RACING AND TROTTING

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22245, 9 November 1937, Page 15

RACING AND TROTTING

*DERBY WINNER

ROYAL CHIEF’S STAYING PEDIGREE

OWNER’S FIRST PURCHASE

' In winning the New Zealand Derby yesterday, Royal Chief definitely established himself as the best three-j:ear-old of the season. The position was in doubt after Smoke Screen had beaten him in the Great Northern Guineas early in October, in their first yia'sh of the season; but Royal Chief made matters even by easily beating Smoke Screen in the Trentham Stakes at the' recent Wellington meeting, and now Royal Chief has settled the matter by another comfortable defeat of the Fordell colt. These horses have had some interesting duels. As two-year-olds they met four times. Royal Chief winning twice and Smoke Screen once, and this season Royal Chief has had two wins to his rival’s one.

A Good Start

Shortly after settling in Christchurch, Mr A.K. Firth, a retired English merchant. decided that he would like to own a racehorse or two, and arranged with Mr D. W. J. Gould to look out for likely yearlings at the January sales, at the same time stating that he intended to set aside a certain sum for carrying on his. ownership, and sufficient to give racing a trial for five years. If at the end of that period his venture did not show a satisfactory position, he would review tne matter. Mr Gbuld carried out his commission by buying two yearlings for Mr Firth, one. Royal Chief, by Chief Ruler from the English mare Modiste 11, for 160 guineas, and one Elegy by Posterity from Damaris for 300 guineas. The former was soon to do good service for his new owner, but Elegy has yet to win a race, although she-has not Yet been seriously tried oat. As a two-year-old, Royal Chief collected In stakes £2290, and this season: to date he has won £2005, making a" total of £4295. in a little over 12 months’ career, a striking return for ah outlay of 160 guineas. Mr Firth thus has every reason to be pleased with his first experience as an owner. He does not often go away from Christchurch, and did not make the trip to the North Island to see his colt race. He was not. eager to travel, to Australia for the spring racing, and as a restilt. Royal Chief was taken out of the Australian Derby and other engagements. As matters have turned out. Royal Chief would have been an interesting visitor to Australia. He has proved himself an undoubted stayer, and he would have more than held his own with the select of the Australian three-year-olds.

Solid Lined That Royal Chief is entitled to be a. Derby winner is suggested by nis pedigree, the main lines ofwhich are: Sire: Chief Ruler by The Tetrarch from Jest by Sundridgc from Absurdity by Melton from Paradoxical by Timothy from Inchbonny by Sterling from Casuistry by The Miner from Lady Caroline by Orlando. . Dam: Modiste. II by Franklin from Vogue by Tracery from. Chameuse by Stj* Frusquin from Fairy Martin by Martagon from Queen of tbe Spring by Springfield from Queen of the Hills by Exminster from Queen of the May by King of Trumps, Chief Ruler was one of the bestbred sons of the great racehorse and sire The Tetrarch. He was not only a half-brother to the 1921 Derby winner, Humorist, but also his dam. Jest, was a sister to that wonderful stud success, Absurd. The death of Chief Ruler a few years ago was a severe loss to New Zealand bloodstock, his progeny having won most of me biggest races both in Australia and New Zealand.

Fortunate Buyers Modiste II was imported by Mr J. Donald for the Westmere stud, and Royal Chief was her first living progeny.' She was sold at the Westmere dispersal sale last January for 600 guineas. She had a well-grown brown colt by Beau Pere at foot, and was in foal to Phaleron Bay. and she is now at Messrs Thompson and Basche’s stud in New South Wales. No doubt the Beau Pere colt will be submitted for sale at the Sydney Easter sales, and much interest will be attached to. his appearance in the ring. Mr Firth, through a commissioner, was a bidder for the mare up to 500 guineas, but even if he had gone on, the Australian buyers would not have been outbid. Successful Trainer '• Royal Chief has always been trained by P. D. Jones, who must be given every credit for his remarkably sue-

cessful career. This was Jones’s second success as a trainer of a Derby winner, his previous being with Nightly, who won in 1933. Jones has had some champions through his hands, and has seldom gone through a season without one good horse in his stable. The names of Reputation, Amythas, Ballymena, Glentruin, Limerick, Nightly, and Royal Chief certainly bear out this contention.

RACING FIXTURES

November 10, 13—Canterbury J.C, November 13—Rotorua and Bay of

Plenty Hunt Club. November 13—Napier Park R.C. November 20—Levin R.C. November 20—Southland R.C. November 20, 22—Waikato R.C. November 27—Ashburton County R.C. November 27, 29—Takapuna J.C. November 27, 30—Feildlng J.C. December 4—Otaki Maori R.C. December 11—Hororata R.C. December 11, 13 —Woodville District

J.C. , . December 14 or 18—Waipa R.C. December 27— Waipukurau J.C. December 27—Westland R.C. December 27, 28—Dunedin J.C. December 27, 28—Taranaki J.C, December 27. 28, 30— Manawatu R.C. December 27, 29. January 1, 3—Auck-

land R.C. _ ~ December 31. January I—Greymouth J.C.

TROTTING FIXTURES

November 9. 11. 12— N.Z. Metropolitan T.C. November 13 —Manawatu TC. November 25, 27— Forbury Park T.C. December 4—New Brighton T.C. December 4—Waikato T.C. December T.C. December 11—Reefton T.C. December 27 —Ashburton T.C. December 27—Gore T.C. December 27-Wairarapa T.C. December 27. 28— Westport T.C. December 28. 30, 31—Auckland T.C. December 29-Winton T.C. January 1, 3 ~ c ?, nte s b m Park T ‘ C ‘ January 4— Westland T.C. January 5. 6-Greymouth T.C. January 15— Cambridge T.C.

TURF GOSSIP

Reminder _ Acceptances for to-morrow’s programme at Riccarton will close at noon to-day.

Answer to Correspondent “Argument,” Sydenham: Argentic,

Accidental Falls ... . . An inouiry into the falls of Might and in the New Zealand run on Saturday was held by tne ■judicial stewards at Riccarton y®®Jerday, and after hearing the e Y *denceof the riders concerned, it was found that Might fell through getting on to the heels of another horse, an £ Sm o * l B<sy fell over him the mishap being pure y accidental.

Speedy Juvenile , „ x Defaulter winner of the two-year-old handicap at Riccarton yesterday, and conqueror of the speedy Surmount, in time was just record, was purchased iy Mr H. D. Greenwood for 170 guineas, and was broken in by J. S. Shaw, who handed him over with other members of his team to P Roberts when he gave up training last August. Bred by M I Macßae, of Masterton, Defaulter is by Defde from Expense by Paper Money from Lady Jean 11, dam of Beau Gest Scion, and Askan. Expense was a speedy youngster, but had very little racing, and was retired to the stud as a young mare, her first production being Barograph, a good winner. Defoe is bv Hurry On from Daughter-m-Law by Son-in-Law, and although, he has not had many of . his stock racing, they all show promise, and in. Defaulter he has a representative hkely to reach big heights. Roberts has made a favourable beginning as a trainer, and has led in his share of winners, including Heloise, Waitaka, Lady Athena, and Defaulter. Totalisator Comparison The highest totalisator return on New Zealand Cup day was m .1922. when £79,141 was handled, and the total for the meeting was £259,925. in the previous year £77,177 was the Cup Day total, and £271,454 was that for the meeting. This year the Day turnover was £65,585. Yesterdays return of £37,410 was well ahead of the figures for Derby Day in recent years, but was much below those of the peak years. In 1919 £58,687 was invested, in 1921 £52,454, and in 1922, £54,413.

METROPOLITAN T.C.

TO-DAY’S PROGRAMME Few trotting meetings ever held in New Zealand have created as much interest as is being shown in the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club’s meeting to-day, and the big attraction is the New Zealand Cup, possibly the most open contest ever run under the name. Backers are still in a quandary as to what they will make favourite, and while the admiration for a wonderful horse will encourage support for Indianapolis and his stable-mates, Cloudy Range and Tempest, therq are so many others with excellent prospects, that the favourite cannot be named uhtll the totalisator shuts down on all business.

At least 10 of the 17 horses remaining in the race will carry big investments, and practically every horse has its army of admirers.

Last year £51.054 was invested on the totalisator: but weather and track conditions 12 months ago did not encourage speculation. To-day s meeting Is being awaited with interest, because of the first serious trial of the new totalisator. Whether it can handle more expeditiously the money aval - able than could Mr W. H. McDougall? manual machine is questioned oy many; but with the co-operation of the betting public great results might be attained. Much will depend upon the machine and its manipulation, much more will depend upon the betting public. No last-minute rusmng to the totalisator will be tolerated, for the machine will close at the tised time, and the controls are operated by one man, whose decision is final and prevents further tickets being issued. The staff employed has been proved under heavy strains to be efficient; but in a serious tna l everything depends upon the intelligence and the punctuality of the betting public. The result of the first public trial is being awaited with the gl With t fine t wea t ther the track is li j sel X £% 8 &ly tO A special 6 service has been arranged by the Christchurch Tramway Board and patrons may depend upon amok transport to and from the ou fj e ' „ The following horses should race well in their different engagements.— Spring Handicap—Golden Eagle, Captain Bolt. Gyrate. Empire Handicap—Plutus, Hocks Ahead, Southern Smile. New Zealand Cup—War Buoy, King’s Warrior, De Soto. Yaldhurst Handicap Parisiennc, Lady Fame, Aide de Camp. Middleton Handicap Bittersweet, Wahnooka, Canton. „. . Riccarton Stakes— Francisco, Kings Jubilee. Bayard. Victoria Handicap—Casanova, Rongomai, Golden Cross. Hagley Handicap—King’s Play., U. Scott, Rocks Ahead. .... The day’s programme is as follows.

Noon— , . SPRING HANDICAP, of £3OO. Unhoppled troUers Smin 34sec class. One mile Prince ° haU ' Mataunga .. 24 Harvester scr Helens Bay .. 36 Reward .. scr Little Beta .. Sister 6 Mary I.’ sc? Franz Derby 60 Capteln Lament .. 24

13.40 p.m.— EMPIRE HANDICAP (In Saddle), of £3OO “a ;i OSP “. S so'ShS, a»di 1| Red tU Flush :: EC? Ro°cks y Ahea n d 30 Renown’s Best scr

I. p.m.-* NEW ZEALAND CUP. of £2600. 4min 26sec class. Two miles. Mrs E. E. Butcher’s ch hj Gamble, by Jack Potts—Princess Ann, syrs . • scr W T. Lowe’s ch Iv Lucky Jack, oy Jack Potts— I Tirane, syrs •• scr H. Stafford’s b g Pot Luck, by Jack Potts— Hope Dillon, syrs •• scr J. McDonald’s b g Glenrossie. by Matchlight—Alice Dillon, Uyrs • ■ scr J. R. Simpson’s b g Bingen Balm, by Nelson Bingen—Olive Palm. 9yrs scr T. H. McGlrr’s b g Reporter, by Wrack —Highland Princess, 7yrs •• scr G. J Barton’s b g Tempest, by Wrack —Nell Pointer. 9yrs .. • • scr Rudd and Challls’s blk m, Evicus, by Globe Derby—Milky Way, Byrs .. 12 L. J. Brake’s ch m Bonny Azure, by Blue Mountain King—Bonnie Bincfen 6vrs • • • • * • W. Hositlng’s blk g King’s Warrior, by Blue Mountain King—Forward Lady, 7yrs • • • < • • J. Westerman’s b g Graham Direct by Rey de Oro—Becky Logan, 6yrs 12 Mrs E. K. Mauger’s b g War Buoy, by Man o’ War—Little Kewple, 6yrs .. 12 D. Wlndle’s b g Willow Wave, by Waverley—hack mare, llyrs • • • l* G. J’. Barton’s b g Cloudy Range, by Wrack—Ayr, Byrs .. • • 12 C. Johnston’s ch g De Soto, by Rey de' Oro—Entice •• •• 24 L. A. Maidens’s gr g Blue Mountain, by Blue Mountain King—Mother Machree, lOyrs • • • • 24 G. J - . Barton’s b hj Indianapolis, by Wrack—Estella Amos, Byrs .. 72 2,10 p.m.— YALDHURST HANDICAP, of £450. 4min Slsec class. Two'miles. Aide de Camp scr Isabel Derby 12 Double Great scr Parlsienne .. 12 GUy Junior .. scr Lady Fame .. 12 Ironside scr Sea Gift (T.) 12 Young Prank scr Gallant Knight 36 Big Author .. 12 2.50 p.m.— MIDDLETON HANDICAP, of £4CO. Unhoppled trotters. 4min 40sec class. Two miles. Flotsam .. scr Bittersweet .. 24 Gan ton .. scr Great Admiral 36 Garner .. scr Discord .. 48 Golden Eagle scr Wahnooka .. 48 Norman Fox .. scr Waikato Raclalm scr ■ Prince- 48 Amonos .. 12

3.30 p.m.— RICCARTON STAKES, of £3OO. One mile and a quarter. All Great Direct Parrish Silver Grattan Francisco Percentage King s Jubilee Rerekohua Stamboul Loyal Rufine Bayard Otaua . Jackaranda Don Acron Three Bells 4.10 p.m.— VICTORIA HANDICAP, of £350, 4mln 36sec class. Two miles. Golden Direct scr Renown’s Best 24 Treasure Bond scr Battlefield .. 36 Golden Cross 12 Blair Athol 36 Eighteen Carat 24 Casanova .. 36 Mystery Yet 24 Rongomal .. 48 4.55 p.m.— HAGLEY HANDICAP, of £350. 2mln 45sec class. One mile and a quarter. Agile •• scr Hollo ..12 Grace McElwyn scr Bingen Palm 24 Gunfire ..scr Glenrossie ~ 24 King’s Play .. scr Rocks Ahead 24 Raydus .. scr Village Guy .. 24, U. Scott .. scr Supertax .. 38

N.Z. TROTTING CUP

SOME EARLY WINNERS GREAT RACEHORSES OP YEARS AGO The New Zealand Cup was first officially known under that title, in 1904; but before this it was known as the New Zealand Handicap, and the first contest took place in 1901. Incidentally. in the same year, a New Zealand Handicap was decided in August —the first spring meeting as it was described in those days. The November fixture was known as the second spring meeting, and was the most highly endowed of the year, the stakes ranging from £SO to £l5O. It was at this stage that the general public showed signs of becoming interested in the light-harness sport, and on the second day of the 1901 meeting £6912 was put through the totalisator. The New Zealand Cup Handicap was won by Monte Carlo, whose deeds on the race track still form a topic of discussion for many of the old-time racing men. The trotter took 4min 50 4-ssec to do the two miles, and he won by 10 lengths with 20 lengths separating the second and third horses, Albert (R. Day), and Victory II (D. Price). The Brilliant Ribbonwood In 1902 the class was set at 4min 48sec. and while the good stake of £2OO was on offer, there were only five starters, the presence of Ribbonwood no doubt accounting for the absence of many. The black colt won in brilliant style, and In doing 4min 43sec. put up a performance equal to any that had been'done in Australia or New Zealand. The winner was driven by D. J. Price, Monte Carlo was second, and Boldrewood third. In 1903 the Champion Handicap took the place of the New Zealand Handicap, and it was won by St. Simon (C. Piper), with The Needle, second and Monte Carlo and Fichu dead-heat for third place Record Investments In 1904 the New Zealand Cup first appeared on the Trotting Calendar, and the stake had risen to £3lO. It created the greatest enthusiasm, and the record sum of £2637 was invested on the race. There was great excitement at the finish, and, according to a writer of the day:—“ Monte Carlo, the hero of a hundred stubbornly-con-tested races, has received many ovations as the result of past successes but never one so spontaneous and well deserved as that following his great victory in the New Zealand Cup. On his return to the enclosure cheer after cheer went up from all parts _ of the ground, while hundreds of excited enthusiasts crowded round the evergreen favourite. Perhaps the least concerned of all that took part in the demonstration was Monte Carlo himself. Monte Carlo won by 12 lengths from Norice, and registered 4min 44 3-ssec. In 1905, Birchmark, owned by the Allandale Stock Farm, and driven by D. J. Price, won handsomely from General Lincoln, and in 1006 the Cup attracted competition .from Australia, and the stake was one of £4OO ana the class 4min 50sec. Belmont M. (G. Milsom) won from Euchre (A. Pringle), end Marian (J. Tasker), in 4min 46sec The attendance was a record one, and there were visitors from all parts of Australia and New Zealand. In 1907 the race was again described as the New Zealand Handicap, and was won by Marian _(J. Tasker),

while on Show Day, 1908, it was worth £SOO, the class 4min 48sec, and the Cup was won by Durbar (A. Pringle) in 4min 36sec, a second outside the record established by Ribbonwood. Advance of Trotting “Who in their wildest flights of fancy,” wrote “Spectator” in the “Weekly Press and Refferee” of November 17, 1909, “could have dreamed of the sport becoming so popular in such a comparatively few years? Twenty years ago there were only a few clubs in existence entirely devoted tc trotting. It is less than half that time since the Canterbury Trotting Club, one of the oldest in the Dominion, and now known as the New Zealand Metropolitan Club, held their first meeting on their present course, and it was considered a great achievement when they gave £ISOO in stakes. At the meeting now engaging attention they are spending £5500, and the chief race bearing the title, the New Zealand Cup, carries a stake of no less than £700.” This year it was won by

Wildwood Junior (W. Kerr), in 4min 39sec, and he repeated the performance a year later, when he went 4min 33sec, establishing an Australian and New Zealand record for two miles.

Trotting in New Zealand was now firmly established, and in 1911 all records were broken when the sum of £27.148 was put through the machine, against £17,036 the previous year. Lady Clare (J. Brankin) was the victor, with Dick Fly (M. Edwards) second and A 1 Franz (C. Kerr) third. The time was 4min 38sec and £6096 was invested on the race. In 1912 A. Hendriksen scored his first win with Albert H., and N. L. Price, still actively associated with the sport, won in 1913. In 1915 Hendriksen won his second Cup, when he was successful with Country Belle, Win Soon (A. Pringle) having won ip 1914, establishing a re«cord' of 4min 31sec,

Advent of J. Bryce It was at this time that, the Scottish trainer, J. Bryce, first came into the limelight as a master horseman, and with Cathedral Chimes he won the Cup, a performance that he repeated with other horses on a number of occasions in later years. There was a sensation when Cathedral Chimes won, for just before the big race was to start the grandstand caught fire, and there was more fire-fighting than racing that day, the last race being decided in the evening. All Records Broken All previous records were broken when Adelaide Direct, driven by M. Edwards, registered 4min 27 4-ssec in 1917, and this was further improved to 4min 26 2-ssec, when Author Dillon (B. Jarden), one of the greatest horses of all time, was successful in 1918, and at the same meeting he won the first of the three Free for All races that have gone to his credit. Free Holmes scored his one victory in the race when he drove and trained the American mare, Trix Pointer, in 1919, and Reta Peter equalled the record of Wildwood Junior when she won in 1920 and 1921. While her first win was a clear-cut one, she was possibly very lucky to be awarded the second. In the straight, Sherwood, driven by F. G. Holmes, appeared to have the race won and he finished two lengths ahead of the mare. A protest by the owner of the winner, however, was sustained, and for crossing F. G. Holmes was fined £2O and the positions of the first two horses were reversed. This decisioh is still a topic in trotting circles to-day. More recent contests for the big event are fresh in the memory of most followers of trotting; but possibly no more exciting race than that of 1929 has taken place. In that race J. J. Kennerley, then private trainer to the Auckland owner, Mr W. Johnstone, crossed the line almost on even terms with his brother. Great Bingen, and Ahuriri, three of the best horses that have ever worn hopples m New ZeaWhether to-day’s race for the cup will provide such an exciting contest as was staged in 1929 has yet to be decided; but in the evenly-balanced field there is every prospect of a most exciting race.

TROTTING NOTES

Bracketed Horses Bracketed horses at Addington today will be: New Zealand Cup—Gamble, and War Buoy; Bonny Azure and King’s Warrior; Tempest, Cloudy Range, ahd Indianapolis. Yaldhurst Handicap—Double Great and Gallant Knight. Middleton Handicap—Golden Eagle, Bitterstveet, and Great Admiral. Hagley Handicap—Gunfire and Rollo. A Warning

The following notice appears in the official race-card issued for to-day’s meeting of the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club:—“As time has not allowed the club to install another 10 ticket issuing machines, the public are requested to make their investments early.” In addition to the inside totalisator house, in which £5, £l, and 10s investments may be made, there are also two boxes at the bottom of the stewards’ stand and one in the stewards’ stand upstairs, at which 10s tickets will be sold. From Nelson

Debutante by Native King—Whaa, who has done most of her racing in Canterbury, is now a member of L. P. Berkett’s team and will race in that trainer’s colours to-day. She may not be the class required for a race like the Spring Handicap, for class is well represented, but she may do better than many expect. Berkett has brought a number of good horses to Addington, the best being Dilworth, Imprint, and Nicoya. Change of Stables At one time Reward looked like developing into a good trotter, but a number of disappointing displays sent him out of favour. He is now in the care of G. Cameron at New Brighton, and may still live up to his early promise. He has breeding to recommend him. Well Related

Captain Bolt, who will start in the first event at Addington- to-day, is a brother to Great Way, a speedy but erratic trotter with which C. S. Donald scored several wins and which was then sold o go to Australia. Besides filling minor positions in several races last season. Captain Bolt won at New Brighton in February, the Autumn Handicap, of two miles, in 4min 36sec from a 4min 50sec mark. This performance marked him a coming champion. but his later displays Should have left his connexions with faint hope jf further victory. The programme arranged for Captain Bolt at the meeting, however, suggests him as likely to reach the highest class, for his name appears, amongst the entrants for the Dominion Handic_ i, to be decided on the concluding day. Fifa

It might be too much to expect the 13-year-old grey mare Fifa to win the Spring Handicap at Addington to-day. but not a few spectators may fancy her in the place betting. Under the care of Free Holmes, Fifa has been trotting very solidly and work over a mile and a quarter has apparently improved her speed. She is in good order'for immediate racing. A possibility Red Flush, who will race in the nomination of the Wellington sportsman, Mr H. Murphy, in the Empire Handicap to-day, is a six-year-old gelding by Jack Potts—Crimson Rose, and is trained by M. B. Edwards at Yaldhurst. ■ Last season Red Flush, in the care of M. Stewart, won five races in succession in a tour of the Nelson, Wanganui, and Hawera meetings, and in his last start, the Waimate Plains Handicap, he gave 60 yards and a beating to U. Scott, after pacing two miles in 4min 35sec. Any horse that can I give U. Scott 60 yards and a beating

over two miles to-day can be classed amongst the best horses in commission. How Red Flush will race with the weight up has yet to be decided, but his trainer, M. B. Edwards, is not likely to start him unless there is a reasonable chance of success. New Conditions

The conditions for this year’s Cup are different from those ruling in previous years, and while the stake is worTi £2500 and a gold cup of the value of £IOO, the winner’s prize will be £I2OO and cup. The owner of the second horse will receive £450, the third £350, and the fourth £250. The first horse passing the winning post the first time round (approximately half a mile) will earn £IOO, and the leader at the end of a mile and a quarter £l5O. It is therefore possible for six owners to share the prize-money, and the Metro-

politan Club is to be commended for its allocation of the stakes. It is also possible- for one horse to win the first prize of £I2OO and gold cup, and £250 in lap prizes. It will take an~ exceptional horse, however, to do but bracketed horses may succeed in bringing a big proportion of the stakes to one stable. Time Limits The time set for the running of the first half-mile in the Cup is \rnir% Ssec. and the mile and a quarter 2min 4Ssec. A slow track, however, would mean the readjustment of times for the lap prizes.