SPORTING

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24600, 23 June 1945, Page 4

SPORTING

TURF GOSSIP

Interesting Event The Hawke’s Bay Steeplechase, to be run to-day, was. in years gone by, one of the most important cross-country events In' the North Island, and some notable horses figure as winners. Chief among these was Moifaa, bred at Hastings, which made his first public appearance on the Hastings racecourse in the late ’eighties. This was in a half-mile race at a local sports fixture for horses owned by members of the Hawke's Bay Mounted Rifles, then a strong body under the control of Captain A. H. Russell, now Sir Andrew Russell. Moifaa, ridden by A. J. Ellingham, who later trained him for Mrs Elllngham, won the race by a wide margin, ana his showing under about 14 stone Indicated his prospects as a racehorse. His later exploits both in New Zealand and In England, where he won the Liverpool Grand National Steeplechase, are well known to most followers of racing. Moifaa' carried no less than 13 stone when he won the Hawke’s Bay Steeplechase in 1901 by what \vas officially recorded as a quarter of a mile, this weight including a 71b penalty for his win by four lengths in the Hawke’s Bay Hurdles two days before. Other notable winners of the steeplechase were Clarence, Mangaohane. Denbigh. Chemht, Norton, Morag. Nadador, and Oakleigh, and of these Clarence, Mangaohane, Chemist, Norton, Madador (twice), and Oakleigh (twice) carried on to be Grand National Steeplechase winners. Similar Programme Flying Spy ran fourth in last year's Hawse’s Bay Hurdles, failed in the Winter Hurdles at Trentham; and went on to the Grand National Hurdle Race. She is engaged in the Hastings race again today and will be at Trentham next week. A Profitable Season Three years ago, Foxiana ran second in the Manawatu Steeplechase, and went 6n to Win the Wellington and July Steeplechases at Trentham and the Grand National Steeplechase. He completed that season by running second to Renascor in the Grand National Hurdle Race. Depleted Team Sir Percy, Noko, and Inscrutable are at present qualified at Washdyke. The two aie to go to Trentham and will return for the hunt meeting at Washayke. inscrutable j will make his reappearance at the latter fixture. Double • Light and Pocket Flash both met with injuries through falls at Wingatui and uamaru respectively, and have been returned home. Likely Xqp-weights Much Interest will ■be centred in the weights for the Whyte Handicap, to be run at Trentham next month. Royal Flight won the race 12 months ago witn 8-12, and In her last start atWashdVke she was weighted at 8-5 but won with 8-12 (minimum 7-0). Neenah’s last start was when he won at Ellerslle with 9-8 immimum 7-0). High Play carried 9-13 (minimum 7-11) when he won at Trentham in January. These three are certain to be at the head of the handicaps, due next Tuesday, and there is not likely to be muyh between them. Solid Form The form of Lord Darnley at Marten and Wanganui shows that this Trenthamtrained hack is now racing more solidly than he did earlier in his career, when he did not stand up to it if given his races in quick succession, states the "Dominion. Probably his next appearance will be at the Wellington July meeting. Lord- Darnley descends from a family which has left several good stayers. His sire, Siegfried, is the sire of Immediate and First In, two of the best performers of the current season, and of Yours Truly ahd Wotan, winners at two miles. Lord Damley’s dam, Beth, was half-sister to Gay Virginia, dam of the' Great Northern Derby winner Essex. Beth’s secofad dam, Oralene, was half-sister to Mary of Argyle, dam of Ardenvhor (New Zealand Cup) and Mascot (Auckland Cup). Lord Dainley was a cheap yearling, being sold for 674 guineas, at the national sales in j1941. English Classic Results According to a London message, bookmakers declare that this year’s Derby settling was the heaviest on record. An official of the Victoria Club, the bookmakers' "clearing house,” estimated that at least £290,000 had been won at the club over Dante's victory. Individual bookmakers were unanimous that they had never known a Derby like It One said; “It will take at least three more days unsettle with the. enormous number of people who have to be paid, but the amounts are small individually. Another said his firm’s losses amounted to Qne firm paid out £3750 laid to 17s 6d in an "Accumulator’ bet on the first classics, won by Sunstream (One Thousand Guineas a ?d_Oaks), . Co if£j (Two Thousand Guineas), and Dante Dante was a little unlucky to lose the Two Thousand Guineas (his only defeat to date) by a head to Court Maritlal He suffered great discomfort from injury'Sted on the track the day itefore the race, when a stone was thrown up by the hoof of another horse and struck Dante on am eye. _ The settling on to f °aks would also •hp a costlv one for the bookmakers. as SJunAtrram was a firm favourite slightly above even money.

TROTTING NOTES

A Record ...... in 1826 Great Bingen won in Stakes, beating Logan record of £3770 for 1925. Neither of these totals was exceeded until the present season, in which Bronze Eagle has won and Double Peter £4260. Last season Haughty was the biggest stake-earner With £3675. Good Novice County Ciare, a stablemate of Dyrham Lea and Battle Colours, has been, Ih the motley in three of her six starts, and she shduld be out of the maiden class early In .the new season. Looked the Part The three-year-old colt, Iron Bar, is on* of the moat attractive horses of his eg*' paraded this season; but he did not face up to his good looks, and it may be as a four-yaar-cld that he Will come Into his own. He was started seven times, and his best performance was a second to Volo Audubon in the Brighton Maiden Handicap at the New Brighton Trotting Club’s meeting in February. His other placing was a third to Margaret Hall and Loyal Chief in the Waiwera Trot at the Banks Peninsula. Racing Club’s meeting at Rlccarton. Iron Bar, which is by Gold Bar from Golden Travis, is brained by P. Baltimore for Mr L. Beattie. Still a Maiden * , - Pencarrow, a gelding by Wrack fforn Vina Mac, looked certain to graduate ffom the maiden classes this season, but although he was placed In five of his 10 starts, he just cannot top off his record. Premising Novice .. The four-year-oTd Commander Scott appeared in only two races this season, but he left tire impression that he is above the average, and he should be prominent In the new season. Commander SCOtt MCM in Ih* interests of his breeder. Mr J. R. McKenzie, and he is by U. Scott from May Chenault, the dam of Rosalind Maid, Surrey Park, and May Scott, Lost Form When trained at New Brighton, April Direct showed promising form and looked certain to pSy his way; but since going to Auckland ns appears to have lost all form, end in 12 starts this season he has net been placed. Likely Type ' . Arnnui Jack Is regarded as one of the most likely improvers in F. J. Smith’s team, and if the Takahinl trainer can persuade him to leave the mark more smoothly he should win good races. In 11 starts this s»asOn the Jack Potts gelding has won one race and registered two thirds and two fourth placinga. His dam, Audo Girl, was bred by Mr H. H. Cook, of Christchurch, and was by Grattan Loyal from Dark Audubon. Length of Racing Career ; The question of vhe length of a horse s racing career crops up through the imposing and subsequent eliminating of the ege limit in connexion with the New Zealand Trotting Cup (writes "Sentinel” In the "Otago Dally Times''). In the natural course of events the racing merit of a horse deteriorates With age, but whereas one horse may be finished as a racing proposition at eight to 10 years, another may retain soundness and vitality for a much longer period. One of the objects of the present system of handicapping was to eliminate the horse that outlives his usefulness on the track, and generplly lags superfluous on the scene. It has been found impracticable to impose an age limit because some horses train on much longer than others without deterioration of their racing prowess, and also because it possibly debars some of the Mst horses from starting in a race. Racing merit cannot be measured by the age or size of a horse, because some mature more quickly than others. The early speedster has generally a short career, Whereas the horse taking time to develop usually has a much longer period of activity. A comparison cannot be made between the racehorse and the pacer or trotter, because of the totally different systems adopted in training. Seme years ago a writer claimed that the trotter and the pacer were much better and sounder horses than the thoroughbred, because' they last longer at racing. It was, however, completely overlooked that the galloper travels at a much faster speed, and the rider frequently lies on a horse's neck, which is the first part of a hefse to tire, thus greatly increasing the impact on the ground. On tha contrary, the light-harness horse works and races in a sulky, and without weight on its back, thus the force of (he Impact is much less strain on the legs, ligaments, and tendons, I ensuring a longer life fdr the horse.

HAWKE’S BAY J.C.

PROSPECTS FOR TO-DAY “ The Press " Special Service WELLINGTON. June 22. Prospects are favourable for the Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club’s winter meeting, which will be held at Hastings tomorrow. The fields are the largest the club has carded for a winter meeting for many years and are drawn from all over the North Island, the Auckland and Waikato districts being well represented. Divisions are provided for in the Hastings Malden and the Final Hack Handicap. The weather has been fine since the beginning of the week and promises to remain so for the racing. The track is in splendid winter order and will not be heavy. Betting will be win-and-place, and the following horses are likely to be well supported:— 11 a.m.—Hastings Hack Hurdles: Gold Money Song, Norse. Royce. 11.45 Hastings Maiden: first division. Spiro, Ganges; second division, Chaka, Gold Lad. 12.30 Hawke’s Bay Hurdles: Moderate, Takrouna, Expellant. 1.15 Winter Handicap: Flying Ace, Indian Sport. Rink. 2.o—Hawke’s Bay Steeplechase: Indian Sun, Khurja, Master Meruit. 2.45 Rotopai Hack Handicap: Blanket, Leigh Hark, Aqua. 3.30 Havelock Flying Handicap: Findon, Reorapa, Lord Dink. 4.15 — Final Hack Handicap; first division, Da Vinci, Solver: second division, Good Bay, Tribal Night.