RACING NEWS.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 14, 17 January 1929, Page 12

RACING NEWS.

STABLE AND TRACK NOTES.

SEASON'S FIXTURES.

(By WHALEBONE.)

January ]«, 17—Foxton Kacing Club. January l'i—Opotikl Jockey Ciub. January 19—Ngaruawahia Racing Club. January 19 —Bay of. Island Kacing Club. January 22—Ashhurst-I'ohangina R.C. January 22, 24—Wairoa Kacing Club. January 22, 24. 26—Wellington R.C. January 2K, 20—Takapuna Jockey Club. January 2'J, 30 —Pahiatua Racing Club.

Karsaviuo, the Hunting Song filly owned by Mr. J. Manuel, has resumed work again at EUerslie after a short *pell in the paddock. She has grown into a nioo-looking youngster during her absence from the track.

The Thorn and Bombarder, who will be racing at the Bay of Islands meeting at tho end of the week, look in nice order just now. They were galloped over five furlongs on the No. 1 grass track at headquarters yesterday morning and both shaped well.

A few days before the Thames meeting took place King Smock ricked himpolt while galloping on the course at Paiawai, and consequently was unable to race at that fixture. He has been physicked and will be given a spell until later on in the autumn.

Arlhana had every opportunity in the Turn a Handicap on the second day at the Thames. He was first out when the barrier lifted and was always racing with the leaders ■until the field entered the straight. However, he stopped over the final stages and finished out of a place. This hack has a lot of pace.

The imported horse Hoylake registered a brilliant gallop over a mile at Riccarton last Saturday morning. He carried a light weight and ran the journey in 1.40 1-5, tho fastest over the distance for some time past. The gallop will gain him some friends for his Wellington Cup contest,

The Quln -Abbey gelding Patere went amiss on the eve of the Thames meeting and It may be some litle time before he can be Taced again. Patere is a promising hack and his connections •were unlucky to lose his services for the local meeting.

Valroe was well supported in his two engagements at the Thames but ran below form and never looked like being a winner. He is engaged at the coming meeting at Matamata but will require to do a lot better than he did at the Thames if he is to get on the winning list.

On account of his win in the ManaWatu Cup on Boxing Day, Star Area is entitled to consideration in the Wellington Cup, which is run over a similar distance. Star Area, who is not over-burdened with 7.10, is capable of running out twelve furlongs in good style, although the field he will meet at Trentham is much superior to that which he defeated at Awapuni.

At the Wellington meeting twelve months ago Set Sail put up two sterling performances. She ran third in the Cup to Star Stranger and Pink Note, and at her next start she scored in the Wellington E-0, Handicap, with 8.8 in the saddle, Pink Note and Laughing Prince being second and third respectively. Set Sail has two pounds less to carry in the Cup compared with her weight last year, and she should give a good account of herself*

Gascony's form during the holiday meetings has been first-class, and he is likely to command a big following in any race that he contests at the Wellington meeting. His last success was in the Palmerston North Stakes at the Manawatu meeting, and he will only need to repeat that performance to be hard to beat in any race that he contests at tTrentham. Oascony is engaged in the telegraph Handicap on the first day pi the meeting.

According to an Adelaide message appearing in a Sydney exchange, James Scobie, the veteran Melbourne racehorse ■trainer, who will be 69 years old on July 18, is likely to retire then. "I have had a long association with the turf, and feel I have done my part in the training of horses. I would not like to give tip the business altogether, but to keep on as I have been doing for many years would be too arduous for me," said Scobie. Scobie has had a phenomenally successful career as a trainer. He has saddled the winners of four Melbourne Cups, seven Victoria Derbies, four Australian Cups, three Moonee Valley Cups, *ix William.stown Cups, five Adelaide Cups, four A..T.C. Derbies, three A.J.C. Sires' Produce Stakes, three A.J.C. St. Legers, and six V.R.C. Sires' Produce Stakes, while the Maribyrnong Plate (five times), Oaks Stakes (four), Ascot Vale Stakes (12), V.R.C. St. Leger, Grand National Hurdle and Steeplechase, Caulfield Guineas (four), Caulfield Cup, Oakleigh Plate, South Australian Derby (five), and Hobart Cup (four times) are included in his many notable triumphs.

According to the opinions expressed by London critics, the Aga Khan claimed the best two*year-old that performed in England last year in Costaki Pasha, and that colt will, it is stated, probably stand out as the winter favourite for the Derby. The race that gave Costaki Pasha the leading position among the juvenile division was the Middle Park Stakes at Doncaster, which he is credited with winning in good style. Costaki Pasha, who was bred by his owner, is said to be a colt of true masculine physique, and he is by Gainsborough (son of Bayardo) from Cos, a daughter of Flying Orb (son of Orby). For several years the Indian nobleman has expended lavish sums in the purchase of yearlings in the hope of securing a horse equal to winning the Derby, but so far he has not been placed in the happy position of '^•Jf 11 ? in the winner of the classic race arEpgom. Should Costaki Pasha win this year's Derby, the victory will not be out or its turn for the Aga Khan. Major McCalmont » credited with the ownership of a good colt named Mr. Jinks (by Tetratema—False Piptir\ -~.\. YtT Hurst p„i,T " et y)t who won the shade in *g in every wav fitted to anrfVL * ?» eolt honours' Fillies at two-year-old are Arabe^ -Polly Flinders) an d Tetratema—Dawn -wind), but doubts .r----32? " ". "**' -«-nS

When Princess Rain finished second to Subdivision in the Puriri Handicap on the first day at the Thames she ran a decent race and looks like being an early winner. She has not done much racing but is an improving hack. Star Girl, who annexed the Novice Stakes at Foxton yesterday is a four-year-old mare by Day Comet from Waiaroha. She had only had two races previously, running unplaced in both of them. , Although Consent failed to show up in his races at EUerslie he may do better at Trentham. He won on this course in the spring, and is evidently suited by the straight six furlong track. The Auckland horseman E. Ludlow will be riding at the Wellington meet* ing next week and leaves for Trentham this evening. Ludlow rode Concentrate when he dead-heated with Vertigern in the Grandstand Handicap at EUerslie, and he may steer the three-year-old in his Wellington Cup engagement. The win registered by Blimp in the Foxton Cup was that gelding's most important victory to date, although he has previously shaped well over a distance. His sire. Gasbag, was a proved stayer, and it would not surprise to find Blimp developing into a good handicap performer. A couple of smart hacks in Gold Dawn and Llanore, who are both trained in the Taranaki district, will be competing at the Wellington meeting next week. These two gallopers, who got on the winning list during the holiday meetings, are expected to run well in their engagements at Trentham. They will contest the Apprentices' Plate on the opening day of the meeting, and the Douro Cup on the second day. Mosque had no difficulty in defeating the small field opposed to him in the Opotiki Cup, and registered his fourth win for the season. He is engaged at the Takapuna meeting at the end of the present month, and is expected to carry on his engagements at that meeting.. Mosque is a half-brother to Mosaic, and races in the same ownership as the Some Boy 11. gelding.

BAY OF ISLANDS CLUB. GOOD FIELDS ASSURED. The acceptances received yesterday for the Bay of Islands Racing Club for the meeting to be held on Saturday are decidedly good, and everything points to the club having a good meeting. The Cup has drawn an acceptance of nine, and all other events have filled well. The secretary states that the weather at present at Kawakawa is excellent, the track in first-class order, and he has received requests from all parts of the province asking him to arrange accommodation. The Northern Steamship Cc.'s steamer Clansman will leave Auckland at 5 p.m. to-morrow for Opua, returning to Auckland after the races. TAKAPUNA MEETING. ACCEPTANCES TO-MORROW. The Takapuna Jockey Club's summer meeting,,which is to open on Saturday week, will require attention from owners to-morrow, when acceptances for the opening day's events will be received by the secreary, Mr. R. D. McVay, up to 5 p.m. TARANAKI JOCKEY CLUB. The approaching autumn gathering of the Taranaki Jockey Club is fixed for February 7 and 9 and a first-class programme has been drawn up. The Taranaki Cup (one mile and a-half) carries £750, the Paul Memorial (one mile and a-quarter) £400, and the Taranaki Stakes (six furlongs) £400. These are the chief items, but the prize money all round is substantial. Nominations for all events except the Fifteenth Taranaki Stakes close with the secretary, Mr. E. P. Webster, New Plymouth, to-morrow at 9 p.m.

FOXTON CUP. Although the field in the Foxton Cup yesterday could not be termed firstclass, the winner, Blimp, was responsible for a useful performance, as he won very comfortably by three lengths, and with 7.7 in the saddle ran the ten furlongs in 2.8 2-5. The favourite was the three-year-old Toxeuma, but though he went well he had to be content with third place. Maui filling second berth to Blimp. The last-named is a four-year-old geldin<* by Gasbag—Warfaux, and the Foxton Cup yesterday marked his third success this season. Blimp is engaged in the Wellington Cup, and was originally weighed at the minimum 7.0, but this is open to be reviewed by the handicapper.