F. DAVIS' TEAM.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 184, 6 August 1935, Page 14

F. DAVIS' TEAM.

THE THREE-YEAR-OLDS. ALL PROGRESSING WELIj. TOEM AT EICCARTOX. With only a few weeks to go before tbey will be racing again, several threc-yenr-olds are being speeded up at Woodville and their progress from now on will be keenly watched. Oα Saturday Haut Monde and Plato together were given a sprint over five furlongs and although, not asked of their best both, hit out well. Both of Mr. Lowry's three-year-olde have developed into bifr, fine-looking colts, and they will be worthy contenders for classic honours this season. Haut Monde and Plato are engaged in the Wanganui Guineas next month and will race at that meeting. The Posterity colt Heritage was also given a similar task and he showed that ho had lost none of his pace. This three-year-old has not grown a great deal but has thickened out into a solid type and looke one that will stay well. Heritage's first important engagement of the season will be the Avondale Guineas. PROVED GOOD AS A JUMPER. The latest track efforts of Wee Pat have been very satisfactory and she will be ready to race as soon as required. She has not been schooled over iurdles since the Great Northern meeting, as it is intended to give her a few races on the flat before she takes on hurdle racing again. Wee Pat lias been a great proposition as a jumper, but so far 3she has not been successful in a flat race. HAS DONE WELL. Since coming to Ellerslie some weeks ago Sir Borneo has done exceptionally -well and lie now looks a much improved horse. This hack has been racing for several seasons, and although he managed to win a race his form on the whole has been rather disappointing. Sir Eomeo will be seen out at the Pakuranga meeting, and it will be easier to assess his future prospects after he has been seen in action at that fixture. HUNT CUP CANDIDATE. Wykemist, who annexed the Hunt Cup at Eicearton on Saturday, is an aged gelding by Eoyal Stag, and is trained by J. E. Shaw at Washdyke. He started in the Hunt Cup at Waimate recently, but ran off. while at Timaru last Saturday* week he ■won the. Paeroa Steeplechase in good style. He is engaged in the Hunt Cup and the Aylesbury Steeplechase at Eicearton next week.

' TO RACE AT PAKURANGA. Although Zane Grey has not raced for some months, no fault can be found with his condition, and he is working as well as ever. This hnnter is due to make his next appearance in the Greenmount Hunters' Steeplechase at the Pakuranga meeting, to E"e held on August 24. . He ran third in the above event twelve months ago, and as the class is : likely to'. be weaker at the approaching meeting he may improve on last year's performance. - JUVENILES FOR SYDNEY. H. E. Russell, who is at present having success in Sydney with the brothers Golden Chance and Golden Treasure, has a couple of two-year-olde, working at Woodville and no doubt they will be seiit across .to.Sydney in the near future. One is a full-brother to. Brown Betty, being by Lackham from Signal Fire, and' has been named Bengal Lancer. ■ The other is a colt by Lackham from the Lucullus mare.Lucretia, and will be known as Mala. ' A; CONSISTENT PERFORMER. Tybalt, who was on the easy:list for a while after returning from the Wellington meeting, is in regular work again at Ellerslie. He freshened up a good' deal during his spell from hard work and is now in. first-rate order to undergo another preparation. Tybalt's victories during the past season proved him to be one of the most consistent performers seen out in the Auckland district for some tinie. Altogether he was successful on eight occasions, and as he won in all sorts of going he clearly demonstrated that he was a genuine racehorse under any conditions. FROM A GOOD FAMILY; McHeath, the winner of the Kennels Handicap at Riccarten on Saturday, joined J. Shaw's team at Riccarton last spring, having previously been raced by his breeder, Mr. J. S. MoLeod, of Hawke's Bay. He was not raced a great deal in the early part, but recently lie won well at South Canterbury from a big field, after being placed on several other occasions. MeHeath comes from a great family, for he is by Lord Quex from, Polly Peachum, a half-sister to Runnymede, Ganymede, Raasay, My Own and Simba. McHeath will make his next appearance at the Grand National meeting next week. HAS PLENTY OF SPEED. Disguise, a four-year-old filly by Lord Quex from First Class, owned by Mr. J. K. McKenzie; well known in trotting circles, has shown a lot of speed in her races, and at the last South Canterbury meeting finished fourth in a good field of hacks. In consequence, she was well supported, for the Selwyn Handicap at Riccarton on Saturday. She was prominent the course proper was reached and eventually filled third position. Disguise is excellently bred, for her dam is by All Black from Class, the dam of Bop Ton. The Toff,'' Eligible and other good performers. Disguise is.engaged at the Grand National meeting, and she looks like getting some money there.

HAS SHOWN WINNING FORM. Cottesmore is a good liorse when right, though for some time past he has suffered more or less from unsoundness. However, he has shown winning form during the last few months, scoring at Manawatu and also at Otaki over six furlongs, while he was placed at Trentham and also at Manawatu. In the Brabazon Handicap at Riccarton on Saturday he showed up at the start, but ■then faded out. A couple of seasons ago Cottesmore won both the Selwyn Handicap and the August Handicap at Riccarton after running unplaced in the Winter Cup, and he is again engaged in the same events next week. It is worthy of note that he is trained by A. M. Wright, who last year created a surprise with Princess Doreen in the Winter Cup. ENGAGED IN WINTER CUP. Wino, who won the Brabnzon Handicap at Riccarton on Saturday, is engaged in the Winter Cup,, and as a result of his latest success he will not be without friends tin the big mile. Wino is owned by Messrs G. R. Hunter and P. C. Webb, M.P., and ■won several races on the West Coast recently, three being over a mile, while he scored at the last Amberley meeting over a mile and a quarter. Wino was expected to race well at the recent TrenttW £"t t,n *' b - ut failed - However, now to Lt S a,|am str " ck folra h e is likely

PIN MONEY WORKING. Pin Money is now getting through his daily tasks in good style and is displaying plenty of dash. This gelding was unfortunate in jarring a joint some time back, which has kept him off the scene up till now. Pin Money showed some really pood form as a three-year-old and now looks an improver who should do well this season. DOING LIGHT TASKS. The two juveniles in F. Gilchrist's stable are going on the right way in their preparation at Ellerslie, but owing to the heavy going their tasks so far have been very light. One is a grey gelding by Vaals from Eehutai and the other a bay gelding by Tea Tray from Avoncourt. Both are well-grown youngsters, though the Vaals gelding is not as solidly built as his stablemate. RESUMED WORK. The active team of H. and A. Cutts had an addition a few days ago, when Kebel Song, by Robespierre from Toti dal Monte, resumed work at Eicearton. He had his last race in the spring of 1933, and though he was in training again alter that he has just come back from a long spell. It is to be hoped he will stand up to a preparation, as he is a horse of good class, with speed and stamina. FAILED AT TRENTHAM. Easouli ran twice at Trentham last month, a good third on the opening day, and spoiling his chance in his later start by an early mistake, which cost him some ground, so his failure need not be taken too seriously (says a southern writer) Since his return to Washdyke he has been freshened up. He is a good jumper and he can stay, so he may be expected to play a leading part in the Grand National Hurdles next week. MADE A GOOD RECOVERY. That promising jumper High Commissioner, who went amiss while contesting a flat race last autumn, is still out in the paddock at J. F. Tutchen's place at Te Eapa. The chestnut gelding has made a good recovery and now shows no signs of the trouble that caused his retirement. All going well in the interim High Commissioner will be taken up again about next December and will be hacked about the roads for a month or two prior to being prepared for jumping events later on in the season. RAN A SOLID RACE. Knoekfin, though beaten in the Brabazon Handicap at Eicearton on Saturday, is stated to have run a solid race and her admirers for the Winter Cup should not be disheartened. She was slow away from the barrier, but at the end of three furlongs was up with the leaders, and entering the straight Wino was the only one in front of her, and the only one she failed to beat. Knoekfin has a good record during the past couple of seasons, and the recent racing she has had should see her at her best next Tuesday. PREFERS HARD GOING. Aa' Psychologist will not be required to race again until the ground is firm nothing of a serious nature is being asked of him at present. The brown gelding has wintered well, and though a bit burly-looking he is in great order to begin a solid preparation for the new season. A few mornings ago Psychologist was given a workout over four furlongs, and, considering it was his first sprint for some time, his effort was very satisfactory. When this horse gets track conditions to his liking more money should come his way.

WELL-BRED HURDLER. Jolly Beggar put up a good performance when he won the Longbeach Hurdles at Riccarton on Saturday, and he will in consequence have support in his engagements at.the Grand National meeting. Hβ was always handy, and, taking charge about seven furlongs from home, ho was never afterwards headed. Jolly Beggar won his first hurdle race at Geraldine in the spring, when he beat Lycidas and others. He was third in the Kildare Hurdles at Riccarton at Toaster and later won at Ashburton and South Canterbury. Jolly Beggar should stay out any distance on his breeding, for he is by Nigger Minstrel from . Glencross, by Glenapp from Red Cross. Glencross is a full-sister to Fiery Cross, who won the Auckland Cup for Mr. D. H. Roberts, who also races Jolly Beggar, in 1917. Mr. Roberts had a most successful meeting on Saturday, for he also owns Glenavon, who won the Selwyn : Handicap a little later on. Glenavon is a three-year-old full-brother to Red Heckle, who won many races for Mr. Roberts, including • the Great Northern Derby.

NEW ZEALAND RACING. "Docendo Discimus , ' (Auckland) writes: "When one reads the remarks and opinions of various racing experts one cannot but think that racing in New Zealand is on the down grade. All kinds of reasons are given, such as betting systems, heavy taxation, bookmakers, etc., but if we judge by the recent meeting of the Wellington Racing Club it would appear that raeiDg was booming. The recent success at Trentham, in my humble opinion, was mostly due to the following: (a) The excellent programme arranged and the attractive appointments which provide for all weathers; (b) The up-to-date sysT tern of win and place betting, showing at a glance what everyone wants to know, viz., the price each horse is paying; this in itself is a great attraction; (c) Catering for the pleasure and comfort of the general public and not individual sections, which tends to make everyone feel at home. I do not wish to raise any controversy regarding the different systems of betting. This must be decided by the various clubs themselves, but as one who advocates the one and only system adopted in all other racing spheres, viz., win and place, • I naturally would like to see this system made general, or at the larger meetings, as. in the case of Trentham, Canterbury, Dunedin and Hamilton, especially as the win and place system appears to create more enthusiasm, and certainly is an insurance to the small betters. At the same

time it satisfies the larger betters, who prefer to get 100 per cent won and 33 per cent place oft their heavily taxed £1, reducing it to 16/6, -in lieu of 15 per cent or 25 per «ent 0f',16/6. I go so far as to say that many investors who at first did not like the win and place system, now appreciate its value, and the clubs also find'that it circulates more winning money, as it is obvious that four dividends create more money for reinvestments than two. The great racing public all agree that our Gaming Act is inconsistent with presentday racing; therefore, every, effort should be made to amend our existing gaming laws. We have our remedy at the coming election by asking our various candidates for Parliament whether they will support a modern Gaming Act, in lieu of the present -.ancient one, and thus help to put racing again on its feet. What is urgently required is well known, viz., to wipe out the war tax on racing as early as possible, to permit telegrams to be sent to racing clubs for investments on the totalisator, the publication of dividends, and the double totalisator. These three items must be carried out to save racing in New Zealand. We must attract horses to this country and not drive them to. Australia. As far as bookmakers are concerned, I fail I to see how they could improve rac.ng if! they were allowed on the course, and in' this direction I quite agree with the president of the Dunedin Jockey Club. It is obvious that the only way to improve racing generally is to attract investments to the totalisator and not drive investors into making illegal bets. There is no deny- j' ing the fact that horse racing and breeding ■ is one of our great industries, which must . be protected, especially as there are so i many other industries running in conjunc- . tion with same, and the present time is : most opportune for one and all to see it ; gets a fair run."