TURF GOSSIP.

Colonist, Volume II, Issue 167, 27 May 1859, Page 2

TURF GOSSIP.

The grand event of the past week (say? the Sydney Era of April 16), was the arrival on Wednesday evening, per Lord Worsley, of Mr. IT. Redwood and Ills string of Nelson flyers, which said string, we may here remark, includes the two three-mile nonpareils Strop and Potentate. In these "dull piping times," such an event as a visit from Redwood was well calculated to create a stir, and we were not surprised to find our sporting men instantly in commotion. The rush to the steamer.to catch a glimpse of the animal that has won no less than 15 races, and done three miles in 5 mm. 43 sec, surpassed anything of .the kind we have witnessed for many years. And never, we venture to say, were men more deceived by appearances—the redoubtable Strop presenting but lew of the points which are generally supposed to mark a race-horse. In fact, to an ordinary observer, Strop appears a very common-place animal. He is splendidly hipped, it is true, and has a remarkably fine barrel, good powerful loins, and a tolerably fair set of pins. But apart from these advantages, he might easily'be mistaken for a common carriage or cab horse.. In fa,ct, were he put up .for sale (his pedigree and performances unknown) it is questionable' whether any one would think of offering more than £50 or £60 for him. Yet this is the animal for whom ,£SOO has lately been paid, and on whom in all probability the honors of South Australia will depend in the national contest at Melbourne in October next. Sti'op will leave for Adelaide in the course of a few days, having not long since become the property of Mr. Wood, the former owner of Blink Bonny. From what we have been enabled to gather, however, it would appear that Mr. Redwood has still some interest in him,.and that a percentage of his winnings* (should he prove successful) are to fall to that gentleman. ; We regret this famous horse is not to shew at Homebush; his appearance could not fail to impart additional interest to our metropolitan gathering, more particularly as he would there most likely have to meet the little crack Ben Bolt, and some other animals as highly noted for speed. While on the subject of Strop's performances, we. may remark that the Town Plate time (5.43) recorded in the Nelson papers is quite correct, however astounding it may be to our readers. 'In fact, Mr. Redwood assures us that if Strop and Potentate are to be beaten here or at Melbourne, our horses will have to go a great deal faster thanthey have ever gone before —that is supposing nothing occurs to prevent his flyers coming in proper trim to the post. Friend Redwood is not in the habit of boasting, and we would, therefore, remind our readers«that a statement of this kind coming from him is not to be treated as mere gas. Potentate, whom we regard as the plum of the Nelhoniot, is a magnificent animal—he stands about 15 hands 1 inch high, and has all the beautiful points of Zoe, coupled with immense strength. His head and neck alone would stamp him as a race-horse. His shoulders and thighs are unexceptionable, and taken altogether he is the beau ideal of the English racer. Like Strop, he possesses an excellent temper, and does not appear to .have suffered in the least from the voyage, a portion of which was rather boisterous. To, the Leger mare, is also worthy ot her sire, being a fine blood-like animal, with many points of excellence. The other mare, Miss Rowe, we have riot yet seen uncovered, but her running at the Nelson meeting, and the repu-

tation she brings with her must be held sufficient to support the: character Mr. Redwood gives of her. Besides, it is not reasonable to suppose that our visitor, knowing pretty well the company he has to meet,, would think of bringing anything but first-class stock against us. ■ ■ m Strop will be shipped in a few days for Adelaide, where he will be put into training for the great event at Melbourne. Potentate and the other two will figure at Homebush, after which, on Mr. Redwood's return from Nelson (whither he proceeds on: a flying visit in Juneor July), they too will visit Melbourne, accompanied by their spirited ° Earnestly commending our friend Mr. Redwood for the pluck he evinces in bringing his stock to meet us on our own ground year after year, and • wishing him in all sincerity success, we have a suggestion to offer to the Jockey Club, which, under, the circumstances, we have no doubt will receive attention. Mr. Redwood has been all along desirous of entering for the Homeb«sh 81. Lcger ; he was mistaken, however, as to the date for the closing of the entries, and is consequently shut out of that race. What we wish to submit is—that having come 1200 or 1400 miles, risking all the* accidents and dangers of a sea voyage to give ah impetus to our annual gathering, it would be no more than an act of courtesy to have the entry re-opened to admit of lo's nomination. We do not believe any objection would be taken to the course we recommend by the parties already represented in,the race, And we trust, therefore, the Jockey Club will make it a point, if possible, of thus far meeting the views of Mr. Redwood, whose zeal and spirit as a sportsman cannot be too highly • extolled or appreciated by his brethren of the turf. From*the same journal of the 23rd we take the following :—Onr sporting friends in, town and country will rejoice to hear that the hitch which stood in the way of Strop making an appearance at Homebusli has been removed. The horse is to go after all, and thus the three-mile contest will be more than usually interesting. It appears that when Strop was sold to Mr. Anderson, in Nelson (who is a relative of the Messrs. Wood, of Adelaide), a stipulation was made that he should not run against Mr. Kedwood's horses in Sydney, unless with the consent of that gentleman, and articles of agreement to this effect were, we understand, duly executed. One of the Woods is at present; in Sydney, having arrived here a few weeks since' to await Strop's landing. Personally he was little interested in nullifying the arrangement previously made, but finding that the public were desirous to see the horse entered for Homebush, he put himself in communication with Mr. Redwood on the subject, having previously telegraphed io his brother stating what he purposed doing. Mr. Eedwood at once consented to the proposal on condi- ■ tion that a portion of the horse's winnings (if successful) should be paid to him. To this stipulation Mr. Wood agreed, and having since received & telegram from his brother " to do his best, and use his own judgment," the upshot of the matter is that Strop will figure in the three-mile handicap. His nominntion will not, however, affect Potentate, who will also run with the determination to be, if possible, either first or second. The meeting of these cracks with our own horses (Zoe, Lauristina, Veno, and Ben Bolt) must eventuate in a contest such as has never been witnessed before in the colony: When the important day arrives, may we be there to see. Touching this race, by the way, would it not be well if the Jockey Club made it a point to assimilate the weights to those which are announced for the champion three mile match at Melbourne, as by this mean 3 our turfites would be better able to judge as to which animals it would be most judicious (o send from Sydney. For instance, a horse carrying 9.st 91b. may be able to beat, at that particular weight, an animal that could run clean away from him '. with lOst. 41b.; but in such case, it is not wrong to suppose that the latter would be the most likely to <;arry our colours successfully in the great match. It is possible that Ben Bolt with the weight we have already mentioned could defeat Zoe, but no one, we imagine, would look for such ft result were the two handicapped at lOst. 61b. each—Mr. Tait'.s mare being, without, doubt, the best weight-carrier in a long race that we have in the colony. We should make it our study to get at the best animal—and this we submit can-only be done by the Jockey Club keeping in view the suggestion thrown out for putting on the Melbourne'weights in their three-mile race at Homebush. Having talked the matter over with several old sportsmen,- we feel convinced such a deviation from the usual course would be attended with advantage. It is the only pan, indeed, by which we can hope to get a line to guide our judgment in selecting a champion or champions (as the case may be) from the numerous animals that will present themselves. This latter consideration is one in which all should feel interested. ■ We hold the palm as yet, and should study to maintain our position, even against friend Redwood and his string of Nelson flyers. - . The Nelson-horses have left Martyn's and are_ now ensconced at Mills' under the care of their trainers. Itis understood the whole of them will be entered at Homebush, though we believe it is found impossible to re-open" the Leger entries to accotnodate 10. We regret this circumstance the more, because we still retain the impression that such an net of courtesy would have' been but an appropriate acknowledgment of the pluck manifested by Mr. Eedwocd in coming so far to meet us.