last time, at Ellerslie next Saturday. Rae tells me that since he settled down here in the autumn of 1883, he has ridden in 180 jumping races, and lias 66 times been successful. Some of the wins, of course, have been gained outside this province. This season Rae has been victorious eleven times out of nineteen mounts. THE ENGLISH TURF. In the course of an article referring to the win of the two-year-old colt Simonian in the Brockelsby Stakes, a writer in the “ Bird of Freedom ” says :—“ England thirsts for a really representative racehorse once more, to be handed down in the future in the place of the forgocten-at-the-end-of-the-season champions wo have now for so long had served up to us. A proper champion should be a four-year-old, and must be a stayer. Ormonde’s infirmity prevented his being such a horse. St. Simon retired at tho close of his third year. St. Gatien went off after his great three-year-old performance in the Cesarewitch, where he gave promise of becoming a beau ideal representative champion. Bendigo’s best brace of efforts were, unfortunately, defeat?, and we have to go back bo Isonomy for our last representative English racehorse. Would that., we had at least one stake worthy of developing such animals ; but while all the money is given to two-year-olds and more sprinters, and the four-year-old with stamina'is offered nothing whatever bub that which his owner can command at considerable outlay, from the Ring, how can we expect to possess the only proper type of champion racehorse ? Something has gone wrong with our steeplechasers also, for certainly a commoner lob than the majority of those in this year’s Grand National have seldom been seen together. The winner is, no doubt, an exception, as he is evidently a quick, safe, and easy jumper, and possesses fine stamina, essential attributes in a steeplechaser. But his weight was a favourable one, and he had the good fortune to bo in the right hands, having been perfectly trained and beautifully ridden. BITS OF TURF. The racing track on the Takapuna course was in a terribly soft condition last Monday from heavy rain. This was only to be expected at this time of year. Racecourses situated on ground like that at the marine suburb cannot be made in a year, but time and an efficient system of drainage will rectify this. The meeting was probably the most successful held at Takapuna, and the popularity of the Jockey Club was fully shown by the large crowd that assembled on the coui-se. Nominations for the Melbourne and Caulfield Cups and the Metropolitan Stakes and Hawkesbury Handicap close on Monday ( next. According to a Sydney cablegram of yesterday’s date, Swing and Insignia are favourites for the Birthday Cup. Hilda has receded somewhat, owing to hedging-money coming into the market. Her price is now 100 to 14. Mr W. Bobbett has taken The Colonel to the Thames. The horse is to be turned out at Paeroa.

Sir Garnet, the winner of the Wanganui Steeplechase on Monday, is a six year-old son of Southern - Mayflower.

Kangaroo was shipped from Wellington last night to fulfil his engagements at the Auckland Racing Club Winter Meeting. He is charge of H. Pell.

From the tenor of Mr O’Brien’s conversation recently (writes “ Rata ”), I shall not be surprised should he extend his turf operations beyond Australia in the future provided his present luck lasts. Orlando, the winner of the Takapuna Steeplechase on Monday, wa3 purchased by George Wright, while in Napier last March, for something like £3O. Previous to coming into Wright’s hands, he suffered from an ailment, but there has been no signs of it since the horse has been located here. Orlando has won a good number of hurdle races at meetings in the North Island, and he was sired by The Painter, out of a mare named Valerie. Harry Howe deserves credit for the way he brought Orlando to the post, and Frewin handled the horse well in both the Hurdles and Steeplechase. Hilda’s half-sister, Hazel (by Nordenfeldt), owned by Mr D. O’Brien, is reported to be developing into a fine mare. Freedom (by Captivator—Maid of Honour) is also doing well.