TURF TOPICS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8142, 26 June 1906, Page 3

TURF TOPICS.

[Br " Motueoa."! All the horses in Alex. Hall's team are reported to be in excellent trim. His two Hawke's Bay candidates, however, failed to run up to expectations. Shrapnel was solidly supported in the Hawke's Bay Hurdles. Evidently Black Reynard has taken very kindly to the jumping game, as he is said to be getting through his work in a most satisfactory manner. Sleepwell, also, is considered by competent judges to be a very promising 'chaser. The mare has lately been giving some finished exhibitions of jumping over the steeplechase country at Hastings. Nadador, who won the Hawke's Bay Steeplechase on Saturday, was also successful in the same event last year. Defoe, who received injuries in the Wanganui Steeplechase, is making a very slow recovery, and it is doubtful whether the Robinson Crusoe gelding will be seen out at the Wellington meeting. One of the first arrivals at the Hutt for the Wellington meeting, which is to bo held on the 11th and 14th of July, is Cotapass, who raced consistently at Otaki, gaining a place on each day.

The Hotchkiss mare Lualla has joined P. Higgott's team at the Hutt. Waiterere has been thrown out of training and returned to Ms owner. Miss King has been allotted 10.5 in the V.R.C. National Hurdles—a handy impost. Paritutu has been well backed for the New Zealand Cup, and is now at a short price. Another candidate for this event which has lately received solid support is the Mohaki—Melinite mare, Armistice. A Wellington writer states that " the money was not from the stable, as neither the owner (Mr G. P. Moore) nor trainer (Harry Jackson) ever bet. It is related "of the latter that during the whole time that he owned, trained, and rode Blazer, he never had £2 invested on the champion sprinter. Armistice was recently put into work again, and is to receive a special preparation for the Cap." It is stated that half-a-dozcn Auckland horses are left out of the New Zealand Cup, ou account of the owners overlooking tho date of closing nominations. •

J. McCombe has been engaged to ride for the Hon. J. 1). Ormonde at tha Hawke's Bay and Napier Park meetings. The local gelding Waikato is looking exceedingly well, and should ho take kindly to the jumping game will probably win a good race for E. Russell before the season closos.

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. "Bell Block"—Multifid.is a bay colt; the owner's colours are rose and black stripes, with black cap. Malmtonga is a chestnut gelding, the colours being green jacket, scarlet sleeves and cap. Melodeon is a bay horse. There is not a grey horse nominated for this year's New Zealand Cup,