RACING AND TROTTING

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23413, 21 August 1941, Page 7

RACING AND TROTTING

RACING FIXTURES August 23—Pakuranga Hunt Club. August 28—Egmont-Wanganui Hunt Club (at New Plymouth). August 30—Taranaki Hunt Club. Sept, 4, 6—Wanganui J.C. Sept. 6—Otago Hunt Club. Sept. 13—Ashburton County R.C. Sept, 13—Carterton R.C. Sept. 13, 15—Avondale J.C. Sept. 18, 20—Geraldine R.C. Sept. 20—Marton J.C. Sept. 20, 22—Poverty Bay Turf C, (at Te Aroha). ' Sept. 27—Foxton R.C. Sept. 27, 29—Ohinemuri J.C.

TROTTING FIXTURES August 23 N.Z. Metropolitan T.C. August 30—Auckland T.C. September 6—New Brighton T.C. September 13. 17—Wanganui „T.C. September 18. 20—Wellington T.C.

TURF GOSSIP

West Coast Arrival

Mr W. Greenhill, of Greymouth, has sent his Leighon gelding Leighnor to Riccarton to be trained for spring racing by G. Ridgway. Leighnor has just come in from a long spell on hte owner’s property. Juveniles at Riccarton

With the near approach of the spring period of racing, trainers will now be devoting extra time to their two-year-olds. There are a number of these at Riccarton, and it is suggested that the area is better off for juveniles this year than for many years, both in numbers and breeding credentials. The John Grigg Stakes, at Ashburton, has been the first race for two-year-olds in the South Island for a few years past, but, it being held too early in the term; the fields were always disappointing, and the race has been cancelled as far as two-year-olds are concerned. It has now become a race for three-year-olds and is to be held at the same meeting. The McLean Stakes at the Dunedin meeting in October, will now be the first for the juveniles, and it attracted a representative entry, including the following from Riccarton:— Foxhaven by Foxbridge from Pelagia, Straight Bat by Winning Hit—Winsome Hind; Trapeze by Ringmaster from Merry Miss; King Herod by Theio from Lacquer; Judge Advocate by Solicitor General from Sweet Beauty; Royal Writ by Solicitor General from Princess Doreen; filly by Mr Standfast from Legality; Prince Leighon by Leighon from Leisure; and filly by Guarantee from Privet.

A Formidable List The list of two-year-olds in commission at Riccarton and their trainers is as follows:—T. H. Gijlett, Royal Writ; H. and A. Cutts. Straight Bat. Rata (Winning Hit—Hororata); F. Roberts, John , Gay (Theio—Jenny Diver), Trapeze, Winning Rose (Winning Hit —Rope of Tralee), Grilse (Solicitor General—First Cast); G; Ridgway, King Herod, Knuckle Duster (Defoe— Sanguinaria); R. ► Wilson, filly by Guarantee—Privet; C. Dawson. Cross Question (Solicitor General—Eulalie) and Wedding Ring (Guarantee—Antagonist mare); S. Barri Prince Leighon: F, Holmes, Sly Puss (Lord Quex—Seamstress); D. Cotton, colt by Pink Coat—Denise, and colt by Lang Bian—Stourbridge Fair; F. D. Jones, Mr Standfast —Legality filly, and Retriever by Man’s Pal —Moorbird; C. Emerson, Foxhaven; Mrs J. Campbell, Gay Fort by Broiefort—Going Gay, Doloroso by Man’s Pal—Velocium, and -filly by Nightmarcb—Gaysome. , Ages of National Winners Since 1890 the youngest horses 4o win the Grand National Hurdles are the five-year-olds, Ixion, Kulnine, Tresham, and Morning. Their wins took place in 1890, 1892, 1902, and 1913. Ixion was owned by the late Mr Ron.-, aid McMaster, who raced under the name of R. Kildare. He also raced Daydream, one of the smartest two--year-olds of her day. She was sold at 1500 guineas to Captain J. S. Guthrie;’ then aide-de-camp to Lord Onslow, and was taken to Englnad after winning the Dunedin Champagne Stakes. As far as the records show, the youngest horses to win the Grand National Steeplechase since 1876 are the six-year-olds The Guard, Enniskillen, Wiltshire, Aurora Borealis, and Astral Blame. A Short Career

Methuen', surprise winner of the V.R.C. National Hurdles, fell at the last fence in the Austrajian Hurdle Race. He broke his near foreleg and was destroyed. Without a Run

The connexions of Dauber have no cause to feel pleased with their last two trips to Riccarton. Twelve months ago he was unable to start at the fixture because of going sore during the running of the Homeby Steeplechase at the Hunt Club meeting, and this year, reserved for the third day, he had to remain in his box. Going to Extremes Mainly by fasting for three weeks, a Sydney apprentice rider, E. Walker, claimed to have reduced his weight from list 2ilb to Bst 71b in order to ride. Experienced jockeys expressed surprise at the fortitude displayed by Walker in refraining from solid foods for such a long period. The effort was all in vain. His mount unseated him at the rise of the barrier. Walker began his fast by drinking fruit juices, and, to use his own expression,' he “never had as much as half a piece of bread omany day during the last two weeks.” After the race Walker drank two glasses of water and looked forward to a light mealin the evening. He looked well, and said he felt well, though he was faint earlier in the" afternoon. The stewards reported that they had warned Walker against excessive wasting.'

OWNERS AND TRAINERS Do you want to be certain that your horse Will leave the barrier and sec o,ut the distance? If so, consult GEORGE BETTLE, Consulting Chemist. 769 Colombo street. Christchurch. Call or write and give full particulars. GEORGE BETTLE has had over 30 years’ experience’ with racehorses.

TROTTING NOTES

Metropolitan Meeting "The track at Addington has made a wonderful recovery. In company with the caretaker, Mr J. Highsted, I inspected the course to-day, and I was surprised at its condition. Though the track is heavy in places, we could have raced to-day,” said Mr A. L. Matron (president of the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club) to a representative of "The Press” last evening. Heavy rains do not affect the Addington track unless racing is in progress, and light showers have a more damaging effect. The heavy rain runs off the track into the drains, and at times Addington has been regarded as the ideal course on which “to sell a horse on a trial” after a heavy rain. Unless something unusual in the way of weather occurs in the next two days, the Metropolitan Trotting Club’s meeting will be concluded on Saturday on a good track. , The Logan Pointer Breed

Logan Pointer was perhaps the greatest sire ever imported to New Zealand and he sired a great number of winners, one of the last of his stock being the wonderful Harold Logan. Very few of his progeny were left entire, and this is to be regretted. One of the best stallions left by Logan Pointer was Prince Pointer, who was sent to Tasmania, where his stock frequently appear on the winning list. Jewel Pointer, now at the stud in MidCanterbury, has had few chances, but in Great Jewel he left a brilliant pacer who in the 1939-40 season won £3OOO. During the present, meeting at Addington two of Logan Pointer’s sons, in Logan Sun and Logan Fraser, have been represented by winners, the former by Foremost Junior, while Logan Fraser is the sire of Ronald Logan, a fine'pacer who may have to be considered in the Four-year-old Stakes on Saturday.

Successful Sirbs In the 16 races that have been decided at Addington this season, nine different sires appear on the winning list. Jack Potts, wfro has been the leading sire for ■. several years, has again made a good start with the winners of four races, in Ferry Post (2), Fine Art, and Great Blaze. Wrack is a good second with three winners, in Bush Laddie, Toorak, and Bronze Eagle. Certissimus and Pleasant Guy credited their respective sijes ; Quite Sure and Adioo Guy with two winners each, while the following each had one winner:—Nelson Derby (Hardy Oak), Grattan Loyal (Mankind), Logan Son (Foremost Junior), Native King (Gracie Fields), and Logan Eraser (Ronald Logan).

Profitable to Follow While the South Canterbury trainer, R. Townley, won £1075 in stakes on the first two days of the meeting, followers of the stable also profited by investments on the totalisator and £1 invested each way on his three horses in their seven starts would have shown a profit.of more than £l7. While Townley is not what may be termed a big bettor, he is not afraid to back his horses when he considers they have a sporting chance. There is no more popular trainer or driver and few who contribute more to make triply run races. He is not afraid to go to the front and set the pace his horse is capable of going the race, and he does not believe in making a two miles contest a four furlongs sprint. Great Blaze Improves M. B. Edwards-has got Great Blaze back to his best form, and though at one stage he appeared to be a big disappointment, his third to Pleasant Guy and Kid Wolf on the opening day, and his decisive win in the Speedway Handicap gave promise of still better things to come. In certain quarters there was a • prejudice against Jack Potts and Wrack horses in heavy going, but this wrong impression has been many times disproved. C. King, who> drove Great Blaze, has long been recognised as-one of the. best reinsmen in New Zealand, but in the last two seasons his chances of showing his ability have been few and far between. He has begun the season well and his services in future should be in demand.