TURF GOSSIP

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22491, 27 August 1938, Page 19

TURF GOSSIP

In Sydney To-day The Warwick Farm spring meeting to-day will give several New Zealand horses an opportunity to get some racing. Stretto and Royal Chief will contest the Warwick Stakes, weight-for-age, one mile, and Cerne Abbas will race in the Warwick Farm Spring Handicap, one mile and three fuvlongs. Silver Standard is top-weight in this with 8-7, Cid has 8-6, and Cerne Abbas has 8-5. Limerick, when trained by F. D. Jones, trainer of Royal Chief, created history in the Warwick Stakes, when, in 1929, he won it for the third consecutive time, having won in 1927 and 1928. M. McCarten was his rider on each occasion, but since 1928 the event has eluded the crack horseman. Johnnie Jason (1931-32) was a dual winner, as was Chatham, 1933-34. The Warwick Stakes is a race for champions. Its winners, in addition to those mentioned, include Whittier, Windbag. Amounis, Rogilla (dead-heat with Silver King), and Talking. Twelve months ago Allunga defeated Talking, Mala, Gay Blonde, King's Head, Curator, and Publicity. It was a great race, Allunga prevailing by half a neck, the time being lmin 38jsec. When Chatham won in 1933, he made a course record for the mile, lmin 37£ sec, and it still stands. Dismissed

The Australian Jockey Club Committee on August 15 dismissed the appeal by the jockey, E. McMenamin, against his suspension for two months, for causing interference to Kai Tere, and imposed at Rosehill on August 6. McMenamin will, however, be permitted to resume riding on Derby Day (October 1), at Randwick. In Winning Form When M. McCarten was forced to take a holiday a little while ago, owing to eye trouble, there were all sorts of dismal prophecies as to his future, writes "Pilot." Since he resumed riding McCarten has proved they were wide of the mark and it is probable his holiday did him good. Few jockeys have more well-wishers than McCarten, who does credit to his calling in every way. At present his mounts in big races at Randwick for the spring are somewhat indefinite. It is supposed by many that he will be on Spear Chief in the Metropolitan, but if Gold Rod shows form during the next few weeks he may be a runner for that race, and. in view of past associations, it is fairly certain McCarten would give Mr E. J. Watt preference. A.J.C. Officers

Mr George Main, chairman of the committee of the Australian Jockey Club, topped the poll at the election of the committee for the new season At a subsequent committee meeting he was re-elected chairman, and Sir Samuel Hordren vice-chairman. There were 11 candidates for the 10 vacancies, and the ballot resulted. Mr Main 746, Sir Samuel Hordern 745, Mr E. J. Watt 734, Mr P. H. Osborne 733, Mr Hunter White 732. Mr A. W. Thompson 710. Mr R. C. Allen 706, Mr R. R. Dangar 705. Sir James Murdoch 652. and Sir John McKelvey 603. The members elected comprise the retiring committee. i Farewell to Limond Lad

Investors said a fond iarewell to Limond Lad at Kadina, South Australia, on August 13. He had two runs before his retirement to the stud, and after failing over the six furlongs in the Kambula Handicap he was in a more generous mood in the Richardson Handicap. But toward the finish he was beginning to turn his toes in, and there was a sigh of relief when the winning-post loomed up, enabling him to win from the fast-finishing King Ola. It is to be hoped Mr Tom McKay has better luck with Limond Lad at the stud than' he and Mr Ernest Jolly had with him on the race track. Limond Lad, by Limond from Veil, cost 2100 guineas, the highest price, *at the 1935 Trentham yearling sales, and was purchased by J. T. Jamieson for Mr E. E. Jolly, of West Australia. About Yearling Buying Footmark, West Australia's best staying three-year-old, now in Melbourne for the cups, ■was picked from the catalogue by V. Egan. his trainer, for the Messrs S. J. and N. V. Mills, committeemen of the West Australian Turf Club, states a Melbourne correspondent. He was the only yearling by Defoe listed in the 1936 New Zealand catalogue, and arrangements were made for an agent to bid for him. The colt, however, was not put up for sale, because of a slight injury, so the deal was made privately. Footmark being landed at Fremantle for £2OO. Next year the Mills Brothers, while scanning the list of yearlings for sale noticed another colt by Defoe, but when they cabled their agent, he replied, "Not worth two bob, wouldn't bid for him." This was the reason why Defaulter, the crack New Zealand two-year-old last season, who cost 170gns, did not come to Australia.

Change of Owners Great Bramble, a four-year-old mare by Magnus—Brambletye, with some hack form to her credit up to a mile, has been sold by Sir Charles Clifford, and she will be trained at Riccarton by A. McMillan for the West Coast owner, Mr G. S. Walton.