SPORTING

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24603, 27 June 1945, Page 4

SPORTING

TURF GOSSIP

Butbu Week-end There will not be any racing or trotting in New Zealand this week. The next meeting will be at Trentham_ on July 7. Leg Tronblei Bowmore was lame after working at Riccarton on Monday, and is tinder veterinary treatment. It is doubtful 'whether he will accompany Air Ace and Piccolo to Trentham. Proposed Trip • , Negotiations to send Immediate to Australia have been in progress during the last lew weeks, and if transport arrangements can be completed he will be sent Over. There is a possibility of his being shipped direct to Melbourne from the South Island. A Quiet Morning A number of horses booked to race at Trentham were given useful work ort> the sand at Riccarton yesterday, but there was no galloping. It is to be hoped that the conditions will have improved to allow some fast work to-morrow and on Saturday. The only Jumping yesterday was done .by Test Pilot and Full Pitch, both shaping well over four hurdles. Flndon Discussed A correspondent signing himself “Disgusted" writes: “Are horses handicapped on performances or reputation? In the Whyte Handicap at Trentham. Flndon is asked to give weight to such high-class performers as Constitution, winner of a division of the Auckland Cornwall Handicap, and Gulf Stream, winner of several good races, Including the last Winter Cup. That he is capable of doing so is beside the point: he should be given a chance of winning a big handicap race before beinfc penalised as if he had already won such a class race. As it is, he has not won an open class race on a metropolitan course.” The correspondent has raised an interesting point, one that vlll no doubt be the subject of much discussion among followers of racing. In addition to the horses mentioned, Flndon appears to be highly rated by being placed on the same mark as Platform, a recent winner at Dunedin, and the winner of the Parliamentary Handicap two years ago. There is something in the suggestion that Flndon is suffering from the high reputation he has justly earned by his easy wins in the four races he has contested during the season. Here is his record:—won Sumner Hack Handicap, nine furlongs, at Grand National meeting with 8-9 from LancC Wing and Bill .Gundi; won Ashburton Handicap, one mile and a quarter, with 7-5 from Kevin and Irish Note; won Geraldine Cup, one mile and a quarter, with 8-3 from Atustra and Magglore; and won Victory Handicap at Napier Park, seven furlong*, with 8-8 from Salmi and Poutatau. He has been accepted for in races since he won the lastnamed event ih November, but has not been produced. Comparing this form with that of many of the horses below him makes it evident that the handicapped in the absence of any recent racing by Findon, does not Intend to take any risks with him.; - Successful Debut , - • . Flying Orders, winner pf the second division of the Hastings Malden last Saturday, is a two-year-old by Croupier from Liane. by Captain Bunsby,front Degage, and la raced by the former Trentham trainer, E. Simpson, who is now living at Awapuni. This was his first race, and his win was very impressive. Fatal Mishap Beneficiary, a three-year-old Hastingstrained geldirig by Legatee from Brambletom, by The Ace from Brambletye. dam also of Thorndale, Prickles, Sharp Thom, and others, broke a hind leg after passing the finishing post in the Hastings Malden and had to be destroyed. This was Beneficiary’s first appearance in public. .It was a coincidence that he drew 13 at the barrier and was 13/13 in the betting, but was No.-1 on the card. Leading Horsemen wT Broughton bad three winning rides at Hastings, and his total for the season is now 61. E. Dye is next with 28, and L. J. Ellis has 25. Then follow H. Wiggins and L. Clutterbuck 23. G. Hughey and C. Wilson 20, K. NUttall 19, J. McFarland 18, W, Mudford, A. C.. Messervy, W. F. BUIS. G. Ivil, W. Stevens, and R. Heasley is, J. Bagby, W. O. Ensor, and B. S. Wilson 14, C. Mackle. XT Messervy, J. Campbell, and V. Sellars 13, W. C«ter, W. Altken. C. Stokes.l Galvin, A E. Oldham, j. Williamson, and A. O. C. McDonald 11, A. Midwood, H. Phillips. W. Hooton, and L. Hare 10. Winning Trainers .' „ , . , , Blanket’s win brought G. W. New s total to 34 In the list of winning tralnera for the season, or five la trout ot H. Dulieu and L. Knapp. G. W. Greene, trainer of Tribal Night, moved into fourth P,l ac « with 16 wins, and W. E. Hazlett is next with 15. Then follow A. E. Didham 14, A. Cook. H. a. Anderton and ]D. J. Arnott 13, R. H Martin, .R. Jf Mateer, E. J. Ellis, R. WUson, ancf C. J. Thom|pn 12, F. Smith 11. Mrs E. M: Sloane, F. S. Hill, P. |. Pone J. J. Waller, B. H. Morris, D. P. WlfSn, H. S., Green, and W. Rainbow 10. Hawke’s Bay Hurdles , . Takrouna outclassed the field,, ta * e Hawke’s Bay Hurdles, says the ion ” She went to the front at the first fence, and from that stage was always clear in the lead, giving a at Jumping. She swas followed throughSt bv -EXPelUnt Ihd Malacca, and these two flued’foerrtnor plaolngi without ever aoDearlng likely- to beat the winner, Exnefisnt made a bold bid in the straight, Eut TitooUM was ridden with .the utmost omfldence and won with ptahly th hand from Expelumt, which waselghV lengths ta Soot od Malacca. First Edition w« In fourth place almost throughout. Moderate tailed the field for a mlle and a quartw. and did not Improve many Pl«c«*High atorale lost bis rider ,at the second fonce. Royal Jay was sore.

TROTTING NOTES

*s?&£*** th. 17- y ..»-old C»tain Bolt was sold recently and may be prepared lor racing again, A Trotting Stalwart .. ~ The death occurred at the Auckland Hospital last week of Mr John Samuel August, formerly of Lower Hutt, In hls*eighty-seventh year, Mr August was keenly interested in trotters tor 60 years, and move in races till he was well over 70. He was born in Ngahauranga, and took up farming. Later he leased the Black Horae Hotel in Christchurch, and then acouired the Islington Arms, which he sold about 28 years ago. Mr August owned a large numoer of trotters, including King s dem and Black Child, the best trotter of bis time (about 30 years ago). Others to race/With success In his colours included Sleeve Link, Mary Child, and Child Abdullah. Mr August’s wife died about two years ago. There are foiir sons living, Messrs E. J. August, Christchurch, W. G. August, Auckland, J. E. August, Lower Hutt, president of the Wellington Trotting Club, and S. M. August, Auckland. Another, son,'Mr H. L. August, died about 18 months ago. Confound* Critics The problem of reducing the size of maiden fields has been thoroughly discussed in recent months, and some of the suggestions made include a time test before horses are allowed to race, a placing In 10 starts or an enforced spell for six months, and that horses which have not won at eight years of age should be barred from starting. The last suggestion is indirectly supported by -the war-time measure widen prevents horses more than eight years of age being registered, but supporters of the age ban are confounded at times when old-timers register' good performances. The recent case of the 14-year-o’d Beethoven, which trotted in fine style to finish second in the Longbeach Handicap, is a case .in point; and the successes of the aged Ngaire’s Pal in the Auckland district, are outstanding. A gelding by The Triumph Junior from Motumaoho,.he was nine years ol sge when he wis registered in 1943, and he left the maiden ranks on November 27 at Claudelauds. In 13 starts he has won five races, and been placed on six occasions, and has earned £1315 In pri/e----monty. His unplaced performances were at the Auckland meeting on February 10; but on this occasion, because of transport difficulties, he was forced to race too soon after making a long journey to the meeting, and consequently was not seen at his best. Ngaire's Pal is owned and trained by G. A. Baker, at Motumaoho, and has been driven in all his races by J. Baker. Triumph Junior, his sire, was by the American horse The Triumph, a trotter by The Exponent from Mardefla. Motumaoho, the dam, raced at the trotting gait, but was not successful. She was by Peter Moko from Lady Heiress, by Bell Boy from Heiress. Amalgamated The Westport Trotting Club, which has raced on the Mill street course for a great number of years, will hold its summer meeting on the Jockey Club's ground at Paterson Park (states the .‘Trotting Calendar”). As the result of negotiations, the Westport clubs have decided to amalgamate, and the Trotting Club will purchase a half-interast in the Jockey Club's property. The half-mile dirt track has caused the club some concern in recent years because of the Increased fields and the Impossibility of enlarging the race track. The grass track at Paterson Park is a six-furlong one. Still Going Strong Suncross, the dam of Worthy Cross, Deeslde, Play Safe, Fashion Club, and Clydeside, Is now rising 23 years of age. and last season was mated with Blaydon. Like her progeny, Suncross was bred by Mr J. Kemp, of Otama, Southland. To Race Again v It is probable that Josedale Grattan, the 1941 New Zealand Cup Winner, will make his reappearance after his long spell at the National Meeting at Addington in August. Josedale Grattan wae Imported to New Zealand by F. J. Smith in }937,

and his records over the various distances are as follows one mile, 2min 2sec; one mile and a quarter, 2min 35 4-ssec; one mile and a half, 3min 14 2-ssec; one mile and five furlongs, 3mln 25 3-ssec; two miles, 4min 15sec. Has Speed The five-year-old Believe Me has started on 10 occasions this year for three fourth placings, but in spite of his unimpressive record he gives the impression that once he strikes form, he will work' his way into, good company. Believe Me won races when trained by R. Townley at Tlnwald last season, but in recent months he has been trained for Miss J. Cuff by T. Patterson.

RACING RESTRICTION IN AUSTRALIA

SCHEME TO SAVE FODDER (N.Z Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 9.30 p.m.) SYDNEY, June 26. Racing men estimate that between 400 and 600 horses in training at present will have to be thrown out of work under a scheme announced by the Australian Jockey Club to save fodder. From the beginning of the new season on August 1, the following restrictions will apply:—no two-year-old fillies may be entered for or race in any eveht. There will be no races for maiden, novice, encourage, or trial horses over three years old. Horses which have been unplaced at their last six starts Will not be able to race. ■ ~ The club's action Was taken because owners and trainers had not observed a request made a month ago to reduce their teams. The club's request followed the State Government's demand that the number of horses in training be reduced greatly in order to save fodder..