TURF NOTES.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 43, 20 February 1926, Page 25

TURF NOTES.

(By WHALEBONE.)

Miss Kearney, dam of Zev, died in America recently, and Mr. J. Maddeu had her buried in his private grounds nt Hamburg Place. The mare was 1!) years old at the time of her death, and, in addition to Zev —the world's greatest earner of stakes—she threw other winners in Eagle, Triple Crown, "War Mask, Moosehead, Kremlin, Honey Girl, and Lancer. Thanks to the efforts this season of Greenhorn, Greeusborough, Aeneid and Greenie, the Messrs. A. S. and N. Mitchell are finding their purchase last year of the stallion Greenstead turning out a great bargain. They recently had an olFer of more than three times what they gave for Greenstead. Although his fee has been made much higher, his list for next season is almost full already. In discussing sires successful in America last year, the Lexington ■"Thoroughbred Record" had tlio following reference to that once great racehorse, Man o' War, whose progeny did well last year: <: To Man o' \\':ir must Ik; given the credit of siring the greatest number of high-class racehorses that appeared on the American Turf in 1925, his get included the sensational American Flag, with f>8.350 dollars to his credit; Maid at Arms, 'with 27.655 dollars; Taps, with 20.250 dollars; Crusader, with 15.400 dollars: Florence Nightingale-, 14,700 dollars: Mars, 10,725 dollars, and, as he only had 15 other representatives on the Turf and none older than three years, his position as third in the list of the twenty leading American sires is an outstanding achievement." F. Williams, on his trips to Melbourne, always has in his charge some high-class galloping talent, and he is weli represented this time, his team being made up of Rampion, Pantheon and Vaals (says "The Globe"). The most interesting member of the team is, of course, Rampion, the crack juvenile. Always a slashing fine colt, Rampion now looks more the part than ever. He seems to have made average headway since his last race, the Maribyrnong Plate, which he won in such smashing style. He certainly has not gone back any in the meantime. The same can be said of Pantheon, which shaped so well in the weight-for-age races of the spring. This lengthy brown horse seems to be thoroughly sound in every way, and we should hear from him before the present season closes. Vaals is by Valais, and it goes without saying that he can go a good pace. Like, most of his sire"s stock, Vaals is rather eager in temperament, but there does not appear to be any harm in him. Like his stablemates, he has not been seen in public since the spring , , but he looks fairly ship-shape in condition.

A. H. DRISCOLL,

Fuji San, since his two-year-old days, lseems to have thrown in his lot if not with the bookmakers at least on their side (remarks "Poseidon"). When he won the last Doncaster, nine of the field were preferred in the betting, and he started at 20 to 1. His next success was gained in the V.R.C. October Stakes, and in a field of six he was a 20 to 1 chance. He had not won since until Saturday, February 6, at Williamstown, when he scored in the Marine Handicap. Evidently he was thought scarcely ready, as he was allowed to go out at 20 to 1. In the Newmarket Fuji San meets Waranton (second), 21b, and Prince Tressady (third), lib worse. Few of the progeny of Tressady have raced as consistently in their later years as has the Prince, who seldom runs a poor race. He is a proved good sprinter, and would have been a very high class performer had lie never suffered from a wind affection. The Newmarket tip Lavcuse, was favourite for the Marine Handicap, I but lost any chance that she may otherwise have possessed by getting the worst of the start. Fuji San is rntliPr patchy as a beginner in his races, but he seems to have hopped off smartly enough on Saturday. Absurd, tho Now Zealand sire, rarely fails to transmit nice speed to his stock, and his daughter. Estuary, is no exception to this rule of the. family. In her sprints in the mornings recently (remarks "FernhiU"') Ewtuary lias demonstrated that she still retains the pace she exhibited as a two-year-old, when she won a Nursery Handicap at Flemington. She has developed into a really nice filly. Another candidate for big sprinting events in R. Brad field's stable that appears to lie giving satisfaction is Poreli. Tin's gelding's work is sometimes extended to a mile, and that distance appears to be well within his compass. Tho coming autumn should see Porch at his best. The artistocrat of the field in the juvenile event at Moorefield on February 0 (says the '"Sydney Sportsman' , ) was Jack I'oint, a massive .Absurd—Margarethe colt, and backer-; sent him out favourite at evens, on the strength of his forward running at his hist start at Randwick. A~ a yearling .Tack Point was one of the dearest of those sold, and the Hon. J. A. Murdoch had to go to 1750 guineas before securing him. Jack Point was looked on as the likely winner of the Breeders' Plate, but ho developed shin soreness, and had to he thrown out of work before the big race came on. The race on February (! was only his second start in public, and thir stable commissioners never got better than twos about him, though the fact that he started at evens suggested that the stable had a useful win. The issue was never in doubt. After tl c Ik-Id had settled into its stride Jack Point scampered to tho front inside the first furlong, and thereafter it. was only ;i matter of what the winning margin would be. He was cantering in front going lip the hill, ami was never going at his top at any, part of the last turling. A lot more will be heard of this fellow in better company than opposed hint