SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8137, 18 June 1906, Page 3

SPORTING.

TURF" TOPICS,

[By " Moturoa."]

Aka Aka broke down badly while contesting the Winter Steeplechase at hllerslie 011 the last day of the meeting. Baritone changed hands prior to the third day's r.ici.ig. rt is stated tho price n tid was I 175. Evi loutly the purchaser holds a ru'tier high opinion of the big son of Le-il.intis The Great Northern Meeting, which has just been concluded, was one of t ie most successful yet held by the Club, not only from a lin n ncial point of view, but also in the quality of the Holds and interesting racing. In many cases close finishes were recorded, which must have been very pie ism' to the bandicappor (Mr Geo. Morsi-). A Northern writer present at tho meeting niys:_"They wore the lot of junipers that has ever lined up at Hie post for a steeplechase ia .New Zealand," so that the prospect for the coming winter meetings looks good,

Oue sad inc dent, however, will have to be recorded against the Great Northern Meeting of 1906 in the death of Sauiual Fergus, who received fatal injuries when riding Silicia in the Hemujra Hurdles. The well-known horseman has been associated with many successes in Maoriland, notably in steering Haydn to victory in the New Zealand Grand National Steeplechase and the Great Northern Steeplechase. The accident appeared to cast a gloom over the last day's proceedings. Had Cavalry not made a faulty ' jump in the big event, he might have troubled the winner, as he appeared to score easily on the second and third 1 day.

Weary Bill, who in some quarters was considered a good thing for the Campbell Hurdles, finished absolutely last. I think the Australian gelding has been a little over-estimated. It is now reported thot L Hall will not visit Australia this winter with his team of jumpers, as was contemplated. Boomerang is quoted at the absurd price of 12 to 1 for the New Zealand Cup.

Durable ha>- again broken down, but Jervis George docs not despair of getting auotker race out of the Sylvia Park gelding.

Spearmint's .win'in the great French three-year-old race, coming on top of his success at Epsom, makes the Carbine colt to be something above the ordinary. It may not generally be itQOfl'n that the Grand Prix tie Paris is a more valuable race than the Epsom Derby, and as difficult to win. The last occasion on whicli an Englishbi ed horse won the French race was in 1885, when Minting was successful. It is worthy of note that Minting is the sire of Maid of the Mint (Spearmint s dam). I think lam correct in stating that only once previously has an English horse won the double (Derby aud Grand Prix), viz. Cremcjrne in 1872, just thirty-four years ago. Spearmint's double win is another bold advertisement for New Zealand horses, through the medium of " Old Jack."

Sub-editors who have to deal day by day with a cabled news service condensed to the utmost possible brevity (remarks the "Feilding Star") are often puzzled to find the sense of some cryptic message. To give an instance. A few days ago, tliis very abbreviated cable arrived from London " Derby spearmint pieton troutbeck." It was followed on the same sheet by a message about the Church Association's protest re the Spanish Marriage. The first part of the cabled message meant, of course, that Spearmint was first iu the Derby, Pieton' second, and Troutbeck third. But this is how a eontemporary mixed the two cables up, aud published them in colli print;— "1 he Bishop of Derby and Messrs Spearmint, l'ieton and Troutbeck, of the Church Association, have written to Sir Henry Cuinpbell-Bannerman, prjtesting tint the presence of the Prince and Princess of Wales at Princess Una's marriage was a most dangerous departure frym constitutional usage."

Baritone was purchased by Mr W. Morgan, who also onus Sol, having bought out Mr llanuon's interest some time ago. I think we have not yet seen the best ol Baritone, and the gelding may repay watching in his fu'ure engagements. A considerable number of burses returned from the Northern meeting last week via New Plymouth. The idea of holding a meeting about this dale might be worthy of consideration by the Taranalii Jockey Club. There is no other meeting to clash with it, and it nuy be an inducement for owners to break the journey here on on their return from the Aucklaud meeting.