TURF NOTES.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 293, 8 December 1923, Page 21

TURF NOTES.

(By WHALEBONE.)

After the A.J.C. meeting, many keen judges formed the opinion that the three-year-olds were a moderate lot, says the "Australasian." The racing then has strengthened that opinion. Ballymena, after winning the A.J.C. Derby, was taken back to the Dominion, where he failed to obtain a place in the New Zealand Derby, after leading into the straight. Subsequently Ballymcna (7.6) beat a small field in the Canterbury Cup, the second horse, Sunart. carrying 9.6. King Carnival might have made amends for his Randwick failures; but, after winning the Caulfield Guineas, he injured himself while running in the Victoria Derby, and missed a place. The winner. Frances Tressady, with 7.3. ran fairly well in the Melbourne Cup; but if she had been a filly of the Auraria stamp, she would have been closer to the winner than fifth. Nevertheless Frances Tressady must be regarded as Xh*e best three-year-old of the meeting. As* she won the Oaks none too easily from such moderates as Gungool and Prying, probably she was feeling the effects of her exertions in tbe Cup. The Tressadvs are not "cut-and-come-again" customers. Followers of Rahiri found this out to their cost. How Shrapnel would have fared in the Derby had he not gone wrong can only be conjectured.

J- 5 J. Roach, another well-known Auckland hurdle and steeplechase t jockey, who rode Oakleigh to victory in the last two Grand National Steeplechases, and in tho last Wellington Steeplechase. He is a fine cross - country horseman, and received great commendation for Oakleigh's win in the last Grand National, critics agreeing that it was due to the way be husbanded his mount. who had the - I steadier of 12st, that Oakleigh was able | to beat Master Peter (9.2) by a length.

The Canterbury Park meeting on November 24, was one of tlie worst days ever experienced by backers, for first. second, and third favourites went down with monotonous regularity in every race excepting one. The day was not a pleasant one from an atmospheric point [of view, as a strong wind was in evidence, which caused clouds of dust to blow all lover the place. Punters can stand plenty lof that 6ort of thing provided they can Spick winners; but they got the gruelling !of a lifetime, when Single, a favourite, was the only one to run true to label, a circumstance which brought ironical cheers from backers. Cnless the bookmakers' old cry of "no money" held good, they must have made enough money to retire on for the rest of their lives. Jim Murillo was regarded as the best of good things for tlie Flying Handicap, and in a tiekTof 16 was sent out favourite. But the form ho displayed the previous week, when he appeared to be unluckily beaten by Blackman, was having a day off. for lie never looked a winner at any time, and could only finisli ninth. The winner turned up in the 14.2 pony Jack Marsh, by Son of the Marsh (imp.)— Mrs. Malap'rop (imp.), by Oriflamb, who came from a long way back to catch Mollie B in the last stride and win by a head. Jack Marsh is such a little fellow, and went so scratehily in his preliminary. that he had few friends in such company, and though there were a few winners over him—one fielder reported a loss ol £20 on the race—the general run of backers left him alone.

The triple dead-beat at Windsor on September 21, between Marvex, Dumas, md Dinkie. in tlie Royal Borough Three-rear-old- Handicap, naturally recalled irevious incidents of the kind, thougn ;hose who discussed tlie topic agreed to differ as to the number of cases where three horses have passed the winning post locked together and when the most recent dead J heat between a trio »ai recorded. One instance that appeared to have been forgotten—possibly owing to the fact that it took place during the war _ ATa6 that in the Walton Two-year-old Selling Plate at Sandown Park on April 23, 1915, when the Portia filly, Kitty O'ilaia, and Pomali all finished level. Curiously, Gardner, who rode Dumas, was also concerned in the the Sandown dead-heat. There was a similar remarkable finish to a race at Lowes in ISSO, when Scobbell. Wanderinp Nun. and Mazurka tied for first .place in the Astlcy Stakes. This was perhaps the most remarkable race of its kind on record, inasmuch as less than a couple of feet further behind Thora and Cumberland ran a dead-heat on their own The most important race in which three hoVses ran a dead-heat was the Cesare witch, of 1557. when Prioress, El Hakim, [and Queen Bess were inseparable. The icontest was rerun, and the trio finished in the order in which their names are written. Then there was the dead-heat at Sandown Park in ISB2, when Murdon. Gerald and Leonora were involved. It was subsequently discovered that Marden who won the run-off, had carried 51b more than he should have dno. while Leonora carri d • r »lb ">*• '• yen more remarkable, however, was a certain race at the Houghton meeting of 1855, when in a Hold of live Overreach. The Unexpected. Gamester, and Lady Golightlv dead-heated. The four had another'turn later on. finisnmg as their names appear. Another extraordinary I occurrence in the dead-heat line were three races all endin. in ties in one afternoon at Birmin-ham thirteen years a „o, though only two horses were conceVncd in each of the particular events. There was also a similar happening at . tiie Ellington Hunt meeting four years , previously. while there have been cases jof dead-heats being rerun with the same I i*. -,= ,n the original race.

A journey of over 6000 miles in orde> to spend three days in America was made by three passengers who left Southampton on October 13 on the Cunarder Aquitania. These three went to the States purely for the purpose of seeing the match between Papyrus and Zev at Belmont Park. A Newmarket meeting has •eldom within recent years attracted such a large Royal party as was the case at headquarters on October 17. When the Cesarewitch horses were in the paddock there was a large crowd in the birdcage, and the Royal colt, London Cry, was greatly admired by the King, Queen .Maud _f Norway," and Princess Mary and Viscount Lascelles. On the opening day of the Gatwick meeting candidates bearing number seven proved the winners of the first tf.*o races, and it was remarkable that animals carrying the same numbers should take the two opening races on the second day. To carry the coincidence further, Ingham, who was associated with one of the successes on the first day. improved on this feat at the conclusion by being identified with both victories. At Canterbury Park on November 24, Miss Bessie and Shogun's Son fell in the Park Stakes, and Dympna. Vallonia- and Bebeform in the first division of the Three-year-old Maiden Handicap, while Oakleaf was pulled un. and was bleeding at the nose on returning to the weighing yard. Miss Bessie broke one of her foreless in running, and the other and her neck when she fell. Vallonia (Valais— Early Hope) had one of her legs brokenbut an attempt is being made to save her for stud purposes, and she is now on slings at Mr. J. Stewart's veterinary hospital, at Randwick. It was owing to Dympna getting on to Ilemagne's heels that the fall occurred in the three-year-old race. Success continues to attend Paddy Firth, formerly a prominent Sydney pony rider. He went to India some years ago, and is now one of the prominent trainers in the country. He has trained for many leading owners, including the Maharajah of Cooch Behar and Frank Tarrant, the well-known cricketer. In a letter to a Sydney friend Firth stated that he had won the Aga Khan's Cup with Vale of York, owned by Mr. Avasia, a Parsi gentleman. He won the 6ame race last year with Simon's Choice, the jockey on each occasion being J. Townsend, of Sydney, who has been very successful on English and Indian courses. Firth added that he had a good chance of winning the Viceroy's Cup with Vale of York. It looks as if the English bookmaker may escape a betting tax after all. The select committee of the House of Commons appointed to consider the question sat for three hours one day last month, and though there was a majority decision that a tax was practicable, discussion of the chairman's proposal of a 2J per cent stamp tax, and the establishment of ready-money betting offices was abandoned. It was decided not to present the committee's report before the dissolution of Parliament. The idea of recognising betting shops, says "Pilot," is bound to be productive of such strong opposition to a betting tax that any report containing such a recommendation would have little chance of being adopted. And yet. with so much betting away from the" courses, the Government revenue would not be nearly as great, as it should unless it derived something from the shops. On the other hand, it could legislate them out of existence, or, at least, try to. Since the opening of the spring campaign in Melbourne. King Carnivals brother Comiquc had run consistently in most of his races, and his victory in the V.A.T.C. Armadule Cup was fully deserved. He ran third to Princess Mernda and Yalwyne in the Moonee Valley Cup on October 27. and was fourth in the Melbourne Stakes. Melbourne Cup. and C.B. Fisher Plate at the.V.R.C. meeting. He has. therefore, been consistent, though unlucky, and his easy defeat of the Caulrield and Wil-liam-town Cups winner Wynette in the Armadale Cup was a welcome change of luck to his owner. Mr. S. F. Rev nolds. Comique is by the premier sire Comedy King (imp.), from Orvieto. by Wallace from Ophir, by Ruenalf from Ortona, by Pilgrim's Progress (imp.) and was bred by Mr. J. V. Smith, of Victoria. At the yearling sales he cost hi? present owner "20 guineas. A? a two year-old he had four outings for twr thirds, and at three years started 1* times for four wins, two seconds and two thirds. There will be a great rush for Valais yearlings at Sydney next Easter, say the "Australasian." Heroic, who is the best of bis age this season, is by him and so is Fuji San. who won the Flera inpton Stakes after running second tr Heroic in the Maribvrnonsr Plate Fuji San had within 21b of 10st lo carry but despite his welter weight he opened favourite. Mr. Reaton was rather keen on the chance of his colt Baldwin, who had run third to F roic in tli" BreedersPlate. Tt was thought that he would stay better than the others, and that 'Fuji San would no bo able to concede him 1011.. Baldwin wns solidly hacked, and he ended up quite as go _ a favom lite a- Fuji Pan. The two tavnunte" provided a stirrin, finish, and Fuji San just won. Fuji San *"« in tl- centre of the course and Baldwin nearer tne outer rails, but they wen- fairly wide apart Fuji Son was well up all the way. and Baldwin was also amonsr the leadin" lot. A furlong from home Toohev was ridin. Baldwin, and ho was responding eamelv and comin_ home very -trai.hr. Fuii San was tiring a h,t at the finish and Baldwin was catching him. but the Sydney coli r.»U not n „ite get up. He would have won in another few -card-, -but tlie post «■»' ton close. Nalpa was doing well at the finish, nnd was dose to the two leader.: but Vision, after showing a lot <•, pace, came home very tired. Mr. .1. 1 -\rthur. who race-; Fuji San. purchaser! the colt hist Easier for SOU guinea-. and he has done well with him. a_= r»v Pan began tlie season well by wiiiiune the colt-' division of the M"' l '™* Trial Stakes, nnd afterwards ■•"I***** second money in the Maribvrnong 1 late. He mi-ht prove troublesome to Heroic later in the seßSon. a= ho will probatm improve a groat deal with age. Hi" hreedin. -Hf«ti that he will stay, nhi* dam. Lady San. won the Oak- ami staved fairlv'well. and the fam.lv to which Fuji San belongs is more su_ees_ tix-e of stamina than that ol whicb Htoic is a member.