TURF NOTES.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 260, 1 November 1924, Page 21

TURF NOTES.

(By WHALEBONE.)

Throughout the season racing has not been carried out under such wretched conditions as was the case for the opening of the Doncaster St. Leger meeting (says an exchange). Soon after racing commenced, rain fell in torrents, and continued the whole of the afternoon, the paddock and rings were soon a quagmire, and the horses were running in deep mud.

Basil Jarvis" stable has experienced a long run of bad luck, but the success of Bucellaa at Doncaster recently was followed up by that of Roundhay in the f-'tand Selling Handicap. The winner had been decidedly unlucky both at Derby and York. He ran in the Papyrus colours, and beat the strong favourite, 1-laith Mor, distinctly on his merits, after the latter had taken up what looked like being a winning position.

Basil Jarvis has met with nothing but bad luck with his horses since Goodwood, and ho has saddled just on twenty seconds. lronbridge has been in that aggravating position three times since July, Yaldore has been four times second since he followed Sah-Luma home at Goodwood, and Shambles has been in a like position in bye of his last eight races, and both Roundhay and Yaldore were second at Derby on September 3.

Mr. Sol Joel, for whom E. De Mestre trains, is still going well. Up to August 30 he was first in the winning owners' list with £27,048. It is probable that after Salmon Trout won the St. Leger the Aga Khan took premier position, as he had £21,307 to hi's credit up to the beginning of last month, and the St. Leger would increase the total several thousands. Among the ladies in the winning list, Mrs. S. Whitburn led with £10,205.

The victory of The Hawk in the Caulfield Stakes bears out the contention that the son of Martian does best on a light preparation (remarks an Australian paper). Up to the time he finished third in the Hill Stakes at ! Rosehill, The Hawk had done practically no solid track work. That race improved him considerably in appearance, but the train trip to Melbourne probably threw him back a trifle. His race in the October Stakes evidently did more for him than weeks of track galloping could have done. His owner-trainer would no doubt be surprised to find Tbe Hawk shape well in soft going, as he was not supposed to be at borne in it.

It is only during the past few years that the Aga Khan has been connected with racing in England, but his Highness is already among the most familiar figures on racecourses, in addition to being one of the most successful of owners. Since he became associated with the turf he has spent large sums in the quest of the highest-class bloodstock. Two years ago he created some sensation by" going to 9.100 guineas to secure possession of Mumtaz Mahal. At the same period he gave 4000 guineas for Diophon and 3000 guineas for Salmon Trout. With the first colt he won the Two Thousand, while Salmon Trout reeentlv credited his owner with his first St. Leger, thus avenging the defeat of Teresina in the corresponding race last year.

The general opinion of the Melbourne Cup is that nn unusual number of stayers engaged. At present there is iittle to choose in the betting market between the four-year-olds, Lilypond and Stand By. Followers of Holt's stable are very confident that L'lypond is a smasher (says a Melbourne writer), while admirers of Scobie's say that Stand By is as good a thing as Bitalli was last year. Llypond is running well in public, while evidently Staiid By has answered Scobie's severe requirements on the track, as recently he joined Lilypond at the top of some chart?. Wallace Mortlakc is another who is held in great respect. His run in the Chelmsford Stakes impressed many Melbourne men, though they admit that his damaged hoof may prej judice ln'm.

Richard Cecil Dawson —known to his intimates as "Dick"—who trained Salmon Trout for the English St. Leger, has bad a long experience of racing in all its phases. A native of County Dublin, he owned horses when in his teens, and has in his time had charge of many celebrated racers in addition to those mentioned in the preceding paragraph. Among these may be included Drogheda, a Grand National winner, and Fifinella, heroine of a substitute Derby and Oaks. He has trained the winners of well over a thousand races. Bernard Carslake, Salmon Trout's rider—popularly known as "Brownie'" —has also had a highlysuccessful career as a jockey in many lands. He has ridden the winners of | most of the important events, an excep- ! tion being tbe Derby. Salmon Trout j was his second St. Leger winner, his j first being Keysoe five years ago.

It cannot be said that the St. Leger was run at a very fast pace (remarks an English writer), and Carslake was content to lay among the ruck until well in the straight. A mile from home Salmon Trout was absolutely the whipper-in, just behind Sansovino, and though he crept up into about tenth i.lace° in the straight he was then the best part of a dozen lengths behind the leaders. Carslake had his mount tight by the head, but when he did give him more rein horse and jockey put in much brilliant work, Carslake's judgment being backed up by the splendid staying powers of the son of The Tetrarch. A furlong from home long odds would have been laid against the ultimate winner, but the pace he was travelling can be judged by the fact that he finally placed a margin of two lengths between himself and Santorb.

Rivoli is to leave for his owner's stud in Queensland shortly (says a Sydney exchange). Dismss-ng fivcls rct'rc ment, his trainer, I. 11. Andrews, said that after the way he palloped recently (Lady Christina beat him over half a mile in 51s),he was satisfied that Rivoli was afraid to stretch out, and it would only be cruelty to go on with him. "Why, he'd break 50 any time when he was "going well," said Andrews. Mun-o, who %ode him in the Spn'ng Stakes, also expressed the opinion that the Repartee horse seemed to u=e his front le«s very Andrews further said that he could have stnrted Rivoli in tho Randwick Plate, fc.it ho would not like to see him Ix-aten when not himself, so it was decided to retire him to tho stud "with honours thiciv upon h/m." As Lady Babbie is again in foal to Repartee, Andrews is hopeful that the union will produce another Rivoli.

Returning from Randwick races, a sport said: "Anybody who wouldn't subscribe to a memorial when David goes west is not a dinkum sport. He is the best friend to the small punter that has ever faced tho barrier."

An exchange says that the penalty conditions of a weight-for-age hurdlo race at Dieppe was responsible for an amusing position. The penalties were cumulative, nnd when they were worked out it was found that Jules M. Joseph's horse, Maghzen, had the steadier of 19.9. Maghzen was the winner of several races, and his owner had not studied the conditions when he nominated him.

The black mare ("laciarium, by Cooltrim—Drowsy (a sister to Mr. J. B. Reid's Punka, which raced with success in New Zealand), which dead-heated with Mont Clair at Hawkesbury, has probably finished her racing career. Mr. P. Miller has bought her for use at

the stud. Claeiarium was speedy, but did not stand training, and that was why her owners decided to get rid of her when opportunity offered.

The two-year-old grey colt Nicholas, by Stefan the Great (brother to Mr. P. Miller's stallion Sarchedon), has made such a good impression in America that Mrs. W. K. Vanderbilt bought him in August for. it was reported, a little over £13,000 (not dollars). Another Stefan the Great two-year-old won in England in August. This was an unnamed filly out of Dame Blanche, and so little was thought of her chance that she started at good odds in a field" of eight. Winners in France also include a Stefan the Great two-year-old.

The New Zealand jockey G. Young, was fortunate when R. J. Mason selecteel him as Gloaming's rider (says "The Referee"). It gave him a good introduction to Australian owners, and he is now thoroughly established. This season he has already 6cored such important races as the Spring Stakes, Craven Plate, Breeders' Plate, Epsom Handicap, Gimcrack Stakes and Caulfield Cup. Gloaming in the w.f.a. races, and Blackadder in the Cantala Stakes are among his future mounts, so he is also likely to have a profitable time at Flemington. Young is said to have received a present of £2000 for his win on Purser.

Salmon Trout's jockey, Carslake, said after the St. Leger: "I have never been so confident of winning a race. When lying so far behind, six furlongs from the finish, I thought I was on a good thing. I could see that Polyphontes was going to have some opposition, and that it would be a long-drawn-out struggle. On reaching the straight I could see what was (roing to happen— that the leaders would run themselves out, and, instead of coming on a. wide outside I went the other way. It was about a furlong and a-half from the finish that I decided it was time for mc to make my effort, and Salmon Trout came straight through."

Before the war Fred Winter was one of the leading lightweights in England, and can claim to have carried the colours of the King successfully on Mirabeau at Newbury. Following this achievement he rode as first jockey to the ex-Kaiser, for whom he won many races, but it did not prevent him from being a prisoner in Germany throughout the duration of the war. Since returning to England Winter gained remarkable success over hurdles before joining F. Hartigan's stable, and for the Woyhill stable he has achieved a wonderful average for the small number of mounts he has undertaken. Winter, who has yet to celebrate his twenty-eighth birthday, is now riding at his best, and he improved his average by steering Golly-Eyes to victory at Lewes on September 1.

Before leaving Sydney, Mr. G. D. Greenwood announced through the Tress his appreciation of the spirit in which, the victories of Gloaming and his other horses were received at Randwick. It was scarcely necessary for Mr. Greenwood to do so (says the "Referee'"). Sydney racegoers appreciate good horses.

The death took place in Sydney recently of George (Jumbo) Barnett, who, as a bookmaker and horse-owner, was associated with registered and unregistered racing and trotting for many years. He bought Cetignc as a yearling for 200 guineas, and that horse won him the A.J.C. Derby, and several other <rood races, before he sold him to Mr. T. A. Stirton. Towards the end of his life, fortune did not smile on Mr. Barnett, who followed the calling of bookmaker almost up to the last.

Gloaming is a wonderfully good bit of stuff, says an Australian writer. For a horse that has been frequently ill or lame he is a marvellous horse, and when the old fellow on Saturday beat Eurythmic's stake-winning record, the great crowd at Randwick signified their appreciation in no half-hearted fashion. Both Mr. Greenwood and Richard Mason held a. levee that lasted the rest of the after, noon, and really it may continue to tho end of this week. For many years now Mason has been recognised as one of the cleverest trainers in Australasia, and the way in which he has kept Gloaming in form year after year is bcyonel all praise. Mason is 72 years of age, though he does not look anything like it. For some years now he has been talking about retiring, anel probably will do so when Gloaming runs his last race, though he will, no doubt, continue to act as an adviser to his Bon. who has a useful string in work in New Zealand.

Who, a month ago, would have said that "Mr. J. Baron" would not win a race at the A..T.C. Spring Mertinc? Vet his only placing was a second with Alison, who earned £200 in the Members' Handicap. "Mr. Baron'" had mapped out a spring programme for his horses, and if his hope; ha 1 been realised he. would have cleared up al! the important handicaps, as well as the two Derbys. Duke Isinslass was to win the Epsom, Prince Charles the Metropolitan. Leslie Wallace the A.J.C. and Victoria Derbies, Prince Minimbah tbe CaulhVld Cup, and Wallace Mortlake the Melbourne Cup. But so far things have been all wronj. I Leslie Wallace was tlie first to figure among the slain. He ran shockingly in ' the Rosehill Guineas, and then broke ; down No. 2 was Duke Isinulass, who j failed' in the Epsom; and then Prince diaries made a hash of things in tho Metropolitan. Wallace Mortlake could not run at the A.J.C. meeting. Sir Mick was not good enough tn win the dibborn Stakes, and Duke Kapoli: waa well beaten in the Final Handicap. Mison whose form in races would not warrant backinz in any event, was tha : only one of "Mr. Baron's" horses to run lat "all decently, and f\;^ a | she would have won tho Membcrs_Ua.-i----dicapk „ "t -S