SPORTING.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19112, 22 September 1927, Page 12

SPORTING.

TURF GOSSIP.

Acceptances for the Geraldine Racing Club's Spring Meeting close on Monday nest.

Race Meetings will be held on Saturday next at Ashburton, Avondale, and Kapier Park..

The barrier at the five furlong post was available at Ricearton yesterday, and several horses, comprising mostly two-year-olds, were given useful tuition at the tapes, and allowed to run down the straight.

The value of the Chelmsford Stakes to Limerick was £1043, and the rider's (M. McCarten) fee was £sl 13s. Penman, winner of the Flying Handicap at Menangle (N.S.W.) on Tuesday, is a live-year-old gelding by AYormwood from Sarah Grand, by All Black from Heavenly Twin. He was taken to Sydney by his owner-breeder, Mr P. P. Neagle, with Royal Lineage, and is engaged in the Epscjm Handicap with 7-7. Set Sail is reported to be giving every satisfaction in her work under C. Gieseler's care at Wingatui, and will be brought north for the Ashburton Meeting on Saturday, in company with Lucy Locket. Son o' Mine is to be ridden in the Melbourne Cup by Ashley Reed. The imported horse is the present favourite for the big V.R.C. race. Mr E. J.-Watt won the Novice Handicap at Sydney Tattersall's Meeting on Chelmsford Stakes day with the four-year-old DTake, by Persliore, from Dragon Fly. Tho winner was a rank outsider. .

Good reports come from Southland concerning the three-year-old filly koine Rose, by Some Boy 11., from Rose de .Val. 6be started only once last season, ■winning the McLean Stakes. She is booked to race in the Dunedin Guineas next month find if she performs uo to expectation she may visit Riccarton tor * the New Zealand Oaks. Her dam. Miss de Val, is a half-sister by Hymettus to Degage. Laughing Prince, who is down foran engagement in the Flying Stakes at the Avondale Meeting on Saturday, is likely to have a big following in that event. • The race will also serve to prepare him for his contest in the Guineas, to be run on the second day of the Meeting. It -was at the Avondalo Meeting twelve - months ago that Laughing Prince won his first race, when he led the new home in the Nursery Handicap on the second day. Judging by his recent track displays - "Wliaka King is a possibility in; a hacK event at any time. He is very forward, and has been sprinting well during the last few weeks at Eilerslie. He ran several good races last season, t>ut •usually met something a trifle too good when it came to the final test. He will be a runner in the first division of the Maiden Plate at the Avondale Meeting next Saturday, and • although a big field is engaged, a , quick beginner such as Whaka King is likely to bo seen to advantage.. tip to and including 11*20 the distance in the Avondalo Cup was a mile and a quarter, and some big weights were carried to victory. Since 1920 the distance has been increased to a mile and ; a half, and it i 9 very noticeable how tho extra quarter of a mile has favoured the lighter weights. Gold Light 9-3 and Highland 8-7 are the only two winners over 8-0? In addition to weight, this -year's top-weights from all appearances •will be additionally handicapped by a • heavy track. Owing to the number of acceptors in the Maiden Plate, to be run at the Avondalo Meeting next Saturday, ex - , ceeding the safety number, it has been decided to run the event in' two divisions. Horses running in the same* .owner's name will be put into separate divisions, and there will be no bracketing. In consequence, as the result of the recent amendment to the' Eules of •Racing, if one horse belonging to an •owner who -has two engaged wins a - division, the dividend will only be paid on the winning horse. The sum of £-70 •has been added to the stake, which will make the winner of each division receive £IOO, the second £25, and third ~slo.

Mr I. G. Duncan's imported mare,. Esther, by Santry from Persepolis, by Persimmon, "was shipped to Australia this week, to be mated with- Heroic. Esther, though a well-bred English mare,'has not been a great stift success so far.

With T. Lloyd absent in Australia ■with Piuthair and Clarinda, E. E. Hatch has Mireusonta under his care, and tho chestnut is looking very Tobust at present. Some Lad, who had been wintering on a farm in the Woodville district, has rejoined the active ranks. The Some Boy IL gelding has filled out in the interim, but ho does not appear to have grown to any extent. It was in tho Maiden Plate at tho Avondale Spring Meeting two years ago that Star Stranger won his first race, and it would bo a coincidence if his full-brother, Star God, were to win tho same event on Saturday, and also open his winning account therein. To dato. Star God has made only one public appearance, and, though beaten out of a place on that occasion, ho shaped well, enough to suggest that he may score Shortly in minor company. There is. a weak lot in his division of the Maiden Plate, and he will probably •tart favourite.

The following riding engagements Lave been announced for the Avondale Meeting on Saturday:—J. Cammiok, Delightment, Tliursby, and Te Tahi; E. 3le,ed, Star God, Knightlike, and. Star Stranger; T. Green, Gold Jftopt, Eden Hall, Ti Tree, In the Shade, aid Prince Humphrey; L. G. Morris, Freehold and Laughing Prinoe; B. Morris, Mask, Damaris or Thaw; S. Henderson, Master Doon, Dumblane, Haerera, and Standfast; E. Ludlow, Town Guard, Gold Acre, and Valour; B. McTavish, Te Kara,.Kingfiold, Day Guard, Whaka King, Takaranga, and. Kingsland; N. j Davis, King Emerald and Golden Krist; H. Wiggins, Alio way; C. Carxnont, Bahama, Ototoa, and Stonewall; A. E, Ellis, Te Monanui. Th© brood mar©. Golden Slioc, it was stated in a recent Sydney cablegram, •was bought by Mr H. Ncagle for 475 guineas at the dispersal salo of the Beltrecs Stud this.month, but it may turn out that she was bought on account of Mr W. G. Stead, owner of the Flaxmero Stud, in Hawke's Bay, Th© purchase of Golden Shoe serves to revive recollections of the sensational bidding that marked the competition for the possession of her dam, Golden. Slipper, when the late Mr G. G. Stead's horses were submitted to auction in the spring of .1908. Golden Slipper, \who was a daughter of Multiform and Aura, had won the Canterbury Champagne Stakes and Challenge Stakes in the preceding autnmn, and she was viewed as a filly likely to win classic honours at three years old. A New South Wales com inissioner, acting for Mr W. E. White, silenoed the opposition with a bid of 4500 guineas, and the filly went to the Australian sportsman. Golden Slipper failed to- reproduce her two-year-old form, and she proved a complete disappointment. Golden Shoe is by WaU lace (son of Carbine), and, as her dam was got by Multiform (son of Hotchliss), she is inbred to Musket«

In the Longbcac-h Handicap at the Ashburton Meeting. Note's official weight i 3 10-10, not 10-0, as was telegraphed, states a Tirnaru Press Association Message. There seems to be a strong disposition to favour Tc Monanui and Tc Kara for the Avondale Cup, and at present they are the most-discusscd horses in connexion with that event. ine Wanganui representatives, Allowayanu Mask, har.'O also a lot of followers. A few days prior to the Rosehilj, Meeting on Saturday last The Han showed some of his old-timo pace on the Randwick tracks. He was . ated with Gothic, ridden bv A. Keea. in the fastest time of tho 1.3J for five furlongs. In comment 1 on tho gallop a Sydney writer sa there was nothing wrong , • Hawk's condition. How much ot old pace he will reproduce at his in»i> start is another matter, but - l - Cameron has expressed the opmioi n*)' "his condition is as good as evei was."

The favourite double for the Epsom and Metropolitan-Gothic and Lim«ick—is now at a price that will not allow of backers considering the quotation. This state of affairs loll""™ on Limerick's runaway win in the Cl.eim.ford Stakes. As a result, many backers look upon, the Metropolitan as a ioiegone conclusion, says tho Syuncv ,\ ~ feree." The result of the Hill otakc., on Saturday last, in winch Linioi ic\ and Gothic finished first and second, will make the price still more prohibitive for the double and also cause l.otli horses to lie at exceptionally short figures for their respective engagements.

It. J. Mason will have nothing racinfrl but is remaining in Sydney for the A.J.C. Spring Meeting, says "Pnot' in the Sydney "Referee." It will be a holiday for him, but I fancy lie would prefer the worry of a prominent candidate for some of the big races.

It. Lewis, who rode TrivaLvc in Sydney in the autumn, will be on him in the A.J.C. Derby. Although he has reached an age i*t wliioli most jocLeys have dropped out of the game, Lewis is still much more at home in this class of race than most of tho riders who will figure in it. Ho won his first A.J.C. Derbv on Malster in 1900, followed it up with a win on Hautvilliers tho following year, and also scored 011 Sylvani'te in 1904. Since then he has been unsuccessful in a dozen rides, which included seconds on Wallace Isinglass, Turious, and Petunia, and thirds on Mother Goose and Thrice. Following on their forward running at the Sydney Tattersall's Meeting, Mullabawn arid Murillo have shortened in the Epsom and Metropolitan respectively. Despite Aorangi's defeat, he has not eased ifl the Epsom quotes. One of the biggest doubles laid since Tattersall's racing was that in which Mullabawn and Limerick were coupled. Fool's Paradise, until recently trained by J. Whitworth at Randwick, is now in M. Poison's care at Kogarah. Tho bay gelding, who is still owned by Mr O. Falkiner, lias not been an easy horse to train, one of his feet being troublesome.

Rionscup has shelly fore feet, and both have given * trouble during the past few weeks, with the result that ho has been on tlie easy list. He wa> again working last week and was sound on pulling up, but, though he is not a gross horse, interference with his pvepaitation at this stafee may adversely affect his chance of winning the Metropolitan.—Sydney "Referee."'

TROTTING NOTES.

Nominations for the Mcthven T.C. Inaugural Meeting close to-day at 8 p.m.

Following on tho recent rain training operations are quiet at Aldington, and until thd weather improves there is not likely to be much doing beyon,d slow work.

Harold Pronto, who is one of the best pacers in Victoria, has been sold by Dr. G. Connelly to Mr F. Lawrence, of Melbourne. The son of Don Pronto and Harilda will do a light stud season, and then, if plans are followed, he iwill leave for New Zealand and race here in <the autumn. •

The paeing gelding John Pointer is now sheltered in W. J. Tomkinson's stable. He is not" in training and is likely to be shipped to Australia in the near future.

Since the payment of 8 sovs Great Hope has come in for solid support for the New Zealand Trotting Cup, and is now second ( favourite to Cardinal Logan, while Talaro, Great Bingcn, Imprint, and Black Admiral have numerous friends.

The Auckland trainer, J. Shaw, is working a nice three-year-old colt by Man o' War from Air Raid. Tho youngster is engaged, in the Great Northern Derby at Auckland next month and is expected to run well.

First Carbine, who has been in retirement for a lengthy period, has been recommissioned by his owner, A. T. Newdick, and is a regular attendant at Alexandra Park.

KAIKOURA RACING CLUB. Tho annual meeting of tho Kaikoura Racing Club took placo at tho Oddfellows' Hall on Tuesday evening, Mr F. H. Flower presiding over a large and enthusiastic attendance. The president reported that tlio late secretary had left. the district, and that to had arranged with Mr O'Callaghan to take up tho duties, pending appointment by tlio . members. The president's action was confinned. , , , Tho report and balance-sheet were submitted and adopted, tho financial position disclosed being as followsßeceipts £237 us 10d, GXpenflitute JJ2OS 11? 10d, credit balance £3l 9s. Tho president remarked that, under the adverse circumstances, the club was lortunato in having a credit balance. Officers were elected as follows: —Patrons, Messrs G. W. Forbes, M.P.. and N. Ruth, erford; president, Mr P. H. Flower; vicepresidents, Messrs T. Stringer, A. Barker, 11. W. Bailev, J. Mclnnes, E. C. Latter, J. Davidson, E. H. Workman, T. Robinson, E. Parsons, A. Keenan; judge, Mr E. C. Latter.; starter, Mr R. A. Kennedy; assistant starter, Mr T. Robinson; timekeepers, Messrs H. Lenman and J. J. Maokle; handicappers, Messrs F. Nurse (gallops) and H. Jardin (trots); clerk of scales, Mr S. Sharps; clerk of l course, Mr •P. M. Kerr; hon. surgeon, Dr. R. L. Withers; stewards Messrs T. Robinson, T.-Stringer, J A. Johnston., H. W. Bailey, N. C. Yale, E. Wallace, J. J. Mackle, W. Chapman, W, Clemett, E. Gibson, H. 0. Baker, I'11. Workman, T. Alexander; judicial Stewards, Messrs A. Keenan, W. Chapman, and It. O. Baker; treasurer, Mr J. Mclnnes; auditor, Mr A. • Goocli; secretary', Mr D. O'Callaghan; stipendiary steward, Mr B. Martin (Domett); committee, Messrs W. Clemett, 3ST. C. Vale, J. Cooper, C. J. O'Malley, T. Robinson, E. A. Kennedy, and P.. Cannon. . . The following wore elected members of the club:—Messrs M. Broadhurst, E. Parsons, H. Gibson, E. S. Gray, J. Jackson, Alex. Boyd, F. Gibson, P. Adair, sen., W. J. Harnett, W. Muir, B J. Muir, E. Blackler, P. Brunei, S. J. Mogridge, F. Messent, W. Bodger, A. Sutherland, J. Sweeney, J. R. Sweney, E. W. Harris, J. Smart, k. W. Bailey, J. Buckley, P. O'Callaghan, A. Barker, Rob. Clarke, P. Cannon, P. Adair, jun., Archie Adair. The drawing up of the programme was j left to tlio General Committee. It was decided to apply for Boxing Day for the holding of the Annual E&cd Meeting. The question of railing the course was considered, and the matter wns left to the incoming committee. Votes of thanks were passed to Mr N. Rutherford for bis gift of ft cup, to the outgoing officers, to Mr T. : Alexander and : Mr F. H. Flower for use of offices for meetings, and to Atr J." Mclnnes for pre- | sentation of oup. Mr J. Mclnnes promised a prize for competition towards rawing funds for the club.

LIMERICK'S EASY WIN.

THE CHELMSFORD STAKES.

COMMENDATION'S SHOWING.

I?v tho Sydney mail, which arrived in Christchurch yesterday, full details of the race for the Chelmsford Stakes, won by Limerick, are contained in the following interesting review by "Pilot'' of the Sydney "Referee."'

For the .second year in succession Limerick won the Chelmsford Stakes. Ho cantered home ahead of Merry Mint, the time, owing to tho soft rroing. being 2Js slower than when he beat Windbag'last year. Commendation did not please his Caulfield Cup backers. He. did not look a possible winner at any part of the concluding half-mile and finished fourth. "I have never seen a nine furlongs w.f.a.. race won in easier fashion,'' remarked a man of long experience, when Limerick cantered home at the head o'f affairs in the Chelmsford Stakes, a race he also won last year. Limerick was a good favourite, a little better than even money, with Commendation, Son o' Mine, and Merry Mint following in that order. As I mentioned recently, Son o' Mine has greatly improved in appearance since I saw him at his owner's place last Spring, and Melbourne _ visitors who had not seen Limerick since the Melbourne Cup meeting were impressed by his development. A year ago he was leggy and light-fleslied, but he has let down and thickened considerably. I though he looked well at Warwick Farm, but ho was even better 011 Saturday. No fault was possible with Commendation, and, of the Derby candidates engaged, Genuine looked tho least likely to be suited by the 8.10 lie has to put tip in that race.

Thoroughly Fit.

Merry Mint, with the assistance of threo races since his arrival from New Zealand, probably stripped quite as well as he will on the first Saturday of next month. After his defeat at 3?ofeeliill I ivas inclined to discredit him, but it would be unwise to persist in that error. He may not be a champion, but his second in the Chelmsford Stakes. 011 top of his Hobartville Stakes' win, puts him in advance of any of the Sydney division of hisjOWii age. • The running really calls for little comment. Genuine made the pace from Merry Mint and Commendation,- with Limerick next, and at the six furlongs Statesman was last, though not far behind Son o' Mine and Rosso. At the half-mile, Limerick was second to Genuine, and at his heels was ixerry Mint, with. Commendation another length away. The latter was not moving with any dash, and there did not seem much hope for him when Limerick then went further away, and, without the slightest effort headed Genuine at the three furlongs. All Well Beaten.

Most of tho spectators then expected some of Limerick's followers to raise a run that would impart " some interest to the finish. Fairly on the road home, Commendation and Merry Mint joined Genuine, but Commendation could not hold his positioli. Merry Mint went into second place, but could not extend Limerick, whom MeCarten started to pull up some distance from the winning-post. ' , n ir •Limerick won by two and a half lengths, and it would be difficult to compute how far he could have beaten the others. ■ In the straight Son o' Mine got close to Merry Mint, but the-latter drew away again before the winningpost was reached. Son o' Mine's trainer was not sweet on his chance, though he thought that, provided the pace was fast, he might run well. As Son o' Mine met Limerick and Merry Mint'27lb better than weight-for-age, his third was not a performance over which it is possiblo to enthuse in respect of Melbourne Cup possibilities. He will improve, but, as he will be only tho equivalent of an Australian Autumn three-year-old when tlio Cup is run, he is not thrown in with Bst, which is weight-for-age at -two miles in 'March for a horse of that age. In April it is 8.2. Not His True Form. Commendation did not run nearly as .well as at Warwick Farm, and, if he is unable to improve greatly upon this display, his chance of success in the Caulfield Cup is indifferent. Whatever the cause, Commendation could not gal lop, on Saturday—the going may have adversely affected him—and, as he carried only 51b more thetn his Caulfield Cup weight, his price, on actual form, should lengthen considerably. That it has not, is due to tlie books having laid so much against him straight out, as well as so many two cups doubles having commenced with him for largo amounts. A Poor Showing. It would be impossible to write that Statesman ran satisfactorily. He did not display any pace, nor was he doing really "well at the finish. Last at one stage, the only horse 3he beat wero Rosso and tho wearied Genuine. He will improve, and that will be necessary in order to put him in the front rank ,of three-year-olds. Saturday's form was not suggestive of either Derby or Cup honours. Summed up, tho race was merely another triumph for Limerick, who outclassed bin opponents. If ho keeps as well as at present, defeat for him in any of the w.f.a. races at Randwick is improbable. I had an idea that Commendation, with the advantage of being fresh, might down him in the Craven Plate, but Limerick's Metropolitan run will, on recent form, have to take a lot out of him to enable Commendation to turn tho tables on him at a mile and a quarter. Most Sydney men', knowing Limerick better than New Zealanders have expected him to prove superior to Commendation, and their judgment is correct. Surprised his Trainer. "You couldn't have been as. surprised as I was," was G. Jones's comment on Monday morning when chatting to a friend about Commendation's Chelmsford Stakes' running. "It is one of tho things it is impossible to explain, and it's little use making excuses. There's. nothing wrong with him; you can see that." Commehdation's appearance would not account for his failure, as lie looked better than at Warwick Farm, and on Monday was as lively as it" kitten. RACECOURSE FOR SALE. (BY CABLE —FHESS ASSOCIATION" —COPYRIGHT.) (AUSTRALIAN- AND N.Z. CABLE . ASSOCIATION.) (Received September 21st, 7.0 p.m.) SYDNEY, September 21. The Kembla Grange racecourse was 'offered at auction and passed in at £4900. RIONSCUP SCRATCHED. (BY rUI.E—PEESS ASSOCIATION*—COPYRIGHT.) (ACCTEALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION.) (Received September 21st, 7.40 p.m.) SYDNEY, September 21. Rionscup has been scratched for the j EpsQm.