TURF NOTES.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 93, 19 April 1924, Page 21

TURF NOTES.

(By WHALEBOIfE.i , Mr. Edward Moorhouse, writing in the "Sporting Life," when he heard about the Noorilim dispersal sale, said that only for the fact that Comedy King was 17 years old it might have been worth while for a syndicate of English breeders to seriously consider repatriation of Comedy King with a view to strengthening the declining St. Simon line in that country. Bailey Payten has put the English horse Virgin Gold (Bay dOr—Virginia) into work at Randwick. Virgin Gold is owned by Mr. J. S. Love, and cost him lOOOgng at the Newmarket second October sales. He is a winner in England, and last season accounted for the St. Oswald Plate at Newcastle, ridden by the Australian jockey A. C. Walker. Heloise, an imported filly by Stedfast from Madame Esmond, also owned by Mr. Love, is to go to Alfalfa for a spell. MR. CHARLES O'CONNOR, The starter for the Auckland Racing Club and many other similar institutions, developed an interest in racing at the early age oi 12. When scaling only sst. 71b. he won the V.R.C Handicap on Fitz - Vat tendon He rode prominently from then on until he started as a trainer. At a starter Mr O'Connor has beer a conspicuous success, both in trotting and galloping races. A comparatively silent mat (although he can let go ll lieceeßiir}-;, "c commands the respect of the boys, and they clearly understand that he will have no nonsense. Exterminator is easily the most popular horse racing in America to-day. Hie winnings are very close to those of Man o' War, and not far behind the stake earnings of the three-year-old Zev. The nine-year-old son oi McGee and Fair Express recently returned to the Turf after an absence of some months, and he won at the first time of asking. In the spring he broke down so badly that it was thought he would never race again. Stanle3 r Wootton owns a crackerjack hurdler in England this season. His name is Stuff Gown, and when the last mail left he had won seven times in succession over the battens; in fact, he has yet to be beaten. He has been ridden in all his races by Frank Wootton, and is trained by Tom Coulthwaite, n famous trainer of jumpers. His last win was the General Peace Open Hurdle, and, although slight odds always had to bo laid on Stuff Down, he pulled his backers through, thanks mainly to the magnificent way in which he was ridden. If money counted for anything Salmon Trout, who is owned by the Aga Khan, should be a champion of champions. He is by The Tetrarch, one of the most valuable sires in the world, from Salamandra, who as a brood mare was sold for 10,000gns. However, unfortunately, just because a youngster is by an expensive giro from a high-priced mare, does not make it gallop. Salmon Trout might be an exception. Ho has only had two starts, and has won both, and already has won £2200 in stakes. He is one of the favourites for the English Derby. The winter favourite for the English Derby is Bright Knight, a bay colt by Gay Crusader from Sunny Jane. He is owned by Lord Astor and trained by A. Taylor, and will be ridden in his engagements by the Australian jockey Frank Bullock; Lord Astor has been very unlucky in the Derby, having knocked at the door several times without actually winning. However, Bright Knight won at his only two starts last season in such good style that ho is justified «n looking forward very hopefully to this season's eilassic races. If breeding goes for anything Bright Knight should be above the ordinary, as his sire, Gay Crusader, was n Derby winner, while his dam, Sunny Jane, won the Oaks and was second to Diadem in the One Thousand. She is a sister to Craig an Eran and Skyrocket, and half-sister to Hamoazc, (lie dam of Buchan, Tamar, and Sftltash, all great horses. Bright Knight will be the lirst of her progeny to race. "Rapier." of the "Illustrated and Sporting Dramatic." recently spent a holiday at St. Moritz, in Switzerland, and naturally attended the racing on the ice, where most of the famous jockeys of England and France go for their winter holidays, and incidentally make expenses. Writing about the racing under such queer conditions- he said: "The reader may be curiojis as to how they can race on a frozen lake. Do they actually, he asks, race on the ien? How can horses race on ico? Then is it conceivable that ice will bear their weight and that of timbered stands, a mile and more of rails, a Pari-miituel booth, and 2000 or so spectators? It is done in this way. The lake freezes when winter sets in to a depth of two feet and more. A goods train. I suppose, might, safely run over it then, but it has at once to bear the weight of heavy snowfalls until when the promoters— the town of St. Moritz —come to lay out the course they have first to tackle the pressing down by rolling of about three feet of snow. Tho course is laid out very much on the lines of Derby racecourse, and it is very little less in its dimensions. Posts and rails appear in a nieht, as it were, and the track thus marked out is rolled every day for three weeks preceding the onenine of the threeday meeting. Stands, with each seat numbered in what are palled "tribunes," are erected on the rolled snow, and, wftn flags unfurled and 'moosie,' all is set for the slowest and dullest race meetinor in my experience."

W. Huxley, the ■well-known jockey, who has been riding with conspicuous success both in India and South Africa, arrived in England recently. He ia» tends to ride there as a free lance during the coming season. The Irish Bloodstock Agency has purchased from Mr. Albert Lowry, on behalf of the Indian sportsman, Mr. Crawford, the three-year-old gelding Brasidag, by Bachelor's Craft. At the Tickford Park Stud on February 22 Mr. Donald Fraser's mare, White Clover, foaled a very fine bay colt by Square Measure, this is the first colt sired by this horse, who commenced stud life at the above stud in 1923. Lord Woolavington, who ie in Cape Town, has been interviewed. Asked whether Tom Pinch was worth backing in the English Derby, his lordship said: "I should say ho is. I believe he is doing splendidly under his trainer." Tom Pinch is a son of Hurry On—Bellavista, and nas yet to make his first appearance on a racecourse. The two-year-old bay colt. Pomme dOr by Pommern, out of Birdlime, sold at TattersaH'e (Knightsbridge) sale in February, for 28gs, is engaged in next year's Derby. Among other liabilities incurred for this well-bred youngster are the New Stakes, Ascot; Molecomb Stakes, Goodwood; and Champion Breeders' Foal Plate, Derby, the total minor forfeits amounting to £81. Pomme dOr was sold to dissolve a partnership, and his new owner is Mr. E. Simmons. Mr. Crawford, a leading patron of the Indian Turf some weeks ago made a tour of the Curragh stables. Hie intention was to secure before his departure from Ireland several horses for himself and his frierda in India. He has entrusted his commission to the Irish Bloodstock Agency, whose firefc purchase for him was Brasidas, a useful two-year-old last back-end. In well-informed racing , circles in Ire-land,-says "Blackthorn," it is stated that M. Wertheimer, the owner of Epinard, has been carrying on negotiations for some time past with M. Beary in the hope of securing his services for Epinard for all his races during the forthcoming season. He adds that speculations made in certain quarters that the Irish jockey whom H. Wertheimer sought to engage was either H. H. Beasley or E. M. Quirk were wide of the mark, and that Beary was the rider whom he had in view. The public examination was held recently at the London Bankruptcy Court of Messrs. Marcel Varipati and Claude Varipati, merchants, of Leadenhall Street. During the war Marcel Varipati engaged in buying and selling grain and cotton, and accumulated £50,000. He then retired, and bred racehorses, but resumed business in 1920. In October, 1021, there was a serious break in the markets, and he lost £100,000 in a month. The jockey of the moment in England, at any rate in hurdle races, is without any shadow of doubt George Duller, who, after having some time back, etruek the bad patch which comes to all, can scarcely do wrong just now, says an English writer. Duller had four mounts at Gatwick, and three of these were winuing rides. During one part of the contest for the fourth event, in which he was up on Tibet, it appeared quite likely that the Epsom jockey would sweep the board so far as the hurdling part of the business went, but Tibet was well beaten at the finish. At the 30th ordinary general meeting of the Birmingham Racecourse Co., Ltd.. held at Birmingham recently, the Earl of Aylesford congratulated the shareholders on the excellent year's working. The racing had reeulted in a. net profit of £8827, an increase, as compared with last year, of £3889, which was principally attributable to the fact that this year no meetings had been abandoned. The entries received for the meetings, both under Jockey Club and National Hunt rules, had been very good; in fact, he thought they had considerably increased since 1922, more particularly the meetings held under National Hunt rules. Lord Woolavington cannot be regarded as one of the lucky owners of racehorses in England, though it is true that he won the Derby a couple of years »go with Captain Cuttle and a substitute St. Leger in the days of the war with Hurry On. One of the prizes to have so far eluded him. is the Grand National. With the oi,ject of winning the great Liverpool steeplechase Lord Woolavington purchased Southampton a few years back. The horse named proved a dismal failure so far as the, "National" was concerned, though he was a brilliant performer over courses of the "drawing room' , type. The untimely death of Southampton at the recent Newtury meeting was a blow to the horse's owner. At Gatwick recently, however, the fates did something towards adjusting the balance, and after Eureka 11. had won the National Trial Steeplechase the view was expressed that the winner might succeed at Aintree where Southampton had failed, but he was not placed. B. ROSEN. Of the horsemen engaged at the Easter Meeting steering the geegees round the Ellerslie course, one of the busiest will be B. Rosen, and it h in his favour that residing as he does at Ellerslie. his mounts should be found taking all the short cuts to the judge. Thenis a song which sets out that the longest way round is the shortest way norae, out. this does not find a place in Uie jockeys' curriculum, and their motto is the shortest way round is the quickest way home, and ill this they receive the full support of punters. B. Kosen is a rider from Aussie, who took up his residence in Auckland some time ago, since when he proved himself a capable horeemaii. he having steered many winners in and around Auckland. His best winning ride to date was on Boomerday in the last Takapuna Cup, but he is getting a lot of riding now, and his list of successes should be added to before the season ends.