RACING NEWS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 142, 17 June 1926, Page 14

RACING NEWS.

STABLE AND TRACK GOSSIP. (By WHALEBONE.) SEASON'S FIXTURES. June IS. 19—Napier Tark R.C. Winter. June 23—Hawke's Bay Hunt Meeting. June 25, 26—Hawke's Bay J.C. Winter. July 31—Christchurch Hunt Annual. A half-brother by Catmint to Merry Damon is pleasing the track watchers at Hastings, and is expected to do well in two-year-old races next season. Mr. T. C. Trautwein's New Zealand bred three-year-old gelding Kunnymede, who has been spelling since his disappointing efforts ai the A.J.C. Autumn meeting, has resumed work at Victoria Park, in the care of P. Keith. O. H. Hall, owner-trainer of Piratic, winner of the A.J.C. Hurdle Race at Randwick, received £1000 from a lucky investor. Hall was laid £1000 for a win, £300 for second, and £200 for third to nothing. Piratic will take his place in the Grand National Hurdle Held at Flemington.

Muratti, tlic St. Vincent's Hospital raffle colt, which was won by J. McCrostie, a labourer at Birchip (Vie), was submitted for sale by auction in Melbourne recently. Mr. John Wren became his new owner at 1000 guineas, so that McCrdstie's ambition » of buying a small farm received a decided impetus toward fulfilment. The raffle, realised £13.750 for the hospital. 1 Word lias been received in Melbourne that E. Morris, the ex-Victorian jockey, continues to do well in India. He remained in the East during the "off" season when racing is confined to country districts. Morris rode two winners at Ootacamund early in May. He has accepted a {rood retainer to ride for the Maharajah of Mysore in the coming season. Other Australians in J. Hutchins, J. E. Riley. W. H. Evans, and M. O'Brien also are doiing well in India. Spearer, which won the Adelaide Cup last month, also the Ballarat Cup (December) and Albury Cup (April) has a rare pedigree for stamina, and jhas a double cross of Carbine through his best two sons —Spearmint and Wallace. When Spearmint won the English Derby and Grand Prix de Paris he was described as being an exceptional colt, that would have won the Derby in any year, for he lowered the record by nearly 3 seconds, and won easily. Wallace won the V.R.C. Derby in 1895, and at the stud had the unparalleled record of siring six winners of the same Derby. American breeders have great respect for English blood, and are not afraid to pay high prices for stallions or mares bred in the Old Cuntry. "Audax" says that when Sir Robert Jardine recently Bold his five-year-old horse Obliterate (Tracery—Damage) to go to America, he received £30,000 for him. When I was at Saratoga 1924 yearling sales for a couple of nights, I could not help being struck by the keen competition for English-bred youngsters. Some of the contributors of breeding notes t:> American papers are decidedly antiBritish, but it is doubtful whether their opinions carry much weight with those American breeders who do their own thinking. Selling races in England ?o often give clubs a substantial return that they are never likely to be dropped in that country. The first two races on the programme at Sandown Park on April 23 were of the selling class, and each of the value of £200. As a set-off against that £400, the club first of all received £60 in entry fees, and on one winner being sold for 820gs and the other for IOSOgs, the'total surplus over the selling price of the two was £1003. Half that went. to the Sandown Park executive. Consequently, the return to the club— inclusive of entry fees—was £897 10/ for £400 prize money. On the first day of the same meeting two selling race winners realised 570gs and 840gs respectively, which also meant a big profit.

NAPJER STEEPLECHASE. The attention of sportsmen to-morrow will be focussed on the Napier Park meeting, but the programme is by no means an attractive one, and the class engaged is many removes from the best. The biggest stake only runs to £250, this being attached to the Napier Steeplechase. It is not surprising, therefore, to find an acceptance of eight only, and of those engaged, Nukumai stands in a class by himself. This is also the opinion of Mr. Coyle, the handicapper, as the gelding is asked to carry 12st 51b, or 191b more than Passin' Through, which follows the .top weight in the acceptances. From Passin' Through there is a drop off 61b.' to Puwhero, and with only 31b short of 2st between the Arts three in the acceptances it will be seen that the class is not overstrong. Good horse though he is, Nukumai has a big burden to carry, but a week ago Passin' Through was reported to be giving his trainer trouble. Puwhero won on the second day at Wanganui after filling the role of runner-up to Eerie in the Wanganui Steeplechase. Puwhero can both jump and gallop fast, and though the opinion is general that he cannot stay, he may be quite capable of getting to the end of the three miles to-morrow. Fireblight, lOst 21b. is useful, and Sturdee, on the same mark, can claim to have won the Grand National at Christchurch two years ago. He has never displayed as good form since. Lady Comet, Ranui and Mania have nothing to recommend them, but in such a field as will line up to-morrow anything may win. Puwhero and Nukumai "may be the favourites.

TRAGIC RACE meeting. The Bogside (-Scotland) meeting in April, a three -days fixture, was marred by tragedy. As the cables have informed us, the Australian-bred jockey, W. Watkinson, who won the Grand National this year on Jack Homer, was fatally •injured. He was riding Gilcrux in a steeplechase, when he met with the accident. On the second day of the same meeting a steeplechaser named Florida, was fatally injured, while on the first day Sergeant Murphy, described as the most popular steeplechaser for a generation in Britain, had to be destroyed as the result of injuries received in a fall. Sergeant Murphy took part in six Grand Nationals, winning the event in 1023 with the late Captain Bennet in the saddle. He also won. the Scottish Grand Rational in 1822,

RACING PROBLEM. |

BETS HELD UP Racing men in Sydney are discussing keenly an incident —said to be unprecedented— which occurred in the President's Handicap, the principal event at the Bathurst winter meeting a week ago. As the result of the extraordinarily wet season, the course was very heavy, and in place* so boggy that the, track was considered dangerous. In consequence the authorities placed pegs for some distance along the course near the turn in order that horses would have to come out on the middle of the track, and so avoid the more sloppy turf on the inside. Every owner and jockey was warned as to what had been done and the reason for it, and up to the eighth race the course, as marked out, was followed. In the President's Handicap, Buckley, on Trenteourt, aiter his mount had been apparently lieaten, took the short cut and went inside the pegs. Trenteourt thus gained about 50 yards, and won. pulling up, hy about 10 lengths. Then there was an uproar, and a protest was lodged by J. Stewart, owner of the second horse, Arkansas. At first the stipendiary steward referred the protest to the A.J.C. for decision, but, after further consideration, disqualified Trentcourt and awarded the race to Arkansas, The owner of Trenteourt immediately gave notice of appeal to the A.J.C, and neanwhile all bets are held up. It is irgued that as Trenteourt covered Nic 'ull seven furlongs, as advertised in the conditions of the race, he will get the race. On the other hand, others argue that as the committee had mapped out the course Trenteourt therefore went inside a post, and was thus deprived of my claim to the prize.

SUCCESSFUL ELLERSLIE TRAINER. Few Auckland riders who ever decided to retire from the saddle in New Zealand and join the ranks of trainers, made good so early and have so consistently led in winners as the Ellerslie trainer, J. Buchanan, and for the few years he has been training he must have established a very fine record. Buchanan had a long career in the saddle, and right back in his apprenticeship days, the days when Joe Gallagher was, perhaps, Auckland's leading horseman, Buchanan, then attached to "Scotty" Wright's stable, quickly proved himself a capable lad in the saddle. As he grew older, so he continued to ride winners and the number of races won by him must run into large figures, and would include most of the important races decided in the Dominion. Right up to the present season, Buchanan continued to have an occasional ride in a race, but as he was not seen in the saddle at the A.R.C. winter meeting, when the welter scale of weight would suit, it looks pretty certain "Jim" has given the game up, and will give all his time to training in future. The grey, Mummer, was one of the first horses Buchanan began with as a trainer, and later he secured Raceful. With the latter he won several good races, just as he has won with practically every horse placed in his stable. Never at any time has he had a big team, but he has won a lot of money with them and this season alone 'he led in 19 winners. His best horses have been Raceful, Polonet, Merry Damon and Serang.

A GREAT JUMPER. Palbi, like many another great jumper, j has died in action. After years of jumping over hurdles and fences he looked good for many more victories as he went out to contest the A.J.C. Hurdles, for what was to be his last race. Palbi had been a most versatile jumper. Hurdling came naturally to him, and it was the same when he was put over the big fences. His earning as a jumper were £7382, made up as follows: — AT SEVEN YEARS. First, Itosehill Hurdle Race 1!X) Second, A.J.C. Hurdle Race 150 Second, A.J.C. Hurdle Race 150 First, A.J.C. Hurdle Race 572 Second, Tatt.'s Hurdle Race 100 AT EIGHT YEARS. First, A.J.C. Warwick Farm Hurdles 307 Second, City.Tatt.'s Hurdle 70 Second, A.J.C. First Steeple 150 Third, A.J.C. £2000 Steeple 250 First, V.A.T.C. Godfrey Watson Steeple 500 AT NINE TEARS. Third, V.A.T.C. Moondah Steeple 50 Third, V.A.T.C. Aust. Steeple 200 Third. V.R.C. Pines Hurdle 50 Second. V.R.C. Autumn Hurdle 100 First, A.J.C. First Hurdle 361 Third, A.J.C. Second Hurdle 75 First, A.J.C. First Steeple 547 First, A.J.C. £2000 Steeple 1360 First, M. Valley Bollnda Steeple 150 Third, V.R.C. Grand National Steeple 200 AT 10 YEARS. Second, V.A.T.C. Moondah Steeple ... 100 First, V.A.T.C. Aust. Steeple 1500 Third, V.R.C. Pines Hurdle 50 Total : 9 wins, 7 seconds, 7 thirds £7382 ROYAL ASCOT MEETING. CROSS BOW WINS HUNT CUP. / (Received 11.30 a.m.) liONDON, June 16. At the Ascot meeting to-day the Royal Hunt Cup, seven furlongs 166 yards, resulted:— CROSS BOW. b h, by Gay CrusaderPopinjay (Lord Astor) 1 EMBARGO, br c. by Argosy—Elland ... 2 INCA, eh f, by Invincible—Delos 3 Thirty-one started: Cross Bow won by a neck.—(A. and N.Z.)