STABLE AND TRACK NOTES.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 200, 24 August 1929, Page 20

STABLE AND TRACK NOTES.

SEASON'S FIXTURES

(By WHALEBONE.)

Aus. ~4—Pakuranga Hunt Club. Aug. 24—Hawke's Bay Hunt Club Aujr. -B—Dannevirke8 —Dannevirke R.C. Au,c. 20—Dannevirke Hunt Club. Aug. 31 —Taranaki Hunt Club. Sept. 4, v> —Marton J.C. Sept. 7—Otago Hunt Club. S«pt. I~< 14—Wanganui J.C. Sent. 21—Ashburton County R.C Sept. 21—Napier Park E.C. Sept. 21, 23—Avondale J.C. Sept. 2(j, 27—Gerftldine R.C. Sept. -S—Uawke's Bay J.C. Oct. 2—Manawatu Hunt Club. Oct. 2— Birehwood Hunt. Oct. a —Kiirow J.C. October 5, 7 —Auckland R.C.

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS,

WAGER.—You are confusing R. Deans, a three-quarter in the 1905 team, with 8. .Dean, the manager of the 1924 team. Deans died many years ago.

The hurdle horseman J. Burgess has been engaged to ride Ah Wera in his engagements at the Dannevirke, Marton and Wanganui meetings, and will leave for the South by train to-morrow evening.

Great Emblem looks all the better for the short spell he has had during the last two weeks, and has settled down to work again in good style. He is a big two-year-old, and may require a bit of time before at his best.

Hiata (Hyl'.us —Tfaiatapai), a Xew Zealand-owned gelding, is proving an expensive proposition on this side of the Taemau (remarks the "Sydney Evening News"). On the occasion'of his solitary will at Gost'ord, a few months back, Hiata Mas not supported by hits party. Since then the New Zealander has been backed on more than one occasion, but the money has been left with the bookmakers. Hiata started favourite for the Highweight Handicap at Gasford, but was not able to gain a place.

A few spring early betters suffered a casualty in iSydney on August 14, when Gay Ballerina was scratched for the Epsom. The general run of backers didn't support her, fortunately, but some weeks ago a report was circulated that she and Seatown had been coupled for the Epsom and Metropolitan (says the "Guardian"). New Zealanders were said to have wagered on the pair, no doubt without stable authority, and they were backed for fairly substantial amounts at the long odds offered. But the speckers lose their money without a start. Earely does a three-year-old of either sex start in the Epsom, and least of all a filly.

After Trivalvc liad won botli Derbies, the Melbourne Cup and the V.K..C. St. Leger, it was generally predicted that he would be a serious rival for Gloaming in the race for the Australasian stakewinning premiership, but suddenly the colt lost all form, and as a four-year-old lie retired to the stud with winnings o£ £28,375 to his credit. Trivalve's stud career will he followed with keen interest, as at Mr. E. B. D. Clarke's establishment in Victoria he will receive greater opportunities than those afforded many other well-performed Australianbred horses. His first foal came to light' several days ago, a chestnut colt out of the imported mare Eloquence, and the youngster is said to be a most promising sort.

The big joke of the day at Eosebery (Sydney) recently (says a Sydney writer) was the belated decision to refuse the nomination of the e_x-New Zealander Dal Eaton, on the grounds that he is unmanageable at the barrier. For years this gelding has "been disorganising the starts of nearly every race he has contested, to say nothing of. the way he has tried the patience of backers by his inconsistent running; and it has taken all that time to discover that his behaviour is a little bit over the odds. The public certainly won't miss him, for, good galloper though he was, he was always a troublemaker, and a mighty hard horse to follow.

That one-time good horse Loyal Irish (Absurd- —Moira Machrce) finished his long racing career in Samoa, and has been retired to duty at Mr. O. P. Nelson's stud farm at Samoa. , Loyal Irish was bred by Mr. G. M. Currie at Koatanui, and was sold to Mr. J. Williamson, and was a promising three-year-old when he won the Rosehill Guineas and started favourite for the A.J.C. Derby, won by Mr. Greenwood's Cupidon, who started at long odds. Loyal Irish failed to realise his owner's hopes and has been racing in Samoa for some years in the Hoii. Mr..' Nelson's popular colours, with occasional spells of light stud duty. He has' apparently mixed it with success. Loyal Irish won £4475 in stakes in the Dominion, his best season being at five years, when he captured £2300.

Some interesting facts are coming to light about Subdivision at the Grand National meeting. The owner had £5 on the Surveyor gelding when he paid the big dividend, and so got a lot for a small risk. On the middle 'day he had five times as much on his horse. The stable wished to have C. Emerson in the j saddle at Riccarton, but he declined on § the ground that he had not ridden at | work since June. However, he took the tip and backed Subdivision in his modest way throughout the meeting, and landed the big dividend. So little was thought of Subdivision's chance in the Selwyn Handicap on Saturday that D. O'Connor, who was on him on the second day of the meeting, declined the ride and left for home before the last race was run.

Mosstrooper wae handled with consummate judgment in the Australian Hurdle Race by H. J. Thompson, who, ill my opinion, is the greatest rider over both*hurdles and fences we have had since the days of Fred Burns (says a Melbourne writer). He excels hi both dasjh, and cool judgment, and has an exceptionally light touch on his mount's mouth. Thompson came from New Zealand about 15 years ago. He is a great hand at allowing his mounts, be they lightweights or heavy-weights, to take the lead, and he has won a large number of hurdle races and steeplechases all the way. He Is an artist in. waiting at or near the front. His principal victories before Saturday had been: —Grand National Hurdles, 1923, Berrinbo; Grand National Steeplechase, 1920, lolaus; Australian .Steeplechase, 1916, Ungala; and ]920 i Minterne (led last two and ahalf miles). Hii ride on Mosstrooper was a chance mount, It was hard luck for W. Miirrell to lose the winning ride after his fine run of successes on the Kenilworth gelding. It was fortunate for ilr. <J. Powell that such an able rider us Thompson was able to take the mount til short notice.

Among the Auckland horses entered for the New Zealand Cup are Paddon, Mosque, Taneriri, Desert Glow, Prince' Humphrey, Mithra, In the Shade, Prodice and Corinax.

Although there was no "swallowcatching" gallops at Rand wick on August 15, track watchers were rewarded, as the champion New Zealandere, Aussie and Limerick, galloped together. The trial took place on the course proper, which was available for specials, flags being out about 70ft from the rails. Aussie appeared to have the worst of the weights, but this was equalised by Limerick having the outside berth. After trotting round to the six-furlong past the pair broke away together, but were restricted from galloping at their top. Rounding the bend on terms, they raced down the straight together, and it was a dead-heat when the winning-post was reached. That the champions were not loafing was proved by the watch recording 1.20 for the trip. It was an excellent gallop, considering the extra distance covered.

Owing to ill-health Mr. W. Handley is resigning from the managership of the Elderslie Stud, and leaves for England next week. Widespread regret will be felt at the retirement, and more so for the state of health which brought it about. Mr. Handley set a standard in the management of a stud, and the manner in which he turned out yearlings proved a revelation in New Zealand and Australia. A yearling never entered a ring in better shape than those led in by Mr. Handley. They filled the eye, nn<\ in deportment and manners left nothing to be , desired, and always commanded admiration. Mr. Hundley's severance with the breeding industry in New Zealand will leave a gup very*'hard to iill, not only for his particularly liigh class stud mastership, but also for his most interesting personality, which won him an ever-growing number of Friends.

Nightmarch, champion New Zealand three-year-old last season, hae done very little galloping at Randwick since his arrival (says a Sydney writer). But his condition appears fair, and that fact has prompted the belief that his connections might select tie Rosehill Handicap as the race in which the horse can make his Sydney debut. It will add great interest to the meeting if Nightmarch ie started, but his connections might not relish racing him in handicap company with 9.4 so long before the A.J.C. carnival. Much interest has centred in Nightmarch since the declaration of Melbourne Cup weights, for hie allotment of second topweight in Australia's biggest handicap greatly snrprised hie stable followers and ma.ny "ood judges in New Zealand. He was a, finely-performed three-year-old, however, and though the V.E.C. handicapper, Mr. Davis, might have given him a pound or two too much, there seems little doubt that Nightmarch will pay hie way in Australia. There seems the possibility that he will be confined to long-distance weight-for-age races in Sydney, and as Australian stayers are not particularly strong, the move might be a wise one. All going well, however, he will meet Winalot and limerick, and a race between the trio will prove an attraction.